Dates And Tribulations

Jiang Cheng

That evening, after Wei Ying and Lan Wangji went out of the training island, the rest headed out as well by the circle portal at the end of the island. Jiang Cheng had walked with Lady Qing toward that circle, trying to master his courage to ask her to stay with him for a bit longer. They had worked so well together, that it was like she knew what he was going to do before he actually did it.

They setting was not as scary as the one her companion from the east had, but their target fierce corpses were not a piece of cake at all. It took them both so long, even when they had make good progress, but at the end he wished they had been there for longer. Obviously he had come to like her in that short period of time and was too impressed with her to just let it slip off his finger. So when they actually reached the end of the island he decided to act now, even if it was a bit too soon.

"Ah, Lady Qing... it's such a lovely sunset... do you mind if we watch it in a pagoda back in the main island? We can have something to eat there while we watch the sun hide..." Jiang asked, really hoping she wasn't too tired to decline the invitation.

"I had to check on my brother..." She begin and instantly, Jiang Cheng's hopes die.

"I see..." He whisper a bit disappointed.

"But I can make some time in about ten minutes. Will you wait for me?" She asked back and he smiled brightly.

"Of course, I will wait for you in the north pagoda, inside the plums garden." She assented and used the portal, leaving him with a happy smile on his face.

"She is something else, huh?" Sandu said to him, finally approaching his Master.

"That she is. Okay, you help me set something nice in that pagoda." Jiang said with enthusiasm and Sandu sighed in resignation.

He will never said no to his Master, so he indeed helped him bring some food and adorn it with some pretty flowers. Jiang Cheng sat there looking at the sunset for a few minutes, when Wen Qing showed up. He smiled at her and greet her with a respectful bow.

"Lady Qing, I have something for us to eat. I hope it's of your liking. The food here is a little plain, but healthy. Is Wen Ning okay? He wasn't injured in the training, right?" Jiang asked and sat, after she did.

"My brother is stronger than me. His is fine." Jiang smiled.

"He is a bit shy..." Jiang try to make some small conversation, as they eat.

"Our life in the east had not been an easy one." She said.

"Ah, yeah... I mean, Yin is supposed to be there and all... but your Clans are quite strong. The way you took down Zixuan with just one finger was amazing. Never seen it where I belong." She smiled.

"Is the Lotus Pier as beautiful as they said? I have never been there." She asked with genuine curiosity.

"It's very beautiful. The lake fills with lotus flowers with different colors and we got a delicious soup made of lotus. We had flowers festivals and archery competitions. The town is lively, I'm sure you will like it, if you had the chance to come." He said.

"That will be lovely, but my people is in need of my talents as a healer. My father had to send me away almost in secret." She smiled thinking in the many complains his father and mother had to deal with since she was gone, supposedly in a night hunt, a very long one.

"I can understand your people, you are so good... your spiritual energy is also great, although you are not used to fight, giving your healer nature." Wen Qing smiled.

"Yes, Wen Ning was the one who trained hard with both archery and swordsmanship, although his archery is way better than his talent with the sword." She said.

"But your brother had a good sword spirit, very powerful. Their display back when we were pulled under the Cold Lake was something else." Jiang praised.

"They did well, although it was reckless, as usual when Wuxian is involved." Jiang Cheng suddenly got serious.

"Ah, he is like a brother to you right? I mean you grew up together and all..." Wen Qing laughed. Was he jealous of Wei Wuxian? How cute.

"Yes, he is a troublesome brother." She reply, making Jiang sigh with relief.

"He is so strong... and so is Lan Wangji. They are quite in tune as well..." Jiang said as he looked at the display of reds and oranges, mixed with a hint of light blue and purple of the sunset.

"Yes... but our coming mission is no joke, so the stronger we get, the better chances of survival we had. In the next training, let's focus more on becoming stronger for our own people. If the balance can be restored, we all benefit from it." Jiang assented in agreement.

"You are right. What about teaching me about those talisman you used? My Clan doesn't specialize in them, but they can be quite useful in the way you got rid of those fierce corpses." He said, hopefully.

"As long as you pay attention, I will teach you how to properly use them." She assured him, making him smile.

"Right, I will listen to every word." He said and after they ate, they walked around the gardens, before the night finally came.

In another part of the main island, Meng Yao was convincing Su She to actually cooperate with the training. It was not like Lord Zheng, teach just anyone and all he learned will benefit his people when he went back to his Clan. By the end of their long conversation, Meng Yao had him fully convinced and knew about what they were planning to go.

He used a messenger butterfly and sent it away to meet Xue Yang. Yin was apparently inside the Burial Mounds, but that place was too dangerous to just walk in and go search for her. It was better for them to let the Clans risk it and once she was found, they could finally act.

Wei Ying

"Wei Ying, have some tea." Lan Zhan offered him. Last time, he had like the blend he make for him, so he went and make another one for him.

"Lan Zhan, if you keep spoiling me like this, I may never leave this room or island." Wangji smirked.

"You will be leaving to your home sooner than you expected. The Burial Mounds are in the east, remember?" Wangji remained him.

"Ah, yeah... a shame I can't take you there to ride eagles or do night hunting's back at home. Seriously... even with Xuanyu, finding Yin is going to be hell." Wei said as he took the cup offered.

"Then let me help you too." Chenqing offered, as he go out of Xuanyu's dimension.

"Seriously guys, when do I have my privacy and that goes for you too Suibian." Wei said and soon, Suibian was out as well.

"Hey, that's rude. I wasn't intruding!" Suibian shouted.

"As if you haven't done it before. Will you even try to deny it?" Wei said ignoring his protest.

"Kids, don't fight, alright? Wei Ying, I am Yin's flute, which had the ability to control dark energy. Why not learn how to play me? Xuanyu is your dark energy, so you are already adapt to it, meaning you won't be losing control as any other would." Wei looked at him seriously now.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan whisper, also looking at the tall flute spirit.

"Is that what Yang wanted, sending you to me?" Chenqing smiled, the kid was smart.

"Of course. Why did you think your set of training was the Burial Mounds? The real thing is far worse that what you saw. Controlling the energy while remaining yourself will help your group greatly. Lord Yang himself had been inside your training ground, releasing stronger white energy for you both to absorb. That's how I could pinpoint the targets, because both Yang and Zheng were controlling them and I know their hidden energy better than anyone else." Chenqing said.

"Who will teach me? Xuanyu?" Wei asked.

"Yes, he knows most of the notes." Chenqing assured him.

"Then just what is Xuanyu's story? How come he knows something that belonged to Yin who knows how many centuries ago?"

"He was part of Yin's energy." Wei arched an eyebrow.

"That's a lie. No matter how strong the concentration of dark energy is, it simply don't gain awareness on its own and not especially when you belong to the mother of dark energy. Xuanyu had been inside of me for years, yet he cultivate my energy the same way Suibian did, with the only difference I willingly gave Suibian my white energy, Xuanyu stole it from my core to create its own." Damn the kid, is too smart for his own good.

"Then, what do you suggest Xuanyu is?" Chenqing asked, just to see how much the kid had make the puzzle.

"He was a dark sword spirit as well, but he was mess up for some reason and you knowing him for that long, can make me believe he was actually..."

"Mo, Lady Yin sword spirit." At that, Wei touched his head, as he was hit with a lot of pain inside his head and then, he was swallowed by a dark void and his eyes turned red.

"Chenqing... that was low." Xuanyu said seriously, taking over Wei Ying's mind and finally remembering some things from his past.

AN: Oh my, another revelation. Thanks for reading. Next will be a bit of Chenqing and Mo Xuanyu's story. Until next time, please take care. 😄💖💖💖