Chapter Text
“Could you at least not glare so much?”
A-Ying glared at Xie Lian the moment he asked.
Xie Lian couldn't tell if he should laugh or cry as he first fixed his robes, then pulled A-Ying along, into the bright lights and loud noises that came from the Nightless City festival.
The Mid-autumn Banquet would be just within the next couple of days, and many cities, towns, and villages would be celebrating before, during and after such an event. The bigger the city, the longer the celebration. The City of Qishan itself was bustling and alive, full of activities... but Nightless City, home of the Wen Clan, looked even more extravagant. It was already far past Moon rise and yet not a shadow of late night darkness lay in sight- truly a place to be called 'Nightless'. And they hadn't even made it to the front gate's yet! There were hundreds of people at the gates already...hence why Xie Lian was holding tightly to A-Ying's hand as they made their way. That and the boy being grumpy and reluctant.
Besides his boy, With Xie Lian there were three others. Meng Shi, who was holding onto the second one, A-Yao, who was looking both excited and mortified at how big this place was. The other was of course, Feng Xin, who had come to help seek out information on Cangse Sanren. Sure, it could be rude they were using the festival to get information, but Feng Xin had tried getting it through Lan Clan by going to Gusu... but They had closed their gates for reason's neither he nor Xie Lian knew, but were rumored to be at this event.
That said, Feng Xin was just as hard to drag out here as A-Ying.
Meng Shi and A-Yao seemed to be the only two excited about going... which in part made sense as they were only brought to enjoy themselves. Well... A-Ying was too, but he was upset for a list of reasons. The four year old still missed Hua Cheng, and Banyue terribly, Qi Rong had been worse then usual lately now that he had gotten some movement back in his upper half, and the least of these, A-Ying didn't want to wear his black robes. Yes, the four year old was very upset that he was not allowed to dress like Hua Cheng for the festival. Instead, his hair was tied back and he wore his nice black robes he got when he went to ghost city a second time. Xie Lian had been pushed by Meng Shi to wear his own red ones, but said that felt too much... after all he didn't want to catch looks here, as Wen Jiahao had warned him. As for Feng Xin's issues, he seemed more distant then reluctant. It was that same distant expression that had leaked into his voice before, and he seemed to keep mentally wandering off.
Xie Lian had asked him what was wrong and he was just told 'not now', 'I'll tell you later' or, 'forget it.' None of them were impolite, really, Feng Xin just seemed tired. Thank fully, at least, Feng Xin had agreed Xie Lian should keep it simple, and just wear much cleaner set of his white daoist robes. (To be honest Xie Lian could already guess, it was really because Feng Xin didn't want him wearing the red robes from Hua Cheng more so then being eye catching. What would he think of his and Meng Shi's conversation, and the truth of Xie Lian's inner thoughts.)
The group finally reached the gates, and were of course stopped by a guard. Said guard just seemed to be a junior of the Wen Clan, who looked bored out of their mind. He gave Xie Lian one look, and tsked with annoyance.
“Only those invited by Wen Clan can enter these gates. You must have invitation.”
Xie Lian nodded, then wondered what he should say. IF he was honest and said Wen Ruohan had invited him, he was either going to get kicked to the street, or catch the man in questions attention. But if he said Wen Jiahao....
And as if the mere thought of the man could summon him, the Wen Clan doctor was there, smiling bright as he tapped the Junior on the shoulder. (That or more likely, he had been awaiting Xie Lian's arrival.) Wen Jiahao whispered something to the Junior, who straightened up abruptly, and gave Xie Lian a weird look.
Don't be telling this youth strange things please, I already have a bad reputation in other places. Xie Lian mentally joked, as the youth stepped aside and waved for him and his group to enter.
“I'm pleased you could make it Xie Daozhang.” Wen Jiahao said, nodding to Xie Lian. Then his eyes drifted to A-Ying, “And your son of course!”
“...” A-Ying glared at him grumpily, before turning and shoving his head into his baba's side.
“???” Wen Jiahao raised a brow.
“He's in a bad mood.” Xie Lian replied, patting A-Ying's head. “Don't take it to heart.”
“I see.” Wen Jiahao chuckled, then turned first to Meng Shi with a slight bow, and then to Feng Xin. “I am Wen Jiahao, And may I ask the names of these two fine people?”
“M-Meng Shi. A friend to Xie Lian, and my son is his future student.” Meng Shi stated, snapping out of her awe at looking around Nightless City. Then realizing something she motioned to A-Yao. “This is my son.”
A-Yao giggled at his mother, who quickly poked him for picking on her. Wen Jiahao smiled warmly at the two before turning to Feng Xin.
The later bowed respectfully, “Feng Xin. I'm... a long time associate of Xie Daozhang's.”
“an old friend.” Xie Lian cut in. Feng Xin gave him a look, but he had already turned back to the Wen Clan Doctor. “So, what now?”
“Wen Zongzhu wanted to see you as soon as you arrived.” Wen Jiahao replied. “He's up back towards the Sun Scorching Palace in the plaza. But first,” He motioned them all to follow. “i would like you to meet someone else, if that is all right.”
So Xie Lian lead (More so dragged when it came to A-Ying) his little group behind Wen Jiahao, till they found their way to a small cluster of people messing around with some firecrackers. Among them was a little girl, older then but familiar to A-Ying. She turned, saw him, remembered a certain incident of months past, and quickly glared. She crossed her arms, and her scowl was as fierce as a tigers. This was A-Qing, Wen Jiahao's daughter.
“A-Niang, there is someone I want to introduce you to.” Wen Jiahao called out, directed at a round looking older woman with a small boy in her arms. The lady was older in years but not quiet elderly enough to spout white hairs just yet. She had a friendly face, and looked much like her son and granddaughter, with tanner skin and dark eyes. The boy in her arms was her grandson, the three year old A-Ning, A-Qing's little brother. He didn't seem to recognize A-Ying yet, and was instead smiling sweetly at the sight of the fire crackers bursting. He clapped as they finished, and a ten year old boy clapped with him.
The older woman set the three year old down, and quickly bowed to Xie Lian before abruptly taking his hands when he tried to mimic the sign.
“Oh no need. No need. You saved my son's life, what reason do you have to bow to me.” She said, patting his hands gently. “Only I should bow to such a fine Daozhang.”
Xie Lian smiled at her warmly, “I still show respect when I wish it. And really, I would have helped Wen Jiahao regardless of any praise. You raised a fine young man.”
the older woman laughed, but Wen Jiahao gave him a funny look, one that almost read, You look younger then me. Why are you talking like your the same age as my mother?
Xie Lian refused to acknowledge let alone comment on the look. After all, he was MUCH older then his mother. He had several centuries on her.
“You don't have the snake bandage with you, do you Daozhang?” the girl named A-Qing muttered, her face twisted into something worried.
“A-Qing...” Wen Jiahao sighed, a playful exasperation.
“And if I do, it won't come out.” Xie Lian promised, “I am very sorry Ruoye scared you so badly that first time. It's a rather playful spiritual device.”
“...” A-Qing raised a brow, and that one look confirmed to Xie Lian, she would grow up to be a very strong willed woman. Good for her.
“My mother agreed to accompany your entourage while we go see Wen Zongzhu.” Wen Jiahao replied, motioning to the ones behind Xie Lian.
“Ying-Ying staying with baba.” A-Ying snapped, still in a bad mood. He grabbed Xie Lian's hand, but was only more annoyed when His baba pulled away.
“A-Ying will stay with Meng Shi.” Xie Lian said, giving the boy a pleading look. He then looked to Wen Jiahao and motioned towards his son, Meng Shi and A-Yao. “while these three will stay, however, Feng Xin will be joining me to go see Wen Zongzhu, if that's all right.”
“I mean,” Wen Jiahao chuckled, “As long as he doesn't give him trouble, I don't see why he would argue him being there...”
A-Ying just the grumpy child this evening, crossed his arms and grumbled. “Ying-Ying doesn't want to stay here and watch stupid firecrackers. He doesn't want to wear these stupid robes... It's all trash...”
“A-Ying...” Xie Lian sighed, glancing back... however.....
“Ya?” A-Qing pipped up. “Well I don't want to spend this festival hanging around a grumpy baby.”
“Ying-Ying not a baby.” A-Ying argued. Then he stuck out his tongue at her.
She smiled... rather meanly. “You know, if I hit your chin hard enough, you'd bite your tongue off.”
“A-Qing!” Wen jiahao snapped as Xie Lian face palmed.
The girl gave him an innocent look as A-Ying panicked and covered his mouth. A-yao also covered his mouth, looking rather startled by the girl.
“...” A-Ning looked at the two boys, and slowly hid behind his grandmother.
“Now now Qing-er, behave.” The older woman said, patting her arm. “He's a small boy, rowdy like your cousins.”
“He's not rowdy.” A-Qing argued, pointing to the ten year old with them. Said ten year old smiled serenely, a true gentlemanly looking child if one could say as much.
“No. And you know who I meant.” The older woman said. “Now, why not have my Qing-er help me keep an eye on these boys and we can show them around? Hmm?”
“.... yes Weipo....” The girl muttered, looking away with a huff.
Xie Lian gave A-Ying a soft look, and the boy looked back with a frown in his eyes. The four year old had a desperate expression of 'Don't leave me with her,' on his face. All Xie Lian could say in response, was; “I'll be back to join you as soon as possible. I promise.”
The words 'I promise' caused only a sadder look to cross the boys face.
As Xie Lian and Feng Xin wandered off after Wen Jiahao, the latter leaned over and whispered, “What did he mean by me not causing trouble?”
“Hmm?” Xie Lian gave Feng Xin a look, then 'ah'ed and scratched his cheek. “Oh, ya. The last time I met Wen Zongzhu, San... Hua Chengzhu was with me and so was... one of Mu Qing's junior officials.... Lets just say, neither were very respectful...”
Feng Xin, while still looking rather tired, did snort at that. “And you were surprised?”
“Yes and no. I didn't know it was Hua Chengzhu yet... sort of..” Xie Lian muttered.
“You didn't know?” Feng Xin did glare at him now, “And you were just walking around with him? He wasn't suspicious at all? Why do you trust him at all then?!”
“Is something wrong?” Wen Jiahao had heard Feng Xin getting snippy and slowed to see if something was the matter.
“No.” Xie Lian smiled.
Feng Xin frowned.
Wen Jiahao raised a brow, but chuckled to himself, before heading further in.
“... I haven't really heard nice things about Wen Clan.. are you sure you can trust him either?” Feng Xin suddenly whispered.
“him?” Xie Lian nodded to Wen Jiahao, “Yes. Anyone else. Not so much. Especially their Zongzhu.”
“AND you-” Feng Xin cut himself of when Wen Jiahao looked back again. He forced a smile, but his brow twitched as he turned back to Xie Lian, “And you still came here?”
“Of course.” Xie Lian nodded. “If I didn't there would have been unnecessary trouble. I just have to keep my head down and then see if we can find and talk to a Lan elder if any are here? If not, we can just quietly enjoy the festival... you look like you need a break....”
Feng Xin winced at that. Then that sad look came over him again. Xie Lian wanted to ask, but held his tongue. He had already asked several times, and the man did not wish to speak. It might be for the best to just not ask at all anymore. If he tells me, if he does not, it isn't my place...
It took a bit longer then Xie Lian expected to reach the Plaza as Nightless City was, in fact, as big as a small city. While the amount of people celebrating within was rather good size, most were clearly servants of Wen Clan. Sure, about a third of the people here (A large group still) were clearly outsiders in a wide array of different uniforms of other Cultivation clan's and sects, but the other two thirds either wore white with red suns, or black with a red sun on their backs....
That being the case, Xie Lian couldn't help but eye one such servant who had a good sized sun symbol burned into his face. It must have been done with a very special iron, and made the god dislike this place just a bit more. Sure, the atmosphere tonight was pleasant and joyful... yes, Wen Jiahao was a likeable person, and so was his family... But Wen Ruohan himself was seeming to become more and more, the type of person Xie Lian liked the least. In fact, outside of Qi Rong, there were very little who could make Xie Lian truly HATE them. He could only guess one other, but he didn't want to think about him.
The Plaza was higher up then the street and sat just bellow the largest Palace withing Nightless city. Even still a platform had been set up in the plaza, with clearly high ranking guests seated up there. Xie Lian and Feng Xin were lead to, and up onto such a platform, before Wen Jiahao asked them to wait while he went and got Wen Ruohan. The moment he was gone, Xie Lian frowned. Part of him was second guessing coming here... that was, till his eyes moved to a set of brown ones staring back at him with shock.
Sitting at a table, with some tea, was a boy- maybe seven or eight years of age, and somewhat familiar to Xie Lian. He looked up at the white band on his forehead, decorated with a cloud and his memory and hope peaked. That was Lan Clan, meaning they were here... and he recognized the boy cause he was one of the two Lan boys that had been in Ghost City!!!
“Huan, it is impolite to stare.” The remark came from a man sitting next to the boy, tall, straight as a brush, and a well kept goatee on his rather gentlemanly face. He was also Lan Clan, but not decorated like a Zongzhu...
“Y-yes Shufu.” The boy muttered, before carefully eyeing Xie Lian again. He must have also recognzied Xie Lian from...
Xie Lian looked away, coughing into his fist. Feng Xin eyed him, but he waved him off. Of course the last time that boy saw me was when I fell on San Lang... wait, where is his little brother? Would he not be at this event?
Before he could think more, he heard a chuckle, and glanced to the other side of the platform. Two men were standing there chatting, one with his back to them. The one facing them was the one who had chuckled, and was looking Xie Lian up and down with a humored expression. The man was actually rather handsome, with a square face and a charming smile... that looked rather snarky at this moment. However, what really caught Xie Lian's attention was how he was dressed. The man was in golden colored robes, with a bright vermilion spot between his eyes. But the most damning bit of evidence to his identity, was the peony emblazoned on his chest.
“Is there a problem?” The man asked, when Xie Lian's brow furrowed. He looked at the man, then half smiled.
“No. Your The Jin Zongzhu correct? Jin Guangshan?”
The man seemed to chuckle at that. “Yes? Why?”
“Just wondering.” Xie Lian said, then forced himself not to grit his teeth. Jin Guangshan?!?! Isn't that the one who tricked Meng Shi?!?! If I had known he was going to be here I might not have invited her! He mentally shook his head, No, that's not fair to her. She and her son should still be allowed nice things. But if he really is as awful as San Lang implied...
“Hmm. Are you sure your supposed to be her Daozhang? This platform is supposed to be for... never mind. That might be too rude to say...” The man chuckled as the one he had been drinking with looked over to Xie Lian as well. Jin Guangshan's tone was condescending.
Talk to me that way all you want, but you just proved you really are that awful. Xie Lian thought, forcing a kind smile. Be a 'shame' if he choked on his wine.
“Oh. Your....”
Xie Lian blinked, and looked to the man with Jin Guangshan. This man, dressed in purple robes and a homely kind of face, was looking right at Feng Xin.
“..Ah... Jiang Zongzhu.” Feng Xin said, also seeming surprised. He looked a bit worried as well. He bowed respectfully to the man in purple, who now fully faced him and Xie Lian.
“I was not expecting to see you again, let alone soon.” The man said, his smile very soft.
“Eh? Fengmian-Xiong, you know these two?” Jin Guangshan asked.
Jiang Fengmian, shook his head, “Just the one.” then turned back to Feng Xin, “How have you been? The last we spoke my wife... well....”
“I'm fine...” Feng Xin said, suddenly looking even more concerned. “She... is not present at this event is she?”
If Xie Lian remembered some of what he had been told, When looking into Cangse Sanren, It was The Madam of Jiang clan who had left that mark on Feng Xin's face... it had long since healed, but that didn't mean the memory was gone as well.
“No.” Jiang Fengmian chuckled, “She stayed back in Yunmeng with our son.... speaking of which, my daughter mentioned wanting to know you were all right after all that. She's around here somewhere. If you should run into her, I am certain she would be happy to say hello.”
For the first time that evening, Feng Xin seemed, a bit more relaxed... only a bit. “If I see her, I may say hello. If not, Jiang Zongzhu can pass on that if he wishes.”
“Of course.” Jiang Fengmian nodded... then his eyes moved to Xie Lian, “Might I ask who this Daozhang is with you.”
“Xie Daozhang.” The voice wasn't Xie Lian's, and meant polite conversation was over. That voice came from a man who approached much too enthusiastic considering their last conversation. Jiang Fengmian bowed calmly, where Jin Guangshan lost his snarky expression. In fact he almost looked startled when Wen Ruohan approached and clasped Xie Lian on the shoulder like one would an old friend. “So glad you could make it. And in good health no less.”
Xie Lian bowed his head politely, but felt very odd. This man, who could change his tune on the drop of a brush, was rather cheery, but smelled not even a bit like alcohol. The last they spoke, he wasn't callous, and had even said should he need something Wen Clan was indebted to him. Behind The Wen Zongzhu was with him not one, but two boys. The first was Wen Xu, the boy Xie Lian had saved. The other was a child, maybe six or seven years old, with an adorable face, but eyes that spelled a mean streak. Actually the way he walked and looked about with a haughty smirk, it reminded Xie Lian of a certain cousin of his when he was but a boy. Not a good sign to his behavior that was for sure.
Wen Ruohan eyed the elder boy, who quickly came up and bowed to Xie Lian. Wen Xu looked away as he said, “This one is happy to see you Daozhang.” he clearly didn't care.
“You look dirty.” The younger one scoffed- only to get a smack on the back of the head from his father.
“Chao-er, quiet.” Wen Ruohan snapped, less angry and much more a fathers chiding. He then snapped back to a pleased smile as he turned to Xie Lian, “Please pardon him. He's still young.”
“I understand, and take no offense Wen Zongzhu.” Xie Lian said.
“Speaking of little ones, your son is here yes?” Wen Ruohan asked, seeming to usher Xie Lian towards a seat.
“Yes... he is with Wen Jiahao's mother and children to play about.” Xie Lian replied, feeling like something was off. His eyes went to the man in question, Jiahao, who looked just as confused as he was. Xie Lian's goal was to keep low, but how was he to do that if the man he was trying to shrink in the sight of was already so focused on him from the start. Whatever the case, this might be a long night...
Just as long as A-Ying isn't in trouble, or gets in to trouble, I can just play the hand I am given till he gets bored. Xie Lian thought, giving Feng Xin a look as the other stood back... purposefully closer to the Lan Clan elder who sat with the boy... not once had that boy stopped glancing at Xie Lian. Lan Huan was it? Did he want to ask him something?
DOOODLEEEESSS!!!
