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Zewu Jun was standing in the middle of an angry, screaming group of people. The crowd has thinned out since most of them decided to take it upon themselves to go look for the fleeing Divine Oracle. The quiet man wasn't listening to the rants of those who stayed behind. All he cared about was the torn coat he was holding and the blood that was on it. They had one job: protect Wei Wuxian from the city occupants. Looking around at the aftermath of what happened an hour ago and the only feeling he can recognize within himself is failure. These people are ordinary people. Not cultivators. Not spirits or fierce corpses.. Just your everyday, normal human being. Yet, with the aid of two clans of well known cultivators, they failed to protect one person.
Zewu Jun was able to contain what was left of the people around the well. He made many promises he was sure he couldn't keep. A politician always offers the sun and aims to deliver the moon. Anything to calm these unreasonable folks. All he cared about at the moment is creating a safe environment for Wuxian and his brother to return without the fear of a redo of what just happened. The disciples he sent were unable to find Wangji and Wuxian. Zewu Jun knew that if Wangji didn't want to be found then there was nothing for them to do but wait. Nie came over and looked at the bloody coat: "What should we do? The disciples cannot find them."
Zewu Jun frowns: "That is out of our hands for now. Let's concentrate on what we have to do."
Nie: "Which is?"
Zewu Jun: "Find the city council. Wake them up if need be. We have a deal to make."
On the outskirts of the city, Wei Wuxian was staring wide eyed at the transformed woman before him. He did not expect the leaf to work this well. He whispered: "Well.. that was different."
Wangji was as shocked as he was: "'Different is an understatement."
Wuxian leaned over the table to touch Meili's new smooth face to make sure that she was real: "You have to see yourself in the mirror!"
Meili shakes her head: "I don't have one. Father said we shouldn't be vain."
Wangji unsheathes Bichen and brings it close to her so she can see her reflection on it's blade. Meili was smiling: "Wah.. How is this possible?"
She stood up and looked down at her even legs and arms. She walked around and jumped then turned to beam at Wuxian: "I'M NOT LIMPING! LOOK AT MY ARMS! THEY'RE EVEN!"
Her happiness was radiating. It made Wuxian's bad day worth the trouble.
Wuxian looked at Wangji and asked: "What are we supposed to do now? Can we go back to the inn?"
Wangji shakes his head: "I don't think it's safe."
He heard a knock on the door and it shocked Meili: "No one ever knocked this door before."
Wuxian sensed who it was before he jumped to open it. Wen Ning was standing there, holding Da Ziran and frowning with worry. He grabbed Wuxian and pulled him into a tight embrace which allowed the snake to move back to its original companion. Wen Ning: "I was worried."
Wuxian pats his back: "Clearly."
Wen Ning lets go then grabs Wuxian's chin to see the bandages underneath: "Is it a deep wound?"
Wuxian pulls his hand away and steps into the house: "Nope. Lan Zhan took care of it."
Meili stares at the new arrival while he bows to her: "He's not alive.. is he?"
Wuxian was not expecting that. How did this person, who is not a cultivator or had spiritual energy, know what a fierce corpse is? Wen Ning smiles at her and points at Wuxian: "I'm his guardian. I apologize for intruding."
Meili steps close to Wuxian and whispers: "Is he a fierce corpse? I didn't know they could talk?"
Wuxian: "I made him. He's one of a kind, conscious fierce corpse."
Meili steps into Wen Ning's space with curiosity and pokes him a few times: ".. fascinating. I've read about your kind in books but I've never seen one in real life. I have so many questions."
Wen Ning smiles awkwardly at the weird woman then turns to look at the two men: "Zewu Jun has sent everyone out to look for you. Da Ziran kept pointing towards this house so I followed her lead."
Wangji: "Has brother contained the situation?"
Wen Ning shudders: "Barely. These people are unreasonable. They acted like Master Wei is public property that needs to be displayed for all to share and enjoy."
Wangji: "The inn?"
Wen Ning: "They've crowded the doors but Nie Clan Leader was able to keep them from going in. Zewu Jun said you can ride the sword to get in through the window for now."
Wangji: "We will not return unless it's safe."
Wen Ning: "We can leave the same way we go in. These people cannot ride the sword and we're already discovered so we can do that freely."
Wuxian yawns and sits down when a wave of exhaustion washed over him: "Lan Zhan, I'm tired. I don't have it in me to come up with a better plan."
Wangji nods and helps him up and towards the door. Before they leave, Wuxian turns to Meili: "Since no one will recognize you with your new appearance, would you mind joining us tomorrow for dinner? I will need your extensive knowledge to help me solve a mystery."
Meili smiles and nods. Wangji: "I will send a disciple to fetch you."
With the help of Bichen, Wuxian made it safely into the inn. He immediately laid down on the bed, feeling heaviness settle into every bone in his body. He was sound asleep before his head hits the pillow. Wen Ning didn't waste time and fetched the healer. Shi rushed in to find a passed out Wuxian and had to assess his condition while he was sleeping. With the help of Wangji, they were able to undress Wuxian so she could examine him. Shi gasped at the extensive bruising around her patient's arms and back. She cursed under her breath: "Savages!" While Wangji felt anger well up within him. He never knew how easily a person without spiritual energy or a golden core could bruise. It looked painful but his soul-bond didn't even complain once. These blue and purple markings on his soulmate are a testament to his failure.
Shi rubbed ointment on the bruises and checked Wuxian's neck scratches. When she was done, she pulled Wangji to the side to whisper to him: "He will be fine. You did a good job dressing his wound. I would recommend that he rest up tomorrow. With the amount of people piling outside the door, I don't think he has any other choice."
Wangji stiffly nods and she excused herself. The taller man was too hyped up to sleep so he opted to meditate nearby. Zewu Jun quietly made his way in the early morning to find his brother still meditating. He sat at the table and waited until Wangji joined them. He nods towards the sleeping man and says in a low voice: "Was he hurt badly?"
Wangji looked down, glaring at the table still feeling vexed over what happened.
Zewu Jun: "How bad?"
Wangji: "Scratch marks and bruises."
Zewu Jun sighs with relief: "It could've been worse."
Wangji looks sharply at his brother: "It could've been better."
Zewu Jun: "It happened. Let it go."
Wangji turns to stare sadly at his soulmate while his brother updated him with the current situation: "I met with the City Council. We made an agreement. If Wuxian would allow it, I can arrange for a few people to receive his blessings per day. In exchange, the city occupants will promise not to bother Wuxian if he chooses to visit the well again." Zewu Jun scoffs: "They voiced their support to him actually touching it and blessing it.. whatever that means."
Wangji: "Why should he heal those who inflicted pain on him?"
Zewu Jun shakes his head: "Brother, don't be petty."
Wangji slams his cup on the table: "These people don't deserve him!"
Wuxian was startled awake when he heard the loud bang: "Wah.." Adrenaline got him out of bed and crashing into the floor before the brothers could catch him.
Zewu Jun grabbed his arm and helped him back on the bed: "Brother Wei, are you alright?"
Wuxian looks around frantically: "What happened? What was that noise? Did they make their way in?"
The fear in Wuxian's eyes made the older man guilty. He turned to glare at Wangji and said: "Calm down. Wangji got excited and forgot you were sleeping."
Wuxian closed his eyes in relief and took a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart. After a minute he asked: "What time is it?"
Wangji: "Early morning."
Wuxian scratched the bandage at his neck and Zewu Jun gently removed his hand away: "Brother Wei, I'm sorry for what happened."
Wuxian shook his head: "It's not your fault. I'm sorry you guys have to suffer because of me."
Zewu Jun smiles at him: "Serving the Divine Oracle is an honor and a pleasure. Never apologize to us for that."
One of the disciples brought in food and the three men sat down, discussing what Meili told them about the blessed well. Zewu Jun rubbed his chin: "This story somehow sounds more credible than the fable Nie told us."
Wuxian: "It's pretty dark for something that's associated with happiness and health."
Zewu Jun looks critically at Wuxian: "Your golden leaf was able to fix someone's deformity. I didn't know that was possible since it's not really considered an ailment."
Wuxian shrugs: "We can add it to the list of things the leaf can do for future reference."
Wangji turns to look at his soul-bond: "You had a vision when we were at the well. What did you see?"
Wuxian did his best to describe what he saw. Zewu Jun: "I examined the well thoroughly when we arrived. There are no markings inside the wall."
Wuxian: "It reminded me of the Mother Tree. There were markings on it that only I can see. Even Lan Zhan couldn't see it even though it was clear as day and glowing. Maybe this is the same. Maybe I need to go see if I can spot it myself."
Wangji: "I will take you another day. Today you must rest."
Wuxian scoffs: "I'm fine."
Wangji glares at him then pushes the sleeve of Wuxian's robes to reveal a variety of blue, green and purple bruises along his arm. He said angrily: "This is not fine."
Zewu Jun's eyes widened: "These look painful!"
Wuxian pulled away from Wangji's grasp and fixed his sleeve to hide the markings. He whispered: "I've had worse."
Wuxian was forced to stay in their room for the rest of the day. Sizhui and Jingyi fetched Meili per Wangji's request and they pushed through the people crowding the doors. Meili was at awe over everything. She's never seen so many people, never been in an inn before or been invited by two well known cultivator clans. Everything was overwhelming and the most shocking thing was.. no one looked at her differently. People take their normal looks for granted and for someone who was told that she was ugly and scary, this was a blessing she will never be able to repay.
Meili entered a big room to find Wuxian and Wangji sitting next to each other joined by two other men and two women. Wuxian introduced Zewu Jun, Nie, Yuxio and Mianmian to her and they all exchanged bows. They all agreed to share his vision with her before she arrived. She took a few minutes to digest all that information then said: "So.. we need to figure out what the mysterious man from your vision wants so we can stop him?"
Wuxian nods. Meili: ".. and if we cannot stop him, then everyone in Luxia City will die?"
Wuxian nods again. Mianmian: "I went to check the well today upon Zewu Jun's request and confirmed that the markings are not visible. At least not to me or the three disciples I took with me."
Wuxian: "That doesn't mean it's not there. I know where it's located. Maybe I can activate it."
Yuxio: "It's still too crowded at the well. After yesterday's fiasco, I don't think any of us wants you near these uncontrollable people. You're too pretty for the likes of them." Wuxian rolls his eyes at her.
Zewu Jun: "The city council assured me that what happened yesterday will not happen again. We just need to announce your visit beforehand and they will make sure that the well will be off limits for as long as you wish."
Wangji: "Their words mean nothing. We will use force this time if need be."
Zewu Jun frowns at his brother: "I know you are being overprotective but that will not be necessary. We are talking about ordinary people. Any force used by us will assure their demise."
Wangji glares back: "They harmed my soul-bond. I will not be lenient."
Wuxian grabs Wangji's arm: "Stop it! We came here to save these people not cause them trouble. We will proceed with caution. If Zewu Jun can handle this with deals and politics then I trust him."
Zewu Jun smiles at him and nods his appreciation.
Something occurred to Wuxian when he was resting before. He looked seriously at Meili: "I know you like books, especially diaries of travelers. Do these include accounts of traveling cultivators?"
Meili: "Yes. I enjoy these more than others. It counts for a more.. interesting read."
Wuxian looks warily at her and asks: "Have you heard of a book called: Darkest of Days?"
All those present were shocked that Wuxian would ask about that book. It was considered top secret information that only a few knew about. Meili thought about it for a second and said: "I have. Actually.. it was written in quite a few diaries. That's why I remember the name clearly. Why do you ask?"
Wuxian shares a hesitant look with his soul-bond and brother then asks: "Can you tell us everything you know about it?"
Meili: "I don't know the exact content of the book but I read second hand accounts of people who read it. According to them, Darkest of Days is a prophecy book that speaks of a cursed time brought by a bitter man who roamed the earth and destroyed all the naturally available good energy sources. He would visit blessed locations and worshiped cities and would ask their guardians for help. It is said that what the man requested was so vile that no one sane would agree to grant his wish. When refused, he would destroy their grace and snatch the spirits of all those who benefited from it's blessings. The more cities he destroys, the stronger he gets, the more violent his actions become. Like everything in nature, life finds a way to balance itself. It is said that a man with golden features will be chosen to help find that man, stop him and bring forth the light that will erase his darkness."
Zewu Jun: "How sure are you about this information?"
Meili: "The book was originally found in the Burial Mounds just before it became a city of graves. A group of tomb raiders found it and brought it to a bookkeeper to profit from it. I first saw it mentioned in that man's diary, he died horribly. It was mentioned again in a wealthy merchant's memoir. He was well known as a loan shark and took it as a bounty from a weak man who couldn't pay his dues. The merchant died horribly a short time after that. The book moved around quite a bit until it was mentioned again in a diary of a treasure hunter. In his account, the hunter believed that this prophecy book has a special power. It reflects one's intent when read. If you're a bad person then you will suffer or die horribly. If you're a good person then it will bring you good fortune and health. The treasure hunter suffered to find it and when he got sick after that he went to a man in white mourning robes. A well known cultivator. The hunter gave that man the book in exchange of energy cleansing. The man in white used a white jade zither to remove the curse of the book. That was the last I read about it from the books that I own."
The room was silent for a few minutes. Zewu Jun whispered: "White jade zither?"
They all turned to look at the ring in Wuxian's hand. He rubbed it then smiled, turned to smack Wangji's shoulder: "I told you that white robes make us look like we're mourning!"
Mianmian: "Does that mean that Master Wei is the only one who can safely read that book?"
Zewu Jun: "From her description, the cultivator is probably a member from our founding fathers. There is only one white jade zither ever made and it belongs to our clan."
Meili: "This means you probably have the book somewhere hidden in your sect."
Yuxio: "It was stolen and sold off. It is currently missing. That's why we're asking you for information."
Meili: "I wouldn't look for it if I were you. From the way those people died, one can only assume that it's a bad omen."
Wuxian: "The man who's about to bring darkness upon us has it. I would rather have it destroyed than used to bring misfortune on others. We find the book, we find him."
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