Lan Xichen led the way into Koi tower. It was somewhat of a relief to Wei Qing that she could stand behind him with the other disciples. She was almost certain that Lan Xichen was thinking of it in a more protective capacity. Not hiding her, but not drawing attention to her either. Wei Qing could appreciate that, but mostly she was grateful for the cluster of white robes that could remind her she was not here alone.

Wei Qing has been to Koi Tower several times in her life. In the past she attended discussion conferences often. Praised for her brilliance in the liberal arts even more than she was praised for her medical skills, which were by no means modest. She spent conferences smoothing over insults both implied and overt. Wen Rouhan had long since deemed himself too powerful to care who he might offend and Wei Qing had dutifully striven to compensate for that deficiency.

A lifetime ago, before he launched his war of subjugation, there had been a great deal of speculation that she might be named heir in place of Wen Rouhan's sons. There was a time when Wei Qing had even dared to want that. She had been proud of her sect and her ancestors. Wen Mao was a noble and righteous cultivator who taught that every kindness should be returned. He loved his family fiercely. Of his nine daughters only two of them were married out of the sect. Both of them had gone to their father to request it, because of their strong feelings for partners that would not have been able to marry into the sect.

Wei Qing had felt such pride in her ancestors. Their accomplishments, their devotion to their family, the noble tenets on which they were founded. She clung to those lessons and stories when members of the main family would be particularly cruel and mean spirited. When she learned that she was strongly favoured as a candidate for succession, she had been hopeful. There was a future beyond the problems she could see within her sect. A future that didn't involve ignoring the behaviour that didn't match the tenets set out by their ancestors. She could hold her tongue and persevere, and when she ascended the throne she could lead them back to the principles the main family disregarded.

Maybe she could have. If Wen Rouhan had simply remained a cruel tyrant of a sect leader and not started a war of conquest. Wei Qing and her remaining family may have abandoned their ancestors name, but Wen Rouhan was the one who destroyed their legacy.

Wei Qing felt a chill settle into her bones as she ascended the stairs. Discussion conferences at Koi Tower had always been exhausting and uncomfortable. Wei Qing felt a wry smirk quirk her lips. Uncomfortable... Uncomfortable, like enduring Jin Guangshan's lecherous gaze. Uncomfortable, like being accosted in an empty corridor and narrowly avoiding an assault. Uncomfortable, like being burned alive in front of the entire cultivation world. It was perhaps not surprising that she didn't like Koi Tower very much.

The doors to the banquet hall loomed above as they climbed the last of the stairs. The sounds of muffled voices carried from behind the closed doors. Not clearly enough to discern what was being said, but one particularly loud voice was clear enough that Wei Qing could identify Chifeng-zun. The servant who had escorted them to the banquet hall hovered before the door. He glanced at Lan Xichen a few times, clearly uncertain about whether it was worse to interrupt the discussion taking place, or leave a sect leader and his entourage waiting outside.

"Do not worry about announcing us. Our attendance is expected." Lan Xichen said with a kind smile to the flustered servant. Wei Qing stared forward calmly instead of snorting a laugh. It was not a lie. Nie Mingjue expected them, at the very least. The Jins absolutely should be expecting them, although Wei Qing doubted they particularly wanted them there.

"Ah, of course Zewu-jun." The servant said with a deferential bow.

Lan Xichen opened the doors to the banquet hall himself. Leading the Lan entourage inside with no announcement or warning. The doors swung open and the voices of the gathered cultivators washed over them. The banquet hall was not as full as Wei Qing expected it to be. She scanned the gathering, noticing the obvious gaps where sects that had been in attendance the day before were now absent. By her count, nearly a third of the minor sects were missing.

It could be that, in the wake of the attack, those sect leaders had decided to return to their own territory. Either to defend themselves, or to remove themselves from what may very well be the beginning of yet another war. Wei Qing would hardly blame them for that, and the fewer sects that supported Jin Guangshan the better. Although, given the chaotic energy in the hall around them, with breathless servants practically tripping over one another, it might have been that some of the sect leaders had simply not arrived at the hall yet. Wei Qing had noticed the same frenetic energy around Koi Tower when they had been escorted to the banquet hall. The Jin were clearly scrambling in the aftermath of A-Ying and Naun-er's escape.

"This is not a matter to be discussed without the Lan or Jiang present." Chifeng-zun said with his arms crossed over his chest. Wei Qing didn't know what had been said that he was opposing, but it wasn't a stretch to assume it was about Wei Wuxian.

"The death of Sandu Shengshou is a devastating loss for YunmengJiang. It's not reasonable to pull Jiang-guniang from her brother's side while she is still making preparations for his transport back to Lotus Pier." Jin Guangyao's voice was gentle, tinted with sorrow.

Wei Qing internally cringed. So Jiang Wanyin was dead then. That would make things difficult. The death of a sect leader was not a small matter. As it happened while he was at an event hosted by LanlingJin, they could be deemed responsible. However, the Jin would no doubt ensure blame fell on A-Ying. If he was deemed as responsible for the death of a sect leader, no one would care who had abducted him or what was done to him. An opportunity she was certain Jin Guangyao did not plan to waste.

"And for what reason do we need to wait for the Lan? Wei Wuxian is not a member of their sect." Sect Leader Yao blathered.

"On the contrary," Lan Xichen spoke, immediately alerting the entire banquet hall to their presence. " Wuxian is a valued member of the Lan clan. Therefore any accusations made against him are very much our business."

There was a flurry of murmured voices. Probably a mixture of surprise at their entrance, and more surprise at the stance Lan Xichen was taking in affirming Wei Wuxian's connection to the GusuLan sect. Wei Wuxian's reputation prior to his disappearance had been declining rapidly under the weight of vile rumours. Now, with him connected to the death of a sect leader, most of the sects had probably expected GusuLan to distance themselves from him.

Wei Qing didn't doubt that was what most of the sects present would have done. Wasn't that what Jiang Wanyin had done before? Throwing Wei Wuxian away so that he wouldn't drag the sect down with his reputation. She was aware that Wei Wuxian had suggested the defection, but it was in his nature to throw himself off a boat before someone else had the chance to kick him off. If it was his choice, then it wasn't the same as being discarded. He could pretend that the other person might have never thrown him away.

Wei Qing couldn't say whether Jiang Wanyin would have thrown Wei Wuxian out had he not defected. What she did know was that he would have thrown the rest of her family away. He saw civilians, doctors, and a small child. Then he told Wei Wuxian to turn them all over to their deaths.

"GusuLan has been very generous towards Wei Wuxian, even though he ran away before his marriage. You searched the territories of other sects so diligently while he was off doing who knows what." Jin Guangshan fanned himself leisurely. "Although, with his reappearance at the same time as all those fierce corpses and what he did to sect Leader Jiang. I think perhaps we all know what he has been up to during his absence."

"Wuxian may have been kidnapped before his wedding, but he is still the cultivation partner of Hanguang-jun, and therefore he is of the Lan clan. As for his whereabouts over the last two months. I suppose Sect Leader Jin would know exactly what Wuxian has been doing, given that Wei Wuxian was being held prisoner in Koi Tower." Lan Xichen kept his tone even, but there was an obvious edge to his voice.

Wei Qing knew Lan Xichen had been serious about defending Wei Wuxian, but she still found herself surprised. She hadn't expected him to be so directly confrontational in his defence. Not that she thought demurely rationalizing would be an effective strategy, but Lan Xichen abhorred confrontations.

"Is that what he told you when he was convincing you to protect him?" Jin Guangshan asked, shaking his head with something like pity. "You shouldn't put so much trust in the words of a demonic cultivator." Jin Guangshan advised.

"We trusted him enough to win a war for us. Just because the war has ended, does not mean his integrity has changed." Lan Xichen stated coolly.

"Zewu-jun, how could you say he won the war? Do you mean to erase the contributions of every cultivator who fought?" Jin Zixun said, sounding indignant.

"That's right. Although Wei Wuxian did contribute in the war, there are many who contributed just as much, if not more." Sect Leader Yao added. There was a swell of murmurs, many in agreement to Sect Leader Yao's statement. Wei Qing assumed those agreeing were mostly interested in elevating their own contributions.

"Every man who fought in the war knows themselves the contributions Wei Wuxian made. For those of you who were not on the battlefield, I trust you are aware that I lead the main forces in the war?" Sect Leader Nie's booming voice cut through the chatter. The same commanding tone he had used to lead troops. "I will make this much clear, Wei Wuxian's contribution to the war is the reason many of you, myself included, are alive."

Nie Mingjue didn't elaborate further, but he didn't need to. His words had efficiently derailed the thread of conversation, while also informing everyone that Nie Mingjue himself believed he owed Wei Wuxian a life debt. Wei Qing hadn't expected that, but she certainly won't complain. She subtly glanced around the room, noting a shiver of nerves in the fidgeting sect leaders. Minor sects that previously likely believed the Jin to have the upper hand were not quite as sure about that anymore. After all, two great sects have placed themselves rather firmly behind Wei Wuxian, and that makes him a much more difficult target than they thought he was.

"What about the lives that were lost today?!" Sect Leader Wang demanded. He was a young sect leader. He had come into power early in the sunshot campaign, after the QishanWen sect killed his father and raped his sisters. "Wei Wuxian may have helped us during the war. He may have saved Sect Leader Nie's life. That doesn't change that he appeared today with an army of corpses! People died! Sect Leader Jiang died!"

"But, isn't Baifeng mountain the Jin Clan's private hunting ground? How could so many fierce corpses appear there without their knowledge?" Nie Huaisang wondered out loud. "Ah, forgive me. I didn't mean to imply that the LanlingJin sect were being negligent with their security practices. I am sure that those corpses must have been there for the hunt, although there really were so many... Anyway, the Jin are a great sect, they would never miss something so obvious as an army of corpses entering their territory." Nie Huaisang spoke frantically, his voice rising in pitch. His fan fluttered nervously, being used as an obvious shield for his embarrassment.

"Hmph. Of course we would notice an army attempting to enter our territory. Blame that bastard. Organizing the hunt was his responsibility." Madam Jin huffed, narrowing her eyes at Jin Guangyao before she turned away in disgust. Wei Qing didn't doubt that Jin Guangyao had been the one to organize the presence of the fierce corpses, but he was hardly the only person responsible.

"Those may be the fierce corpses I had gathered for the hunt. I did not gather them personally, so I couldn't say if they were the same ones. Still, without Wei Wuxian to direct them, they would not be organized into an army, and would then surely be no match for the cultivators gathered here." Jin Guangyao said, his eyes wide and innocent.

"That's true! I was there when Wei Wuxian and Sect Leader Jiang were fighting! Wei Wuxian was directing the corpses to attack!" A cultivator from one of the minor sects shouted.

"Apologize for the delay in our arrival." Jiang Yanli's voice cut through the chatter, announcing her presence and disrupting the spiral of accusations. She stood just inside the doors of the banquet hall, flanked by several members of the Jiang delegation. Her eyes were slightly red rimmed, but it is the only evidence of what must have been recent tears.

Jiang Yanli stepped forward in a swirl of lavender and white. Not mourning robes, but certainly a reflection of her mourning. She was still dressed with all the regalia expected of a sect leader, but white was not one of YunmengJiang's colours. The Jiang disciples accompanying her wore white belts with their robes. An echo to how the Jiang had dressed when they were mourning Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan, but still had a war to fight and a sect to rebuild. This was perhaps not a war, but it was certainly a political battlefield.

"Yanli, no need to apologize. We understand the difficulty of the situation, and your duties to your sect leader and didi." Jin Guangshan immediately spoke with affected sympathy. Wei Qing fought back a frown at the way he addressed Jiang Yanli, treating her more like a beloved daughter than a fellow sect leader.

Jiang Yanli led the YunmengJiang contingent to their own seats in the hall. Lan Xichen took the opportunity to lead their own group to the Lan disciples that had been sitting beside the Nie, when they entered. It helped Wei Qing relax a bit. When she turned herself over the sects, she had been left to stand in the centre. Even if GusuLan is not on trial, standing in the middle of the banquet hall made it feel that way.

"It is a difficult situation. I have made arrangements for A-Cheng's body to be brought back to Lotus Pier this evening. I hope my fellow sect leaders will aid me in reaching a satisfactory conclusion, so that I may accompany him." Jiang Yanli stated. Her voice was calm and even, without a hint of accusation.

"Of course, Yanli. I have long thought of you like a daughter, and will endeavour to seek justice on your behalf." Jin Guangshan said with a smile. "To that end, I wonder why the GusuLan sect is attempting to shield the murderer of Sect Leader Jiang." Jin Guangshan's smile turned thoughtful and disapproving as he looked at the Lan delegation.

"Actually, if I may first ask, where is A-Xian?" Jiang Yanli interrupted.

That got a few whispers. Unsurprising, since A-Ying had been blamed for Jiang Wanyin's death. Wei Qing could understand though. Jiang Yanli considered A-Ying to be her brother as much as Jiang Wanyin. It seemed natural to Wei Qing that Jiang Yanli's first concern would be the welfare of her living brother, rather than vengeance for her dead brother. However, many remembered Wei Wuxian as the son of a servant. Yu Ziyuan had always been particularly vocal about that. To those who considered Wei Wuxian as such, Jiang Yanli interrupting discussions of who murdered her brother to ask after Wei Wuxian was more than inappropriate. It was unfilial.

"Right! If he were innocent, wouldn't he be attending to Sandu Shengshou?" The disciple who shouted out this question was not a sect leader, but the decorative embroidery on his robes marks him as an inner disciple closely related to a Sect Leader. With this status he was unlikely to be reprimanded for speaking out of turn, especially when his shout twisted the implications of Jiang Yanli's request into a more palatable shape.

"Wuxian is currently recovering." Lan Xichen spoke clearly before the gathered cultivators could work themselves up yet again. "In order to allow as many cultivators as possible to leave Baifeng mountain, Wuxian used himself as bait. His ability to recover from the injuries he received from the fierce corpses has been further complicated by internal injuries he sustained while being held captive over the last two months." Lan Xichen addressed his words towards Jiang Yanli, but Wei Qing could see Jin Guangshan's mouth twist into a frown. Maybe, amidst the scandal of a sect leader's death, some of the gathered cultivators had forgotten Lan Xichen's earlier accusation. Wei Qing is certain that was what the Jin had been hoping for.

"Zewu-jun, If Wei Wuxian has suffered a backlash from his own cultivation, I daresay none of us would be surprised." Jin Guangshan shot a look at Jin Guangyao, who immediately stepped forward.

"It is known that resentful energy damages the mind and body. With the sightings around minor sects over the last months coinciding with fierce corpses, deaths, and large spikes of resentful energy... Followed by first attacking on Baifeng Mountain, then turning around and attempting to right the problem he created. It seems Wei Wuxian has succumbed to its deteriorating effects. I understand Hanguang-jun's desire to see the good in Wei Wuxian, but how long do you suppose it will be before Wei Wuxian turns on him? After all, he and Jiang Wanyin were as close as brothers once, but that did not stop Wei Wuxian from killing his brother and sect leader." Jin Guangyao's voice dripped with concern, his eyes wide with sincerity.

Wei Qing's eyes narrowed. Jin Guangyao had gotten far with his silver tongue. He'd gone from low ranking outer disciple to Principal Torturer of the QishanWen sect in something like six months. He went from Principle Torturer of an enemy army to honoured war hero. He knew how to twist words, how to twist a situation to his advantage.

He took what his father said, and he embellished it. Painting a picture of Wei Wuxian's guilt and activities, all while framing it like these were facts rather than accusations. He spoke with pity, like he was so sad about this outcome. Jin Guangyao was a skilled liar. Wei Qing only understood what he was because she had been made to watch him smile and talk while torturing people. Once you had seen the same pitying but oh so sincere expression on his face while he ripped out a man's fingernails, it kind of lost the innocence it was intended to portray.

Lan Xichen's lips pressed together slightly in displeasure. Jin Guangyao had the benefit of playing off of information that had been generally accepted as fact. Lan Xichen was not a medical professional. Refuting Jin Guangyao now, especially when Jin Guangyao had just made a big deal of Lan Xichen's brother 'trying to see the good' in Wei Wuxian. If Lan Xichen tried to refute the generally accepted consequences of using resentful energy, he would be seen as either desperate or foolish. Wei Qing cleared her throat quietly, just enough to draw Lan Xichen's attention. He glanced at her and, to her relief, seemed to understand what she was trying to communicate.

"Instead of speculating on Wei Wuxian's health... Wei Qing, would you please give a report on Wei Wuxian's medical condition." Lan Xichen announced with a small bow towards her. Murmurs continued around the room, but no one objected to Lan Xichen asking her to speak.

"I don't believe I need to explain my credentials as a physician to the gathered sect leaders?" Wei Qing inquired in a clear voice. She didn't need to explain her credentials. Even though some disciples present may not recognize her on sight, the sect leaders all do.

Before the Sunshot campaign Wei Qing was already famous across the cultivation world for her medical expertise. Wen Rouhan loved showing off the skilled people serving him almost as much as he loved lording over the other sects. It's likely that every sect here owns at least one medical text with her name on it, even if her family name has changed. Those who might have only known her by name before, saw plenty of her face after the Sunshot Campaign. The Jin had pushed hard to try and have her executed. She was constantly in the company of Zewu-jun and Chifeng-zun. The change in her family name was extremely public and highly debated.

"I have been treating Wei Wuxian, before the Sunshot campaign, at the end of the sunshot campaign, in the Cloud Recesses since then, and most recently after Baifeng Mountain. I am very familiar, both with his ongoing health and with the effects of resentful energy on the body." Wei Qing spoke clearly, like she was giving a presentation. She had given a few over the years at discussion conferences, although not many. "Lianfang-zun is correct that resentful energy is known to have corrosive effects on the mind and body. Changes in temperament, damage to the meridians or cultivation base, with repeated exposure often resulting in fatal qi deviation.

"In the time I have treated him, Wei Wuxian's methods have never resulted in such damage. If such damage was not caused after the heavy usage that had been required of him during the war, then there is no reason to think such damage would suddenly appear when the war is over and his use of resentful energy has been much more limited.

"When I treated Wei Wuxian after Baifeng Mountain I noticed several things aside from the injuries he sustained from the fierce corpses. Malnutrition, in a cultivator of Wei Wuxian's strength I would have estimated at least six months of little to no food. However, he has only been missing for about a third of that time and I last examined him approximately six days before his disappearance. This indicates that he has spent the majority of the last two months with his cultivation sealed, while being denied adequate nutrition.

"He also had wounds consistent with restraints at his wrists and ankles. The wounds are layered and at different stages of healing, suggesting he was restrained repeatedly. Nuan-er, his daughter who was found in Koi Tower by Hanguang-jun, shares both the signs of malnutrition and the injuries from restraints. She also appears to have either been denied medical care, or the minor ear infection she had prior was deliberately worsened. She may suffer permanent hearing damage as a result." Wei Qing sat back, folding her hands in her lap.

Wei Qing had not disclosed all of Wei Wuxian's injuries. As much as she would like to accuse the Jin of experimenting on A-Ying with resentful energy, it would be too easy for Jin Guangyao to twist the acknowledgement of damage from resentful energy to be something of A-Ying's own doing. Similarly the wounds from restraints were little more than bruises and red marks, but they were visible enough to prove that he had been restrained in the time he had been missing.

Wei Qing did not miss the opportunity to remind everyone that Wei Wuxian had not vanished alone. Whatever mixed feelings people held towards Wei Wuxian, Nuan-er was still only a child. Confirming that Nuan-er had been found, not with Wei Wuxian on Baifeng mountain but in Koi Tower itself, was suspicious. Whispers began filling the hall, with several sect leaders eyeing Jin Guangshan.

"Sect Leader Jin, do you have an explanation as to why Hanguang-jun had to find his daughter in Koi Tower? She and Wei Wuxian disappeared from the Cloud Recesses months ago. I distinctly recall receiving a missive complaining about the GusuLan searching for them in the territories of other sects. Yet, where should they be found but here?" Nie Mingjue's voice was an angry rumble.

"Sect Leader Nie, I am as surprised as you are to hear that Wen Nuan was in Koi Tower. I don't know how she came to be here, but with Wei Wuxian appearing with an army on Baifeng mountain... Well, I suppose it isn't as surprising that he must have brought her along." Jin Guangshan said with a fretful expression. "It's curious that these accusations are being brought out now. After Wei Wuxian has killed a Sect Leader. Are we really to ignore the death of Sandu Shengshou, just so we can continue to chase down where Wei Wuxian had run off to for the last months?"

"Sect Leader Jin is right. The most pressing matter at hand is Sandu Shengshou's murder. It isn't a secret who killed him. More than one witness saw Wei Wuxian run him through with his sword. If he can do that, is framing the LanlingJin sect for his disappearance really so surprising?" Sect Leader Qin was a long time supporter and friend of Sect Leader Jin. The LaolingQin sect had been founded with the support of LanlingJin generations back, and the two sects had remained close.

"Is that so?" A voice came from the entrance, disrupting the conversation before further cries of Wei Wuxian's guilt could be raised. Wei Qing turned and saw Luo Qingyang standing just inside the threshold. There was a young man, bound and gagged, clearly in her custody, dressed in the same black and reds that Wei Wuxian had become known for during the war.

"Excuse me, Guniang. Do you have an invitation?" Jin Guangyao stepped in, a dimpled smile and polite tone summoned with practice ease.

Murmurs broke out among the gathered cultivators. Luo Qingyang was not famous, nor was she in the line of inheritance in any sect. She was an outer disciple of a minor sect. If she had good enough standing within her own sect to attend this sort of function, then she should have entered with them. To enter on her own, once an event began and after her sect had already been seated, was terribly rude by the cultivation world's sensibilities.

"I do not have an individual invitation, Lianfang-zun. But, since this is a rather urgent matter, I didn't think it right to keep the gathered sect leaders waiting." Luo Qingyang stated smoothly.

"Surely, whatever your conflict with this man is can wait? A sect leader has died, and his killer must be brought to justice. Any petty disagreements can be addressed after." Jin Guangshan stated dismissively.

"Luo Qingyang, just what do you think you're doing? Leave, before you embarrass our sect further." Sect Leader Li said in a stern tone. He immediately turned to Jin Guangshan with a bow. "Sect Leader Jin, I apologize for my disciple's rudeness. I assure you she will be punished for the breach of etiquette once we return to Wuzhou."

"Sect Leader Li, what I have learned cannot wait for a more convenient time. I assure you it is relevant to the current discussions. More importantly, my honor as a cultivator does not permit me to remain silent in the face of injustice." Luo Qingyang stated confidently, as she bowed to her sect leader. She conducted herself as respectfully as she could without compromising her morals. It was honorable of her, but Wei Qing was already well aware that what the cultivation world wanted, especially from women, was not honor.

Murmurs filled the hall. Wei Qing caught snips of conversation. Most of them seemed to be about Luo Qingyang's rudeness. A few stating that it was outbursts like these that proved women were too emotional to deal with the politics of the cultivation world reasonably. Wei Qing noticed a few female sect leader's and sect madam's eyes narrowing. Wei Qing was hardly surprised. The cultivation world wanted compliance. Those women who managed to stand at the top got there with a mixture of strength, standing, and political maneuvering. They did not get there simply by doing the right thing and sticking to their morals.

"Sect Leader Li, I understand you are young, but you really must learn to teach your disciples proper discipline. An outer disciple, and a woman at that, disobeying you publicly... and at such an important event?" Jin Guangshan tsked lightly in disapproval.

"Sect Leader Jin, is wise. I assure you that such behavior is not tolerated in the WuzhouLi sect. Luo Qingyang has always been something of a black sheep." Sect Leader Li said, his eyes narrowed as his gaze slid towards Luo Qingyang.

"I can't believe she is a member of our sect." A WuzhouLi disciple made a show of whispering to his neighbor, but his voice was loud enough to carry through the entire hall.

"I'm embarrassed to be in the same sect as her." Another replied.

"Luo Qingyang, leave at once. You've embarrassed our sect enough." Sect Leader Li hissed.

Luo Qingyang's expression darkened, but she did not look the slightest bit cowed.

"Very well. If Luo Qingyang, disciple of the WuzhouLi sect, is not permitted to speak..." In a motion that looked much more fluid than Wei Qing would have expected, Luo Qingyang removed her outer robe and let it fall to the floor. She stood proud, in robes now bare of WuzhouLi's insignia. "Rogue cultivator Luo Qingyang, who fought beside many of you in the Sunshot Campaign to bring down a tyrant. Presents to the gathered sect Leaders, Sandu Shengshou's killer."