"What do you mean Jin disciples? What do my disciples have to do with fierce corpses and Daddy?"

Xiao Xiang gaped at the glowering youth. "Young Master, you are..." she slowed down at the sight of the standing-out logo on his white Lan school uniform. White and gold, a majestic peony. And that proud, domineering voice... "You must be Master's nephew and son, Little Rulan?"

Jin Ling's face crimsoned. "What little? I am the Jin sect's leader."

Xiao Xiang laughed. "Well, Sect Leader Jin, no matter how big of a sect leader you are, you're still little Rulan to Master! He keeps talking of your mother and his darling," she nodded in Lan Wangji's direction.

"What do you mean Xiangxiang?" Xichen asked.

"Master is lonely these days, Sect Leader Lan. He wants to do this alone for some reason, but he loves his... what did he say again..." she scratched her head. "OH! Yes. His Shijie and his A-Zhan. I am Master's closest right now, so when he's not killing another Jin lackey, he keeps talking to me of his Shijie and his love. No matter what I say to distract Master, he keeps scolding himself over and over, regretting his responsibility for his Shijie's death and his A-Zhan's heartbreak. Second Master Lan, I have something to tell you on behalf of Master. Master would never say this to your face."

Lan Wangji looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. Xichen couldn't help but feel a hint of gratitude for this gracious demoness.

"Master knows the reason behind your thirty-three whip scars and the brand-mark on your chest."

Wangji gasped. He stared at her, finally willing to hear more.

Xiao Xiang smiled sadly. "He regrets having been stupid enough to not understand his feelings back then. He says he did many stupid things in his first life, which might include the broken promise Sect Leader Jiang mentioned."

Now it was Jiang Cheng's turn to gasp. So he did remember...

"Master regrets so many things. And all that guilt just exceeds everything else he feels."

"Guilt?" Sizhui asked.

The demoness gave Sizhui a once-over and nodded. "Young Master W– Lan? A-Yuan?"

"Mn," Sizhui nodded. "How did you recognise me?" She even knew he was a Wen descendant?

Xiao Xiang laughed again, sounds of a soft tinkling bell and a vulgar undertone blended in her seductive voice. "Master described you correctly. A human ball of sunshine," she tapped Sizhui's nose.

Sizhui blushed while Jingyi smirked; Jin Ling smiled at him.

"Anyway... yes, guilt. For the loss of his adopted parents, Madam Yu and former Sect Leader Jiang... For the loss of his brother-in-bond, Little Rulan's father... For the loss of Young Mistress Wen, who always helped him back then, to the point of sacrificing herself for him... For the loss of his Wen friends... For the loss of his Shijie... For making Little Rulan an orphan... For rashly calling him motherless back on Dafan Mountain... For running away from Second Master Lan instead of going straight to him first thing after he returned... For all the pain he's given 'his A-Zhan'..." the demoness shook her head, sighing.

Everyone stood by the waterfall, silent, only the roars of the waterfall echoing through the woods.

Jiang Cheng didn't how to react. He was sad that Wei Wuxian still thought it was all his fault; glad that be remembered everything, even the time he said Jin Ling 'lacked maternal education'; but also pained at the memory of his dearest ones. Mother... Father... A-Jie... A-Qing... A-Qing had been by his brother's side when even he hadn't. A-Qing probably returned the comb out of anger. She was mad at him. So right up till her doing moment, Wen Qing had hated him?

Xichen was contemplating, turning things over in his mind, when he suddenly ran to his friend. "Wanyin!" He softly exclaimed as he held Jiang Cheng tightly, the latter having slumped onto his knees, piteously sobbing.

"She hates me... She'll never forgive me..."

Xichen gasped. Something told him this she wasn't Yanli-mei. So he still cares for Wen Qing? Somehow, though he had no idea why, Xichen felt a sharp piercing pain in his chest.

Meanwhile, three children watched their father closely. Neither knew what to say, they were just terribly upset. Why was their daddy so selfless? So guilt-bound?

Lan Wangji would have had the same questions if it wasn't for something else haunting his mind. Wei Ying has thought of me, over and over, since he left. He keeps talking to Lady Xiao about me. He feels guilt and regret– for hurting me? He was mad at himself for ever having doubted his soulmate's love. A-Ying, I am the one hurting myself.

"Lady Xiao, thank you. Thank you for saying all this. I trust him; he can manage this. Jin disciples are nothing to him. Could you do me a favour?" He asked the demoness.

"Sure!" Xiangxiang was more than pleased to have partially reconciled the lonely husbands.

"Go back to him. Tell him my hand is better after what he did, and that I trust him to finish whatever he is doing and will return to me. Tell him I'm always there if he needs any help. He can send for me through one of you if he wishes, I don't mind. Please, take care of him," he muttered, his sincere, red eyes digging into Xiangxiang's soul: full of pleading, a hint of fear, but more than all that, love.

What he did? Of course, neither of them interpreted this phrase as referring to anything else but the healing via demonic energy. 

Xiangxiang nodded. "Sure. I'll protect him. He is my Master, and also for your sake, since none of you bothered to deal with a demon like me. I am just a slit-throat after all... I'm glad I could be of some use."

Sizhui and Jingyi turned to her. "Lady Xiao, you're really kind. Thanks for being with Daddy!"

"Right, who says you're just a slit-throat! Xiangxiang — if I may call you that?" The demoness beamed at Jingyi, with more lust than ever. "Xiangxiang, you're better than half the humans I've met! Thank you, for everything!" The two Lans bowed to her in gratitude, to which she giggled.

Someone cleared his throat loudly.

"Hold on a minute. Before you go, tell me, do you know why my Jin disciples are doing this?"

"Oh, that... Master says they must be led by someone who worked by that manipulator's side, and that this leader is probably an ex-Jin by now. But the lackeys are some still Jins — well at least not anymore, seeing as they've all been slaughtered!" She smiled a very canine-toothy smile that sent shivers down the three children's spines. Jin Ling bowed, thanking her for the information.

So, Wei Ying doesn't even know who or what he's headed towards? Lan Zhan shook his head, sighing sorrowfully.

Xichen, having recovered from the heartache, stood up, pulling Jiang Cheng up with him. "Xiangxiang, thank you. You better go now." 

"Fine. Oh wait a minute." She held her hand to her head, closed her eyes and listened. The others watched as she silently nodded. Turning back to the group, she spoke, "Master Wei has a message for you." She pointed her index finger at a rock nearby and burnt characters into it.

Little Rulan, A-Yuan, Yiyi. You three children better take care of your father till I'm back.

Xichen-ge, help A-Cheng control Zidian better, or Xiangxiang will slit his throat next!

Also, Gege, do you remember anyone close to Meng Yao that might be wanting revenge? Could you check with Huaisang and let me know? Send me a butterfly-note.

Not one word to Lan Zhan. "I guess Master didn't know what to say to you. But see, he cares about your wound, Second Master Lan," Xiangxiang explained, pointing at the second sentence.

"Mn. I understand, Xiangxiang. Go to him. Protect him." Hanguang-Jun seemed to understand his husband more now. Xichen had never before been more thankful for a demon's existence.

Xiangxiang waved at everyone, bidding them all goodbye. She turned to fly away, halted and looked back at the three children. Xiao Xiang wiggled her eyebrows at the reddening juniors, winked at them, and disappeared with a loud 'puff!'

**********

"Well, did you find him?"

"Shufu, he's there." Xichen began to explain the situation, leaving out the part about the Jins, and taking care to somehow completely erase Xiangxiang.

"Hm. So, he's meeting and getting rid of some minions along the way and headed towards god-knows-where?"

Xichen and Wanyin winced. That really did sound too vague and... stupid.

"Is he mad?" Qiren roared. He counted to three and calmed down. Shaking his head, he poured out tea into four cups, and continued his inquiry. "How did you three find him?"

Pin drop silence.

"Wangji! At least you answer me."

Wangji would never have been afraid to answer that he had chatted and collaborated with a demoness, if not for how his brothers will also be inevitably whipped alongside him.

"What is wrong with you people? Someone tell me what you're hiding from me."

Jiang Cheng didn't know what to do. He would have blurted out the reply, but Xichen would also be affected. And Lan Wangji too! What now?

"Shufu, if I tell, promise me only I will be affected," Xichen spoke up, knowing all too well his uncle's rage threshold.

"Fine. Speak!"

Xichen took a deep breath before plunging in.

"Wuxian-di-has-a-demon-called-the-Scarlet-Seductress-she-showed-us-to-him-Wangji-found-her-when-playing-Inquiry."

Jiang Wanyin held his breath. How would this wicked uncle react? He remembered nothing he learnt in his Gusu school days, hence he didn't remember a single GusuLan Sect rule. Except one. The one that was etched into Lan Wangji's back, thirty-three times over.

No association with evil.

"WHAT!"

**********

A few hundred miles away, somewhere in the countryside, Wei Wuxian sat in an empty shelter, a strand of hay in his mouth, waiting. He didn't have to wait for long.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Yiling Patriarch. May I know why you wished to personally meet me, Master Wei?"

Wei Wuxian didn't even bother to stand up. The only people he'd stand up to now were the Lan Elders and Lan-Gege. Anyone else could just come to him.

 "Oh, so you are the leader of the Losers Club?" He asked, casually scratching his teeth with hay.

The man fumed. "Losers? Not for long, I assure you. We wouldn't be in this tragic state if it weren't for you ruining Master Jin's plans!"

"Hmph! So you are his dog–!"

"SHUT UP! Master Jin trusted me. It's just that that rascal Su She, Master had blind faith in him. So much for Clan Leader Su! Anyways, please, Master Wei, since you wish to talk to me, come with me. It's not decent for you and I to have a chat in the open."

Wei Wuxian followed the man, more than willing to find out exactly how much of a loyal Jin-dog he was.

He walked into a dimly lit inn and listened to the door lock behind him. The mysterious man smirked as more and more men in black disguise approached the cultivator at the centre. He tutted. "Tut-tut-tut, Master Wei, you didn't expect me to have a truce chat with you, right? What will you do now?"

"Haha! Even if you send a hundred men, I have a thousand non-humans to retaliate!" Wei Wuxian laughed a very ill-meaning laugh.

"Oh? Well then, go on!"

He snapped his fingers.

The black men dashed in from every corner of the inn — empty except for the fighters — running towards the one man at the centre. As they got nearer, a fight ensued. Wei Wuxian dodged and ducked, slamming Immobility and Binding Talismans at some, while slamming Chenqing on the heads of others. But the more he got rid of, the more that came in, lunging at him afresh, their swords gleaming in the faint sunlight. 

However, not one scrap of metal touched a hair on Wei Wuxian. Having cultivated for a few years now, and with all the spiritual energy his husband had given him so far, his energy, physical fitness and fighting skills had improved. This vessel was turning more and more from Mo Xuanyu into the true Wei Wuxian now.

Wei Wuxian, seeing that he better call in some help now, slammed a teleportation talisman by his feet and vanished. He popped up seconds later on the stairs of the inn, with Chenqing already at his lips.

"Haha! You think your Ghost General can save you? I thought you've already guessed that I've got the Seal!"

Wei Wuxian ignored him. A few eerie melodies and three puffs of smoke condensed at the other three edges of the room.

"Finish them off, but leave the one standing at the door."

"Sure!" Three voices echoed, each with its own bone-chilling undertone.

A cloud of black smoke lunged at a group of men clustered together, enwrapping them in its black world. Wails and screams could be heard, as though they were falling down a cliff or going down in flames. A few seconds, and the smoke retreated moving forth to the next group. Where the men had stood earlier were now ashes. The Darkest Doom had done its job.

Another cloud of smoke condensed immediately, forming a clear figure that almost reminded the men of Chifeng-Zun. Tall, muscular, gigantic as a genie. And it really did look like a genie, with its being a despicable blue all over. One hand clenched around three throats, he lifted men off the ground, broke their necks, and tossed them out of the inn.

While the Blue Brawler broke necks like he was breaking pencils, another demon sliced her way through the crowd. Slit! Slit! Slit! Long red nails tortured and slaughtered men one by one. She was none other than the slit-throat, the good demon, the Scarlet Seductress. 

Wei Wuxian didn't wait for the job to be over. He teleported to the man by the door, the leader. The latter, an amateur in the dark arts, couldn't bring his shocked eyes away from the sight before him. He had actually forgotten he possessed the mighty Seal. But of course, had he even brought in armies of fierce corpses, these three demons alone could have solved the issue.

"Yiling Patriarch, since when do you own demons? I thought it was you were all about corpses!" He spoke through the pale, blood-stained hand clenched around his neck.

"Ah well, I had plenty of time in the Gusu hills to practise further," Wei Wuxian shrugged nonchalantly, smirking with mean delight.

"But what about you? Exactly why do you send corpses at my sects?"

"Oh, but are they yours? I thought you defected from the Jiang sect long ago. Well, yes, maybe it is yours now."

"Right, so that was against me. Then Gusu?"

"That rascal of a Lan Sect Leader killed my master!" The man roared.

"Why you...! Why would you want to kill others for that dimpled snake's sake?"

"Just what did you call my Master?"

"Oh shut up!"

"I've killed many before, from the Jin Sect Leader's son to the most ignorant commoner! I can kill whoever I wish! If you can, why not me?"

Jin Sect Leader's son? Xiangxiang listened in through all the chaos. But this man couldn't have killed Jin Zixuan or Meng Yao... or maybe... He's talking about Jin Rusong! That Yao's son!

But Wei Wuxian couldn't process any of that for the moment. Memories flooded his head, as he let the man go and shuffled out. Xiangxiang watched her master walking out, dragging his feet, sulking.

Wei Wuxian thought of no Jin Rusong. He could only think of how those were the exact same words he said back then, before leaving with the Wens. 'If I, Wei Wuxian, want to kill someone, who dares to stop me?' His own arrogant voice echoed through his thoughts, replaying, like uncle Qiren's teaching. 

And what that man had asked...

"If you can, why not me?"

Wei Wuxian didn't know what to think. He wore his sins upon his sleeve. He had killed. He was responsible for countless deaths. From people who he didn't even know to his own Shijie. How could he even attack another who merely did the same thing he did back then? Did he have the right?

At least he had found the truth. Who this man was. He will go back home. He will tell Lan Zhan and Gege and Jiang Cheng everything and let them deal with it. 

How dare he tell others not to kill rashly when all he himself did back then was just that? Wei Wuxian had decided. He would let the better cultivators deal with this. 

Crash! A streak of lightning flashed through the sky, and thunder rolled, as dark clouds collected over the countryside village, letting out a torrent of rainwater.

A lone man stood in the shower, letting the raindrops fall on his face and slide down his face onto his clothes, washing the tears away. 'It really is easier to cry in the rain, nobody will notice,' Wei Wuxian mused.

Having murdered almost a hundred, Xiao Xiang stood in the rain a few metres away, watching her grieving master, the sorrow in her eyes unable to be let out in the form of tears thanks to her cursed demonic self. All she could do was watch as Master Wei stood there for some time, before fishing out a blue talisman and disappearing, 'probably for the last time,' she thought. Wei Wuxian would probably never vanish off on missions like this again.