"Nie Huai-SANG!"

"Oh dear..." Nie Huaisang rubbed the end of his paper fan on his forehead. "Here comes the angry brother..."

"Angry brother indeed you crazy fan-boy! JUST WHAT did you give to A-Cheng to drink last night?" Wei Wuxian stomped into the Main Hall of Lotus Pier.

Little did he care for the fact that both the Lan and Jiang sect leaders and Madam Yu were present.

Little did he care that his Shijie and Zixuan were also here, staring at him.

He wanted his brother back and that was it. End of story.

"Look here, Wei-xiong, Jiang-xiong only drank the supply of Emperor's Smile I got from Er-Ge. Emperor's Smile isn't strong enough to get him drunk so easily... but last night, even after five bowls or something... he still seemed so sober," Huaisang sulked. Jiang Cheng's tolerance being far lower than his shixiong's was a fact known all around.

"That isn't like Wanyin at all," Lan Xichen moped.

What Lan Wangji, following close at his husband's heels, noticed but Wei Wuxian didn't, was how Lan Xichen had flopped onto a chair near the grand Lotus seat, with Jiang Yanli giving him cups of water.

Wen Qing, having brought the husbands to the scene, went and checked on her own brother. Seeing Lan Xichen signalling to her, she walked over to him. All this Lan Wangji watched with a keen eye.

"A-Cheng's never the one to not get drunk... if he didn't get drunk then he'd never run off like this either... at least knowing Madam Yu will flog him?"

"Ahem!" Madam Yu cleared her throat loudly.

Wei Wuxian flinched as he recalled everyone else was here in the room. "A- apologies..."

"Not a lie though," Jiang Fengmian nodded calmly, firing his wife up further.

Yet again it was Lan Wangji who saw through Sect Leader Jiang's calm demeanour: nobody seemed to notice the faintly trembling sword in his hand.

Fear? Dread? ... more like anxiety, Lan Zhan frowned. These people know something.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan called.

Wei Wuxian rambled on. "He'll never just... right! Nie-xiong, exactly what did A-Cheng mumble last ni–"

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan laid his hand on Wei Ying's shaking shoulder and squeezed lightly.

"Lan Zhan?"

"Wei Ying, calm down. Sect leaders are all here-"

Wei Wuxian turned his head around and whispered, "I don't care who's here I need to know where-"

"They seem to know something more."

"-Oh?" Wei Wuxian looked around. Magically soothed by Lan Wangji's touch, his head cleared up and foggy eyes focussed on the Main Hall properly. Sure enough, there sat Lan Xichen pinching his forehead, and there stood Wen Qing frowning terribly as she read some paper.

"Done panicking?" Wen Qing scowled at him.

Wei Wuxian gulped. "Oh please, don't tell me you'll be like a dove if Wen Ning goes missing."

"I wouldn't let him."

"Hey! This isn't my fault! You know I was all the way back in Cloud-"

"Calm down, both of you!" Jiang Yanli grabbed Wei Wuxian's arm.

"Sorry, Shijie."

"A-Xian, here," Yanli took the paper from Wen Qing. "Right before you guys came, Xichen-ge just told us that he found this left below his window."

"Eh?" Wei Wuxian took the paper, holding it to a side so Lan Zhan could read it too. Yanli smiled through her fear to see them getting along well.

Lan Wangji loured at the paper. "Not good."

Xichen. 

This will be the first and last favour I ever do for you. After this...

I won't be gone for long. Don't make Mother panic.

"That's it? Not even a signature?" Wei Wuxian ogled.

"Don't tell me you can't recognise your own brother's handwriting," Wen Qing crossed her arms.

"I can. But Xichen-ge doesn't."

"I do," Lan Xichen nodded. "And he knows, hence him not bothering to add a signature."

Wei Wuxian blinked. Lan Xichen knows Jiang Wanyin's handwriting? Hm? Curious...

Nope. Not the time for it.

"Then... what's with 'don't make Mother panic' eh? Did he forget his shixiong and A-Jie?" Wei Wuxian grumbled under his breath.

"He knows you and I too well to know we WILL panic no matter what, A-Xian," Jiang Yanli smiled sadly. "Well? What now?"

"He's gone to get the Lan disciples and Senior Lan Bojing?" Lan Wangji looked around. The others nodded.

Wei Wuxian looked at him, eyebrows raised.

Lan Zhan shook his head. "Guessed. 'Last favour'. The only favour he could do to the Chief Cultivator is complete a task the Lans need done fast."

"Saving the abducted Lans," Wei Wuxian sighed. "But... why..." fists clenched, he turned towards Lan Xichen. "Xichen-ge, with all due respect... just what did you tell my brother?"

"Wei Ying," both Lan Wangji and Jiang Fengmian called.

Lan Xichen waved his hand. "It's fine, let him speak. Wuxian, trust me. I don't remember saying anything to make him want to disappear... or feel obliged. I really truly don't know." Xichen shook his head and buried it in his palms. "The last thing was me playing Liebing but even that wouldn't calm his Zidian somehow... and then he chased me out. I came back home, went to sleep, woke up to find that note and came running here and he was gone. The only thing I can think is something angered him. He seemed pissed with me for some unknown reason..."

So Jiang Cheng went both to do a favour for Lan Xichen and to unleash his anger? Yep. Sounds like him. Wei Wuxian frowned and turned to his friend. "Nie-xiong... Zidian?"

"He had it with him that day to train."

"And it wasn't calm?"

"Well it was! But then it started catching fire every few minutes after... sometime in the evening..."

"After I dropped by?" Xichen looked up.

"Ey, come to think of it," Nie Huaisang tapped his fan. "Mhm. From when Er-Ge visited."

"So it is something to do with me........"

Wei Wuxian sighed and glanced at his sister, who nodded solemnly.

"Same thoughts, A-Xian?"

Wei Wuxian nodded.

"Same here," Lan Zhan nodded.

"You too!" Jin Zixuan gasped.

"Since when do YOU know?" Wei Wuxian pointed to both husbands.

Jin Zixuan and Lan Wangji shrugged.

"Know what?" Lan Xichen, Nie Huaisang, the Wen siblings and everyone else perked up.

"..."

"Um..."

"Er..."

"Nothing at all," Jiang Yanli shook her head but zipped herself shut when Wei Wuxian grabbed her wrist.

"Something confidential," Wei Wuxian muttered, hinting that it was something Jiang Wanyin wouldn't want everyone to know.

Jiang Fengmian nodded and stood to his son's defence. "Well, then. Let's not ponder about the why's. All we need is to find him. You say he went to bring back the Lans?"

"Yes," Lan Wangji nodded. Seeing his brother wasn't quite in a talkative state today, he spoke up with what knowledge he had gotten from the Lan guards on the way here. "Since we didn't know who we were to tackle, we were hesitant to take action too soon."

Wei Wuxian nodded. "We don't know for what reason they're doing this, what their ultimate aim is, to what extent they're going to wreck the world... or even WHO we are up against, at that. It could be a devilish young lad seeking revenge or a big monster, who knows? Lan Zhan and I checked with the Elders before coming here, apparently the plan had been to let the Lan scouts at least figure out the exact location and the environment, whether it is a den for a monster or a hiding place for a human. And then chase."

Lan Xichen nodded. "Yes. Decided to at least know some detail before heading there."

"Of course, Chief Cultivator," a Jiang disciple, junior only to the Lotus Trio, nodded. "Gotta know what to fight if you wanna fight, makes sense. Then where did he run off to?"

"All we know so far is the location, so he must have just gone there." Madam Yu sighed. "What an idiot."

"Xichen-ge," Wei Wuxian plucked his spiritual flute out of his belt and rubbed it on his robes before unsheathing Suibian. "Location?"

Lan Xichen took Jiang Wanyin's note and roughly drew a map on the back of the paper. 

"Thanks," Wei Wuxian skimmed through the drawing and memorised it in the snap of a finger. "Jiang Shushu," he handed it to Sect Leader Jiang. "Here, if you want to come too." And with that, he turned around. Wuxian patted his sister's cheek. "Don't look so sad Shijie. He'll be back before you can say lotus-root-and-pork-ribs-soup."

Jiang Yanli smiled at him. "I know."

SLASH!

Bichen flew out of its sheath, gleaming white with energy. "Let's go."

Wei Wuxian blinked. "You're... coming too?"

Lan Wangji wasn't going to waste a mere second longer, shooting up to the clouds on his sword.

"I'll take that as a yes? OI! WAIT FOR ME!" 

**********

Jiang Wanyin glowered at the man before him, eyes narrow, body poised and breathing peaceful, the only excitement showing in the unleashed lightning whip glowing a violent violet.

"Do I have to keep coming across your wretched soul?"

"Believe me, it's a cursed feeling that's mutual."

"Glad to hear you feel no less."

"No need to let Zidian out at me, Jiang Gongzi. I am merely here for the same purpose as you are. Perhaps we could work together?"

"Alas, I don't have a handkerchief."

"Hm?"

"To wipe that blasted grin off your face."

"Haha!"

"MENG YAO!" Crash! "Don't you dare laugh at me."

"Oh? It's fine for the entire world to forever laugh at me, but not once at you?"

"That's you. You bear it all, I can't help it. I won't tolerate any of it."

"Bear it all..." Jin Guangyao looked down at his sword. "Indeed. I truly am all-enduring. What a tranquil soul."

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and slashed Zidian to shove the trees away from his path as he marched past the other man and walked further on. Jin Guangyao smirked and quickly scurried up to him. "Running off without your partner, Jiang Gongzi?"

"Jin Gongzi, since when were we partners?" Jiang Cheng spat out the word.

"Quit with the whining, Jiang Gongzi, let's just finish off what we came here to do."

Crash! Jin Guangyao chopped aside a thick bush of prickles blocking their path.

"Which is?" Jiang Wanyin was gritting his teeth so hard they would shatter. "I came here to get the Lans, and you? Plucking mushrooms for the Nie General?"

Jin Guangyao shook his head and pointed with his sword. "Look-"

But Jiang Cheng had already seen. Swish! In a flash, Jiang Wanyin had gone inside. Jin Guangyao sprinted towards the cave in the distance. 

**********

SLASH! Crash! Fwip! Sandu smashed against the walls, Zidian lashing out at the dozen or so brown-robed men attacking them. Brilliant lilac unfurled and shot into the air, stringing a fighter up. Another lash and two had slammed their backs painfully into the walls. Five down, seven left, Jiang Cheng counted in his head, leaping right in time as a sword swiped at his feet from the left. Right before the attacker could retreat, gleaming blade dug into his chest. Another sword flung from his right; purple sword lunged at the man. Yet another thrust his way, two attacking at the same time, forcing him to parry with full force, blocking and counter-attacking with as much strength as he could summon.

Smack!

Zidian hurled itself at a sneak-attacker from behind, wringing his neck with zero remorse.

Zing! A dagger shot through the air but instead of hitting Jiang Cheng, it crashed right into one attacker's head. The other was easy to tackle and Jiang Wanyin pushed him away fiercely, kicking and slashing him in the arm. The remaining two had been finished off by Deputy General Nie.

Jin Guangyao pulled his dagger out of the man's head, grimaced at the gore and wiped it on his robes. "There, untied and freed. The Lan senior has some wounds but the juniors..."

"Juniors what?" Jiang Cheng walked over, kneeling on the ground to check the unconscious group. "Goodness!" He traced his fingers along the bare cut marks that ran along the disciples' necks. "This... why those rascals..."

"Are we taking them back to Cloud Recesses or perhaps Lotus Pier?"

"Half the morning's gone by and I bet everyone's waiting at Lotus Pier. You head back to Yunping City nearby and get a carriage or something here to take the Lans."

"Might I remind you that I have no power to casually order a Lotus Pier carriage-"

"Head Disciple Jiang's orders," Jiang Cheng casually held out a one-time token.

"Oh, right," Jin Guangyao nodded and walked out the exit.

Jiang Wanyin sighed and looked around the cave, roaming around until the other got back. Of course he could have gotten a carriage from the Yunping City nearby but for some reason... He had zero trust in Jin Guangyao. He came here to get the Lans to return safely, this was his responsibility.

So it wasn't the cave at the other end of the forest like everyone thought. It was this cave... and no monster; humans as guessed. But who? Just twelve men in brown robes. Burgundy brown isn't a sect colour... and all cultivators. Why capture the Lans? A signal of commencing the chaos? Probably... he tapped his chin and walked around the cave. Hm. Job done. I'll let him take the Lans home and then roam around for a while to just... forget things.

Lan Xichen...

...you shall be nothing but my Chief Cultivator hereafter.

He sat on the rock floor, heaving a sigh, staring into the dark and cold cave.

Somewhere in the distance... in the darkness... there seemed to be a speck of red...

Jiang Cheng ran over to the spot and picked up the object. It was merely a piece of cloth...

But...

Black silk with red lining depicting crimson flames rising amid the darkness?

Why did that look so familiar...

He scratched his head, pondering. Mhm, can't remember. Deciding it was safe to keep it with him for later use, he tucked it in his pocket. A piece of cloth from someone else who'd been here. And it wasn't part of the twelve fighters' burgundy uniforms. This was something else.

Evidence.

"Here you go!"

Jiang Cheng spun around to see a tumbledown cart awaiting outside the cave. He helped the lax bodies onto the cart and glanced at Jin Guangyao.

"Not coming?" He asked, hopping onto the front of the cart.

Jiang Cheng shook his head. "If they ask — they will — tell I've just gone on holiday to clear my head."

"Clear your head..." Jin Guangyao smirked. "I see. Well, you need not worry. I'll take care of him."

Jiang Wanyin looked up at his innocently smiling face.

"Not just while you're away I mean. From now on. I'll take good care of Er-Ge."

Happy, aren't you, now that your only competitor is giving up? Hmph. Jiang Cheng turned around and walked away from the cave, waving Zidian in the air meaningfully. "You better do."

**********

"A-CHENG!"

"Oh hello," Jiang Wanyin waved when Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji landed beside him.

"What were you THINKI-"

"A-Xian, please."

Wei Wuxian stopped mid-sentence seeing how sullen his brother looked. "Erm... sorry. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just letting go."

"No way you're giving up..."

"I am."

"But- at least tell me why?"

"It's no good."

Lan Wangji held Wei Wuxian's hand and tugged slowly, indicating him to not ask more.

"Questioning me won't change anything, A-Xian. I'm as as stubborn as you when it comes to decisions."

Lan Wangji nodded. "Jiang traits."

Wei Wuxian punched him in the stomach, better side, before turning back to his brother. "You're wandering in the forest... taking a break?"

Jiang Cheng nodded.

"Good. But come back soon."

"Before I go, look," Jiang Cheng pulled out the piece of cloth. "I didn't show anyone, only giving this to you so you guys can do something. A-Xian, can you make any sense out of this?"

Wei Wuxian ogled at the material, fingering it tenderly. "Where did you find this?"

"It was lying in a corner of the cave. Wasn't on the attackers' uniforms so I figured it's about whoever's behind this."

Wei Ying nodded. "Thanks, I'll keep this, track the person down."

"Also..." Lan Wangji bit the inside of his cheek. "I..." he delved into his sleeve. "Here."

Jiang Cheng took the little white bottle. "What is this?"

"Medicine."

Wei Wuxian gasped. "GOOD LORD I DID NOT SEE!"

Jiang Cheng shook his head. "It's fine. I'm good. This would do, thank you," Jiang Cheng nodded to Lan Wangji solemnly.

"Please, I beg you, be more careful," Wei Wuxian whispered, scowling at the purple robes hiding the bleeding waist.

"I will," Jiang Wanyin patted his shoulder. "You two get back soon before A-Jie and Mother worry too much." He spun on one foot and shuffled away. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji looked at each other and then down at the cloth.

"Lan Zhan..."

"Mn?"

"How did a piece of your cloth get here?"

"...I don't know."