The Path In-Between

Chapter 7: Flight to Gusu, On Saber (NHS & NMJ)

Nie Mingjue had no doubt that Nie Huaisang knew that he was aware of his intellect, even if only somewhat. While Nie Mingjue had an idea of all the things Huaisang did that was blind to the cultivation world, he couldn't help but be furious over to what extent the recently disappeared Yilling Laozu had influence over his brother. Thus, his outburst repremanding Nie Huaisang over holding feelings over a dead scourge was completely justified!

Until... Until he was thrown off by his brother's peculiar response.

The normal responses that Nie Mingjue would have expected from his didi would have been either a petulant anger and spewn words or a pained face expressing his dejection and hurt from Mingjue's words. The response he had been graced with, however, was a calm and calculated response.

"I have received a letter Da-ge. Please keep an open mind. Perhaps the human body changes, but I believe one's heart will never."

In Nie Huasang's eyes, the elder Nie identified a peaceful stream of awareness, intelligence, and assurance rather than turbulent emotions. This was the first indication that perhaps there was foul play during the second siege at Nightless City.

Nie mingjue took the letter and he read.

Two days later...

'Oh! Curse Wei-Xiong!' Nie Huaisang thought, 'I will never do this again! I'm braving flight for you, Wei-Xiong! This better work!'

If there was one thing Nie Huaiasang hated other than practicing his saber, it was flying. Naturally, he didn't have a golden core strong enough to fly him. His life-span would increase but he couldn't fly. So be it! Never would he want to fly!

Nie Huaisang had only flown a handful of times during his life. Most of those times were with his Da-ge who would grumble and fuss and complain the whole time. The only times he had flown with someone else would totally account to one time. That one time was with Wei Wuxian.

Huaisang had long admired the boy's prowess with his sword. He had quite often enjoyed watching as Wei Wuxian pulled numerous dangerous tricks and finished completely fine.

This had been another reason that amounted to his confusions about Wei Wuxian's abandonment of Suibian. The boy had absolutely loved his sword! Why on earth would he give it up! It had simply made no sense. Even when people suggested that Wei Wuxian must have simply succumbed to the sweet callings of power and resentment, Nie Huaisang believed that Wei Wuxian would never experience the same joy he did as he flew on his beloved companion.

That leads to the matter at hand. Nie Huaisang was currently standing with his Da-ge on Baxia as Nie Mingjue manuvered them to the Cloud Recesses. Once again, Nie Huaisang pushed down thoughts of falling to an inevitable doom as he remembered what had happened two days ago.

...

"Da-ge, before you read this letter... I wish that you remove all presences except our own. I should at least try to keep my word to my friend, shouldn't I? I am already breaking it..." Nie Huaisang said.

Nie Mingjue ran an evaluative eye over the letter before deeming it safe and dismissed everyone, including Nie Zhongji and hidden protections.

Nie Huaisang put in place one of the privacy wards that Wei Wuxian had gifted him before turning to his Da-ge.

Nie Huaisang watched and waited as his Da-ge began to read the letter in silence. His eyebrows rose when Nie Mingjue mouth opened in outrage,

"...The night that lotus pier burned, Jiang Cheng, Shijie, and I had escaped. Shijie had fallen ill and I went to acquire herbs to get her better- what kind of bullshit is this Huaisang?! I don't want to waste my time on biographical crap!"

Nie Huaisang tensed before answering, "Keep reading, Da-ge. You'll want to continue, trust me."

Annoyed, Nie Mingjue turned his attention back to the letter.

Nie Huaisang watched as disgust took its place on Nie Mingjues features. 'Ah. He must be reading about Wei Wuxian's first and most significant encounter with the Wen siblings, Wen Ning and Wen Qing.'

And then, confusion danced upon Nie Mingjue's brow. He waited as his Da-ge raised his head in question,

"Huaisang, what is this? How did Wei Wuian bring back Jiang Wanyin's golden core? He says he fooled him with a story about his grandmaster?"
Nie Huaisang nodded.

"From what I have read along with my knowledge of Wei-Xiong's view of his servitude to the Jiang and his personality, I have concluded that Wei-Xiong found one of the theories of the acclaimed Wen doctor. It seems he had his golden core... surgically removed to be placed into Jiang Cheng." Nie Huaisang grimmaced.

"Nonsense.... NO! Impossible! No cultivator would do that!" Nie Mingjue bellowed.

"But think about it, Da-ge! It makes sense now! Whenever he was asked to duel, asked where his sword was, he always had an excuse! Perhaps he truly couldn't have used his sword!" Nie Huaisang argued.

"What other shit is written in this to fool you?!" Nie Mingjue turned to the letter with a sneer.

Nie Huaisang continued to watch his Da-ge.
Nie Mingjue's face softened before disgust scrunched it up again.

In a soft murmur -as soft as Nie Mingjue could get- Nie Mingue acknowledged, "Well, Wen Chao really was speaking the truth then..."

The thought sparked in Nie Huaisang's eyes. 'The Burial Mounds'.

Nie Mingjue's face continued to betray his emotions. Huiasang recognized how Wei-Xiong's words slowly captured his Da-ge's heart. He understood how his Da-ge was struggling with his new and past emotions about the Wens. Nie Huaisang realized that he took pleasure in the way guilt wormed itself into Nie Mingjue's features. He felt that his friend was finally beginning to receive justice. He waited patiently for Nie Mingjue to begin talking as he returned the letter to Nie Huaisang.

"What... Who is Wei Wuxian's... zhiji...?"
It surprised Nie Huaisang that out of all the things his Da-ge could ask about, this was what he chose.

"I... I'm not sure. But I have a very strong suspicion on who it might be..." Nie Huiasang voiced. It was true. He was not completely sure as he'd never imagined such a development but... the only person that came to mind was the very person who Wei Wuxian had chased during the lectures.

"Continue." Da-ge raised his eyebrow.

"Da-ge... you've probably heard a lot about how Wei-Xiong chased Lan Wangji during our lectures in the Cloud Recesses..."

"Yes..." Nie Mingjue mulled to himself, 'Was it perhaps a Lan?'

"Lan Wangji was always following around Wei-Xiong and trying to dissuade him from cultivating resentful energy more than even the Jiang sect..."

"Get on with it, Huaisang!" Nie Mingjue urged. 'So it was a Lan...'

"I think..." Huaisang paused for a dramatic moment, "... Lan Wangji."

"Yes, that makes sense... WHAT?!" Nie Mingjue's face looked hilarious as he gaped at Nie Huaisang! Nie Huaisang wished there was a way to permanently capture this memory.

Later that hour, they had discussed the happenings described in the letter and Nie Huaisang grudgingly revealed that he had requested Wei Wuxian to conduct research on the Nie Clan Qi deviations. At first, Nie Mingjue went ballistic. He was incredulous at Nie Huaisang for revealing a secret that could be perilous to the Nie Sect. Later, he was persuaded by Huaisang's reasoning that Wei Wuxian was one of the most honoroable and righteous cultivators and that if anyone could help with the Nie Sect's ancient secret, it would be the Founder of Diabloism and a doctor who specialized in the golden core.

...

Only a half an hour's way away, Nie Huaisang reflected that everything had gone as smooth as planned. To win over Da-ge was the biggest trial. All that he needed now was to meet with Wei-Xiong. Nie Huaisang was determined. They would find a way to help Wei-Xiong.

If all goes well, Nie Huaisang knew that Wei Wuxian's brilliance would help rewrite the past that they had terribly failed.

'Hang on Wei- Xiong. Just a little longer.'