Flute and Ribbon

Everyone in Chongyang was quick on their feet. Civilians and their resources were all evacuated. Jiang Cheng had immediately sent off Yanli to safety.

"Clan leader, we've found movements in the northwest of Wen Clan"

Jiang Cheng had a frustrated look "Damn it, they came so fast" the disciples were all ready to face what was coming.

The Wen's arrived in a matter of time and they began their first attack as a barage of arrows flung to the direction of their safe haven. Lan Wangji had his guqin and with one swift motion, the arrows were deflected with a light blue wave of energy. He firmly stood on the roof of a guard tower "Get in formation!"

The Lan disciples with him put up their palm and alluring blue arrays appeared mid air but the Wen had also tried to bypass it by pushing forward their own arrays.

Jiang Cheng lets out Zidian "Attack!" his commanding voice felt like it had jolted energy through his disciples as he led them.

>>

The sky was already dark, Wen Chao rode on a sedan carried by his men as Wen Zhuliu walked beside it to keep his master safe. Wen Chao pulled back the curtain "What's the news on the rebels?"

"The gates are down and the rebels are surrounded"

Wen Chao arrogantly smirked "That's good. Today we must completely wipe out the rebels in Chongyang!"

>>

Dead or injured bodies from both party were everywhere. The sound of lashing could still be heard as Jiang Cheng fends for himself but he was outnumbered. They manage to put their swords against his neck.

Wangji's fingers bled from the continuous and forceful use of it. With one final strum, the string finally snapped but it was able to take down a good amount of the enemies after him.

A haughty laugh was heard from his right, there stood Wen Chao and his men as Jiang Cheng was subdued "Lan Zhan! You should stop struggling. Wei Ying and the Jie's have been waiting on you for a long time. Go down to hell and join them" this caught Jiang Cheng's attention "What do you mean!"

"What do I mean? I heard you guys were looking for them" Wen Chao laughs "Don't waste you're time, there's not a remnant of them. The siblings got burned to death hahaha how painful. As for Wei Wuxian, we threw him into the Burial Mounds long ago" confirming the death the Jie's and Wei Wuxian's soul that might be bounded in the mounds was the last straw for Wangji.

He hops on a few tall rocks, he pulls on his string as he yells in rage, grazing his aching fingers to resonage an energy... unfortunately Zhuliu's purpose was to protect Wen Chao. He counters Wangji's attack that sent the flying back making him drop his already broken instrument.

Zhuliu pushed Jiang Cheng to where Wangji was crouching as Wen Chao flaunts himself infront of them "Kill them" his disciples pointed their sword at the two.

However, distant shrill noise could be heard along with the caw of the nearing crows. It was murder in the sky that close in on their location "What's going on?" Wen Chao asks but got no response as they all stared at the sky. The shrill noise from earlier was louder as the flames arround them changed color "Come, protect me!" he commands.

Wangji was wary of what was happening "That flute.." groaning caught their attention as the decease seemed have been brought back to life but were being controlled like puppets.

Nobody dared to move as the look at the army of corpse that stood opposite side of the living. A silhouette stood on the roof while playing the sharp tune as their clothes and hair flutter with the wind.

"Wha-What's going on?" A Wen disciple stuttered in fear.

Wen Chao cowered in fear behind Zhuliu "So-Sorcery!" Sharp notes were played one after the other just like how corpses enter the perimeter.

Jiang Cheng and Wangji manage to lift themselves up as they prepare for the wave of the undead that were approaching them. As the fierce corpse lunged to one person to the other, it was only those who belonged to the Wen Clan.

"Stop them!" Wen Chao panics and Zhuliu left him to try clearing their area.

Jiang Cheng looked at the figure "They're only killing...Wen's men" Wangji although relived by a bit, he still felt conflicted "He is a man with evil ways...But...he seems to be a friend, not an enemy" Jiang Cheng was smiling "I could care less how he does it. If he kills Wen's, he's my ally!"

Wen Chao began to run for his life screaming for help as the dead chased after him. His foot was caught by something making him trip, he looked at it and it was an almost unrecognizable face of Lingjiao who lunged for him and manage to bite his elbow. He was stuck between a wall and the corpse "Get away!! Wen Zhuliu! Save me!" His cry for help wasn't futile as Zhuliu was quick to react and pushed away Lingjiao's carcass. But it just stood again and gazed at them.

The figured descends with black aura surrounding him as he walks to their direction. Wen Chao despite having little to no ability on defending himself still calls out "W-What kind of monster wo-would do such thing!" the man stops a few feet away from them

"We meet again, Wen Chao" he waves his hands, swirling arua surrounding him.

"This voice..." Jiang Cheng's eyes widened in recognition.

Wen Chao, "Wh-Who are you?!"

"Wen Zhuliu, do you really think you could keep him alive under my watch?"

"I'll die trying" Zhuliu charges at him but with just a motion of a hand he was midair being compressed by the dark energy.

Suddenly something wrapped itself arround Zhulius neck, easily being pulled out from the dark mist. 'A black ribbon?!' they followed the direction it came from.

A figure with glowing eyes from the shadows laughex "What a loyal dog!" Zhuliu lets out a choking noise as the thing around his neck was tugged a few times "Atleast now you have a leash. Why not just surrender now?"

"I must repay his Lordship's kindess"

"Kindness?" a woman with a crazed expression emerged from the shadows "Repay his kindness? With the blood of the innocent?!" The three only knows one ribbon user and that was no other than Jie Chun.

Chun walks up to Zhuliu who's movements were completely restricted "Core melting hand?" She pulls a faintly dulled dagger "How about also I repay you for your kindness" she slowly drags the blade over his arm as he held back the cries of pain "Aww you're so boring. Come one scream in pain!!!" She yells. Jiang Cheng wanted to reach out to her and see if he isn't dreaming.

"I wouldn't yield" Zhuliu choked out.

Chun chuckled "Alright, suite yourself!" the ribbons wrapped around his already wounded arm and as the seconds passed, the cracking of bones were prominently heard. This time, Zhuliu screams in agony "Ah, music ro my ears" she maniacally laughed.

He slumped on the ground "Oh we're not done yet!" the ribbons hanged him and as Chun's hand glowed it slowly crept on where his golden core was "Mhhh an eye for eye, so a core for a core" she grins as she pulled out his golden core.

"Oh what a pretty color" she marveled at it for a moment "Such a pity it was you who has it" it was crushed into pieces as Zhuliu dropped on the ground.

"Who...who the hell are you?!"

The two walked closer to Wen Chao and finally, light casted on the demonic cultivator's face "Wei Ying..." Wangji and Jiang Cheng muttered simultaneously.

"You did a nice job" Wei Wuxian complemented Chun "No biggie, it's what I do" her ribbon attached on Zhuliu's neck retracted, dragging him near them "Didn't you want to protect this fucking coward?"

Wen Chao who was finally back to his senses shivered in fear "Wei Ying?! Jie Chun!? No way...impossible! I watched you die" he tried to run away.

Wei Wuxian transferred energy on his flute and at command, Lingjiao's corpse moved closer to Wen Chao "I-If you dare touch me, my father will kill you!" he didn't stop his command towards the undead bitch.

Chun laughs "Didn't I warn you about the same thing with my brother! You're lucky to have lived this long. Now I'll make sure that your soul suffers with the entities from the underworld!" a dark array appeared beneath Wen Chao

"Shall I finish them off?" Wei Wuxian glanced at Chun "Just leave out Zhuliu, I'll make him wish he was dead" she smiles. They stood side by side, turning the atmosphere so wicked that it's suffocating.

"Both of you! That's enough!" Wangji runs to where they are but didn't manage to get through the black energy that deafened the outer world for them.

Wei Wuxian began to play the flute again. Resentful energy gathered and alas, it turned into a spike that pierced through Lingjiao and Wen Chao.

Chun faces Zhuliu "You'd wish you were part of that execution. But now you're simply a toy and a playmate" she knocks him out.

"Wei Ying...Jie Chun..."

"Lan Zhan" it was only Wei Wuxian who spoke while Chun stares at the passed out former core melter.

"It was you who killed Wen's disciples along the way" Wangji stated "Of course" Wei Wuxian faces him

"And those sinister talismans.."

Wei Wuxian, "That was me..." Wangji's expression screamed displeasure "There's a pricte to pay for practicing such method. There were never an exception"

"I will pay whatever penalty there is"

"It's bad for your body and mind"

Chun rests her hand on Wei Wuxian's shoulder "I'll keep him in check" Wangji stared at her "You're no better. You hang Wen and Xian's disciple at such a low height while performing torture! How did you even.." her eyes glinted with killer intent for brief sec "I'm just like this. I've always been like this"

"Both of you....don't succumb to such evilness"

The spoke as one "I know what I'm doing" this angered Wangji "Some thinga are beyond your control!"

"Everything is within my control! Even Chun volunteered to help me..as for what it does to my mind. It's none of your business"

Before Wangji could yell, Chun steps forward "Save your lectures. What could be more even than Wen Clan and the current Xian Clan?"

With sad eyes Wangji speaks "Wei Ying, come back to Gusu with me" Wei Wuxian's red eyes flickered "..I see. After all, you Lan Clan despise dark cultivation"

"It's not to punish you!"

"What is it then?! To mend my ways? Or take away my powers? Who do you think you are?! I'm not afraid of you or your clan!" A surge of energy shook the ground.

"Wei Ying, that's enough" Chun held his hand which seemed to help. Jiang Cheng stood in between of Wangji and the two reappearing people "With all due respect, whether he's right or wrong, he belongs to Jiang Clan. What he did isn't up for your clan to judge"

Wangji turned to look at Chun but she avoided his gaze and looked at her hand that clasped Wei Wuxian's. With a disheartened expression, he turns his back and left them.

+++++

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian managed to chase the Wens to Qin Mountains recovering all lands from Jingchu. The Jiang Clan reclaimed Lotus Pier.

Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian, and Jie Chun stood at the main hall. She watched them reminisce their home.

"Now we'll head to Qinghe, you better participate in the Sunshot Campaign" Jiang Cheng lightly shoved Wei Wuxian "Why'd you think I came back...Shijie's in Qinghe" the two converse until...

"I know that Wei Wuxian was in the Burial Mounds but where were you?" Jiang Cheng faces Chun who was zoning in and out "Luliang...up north, west of Qinghe" this puzzled him "..Lan Wangji performed inquiry countless of times but..."

"The area has a magical formation to keep it safe" she said.

The neared the dock where a boat awaits them "Let's head there once we settle things at Qinghe, I'm sure Sect Leader Nie and the others would be glad to see you"

"...Sure"