Wen RuoHan is defeated and Wei WuXian lies in the courtyard of the Fire Palace as if dead. The Healers can't detect his Golden Core because of the mass of resentful energy swirling through his dantians and meridians. In an effort to save his life, L...
Jin GuanShan was turning the box in his hands, prying at the edges, shaking it. "Need help?" Wei WuXian plopped down on one of the dais steps and blew his bangs from his face.
"No."
"Oh. Alright." He turned to Su MinShan. "Do you know how to open the box? I mean... how do you know my Tiger Seal is in there? I'm pretty good at recognizing resentful energy signs, especially my Seal, and I don't sense anything."
Of course you won't. Lan WangJi wanted to snort. You ensured no yin energy would leak. And you ensured that no one but yourself would be able to open it. Or maybe you can sense your Seal and are just brazenly lying about it. None of us will be able to.
Jin GuangYao sidled up to the dais. "Wei Gongzi.... Do you recognize this box? Is it yours?"
"Never seen it in my life," Wei WuXian lied.
Jiang WanYin strode up to the dais, Zidian flashing purple on his hand. "If that box does contain the Yin Tiger Seal, you need to hand it to my Head Disciple. It's his property."
Jin GuangYao bowed. "The item inside may be the Yin Tiger Seal. Wei Gongzi admits it's not his box. Therefore, until we're able to open it and verify its contents, it belongs to Su ZongZhu, doesn't it?"
"No," Lan XiChen stated firmly from his seat. "The box is mine. It was in my bedroom when I left to attend the Hunt. How Su ZongZhu received it needs to be explained clearly."
"You have proof the box is yours?" Jin GuangShan covered as much of the item as his hands could.
"There is a dent on one of the corners from where I accidentally dropped it while cleaning last month. One side of the box is inscribed with the Lan clouds pattern. The other five sides are plain.
"Su ZongZhu, I must insist upon knowing how you came to possess something that a few days ago was in my room."
"It was a gift," the clan leader puffed up his chest and tried to look stern. Compared with the serenity the Lan sect leader exuded naturally, he merely looked sullen.
Nie MingJue stood up from his seat across the Hall from the Lan. "I have seen Lan ZongZhu's box. I will verify if this is the same item." He strode across to the dais and held out one huge hand to the Jin sect leader. "Please." Lan WangJi could see Jin GuangShan's eyes flashing with fury even as he handed the thing to the Nie sect leader. He turned it around a few times, then "Dent." He pointed to one corner. "Clouds." He pointed to one of the sides. "Su MinShan. Who gave you this? And who informed you that it contained the Yin Tiger Seal?"
Surprisingly, Su MinShan's nervous glance went from Nie MingJue to Jin GuangShan, then Jin GuangYao, then back to Jin GuangShan. "I don't remember."
Wei WuXian laughed, a genuine laugh, unlike his earlier smiles. "My memory for people is horrid, but even I remember the names of my friends! Come now... tell us the truth. Which friend gave it to you? I'm sure you're embarrassed knowing one of your friends is a thief. However, I'm sure Lan ZongZhu will appreciate knowing who felt comfortable breaking into his home and stealing his stuff. Better to say who it is so the thief can be apprehended and punished, yes?"
"Punish the thief?" Su MinShan spat onto the dais step at Wei WuXian's feet. "We would be better to punish you! You were asked last year where your Yin Tiger Seal was and you lied! My friend knows exactly what you did! You kept it in your pocket until you purchased this box in Gusu City. You then laid all sorts of protection and sealing spells on this box, put the Seal inside, and gave it to Lan ZongZhu for safekeeping."
Jin GuangShan shifted on his throne. "Wei Gongzi, you kept the Seal on your person? I suppose that's why my deranged nephew was unable to find it. I second Su ZongZhu in recommending you be punished. Lying to sect leaders should not be permitted.
"Perhaps we should keep this box as your punishment. You lied about the Yin Tiger Seal, so now you can't have it."
Lan WangJi looked to his friend to see if he was going to retain his temper or lash out at his accusers. He could see Wei WuXian's cheek muscles clenching, but his lips stayed shut. A quick glance at his brother and Jiang WanYin explained the silence, perhaps. The Jiang sect leader was looking with pleading eyes at XiChen. Lan XiChen looked back at his brother and nodded; he had cast the silence spell over Wei WuXian.
Lan XiChen walked stately to the dais and took the small, silver box from the Nie Sect leader. "It may be that Wei Gongzi lied about not having his Seal that time. Or perhaps he found it afterwards. Regardless, LanlingJin and MolingSu have no claim over Wei Gongzi, nor his Seal; it is not for them to decide whether or not Wei WuXian will be punished.
"What is up for me to decide is: what punishment to give to the thief who stole this from my room. Su MinShan... you will tell me the name of the person who gave you this item or I will be forced to conclude that you are the thief."
"I didn't steal anything!" Su MinShan squealed, and looked again at the Jin sect leader and his bastard son.
Zidian crackled and snapped out to wrap around the clan leader's waist. "Why do you look at them for help?" Jiang WanYin snarled. "You have slandered my Head Disciple and attempted to keep Lan ZongZhu's stolen item from him! I should whip you ten times for your slander alone!"
Jin GuangYao glided across the floor to lay a hand on the Jiang Sect leader's arm. "Be patient, Jiang ZongZhu. Please. Lan ZongZhu has his belonging back; there is no need for violence. No one has been harmed. Let's keep it that way?"
"No one has been harmed?" Jiang WanYin yanked Zidian tighter, causing Su MinShan to yell in real pain this time. "This man called my Head Disciple a liar in front of everyone here, and you say 'no one has been harmed'? My Head Disciple's name and reputation have been damaged. My sect's reputation has been damaged. And this man refuses, still, to name the thief? Nor has he apologized! Not even a fake apology that he doesn't mean!"
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Dear readers.
No apologies here. Definitely ended on a cliffhanger on purpose.
But that's because I won't be publishing again until Monday. Traveling to family events where I won't be bringing my laptop. I might try to write a bit on my phone, but that's always iffy. Small screen, small keys = fat finger typing. I've tried it before and I usually end up having to retype half of it.
Anyway. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Thank you for reading and kudos and, especial thanks to those who comment. - Aitch.
