Declaration Of War

Nie Clan, A Month Later

"Clan Leader, the scout had seen a big group of fierce corpses heading this way. They seem to be those controlled puppets of the traitor Meng Yao. Should we intercept them, of dispose of them when they get closer to the Unclean Realm?" A Clan member asked Nie Mingjue.

"That bastard thinks that he can deal with us as easily as he dealt with the Jin Clan?! Hell will freeze over before my Clan fall to his schemes! Put the Clan in high alert and prepare an extermination group to deal with the corpses immediately. I will personally purge this twisted creations of his once and for all!" Nei Mingjue said with deep anger.

In the last month, the traitor had try to break havoc in his Clan, probably trying to lure him out of his protection and deal with him as he did with the former Jin Clan Leader.

Ah, he knew perfectly well that was Meng Yao's goal, because many of his underlings make fun of him while in his Clan for been the son of a prostitute, but he had genuinely make him his second in command to prove his own people  was one of justice and that no one was above others.

With putting Meng Yao in such a position, he showed his Clan members and followers that injustice will not be tolerate, even coming from his own people and it was severally punish. Of that, Meng Yao knew and he even went as far as to make him an oath brother, along with Xichen, still, the traitor had turned against him, proving he was no worthy of his protection or his mercy.

He had been enraged when he find out of his treachery and swore to make him pay for taking advantage of both Xichen and himself to take revenge on his degenerate father and Clans in general. However, he was going to teach him a lesson as well and even if he knew Meng Yao was luring him out, he was no coward, nor a man that back down at the sight of danger.

He was a man that fight for justice, a man that had resisted and repelled everything that had threatened his Clan and guide it toward the best that world could offer under the harsh circumstances. If he wanted to play cat and mouse, he will play along, but Meng Yao was in for a surprise if he really believed he will go down that easily.

"Yes, Clan Leader. I will assemble the extermination team immediately and inform you when everything is ready for our departure." The Clan member said.

"Then, go." Mingjue said and as he left the room, he took Baxia in his hand and look at the wide saber that was his partner in all times.

"Baxia, are you ready for a war hunt?" Mingjue asked and the spirit of his saber went out with a mischievous smile.

"Sure thing, it' been a while since I have fun. I will teach those puppets that no one mess with our Nie Clan." The spirit said and Mingjue approved.

"No holding back tonight." Mingjue said as he moved out.

"I had never hold back anyways." The Clan leader nodded.

"Indeed. By the way, you know what to do if something goes wrong." Mingjue told him and the spirit arched an eyebrow.

"Are you getting old, Master? It's not like you had lost a fight before and even less with filthy corpses like those he leads." Baxia said.

"We will encounter more than corpses this time. I believe that wicked Xue Yang will hide somewhere and take his chance when he see an opportunity. He likes to attack from the back, like he did with Wei Wuxian." Nie remained him.

"Then he is nothing more than a coward, but even so... this time, it will not go his way, I assure you Master." Baxia said, bowing deeply to him. He was no ordinary spirit, as all sabers from the Nie Clan were forged differently. They were created to fight, to command and to keep their Clan strong.

"We fight to death tonight." Mingjue said as he looked up to the moon. That night there was a clear sky with no signs of clouds anywhere, just an infinite veil of shining stars and a bright moon in full. A perfect night for hunting both, corpses and traitors.

Baxia go down the stairs after his Master gave the moon a look and look at his Master wide and strong back. He was a man worthy of him, a man that new no hesitation, no mercy and no backing down. Yet he cared about his little brother to a point, he even make him swear an oath that was not meant to be carried by any spirits.

Baxia smiled. Ah, yes, he was not meant to do what Mingjue had set his mind to, if things go chaotically wrong, but he was no ordinary man either, nor was the Nie Clan under his leadership, so at the end, it was up to fate whatever or not the backup plan was put in motion. He cared not about much things other than to fight what his Clan deemed enemies, for which he was itching to get his hands on that wicked Xue Yang.

Thus his bloodthirsty instincts awoke inside of him and as he went back into his saber, there was a hint of a red shine over the strong metal. Puppets corpses could go down to hell the same as the ones controlling them and if he by change caught a sight of the traitor that will be the last thing he will do. He had already swear on it no matter for how long he will had to wait to bring down the punishment of the Nie's, over his wicked head.

Wei Ying

The last few weeks had been hellish with the intense training for both Lan Zhan and him, to a point he was exhausted when either his father or Lord Zheng decided it was enough for the day. However, the effort had been worthy. Lan Zhan's cultivation had grown a lot stronger as he spend the days in the Stone Garden, while coming back in the noon to teach Ah Yuan about the zither, then wait for him to return to their room.

He could tell his Lan Zhan wanted to be his equal, which in fact he already was from the beginning, but as his control over the dark energy grew more and more, he thought he needed to push himself as well, in order to look after him. Ah, his Lan Zhan was the best, so caring and lovely, for which he was so crazy about him.

That day, he had not only manipulate a huge amount of dark energy while playing Chenqing, he had also sense the flow of the energy from miles away, almost all the way to Yin herself. He could tell she was indeed inside the Burial Mounds, pretty much at the heart of it, which meant their search was going to be a hard one because they were not going to find in her in just a day and the amount of corpses inside the Burial Mounds was too great. There were thousands of them, as that place had become a graveyard for many generations as well a place of deep tragedies all cover with blood.

It was a hellish place and Yin felt so lost on it that he doubted she will recognize even her lifetime lover Yang. However, that was for Yang to figure it out, as he was the only one who could bring her back from her madness. He could manipulate her energy and even control corpses, but he had no power over her, nor a way to deal with her madness in full.

That night, he was meditating by Lan Zhan's side, who always make sure he was in control and cleansed of the external dark energy. That was the reason he didn't stay in full inside the Stone Garden, in which his spiritual energy will grow the fastest the more you resisted. He always came back in time to stay with his son for a few hours and then welcoming him back with a hot meal he prepared himself, as for Wei's insistence.

He was unable to said no to Ying and more so when he rewarded him so wonderfully afterwards. Sometimes, he prepare a special dish Yanli teach him and Ying found out that the lotus soup with pork was his favorite and he loved both version, the one his sister make, as well as the one Lan Zhan prepare for him. At the end, just like Jiang Cheng had point it out, when having a free day, both of them were spoiling him rotten, but Wei Ying love it.

As he meditate, something strange happen. His concentration suddenly became focus not on his cultivation, but by the feel of restlessness in the dark energy. At first, he thought that something was happening to Yin inside the Burial Mounds, but then the source of the disturbance was not coming from the east, but the south.

Then he concentrate harder than ever with Xuanyu's help and he let himself be carried away, which make Lan Zhan worry, as he watched Wei Ying in a kind of trance he could not bring him out. Lan Zhan hold his wrist and found him fluctuating between white and dark and call his name several times, but without any reaction.

Suibian then told him that he was working along with Xuanyu to try to figure out a source of dark energy in use back in the south. Giving the fact that any use of dark energy other than the one Wei Ying had was not good, Lan Zhan told Bichen to inform Wei Lao of the situation, just in case it meant a treat for them or any other Clan, specially the Nie Clan that had their lands in the south.

When Wei Ying finally wake up of his trance, Zilin was there along with Lianmei and as Lan Zhan help him stand, he told them that there was a war happening in the south and that someone was using the Yin Metal to rise even more corpses to try to destroy the south Clans for good. Zilin went out in a hurry to inform his Master and Lianmei followed him soon after. In a matter of minutes, the whole east was in high alert for a possible attack, as well as many messenger butterflies were sent to all corners.

"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan exclaimed, even more worry when his beloved staggered and hold him tighter.

"Lan Zhan... if Nie Mingjue falls, the south is done for..." Wei whisper as Lan Zhan help him back to their bed.

"He is strong." Lan Zhan affirmed, which was quite true, but their opponents were not exactly playing fair, using something powerful enough to turn the tables on their favor.

"I know he is, but this time there are against something they cannot fight against." Wei told him at the same time they heard running steps outside their pavilion.

Lan Zhan was on his feet immediately, grabbing Bichen and open the door, ready to strike if there was some kind of threat, but the ones running to them were a few members of their group, with Nie Huaisang in a mess of cries, throwing himself to the white figure at the door.

"Lan Wangji! My brother is in troubles... please help him..." The distressed Huaisang said as he burry his crying face on Lan Zhan's chest, but only for a short moment, as Jiang Cheng pull him back and away from Wangji.

"Idiot! Do you want for Wuxian to cut your head?! That's an exclusive spot and you know it!" Jiang continue and then, ignoring the protest, Huaisang passed Wangji and throw himself to Wuxian instead, crying even more.

"Please bother Wei, save my brother!" He keep it up and Wei Ying look over his head at both his Lan Zhan who was expressionless as usual and the others that were now half inside his room.

"He is at the south, I can't do much from here." Wei Ying said, as this time it was Song Lan who took the crying Nie away from him.

"Please Wei Wuxian! He is my only brother!" Huaisang insisted.

"But what can he do this far from your Clan?" Xingchen told him.

"He is training with dark energy, right? There must be a way... please brothers!" Huaisang pleaded.

"What about summoning circles? Is there any in here? Like the ones you made back in the north?" Zixuan asked, knowing for his experience how hard was to losing someone to those wicked bastards while they were away.

"Last time, Lord Yang offer the needed energy to transport us here. The east don't had that kind of power in their lands." Song Lan assure him.

"Please!!!" Huaisang pleaded even more and Wei Ying sighed, which was not a good sign in Lan Zhan's radar.

"Wei Ying." He warned him, already knowing he was going to try something dangerous.

"Ah, Lan Zhan, he is pleading so badly... how can I not try it out?" Wei asked back, almost pouting, however his Lan was more concern about him than with Huaisang.

"Your energy is still unbalance." He pointed out.

"Brother Lan! Please let him help my brother. I will owe you a huge favor anytime you want it..." Huaisang said as he pull his long white sleeve. That, of course didn't move Lan Wangji's heart at all, as his first concern was for his unofficial husband.

"If we can't help the south, then for what are we training so hard for the past month? We can't let them take the south. They already went against the north. Lan Zhan, what if next it will be Lord Xichen?" Wei asked and he knew he had hit the mark. Wangji loved his brother as unconditional as Xichen loved Lan Zhan and for him, he will do the greatest sacrifice, although he would still not want to risk his beloved.

"How?" Wanji asked and Wei Ying smiled, giving him a soft kiss in his cheek, making his ears deep red instantly.

"The same way I make it to your Clan the first time. We use eagles." Wei said and Jiang Cheng laughed.

"Hell yes! I'm in!" He said excitedly.

"But what about Lord Wei? He is not going to risk you out of the Clan." Song Lan asked.

"Ah, come on. You can't be naïve enough to believe I had never go out under my father's watch. I am a master of talismans, after all. Go back to your rooms for now and wait for my signal. Then we all go out and head for the south, unnoticed." Wei Ying smiled as he sat in front of a table to start making decoy talismans of his own invention.

AN: Yeah! The adventures comes next! This time, you guys can decide Mingjue's fate. You want him to be save or want him turned into a fierce corpse? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading, stay home, stay safe and healthy. See you back soon, take care. 😙❤❤❤😄