A/N: Double update as my token of apology for trolling you guys in the last chapter. ð
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Xiao Zhan lifted up his chin to look up at Lan Wangji, "You are a worry wart as always, Lan Zhan. How long did I sleep for?"
Lan Wangji pulled back from the embrace and answered, "Almost three days."
"Three days?!" Xiao Zhan gasped sharply. "What in the world happened?"
Lan Wangji pursed his lips as he stared down at Xiao Zhan "You don't remember?"
Xiao Zhan furrowed his eyebrows, "We had a sparring match. That's all."
"That isn't all." Lan Wangji said. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly as though he was gathering himself to say something important,
"What else happened?" Xiao Zhan urged him as he looked anxiously up at Lan Wangji's face.
Lan Wangji informed him with a grim expression, "You lost control over resentful energy."
"What?" Xiao Zhan snapped his eyes open in surprise, "...Did I hurt anyone?"
"No." Lan Wangji took in a deep breath before he continued, "But you almost destroyed the training hall. Your spiritual energy spiked out of control and when it happened, your body instinctively harnessed resentful energy as a way to protect yourself." He then pointed at the table where the enchanted outer robe that Xiao Zhan always wore was placed in a neat fold, "The amplification effect of the robe also multiplied the amount of backlash that you received."
"So, this is the reason why the backlash was severe?" Xiao Zhan asked Lan Wangji, sounding slightly dazed by that fact. "Well, that makes sense. It basically exploded on me."
"Yes, and your cultivation base continues to grow and spike up randomly at times. So, it is unsafe for you to use this at the time being." Lan Wangji explained. "That must be the reason why you always suffer from side effects whenever we utilize the transportation talisman."
Xiao Zhan rubbed his chin, thinking hard on why the instability happened since his cultivation had always been pretty calm and well adjusted.
There were several beats of silence before he lifted his head up to meet Lan Wangji's concerned gaze and said, "So, everyone here knows about my method now?"
"Mn." Lan Wangji replied. He reached out and stroked Xiao Zhan's hair gently.
"Are they mad at me?" Xiao Zhan asked softly. There was a haunted glint in his eyes that showed his fear and doubt.
Lan Wangji shook his head, "No. They were surprised but not angry. They were just glad that you didn't get hurt or worse."
"Thank Goodness." Xiao Zhan sighed heavily, "It is time to tell them the truth anyway."
"There's actually something else,-" Lan Wangji trailed off, seeming hesitant to continue speaking.
"Tell me," Xiao Zhan urged.
"Wen Ruohan declared that Wen Qing and the rest are traitors, and anyone who helps them is going to face the consequences. He is looking for them right now. " Lan Wangji stated solemnly.
"Okay... That is what we had anticipated..." Xiao Zhan nodded his head and sighed, "So, we need to go back to Cloud Recesses right away. It'll be the first place they will do their search."
"No. Not right now." Lan Wangji replied, his forehead creasing into a slight frown before asking Xiao Zhan to lie down again, "You need to rest more. Your body needs more time to heal for the time being."
Huh? Why do I need more time to recover?
Xiao Zhan tilted his head in confusion. He then frowned deeply as he realized that he noticed that his spiritual energy felt weak somehow and his Dantian tightened painfully when he tried to channel qi through his meridians.
"Lan Zhan," Xiao Zhan asked, concerned, "Why is my core sealed?"
Lan Wangji's expression became more conflicted as explained, "Your core almost shattered due to the sudden surge so the seal is to protect it from further damage. But it is only temporary until it is stable enough."
So, part of the dream has come true.
"A temporary seal..." Xiao Zhan breathed out, "How long?"
Lan Wangji's fingers paused from moving soothingly in his hair before he responded, "...A couple of weeks."
"What??" Xiao Zhan paled slightly. After all their preparations, it came down to this. "That won't do. We have to prevent the attack on Cloud Recesses and it will be soon!"
"I'm aware. However, I don't think that you should be involved in that, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji replied decisively.
"Why shouldn't I?" Xiao Zhan asked, his heart beating wildly inside his chest.
Lan Wangji reminded Xiao Zhan, "You shouldn't use resentful energy in your current condition, Wei Ying. It's too dangerous. Your body is already overflowing with it."
"Lan Zhan, you can't possibly expect me to sit idle while the threat looms over us!" Xiao Zhan retorted stubbornly, "And I can handle it."
"I know you can, but what if you lose control again? I'm not willing to see that happen." Lan Wangji argued, his tone of voice growing harder. He closed his eyes, taking a few breaths to compose himself, "Wei Ying, I think it's best if you stay here."
"Stay here and do what?!" Xiao Zhan's expression fell instantly as he glared at his lover angrily, "Why am I not allowed to fight!! We have been preparing so long for this! How can I possibly not come with you?"
"Wei Ying... please listen to me..." Lan Wangji said pleadingly. "Stay here."
"Why the hell should I?!" Xiao Zhan snapped furiously. His breathing became rapid as his anxiety rose to its peak. The room was shaking violently; the wind whipping the curtains and rattling against the window panes. "I'm going! With or without your permission!"
"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji tightened his grip onto Xiao Zhan's hand in reassurance while his other hand stroked his hair softly, "Calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down!!" Xiao Zhan roared as tears poured from his eyes uncontrollably. His entire body shuddered in rage, "I am not a child! I am the head disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang sect, I am Wei Wuxian! I can make my own decisions! How the fuck am I supposed to stay here knowing that the enemy is coming for your home soon? What if you get hurt??" His irises turned red as he gritted his teeth, "If anyone tries to even graze your skin, I will hunt them and kill them myself!"
"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji squeezed Xiao Zhan closer, "Please do not get upset... You are going to hurt yourself."
"I don't care!!" Xiao Zhan cried, fighting against Lan Wangji's iron grip, "I will not sit around here waiting for the enemy to come and get you!" His breathing hitched as he continued to struggle, "I can't live if I'm not by your side!"
"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji let out a small sigh. Even with Xiao Zhan's temper, he had never expected that he would lash out like this. He tightened his grasp on him as he tried to restrain Xiao Zhan who was trying so hard to pull away from his embrace as his breathing grew faster and shallower. He could feel the strong fluctuation of emotions coursing throughout Xiao Zhan's body. His whole frame trembled with each breath as his body trembled as if he were freezing cold.
"Let go of me! Lan Wangji!!" Xiao Zhan shouted in anger, his eyes shone with unshed tears and fury.
Lan Wangji remained steadfast as the latter tussled around and attempted to free himself once more. The room was shaking with intensity as the storm raged on outside, thunder rumbled ominously within the clouds. He murmured against Xiao Zhan's ear, trying to reason with him, "Look around you, Wei Ying. See what is happening."
Xiao Zhan looked around, frowning slightly. The room still was shaking and the walls appeared close to crumbling under the pressure they were feeling as well as the emotional turmoil Xiao Zhan was feeling. The air seemed thick with resentful energy which was causing the room itself to vibrate. He gasped as a sudden realization struck him, realizing that his emotional outburst must've triggered the unnatural quake. It seemed as though his demonic cultivation had grown much stronger and that terrified him.
What the fuck is going on? What's wrong with me?
"You can't control your emotions right now." Lan Wangji pulled him closer as though he knew what was on Xiao Zhan's mind. "Just listen to my voice, focus only on that."
After listening to what Lan Wangji had to say, Xiao Zhan closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, the shaking eased and the world around him stopped shaking. The tension in Xiao Zhan's body relaxed as well. His breathing slowed and he managed to collect himself. His voice cracked as he whispered, "Lan Zhan..."
"I am here." Lan Wangji cooed soothingly, running his fingers through Xiao Zhan's hair affectionately.
"I'm sorry." Xiao Zhan murmured as tears rolled down his cheeks freely, his voice breaking as he clung tightly to his lover, "I didn't mean to yell..."
"It's alright." Lan Wangji cooed, pressing his forehead into Xiao Zhan's soft locks as his grip on his hands tightened. "I love you, Wei Ying. If something happens to you because of me. If anything, bad happened to you... I would never forgive myself. Never."
Xiao Zhan's arms wrapped around him tightly as his tears continued falling like rain, "The same goes to me too. I need you by my side, Lan Zhan. So, please let me be by your side. Please let me fight alongside you..."
"Alright. All right... Don't cry. We'll do as you wish, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji replied as he pulled Xiao Zhan in closer and nuzzled the top of Xiao Zhan's head tenderly, "As you wish."
"Promise?" Xiao Zhan asked.
"Yes." Lan Wangji said gently before he pulled away and cupped Xiao Zhan's cheek with his hand tenderly, wiping Xiao Zhan's tear stains as the rain outside kept pouring heavily. "But you have to promise me too, you won't let your emotions cloud your judgment." He added.
Xiao Zhan stared up at him with wide eyes for a moment before he sighed and leaned into Lan Wangji's touch, closing his eyes. "I promise."
The two of them stayed in that position for a while, basking in the warmth of each other's presence as the atmosphere gradually calmed.
"Is this a bad time to check up on the patient?" Wen Qing's voice sounded from outside the door, interrupted their moment.
The duo separated reluctantly and Lan Wangji got up from the bed to open the door after helping Xiao Zhan to put on his outer robe.
"Wei Ying is awake," Lan Wangji told her after he opened the door. There was an anxious tone of worry in his eyes which did not go unnoticed by Xiao Zhan.
"I noticed. The mini earthquake was hard to ignore." Wen Qing said as she entered and walked over to Xiao Zhan's bedside. Lan Wangji stood behind her, hands clasped behind his back as he watched her closely as she examined his lover's condition.
"Do you feel cold?" Wen Qing asked him; her eyes were closed as she assessed the man's spiritual pathways with her Qi. She could sense nothing wrong, but she always felt something was off when checking up on Xiao Zhan's core as if her spiritual energy had been slightly tamped down, like someone had used some type of barrier spell on it to access its full potential.
"Yes. It's a little chilly today." Xiao Zhan answered, shivering slightly.
Wen Qing nodded in understanding, "I see. The Yin energy in you are still in turmoil, so I will give you some medicinal herbs that will calm your qi flow and hopefully help you feel better. I believe Second Young Master Lan had told you about the seal?"
Xiao Zhan nodded, "Yes, he did."
"Then you know that it is important not to force yourself. Your core is still fragile so you have to be careful. You do understand that the damage will be irreversible if you try to break the seal forcefully before it is fully recovered, right?" Wen Qing warned him gently.
"Yes, I understand." Xiao Zhan replied softly, "I won't."
"Good." Wen Qing smiled, nodding her head in satisfaction. She added, "Also, it will be helpful if you received some Yang energy to balance out the excess Yin in your system. I don't think I need to explain what that entails to you." Wen Qing gave the young man a small knowing smile before she turned to Lan Wangji, "I believe that you too understand what I meant, right Second Young Master Lan?"
Lan Wangji gave Xiao Zhan a soft gaze before he nodded, "I'll take care of him."
"I trust your judgment, Second Young Master Lan." Wen Qing replied, giving him an assessing glance, "I will leave you to it then."
"..." Xiao Zhan's mind felt like there was a giant elephant sitting on it. He couldn't focus his thoughts at all as his mind drifted to the wild dream, he had of getting pregnant due to that very Yin and Yang stuff. He could feel his cheeks flushing red in embarrassment at the mere suggestion.
"Dual cultivation can help you control your spiritual energies and help you heal your core faster," Wen Qing stated matter-of-factly as she finished examining the man whose face was beetroot red, obviously embarrassed by the professional advice from the best healer. She casually added, "That being said, the seal may be lifted earlier if you receive enough Yang. So, you know what to do."
So the prescription is just... sex?
"Right..." Xiao Zhan replied awkwardly before putting a smile on his face, "Thank you for looking after me, Qing-jie."
"It is the least I can do," Wen Qing returned his smile and stood up, "Oh well, I'll leave you in the Second Young Master Lan's capable hands now. Make sure to eat these medicines." She took out some pill bottles from her pouch and put them on the table.
"I will make sure of that." Lan Wangji responded on his behalf.
Wen Qing's gaze flickered between the two before she nodded, " Alright then, I'll send someone to bring a medicinal bath soon. I will see you in the morning." With that said, she left them alone, leaving the room with a faint smile on her lips.
Lan Wangji took a seat next to Xiao Zhan before taking his hand and holding it in his. When he saw how stiff Xiao Zhan looked, he asked concernedly, "Wei Ying, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Zhan replied as he forced himself to relax.
"Do you need anything else?" Lan Wangji asked earnestly, looking straight into Xiao Zhan's eyes.
"Food. I am starving." Xiao Zhan replied simply.
Lan Wangji immediately nodded, "Of course, I'll get something for you to eat. Wait here."
Not long after, Lan Wangji reappeared holding a tray full of food and a pot of hot tea on it. He placed it down on the table and handed one bowl of ginger chicken soup to Xiao Zhan. "Drink the soup first. It will help warm you up."
"Okay." Xiao Zhan mumbled, he slowly brought the spoonful of broth to his mouth and drank it, letting the hot liquid travel to his stomach. The taste awakened his appetite as he realized how hungry he really was.
Lan Wangji watched Xiao Zhan begin eating the rest of the food on the tray with gusto, his eyes fixed on him lovingly, smiling faintly as he informed, "Your father wants to see you tomorrow morning."
"Father didn't say anything else?" Xiao Zhan asked.
Lan Wangji deadpanned, "He said, to take our time comfortably."
Xiao Zhan blinked once. Twice. And thrice. "Take our time?" He asked, taking a sip of black tea that was in his hand.
"To dual cultivate." Lan Wangji said nonchalantly.
Xiao Zhan almost choked on the cup of tea that he had just drank in surprise and coughed violently. Lan Wangji reached over, patting the man's back until he stopped coughing.
So everyone already knows that we...
"What's wrong?" Lan Wangji asked worriedly.
"No, no... I am okay. I just... I just didn't expect him to say that.
"Do you not want to?" Lan Wangji looked up to him expectantly.
"Huh? No!" Xiao Zhan quickly shook his head, "I mean..." he hesitated, biting his lip, "...yes, of course, I want to dual cultivate with you..." His expression shifted as he tried to sort through his feelings.
"Wei Ying ..." Lan Wangji's deep tone caused Xiao Zhan to look up, finding his partner staring intently at him. "You can tell me if you don't want to." Lan Wangji assured him, squeezing his hand lightly.
Xiao Zhan bit his lip; he didn't know why he felt this way. It was not like they never had sex. In fact, they 've done it quite a lot. Lan Wangji was not as pure as he looks and when it came to that particular subject, the Second Jade of Lan had long mastered it.
This is all because of that stupid dream!
"Tell me, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji insisted again when he saw the way Xiao Zhan was frowning.
"It's nothing." Xiao Zhan mumbled, shaking his head.
I can't tell you that I dreamed of getting pregnant because of your Yang supremacy, can I? Or the fact that I am afraid that you will knock me up someday. If that's even possible... Good heavens, I don't even know what is impossible anymore.
"Are you certain?" Lan Wangji's tone of voice made Xiao Zhan snap his gaze back to him.
"Yes. Don't worry about it." Xiao Zhan smiled, trying to reassure his lover.
Before Lan Wangji could say anything else, a knock on the door startled them.
"Come in." Xiao Zhan said.
A bunch of servants came in to prepare a medicinal bath and set up a large tub in the space behind the folding screen. The aroma of herbal medicine was filling the air as housekeepers poured water into the tub, filling the bath completely. Once they were done, they bowed before retreating back outside.
"You should get inside." Lan Wangji told him.
Xiao Zhan nodded and slowly climbed off the bed as his legs gave away, almost falling.
"Wei Ying! "Lan Wangji caught him before he hit the floor.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I just stood up too fast." Xiao Zhan stated.
Fuck, three days of sleep and I still feel like a helpless maiden now! Ah, I miss my golden core already.
"Let me help you." Lan Wangji replied, helping to steady him upright as he peeled the layers of garments off Xiao Zhan's body.
Xiao Zhan simply nodded, letting Lan Wangji carry him to the tub, feeling like a Disney princess resigning to his fate.
Xiao Zhan let out a sigh of relief, sinking himself into the soft bath. He closed his eyes and relaxed his tense muscles, letting the warmth soak into him.
As Xiao Zhan sat in the bathtub, Lan Wangji gently ran his fingers through his hair, carefully massaging his scalps while Xiao Zhan sighed in contentment. He could hear his lover humming in pleasure under his fingers.
After a while of being pampered with spa treatment, Xiao Zhan couldn't stop a small laugh from escaping him and he opened his eyes to find his lover smiling at him with his puppy eyes. His heart fluttered slightly. He reached out to touch his cheek tenderly and rubbed his thumb against Lan Wangji's lower lip. With a small grin, he pressed a light kiss onto his lover's lips, pulling away after a few moments and opening his eyes again.
"Lan Zhan..." Xiao Zhan mumbled softly as he gazed fondly at him, "You're perfect, Lan Zhan. So handsome and so caring. I must be the luckiest person in the world."
Hearing his words, Lan Wangji leaned forward and captured Xiao Zhan's lips in a sweet kiss, their tongues sliding against each other before they trailed down to his neck.
A gentle moan escaped Xiao Zhan's lips at the feel of the strong, firm muscles encircling his waist. "Er Gege..." Xiao Zhan whispered as he moved his hands along the back of Lan Wangji's back. The water in the bath suddenly splashed as Xiao Zhan pulled Lan Wangji into the bathtub as well, his eyes sparkling like starry skies when they met those golden orbs of his.
"Mn." Lan Wangji responded before kissing the man in his arms, his tongue danced with Xiao Zhan's, exploring every inch of his mouth, tasting the flavor of black tea and the sweetness of the ginger soup. Both of their hearts began beating wildly faster as their bodies became more entwined with each other. Their breathing was becoming ragged as Xiao Zhan wrapped his legs around Lan Wangji's waist.
"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji whispered into Xiao Zhan's ear, causing him to shudder.
Screw it! You can knock me up or whatever. I can't even live without you right now.
Xiao Zhan grabbed onto Lan Wangji tighter, his breaths quickening as the feeling of the man's hard chest against his cheek grew stronger, "You can help to heal me, right?"
"Here?"
Xiao Zhan nodded as he pushed Lan Wangji's wet robes to his side, "Yes. Here." He breathed heavily in anticipation.
"Wei Ying, wait. You will hurt yourself-" Lan Wangji wanted to stop him but Xiao Zhan didn't allow him to finish and pushed down the cloth covering him, reaching down.
"Then help me." Xiao Zhan said huskily while stroking him, eliciting a sharp gasp from Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji grabbed one of the oil pots that was next to the tub and covered his fingers with it before massaging Xiao Zhan to the point that he was begging for more.
"Enough with that... I need you now." Xiao Zhan said as he moved to sit on top of Lan Wangji's lap.
Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around Xiao Zhan's hips and guided his movements with ease and skill as Xiao Zhan threw his head back and moaned in pleasure. His entire body felt so hot and his skin tingle everywhere that Lan Wangji touched. Lan Wangji could sense it too and his desire only intensified. The sight of Xiao Zhan in his lap was making him want to lose control and possess him, to mark the man's soul as his own. He couldn't keep his lust in check anymore.
"Lan Zhan!" Xiao Zhan gasped loudly as the entire bathtub broke apart, "What did... you just do?"
Lan Wangji could care less about the tub that was smashed into smithereens as his sole attention was to dual cultivate with his partner. He simply lifted the man up and laid him on the bed with his pupils fully blown and chest heaving in heavy pants.
Shit. He's gone to sex machine mode again.
"Slow... down." Xiao Zhan panted out. "Er Gege... I just woke up from days of sleep... And you are trying to put me in bed... again?"
"I'm healing you." Lan Wangji managed to say between his labored breaths.
Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow, teasing him, "Really?"
Lan Wangji growled in response as he lowered his face to Xiao Zhan's neck, biting softly on the pale column of his neck. His spiritual energy flowed into Xiao Zhan like an uncontrollable stream of water into a dam, causing his whole body to tremble while Lan Wangji's strong arms held him closer, possessively pressing against him.
The warmth that came with that abundant energy was intoxicating and Xiao Zhan could feel the effects immediately. His heart rate increased and the blood in his body heated rapidly. He could feel his core vibrating in harmony with the Yang essence pouring forth from Lan Wangji, mending the cracks in his core and repairing it.
As it turned out, Xiao Zhan did not mind this kind of prescription at all. He just wanted to lay there and absorb the energy, savoring the sensation that was washing over him.
And that is exactly what happened for the next few hours.
Xiao Zhan could tell that his core would be fully repaired even before two weeks is over at this point. Not that he minded it much though.
*******
"Are you feeling better?" Lan Wangji asked as he combed Xiao Zhan's long locks, smoothing out any errant locks of hair that were sticking up.
"Yeah, I do." Xiao Zhan smiled brightly. He added, "I think I can control resentful energy better now too."
"Wei Ying..."
"I know, Lan Zhan. I won't overdo it. You know it is the best way to let my family know about it." Xiao Zhan reassured him.
"I understand." Lan Wangji kissed the side of his head, finally done putting it up in a half ponytail. "Come on. They is waiting for us."
"Okay." Xiao Zhan smiled, looking up at the taller man. He then reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Let's go."
Donning the emerald green of Qinghe Nie's customary robes for the first time, Xiao Zhan walked out with Lan Wangji by his side. He took in a deep breath of fresh air, inhaling deeply as he did so to take in the comforting scent of earth and life.
"Third Young Master Nie, Second Young Master Lan" The servants bowed respectfully as the duo approached the main entrance of the estate. Xiao Zhan smiled back politely, acknowledging them, while Lan Wangji did not do such a thing, but he was polite enough to bow in acknowledgment. They entered through the large double doors, stepping into the large hall where his adopted family was expecting them.
"Ying Er." Sect Leader Nie greeted back, smiling broadly at him once their eyes met, "You look better now." His gaze softened, taking in Xiao Zhan's appearance in a second, and his smile widened even further.
Xiao Zhan couldn't help but smile in return, the warmth of his adoptive father's speech making him feel at home, despite the events they were about to face. "Father, I apologize for the trouble I've caused." He bowed low, bowing his forehead toward the floor.
Sect Leader Nie shook his head dismissively, saying, "It has all been resolved. No worries. The training facility is old and needed to be upgraded anyway."
Nie Huaisang gasped at his father's statement, he complained, his tone remaining playful, "Father, when I accidentally broke the equipment, you told me to make sure nothing like it ever happened ever again and you punished me by retracting my allowances for two weeks. What is this preferential treatment?"
Sect Leader Nie waved off the comment and opted to glare at his troublemaker son, "That was because it was not an accident. You purposely set it up to fail so that you can escape training. And your two weeks' allowance was not even a quarter of the cost of that equipment. Should I hold off your allowance for this month?"
"Oh father, why dwell in the past? We should let bygones be bygones." Nie Huaisang waved his fan frantically, genuinely worried that his precious allowances were being held off.
Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes and smacked him on the back which resulted in Nie Huaisang's whining loudly. "Stop your bullshit and let Didi talk."
Xiao Zhan sighed inwardly, preparing himself for what he would say next, "I'm sorry for causing such trouble. I promised to tell you about the secret of my cultivation. So, I'm going to do that now."
He paused briefly to gauge how everyone was taking the news. It looked like everyone wasn't too surprised considering the incident. He cleared his throat before continuing, "Apart from the sword cultivation, I actually cultivate with new method as well and it is almost similar to Nie clan's cultivation techniques except... I use resentful energy instead of beast spirits."
After a few seconds of silence, Sect Leader Nie spoke in his usual calm manner, "So, how does it work?"
"Well..." Xiao Zhan trailed off before turning to glance at Lan Wangji, "It's better if I show it."
Lan Wangji looked a little concerned but he nodded anyway, reminding Xiao Zhan, "Just don't go overboard."
"Right." He turned back to his adoptive father. "I suppose that we should start from the basics." Xiao Zhan said. He raised his arm and harnessed and controlled the amount of dark energy that flowed in his veins before snapping his fingers,and summoning one of his undead subjects.
Nie Huaisang shrieked loudly as a ghastly creature suddenly appeared and stared blankly at the group of men in front of it with lifeless eyes.
"What the hell?!" Nie Mingjue questioned as he quickly drew his saber, pointing it toward the fierce corpse.
Xiao Zhan snapped his fingers again, calling for another of his undead servants to appear. This servant was completely different from the last one. Its features were more feminine in appearance but more terrifying aura emanating from it. The claws were sharp and deadly. The teeth were razor-sharp as well. Its eyes glowed a bright red color, giving off an ominous vibe.
When the creature hissed (causing Nie Huaisang to almost pee his pants), Xiao Zhan snapped at it "Stop that." This made the creature instantly shut its mouth without a single sound.
"Those things are..." Sect Leader Nie trailed off as he gazed upon the creatures before him, "...fierce corpse? and ghoul?"
"Yes, Father." Xiao Zhan confirmed.
"So, you can summon the dead?"
"Exactly."
"They are under your control?"
"They obey me, yes." Xiao Zhan replied.
Sect Leader Nie's brow furrowed, a troubled frown gracing his normally composed features. "And this is the basic form of your Cultivation Technique?"
"Essentially." Xiao Zhan answered. A dark glint flickered in Xiao Zhan's eyes as his eyes changed color to crimson. He continued, "But that is not all."
He took his flute and placed it to his lips, playing a sharp eerie tune that Nie Mingjue immediately recognized. A deafening silence hung in the air for a second following the last note. A brief moment later, there was a rush of rustling wind which carried a sort of metallic scent with it as Xiao Zhan's entire legion of scary-looking ghouls, charged out from the shadows to heed the call of their master.
The three members of the Nie family stared at Xiao Zhan in awe and definitely slight terror as well.
"Are you serious...?" Nie Huaisang asked, unable to contain himself any longer. His eyes bulged from their sockets as he clutched onto the sleeve of Nie Mingjue, hiding behind his big brother. His eyes reflected disbelief and shock as he observed the eerie procession behind Xiao Zhan that seemed to smile at them despite their dead and empty eyes. The smile looked creepy and frightening although there was no malice behind it.
"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Nie Mingjue asked.
"Because, it was safer if we kept this to ourselves." Xiao Zhan answered calmly. "Besides, we need an element of surprise if we are going to war with Wen Ruohan."
Everyone nodded in understanding. It was indeed a good decision to keep this hidden from everybody else. Nobody would've known how dangerous and destructive it really could be.
"Okay then." Nie Huaisang said as he covered his eyes partially with his fan, unwilling to look any longer at those ugly things, "If you don't mind me asking, how exactly are you able to control these creatures? Are you a demon or something?"
Xiao Zhan laughed softly at his second brother's question and shook his head, "No, I'm not a demon. But I can manipulate the resentment of those creatures."
"That explains the strong blood lust during the night hunt." Nie Mingjue remarked.
"And strong stench that is currently assaulting my sense of smell!" Nie Huaisang whined. "Can you make them go away now Didi?" he pleaded.
Lan Wangji remained stoic as he gazed calmly at the horde of the deadly team of spirits before turning to face Xiao Zhan, "That should be enough now, Wei Ying."
"Yes. It seems adequate for now, Ying Er." Sect Leader Nie said, looking at Xiao Zhan in concern as he knew that his adopted son should not push his limit in his current condition. His two sons agreed with him too.
"Alright." Xiao Zhan nodded before he dismissed the zombie army with a flick of his wrist. The dark creatures obediently went back to where they belong at the command. Xiao Zhan then closed his eyes and exhaled deeply before opening his eyes again. This time, his eyes had returned back to their beautiful shade of mystical grey color.
Sect Leader Nie asked cautiously, "Is that the extent of it?"
Xiao Zhan shook his head and answered, sounding apologetic, "Well...I don't want to destroy this place with more demonstrations. I had already destroyed the training hall to which I apologize again, Father."
Sect Leader Nie nodded, "Alright, that sounds fair enough. There's no need for more apology, Ying Er."