Lan Xichen, " I am still not done with either of you two. "

Li Xiuyang, " Do you think I don't know that you all are reluctant to believe me because you all are very afraid? Afraid to face the truth? "

Lan Xichen, " I am not afraid. I want to bring out the truth and investigate the matter with deep insight. And lady Xiuyang, I agree that we had blindly trusted Lianfang-Jun, but that doesn't mean that we will blindly believe you too."

Lady Xiuyang, " Very well Zewu-Jun, why don't you then witness everything yourself?"

Lan Xichen frowned and envinced a questioning look across the lady. " What do you mean? " He asked with confussion.

" Why don't you perform empathy and witness your dear sworn brother's glorious deeds that he did in the past? " The lady questioned back as a reply and raised an eye brow. A challenging look was tracing along the lines of her defined, large, grey eyes.

" Empathy? Empathy on whom? " Lan Xichen asked, perplexity evident in his voice.

Empathy could be transpired only through spirits and corpses; it was hence astounding to

"Why? Your dead sworn brother Nie Mingjue, Chifeng-Jun's dead body. " She answered nonchalantly.

Lan Xichen's eyes widened with horror. Jin Guangyao's face went pale and he stared at her with bewildered eyes.

" What? Zewu-Jun, the dead body that young Master Wei and Lan Wangji had rescued from the secret cave of Nie clan was of none other than your deceased sworn brother's. " Her voice was clear and assertive.

As soon as she finished, Lan Xichen did not waste a lone moment. He excused himself, and rushed towards the 'spirit locker' to retrieve the violent deformed corpse that had been rummaging through where ever it had been taken.

Within few minutes, Lan Xichen entered the Hall again, playing Leibeng skillfully,. The calming notes were as soothing as laughter of a sparkling river, and as healing as the fresh lushful green silence of the mountain forest. He was indeed playing the piece 'tranquilizer' that they use to calm down resentful disobedient spirits, corpses, or any possessed person.

As he reached the circle of his brother's position, he stopped, and gazed at the younger jade. The latter nodded.

Within a moment, Lan Wangji summoned his Guqin and started playing another mystic tune, that was very unknown to non-Lan cultivators. Must be any exclusive Gusu piece.

After playing few more notes on the string, Lan Wangji paused.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. " Lan Xichen successfully gained everyone's attention within a second.

" I would request everyone to evacuate this Hall and take shelter in a coveted place, most preferably inside your allotted rooms. This corpse is voracious, and any miscalculation could lead to glaring loss. The amount of resentment that emits from the corpse is enough to drain ones entire yang energy. "

The cultivators were shocked from the Jade's words, and prepared to vacuum the hall. Some glanced at Zewu-Jun suspiciously, wondering if the former is just trying to avoid them; half of them were more or less reluctant to leave the scene, but they complied with the command nonetheless.

Within a minute, the hall went empty, left with only the three Lans, Li Xiuyang, Jin Guangyao, Su She who was holding the Jin clan leader, and Nie Huaisang, who was sitting at his place with anticipated eyes. Another soul was Jiang Cheng who didn't leave the hall and seemed ready to rip apart Jin Guangyao if really the latter is proved to be guilty. The Zidian ring on his finger was flashing intermittently with cracking noise.

" Sect leader Nie you.. " Lan Xichen's words were cut off by Nie Huaisang's chirpy shrill voice.

" I want to meet my Da-ge. "

For the first time in these fifteen years, the then present cultivators did hear a strong statement from the famous head Shaker. A resolute Nie Huaisang is what they didn't expect to witness.

And for Jiang Cheng, the Lan sect leader just gazed at the Jiang Clan sect leader's handsome, dark, scowling, rigid face with soft eyes, and averted his gaze again; the softness from his eyes dissolved, as he revolved his eyes across the room for that delicate pastel of emotion to dissolve into nothingness.

He did not ask Jiang Wanyin to leave because he knew that the Jiang Clan leader's presence is more or less essential; might be not for him or his clan members, but surely for the Jiang clan leader himself. Not everyone looses their brother in a devastating way, like he, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Wanyin did.

Lan Xichen did not oppose Nie Huaisang, but he made sure to place the strongest spirit attracting flags in a row at the center of the hall, and place innumerable yin-absorbing tailsman all over the place.

Then he and Lan Wangji put spells of 'rest' that flooded through the hall with a flash of blue and white. This was done to keep the yin emission in check and to restrain movements of the feral corpse.

" I would highly recommend everybody to be alert. Do not make any rash movement. " Lan Xichen commanded in a firm, polite tone.

At this moment, Lan Qiren chanted another spell and it's power waved across the hall with a flash of pure dazzling white.

With this, the Lans were sure that they could keep the corpse under control; there had been rare than rarest case where any spirit or corpse had been able to defy Lan Qiren's spiritual power's restrain, no matter how feral it had been.

" I am retrieving the Qiankun pouch. " Lan Xichen's voice was uncertain, mellow, shaky, as if he is about to meet his lingering dread and he is still ambivalent to face that diring point; a possible truth the idea of which is sending chills through his spine. He is perplexed.

The cultivators present in the Hall got alert, since they have already witnessed the restlessness of this violent corpse at one point or the other.

Lan Xichen took out the spirit locking pouch, and a bounty of black energy visibly emitted from the shaking piece of holy cloth.

The pouch rose up in the air and it was swinging and convulsing vehemently and violently along with flashes of black string sparkling around it.

Immediately, the two Lans started playing 'rest' all together, with the younger Jade with his Guqin, the elder Jade with his Leibing. With the powerful effect of the restraining spiritual music notes, the pouch ceased to act violently, and with a pause in it's movement, dropped nonchalantly on the floor.

Lan Xichen then brought his index finger to his lips, whispered chants, and a whirl of blue swirled around him. He glanced at his younger brother, and the later started plucking his Guqin strings with utmost care and attention, and the blue whirl across Lan Xichen started fading, and within a moment, the elder Jade's body dropped on the ground like a weak fruit.

Lan Wangji rushed to hold his brother and supported the latter's body before it could thrash against the ground. Putting his brother's head on his lap, he stared at the elder Jade's figure with concerned face and lost eyes; waiting with throbbing anticipation.

He was worried because a slight mistake or a single mishap could cause futile damage to the soul that undergoes empathy. It is important to properly safeguard the mortal body while the soul is going through the process of absorbing the past experiences of the corpse or spirit through which empathy is done.

While the two Jade's body were stilled at one place, the dreadful purple robed man was guarding the mellow Jin sect leader with sharp and glaring hawk's eyes. Li Xiuyang on the other hand was nonchalantly standing in her position, as if she is least bothered about whatever is happening there at the Hall; as if she is already aware of the ultimate outcome. Her face was calm and pleased. Lan Qiren kept eyes on every soul like a scrutinizing checker. Nie Huaisang on the other hand was sitting on the floor with his face almost hiding behind a decorated green-black pretty hand fan.

After almost an hour, the elder Jade's body suddenly started shaking, and all the eyes were drawn to him, except the lady's.

With sucking of a sudden deep breath, Lan Xichen rose up from Lan Wangji's embrace. His eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was muddled. It seemed like his body is unable to carry his soul that was too confiscated and lost, to be behold in a mere body. His breaths were shakey and ragged; his shocked eyes were staring at the white wall that lay few feet away from his eyes - almost blurry. He was sitting like a crestfallen man; eyes inexplicable, and face glum.

" Xiongzhang what happened? " The younger Jade asked with concern.

While Jiang Cheng seemed a little confused and also impatient and anticipated, Jin Guangyao's already pale face went paler, as if someone has extracted the vitality from his delicate features. The Jin's dired eyes were glued to Lan Xichen's confounded figure.

After a prolonged moment, Lan Xichen turned his head to stare at Jin Guangyao with horrified eyes. Jin Guangyao's own eyes widened from the impending horror which he knows is going to hit him hard. The acerbity of past sins have finally unleashed itself and he knows there is no escape from the ultimate doom; you could escape mortal eyes, but not fate, the fate that is shaped by your own deeds - of both past, and present.

Softening his gaze and allaying it with a sign of resignation, Jin Guangyao stretched his lips into a tired sorrowful smile. The was a fragile, delicate emotion attached to that inexplicable, close-eyed smile.

"Now you know the truth gege... " The Jin's voice was as meek and fragile as dry leaf, and as melancholic as the lonely forest which is so untouched - so unloved and forsaken.

Lan Xichen stood up and looked down at his sworn brother with eyes so lost, as if they were roaming in a dreamland - scared to wake up and face the dread.

"A-Yao you... You killed Da-ge.. You had stolen musical notes of 'turmoil' and you played it to Da-ge and deliberately made him undergo Qi deviation... " It seemed like the elder Jade's throat was burning and at the verge of atrophy; it seemed like he was forcing these words out of his throat with utmost labour - pushing aside the piercing melancholy and dread that was crumbling his heart, with much difficulty.

" Yes I killed him. And you know what Da-ge, I have no regrets. "

Lan Xichen's frozen eyes stared at Jin Guangyao with wide eyes; as if a layer of shock and sadness had been lapped on his silver-bluish eyeballs.

His frail heart was more than unwilling to accept the burning words from the most trusted in his life.

"Sect leader Lan... Do you want to know what else your sworn brother did? " Li Xiuyang's voice had no effect on the elder Jade who stilled into a desolated statue of a despondent soul.

Li Xiuyang waited patiently, momentarily pausing her speech.

"A-Yao... " No further word found it's way through the thunder striken Lan's dry throat; his face was twisted with a sense of betrayal and shock. Eyes red, he stared at the Jin - demanding the answers which he himself is dreadful to be exhibited to.

Jin Guangyao's gaze dropped on the floor, and his lips wobbled from the tide of multitude of burning emotions he has been suppressing till now.

"Yes. I had killed Nie Mingjue. And not only that, I had also killed my son, my wife, my brothers, my father, hundreds of lives.... " He paused. Face hidden behind the thick string of black hair cascading over his face, the Jin was shaking from shoulder to waist; his face was ducked low, and his voice was meek. Few moist drops fell on his folded legs.

Lan Xichen stared at the golden robed man with strange eyes - as if he couldn't recognise the person he was currently witnessing; as if he is watching someone else, a dark soul, whom he was too blinded to take a note of; blinded by the pretended white light of that unholy darkness. Tears were confined like a flooding river held by the banks so high.

Jin Guangyao continued in his doleful voice, " I had stolen 'turmoil' and killed that Nie. I killed my own father, do you know why? Because they looked down upon me. They dared insult me, mock at me, and thrash me. My own father denied me, my savior just looked upon me as a mere servant.

My father kicked me down the stairs the very first time he took a look at me. My 'savior' did the same. Chifeng-Jun never mistreated you, but he mistreated me because he too considered me nothing more than guest-server and a servant. And thus, I made him understand what I am capable of doing. "

Jin Guangyao looked up at Lan Xichen with fierce, red, flaming wild eyes. The elder Jade staggered back a little with bewilderment looming in his heart. For the very first time, he was scared; scared to someone close to your heart. Scared to witness the demon you once took as your pal.

" I killed my son, my wife, my sworn brother, my illegitimate brothers, my relatives, the Yiling Patriarch... " He paused and took a deep breath; tears constantly flowing from his eyes, across his red burning cheeks, tingling sensation was cracking like shock through his eyes, throat, and heart.

At the mention of Yiling Patriarch, a sudden white flash slashed across Jin Guangyao's left side, and his amputated arm tossed on the floor; crimson hue started streaming along the golden robed man's torso; dampening his lavish robes with the red sticky raging tint.

Bitchen's blade shone with burning rage, as blood drops rolled down it's sharp edge, it's hilt at the verge of getting crushed under the wild hold of its owner's flaming wrath. Blazing golden eyes bore through the Jin's soul, as if ready to tear him apart.

But, like a mountain that could never be shook; could be bore through, dug through, cut through, but still it stands as conspicuous as the guilt of shaky hearts. Jin Guangyao did not even falter; holding the burning flesh on his left torso, he again gazed at his pristine sworn brother who was standing like a dead corpse.

"Why? Why do you harbor so much hatred? " Lan Xichen's voice was hoarse and mellow, like an aged impotent fruit, that lost its breezy texture.

Jin Guangyao chuckled, " Why? Because they all treated me like a trash; as if I am not even a human. 'Oh son, forget about him', 'You son of prostitute', 'you are nothing more than a guest server', 'you are a filthy being' "

Each word of admonition, each word of loathe and hatred, each burning word of abhor escaped his weak throat like a series of bitter memories laden with acerbity and pain.

"But, no matter how many lives I had perished, but always remember Da-ge, I never thought of causing a single harm to you. " He uttered in a concluding meek voice - apparently ready for its impending seizure. Face twisted from agony, tears were falling like spring from his eyes.

Lan Xichen's eyes widened from shock, horror, daze...as if he is lost in a dreadland. His muddled eyes wondered over Jin Guangyao; his shaking, vacillating heart was slowly loosing it's presence - as if ceasing the conspicuous beats - afraid to absorb the reality which he dires to believe as real.

The person he had trusted blindly, the person he had allowed his heart to lean on - a true pal, a true companion. The relationship that he considered to be as clean and smooth as the surface of still pond; failing to notice the putrefaction that underlies the enticing green of the blooming pretty-to-eyes algae.

He had been residing in a feeble house; a house of lies, as feeble as the stairs of sand. His mortified heart was burning from the blaze of igniting emotions.

"That's my gege's corpse, and he was chopped into pieces by that Jin. " Nie Huaisang's hoarse and dejected voice pierced like a bitter thorn, through the thick and dark air of woebegone and lamentation. Truth is always bitter, isn't it?

"Second young master Lan, do you want to hear an interesting news? "

Lan Wangji's golden eyes meandered towards the Lady - unbeknownst to the impending volley of bitter truth, that shall putrefy him from the acerbity of inner guilt.

Harbored loathes in the house of lies,
Rending apart to unveil -

The adobe of acrimony.

Tender hearts, acrid fates,
Shattering from the afflict of woes;
Breeded under delude of sham,
False past felt like blithe,
The trust of the past of this mellow heart,
Pareils with acrid of deceiving myth.