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Wei Wuxian was stuck in his headspace. It's been a few days since he visited the boy and so far they haven't made any significant progress. Zewu Jun spoke to the city council and they were not very cooperative. They refused to accept Meili's story about the well and chose to stick to their fable. They did however provide the city census documents which Taiho and Sizhui are going through to find any descendent of Luxia City's indigenous clan. It's a lot of documents and they're making slow progress.
Nie invited everyone for dinner that evening and Wuxian was currently sitting between Wangji and Zewu Jun, trying his best to avoid Yuxio's perverted stare and playing with his food. Any gathering that doesn't involve alcohol should be called a bummer fest. What intrigued Wuxian the most was the exchanged sharp looks between Meili and Nie. He didn't know these two knew each other well enough to despise one another or be uncomfortable with the other's presence. Either ways, this development didn't pass unnoticed.
Jingyi, who was sitting behind Hanguang Jun leans to whisper into Wuxian's ear: "This is boring. May I be excused?"
Wuxian pinches his arm: "If I have to stay, then you have to stay."
Jingyi rubs his sore arm and grumbles: "Fine!"
Nie: "Brother Wei, I haven't seen you in days. Is everything alright?"
Wangji: "I asked him to stay in our room for his protection."
Nie looks suspiciously at Wangji: "Wei Wuxian is more than capable of taking care of himself. Why the overprotectiveness?"
Wangji tightens his hold on his cup.
Zewu Jun: "Love makes people do irrational things. You should know. It was the same reason why you sought revenge on your brother's behalf."
Nie's eyes widened. That was a low blow from Zewu Jun.
Healer Shi, unlike the twin jades of Gusu Lan, had no problems with lying: "I required Treasure Wei's assistance with mixing some decoctions. He read many books and his memory is better than mine."
Nie raised an eyebrow: "If that's the case, then why are you here? He can be a healer in your stead."
Healer Shi eyebrows twitched. If this man wants a verbal war, she can give him that: "Knowledge and practice are not the same. You should know that, Nie Clan Leader. Anyone can read a book about fighting techniques but not everyone can wield a sword."
Jingyi whispered to Wuxian: "Oh snap!"
Wuxian nods and leans to whisper to Zewu Jun: "Who would you bet on?"
Zewu Jun: "Gambling is prohibited."
Wuxian tsks at him and leans back to ask Jingyi: "Wanna bet?"
Jingyi: "What's at stake?"
Wuxian: "Hmm.. I'll share my food with you for the next two days."
Wangji grabs Wuxian's arm in warning. So Wuxian tried again: "How about.. I let you hug me for 5 minutes."
Wangji turns to glare at the two of them. Wuxian punches his arm: "He's just a child. Get over it."
Jingyi protested: "I'm not a child!"
Wuxian: "Don't ruin this for yourself. If I win, you will shine my shoes for me."
Jingyi: "You're on! I vote for Nie sect leader."
Wuxian: "Little turtle will win for sure."
Their attention was back to the table to see Shi drink her tea with excessive force, while Nie looked at her with venom from behind his fan.
Nie: "A smart man can avoid conflict while a brute always ends up with scars and regrets."
Shi: "A smart man knows that confrontation is inevitable. Lies and deception is the game of the weak."
Nie: "Such an aggressive take coming from a healer."
Shi: "We normally break things to set them right. That's not violence, that's justice."
Nie: "Justice is in the eye of the beholder."
Shi: "Justice is based on the truth. Truth is never gray, it's clear as black and white."
Nie: "Not everyone can handle the truth."
Shi: "Who are we to judge others capabilities to handle it?"
Nie: "Leadership is about influence not authority. If we do not size those who follow us and provide the right situation for them to thrive, then what's the point of making clans?"
Shi: "Nie Clan Leader, I'm not a leader or a follower. Yet, I recognize power and authority based on one's transparency and ability to inspire. Leaders are chosen, not handed down like an heirloom."
Zewu Jun hides his smile behind his cup while Jingyi whispers to Wuxian: "She's good!"
Nie: "Those who learn by example and guidance are the best in their fields. I assume you were not born a doctor, why shouldn't a leader be groomed just the same?"
Shi: "Medicine is a science. Leadership is a talent."
Nie: "So talented swordsmen are born with their swords?"
Shi: "They were born to carry it, yes."
Nie: "Anyone can learn to carry a sword. That's why we don't turn down anyone who wishes to learn it based on talent alone."
Shi: "Anyone can learn anything, doesn't mean they can master it. There are those who will never surpass average and those who will always be in the lead."
Yuxio leans to whisper to Meili: "I lost track of what's happening. What were they arguing about in the first place?"
Meili: "Nie Sect Leader kind of accused Shi of lying and she's saying that he's a bigger liar and shouldn't judge other people."
Yuxio scratched her head: "When did that happen? Are we listening to the same conversation?"
Mianmian, who's sitting on her other side, taps her arm with sympathy: "It's implied. They're just covering it up with quotes and whatnot to lighten the mood."
Yuxio shudders: "This is a light conversation? I feel like they're a few seconds away from challenging each other for a death duel."
Nie: "Healer Shi, you seem very.. talented with your words. How come you became a healer and not a scholar?"
Shi: "A woman can have many talents. Labels don't define us, our actions do."
Nie: "Pray tell, what does my actions label me?"
Shi smirks at him: "I don't know you well enough but from what I heard, the know-nothing clan leader doesn't seem as ignorant as many would assume. Which begs the question, what are you hiding under that ruse?"
Nie smirks back: "I'm a Clan Leader. I have no reason to hide anything."
Shi: "Most people hide things out of fear. So, the only logical reason behind your subtle duality is either deception or fear."
Wuxian sighs loudly, drawing both their attention to him: "Why don't you both just slap each other and get it over with? Brother Nie, what is it with you and the elaborate schemes? Do you think you're smarter than everyone else? Or do you just like the sound of your own voice?"
Nie frowns at Wuxian: "You're the last person to talk. Cats share more than you ever will."
Wuxian: "Why does my business concern you?"
Nie purses his lips and angrily takes a sip from his tea. When silence stretches longer than Wuxian cares for, he says in a low voice: "Everyone.. leave."
Wangji and Zewu Jun turned to stare at Wuxian, shocked. He says: "Nie Sect Leader and I have unfinished business. So unless you want me to force you out, please leave."
They all reluctantly left the two behind.
Wuxian points at Nie: "Talk."
Nie closes his fan and looks down sadly at the empty cup before him: "I thought we were brothers. Ever since you came back, there has been a wall between us. While everyone else is standing next to you, I was left behind. I did what I had to do to avenge my brother's death. I apologized and paid my dues. Yet, you all still push me to the side and pretend I'm someone you need protection from."
Wuxian: "Nie Huaisang, you made your bed. Now you must lay in it."
Nie: "I refuse to accept that!"
Wuxian raises his eyebrow: "How is that my problem?"
Nie moves to sit next to Wuxian: "Brother Wei, the days I spent with you in Cloud Recesses when we were young were the happiest and most freeing days of my life. You and Jiang Cheng were the brothers I wish I had. I didn't need to pretend with you two, unlike the stress I had to go through with my big brother. I'm not delusional, I know you both don't think the same about me. But I care a lot about you. Why can't we let bygones be bygones? I can help you."
Wuxian stares at Nie. He was struggling with how much he can trust this man. He knows that Nie suffered from being ostracized by his clan members for not picking up the blade like all the other leaders before him. He was lonely.
Wuxian: "Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?"
Nie sighs loudly: "Why would I hide anything from you?"
Wuxian shrugs: "You tell me."
Nie opens his fan and stands up: "If you're planning to use any excuse to push me away, at least have the decency to use a valid one."
Wuxian grabs his robes to stop him from leaving: "Sit down! I'm not done talking."
Nie sits down reluctantly and pouts: "When did you become bossy?"
Wuxian glares at him: "When people around me decided to act like spoiled children."
Wuxian spent the next hour telling his story since he lost his golden core until this moment. Nie stayed silent, listening to every detail Wuxian was willing to share. When Wuxian was done, Nie took a few minutes to digest the.. train wreck of events that lead to this moment.
Nie: "So.. your spiritual energy is sealed?"
Wuxian nods.
Nie: "Shenhua Clan?"
Wuxian sighs then nods.
Nie thinks for a second then says: "I know where their sect is."
Wuxian's eyes widen: "How?"
Nie smirks: "We had an.. altercation with them a few years back. I sent them a.. gift of appreciation for harming my men."
Wuxian chuckles: "That sounds like an interesting story."
Nie looks seriously at Wuxian and says: "I think I know who the man you described from your vision is. He doesn't have a name, only a title: The Slayer."
Wuxian frowns: "Why doesn't he have a name?"
Nie gets closer to whisper: "He has one. He just renounced it when his father was killed and none of his previous clansmen sought to avenge his death. They actually harbored his murderer so he vowed to soil their name by killing those who aid them. He wiped out many clans before Shenhua Clan Leader invited him to join them and purge his hatred with all his other emotions. He's their go-to cleaner now."
Wuxian shivers: "Cleaner?"
Nie nods: "You might want to ask Grandmaster Qiren about him. He might have heard about his father's untimely death."
Wuxian: "Thank you. This information should help us with solving the second vision before it comes to pass."
Nie: "I told you I can be useful."
Wuxian sizes Nie for a second then smiles: "I think I know what you're hiding."
Nie blushes then says: "W.. What?"
Wuxian narrows his eyes at Nie: "You had every chance to confront me since we came here.. but didn't until Meili joined us. Why is that?"
Nie: "How did you know I met with her?"
Wuxian bluffs: "Zewu Jun trained my snitches. He knows what he's doing and they are loyal to me."
Nie swallows and looks down in shame: "She called me a liar and a hypocrite."
Wuxian: ".. and that made you angry?"
Nie sighs: "It was refreshing. People rarely confront me with my flaws."
Wuxian smiles wickedly: "You like her!"
Nie opens his fan and hides behind it: ".. maybe."
Before Wuxian could comment any further, Taiho knocks and makes his way in: "We found something!"
Wuxian grabs Nie's arm and drags him along. If his friend wants to be involved in this mess, he will happily accept all the help he can get.
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