Father and daughter had left for Lotus Pier by sunset. Xichen sat with his brothers outside his mother's home, now the couple's. The sweet, calming harmony of Liebing drifted through the air, soothing the minds of all that heard it. Wangji was being played alongside it. The elder Jade soothed the minds of all listeners, while the younger Jade calmed any restless heart. As the feather-white flute and silver strings conjured such relaxing music, another flute, black with a red tassel at its end, played the same melody but with a different effect.

While the Jades played to calm all the rest of the world, the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, played to calm himself.

Cleansing. That's what it was called. One of many mind-calming musical techniques in the GusuLan Clan. Capable of putting one at rest, but also capable of destroying one's temperament if altered, as the long gone Jin Sect Leader did. Everything has its own black and white, Wei Wuxian thought.

The trio played and played on into the evening. The sun was reluctant to go to bed today; hours passed and it still remained an adamant amber. Wei Wuxian's core had calmed and he put Chenqing to a side. Propping himself up on his palms, he laid back and spread his legs, groaning.

"Wei Ying, what's wrong?"

"Lan Zhan, can't we find a new song? Maybe another melody in the same book? This Cleansing is boring me to death!" He whined.

"Wei Ying, behave." Lan Zhan raised an eyebrow, directing his pupils to his brother and back at his husband.

"Ge, you don't mind me asking?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Xichen placed Liebing on his lap and nodded, requesting the youngest to go on.

"Ge, could you teach me another tune? My core's used to this now! I'm much better than before, you know! How about you introduce a new core-stabilising melody?"

For that's what the song did. Cleansing was mainly used to stabilise one's core, especially one filled with demonic energy like Wei Wuxian's, because the temperament and aura depended on the stability of the core. Lan Huan and Lan Zhan played incessantly every day to help calm down this one man's raging demonic energy.

And now here he was, pouting like a baby, saying the song is boring. Lan Zhan could only shake his head with a hopeless sigh. 

Xichen laughed. "Didi, if that's what you want, fine! I'll bring you the sheet tomorrow, there is this other song pretty much like Cleansing. What was it called again..."

"Pure Heart."

"Right! Wangji, not bad!" Xichen tapped his brother's shoulder.

"He spends hours in that boring library of his, no wonder he'd know that! Won't even spend as much time with me," Wei Wuxian pouted. Lan Wangji gulped.

"Didi, don't say that, he spends more than half the day with didi! The bunnies, the waterfall, the Jingshi, night hunts, all of it!" Lan Xichen counted, amazed at the younger's words.

"I know, I know, but I never said it's enough! Ah, I'll just have to wait till he's done with every last book like Gege. Lan Zhan, I'll torture you afterwards!" Wei Wuxian tossed his head back and laughed. Lan Zhan shook his head. Lan Huan laughed along at the thought of his poor brother being 'tortured' by his didi.

Comically engaged in light conversation, neither did they notice the 'poof' sound from somewhere near the archway between the Jingshi and the forest, nor did they hear the rapid footsteps and flapping robes of a sprinting woman.

"MASTER!"

"Xiangxiang? What–"

"Master! Master..." she stopped by Wei Wuxian and slumped onto the ground, panting.

Wei Wuxian sat up and held Xiao Xiang up by her arms. "Xiangxiang, what's wrong? Did someone harm you?" The smoke was already wafting around the Yiling Patriarch. 

So much for the stabilised core, Xichen sighed. 

"Tell me, Xiangxiang. Who dared to mess with my Xiangxiang?"

"Master, no, that's not it. It's just... Master, Zewu-Jun, Hanguang-jun, it's chaos. Back in our realm. The Ghost Realm is in utter chaos!"

"Chaos?" Lan Xichen asked.

Lan Zhan moved closer to clasp Wei Ying's shaking arm first, then asked, "What happened?"

"The Ghost King... The Ghost Realm was under this new Ghost King for quite some time now. But the King's bad. He's nowhere near our earlier King. This king suddenly turned evil. A war took place in the realm, and now the problem's solved. But these aren't your problems. Hanguang-Jun, Zewu-Jun, what I came to say was, due to the war that ended only a short while ago, most of our minor demons have escaped into this Realm, since they cannot enter the Heavenly Realm anyway. They might cause chaos here too. Please see to it, Chief Cultivator," Xiangxiang stood and bowed to Zewu-Jun. 

Lan Xichen nodded back. "Wangji, let's go, we'll tell Shufu and go with some others to check. I'll send a note to Huaisang and Wanyin. Wuxian, could you tell A-Ling?" Wei Wuxian nodded, as he watched the two hurry away. His husband was on his way to save the day, again. Wei Wuxian didn't feel lonely or left behind: he felt proud.

When the two were gone, he turned to Xiao Xiang. "Xiangxiang, are you alright?"

"Yes, Master, better than ever now that I'm here."

"Xiangxiang, you're not the kind of demon to run away!"

"Master, I helped out! I worked till the war was over, now came here to warn the Jades."

"Woah! So you guys are friends now?" Wei Wuxian chuckled.

"Master... actually, now that they're gone, I can accompany Master since Master is bored!" Xiao Xiang smiled.

"Good," Wei Wuxian nodded. "Give me a minute," he mumbled, as he grabbed a blank sheet from a table nearby and scribbled a message to his unruliest son and snapped his fingers. The paper folded itself up into a bird. It flapped its wings and dashed off into the distance.

Moving over to Lan Zhan's seat and settling himself in a reposing position against the fence of the verandah, he spoke, "Xiangxiang, tell me all that happened."

"Oh? Master, is it story-telling time?" Xiao Xiang giggled.

Wei Wuxian sighed loudly. "I'm bored, alright?"

"Alright. So what happened was... we used to have this good Ghost King, pretty much like Master, all kindness until injustice came into view. He was righteous and good. But then he stepped down when a new Ghost King was born. The new Ghost King carried on for some years, but he showed his true colours recently, he's too evil! Something about defeating the Heavenly Emperor, instead of minding his own business. He troubled my mistress in that realm a lot–"

"Your mistress?"

"Mn. I'm the Scarlet Seductress, so I am a demon under the Beauty Ghost's care in the Ghost Realm, though my true Master is the Yiling Patriarch."

Wei Wuxian scratched his head. "Beauty Ghost? Name?"

"Qian Qiao."

"Ah, think I've seen her. Right, go on!"

"So, when his evils were found out, Qian Qiao and some of us went to find our former king and ask his help. He agreed to help, since he couldn't stand his former subordinates being tortured like this. He called the new king out to fight."

"Woah! So brave! Did he win?"

"Of course he did! He's the best! Plus, he wasn't alone!"

"Huh? Who else?" Wei Wuxian was now bubbling with excitement.

"He's never alone. He had some help from some Gods, and within minutes into the war, the new King was slain."

"Let me guess, the guy who helped out is once again the new King?"

"Yes, he agreed to stay until the next King was born."

Wei Wuxian nodded. "But wow. What Ghost King has Heavenly-God friends? What's this Great Ghost King's name?"

Xiao Xiang was beaming as she answered: "Crimson Rain Sought Flower, Hua Cheng."

"Hm?" Wei Wuxian tapped his nose, then nodded. "Think I've read the title somewhere, not too sure of the name... and who were these God friends?"

"Oh, one is more than a friend, they're more like Master and Hanguang-Jun!" Xiangxiang chuckled.

"HUH? Who is it?" Wei Wuxian lead in, grinning.

"Flower Crown Martial God, Xie Lian..." 

Wei Wuxian laughed. Xiao Xiang was staring at the sky with awe-filled eyes: this god was clearly too good-looking. 

Just like my A-Zhan, Wei Wuxian thought. 

"Right, I've read about him in a book in the Gusu Library. So he was Xie Lian... And the others must have been the Wind Master, and those two Generals right?"

"Yes."

"Fantastic! What an amazing tale to hear."

"You know, Master, Hua Cheng is so much like Master. He's kind and caring, but devilish if anyone harms one of his closest. Especially deadly if it's Dianxia. But Dianxia gave up being Heavenly Emperor to be with Hua Cheng–!"

"Like A-Zhan stepping down from being Chief Cultivator to be with me," Wei Wuxian nodded, smiling. His eyes grew blurry as he looked at Xiangxiang and asked in a worried voice, "Xiangxiang, do you think he'll be alright?"

"Of course! Hanguang-Jun is–"

"A-YING!"

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian turned around to see Lan Wangji running towards him. Lan Zhan ran to his husband and flung his arms around Wei Ying's back, clasping him firmly. He buried his face in Wei Ying's shoulder.

"A-Zhan? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just remembered." He lifted his face and moved back to look into the younger's eyes. "I forgot to say good–"

Wei Wuxian stopped his mouth with his own. They sucked each other's souls till exhaustion and breathlessness for sometime, before Wei Ying pulled back first. "A-Zhan, don't you dare say that word. It's not like you won't return! Finish it, come back, I'll be right here waiting for you!" He grinned from ear to ear, in an attempt to reassure his husband, but Lan Zhan, somehow, had a terrible feeling.

Wei Ying noticed it. "A-Zhan, don't hesitate. Just go, save your people like you promised! Go!" He cheekily shoved the older off.

Lan Zhan nodded, leant in, held his face in his hands, and pecked Wei Wuxian all over, before waving and taking off aboard Bichen to join the others already high above. Wei Wuxian waved to his love, his Rulan and his gege, before sauntering back into the Jingshi. Xiao Xiang had flown away long ago — there was no way she would wait to third-wheel the duo's sensual moment.

Wei Wuxian walked around the Jingshi for some time, before turning to walk towards their bunnies and their waterfall.

The sun had grown less stubborn and was finally setting, as the amber sky faded into a flaming scarlet that now had a tinge of rosy purple in the distance. Wei Wuxian stared up at the sky as he walked down the hill, peeking through the deep green canopy through which abrupt beams of orange, cherry blossom-pink, lilac and blood-red shone down on the pouting Wei Ying. He'd have gone to help, but he knew his own magnetism towards trouble, such that things might turn from chaos to catastrophe. Gege and A-Zhan must know that too, that's why they didn't call me, he thought sadly. He felt like a toddler left at home for being naughty. Wei Wuxian sighed as he tumbled down the hill.

He was pouting at his woes when out of the blue, a 'Whing' sound was heard crashing through towards him. Being the alert demonic cultivator he was, used to constantly being chased down, he instantly shot Chenqing out at the incoming object. The two clashed and dropped to the floor. Wei Wuxian walked over. He bent down and picked up a strip of wood. Gold-plated wood that had a sharp metal V-shaped head and a white feathery tail. A Jin arrow? Was it Jin Ling? No, he should have taken off with gege and the rest. Then... was this another traitor?

"Come out and face me, you bloody coward!" his voice roared through the woods.

But this man was not to be swerved with words. He was a coward, and he accepted it. That didn't stop him from attacking the Yiling Patriarch.

Whizz! Clash! A second arrow was knocked down by Chenqing.

Twing! A third arrow almost hit Wei Wuxian before he stopped it with his hand, clenching the arrowhead regardless of the blood leaking from his grazed palm.

"Keep coming!" He cackled.

And the man did.

Hiss! Wei Wuxian rolled away, ending up at a flatter clearing in the steep hills, still several metres away from the bunnies' home.

If he sends a fifth, it'll probably be the last. I better get to the clearing, he plotted.

The last was relatively silent. But it could not beat Wei Wuxian's superior instincts. Going with his gut-feeling, he dodged away, tumbling down the hill and landing as he had wished: near his bunnies. He stood up once on the clearing, dusted himself down and looked around. Now this man would have to come into the open. "No more sneaky shots now! Come on out!"

Slowly, the sound of shuffling footsteps echoed through the woods as the attacker stepped towards the Yiling Patriarch. As the person in black came into the light, Wei Wuxian gasped. The person had a black cloth covering the face from the nose and below, and was dressed entirely in black. But the robes were tailored tight enough to fit the body, such that the unmanly curves were highlighted by the plain black shirt and belt. The frayed collar was lifted up to cover vaguely visible beautifully milky-white skin, while the frizzy hair was tied up in a long ponytail that flew behind the person's back. Even had Wei Wuxian ignored the curves, the sharp, alluring eyes were enough to shock him. 

Somehow, he had expected a brash man in black, but this... This was...

"You're a lady?"

"WHAT? Yiling Patriarch, what do you mean? Can't a woman be the villain for once?"

Wei Wuxian didn't know what to say. That voice...

"You..."

"You killed my subordinates. Sorry, but I won't leave before I kill you. Or at least, give me that pouch, and you'll be spared."

Wei Wuxian laughed. "You think you can defeat me? Fine, then, let's fight to sate your soul. But first, may I have the honour of knowing this Jin Mistress's name?"

"I thought you recognise me," she smirked back. She pulled off the mask. As the pinkish sunlight fell on her starlight-white face, she grinned, while Wei Wuxian gasped. "See? You do recognise me."

"No. I recognise your features, but you aren't the exact replica. Her face was... tanned, prettier," he grinned back. "Young Mistress Luo, Luo Qingyang's sister, I believe?"

"Hmph. Looks like you know her too well. I'm her cousin, Luo Qingfei."

"Luo Qingfei? A face of jade indeed," he said, and with Chenqing in his hands, he bowed to the villainess.

"Wei Wuxian," she bowed back.

"Now, then, may the strongest win."

The lady in black smirked. "Hm. I won't stop until you're dead anyway."

Wei Wuxian embraced himself. He wiggled his fingers behind his back to summon Suibian which was still resting in the Jingshi. Aware of many more traitor Jin eyes hidden in the forest around him, he knew he had a slim chance. But the demons had their own troubles, he better finish this off himself.

Never did he imagine Mianmian's cousin to be the most cunning woman he'd ever meet. 

___________________________________________

A/N: In case you guys didn't realise...

Qian Qiao is the name of the character called the Beauty Ghost from the wuxia BL series Word Of Honor, also the novel Faraway Wanderers by Priest. 

And yes, there's a lot of reference to the purest lovers in the world, HuaLian [don't think there's anyone who doesn't know but here you go: Hua Cheng and Xie Lian are the main leads from Heaven's Official Blessing, also by MoXiangTongXiu].

One more thing. Luo is Mianmian's true surname, and Qingfei means green jade. [FYI, Qingyang was green sheep].