Wen Qing makes sure to sit next to Wei Ying, quickly dabbing at her eyes before anyone notices anything amiss. She smiles politely at everyone around the table, after making sure Wen Ning is alright.

“Does everyone know everyone? She asks, being obtuse on purpose, and Wei Ying could have hugged her for that alone.

He knows she is keeping up appearances for the sake of it, not to give anything away, and it's the best course of action right now to not give themselves away.

“Of course they know us!” Wen Xu says, oozing scornful disdain. “How can they not, when we are the sons of the most powerful cultivator?” He makes a face at her.

Wei Ying is just about to retort something unsavoury to dispute that and make him look like a fool, when Lan Zhan’s hand grabs his, holding him back. It's surprisingly easy to let go of the scathing words resting on the tip of his tongue, just from this simple touch. Lan Zhan calms him down, makes him remember that he should stay in control. It's not even just the light touch, but every time Lan Zhan moves, Wei Ying gets a whiff of that sweet-and-spicy sandalwood scent, and it inspires bravery.

“No need. Empty vessels make the most noise,” Lan Zhan whispers, making sure nobody overhears him.

That makes Wei Ying smile beautifully.

“Well, just in case,” Wen Qing says pleasantly, addressing her oldest cousin. “As you say, it would be a shame if no one knew who you were. Right?” But her mouth is downturned, and there's a tightness behind her eyes.

Maybe this isn't the first time she's had to go loggerheads with the sons of Wen Ruohan.

“I didn't say that,” Wen Xu murmurs. “Or if I did, I didn't mean it like that.”

“You did say that, dummy!” Wen Chao blurts out, with an evil grin.

Wen Xu pushes him out of his chair.

Wen Chao screams bloody murder, and that's when Wen Ruohan stands up, ringing the little bell next to him. A servant comes and takes away the crying child, while the little hellion kicks and screams in frustration that he doesn'twant to go.

“Good riddance,” Wen Xu remarks, leaning back with a terrible posture.

“Welcome one, welcome all,” Wen Ruohan's deep voice echoes around the circular room, making everyone silent. “Let us make the first toast.” He lifts up his cup and says, “Raise your cups to the unity and cooperation between the sects in the Cultivation world.” He drains his cup and immediately, more wine is poured for him. “Today marks this occasion as one of the largest conferences in our history, and it is only possible to hold such an event in a place like Nightless City.”

This time, there are murmurs for and against his little speech, though every cup is raised and drunk from.

“I wish to acknowledge each and every one of you for attending this legendary meeting, and for understanding this. Everyone cannot be great, but together, we can be greater. Now, enough talking. Let the meal begin.”

He sits back down and waves over a servant to pour more wine in his cup.

The servants are busy serving food to everyone, and all of it except for the plain white rice is alarmingly red in colour. Everyone is served the same food, and when Wei Ying’s bowl is placed in front of him, he grins enthusiastically, happily anticipating what the spices will taste like. But he notices Lan Zhan pushing away the colourful bowls and eating only the plain white rice instead.

“Lan Zhan…is something wrong with the food?” Wei Ying asks him, quickly tasting a piece of cabbage from his serving. Yes, it's spicy…but, that wasn't cabbage.

“I do not recognise this,” Lan Zhan replies calmly, covertly turning around to see his Shufu’s reaction to the meal.

All of the Lan contingent have pushed away the spicy dishes and are quietly eating the same bland rice instead. When Wei Ying looks over at Wen Ruohan, the man is wearing the dirtiest smile, one that shows intelligence behind his actions. The man does not eat himself, which is another rude snub to his guests. How can he invite people to eat, and then not join in?

Lan Zhan turns back to his meal feeling angry at their host. He knows exactly what he's doing.

“Yeah, don't eat it, Lan Zhan. It's not cabbage,” Wei Ying tells him.

Unfortunately, Wen Xu hears him.

“What, too spicy for the fuddy-duddy Lans?” He sneers, stabbing a red piece from his own bowl and popping it into his mouth with a single chopstick.

“They're vegetarian,” Wei Ying says, thinking to himself that Wen Xu really hadn't made much progress in his past life. He pushes his untouched rice towards Lan Zhan, thinking to compensate for the meat.

“On purpose? They don't know what they're missing out on!” He spears another piece of meat onto his tongue, chewing with an open mouth.

Their conversation is interrupted by the host.

“Not hungry, Qiren?” Wen Ruohan calls out, leering at him.

“Thank you for the meal, Wen-Zhongzu. The rice is fragrant and tasty enough,” Lan Qiren replies, not taking the bait.

“As you wish,” he tuts, and orders more wine for his cup.

Meanwhile, introductions are being made on the children's table.

“Hello, I'm Jiang YanLi, and this is Jiang Cheng. We're from Lotus Pier,” Jiang YanLi tells them in her soft voice.

“Bunch of fishermen,” Wen Xu retorts rudely.

“Welcome to Nightless City,” Wen Qing smoothes over his words quickly, before moving onto the Jins.

“Jin ZiXuan.” The Peacock says, sniffing with derision.

“Second in line to the Jin seat, Jin ZiXun,” the other yellow-robed boy says, sticking out his tongue at Jiang YanLi.

A red haze fills Wei Ying’s eyes and he imagines jumping over the table to make those two boys sorry for their lack of manners. It is most satisfying to wish for it, even though he knows he cannot jeopardise their agenda like that.

“Lan WangJi, of the Lan Sect,” Lan Zhan says, standing up and bowing, though he privately thinks that particular Wen and the Jins do not deserve such respect. He's doing this to distract Wei Ying from doing whatever he's thinking of right now.

“We could tell cos of your stupid ribbon,” Wen Xu says, trying to flag down a servant carrying wine. Thankfully, he is ignored. So he turns to the mysterious stranger dressed in black, sitting on their table. “Who are you? I've never seen you before!”

“My name is Song Zichen, and I have come here with my master from Baixue temple.”

Song Zichen…Song Lan! This kid is Song Lan, Xiao XingChen's future friend. But why has he come here? Wei Ying tries not to stare at him. Again, Lan Zhan taps his knee to show that he has also recognised him.

“What I don't understand though,” Wen Xu drawls, pointing at Wei Ying with his chopstick, “is if you're from the Lan Sect, how come you don't wear a stupid ribbon as well, then? All of them do,” he jerks his head towards Lan Qiren and the rest of the Lan disciples.

Wei Ying can feel everyone's eyes on him as he chooses what to say. He can't be openly rude despite the rabid temptation to do so, and yet he knows he shouldn't garner too much attention upon himself. It goes against the grain to simply state his name.

“Wei WuXian. I don't belong to the Lan Sect.” He senses more than sees Lan Zhan’s displeasure at this.

“Wei…Wei…” Wen Xu pretends to think. “Why is the son of a servant sitting on the same table as the heirs?” He grins maliciously, showing he knows who Wei Ying is already.

“That's enough!” Wen Qing growls at him, pushed to the end of her patience.

“It's alright, Qing-Jie.” Wei Ying whispers, wondering how he's going to calm the  two absolutely livid people on either side of him. Lan Zhan’s fists are clenched in anticipation, looking as if he's only a hair's breadth away from punching Wen Xu in his obnoxious face.

“Who told you to speak?” Wen Xu snarls at her, knocking over his cup of tea. “Whatever!” He stands up quickly, embarrassed now. “All of you are just a bunch of losers! I'm off to find better company!” and with that, he stomps off.

“He better watch it, the pigs are getting tired of his tantrums,” Wen Qing mutters, mostly to herself, and then is slightly pleased and surprised to hear soft laughter circling their table. She relaxes immediately, now that Wen Xu and Wen Chao are both no longer sitting here with them.

She takes Wei Ying’s hand under the table and begins tracing out characters, whilst simultaneously holding a conversation with the Jiang siblings, though Jiang Cheng doesn't contribute much. He's much more interested in watching everyone else.

Wen Qing's message is this: as soon as you can, leave this place and go to your rooms. I'll come and find you. We can talk later.

Wei Ying nods imperceptibly, and traces the same message on Lan Zhan’s palm, adding, Wen Qing said this. Lan Zhan messages back a yes.

Since the banquet has just started, it might seem rude to just stand up and leave, so they sit for a while, listening to the chatter around them.

Wen Xu is pretending to suck up to some of the guests and emptying their cups of wine when they're not looking, and thank goodness, Wen Chao hasn't been brought back. Jiang YanLi is having a nice conversation with Song Zichen, asking him about the differences between learning how to cultivate in a temple as opposed to a Sect, and discussing the pros and cons of it, while Jin ZiXuan, for all his pompous posturing, looks decidedly jealous of them, and annoyed that no one talking to him. Jin ZiXun is obsessed with his plate and stealing more food out of his cousin's bowl when he's not looking.

Wen Ning, sweet child that he is, eats quietly, asking his sister questions now and then.

Wei Ying is dying to know how she came back, how she seems to know everything they know. In their past life, it had been her decision to trust the deceitful Jin GuanShan by giving themselves up into the custody of the new Chief Cultivator, herself and Wen Ning, in exchange for the lives of the other Wens, all of them old or laymen. None were cultivators. But that backfired when the no-good, lying toe-rag decided to change his demands, wanting Wei Ying to give up his Yin Hufu as well.

Wen Qing and Wen Ning had basically died for nothing, and their ashes scattered to the four winds. Two precious souls worth more than the whole of the Cultivation world put together, in Wei Ying’s opinion. Destroyed without a second thought, just because of their surname, along with the rest of the last remaining Wens.

“Jiejie, I'm tired,” Wen Ning says, resting his head on her shoulder.

Wei Ying gets an idea. “Wan Zhan, I'm tired too. Wanna go to sleep!” He pouts.

Lan Zhan stands up immediately and goes to his Uncle Qiren. “Shufu, both Wei Ying and I are tired. Can we go to sleep?”

He sees Uncle Qiren's eyes drift past him to where no doubt, Wei Ying is practising his acting skills. And then, feeling a presence next to him, Lan Zhan turns to find Wen Qing standing in front of Lan Qiren as well. She's cradling a sleeping Wen Ning and holding Wei Ying’s hand. The latter keeps yawning and rubbing his eyes.

“Don't worry, Acting Sect Leader Lan, I'm going to take my brother upstairs to sleep anyway, perhaps, if you like, I can take the boys with me?” Wen Qing says helpfully, bowing.

“Lan Bobo, Lan Hao, both of you go with Wen-Guniang to our quarters. You are to assist the children with getting ready for bed, and then wait outside the room until I return.” Uncle Qiren gives everyone a stern nod and pats Lan Zhan and Wei Ying on their heads, refraining from showing too much emotional attachment. He's fully aware of Wen Ruohan watching his every move, and now he regrets bringing the younger ones to this spectacle. But they're here now, and Lan Qiren has to make the best of a bad situation.

He watches them leaving with a heavy heart, having to trust others for the safety of his precious charges. He turns to Lan Huan.

“Are you feeling tired, yet?”

“No, Shufu.” Lan Huan is purposefully keeping his answers short, but Lan Qiren can see an ocean's worth of questions in his deep honey-coloured eyes. Later, he promises silently, and Lan Huan gives him a tiny smile.

Lan Qiren thanks the stars that the boy has grown up in a clan known for its nuanced forms of communication, that he recognises what can be said through the least amount of words, and that gestures play an important part of conveying one's true intentions. He knows that every insult awarded to the Lan Clan has not gone unnoticed by his eldest nephew and that there will be an inquiry into the exact meanings behind each one.

As for Lan Qiren, he's utterly disappointed in someone whom he thought of as a friend, prior to his arrival in Nightless City. But Wen Ruohan has changed, and not for the better.

Lan Qiren watches the way Jin GuangShan sidles up to the Chief Cultivator and proposes a toast, sucking up to him like the sycophant he is, his greedy eyes taking in every detail of this lavish affair and mentally calculating how much wealth Wen Ruohan truly has. Money and power corrupt like no other, and it seems, the rot has already begun.

His eyes catch upon Wen Tang Changpu, and she flicks a nervous gaze towards her brother before giving Lan Qiren a small, unnoticeable bow of apology. It IS a small gesture, but Lan Qiren has come to learn that those can have a long-lasting impact. He bows back just as discreetly. Some things should stay under the radar.

As he looks around the room at cultivators quickly becoming inebriated, he sighs to himself.

Tonight is going to be a long night, indeed.