Chp 13. Plans

PLANS

They spent the next hour discussing business, both of them relaxed and at ease in conversation. They traded stories they had heard about the demon, and began to formulate a plan as to how, and where, they would find it. It had been surprisingly easy for them to communicate with each other. and they teased one another with witty comments here and there, trying to outsmart the other.

It turned out that they had both heard very similar stories, and that it had stretched over a vast amount of territory, from Yunmeng, almost to the Nie territory. They had been amazed at just how many bodies had been stacked up over the months.

"I would be surprised if the Nie sect hasn't already had problems, if the demon has been moving this far, for so long." Huang Jin said.

"Yes, it would not surprise me if Nie Huaisang has been trying to keep it quiet, if he did have problems."

The doors to Hanshi suddenly opened, and Lan Xichen walked in, closing the doors behind him.

She had been completely shocked to see the man from the cold spring pond walk through the doors. A soft smile and his gentle eyes meeting hers for a brief moment, before he gracefully walked up and bowed to them both.

Jiang Cheng and Huang Jin rose quickly to return the formal bow, and they all sat down at the table.

It took all of her power to still her shaking hands as she poured the tea for him, and she avoided his eye contact. Oh my gosh, he was real...

"Lan Xichen, it is nice to see you out and about. It has been a long while, has it not?" Jiang Cheng said, raising his tea cup to his face.

Huang Jin visibly tensed. Lan Xichen...oh god…She had totally thought he was a ghost or some kind of vision earlier. She never in a million years would have thought that the man who she had talked so casually to, was the current leader of the Gusu Lan Sect.

Ohhh god…I'm dead.

When she finally did look up and make eye contact with him, she saw none of the sadness from before. The gentle smile on his lips and the softness in his eyes, was genuine, and there was not even the hint of the mask he wore on his face from before.

Xichen laughed softly, "You are quite right, it has been awhile since I have been out and about. I am happy to say that I have had time to reflect, I feel it is only right to return and help where I am needed." Lan Xichen said calmly, the gentle smile still on his face, as he nodded to Jiang Cheng, and then turned to her with a knowing glint in his eye.

"I wanted to say thank you, for your kind words, and your beautiful performance earlier. It was rude of me to leave before introducing myself." He lowered his eyes in embarrassment, but quickly looked back at Huang Jin, "I am sorry for that. My name is Lan Xichen, courtesy name Zewu Jun." He said, bowing low to her.

Huang Jin was utterly flustered; she didn't think that he was going to respond like this. She bowed quickly in return.

"You don't…You don't have anything to apologize for. I was very rude for saying what I said. It was not my place." She continued to bow low, her eyes glued to the table, a flush on her cheeks.

Xichen immediately moved forward and touched her arms, lifting them up. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Everything you said was true and I appreciate you being so honest." Xichen said, his eyes locking with hers. "It was what I needed to hear." Xichen said, the meaning behind the words felt heavy in the air.

She could tell that he was being serious.

Huang Jin smiled and nodded her head the flush on her cheeks even brighter now. She had always been blunt and tended to say whatever came to mind. A lot of times that got her in trouble but she always meant the best.

Jiang Cheng coughed impatiently, breaking the awkward silence. They both looked over, having forgotten briefly that he was there. His face was screwed up in irritation. "Well now that you both got that off your chest, can we continue." He said in an irritated voice, but his face showed a hint of jealousy.

Lan Xichen smiled politely, and nodded. "I had heard a bit as I was walking in. I heard you were talking of a demon."

They spent the next 30 minutes filling in Lan Xichen, and they all had agreed that this demon seemed to have too many connections, too many sightings, to have not all been connected somehow. Whatever the case may be, they all agreed that it needed their urgent attention.

"I think we should have the best inner disciples join us for the night hunt as well. The more hands we have on this the better. I fear that there is much more at play here than we have gathered. We must be prepared for the worst." Lan Xichen said, his face in deep concentration.

Huang Jin completely agreed. Her tummy gave a huge grumble and the two men looked at her.

"Ehhhh…I forgot, I hadn't eaten lunch yet. It must be close to dinner." Her hand rubbing the back of her head nervously.

Lan Xichen smiled gently, and raised himself up from the table.

Jiang Cheng had even managed a small quirk to his mouth as he stared and raised as well.

"Well, we should all grab something to eat before we set off tomorrow. Who knows what we will be able to find on the road, and we should fill our bellies while we can." Lan Xichen said, as he bowed once more to them, and left.

_____________________________________________________

Dinner had been fantastic as always.

However, the whole night Huang Jin tried to stop the negative thoughts, and overwhelming feelings swirling in her mind. She was really going to miss being here, and being with all the amazing people she had met…Huang Jin thought morosely.

Sizhui and her had been discussing the upcoming night hunt, as Lan Xichen had made an announcement during dinner, letting all the inner disciples know that there would be a joint night hunt to track down the demon. He had named off all of the inner disciples that would be accompanying Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, Xichen, and Jiang Cheng.

She had been beyond excited to hear her name called among the list, as well as Sizihui, Jingyi, and Jin Ling.

It was rare for multiple sects to join together for a night hunt outside of a sponsored one, so as soon as the announcement had been made, the chatter inside the main hall exploded with chatter.

Lan Wangji stood up and closed his eyes, waiting for everyone to take notice. It took almost a full minute before the sudden raucous in the room died down, until everyone was silent, and paying attention to him.He never tended to make announcements, so this was quite a rare occurrence, and the hush fell quickly.

"We will be lighting wishing lanterns tonight as a farewell to our guest, Huang Jin. Tonight is her last night with us." Lan Wangji spoke into the silence. As soon as he finished speaking he turned and left the room without another word.

It took everyone a second to process what he had said, and everyone began to get up, and made to follow him.

________________________________________________

Huang Jin tried to smile, as everyone began to leave, but she was too wrapped up in her own head to really put a good effort into it, and the smile melted away quickly. She hung back from the rest of the crowd.

Everyone had excitedly made their way to the cliffs at the edge of the Gusu Lan sect grounds. The winding path leading to it, had taken everyone quite some time to weave their way to the gorgeous outcropping that looked over the mountain range.

She had listened to Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng arguing for about half of the trek. It had been actually quite entertaining to watch. Jiang Cheng tried so hard to show his rough exterior to everyone, but she could tell that he had such a sweet soul.

Every time he would bark at Jin Ling on the trek up, it was quickly followed by some act of concern or kindness. Jin Ling did the exact same thing right back, of course. They were like a mirror pair. Jin Ling obviously much younger, but they both cared for each other immensely and it was plain as day as they bit harsh remarks at each other.

Huang Jin's breath caught in her throat as she crested the top of the path, and she saw the scenery before her. It was absolutely beautiful. The full moon cast a glowing sheen of white across the mountainside and valley below, white misty fog swirling through the trees and fjords below.

Huang Jin breathed in a huge calming breath as she took it all in, she immediately went to sit down at the very edge of the cliffside. Her legs dangling precariously over. Her mind blank as she watched the misty fog wind its way through the treetops, and continued to kick her legs back and forth, as they dangled over the edge.

She hadn't even been paying attention to the mass crowd that had begun to put together the lanterns that they had brought. She had been focused on the beautiful outlook that she felt pulled to it and ignored everything else around her.

She had felt so miserable this morning. So alone. Yet, sitting here on this beautiful mountain top, looking at the scenery below, her heart felt light once more.

This world really was beautiful sometimes, once she had stopped to look at it.

A movement to her side brought her back into the moment, and she smiled. The corner of her lips turned upwards as she saw the familiar grey eyes, and Jiang Cheng sat next to her. His legs dangling off the edge of the mountainside as well.

"Nice of you to join me." Huang Jin teased.

Jiang Cheng huffed, looking out at the scenery as well. His face softening as he looked out upon the beauty of it. "You looked lonely."

She chuckled softly and leaned back, resting both arms behind her head, tilting her face to the sky, and closed her eyes. She sighed deeply, the soft smile remaining on her lips, "You know, you can really be caring sometimes. You should tell him that you care about him every once in a while," she tilted her head towards Jin Ling. "He cares about you, and looks up to you, a lot. I know you care about him too. It's important to say the things that you sometimes think you can't. Who knows when you will be able to finally say it, or if you never will?"

Well isn't that the tea pot calling the kettle black…..Huang Jin thought to herself.

"Ehhh…..Sorry I don't mean to be too sentimental. I just felt like it needed to be said." Huang Jin said bashfully, sitting back up.

Jiang Cheng had been staring at her as she had said the words, his face was slack in shock at the bluntness of them, and just how true they were. "You..." Jiang Cheng said, and stopped, breaking his eye contact. "It's fine…I know. I…I just have a hard time saying what I am feeling. Sometimes I don't even know what I am feeling." Jiang Cheng said in a forlorn voice, looking out over the mountain tops.

Huang Jin's soft smile returned, and her head tilted to the side. "Sometimes, none of us do, and that's ok." She suddenly looked around nervously, as her emotions got too intense, and she rubbed the back of her head. "Man I don't know where that came from…I guess I am just feeling a little sentimental tonight."

Both of them sat on the edge of the mountainside cliff, their legs dangling over the side. The rest of the group was busy assembling lanterns and the excited chatter filled the cliff top.

Huang Jin had leaned back again and closed her eyes, listening to the excited buzz. The resentment in her veins had been abuzz all day. She had been focusing on it all day, and she had barely any control left when they had made their way to the top.

She had felt an aura around her. She could tell that everyone had subconsciously felt it too, as none of the inner disciples walked close to her, and avoided getting purposely near her. She had held back from the group, preferring to be alone to herself, as she tried desperately to calm the negative feelings filling her every pore. The cool mountain air and the beautiful setting had at least helped her to focus and calm the evil energy.

It had helped that there was an incredibly handsome sitting next to her too. She smiled to herself.

"How, how did you know that saying?" Jiang Cheng asked, his voice breaking the silence as they had sat for quite a long time.

Huang Jin looked over, sitting up, confused.

"To attempt the impossible…did you say that on purpose, because you knew who I was." He looked at her, hurt in his eyes.

She began to laugh, as she finally realized what he was referring to. It was what she had said the night before, when she had been teasing him. The sound of her laugh seemed to fill the entire area in a beautiful staccato, and her entire face softened as she looked back at Jiang Cheng. He was staring at her in shock.

She wiped a tear from her eye,"I honestly had no idea who you were... and that saying," her face became serious, "that is just something that I have been saying to myself for years. To always attempt the impossible even if you think it is."

Jiang Cheng's face softened, and he suddenly turned his head back towards the valley below. "Was it hard?" he paused, his hands fidgeting in his lap. "Was life hard on the road, for all those years?" he asked, his voice sounded sad.

Huang Jin's heart melted, the resentful fog that had been churning in her, just on the edge of her control, seemed to dissipate instantly. Those words had more effect than the cold pond had, all day.

"I guess they told you…about my past?" Her eyes began to tear up slightly and she turned her head as well and looked out onto the valley.

She sighed, and a small smile began to creep onto her face, her eyes turning towards the starry night sky. "Yeah, I guess you could say it was hard. Life isn't always easy though, we are all just trying to figure out how to live life to the fullest. It is just up to us, how we deal with the ups and downs. I for one, am grateful for how my life has turned out so far." She turned and looked at Jiang Cheng, a huge smile on her face. "I got to meet you, for one." She teased, and stuck her tongue out.

Jiang Cheng's face flushed in anger "You..."

Huang Jin began to laugh again, looking up to the sky, leaning back once more on her hands, and began to swing her feet back and forth. "I have been able to experience so much, and helped so many people. I am really lucky to have met HuanGuang Jun and Senior Wei. They have helped me more than anyone in my life."

Jiang Cheng looked at her in the moonlight and his face sunk. "Why do you practice demonic cultivation? You obviously are very skilled. You don't need to use that way of cultivating. So why do you use THAT way?"

She hadn't really thought about it before. A saying she had heard filled her head, and she continued to look out over the valley. "Everyone has their own things to do. Their own paths to walk. Who cares about the crowded, broad avenue?" I'll stick to my single-log bridge until it's dark." She smiled to herself, as the warmth in her heart seemed to warm the icy feeling in her veins, if only for a brief moment.

____________________________________________________

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had been standing at the edge of the clearing, working on assembling the small paper lantern they had brought. They both had been intently eavesdropping Jiang Cheng and Huang Jin's conversation. They both stilled the moment Huang Jin started to sing, the words hauntingly familiar.

Lan Zhan and Wei Yings eyes locked on each other in astonishment, "Wei Ying." Lan Zhan said as their eyes locked.

Wei Ying had sung that exact song as he had made his way back to the burial mounds the one time Lan Zhan had visited when he had been the Yiling Patriarch.

He had belted it out loud and proud, to no one in particular at the time, much like Huang Jin was doing now. All at once the students began to release their lanterns, lighting up the area in a beautiful soft glow. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan released theirs as well. It was a simple lantern with a small rabbit painted on the side. Almost identical to the one they had released all those years ago.

Huang Jin gasped as she stared at the beautiful sky filled with lanterns. She closed her eyes leaning forwards, and grasping her hands in front of her. She had always wanted to launch a paper lantern of her own and had always watched in envy during festivals when so many would buy them and launch them into the sky.

How many times had she wished on others' lanterns? Stop that nonsense. Just make your wish. What was she going to wish for though…

"I wish to always stand with justice and to live with a clear conscience." She said aloud, and she sent a tiny burst of spiritual energy into it.

She wanted to prove to herself, and the world, that she mattered. She looked over to Jiang Cheng and then to Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan who were still standing over in the farthest part of the clearing. They both were staring at her when she looked, and a smile lit up her face. She didn't expect them to be looking at her, but she smiled anyway, and turned to look back up to the floating lanterns beginning to float off into the sky.

She didn't want anything to spoil this moment. She wanted this memory to stick with her for the rest of her life, however long, or short it may be.

____________________________________________

They had all returned back a little while later.

Huang Jin stayed towards the back of the group again, trying to avoid everyone. She needed to rest and focus. She could see that Jiang Cheng was watching her now and again. At the moment, she was having enough problems as it was, to control the resentful energy from overwhelming her completely.

She didn't need the distraction of the handsome sect leader with his cute blush…stop it Huang Jin!

Back in her room she had tried for hours to fall asleep. She tossed and turned, but hadn't been able to sleep at all. It was well past the middle of the night, and she was still restless, wide awake. She sighed deeply and got up.

Something had been troubling her. She had been running it through her head, over and over since Jiang Cheng, Xichen, and her, had been discussing how to capture the demon that had been terrorizing the countryside.

It is always in threes…A nagging feeling at the back of her mind finally spurred her to get up, and she headed to the library pavilion. She wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight anyway.

The resentful energy was like an oil slick on her skin. It had been gnawing at her for days now. She knew she was going to lose it soon…It wouldn't be pretty either…It had only happened once before. It had been the reason she couldn't remember anything from her early life.

Flashes of a distant memory raced through her vision, and she had to stop, putting her hand on the wall of a building she had been walking by on her way to the library, her hand clutched at her chest. All she could remember, after the overwhelming power had taken control of her, were the bodies that surrounded her, and the hot tears that ran down her face.

She couldn't remember who they were. She just remembered the countless number of soulless eyes staring back at her as she looked upon the corpses all around her.

Huang Jin choked as she tried to control the resentful energy that seemed to respond to the memory. A black mist began to form all over her body, swirling around her.

"ENOUGH!" She shouted, closing her eyes, and the mist vaporized. She breathed in another deep breath, before opening her eyes again, a look of determination set on her face.

I can control this. I can control it, just for a little while longer…

As she quietly opened the doors to the library and closed them behind her, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Lan Xichen sitting behind a study table reading a book. His eyes locked on hers and a curious expression crossed his handsome features.

"It is very late Huang Jin. What brings you here so late in the night? Couldn't sleep as well?"

Huang Jin laughed nervously, "Yeah I guess you could say that."

Lan Xichen's face softened and a gentle smile formed on his lips. "Well don't let me interrupt what you were doing."

"Uhhhh…well. I couldn't sleep…and something has really been bothering me about the pattern of these attacks." Huang Jin replied, shuffling her feet.

Lan Xichen closed the book he was reading. "The pattern of three?"

"Exactly! It is really weird that it always happens in that specific pattern, right? My gut has been telling me that this isn't just one demon." Huang Jin explained animatedly, as she began to pace the library, her finger tapping her lips in thought.

"Is there a pack of demons that tend to travel in three's?" She mused aloud, and she stopped and turned to Lan Xichen.

The thought had crossed her mind several times that day, but she had no knowledge or any idea what could explain it, but surely he would know.

Lan Xichen's face betrayed little, as he continued to look at her, but the tiny hint of surprise in his eyes was all she needed to see. She smiled. "YES! I'm right in thinking that there is…isn't there?"

Lan Xichen shook his head in amusement. "Yes...and that is why I am here as well. I have been trying to develop a plan for the hunt tomorrow." She really was good at reading people, he thought to himself.

"Really?" Huang Jin excitedly rushed over and plopped herself down across from him. Her elbows propped on the table, and she leaned over, trying to see what he had been reading.

Lan Xichen's gentle smile returned, but there was concern on his face as well. He laid his hand on top of the book he had been reading. "Yes, and there is a problem as this particular group of demons hasn't been seen in thousands of years. They are female specters of Nuwa."

Nuwa of course was the ancient goddess best known for creating mankind and repairing the pillars of heaven, but that was all she could recall. She looked at Lan Xichen confused.

"It is said that long ago, the four pillars were broken; the nine provinces were in tatters. Heaven did not completely cover the earth; Earth did not hold up heaven all the way around its circumference."

"Fires blazed out of control and could not be extinguished; water flooded in great expanses and would not recede. Ferocious animals ate blameless people; predatory birds snatched the elderly and the weak."

"Thereupon, Nüwa smelted together five-colored stones in order to patch up the azure sky, cut off the legs of the great turtle to set them up as the four pillars, killed the black dragon to provide relief for Ji Province, and piled up reeds and cinders to stop the surging waters. The azure sky was patched; the four pillars were set up; the surging waters were drained; the province of Ji was tranquil; crafty vermin died off; blameless people preserved their lives. She is said to bring balance to the world. She can save the world, and also create chaos as well."

Huang Jin stared transfixed, as she listened to Xichen's story.

"It is said that when the world becomes unbalanced she will send specters, to bring balance, and right to the world. Those specters can either be good, or bad, both have been used to accomplish balance. Those spectres are three female spectres called Pipa Jing, Daji, and Splendor. "

"Three specters. Three people die, and then they leave…Zewu Jun this has to be it. In order to survive on this plane, specters must consume the souls of the innocent."

Lan Xichen nodded, but his face was grim, as he closed his eyes. "The problem is that we have no plan as to how to capture them. If this assumption is correct, this will not be an easy problem to fix."

Her heart fell, as her mind began to race with possabilities. "Well how did the ancient cultivators deal with them before?"

"It was said that the renowned cultivator Jiang Ziya, who was known for his ability to control demonic cultivation, was able to somehow trick the demons and capture them in a seal."

"A seal?" Huang Jin asked, hopeful, her mind still racing through ideas.

Lan Xichen nodded, and opened the book in front of him. On the ancient pages was an intricate seal. "The problem is, it does not explain how they did manage to trick the demon, as a seal would require the perfect timing to capture as powerful a demon as they are."

Her lips pouted, and her shoulders slumped as she began to think harder. How would a renowned demonic cultivator trick a goddesses specter?

"Possession…Jiang Ziya let the demons possess him." Huang Jin looked up into Lan Xichen's eyes. It would be the only way to guarantee that he could keep the demon there long enough for the seal to activate. She was sure of it.

God she couldn't imagine the amount of power Jiang Ziya must have had. It would have taken a massive amount of energy to hold the demon inside of the seal long enough for it to be cleansed. Jiang Ziya must have been INCREDIBLY powerful, not only in demonic cultivation but to house a specter born from a goddess...His spiritual energy and golden core must have been legendary.

Xichen was staring at her with a shocked expression on his face. She suddenly realized she hadn't continued. "Listen, I think I may have a plan…but you are really not going to like it."