Lan Qiren looks at both of his friends.

"The timing of this is unfortunate, but perhaps we can still make it work to our advantage. We were thinking of ending the conference and then destroying the Yin Iron."

"Why not lay the trap at the end of the conference and catch the traitor, then we can peacefully destroy the Yin Iron. Doesn't that make better sense?" Nie XiongMeng says, finishing his tea with gusto.

He's obviously looking forward to this. Lan Qiren tries not to roll his eyes.

"The idea has merit, A-Ren," Wen Tang Changpu says thoughtfully. "That way, it's one worry less to have found the traitor."

"Have you made any progress in your Sect?" Lan Qiren asks her. "I was watching your disciples enter earlier, and I hated thinking of any of them being the one after the Yin Iron. All of them, such innocent faces, and yet one person among all those gathered in Cloud Recesses is drawn by the evil inside that artefact. It pains me to think of that."

"Not as such," she admits ruefully. "I wish I had more to tell you, but the ransacker seems to be lying low for now. What is even more annoying is that the searches were carried out on the last day of all the sects being gathered in one place. I know that the highest suspicion should be aimed at my own disciples, but really, it could be anyone. We can't cancel anyone out because the same people are together here, as well."

"That's why we must get them to come to us, to give themselves away instead of us having to look for the proverbial needle in the haystack. This way, we will have undeniable proof that we've found the culprit." Lan Qiren pours more tea for everyone.

"So, what is this plan of yours?" Nie XiongMeng asks him, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Lan Qiren smiles. "Let me explain, it is quite simple."

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

Lan Huan brings Nie MingJue and Nie Huaisang to the guest house to meet with Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, and to his surprise, Wen Qing and Wen Ning are also there. Xue Yang comes in a little while later, and sits down quietly next to Wei Ying, who is being examined by Wen Qing.

Her two fingers rest on his wrist and both of them have their eyes closed as everyone silently waits for her verdict. There is a noticeable tension in the room.

After a while, Wen Qing takes her fingers away and opens her eyes, a clear shock on her face.

"What about you?" She says, and grabs Lan Zhan's wrist to do the same.

It doesn't take long and when she lets go of him, this time she asks, "How?"

"Meditation," Wei Ying tells her, sounding somewhat smug. "But you should definitely check out XiChen-Ge and A-Yang, too. We all spent a couple of months in seclusion. Well, Lan Zhan and I were together, but you get the gist."

"Here, Laoshi!" Xue Yang offers his wrist eagerly, leaning forwards.

"Don't call me that!" she snaps half-heartedly, still checking the condition of his golden core.

"I have a lot to learn from you, that's the only reason," Xue Yang tells her earnestly, and he sounds like he means it.

Wen Qing feels bad instantly. She's been harsh with him, only because she remembers too well what he was like in her past life. The few times she was in the court when he was speaking to Wen Ruohan, that Xue Yang was bloodthirsty and without a shred of conscience, ready to kill in the blink of an eye. But even she cannot deny that he's different now, somehow lighter of spirit. She makes a mental note to ask Wei Ying if anything significant has happened to him lately.

His golden core surprises her, too, and she gives him a thoughtful look after removing her fingers. "Just meditation?" she asks suspiciously.

"You betcha." He grins toothily back.

Wen Qing ignores him and bows towards Lan Huan and the Nies. "May I check your golden core, Lan-Gonzei?"

Lan Huan gives her his wrist obediently.

When she's done checking his condition, she stares at everyone, obviously shocked and trying to decide how to put in words what she has discovered.

"Remarkable improvement in everyone," she says, turning to Lan Huan. "Yours is confident, calm and at peace. Tell me, did you work through any issues that were bothering you? It feels like your golden core underwent some kind of emotional upheaval."

Now it's Lan Huan's turn to look shocked. "Yes. I was horrified with myself, and after what A-Zhan told me about our past life, I couldn't come to terms with my own betrayal of him. Regarding Meng Yao."

There are gasps from Nie MingJue and Nie Huaisang.

And it's obvious that Lan Huan wants them to know the truth about Meng Yao, otherwise he wouldn't have dropped his name like that.

Wen Qing looks pointedly at Wei Ying, and he flings hastily scribbled silencing talismans around the room.

"I guess we should fill you in, now that you know we're not exactly how you see us." She tells the Nie brothers.

They take it in turns to tell them everything, about the war instigated by Wen Ruohan, the Sunshot Campaign, the Allies winning because of Wei Ying, and all the parts each individual played in that last life, including the suspicious circumstances that led to both Jin heirs, Jin ZiXun and Jin ZiXuan, going to Qiongqi Way, resulting in their deaths and how much they suspect Jin GuangYao to be a part of it.

Predictably, the Nie brothers are shocked, though it's unclear how much of it little Huaisang understands about the whole conversation.

"Is this why you never said anything when Meng Yao chose to come with us to the Unclean Realm?" Nie MingJue stands up, shaking with anger.

"A-Jue! I swear, I didn't know anything until I came back from Nightless City. I found A-Zhan's kill list and his notes about his and A-Ying's past life, and then Shufu confronted them. But you have to promise not to say anything to anyone, not even your father! Otherwise I dread to think what will happen." Lan Huan dashes away the sudden tears in his eyes.

Nie MingJue sits down again, softening immediately. He hates upsetting A-Huan and A-Sang the most, out of everyone he knows. He's still trying to process everything he's been told, though.

"Mostly everyone on that list is dead," Nie MingJue says in wonder this time, after Wen Qing spills the details on that nugget. "And in this life, my father is still alive. I cannot imagine having to take over on his behalf. Not just running the Sect, but commanding a war as well? Impossible!"

She also tells them about the Yin Iron, and how there is a traitor hiding among them, someone new looking for the Yin Iron.

"The only thing we can be sure of is that no one in this room is the traitor," Wei Ying tells them. "So, we can only trust each other. If you see anything suspicious, or anything which doesn't make sense, then please report it. We need to stop the Yin Iron from falling into the wrong hands at all costs."

"Baba told me to keep a look out," Xue Yang tells them, finally speaking up. "That's why I was late."

"What were you doing?" Wei Ying asks him.

"Just getting a feel for the place," he says vaguely. "Figuring out where everyone is staying."

Wei Ying notices his headband is missing and when he pointedly looks at his forehead, Xue Yang lifts up his sleeve to show where it's tied securely.

"I was in disguise. Incognito," he brags.

"No way! That can't work, just taking it off!?" Wei Ying exclaims, half in amusement and half in disbelief.

"It totally does," Xue Yang insists smugly. "You won't believe how much people pay attention to the little details. Everyone was bowing to me when I had it around my head, but the moment I took it off, I was ignored like the tea leaves at the bottom of a cup. Some of them even ordered me around without making eye contact!" His tone is incredulous. "Most of the twats that have come here have sticks up their butts and think they're something special. But the truth is, they still use chamberpots and someone still has to go empty out their crap."

"Interesting..." A-Huan says, as if a new idea has just popped into his head. "I might even give it a go."

"I think you're right about that Su She guy," Xue Yang tells them.

"Why? What did you see?" Wei Ying perks right up.

"I dunno that it was anything suspicious, but he met up with one of the Jins, and they were trash-talking about Cloud Recesses, how it's without character, like the Lans. The one wearing white had his fist behind his back, and the other one was teasing him about it, saying that he was trying to copy you," Xue Yang says, looking at Lan Zhan specifically.

"Lan Zhan is Lan Zhan, there's no imitating him!" Wei Ying declares, linking their arms together. "We should keep an eye on everyone anyway, just in case."

"Mn. Wei Ying is clever," Lan Zhan replies, utterly serious.

Wei Ying blushes and whines under his breath, while Wen Qing rolls her eyes hard.

"That's not a bad idea. If we make a plan of surveillance, we can cover more ground and the more likely we will find the traitor," A-Huan says, grabbing a fresh sheet of parchment and a brush. Lan Zhan stirs the ink for him as he draws out a timetable.

"Yeah, then it's not so much pressure on you, A-Yang," Wei Ying tells him confidently. "We can check on the individuals as well as look for evidence. I'm pretty sure whoever it is must have some proof on them, something hidden away."

"But you'll have to be careful," A-Huan tells them all sternly, showing a rare side of himself. "Our guests cannot be alerted that someone went through their things, otherwise that will cause more problems than we're trying to solve. They will definitely complain about it if given the chance, and that's more of a risk about the Yin Iron. The more people start learning about it, the more potential thieves there will be."

"We'll be careful," Wei Ying promises.

"So look, since I'll have to be by Shufu during the conference, I won't be able to do much. But if each one of us can slip out of the room and check a few rooms, that might work. If we're asked any questions by the adults, then have an excuse ready. Upset stomach is the best one I've used so far, with sparkling results," Lan Huan adds, grinning. "It's shocking how much the adults do not want anything to do with diarrhoea." He shows them a spreadsheet of times and names and who is doing what at any given time.

Wei Ying gives a low whistle. "Wow! XiChen-Ge, you came up with this that quickly? And thanks for keeping me and Lan Zhan together."

"Organisation is a skill," he replies with a smile.

Wei Ying studies it with Lan Zhan while the others chat.

"So what's the verdict, Doc?" Xue Yang asks Wen Qing. He waves his wrist in front of her.

"Your core showed a rapid growth spurt. Are you sure you only meditated?" She asks him back, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Quite sure," he grins back. "I'll show you, some day."

"Deal," she replies, charmed. "But it's you two that have disproportionate results," she says to Lan Zhan and Wei Ying. "My readings tell me you have exceeded all expectations and are on the cusp of immortality. How is that even possible?"

"They sent us back," Wei Ying tells her, ignoring the shocked faces of everyone else. "We went to a strange place and a voice told us to go back, that it wasn't time for our Heavenly Trial yet."

He lets Lan Huan explain about that part.

"We were already used to meditating, so it shouldn't be such a big surprise," Lan Zhan says. "In our past lives, that's how any disciple worth his salt cultivates to immortality.

"Qing-Jie, tell us the truth, though. Are our cores strong enough to help with our array? We want to assist the adults in destroying the Yin Iron." Wei Ying looks at her hopefully.

There was a time when his golden core was one of the strongest in the Cultivation world. He had been so proud of his achievement and the ease with which he could recover from the slightest inconveniences, treating them as paltry. And then he had given it away as if it didn't matter. As if the whole torturous encounter didn't leave him with less than half of himself left.

"No." Wen Qing shakes her head sadly. "As much as I wish I could give you a different answer, the truth is, your bodies are far too small to muster up enough power. Usually, the development of one's body is aligned, parallel to the growth of one's core. One doesn't happen without the other. In this case, it's your bodies that are holding you up."

"Oh. Okay." Wei Ying looks down, terribly disappointed.

But there's nothing he can do about it. Wen Qing is the best doctor in the Cultivation world, and her word is Gold. He and Lan Zhan will not be able to help. They will have to sit on the sidelines and just hope for the best.