"Wanyin? What is it?" Lan Xichen bent over his shoulder to lean in and peek at the scroll in Jiang Wanyin's hands.

"Ah, a letter."

Lan Xichen read it aloud in a low and curious voice.

"Jiang-xiong,

I got your letter on the situation with the beasts. Wei-xiong sent me a similar letter. And personally, I'd been having trouble myself. Xuanji went on a night hunt recently with Xiyuan and Zhilan. A-Zheng is too small for it yet. And they'd come across a beast, some humongous monster that kind of looked like a spider or something. But skipping the details, it was too strong for it to be a normal demonic beast. Let alone Xiyuan my Head Disciple, or my daughter Zhilan, even the wonderful Dao Meiren couldn't kill it! Would you imagine that? Xuanji's first time in years, being unable to kill a target. Haha, boy am I happy!

Jokes aside, all three claimed to have seen these weirdly flashing green eyes. The spider thingy's eyes had held a violet glare all along, but suddenly turned green. Only for a flicker of a moment, through, like you said. I'm guessing it means the energy in the beast is being replenished, but the flash of the eyes is momentary so that nobody will notice. Any random cultivator wouldn't have seen, but well... none of us are random!

Since both the two Immortals, an older Jade, a Sect Leader and my own wife have given evidence, this a serious situation. I'm calling everyone together. Sect leaders' conference. All the sects and clans. Just the leaders, I don't want too many people leaving their homes behind in possible danger. The leaders of each sect or clan, accompanied by a single disciple. That's all. Head Disciples, and all will have to stay back for protection. The conference is tomorrow morning. I've sent out alerts to all the leaders along with this letter to you. And notify Wei-xiong that I've set all this up, busy setting the hall up for the meeting, can't send him a personal letter.

See you next morning at eight, then! And by the way, if one of the Immortals could come, I'd appreciate it.

Sending love! Just kidding, Er-Ge don't kill me!

Huaisang.

Such a humorous young man he'll always be," Lan Xichen laughed.

"Forever the joker," Jiang Cheng smirked. "One of the Immortals? Why?"

"Better influence. With something like this, it'd be hard to get the clans in action. We're talking about demonic beasts. Not the kind of thing one would assume capable of ending the world. You know some clan leaders can be..." Xichen sighed. "Difficult to cope with."

"You must mean FatGermYao."

"Huh?"

Jiang Cheng laughed and rolled up the scroll. "Clan Leader Yao. We call him that. Jingyi named him. Wei Wuxian spread it."

"Seriously?" Xichen shook his head. "You should be more decent..."

"Blah blah blah," Jiang Cheng put out his tongue.

"Good that you're leaving, I can do a bit of tinkering with Meilien tomorrow morning."

"Excuse me? Who said you're not coming?"

"Er... they did say only sect leaders and one disciple?"

Jiang Cheng stared at the shut paper for a moment before heaving a sigh. "Ah... so I'm going alone?"

"Take Jiang Qiao. Baozhai and Jiang Liwei will take care of things here. I'm here, too."

"Hmmmm," Jiang Cheng pouted. "Fine, whatever. Oh, and the Immortals...?"

"We need to send someone who's sect-related. Makes more sense for them to be part of the conference, or else the troublesome clan leaders will needlessly chastise A-Sang for relying on their influence."

Jiang Cheng nodded. "The three at Cloud Recesses are our only options. Cangse Sanren won't go, she's a free lady, rogue cultivator, so she's out of the picture. A-Xian... well, one, he isn't really sect-bound. Jiang, Lan, everything. Plus," Jiang Cheng chuckled. "The conference is at eight. He WAKES UP at nine!"

"True. Wangji would be the best."

"I won't deny it," Jiang Wanyin nodded. "The only seriously intelligent one of the two. And obviously, a better influence on the sects than A-Xian would be." He perked up. "HEYYY! Does this mean I'll have to go with HIM?"

"What's wrong?"

"That guy HATES me!"

"Then it's time you made amends."

"I... Trust me, nothing will remove his grudges. I have my own regrets, I can't face him!"

Xichen sighed and held his shoulders. "You two are officially brothers-in-law. Fix things up between you, or give up. As for tomorrow, no worries, Wangji will go separately. But the two of you better make up later..."

"I'll try," Jiang Cheng gulped.

"Promise? He is my brother."

Jiang Cheng understood. "Alright, alright. I promise. But I only said I'll try so don't get your hopes too high," he huffed and turned back to his work. When he sensed Lan Xichen standing up, he turned around again. "Plans for the morning?"

"Studying with Meilien."

"Studying?"

"We're going to do a bit of research in your Yunmeng Library on these beasts. And that Qiong Qi."

"Ah, we have a lot of stuff on beasts for sure. Thank you, then," Jiang Cheng nodded. Lan Xichen smiled at him and walked out of the hall to find his daughter. 

**********

"Lan Wangji? What's Lan Wangji doing here?"

"Hush, do you want to taste Bichen?"

Ouyang Zizhen sighed and shook his head. "Seriously? Cut it out, he isn't some monster. Hanguang-Jun's great," he chastised them.

"Little boy–"

"Ahem!" Zizhen cleared his throat loud and clear enough for all of them to hear. "I would appreciate it if you at least now do realise that I am Sect Leader Ouyang and not some little boy," he explained through gritted teeth.

Jin Ling and Lan Sizhui seated nearby gave him a thumbs-up. Jiang Cheng grinned at him.

Nie Huaisang walked into the hall. "I was about to say the same thing."

"Chief Cultivator," the leaders stood and bowed to him. All except Lan Wangji, of course. Being socially above them all as an Immortal, he probably only bowed to his Mama.

"Greetings, all. Eh, Ji-xiong's here!" Huaisang beamed and sat down, waving to his friend. "What are you doing at the back? Come over here," he indicated to a seat that was placed beside him.

Lan Wangji shook his head humbly. "Comfortable, thank you."

"As you wish! Anyways, yes, I was going to say... Young Master Romantic here is actually Sect Leader Ouyang now so please do the courtesy of treating him like you treat us. I do believe I have already decreed the BailingOuyang clan having turned into one of the major sects?"

The guilty clan leaders and disciples quietly nodded. None would dare cross Nie Huaisang. Who knows what hid behind that paper fan and innocent grin? Jin Guangyao... Nie Jiuyue... the proof was enough so far. 

"Good. Then let's get talking." Huaisang proceeded to explain the situation. The servants walked to the tables and poured out tea and drinks, removing the lids off the shut plates of meat and fish and dumplings and all sorts of Qinghe special treats.

"Green eyes, eh?" A clan leader asked. "That spider had green eyes?"

"Yes," Huaisang flapped his fan. "Momentarily blazing green eyes."

"Is it only the spider so far, Chief Cultivator?"

"No, Clan Leader Yao. So far..." Huaisang counted on his fingers. "Spider, lion, wolf... we count three."

"Three massive demonic beasts... all stronger than usual and flashing green eyes?" Clan Leader Yao frowned.

"Sounds like a bedtime story, hm? No, it's real. We've evidence."

The Nie disciple standing beside his seat, Nie Xiyuan's younger sister, explained the findings made by Chen Xuanji, Nie Xiyuan and Nie Zhilan.

"And as for witnesses," Nie Huaisang nodded his thanks to the girl. "I'll stand as witness here, seeing as the main witness of the three is both my General and my wife."

"Thank you for the facts, Chief Cultivator," a clan leader nodded. "And the rest of the sightings?"

"A lion, and a wolf, you said?" Another leader wondered aloud.

"This lion..." a young boy few years older than the three young sect leaders present, pondered. "Chief Cultivator must be talking about the lion in Yunmeng, killed by that mediocre boy?"

"Mediocre?" A cold and dark voice flashed like thunderous lightening. Just like his Zidian.

"Er... I believe the boy isn't a cultivator, Sect Leader Jiang?"

"And I am not denying that fact," Jiang Wanyin kept his wine bowl on the table and glared at it, face as stiff as stone. "But mediocre? You are suggesting the boy's a common lad? I wonder if a mediocre, as you put it, can slay a demonic beast who even we had trouble with." Jiang Cheng brushed the loose hair away from his face, lifting his head to look not at a single one of the other leaders, but somewhere up at a beautiful lantern. "Dare you to call him a mediocre again. As for the lion, I stand witness."

The young leader was enraged by Jiang Wanyin telling him off so severely.

"Er..." Nie Huaisang gulped. "Seems like a very tense situation," he mumbled under his breath.

"I stand witness too," another voice, not at all less cold and stoic, cut in through the whispers that had begun to spread through the hall. The leaders turned to see Lan Wangji swirling his tea, firmly nodding to them. "We all fought the lion."

"Oh," the others quickly nodded and shut themselves up, not wanting to irritate Hanguang-Jun. "Apologies for the clamour."

"Mn," Lan Zhan nodded again.

He really does know how to maintain the peace wherever he goes, Nie Huaisang smiled gratefully. I might have told the leader a thing or two myself, good that Ji-xiong cut in. "Alright, then. What's left?"

"The wolf!" A disciple pointed out.

"Ah, yes. The wolf, I understand that Jin Ling killed it?"

"Ah?" Jin Ling looked up. "Ah, yes," he answered, nodding in almost a daze. The mention of that fateful night... gave him goosebumps.

"I see. So you saw these green eyes, Sect Leader Jin?"

"Mn," Jin Ling nodded. "Sawtooth Blood Wolf, an alpha. Exceptionally powerful for any alpha wolf. And yes, the said green eyes. I shall stand witness for that. Nobody else was there at the scene."

The others thanked him and went on to talk with Nie Huaisang possible ideas on what was behind the green eyes.

I wish I had been there, none of this would have happened and we'd be the way we were, Sizhui sighed, turning to Jin Rulan. Fortunately... maybe not... Sect Leaders Lan and Jin were placed precisely side by side. Though the others couldn't, he could see the erect hair on Jin Ling's skin, and the lightest tremble of the hand that held his teacup. The pressure of knowing all that had passed after the fight with the wolf, and what the wolf had done to him, and just how awfully bad he would be treated if these people who now smiled so warmly at him knew what he was... Kill him. That's what they'll do.

If only he could just reach under the table and hold Jin Ling's hand for reassurance... Sizhui gulped and looked away helplessly.

But then... Jin Ling just seemed terrified. Like the clan leaders would find out his secret any moment now. He had to do something. "A-Ling?" He called in a low voice just audible only to him. And to Lan Wangji seated somewhere near them, thanks to his better hearing.

"Mn?"

"Where's XiaXia?"

"A-Xia's at home."

"Alone?"

"No, Xiuying's there. Lanling is nearby, so Zizhen entrusted Xiuying to my people for the moment. I guess his place still isn't that warm towards her. She's babysitting A-Xia."

"That's good, good for the both of them. Xiuying's still having trouble with the Ouyang sect?"

"Looks like it. They just don't seem to be able to move on from the 'common innkeeper's daughter' fiasco."

"Tch," Sizhui sighed. "Judgemental. Just like FatGermYao."

"Pfft," Jin Ling smirked and covered his mouth with a serviette, chuckling softly. Sizhui let out a deep breath. Finally, he sighed.

Watching from behind them, Lan Wangji smiled to himself. The entire cultivation world discussing about monstrous beasts that might end their world and these two having their own sweet chat. He shook his head, displeased. But then again... A-Ying does the same with me in meetings... he smirked. A-Ying's probably still asleep.

"Mind explaining, Ji-xiong?" Nie Huaisang's voice crashed into his reverie.

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded, wonderfully masking how his mind had been far, far away at a certain bed in Gusu just now. "The mythical beast you meant is the Qiong Qi. Winged Tiger. Imprisoned in the Heavenly Realm. Escaped and suspected to be here."

"What if it's not in the Mortal Realm?"

"What if it's in the Demon Realm?"

"You mean the Ghost Realm?"

"Whatever the third realm is."

"Possible, since the Qiong Qi's known to be a demon itself."

"Devil, more like. Isn't it one of the deadly Four Evils?"

"The Four Evils are myths!"

"Then what do you call the Xuanwu, Black Tortoise of Slaughter?" Jiang Cheng smirked.

"Oh," the people silenced and glanced at Lan Wangji who was silently listening to their discussion. "Hanguang-Jun himself killed the Xuanwu with Xingguang Xian. True, true. So the Qiong Qi is possibly true. But how does that relate to the other beasts?"

"That is exactly my question," Nie Huaisang thought, fan tapping chin. "What's the relation between the great Qiong Qi and some useless beasts?" 

Zizhen snapped his fingers. "You said it yourself, Clan Leader!"

"What?"

"The Qiong Qi's a demon!"

"What about it?"

"Capable of transmitting its evil powers into another!"

"Possession," Lan Sizhui supplied.

"Haha, yes, yes, my bad. Possession. Demonic possession. Maybe the Qiong Qi... possesses the beasts? When killed, the demon moves on to the next one?"

"Sect Leader Ouyang, don't forget, the Qiong Qi isn't just a demon, it's a demon in beast form. Not a random demonic spirit. An actual tangible demon. Not capable of possessing a body."

Right, Zizhen nodded to himself. Xiangxiang-jiejie doesn't possess anyone. "Then...?"

"Hypnosis leading to manipulation," Jiang Cheng suggested. "A-Xian said so yesterday."

"Hypnosis?"

"Manipulation?"

"Sounds probable."

"The Qiong Qi's that strong?" 

"Only one way to find out," Nie Huaisang slammed his fan shut and waved it among the crowd. "I suggest we all start working on this. Gusu, Lanling and Yunmeng have the best libraries, so the Lan, Jin and Jiang sects will do the research on all about this manipulation stuff. Ji-xiong, Sect Leader Lan, I'll have to trouble you to peek into your Forbidden Section, perhaps?"

"Will do," Sizhui smiled.

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded. 

Nie Huaisang pointed out that the Jiang and Nie sects, and a few clans, had better knowledge when it came to beasts, so they would look up on the three beasts that had been killed so far. Meanwhile, each and every last teeny-weeny clan will bring up what they've got on the Qiong Qi. And everyone was instructed to keep eyes and ears wide open for any more hypnotised beasts. Or possessed. Possessed with the Qiong Qi's demonic energy, as far as they understood now. Having settled all the details of their plans out, and after Huaisang had proclaimed clear as crystal that "Should any clan or sect of ours be found collaborating with the enemy who is causing all this chaos, because I'm guessing the Qiong Qi's doing this under the enemy's control... May I kindly let you know that such a Clan or Sect Leader will simply meet the same fate Clan Leader Liu did", the others set off for their homes.

"Goodness, Nie Shushu," Jin Ling laughed, the closest ones staying behind for a few minutes to chat. "Sassy!"

"What?"

"The same fate Liu Zhongliang met," Jiang Cheng grinned. "Ripped apart into pieces by A-Xian's Kun Peng teeth," he chuckled.

"What? I wasn't lying! They should be glad I didn't mention Cousin Jiuyue's fate," he flapped his fan, proudly recalling how he'd tossed Nie Jiuyue into the raging fire.

"Woah, they'd have run out of the hall!" Ouyang Zizhen laughed.

"A-Sang!"

Nie Huaisang looked over their shoulders to see Chen Xuanji striding into the hall. "Xuanji? What are you doing in armour?"

"Oh, I was out riding with the senior disciples. Marching practice up the hills, so it's in armour."

The three young boys gawked at her. "Dao Meiren looks... amazing!" Ouyang Zizhen gasped.

"HEH?" Xuanji laughed. "I turned from Xuanji-shijie to Dao Meiren because of the armour?"

"It's beautiful," Sizhui nodded.

"Thank you, thank you," she tossed the strands of the ponytail tied up high with metal ornaments back off her shoulder. "A-Sang, we've guests."

"Oh come on, I just kicked a bunch out!"

"What!"

"Er... Ehehe, I meant waved goodbye. Who is it?"

"Just some old acquaintance of ours, and your Da-Ge's. I think he said he's a relative of your mother's."

"How's he supposed to be related to both my mother and Da-Ge's?" Huaisang frowned.

"No, no, he's related to you, but knows Da-Ge."

"Oh, okay," Huaisang nodded. "Then, excuse me, friends, take care on the way home!"

"Bye!" The others waved.

"Thanks for coming, Ji-xiong. Wouldn't have managed to shut their pesky mouths without you."

"Mn, anytime."

When Nie Huaisang was gone, Jiang Cheng chortled. "It's his attitude that renders him finding it hard to stay calm as you are with them troublesome leaders."

"You three are all the same, after all," Lan Wangji smirked back.

Jin Ling laughed. "That's right! Daddy, Jiujiu and Nie Shushu are all the same."

Jiang Cheng left next.

"Hanguang-Jun, Sizhui, allow me to take your leave then. I should get going, wife's waiting. Jin Ling, do you mind?"

"Not at all," Jin Ling patted his shoulder. "Father, I'll go."

"Going together?" Lan Zhan asked.

"Yes, Xiuying's at my place."

"Ah? Why?"

Zizhen bit his lip and looked away.

Lan Wangji sighed. "Your people still haven't accepted her?"

"No," Zizhen shook his head. "Too slow. Father's still a bit bitter about it all, I feel unsafe leaving her there..."

"But isn't she bearing the heir to the sect? I thought that should..." Jin Ling asked.

"No," Zizhen shook his head. "What if it isn't a son? Or if she doesn't give birth at all for some reason? Or just any damned thing? They won't accept her until the child's born."

"Well, it doesn't have to be a son," Lan Sizhui smirked.

"That's what Father wants. And what if it isn't? What if the child isn't born, or is ill, or defected, or a girl... what if Father kicks her out?"

Lan Wangji placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ha– Hanguang-Jun?"

"What will you do?"

"Ah?"

"If they kick her out, or try to, what will you do?"

"I..." Zizhen sighed. "I'll probably just move out with her."

"IDIOT!" Jin Ling whacked his head. "Just because the world's going to be against it, you'll give up without a fight?"

"Without a fight?" Zizhen furrowed his brows. "Is that what Hanguang-Jun meant?"

"Mn."

"then..." Zizhen noddy resolute. "Then I'll fight, if the situation calls for it!"

"Good," Lan Wangji patted his shoulder. "Very good."

Is that a smile I see on his face? Zizhen beamed.

"Just because the world's going to be against it... give up without a fight..." Lan Sizhui loudly retold and sighed forlornly. "If only he who said so understood the same," his hand lightly traced the topaz on the comb in his hair.

Jin Ling looked up at him in surprise and then was shocked to find the comb there. "You– That–"

"What?"

"The comb..."

"Ah, yes, Sect Leader Jin. A little gift from my lover. Beautiful, don't you think?"

Jin Ling gulped and flushed scarlet, quickly grabbing Zizhen by the wrist and dashing towards their carriage back to Lanling, shouting "Bye, Father!"

"OI! SLOW DOWN!" Zizhen shouted, sprinting along.

Lan Wangji stood there flabbergasted. His son having run away so suddenly, he turned to Sizhui. "Sizhui?"

"Father?" Sizhui asked through the bursts of laughter.

Wangji could easily see the smug smile on his oldest son's face. "Sizhui... Don't tell me you learnt this from A-Ying?"

"I... Father..." Sizhui blushed and grinned.

"I'm not scolding you. Just... go easy on him. Don't tease Rulan. He's trying hard to hold it all together. His secret, sect responsibilities, fatherly duties, filial piety, all of it. Hiding what he is and resisting his beast form is taking a toll in him. All he wants is to protect you. Don't tease him. Respect him for his good interest in you."

Lan Sizhui stared at his father. "Yes, Father." Walking towards their own ride, he spoke further. "Father... If you were in A-Ling's situation... What would you do?"

Lan Wangji sighed. "Sizhui, there's no choice."

"Ah?"

"If we consider the selfless path and care only for protecting our lover, regardless of personal desires, then yes, I know I would do the same. If I know my presence might bring A-Ying harm, then I'd stay away. I wouldn't want to harm my own beloved."

"That's what he said too... But why selfless all the time? Can't we just... be a little bit... selfish for once? I know selfishness is against our rules but... Father..."

Lan Wangji shook his head, smiling sadly. "If I were to choose the selfish path? I care for myself. What I want. Protecting my life is what's important. And my life is A-Ying. In this case, Rulan's life is you. So the priority goes back to you."

"Ah?" Sizhui gaped. "Really... so that's what Father meant by 'there's no choice'? Selfless or selfish, it comes back to protecting me..."

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded. "Don't worry. Give him time. If he knows you're ready to accept all of him, human, beast, father, sect leader, eighteen-year-old child... then he'll come to you."

Lan Sizhui nodded. "I hope so, too. Father, about this Qiong Qi. Where did you hear of it having escaped the Heavenly Realm?"

"Xie Lian."

"Oh, Flower Crown Martial God!" Lan Sizhui smiled broadly in awe. "Then why didn't you tell so?"

"Xie Lian... isn't a god anymore. And husband of the Ghost King."

"Oh, right, the clans would have gone into a rage by us personally knowing the Ghost King. Then again... come to think of it, they didn't even ask Father how you knew! They really do trust you," he smiled.

Lan Wangji smiled back. "All the trouble to ask the sects for information was in vain."

"Why?"

"One person would be able to give all the information on the Qiong Qi and its powers. Full report."

"Who's that!"

"Ling Wen."

"Er... who's that?"

"Heavenly Official, Civil Goddess. In charge of all the Heavenly Emperor's records and books and documents. Sees to the Library in the Heavenly Palace."

"Library in the heavens!" Sizhui chuckled. "Then she'll tell us all we need to know. Should we tell the Crown Prince?"

"Mn, Xie Lian will ask her. Come, let's go home," Lan Wangji helped him onto their carriage and got into it himself, headed home. I wonder if A-Ying woke up... 

____________________________________________________________

A/N: So, I promised in an earlier chapter's comment I'd explain a little thing to note in the title of this book. Savage Wolf, Lotus Heart. 

Savage Wolf: a reference to Jin Ling, as you see now. 

Lotus Heart: is both Jiang Cheng's heart and the locket that Lan Xichen wears now, Madam Yu's locket. 

And what I was to show is this. I've written Savage Wolf in such a way that gold and crimson are blended together. Since you know the phrase refers to Jin Ling, you should note the colour mix refers to ZhuiLing. Lan Sizhui x Jin Ling. Gold for A-Ling's Jin 💛 and red for... A-Yuan's Wen ❤️. Wen by blood. That should tell you something... Also, ZhuiLing shades being used in the phrase might have almost been a spoiler as to the wolf being either Sizhui or Rulan, haha! 

As for the Lotus Heart, easy. Bright blue and light lilac. OBVIOUSLY, XiCheng. 💙💜

So yes, the main focus this book is those two. ZhuiLing coming through hardships and XiCheng... hehe... suffering... 😶

What? NOT FAIR for only WangXian to be suffering all the time! 😤

WangXian will have their own adventures, but no more dying at least, hehe. 😅

Thank you so much for sticking with me all this while! Love you guys so much! 💖☺️

Sending hot chocolate and hugsies,

WXLL.