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Crack

The teacup in his hand has suddenly cracked on its side before he could take a sip.

Inner turmoils swirled inside of his gut as Lan XiChen looked out in the pouring rain from the safe comfort of his shelter.

Lan XiChen then pulled a familiar red ribbon from his inner robes, caressing the soft fabric that allowed him to remember the memories of his beloved.

'Wei Yang...please be okay...please'

———

"Take Sixth Shidi with you and run! Get to someplace safe!"

Was the last thing Wei WuHui had said to her before she disappeared into the darkness of Lotus Pier.

The pair were supposed to go in together when they spotted a pair of men in the all too familiar white with red swirls robes dragging away a young boy in purple robes. They immediately knocked the disciples out and the young Jiang disciple told them about Wang LingJiao and her disciples coming in on the order of Wen Chao. Then, Wei WuHui decided for them to split as it would be safer for Lan ChunTao...she wish she didn't listen to her sworn sister's words.

The familiar orange-red colours reflected from her eyes as she stared at the crumbling sight of the once Lotus Pier. Dread bubbled up inside of her as she gripped the young Jiang disciple on her back tighter before she ran back into the forest. 'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!'

Tears spilling over her eyes. Picturing what could has had happened to her sworn sister flashed by her mind. 'I shouldn't have listened! I should've follow her, be with her at least but...' her eyes then glanced back to the sleeping boy on her back. 'I know I couldn't leave him alone'

As she was about to head to a nearby town, a glimpse of red and purple caused her to pause in her tracks as she blinked through the rain. "Wei WuXian? Jiang WanYin?" Lan ChunTao called out hesitantly.

Fortunately, the pair of heads perked up the moment they heard their names being called as the boys stared at Lan ChunTao in disbelief. "Lan...Gū-Niang?" Wei WuXian blurted.

Lan ChunTao glanced around, hoping to see any signs of her sworn sister. "Where's...A-Yang?"

The moment she said that, Wei WuXian immediately changed his facial expression as he looked down with a blank look.

She couldn't help but feel her heart slowly cracking. "...no."

———

"Yunmeng Jiang Sect?!"

"Isn't it the most prominent cultivation sect in the Jing-Chu region?"

"It was. But even so, it couldn't outshine the SUN, could it? Look at what's written there."

"'Former' Yunmeng Jiang Sect."

A pair of grey eyes glanced from under his bamboo hat while listening in the gossips of the townspeople who were staring at the three wanted posters, showcasing Jiang Cheng, Jiang YanLi and Wei WuXian.

"It was once such a grand and vibrant household! But now, all are past and gone!"

"Mortal affairs are indeed transient and unpredictable!"

"I heard that this disaster was caused by that senior disciple of Yunmeng Jiang Sect and his sister paid the price in the end with her life."

"Huh? Wei WuHui has died as well?!"

Wei WuXian was about to walk away when that last sentence made him paused as his hands clenched into tight fists. The feel of wanting to burst out and punch the one who mentioned about his sister but, he knows not to. Not when the risks are too high to expose himself.

"Only you would believe such nonsense."

"I bet Wen RuoHan drew lots to decide which sect to attack first."

"So right now, we just let Qishan Wen Sect do whatever they want?"

"Even the Yunmeng Jiang Sect was wiped out. Any cultivation sect with some fame has kept silent out of fear. What can our small sects possibly do?"

"Just look out for ourselves."

During the midst, the sight of a couple of Wen disciples patrolling caused Wei WuXian to lay further down as he waited for them to walked past him before he quickly rushed back to the alleyway where Jiang Cheng was taking cover at.

Before they went into this town, with some of their remaining money combined, it was decided by Wei WuXian that Lan ChunTao and Sixth Shidi would be safer away from him and Jiang Cheng in case of them getting found. So, Lan ChunTao and Sixth Shidi were to hitch a ride on a carriage owned by a generous farmer that was heading in the direction of Gusu, where Lan ChunTao will be able to ask for reinforcements.

Jiang Cheng sat under the cover of the shade as he mournfully stared at the ring form of Zidian, twirling it around his index finger when Wei WuXian returned.

"I scouted this area. We're a few days' journey away from Meishan. Just watch out for damned Wens patrolling the roads, and we'll meet Shijie in no time." Wei WuXian explained.

As expected, he didn't received any response from the latter.

"Lotus Pier...we will return there one day but not now. Uncle Jiang, Madame Yu and Mèimei laid down their lives to save us. If you die there for nothing, wouldn't it be wasting their sacrifices?" Wei WuXian assured softly as he grasped Jiang Cheng's shoulder, gripping it for a moment before standing back up. "Sit here, I'll go find some foods. Don't be reckless and run off somewhere."

The moment he left, Jiang Cheng gave the latter an absentminded glance before the sky began to pour once again.

———

Meanwhile, the Cloud Recesses of Gusu stood tall midst in the clouds that further created a sense of solemn over the place.

The Second Master, Lan WangJi, stood in his sect Ancestral Hall, lighting the candles around the room as to brighten the surrounding despite his eyes showing only concern.

"WangJi."

The young master looked away from the candle as he spotted an elderly Lan walking over to him as Lan WangJi saluted respectfully. "Grand uncle."

"I heard you sent disciples to Yunmeng and Meishan days ago to search for late Sect Leader Jiang's orphans and senior disciple." The Elder Lan stated.

Lan WangJi nodded. "I did."

"WangJi. This time Qishan Wen Sect took brutal measures to exterminate Yunmeng Jiang Sect overnight. They even put bounties on the heads of the 3 remaining junior members right away, sparing no effort to root them out. Do you understand why?"

"I did." Lan WangJi replied back.

"If you understand, then why did you send help to Yunmeng and draw fire upon ourselves? The reason that Qishan Wen Sect put a massive show of force is to assert its indisputable position as the head of the cultivation world. Those who comply will thrive and those who defy will perish. The other cultivation sects have kept their distances so far. Our Gusu Lan Sect, having already taken a serious blow, should in particular keep a low profile and rebuild our strength." The Elder Lan finished.

"Grand uncle. Cultivation sects are interdependent. If one falls, the others will be in danger. It's especially in such a time, that we should unite and resist." Lan WangJi proclaimed.

"Resist? Qishan Wen Sect is so overpowering that it cannot be easily challenged. Whoever takes the lead will bear the brunt of Wen RuoHan's retribution. The Cloud Recesses was established by the efforts of several generations of our ancestors over hundreds of years. How could it be destroyed on our watch?"

"In a great disaster no one can escape unscathed. Someone has to take the lead." Lan WangJi remained firm on his standing.

"You are such a stubborn child!" The Elder Lan exclaimed before he turned to the newcomer that walked into the room. "QiRen, you came at a good timing. Quick, talk some sense into WangJi."

Lan QiRen saluted. "Uncle, I believe that WangJi had said nothing wrong."

"You!"

"In a great disaster no one can escape unscathed. In this great calamity, all cultivation sects should join forces and tide over the hard times together. I will set out for Qinghe tomorrow." Lan QiRen announced.

"You..." the Elder Lan was left speechless after what his nephew and grandnephew has said before he left with a frustrated huff.

Lan WangJi saluted in gratitude to his uncle.

"Your grand uncle is just worried about our sect's inheritance and safety." Lan QiRen said.

"I understand." Lan WangJi nodded.

"Is there any news about ChunTao and XiChen?" Lan QiRen asked.

Lan WangJi frowned before shaking his head worriedly.

"No news is good news. XiChen is resourceful and ChunTao is a smart child. Both of them will definitely avert perils. What about the kids of Yunmeng Jiang Sect?" Lan QiRen stated.

"Our men have saved Young Lady Jiang near Zizhou. To avoid jeopardising Meishan Yu Sect, they have been escorting her to the east. Wei Ying and Young Master Jiang are still missing..." Lan WangJi explained.

Lan QiRen closed his eyes as he stroked his beard. "How unfortunate. Wei WuHui was a prodigy cultivator, yet even she perished under the Wen Sect's destruction."

———

"Jiejie...waking...-Gu Niang."

Broken up words began to fill her ears as her silvery-grey slowly flickered open and a soft groan erupted from her throat.

"Her golden core is a strong one for her to be able to wake up this soon. Luckily, she didn't lose too much blood when you brought her to me, Wen Ning."

'Wen Ning...? That name sounds familiar'

"Wen Ning, go and fetch me a bowl of water and get her some food too."

"Y-Yes Jiejie."

Then, the sound of doors opening and closing echoed in the room.

"Hmm I thought you would've start acting up and burst out yelling by now." A stern feminine voice said and the face of a young woman popped in view of her eyes.

"I-I do have a common sense w-when I know the spot I am in right now." Wei WuHui croaked out from the dryness of her throat as she lifted her right arm, noticing the white bandages wrapped around her hand and arm.

"Good point. My name is Wen Qing, I am the Deputy Officer in charge of the supervisory office in Yiling." The woman introduced.

"Wen Qing? You're Wen RuoHan's niece?" Wei WuHui croaked.

Wen Qing nodded, just as the doors opened and in come Wen Ning with the bowl of water and a tray of food.

"A-Ah Wei-Gu Niang, here's some food for you." Wen Ning stammered timidly as he walked over to the bed.

Wei WuHui glanced over to him. "You're the Young Master from the Discussion Conference in Qishan."

Wen Ning smiled shyly and nods. "I-I am glad that Wei-Gu Niang remembered me."

Wei WuHui downed her cup of water, feeling quite relieved of the dryness in her throat fading away but when she moved a certain inch, fiery pain suddenly erupted in her body as she grunted painfully.

"C-Careful, Wei-Gu Niang. Your wounds are still healing." Wen Ning proclaimed as he helped ease her into a more comfortable position on the bed.

Wei WuHui looked down at her body, seeing the large amount of her body were covered in bandages that already has blood seeping out in her midsection. The flashback of Wen ZhuLiu punching a hole into her stomach appeared for a bit in her mind.

"Your Golden Core was the only thing keeping you breathing by the time Wen Ning realised you're still alive and brought you to me. Currently, only Wen Ning and I knows that you're still alive. The world, however, think you're dead." Wen Qing explained.

Bandaged hands can only clenched tightly on the blanket as Wei WuHui glared down. "Damn that Wen Chao and his croons." She sneered angrily.

———

A few hours has past since Wei WuHui awoken and already she was trying to stand up from the bed. Which didn't make Wen Qing happy at all.

"Would you just stay down for even a few seconds? This is the fourth time you are trying to move!" Wen Qing scolded as she stared at the guilty girl in annoyance.

"Don't blame me, I can't just lay on the bed all day." Wei WuHui pouted.

Wen Qing just rolled her eyes before she turned to her little brother. "Watch over this brat, I have to go and check some things." And with that, she left the room.

Wei WuHui sighed, leaning back on the pillows as she closed her eyes, letting the calm silence eased her mind. She eventually moved into a comfortable lotus position, meditating her spiritual energy that still radiated strongly.

Suddenly, loud shouts and yells erupted from outside as Wen Ning and Wei WuHui stiffened. They then saw a tall shadow from the opposite side of the doors and Wen Ning, who seem to recognise who, opened the door and quickly pulled the person in.

Which immediately backfired on Wen Ning, who were held by the throat against the wall. He quickly held up his hands in surrender.

"Quiet! Or I'll break your neck!"

Wei WuHui stayed frozen on the bed, her eyes slowly glistening with tears at the sight before her. She gasped out. "Gege."

With that one name, Wei WuXian immediately turned toward the voice and right there, right in front of his very eyes, was the sight of his twin sitting up on the bed with bandages covering her body as tears streamed down her face.

"...Mèimei?" Wei WuXian breathes out in disbelief. Blinking rapidly as he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His twin. His sister, alive and breathing.

The weight of Jiang Cheng on his back slowly slipped away as he didn't noticed Wen Ning pulling him off and setting him over to the spare bed in the room as Wei WuXian immediately rushed over and collapsed right in front of his twin as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Tears already out as he sobbed. "Mèimei...Mèimei you're here, you're really here in my arms. Please don't let this be a dream, please tell me that you're real. Please don't leave me again."

Wei WuHui choked out a soft sob as she smiled down at her brother, cradling his head to her stomach as she stroked his hair. "I'm here, Gege. I'm here and I won't leave you. Ever again, I promise."

Wen Ning watched the tearful moment as the twins was reunited together and crying in each other's arms. However, he completely forgot one thing 'till it actually hits him in the face.

Next minute, the doors suddenly flies opened, revealing the irritated Wen Qing that glares fiercely at the occupiers of the room.

'Uh oh...oh dear'

TRANSLATION NOTE:

— Jing Chu: an ancient Chinese region roughly corresponding to present-day Hubei and Hunan Province

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(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)