Wei Ying is quiet when they wake up and during breakfast. There's no time to talk in between Shufu getting them ready to attend the archery contest and making sure they're on time.

Lan Zhan gets an opportunity to speak with Wei Ying only when they're heading towards the tournament grounds. They are walking behind Lan Qiren and Lan Huan, the former still giving tips to the latter about his archery form.

"Wei Ying, last night, when I said love in its purest form is unconditional, I meant that while yours was, no doubt, when given to both Wen Qing and Jiang YanLi, but both of them put up boundaries when it came to their turn. They were giving you conditional love instead. It was not a criticism of you, that you had to love them, no matter what, rather, I was saying they did not deserve to have such a pure, selfless love gifted to them when they could not return it in the same fashion, that is all." Lan Zhan is out of breath when he finishes.

He knew what he wanted to say, but having clear, concise thoughts is vastly different from actually being able to voice them in a coherent manner. Usually one to think deeply about his words, Lan Zhan isn't used to saying exactly what is on his mind 'on the fly', as it were, and he's uncomfortable that the meaning might get lost in the delivery. He wonders if the wrong interpretation was taken from his words last night, and if that is why Wei Ying has been too quiet this morning.

Wei Ying smiles at him. It's a little one, a far cry from his usual brightness, his inextinguishable joy upon waking up in Lan Zhan's arms in the mornings, but it is a smile nonetheless.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, both awake and maybe while I was asleep? I don't know, but I feel different this morning."

"Different, how?"

"Similar to waking up from a dream, maybe even a bad one, and you know that relief you experience when you open your eyes and you're in bed, in a safe place, and you realise that what you had been seeing before, it wasn't real? Like that. I think it's really sunk in that I'm not affiliated in any way with the Jiang Sect. I don't owe them anything. They don't know me. That, by itself, is such a revelation. In that past life, when Jiang Fengmian tied us up with Zidian and pushed us away, the last thing he said to me specifically was, "look after A-Li and A-Cheng. Make sure they're safe", and Madam Yu too. She told me to save Jiang Cheng, even with my own life, if I had to give it. All my life, that's all they said in relation to my own worth, my contribution towards them was to be great and to be the best, only in order to serve Jiang Cheng and be his right-hand man in the future.

"Lan Zhan, no one ever asked me what I wanted. It's only now, with distance, in another life, I can see how fucked up that was. I'm still trying to process the freedom of it, the taste of it on my tongue. Of never having that weight on my head. I've carried that burden for so long, my shoulders were used to the shape of it.

"It's not only what you said last night that opened my eyes. I think it was a seed planted by A-Yuan, my beautiful little boy. Living in the Burial Mounds was tough, I'm not gonna lie, but we made it better for each other, and I realised that what I felt for him was the unconditional love that you were talking about. I must have been thinking about it subconsciously all this time, because I remember thinking there was nothing I wouldn't do for that kid. And then I realised that that's the essence of being a parent. That's what Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu should have done for me, but they only saw me for what I could give to them instead."

Lan Zhan tugs on his hand and brings him closer, unable to pull him into the hug they both need right now, but he has time to wipe away the tears of frustration rolling down Wei Ying's cheeks.

"As for Jiang YanLi, you're right there, as well. I know why she never stood up to Madam Yu, because she really is a frightening woman, but whenever I had disagreements with Jiang Cheng, she always made me back down, urging me to go along with whatever he wanted. It wasn't fair, and I'm only seeing that now."

Lan Zhan is so relieved, he could cry.

This is exactly what he wanted Wei Ying to understand.

They reach the tournament grounds and are directed where to sit. Uncle Qiren assures them that he will return quickly, after he escorts Lan Huan to where the participants of the archery contest are waiting. Before he goes, he makes sure to have Lan Bobo and Lan Hao sit by the children to look after them. They've got front row seats in a highly anticipated competition, and absolutely no privacy.

Wei Ying settles for signing on Lan Zhan's palm, seeing as there's no other option left.

Wei Ying: I understand why you're upset with Wen Qing too, but she only did the operation because she saw what Jiang Cheng was like after his core was crushed. I can be extremely persuasive when I want to be, that's for sure. You know, just before she and Wen Ning left to give themselves up to Jin GuangShan, she bowed to me. She said, "thank you, and I'm sorry," and then they were gone. I don't think she ever believed that I thought of her like my sister, and Wen Ning as my Didi."

Lan Zhan flips their palms around so he can sign too.

Lan Zhan: True understanding between people, true love has no need for those words. They become barriers between them, the politeness instilled when we were children. That is what I wish to tear down between you and I. All I need to be happy is to see you be the same. All I want is for Wei Ying to be happy.

Wei Ying draws out the characters for 'me, too', and then kisses the centre of Lan Zhan's palm.

Shufu returns then, and their guardians go back to their seats as the tournament begins.

***************

Lan Zhan looks around, now that the horns to signal the start of the competition have been blown.

The tournament is taking place inside a temporary compound, an area of covered seats for the spectators circling around a grassy centre.

White silk adorns the roof of the canopy above them, swathes of it hanging down and fluttering in the light breeze. Blood red carnations decorate the stands behind which the audience is seated, ready for the show.

Lan Huan is standing next to Nie MingJue, and to their right is the Peacock, Jin ZiXuan, wearing a black band around his arm, presumably to show that he's in mourning for his father. Wen Xu is on the far left, strutting back and forth restlessly, a smug smile on his face because he believes he is better than those standing alongside him.

The Jiangs are not competing in this tournament because Jiang YanLi doesn't have a strong enough golden core to sustain any kind of weaponry skill, and Jiang Cheng is too young this year.

Four round straw targets with a bullseye, the inner circle in the middle darker than the outer ones varying in colour for lesser points, are placed in front of the children. At the moment, the targets are placed a mere fifty yards away.

Wen Ruohan arrives with his entourage, a group that has been steadily increasing in size since the first day of the conference, with Wen Zhuliu at the front. His sharp eyes have already scanned the crowds separated from the Chief Cultivator's seat by a wide ring of Wen Elite guards, dressed in dazzling red and gold uniform robes, armed and ready to defend his life.

His head Disciple, one Wen Zhang, throws a talisman into the air, amplifying his voice.

"Welcome all to the Wen Conference. Today marks the first of three days celebrating the achievements and skills of our sects as a whole. Tomorrow will be specialised Cultivation by the individual sects in attendance, and the third day will be devoted to sword mastery and the skills of combat. But today, we are focusing on the bow and arrow.

"Archery is a renowned skill, often responsible for taking down beasts of magnitude from afar, and is one of the best long range skills to master. A cultivator must excel in swordsmanship, archery and Cultivation in general, but it is archery which has the most variables to render it the most difficult. Not only are there moving targets to hit, but the slightest change in wind direction can mean the difference between life and death. That is true for the stationary archer, and think how much more difficult it is if both the archer and the target are moving?

"So please welcome our brave young cultivators today, who are going to give us all a treat by displaying their talents for us!"

A round of applause rings out as the announcer introduces the four heirs ready to participate.

"The morning is dedicated to varying skill levels between these four, and progressively becoming harder. A winner will be announced and a prize given for first place. In the afternoon, everyone may compete so that it will be a contest between the sects as opposed to just their heirs. Let the tournament begin!"

There's another round of cheers and fierce clapping as attendants rush forward with extra arrows, ready to supply each child as they run out.

"When the horn sounds, grab your arrows and fire. This first test is for speed and accuracy." Wen Zhang tells them.

There's a moment of tense silence as the competitors await the signal from the horn, and then WHOOSH! Four arrows sail through the air at a breakneck speed, hitting the straw targets. Three are dead centre and Wen Xu scowls because he just missed the mark.

Out of five attempts, it is Lan Huan who wins first place, and Wen Xu making a comeback to second in a joint tie with Jin ZiXuan, with Nie MingJue coming in last.

There's a brief pause as the targets are moved another twenty-five yards away.

"Once again, when the horn sounds, fire your arrows."

This time, Lan Huan and Jin ZiXuan tied for first place with Wen Xu coming in second and Nie MingJue last.

"Isn't this exciting, Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying says, leaning forward in his seat. "Go, A-Huan!" he shouts with gleeful exhilaration, loud enough that Lan Huan looks up and smiles with a nod of his head.

"A-Ying, no shouting. The others will feel bad that no one is cheering for them," Lan Qiren says.

Wei Ying nods with his huge silver eyes wide in surprise. He's never considered that before, and it's more of a shock that Lan Qiren is actually being nice to him. He's far too used to having something thrown at him, nevermind the yelling!

He scoots closer to Lan Zhan and begins writing out characters on his palm.

Wei Ying: I'm still trying to get used to your uncle not trying to kill me.

Lan Zhan immediately pulls him closer and writes back: I do not remember him being this kind.

Wei Ying: Do you think we managed to change him when you stopped my parents from dying?

Lan Zhan considers this. He replies: It is certainly a factor, but it's more you.

Wei Ying: Me??

Lan Zhan: Yes. Wei Ying is very cute in this body, and it's similar to seeing a kitten and wanting to pet it. I am blessed to see Wei Ying like this, every day. Uncle is also blessed, and he better remember that.

Wei Ying has to bite his bottom lip from laughing too loudly.

****************

The tournament ends with Lan Huan as the clear victor, with Jin ZiXuan coming in second and Wen Xu barely scraping past Nie MingJue in third. Nie MingJue doesn't mind being in last place because he's looking forward to the day after tomorrow when he'll whoop the ass of a certain Sect heir currently crowing about beating him.

He's always valued the sabre over anything else as a spiritual weapon, and he can't wait to receive his. He already knows what he's going to call her. Baxia is a fitting name for his sabre, because he will be the one ruling her, not the other way around. He's well aware of the possible qi deviation that might happen, that everyone older than him has warned him about because it has happened to every single Sect Leader of the Nie Sect. But he's been studying the effects of Resentment energy on sabres with their killing intent being too strong for their spiritual masters to handle, and he thinks he may have a solution to a problem that has made the Nie Sect bow down to it.

For now, he'll settle for tripping the mouthy little shit so Wen Xu hits the ground with his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he lies with a beautiful smile on his face, interrupting Wen Xu in his blistering attack on Lan Huan. Nie MingJue can take many things aimed at himself, but no one gets to be horrible to A-Huan. Under the guise of pretending to give Wen Xu a hand up (everyone is watching them closely), Nie MingJue keeps his expression friendly-looking, while he says, "Go anywhere near my friend again and I'll rip that tongue out of your mouth. Understand?"

Wen Xu nods hastily and steps back, a lot paler and shaking now, instead of boasting to Lan Huan how he was much better as a cultivator because he wasn't brought up on thousands of rules preventing him from doing anything. But he knew, as all bullies know, he hit the mark when he mentioned Lan Huan's mother, saying that her cultivation was weak, otherwise why was she dead?

It was worth knocking that haughty, proud Lan down a notch or two just for winning what should have been his prize. But that's what thieves get, he justifies himself. He hadn't been counting on Lan Huan being so close to the Nie Beast, and of course, now he won't be able to say anything to either of them. Nie MingJue is already taller and wider than Wen Xu, and he has no doubt that he can make true to his promise about Wen Xu's tongue.

But...as Wen Xu looks over to whom Lan Huan is waving and smiling at, a plan forms in his head, and he smirks. Lan Huan has a weakness: his baby brother.

A soft target indeed...

He'll make both the Lan Sect and the Nie Sect regret ever trying to outshine him, or threaten him again.

***************

After the tournament with the Sect heirs, the Wen Sect puts on a show with their Sect disciples.

The older disciples throw out arrow after arrow, watching as the skies darken with a sudden cloud of wood and feathers, each arrow multiplying into hundreds with just one incantation.

Another disciple fires an arrow up into that cloud and it bursts into a single flame that attaches itself to the other arrows as it burns away everything in the sky, reclaiming the blue. Cheers and clapping resound from the audience.

The air is full of smoke and the smell of burning wood, so another disciple aims at a cloud passing by, and with another incantation, a light rain falls like a mist to cleanse the space.

A group of Wen Sect members assemble in the grass, right in the centre of the field and fire a ton of arrows into the sky that become the form of a magnificent phoenix, taking flight and soaring above the clouds. With each consecutive arrow fired into its midst, the phoenix looks as if it is really flying. The crowd loves this part and there are awed sighs and cheers, with people clapping all throughout.

But the best is yet to come.

For the last part, three disciples shoot arrows into the sky and make it dark again, and then Wen Zhang stands in the middle to give his signal. When his arm comes down, the archers next to him release larger than normal arrows into the sky and as they reach a certain height, they burst into colourful flames, one after another.

There are flowers of different colours bursting into life on that huge canvas of the sky, star bursts of tiny flames that sparkle and glimmer going from white to yellow to orange and then red, and then finally, there's a black fiery dragon up there, blowing orange coloured blazing flowers from its snout.

It's truly a dazzling display of the Wen Sect and their skills, and Wen Ruohan's smile as he watches the show is a rare one of genuine pride.

Then it's the prize giving ceremony.

Everyone watches as the three Sect heirs and one sect-leader-in-waiting march up to where Wen Ruohan is waiting, seated upon his lacquered throne and watching them back with lazy, half-closed eyes. The Elite guard takes over from the normal disciples and continues up the Sect Leader.

Lan Qiren has never been so nervous in his life.

After everything he's learned regarding Wen Ruohan, the last thing he wants is for his nephew to go anywhere near him, but this is unavoidable since Lan Huan won the competition. He's happy and proud of his nephew and so he maintains his features from the open panic he would show otherwise, and tries to smile. It's not easy.

Wen Ruohan's lips curl up in what could be counted as a smile when Lan Huan makes it up to the top of the platform leading up to his chair and standing in front of him.

"Well done," Wen Ruohan says, taking a varnished box from the servant standing next to him. "The lid will open by itself when the egg is ready to hatch. This is a rare white goshawk, native to Nightless City. The entire box acts as an incubator for the egg, and you must look after it well.

Lan Huan smiles and bows, thanking the Wen Sect leader for the gift and steps down.

Jin ZiXuan and Nie MingJue received a piece of silver each for their participation, and then it's Wen Xu's turn.

He does not recognise that cold glint in his father's eyes.

"How dare you show me your face?" Wen Ruohan asks him, sitting forward and speaking in a low voice. It is at once completely threatening.

Wen Xu begins to tremble.

"Fuqin-"

"Why are you still here?" Wen Ruohan stands up to his full height.

"Sorry, Fuqin." Wen Xu mumbles it and looks down.

"You think I want your apology? When you have single-handedly made the Wen Sect lose face?"

Wen Xu doesn't even see the hand that strikes his cheek with a loud echoing slap. He staggers from the blow, clutching his face in shock and pain.

"Get out of my sight! Go and practise your shooting until I tell you to stop."

Wen Xu shakily bows and is escorted off the podium as a servant leads him out. But he's so humiliated that he tears away from the person helping him and gives him a good, swift kick to make him let go. Then Wen Xu runs away.

***************

Jiang YanLi approaches them after lunch.

***********

A/N

Dear Beautiful Readers,

I just started watching Interview with a Vampire, the series, and it's so good!!

That's my distraction and sleight of hand trickery to make you not yell at me for that cliffhanger, hehe. The insomnia/irregular sleeping is getting to me and I slept through my alarm. Now everything is off kilter and disorienting until tomorrow morning when, hopefully, things will go back to normal.

I think my dream is to live by myself and wake up whenever, and write all day, hehe. Maybe next life...

All my love,

Charlie
🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫