.
The next morning, the sun rises with a promise of clarity. The young disciples were able to narrow the list of suspects to 3 people: Jin Yon (Jin Zixun's widow), Jin Xiolin (a follower of Jin Guangyao) and Jin Qion (a follower of Jin Guangshan). All had extreme distaste towards Wuxian. The widow blamed Wuxian for her husband's disgrace and death. Xiolin, who's now the leader of disciples, secretly still believes that Jin Guangyao was wrongfully accused and used as a scapegoat for Wuxian's sins. Qion, a wealthy Lin Clan elder, despises the chaos Wuxian creates every time he visits Carp Tower. He voiced his displeasure about allowing Wuxian back during this visit. They were all present during the assembly, had access to the treasure vault and had the knowledge (and wealth) to alter the poison. The question is: Which one of them did it?
Wangji was determined to find the answer by nightfall. All three suspects will be present during the night hunt celebration tonight and he wants to confront them while the other clan leaders are still present. He was sitting with his soul-bond, warming his cold hands in his and watching him sleep. He hasn't woken up yet from his last ordeal but the healer assures him that he's recovering faster while he sleeps.
Wangji smiles when Wuxian lets out a content sigh and moves closer to Wangji, seeking warmth. Wen Ning, who hasn't left Wuxian's side, whispers: "He's never this relaxed. Your presence comforts him even in sleep."
Wangji smiles at Wen Ning: "I'm sure he feels the same way about you."
Wen Ning looks seriously at Wangji: "May I ask for a favor?"
Wangji nods. Ning frowns: "Let me kill whoever did this."
Wangji looks shocked. Ning: "He is my soul-brother before he became your soul-bond. Someone used my Clan's secrets to poison him. My anger will not be satisfied without spilling blood."
Wangji stares at Ning and nods: "You will not touch anyone until they're proven guilty."
Wen Ning bows in understanding.
Bhao enters silently and bows. He looks worriedly at Wuxian before addressing Wangji in a low voice: "Hanguang Jun, we found something that needs your immediate attention." Wangji kisses the hands in his and leaves to join the youth outside.
An hour later, Wen Ning hears a loud crash coming outside of the healer's room. He rushes to see what happens. He opens the door to look outside, but not step out, not wanting to leave Wuxian unprotected. One of the healer's disciples was carrying too many jars and slipped, breaking them on the ground. A small weak voice is heard behind Wen Ning: "Wh.. What happened?"
Wen Ning turns around to see a disoriented Wuxian, trying to remove the covers around him to get up. He rushes to him and grabs his wrists to stop his movement: "Master Wei, all is well. One of the disciples dropped a few jars outside. Go back to sleep."
Wuxian stops struggling, blinks tiredly at him while shivering: "Cold."
Wen Ning smiles at how innocent Wuxian looks. He gets up to look for extra blankets to cover him and returns to find a young disciple helping Wuxian drink what seems like water. Something didn't sit right with him. So far, no one touched or tended to Wuxian other than the master healer himself. He dropped the blankets and rushed to grab the young boy: "What is this?"
The disciple looks shaken up: "Master Wen, it's just water."
Wen Ning takes the cup from his hand and drinks it. It tastes sweet. He looks furiously at the disciple and yanks him up, out the door and throws him on the floor: "WHO SENT YOU?"
The disciple cowers in fear and covers his head whimpering: "No one! It's just water! I swear!"
The healer rushes towards them and sees a scary Wen Ning glaring at the young boy on the ground: "What is going on here?"
Ning flashes him a furious look and demands: "Do you know him?"
The healer gets closer to look and shakes his head.
The young boy sobs: "The groundskeeper sent me to help. I just gave him water when he asked for it, I swear!"
Sizhui rushes in when he hears the commotion from afar. Wen Ning nods his command to him and he silently walks around them to check on Wuxian. He finds him visibly shaking but too tired to get up: "Master Wei, you need to calm down!"
Wuxian weakly grabs Sizhui's arm: "What's hap.. happening?"
Sizhui smiles calmly at Wuxian and pulls up all the fallen blankets around him to warm him: "Do you trust us, father?"
Wuxian was shaken out of his distress by the name 'father' and took a deep breath: "Always."
The young cultivator places his palm on Wuxian's forehead and calmly says: "Then let us handle this. All you need to do is recover. We will deal with the rest. Alright?"
Wuxian blinks slowly at him and with one last small nod, falls back to sleep.
The healer can feel the dark vengeful aura coming off of Wen Ning and even though it scared him, he needs to contain the situation before he kills the young boy: "Master Wen, can you tell me what happened?"
Wen Ning refuses to stop glaring at the boy but answers: "He tried to give Master Wei water. I stopped him and drank it instead. It was poisoned."
The healer frowned: "Poisoned? How are you not dead?"
Wen Ning smirks at the boy: "I am the Ghost General. You cannot poison what is already dead!"
Jingyi rushed in after being called by one of the healer's scared disciples: "What's going on? Who's this?"
The healer approaches the sobbing boy on the ground: "Young man, I haven't requested any assistance from the groundskeeper. State your business here!"
The boy looks fearfully at the people around him: "I.. I.. I just gave him water."
Wen Ning goes and grabs him, lifting him off the ground by his robes and yells: "Jingyi! Bring the cup of water that's placed on the table near the healer's bed."
Jingyi rushes to comply and returns with the cup. Wen Ning grabs it and places it a few inches before the sobbing boy's face and demands with a low voice: "Drink it."
The boy shakes his head and begs: "Forgive me! Spare my life! I'm just following orders!"
Wen Ning sneers: "DRINK IT!"
The healer rushes in: "Master Wen, we need him alive to tell us who's behind this. Please spare him for now."
Jingyi: "Master Wen, calm down. He's just a puppet doing his master's bidding. We need to get information before we punish him."
Wen Ning glares at them both and with a threatening low voice: "He will die."
Jingyi pleads: "You can kill him all you want later. Let us use him for now."
Wen Ning throws the boy to the ground and with one last glare turns around and returns to Wuxian's side.
The healer drops to the ground in relief while Jingyi ties up the terrified boy.
The healer whispers: "I've never been more scared in my life."
Jingyi scoffs: "You should witness Treasure Wei's wrath. That will make you wish for an early death."
Jingyi drags the bound boy to Wangji while the healer goes in to check on his patient. He sees Wen Ning laying in bed beside the sleeping Wuxian. He had an arm under Wuxian's head and the other around his waist. The healer was about to protest but Sizhui stopped him by shaking his head: "Let him. He needs it."
The healer lets out a sigh and cautiously works around the fierce corpse.
Night fall chased the sun away and the festivities started quicker than they all anticipated. Wangji was sitting at his table an hour into the banquet, beside Cheng's table, and stealthily looking around looking for his target. He has a plan in mind and today.. he will be taking no prisoners.
When Ziyang finally made his way towards his table, Wangji stood up and accepted his offered toast. Wuxian was not around to drink the alcohol on his behalf, so before he sips a drop of it he says: "Jin Clan Leader, have you made any progress in finding who poisoned my soul-bond and yourself?"
Ziyang shakes his head, so Wangji turns to look at Cheng who joins them: "Jiang Clan Leader seems to have a theory."
Cheng smirks: "I was wondering.. how were you able to trap so many forest spirits? I mean.. the timing was impeccable."
Ziyang: "I wanted to create a final challenge for the youth at the end of the hunt. I didn't expect there to be an emergency."
Cheng: "But why only in two location?"
Ziyang frowns: "Are you accusing me of something?"
Cheng smiles: "No. I'm just wondering.. who set up and trapped these spirits? I know you've been busy entertaining us to do it yourself. Can you introduce us to the genius behind this?"
Ziyang smiles and nods to one of his followers who went to fetch the lead disciple: "This is Jin Xiolin, our head disciple and a respected teacher among his peers."
The man bows to the leaders: "I apologize if my traps and collected monsters inconvenienced you. It was constructed for practice purposes not to hinder your hasty return."
Wangji stays silent while Cheng gets closer to the disciple: "How come you didn't participate in the night hunt?"
Xiolin looks passively at Jiang Leader: "I had more pressing matters to tend to."
Cheng: "Such as ..?"
Xiolin: "May I ask why I'm being questioned?"
Cheng smirks and steps into his personal space: "We found a bird. That bird told us that you had a plan. A sinister plan." He turns to Ziyang: "Would you like to hear it?"
Ziyang looks intrigued and motions with his hand for Cheng to continue: "You see.. this bird has a master that trained it with all the other birds to follow orders without questioning them. This particular bird was trained in mixing and administering poison. But, that bird got caught and sang so loud about his master and the sinful things he has planned."
Cheng nods his head to one of his followers who went out and came back with Bhao, dragging a disheveled looking boy.
Wangji: "We caught this boy trying to poison Wei Ying with water this morning. He has confirmed that lead disciple Xiolin sent him to 'complete his failed task' after my soul-bond survived the poisoned wine."
Xiolin looked pissed and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword: "You have no evidence!"
Jingyi steps in and calmly hands over scripts to Ziyang: "They were found hidden in his quarters and with other young disciples. We have accounts of his whereabouts and proof that he's the one who adjusted the poison."
Ziyang looks furiously at the papers handed to him then throws them on the ground before taking out his sword and aiming it at Xiolin: "HOW DARE YOU POISON OUR GUESTS AND I!"
Wangji grabs his arm: "He's not for you to kill."
Wangji turns to the defiant looking man: "Why?"
Xiolin looks disgustingly at them: "You are all blinded by him. He is a demon that deserves to suffer and die a horrible death. My only regret is that I didn't make him suffer enough before I was caught!"
Cheng grabs him and screams: "WHAT DID HE EVER DO TO YOU?"
Xiolin pushes him back: "HE KILLED MY MENTOR! Leader Guangyao was a good man who didn't deserve to die to cover that monster's sins."
Without warning, Xiolin grabs Ziyang and stabs him with his sword. He rushes to strike Wangji but a chain comes out of nowhere and wraps around him tightly. They all look back when they hear a loud scream to see a furious Wen Ning running towards Xiolin. Before anyone could react, Wen Ning grabs the ends of his chains and pulls them so hard, the man trapped in them screams in agony as he's squeezed to death. His blood paints the hall creating a gore filled atmosphere covered in silence. Without another word, Wen Ning calmly retracts his chains, bows to Wangji and leaves.
Wangji was frozen in shock, Bichen still out as he was ready to defend himself. He turns to look at the horrific scene before him. Everyone was speechless until Jin Chan spoke up: "FATHER! Someone help me!"
Ziyang was bleeding heavily, his blood mixing with the sprayed bits of the man that stabbed him. People started moving the next moment and chaos started to set. It took Wangji hours to calm people down and get things back into order. He was not able to return and change his blood soaked robes until midnight. He then left to check on his soul-bond. Wen Ning returned to cuddling Wuxian in bed. The only thing he knows that can calm his rage. Wangji entered silently and sat next to the bed: "Wen Ning, your reaction was extreme."
Wen Ning buried his face in Wuxian's hair and whispered: "I was kind in killing him swiftly. He deserved a slow, more painful death."
Wangji rubbed his head in frustration: "Promise me this is the last time you show such.. coarse way of punishment in public."
Wen Ning pulled back enough to glare at Wangji: "I will not apologize for serving him justice."
Wangji: "I wouldn't let the person who tried to kill my beloved go free. You acted rashly."
Wen Ning: "I didn't kill the boy.. yet."
Wangji sighs: "You need to control yourself if you wish to elevate Wei Ying's reputation. Half of the leaders were shaking in their boots from the bloodbath you left behind."
Wen Ning nods timidly but whispers: "I regret nothing."
Wuxian hums softly and opens his tired eyes to look at the person wrapped around him. Wen Ning rarely initiates contact with others unless he's emotionally compromised. Wuxian touches his cheek and speaks softly: "Are you alright?"
Wen Ning smiles at him: "All is well."
Wuxian turns around to see a frustrated looking Wangji: "Did I miss something?"
Wangji forces a smile and shakes his head.
Wuxian looks between the two men and sighs: "Are you two fighting?"
They both look offended so he tries again: "Then what is it? Why is Wen Ning clinging to me for comfort and Lan Zhan sulking like someone offended his honor."
Wangji cuts his rant: "We caught the person who tried to poison you."
Wuxian looks surprised: ".. and?"
Wangji looks accusingly at Wen Ning, who ducks his head. Wuxian nudges him and says more firmly: ".. and?"
Wen Ning whispers: "I killed him."
Wuxian sits up and screams: "YOU DID WHAT?"
Wen Ning rushes to grab Wuxian when he sways before he falls off the bed. Wuxian pushes him off when the worlds stops spinning and whispers tiredly: "Tell me you didn't do something stupid."
Wen Ning looks at Wangji for help. Wangji just stares at him, so he swallows and tells him the events that led to this moment. Wuxian looks blankly at Wen Ning: "You crushed a man to death with your chains?" Wen Ning scratches his head and nods. Wuxian looks at Wangji: "He.. crushed a man.. to death.. with his chains.. in front of all the other clans?"
Wangji closes his eyes in resignation and nods. Wuxian covers his face and flops back into bed: "What do we do now?"
Wangji pulls his hands off his face and smiles at him: "You do nothing. I already explained his actions and calmed the other leaders down."
Wuxian looks sadly at Wen Ning who's moved a little bit away from Wuxian out of fear but still nervously plays with Wuxian's robes waiting to be scolded. Wuxian sits up again and pulls him into a tight embrace: "I'm sorry. I always seem to be the cause of all the bad things that happen to you. I'm sorry." Wen Ning was shocked to hear Wuxian's apology and starts to freak out when he feels him shake as he sobs silently: "Master Wei! No no no no.. Please don't cry! I won't do it again I promise. Never ever again."
Wuxian pulls back to wipe his tears with shaky hands and cup Wen Ning's cheeks: "I don't want people to fear you. If you use violence in the name of my protection, I have no choice but to take the blame for your actions. Please don't put yourself in danger for my sake. My life is not worth more than others. Alright?"
Wen Ning nods: "I promise."
Wuxian turns to look tiredly at Wangji: "Jin Clan leader.. is he alright?"
Wangji: "He's not doing well. He's still recovering from the poisoning and the stab wound is taking too long to heal."
Wuxian extends his hand for Wangji: "Help me up."
Wangji pushed him back: "No. You're supposed to be laying down."
Wuxian shouts: "HELP ME UP!"
Wangji glares at him and doesn't comply. Wuxian takes a deep breath and tries again: "I can help him. I have to make amends for what Ning did. Now please.. help me."
The healer walks in before Wangji protests: "You should be laying down Treasure Wei."
Wuxian looks defiantly at the healer: "I feel fine."
The healer moves closer and grabs his wrist to take his pulse: "The dead are in better health than you."
Wuxian sighs: "Master Healer, I just need to get to the gardens outside. I promise that's as far as I will go."
The healer looks skeptically at him for a few seconds until he continues: "I'm trying to save your Clan Leader. I just need a few minutes."
The healer nods and Wangji carries his soul-bond outside and sets him on the ground. Wuxian draws some symbols on the dirt and places his hand on it. It starts glowing gold until the light gives way to a small tree that grows exponentially. One golden leaf appears and he picks it. He turns to face the healer: "Give this to Jin Clan Leader. It will heal all his ailments."
The healer looks confused but when Wangji nods his approval, he hands it over to one of his disciples to take it to the Clan Leader's attending healer. After settling Wuxian back in bed, the healer examines him once more and makes him drink another sedative.
Wangji sits with the healer after Wuxian falls asleep and asks him: "When will Wei Ying be strong enough to travel?"
The healer: "If he stays most of the day laying down in a carriage and calm then he can leave the day after tomorrow. I still don't recommend long distance travel."
Wangji nods and looks at his sleeping soul-bond: "Is his pulse back to normal?"
The healer: "Yes, for the most part. Because he's been sleeping for the past few days, he's again lost more weight. We've reached a point where it's affecting his health more than his erratic pulse. He needs to eat more fatty foods and rich ingredients so his body can start healing itself again."
Wangji shares a worried look with Wen Ning, who resumed his post next to Wuxian's bed, and turns to face the healer: "I will send the young disciples with your recommended foods and to gather more provisions for our travel."
The next day, news traveled across Carp Tower about the leader's miraculous recovery. Rumours circulated about the magical golden leaf and the blessings of the Treasure of Gusu Lan. People from all around the city were gathered in front of the healers home, hoping to get cured by the sick man.
Ziyang was making his way to visit Wuxian when he saw all the people waiting outside the healer's room. He announced his presence and entered a room guarded heavily by the Lan young disciples and Wen Ning. Wangji was once again sitting beside his soul-bond, warming his cold hands and humming a soothing song. He turns to acknowledge the clan leader then squeezes Wuxian's hand: "Wei Ying, Jin Clan Leader is here to see you."
Wuxian opens tired eyes to look at Ziyang: "Jin Clan Leader, forgive me. I am unable to get up and bow respectfully to you."
Ziyang instead bows deeply and speaks: "I am here to express my gratitude. I should be the only one bowing."
Wuxian shakes his head: "I am sorry for disturbing the cultivator conference and creating chaos within your sect. I hope this doesn't reflect poorly on your relation with Gusu Lan Sect."
Ziyang gets closer to Wuxian: "You saved my life even though I treated you with hostility. As a guest in my home, I have failed to protect and honor your presence. For that, I am truly sorry and I hope this doesn't deter you from visiting us in the future Treasurer Wei."
Wuxian smiles at him: "Since we both apologized and said thank you, can we turn a new page and stop the bad blood between our clans?"
Ziyang smiles back and nods. He looks back to the door he came through and whispers: "People heard about your gifts. Is it true, you can heal all ailments?"
Wuxian sighs deeply and rubs his forehead: "All ailments but mine."
Ziyang: "I will ask the disciples to return the people outside to their homes."
Wuxian shakes his head: "That won't be necessary. I've asked the healer to assess their conditions and pick the dire cases for me to heal before I leave."
Ziyang bows deeply: "On behalf of my clan and the people of my city, we thank you for your blessings Treasure Wei."
After he leaves, Wangji turns to look at Wuxian: "You need to heal before healing others."
Wuxian smiles at him: "If I can save a few for the price of some discomfort, it is worth the trade."
The healer walks in: "Treasure Wei, I have assessed the conditions of the people outside, only 5 have death-inducing sickness that need immediate attention." Wuxian uses the hand holding his to pull himself up. He looks at Wangji and smiles: "Let's go fix people."
Because of the restrictions the Mother Tree placed on his gift, it took a while for all five patients to be cured. They had to wait for each person to cure completely before the tree withered and allowed for another to be grown in its place. Wuxian leaned heavily on Wen Ning while he waited outside for each tree growth cycle. During that time, he was surrounded by his young disciples, Ouyang's disciples and Jin Ling. He was playing a game to test their cultivation knowledge and so far, they were all doing well, except Jin Ling who refuses to participate.
Cheng passed by and saw his brother sitting on the ground, surrounded by young disciples and smiling happily and stopped to watch them. He cannot figure out why Jin Ling is still acting strangely around Wuxian but still seeks him company.
He stops at the garden gate and yells: "Jin Ling, follow me!"
Wuxian looks worriedly between his brother and Ling: "Cheng, why don't you join us for a few minutes? The kids can learn from your wisdom."
Cheng huffs: "I'm banned from coming near you while you recover!"
Wuxian looks shocked: "WHAT?"
Cheng rolls his eyes: "Your healer kicked me out and threatened me."
Wuxian laughs and says: "You're scared of a middle-aged healer?"
Cheng frowns: "Shut it! I did it for you!"
Wuxian winks at him: "But I miss your sunny personality. Come here and warm me with your love!"
Cheng growls at him and drags Jin Ling away, hearing Wuxian laugh as he walks away.
Cheng turns a corner and faces his nephew: "Are you coming to Lotus Pier with us?"
Ling looks down and nods.
Cheng: "Your uncle is coming with us. Do I need to start threatening you or are you going to behave?"
Ling swallows and replies: "I won't create trouble."
Cheng glares at him then walks away.
Ling looks back at Wuxian, watching him make another tree as the last one withers and thinks to himself: 'Maybe this time I will have the chance to speak with him and clear things up once and for all.'
.