The day concluded and the night came fast, the moon shone brightly illuminating every inch of the sky above, and the stars twinkled brilliantly like glimmering white diamonds in the dark.
The four young men gathered once more in the Twin Jades' tent when the dark dominated the surrounding. They were all dressed up in a same stealth getup Xiao Zhan and Lan Wangji always used during their recon sessions, the all-black no-tail attire.
Lan Xichen glanced up upon Lan Wangji who looked comfortable in an outfit that he never thought he would see on his younger brother. His grin said nothing but amusement as he spoke, "You look good in black, Wangji."
Lan Wangji turned to him with his usual deadpan stare but said nothing. Xiao Zhan happily responded on his behalf, "Isn't that right, Zewu-Jun? Black suits him."
Xiao Zhan's arm was slung loosely over Lan Wangji's shoulders, and he was leaning heavily on his lover's broad frame.
Lan Xichen chuckled in amusement, nodding his head in agreement, "Indeed."
Nie Mungjue looked slightly disgruntled at the sight of his youngest brother's casual and shameless display of affection with Lan Wangji but otherwise kept quiet as he had acustomed himself to such sight. Instead, he shook his head lightly before setting his gaze on the First Jade, "You looked different too, Xichen. Almost unrecognizable."
Lan Xichen smiled, "Well then, looks like Young Master Wei is right. This is probably the best attire for covert mission."
"And it will only work if you take off your headband, Zewu-Jun." Xiao Zhan remarked. "It's kinda obvious that you're from Gusu Lan clan right now "
Lan Xichen paused, frozen for a second. He glanced up at Lan Wangji who had already removed his ribbon without a hint of hesitation.
"Right, I forgot. How silly of me." He reached up to the band around his head, pulling it down reluctantly. This was the first time he ever went without his headband and his forehead felt empty without it. For the sake of mission, he chanted in his mind to calm his nerves.
"Why don't you tie your hair up as well, Zewu-Jun?" Xiao Zhan suggested while helping Lan Wangji with his hair, tying it into a ponytail expertly and securely. Lan Wangji looked absolutely relaxed as Xiao Zhan finished and placed his hands on his shoulder.
Lan Xichen's eyes lingered over their closeness, and he couldn't resist the urge to tease them, "Young Master Wei, can you give me a hand then?"
"No!" Lan Wangji replied sharply before Xiao Zhan could open his mouth, his eyes flashing with irritation and annoyance at the question. "Tie your own hair, Brother."
Lan Xichen laughed, knowing exactly how possesive Lan Wangji was. "I am just kidding, Wangji."
"Not funny." Lan Wangji retorted impassively.
Lan Xichen still chuckling, "But it is funny to me."
"..." Lan Wangji glared at his brother, displeased through and through with his behaviour.
Xiao Zhan simply shook his head at the First Jade's silly tease.
He's hopeless. Really hopeless.
A few moments later and with great effort, Lan Xichen restrained from teasing them further and focused on putting his hair in one bunch.
"Now you look like a different person." Nie Mingjue commented, observing Lan Xichen closely.
"...I suppose." Lan Xichen didn't know what to say to that. He was not sure if he could get used to his current getup and hairstyles.
"By the way, where does this outfit inspired from?" Nie Mingjue asked curiously. He never had seen the style before. The simplicity of it made it seemed like the outfits were designed for the purpose of optimum mobility and blending in with shadows.
"Scouting elite warriors from Dongying." Xiao Zhan replied promptly.
Ninjas.
"Dongying?" Lan Xichen asked with mild surprise.
"Yep." Xiao Zhan answered simply.
Nie Mingjue raised an eyebrow, "How do you know all this?"
"Books." Xiao Zhan replied nonchalantly."Gusu Lan Sects has quite a lot of books in Library Pavilion."
"Oh..." Both Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen mumbled in unison.
Xiao Zhan chuckled as he watched the other two silently mull over his answer. He then noticed some movement outside the tent. He peered through the gap to see a figure trying to stay hidden there, and recognized immediately who it was.
"Er Ge, why don't you just come in now?" Xiao Zhan called out and beckoned him inside.
Nie Huaisang walked inside with a sheepish smile on his face, "Sorry! Didn't mean to intrude. Or... eavesdrop."
"Save the excuses." Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes. "I already know you have been suspicious for the longest time."
Nie Huaisang grinned slyly. "Nothing escaped your notice, huh?"
Xiao Zhan laughed, "You know how I am."
Nie Huaisang let out a dramatic sigh of disappointment, "What can I say? You're too hypervigilant, Didi."
Nie Mingjue looked at Nie Huaisang, his eyebrows knitted close together as he asked in his usual stern tone, "Can we trust you to shut your mouth about this, Huaisang?"
Nie Huaisang puffed his chest and spoke with confidence, "Yes, of course! Who do you think I am, Da Ge? I can keep a secret really well."
"Good! If not, I might have to kill you." Xiao Zhan said matter-of-factly.
Nie Huaisang gasped melodramatically, clutching his heart in mock horror. "I'm sorry, Didi. I didn't know your innermost thoughts were revealed so easily!"
Xiao Zhan glared at him for a while then let out a huff. "We will leave it at that then. Now that you're here, can I trust you with a task?"
"A task? What kind of task?" Nie Huaisang blinked at him, obviously taken aback by Xiao Zhan's request. It didn't help that Xiao Zhan had given him a fierce warning glare and he immediately decided to heed his words. "It's nothing hard, right? Nothing involves fighting? Because fair warning, I would definitely flee in that case."
"Why don't you have a guess? You've been listening for a long while." Xiao Zhan answered vaguely, smirking at Nie Huaisang who frowned, trying to figure out what exactly Xiao Zhan was planning.
"Didi, I'm telling you now, please don't tell me you want me to do something really dangerous. Like... like something that could possibly be fatal or do irreversible damage..." he trailed off, shaking his head.
Nie Mingjue narrowed his eyes at Nie Huaisang, chiding him, "Then, why did you bother to eavesdrop at the first place when you are so spineless like this?"
"Aiyo, Da Ge. How can I ignore my curiosity when I see you guys look like you're having fun?" Nie Huaisang pouted cutely.
"We are not having fun." Lan Wangji interjected firmly, giving a sharp glance towards Nie Huaisang. "This is serious matter."
Feeling like his soul being penetrated by the Second's Jade eyes, Nie Huaisang wilted in response, regretting his decision to spy and his inability to keep his presence unnoticeable. He mumbled to himself, "Did I just dig my own grave?"
"Yup." Xiao Zhan gave him a sarcastic thumbs up.
"Fuck my life..." Nie Huaisang whined a little.
"Well, everyone's fucked up in some ways or another." Xiao Zhan stated, laughing lightly.
"..." Lan Wangji's brows twitched at the his lover's choice of adjective but kept his mouth shut. Xiao Zhan could've phrased it better, but it was a good insight regardless.
"If that is the case, I am going to swear on celibacy then." Nie Huaisang declared with vigor.
"Yeah right." Nie Mingjue scoffed, and side eyed his brother, "Should I burn your indecent collections then?"
Nie Huaisang quickly retracted his words, "Da Ge. It was a joke. A joke. I have no intention to follow your steps. Please leave my innocent collections alone."
"You little!!" Nie Mingjue kicked him on the shin. "How dare you??"
"Aahhh! Da Ge!" Nie Huaisang flopped down on the floor dramatically.
The two continued to bicker for a moment with Lan Xichen's chuckles accompanied their banter.
"We should not waste time." Lan Wangji's words brought them to a stop a couple minute later. Xiao Zhan agreed with him.
"Take this." Xiao Zhan pushed several communication talismans into Nie Huaisang's hand afterwards. He instructed with serious face, "I need you to cover for our absence. Contact us immediately if there's anything amiss here. In any emergency, just tear it. I'll be notified."
"Of course," Nie Huaisang readily agreed, pocketing the talismans. He gave a firm nod as reassurance, "You can count on me."
"Alright." Xiao Zhan stood up straight and gestured to Lan Wangji to get ready as he reminded the other two who would be traveling with them, "Remember, once you activate this talisman, you'll be drained of your spiritual energy by 60 to 70 percent so it is safer and efficient to alternate on who is going to cast it."
"Understood." Both older male replied.
"Don't worry too much. You should stay alert, watch and listen. You will be alright." Nie Huaisang added jokingly.
"Huaisang. Shut up." Nie Mingjue warned him.
"Okay, Okay. Sorry." Nie Huaisang giggled at Nie Mingjue's warning.
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes at that timid-looking brother of his for his untimely playfulness. He then returned his attention to his partner who had his hand on his wrist, uttering, "Let's move."
With that said, both Twin Jades activated the transportation talisman and a bright blue temporarily lighted up the tent. The four men disappeared from Nie Huaisang's view almost instantly after that.
Nie Huaisang's gaze flickered to the spot where they vanished and mused, "What a terrifying ability. Luckily, he's my brother now. He would be the worst enemy to deal with."
Wen Qing and Wen Ning were waiting patiently outside their destination. Their surroundings were pitch black.Only small patches of starlight lit up here and there, leaving the area cloaked in complete darkness. They watched as the group of men in black appeared in their field of vision and proceeded to greet them.
Nie Mingjue scanned the surrounding as soon as they arrived at the meeting spot to scope everything out in order to determine the possibility of any watchful eyes.
Xiao Zhan didn't waste time either as he let his dire owls to scout the area in aerial view. The black wisps birds flew, blending in with the surrounding.
Lan Xichen took a short moment to meditate and recuperate his rapidly drained out reservoir.
Lan Wangji, on the other hand, did not appear to be fazed despite being in similar situation with his elder brother. Instead, he was more concerned about Xiao Zhan's wellbeing. Xiao Zhan's face blanched as he felt the ground moved like merry-go-round a moment later.
This damned side effect! Oh, I really hate teleporting!
"Take this." Wen Qing gave him a small bottle filled with round herbal pills. She stated, "For your dizziness."
"Thank you, Qing-Jie," Xiao Zhan replied smiling softly at her as he accepted the bottle and quickly swallowed one pill which was pretty fast acting and effective.
As expected from the best healer in the world.
He remembered mentioning it once as the aftereffects of using the talisman. He still hasn't figured out why he was the only one who seemed to be affected badly when everyone else who used the talisman seemed fine apart from the expected depletion of energy. But that was not the main point for him at the moment.
"No thanks necessary." She replied, her eyes softening just a tiny bit. That was the least she could do for him. After all, he deserved her gratitude. She noted, "Your cultivation base seemed to grow a lot more than the last time we saw you. You're a lot stronger now."
"I guess so." Xiao Zhan said as he rubbed the back of his neck and gave Wen Ning a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Wen Ning smiled shyly and inclined his head in return.
"It's really good to see you both again." Xiao Zhan said with a warm smile, before turning his gaze towards the rest of the group behind the two. Despite never meeting them personally before, he somehow recognized all of them. A familiar nostalgic feeling crept its way into his heart. He landed his gaze on Granny Wen, he asked politely, "Are your knees alright, Granny?"
She smiled lightly and patted his shoulder in reassurance, "They're fine, don't worry, Young Master Wei. My son is capable of taking care of me."
A warm and relieved smile formed on Xiao Zhan's face as he looked at the direction of a man standing next to Granny Wen. There was a calm air around him and the corners of his mouth lifted gently as he regarded Xiao Zhan. His hair was combed back, and his clothes neatly tied. His facial features were soft with slightly angular jawline, just like...
A-yuan. He must be A-yuan's father.
Xiao Zhan smiled softly as he bowed his head in respect. He hadn't never seen this man before, but he could see the uncanny resemblance between the father and the soon-to-be-born son in his adult form.
His heart throbbed a little as he thought about the kid. He didn't know why but perhaps he was thinking about how the boy ended up being the adopted son of Lan Wangji. But maybe this time around the kid has a chance to grow under the care of his real parents.
This is for the best.
Xiao Zhan let out a small sigh before giving Granny Wen and her son another bow and moving away to join his beloved.
Lan Wangji glanced at Xiao Zhan questioningly. He could tell something was troubling Xiao Zhan, but he didn't ask further, deciding he wouldn't bother Xiao Zhan if he wasn't ready yet to share what he is thinking.
"Alright, it's almost midnight. Let's split into groups. Is everyone ready?" Xiao Zhan instructed and there were nods of assent around the group.
After deeming that everyone had accounted for each individual, they started moving forward through the dark night. They both positioned themselves at the very back of the formation as the rearguards. Their positions were quite far away from the rest of the team who stood at the front, so they should have enough space to make use of any unexpected dangers that may occur.
"Rise." Xiao Zhan ordered quietly to his legion of undead that was loyal only to him, to move silently through the night, looking for hidden eyes or anything out of the ordinary around the perimeter that could indicate the presence of a threat. They all rose and began advancing towards the murks of the dark forest.
Xiao Zhan scanned ahead of him with the visions that dire owls provided, trying to pick out any possible threats while keeping a tight control on the phantasms .Thankfully there was nothing out of the ordinary; nothing more than the usual sounds of birds chirping, and crickets chirruped in the night, creating quite an eerie silence amongst the dead bodies of the creatures which accompanied the entourage stealthily.
As they moved deeper into the woods, they made their way towards a certain location that was set as the rendezvous location for the operation.
Nie Mingjue raised a hand and signaled for silence as he peered through nearby bushes to examine their surroundings. A peculiar scent lingered in the wind along with a strange, metallic tang. It made the hairs rise on the back of his neck. His senses were telling him that there was definitely some sort of unnatural presences nearby,but they did not feel like it was trying to harm them. His hand was lowered slowly as his brows furrowed together. He muttered, "Strange."
Lan Xichen sensed Nie Mingjue's uneasiness and asked, "What is it, Mingjue-xiong?"
Mingjue answered, "Do you smell that, Xichen?"
Lan Xichen took a sniff of the air and commented, "It smells rotten. Like something dead has been decaying recently."
"Exactly." Nie Mingjue agreed, eyeing the surrounding forest warily in concern. His ears perked at the slightest of sounds. "There seems to be something in there."
Xiao Zhan noted that Nie Mingjue was looking around and probably noticed his summons. He spoke up from the back, "There's nothing there, Da Ge. It's just some animals rustling in the brush. Nothing unusual here."
Nie Mingjue frowned but let the matter drop as he returned his attention back on the situation at hand.
"Let us continue forward." Xiao Zhan said decisively.
Nie Mingjue nodded to show that he acknowledged his brother's words. If there is something out there, Wei Ying would have noticed by now, right?
He had seen the extent of his brother's lightning-fast reflexes whenever they encountered someone out of the norm; he couldn't possibly miss something that obvious. Putting his trust and confidence on the younger man's skills, he shook away his suspicions and decided not to worry about it. "It seems like we have nothing to worry about, then. Let's continue."
Even though Nie Mingjue tried hard to suppress his paranoia, he couldn't help himself but to constantly glance backwards. Lan Wangji's reassuring nods helped to quell the rising suspicions his chest.
Lan Wangji glanced sideways at Xiao Zhan, keeping a close watch on his lover as he followed closely beside his lover, making sure that he didn't go overboard with his darker cultivation and didn't overuse them or got discovered by the others. He couldn't afford to let anyone know just yet though. So, he covered up for him.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. No sign of the enemy was spotted. It seemed that the darkness did provide some protection for them although Xiao Zhan's wicked creatures might have something to do with that fact. They reached a certain part of the mountain and finally arrived at their rendezvous point. Nie Mingjue's subordinates that were waiting to meet them at the border of Yiling.
"Da Ge, we should split up from here. We'll be on the lookout for any unusual movements around us and handle it." Xiao Zhan suggested.
Nie Mingjue nodded in affirmation, "Alright, leave it to us. We'll meet up in the camp at dawn then."
With only the two of them left, Xiao Zhan no longer had to hold back anymore; he turned to face his beloved and spoke softly, "I'm going to let them scour the place now."
Lan Wangji nodded, trusting his partner's abilities to detect dangers. He knew that Xiao Zhan wouldn't allow any harm to fall on the people he wanted to protect.
Xiao Zhan closed his eyes, inhaled deeply and exhaled it all through his nose slowly as he took control of every ounce of resentful energy from around him. He allowed them to flow freely in his veins and as easily as breathing. His eyes fluttered opened, revealing ruby red orbs with a slight frown creasing his forehead. "We've got company."