Chapter Seventeen

It was the Discussion Conference of the QishanWen Sect and Wei Yingyue had stuck to Sect Leader Fengmian's side as they walked through the Nightless City. He was leading Wei Yue and Jiang Cheng to the courtyard where they had to wait for the Wen Clan, the disciples of the YunmengJiang Sect followed close behind their leader and Seniors.

"Jiejie, where did Wei Wuxian go?" Wei Yue turned her head and looked at Jiang Cheng, raising an eyebrow as she looked at where her brother had been.

"He'll find his way, don't worry." Uncle Fengmian said as he glanced at them, his eyes landing on Wei Yue and her hold on her bow. "Do you plan on entering the archery competition?" He asked lightly, smiling when she nodded.

"Of course Jiejie is going to enter, she is one of our best archers!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed as he wrapped an arm around his Sworn Sister, who smiled widely in turn as she wrapped her arm around his waist. As soon as they made their way into the Nightless City, Sect Leader Fengmian walked up to where the other Sect Leaders were sitting, leaving Wei Yue, Jiang Cheng, and the disciples alone. They talked with each other, looking around to see what Sects were here.

"He's here." Jiang Cheng looked down at Wei Yue, following her gaze to see Jin Zixuan glance at the younger girl, turning away when he met her eyes. "I can't believe he said those things, Ah-Cheng."

"Jiejie, my sister is fine. She knows she deserves better, so stop worrying." Wei Yue turned and nodded, opening her mouth to say something when she saw her brother rushing to them.

"Wei Wuxian, where did you go?" Wei Yingyue snapped, looking at her brother with narrowed eyes.

"Thankfully someone helped out, otherwise I would have been lost!" He laughed, turning to look at the drum that was behind the two glaring at him. "Wow! This must be the famous Qiong Qi Drum. Spectacular!" Wei Ying mused, looking up at it in wonder. "Is this really made of skin from Qiong Qi?" He looked at his twin sister, smiling widely as she rolled her eyes before he looked at something over her shoulder, frowning as the disciples started talking about the drum. Wei Yingyue looked around as she walked away from the group of boys, crossing her arms when she saw familiar white robes.

"Lan Huan!" She called when she was behind the man, grinning as he turned towards her with wide eyes, a smile breaking across his face when he saw her.

"Wei Yue." He smirked as he bowed his head, his eyes landing on her bow and arrows. "You're participating?" He asked.

"I am one of the best archers in the Sect, so says my brother and Jiang Cheng." He nodded and opened his mouth to speak, though he was cut off by a loud voice.

"Wangji, when did you come by?" Wei Yue looked over as she saw Wei Wuxian jumping in front of Lan Wangji, a wide smile stretching across his face as he bothered the older man.

"The idiot never learns." Wei Yingyue chuckled as she crossed her arms, watching as her twin brother annoyed Lan Zhan.

"You love him, he's your brother." Lan Xichen stated as he looked down at her, nudging her slightly as his eyes shifted to his younger brother. "How have things been at home?" Wei Yue shrugged, pursing her lips as she thought about all the things that have happened in the past few months.

"Madam Yu has been ignoring me for the most part, but she made sure that the disciples stayed away from me when it was time to train. Wei Ying and I mainly practice together, seeing as she doesn't want us to disturb them." She explained lightly when Lan Zhan made his way to them, nodding to his friend gently. "Sorry about him, Lan Zhan." She whispered as she patted his arm, giving it a light squeeze as she walked back to her Sect when the drumming began.

"Leaders of Jin Clan, Jiang Clan and Nie Clan, Mr. Lan Qiren of Lan Clan has arrived!" A loud voice announced, drawing attention towards the platform as the conference was about to begin. Wei Yue frowned as she took in the set up, noting that all the Leaders of the Sects were sitting below two seats, though one was higher than the rest.

"Wen Ruohan better not sit there." Wei Yue whispered, leaning into her brother's side as he nodded once.

"His Lordship Wen Chao has arrived!" The same voice called, but Wei Yue rolled her eyes.

"This Wen Chao, do he think he's the future leader of us all?" Jiang Cheng asked, standing in front of the twins.

"Guess that's why they arranged the seating this way." Wei Ying murmured, shaking his head. Wei Yue looked around at the other disciples of the other Sects, her eyes met Lan Wangji and he gave her a knowing look.

"His Lordship Wen Ruohan!" Everyone's eyes shifted up to see the man make his way to the highest seat, sitting above everyone when the disciples of the Wen Sect dropped to their knees to Kowtow.

"Master Wen of renowned prestige, will live as long as heaven and earth!" As they finished, the other disciples clasped their hands together and bowed, showing respect to the host of the conference.

"All of you rise!" He ordered, everyone straightened in return.

"The year of Jimao under the reign of Xuanzheng, the archery competition of the Cultivation Conference begins now!" The servant beside Wen Ruohan announced to the crowd, he announced for the array to be opened. "Hundreds of evil spirits dwell in the stone forest. The one who shoots the most evil spirits wins, you'll leave along with black flames for wrong or missed shots. Start!" He announced, and all the disciples turned to go.

"Hold on!" Everyone stopped as a voice called out, everyone turned to see it was Wen Chao who called out. "Who's standing at the end of the line?" He called, gesturing towards someone from the Wen Sect. A servant came and whispered in his ear, stepping back shortly after. "Wen Ning! What's he doing here? He's just a distant relative, who let him in here?" He demanded, pointing at the young cultivator. "Look at him! Can he even draw a bow?" Wei Yue frowned as he picked on the young boy, her eyes shifting to the young lad. "Tell him to leave now! He'll only humiliate our family." He ordered.

"Who said he couldn't draw a bow?" Wei Yingyue grabbed her brother's arm when he spoke, giving him a look before he shrugged her off, walking beside the boy. "Not only can he draw the bow, but also shoot very well." Wei Ying placed his hands on his hips, looking up at Wen Chao as he stood beside Wen Ning.

"You're Wei Wuxian?" Wen Chao questioned. "They say your archery is pretty good."

"Good enough to shoot pheasants." He boasted shamelessly, crossing his arms.

"Then you've got to be careful, because your evil spirit targets are nothing like your stupid pheasants. They won't stay and wait to be shot." Wei Yue rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she shot a glance at Jiang Cheng. "Wen Ning, he said you can shoot. Let's see what you've got!" Wen Chao ordered, smirking to himself. The boy notched his bow and took aim, his arm was shaking and Wei Yue frowned as he looked around.

"Relax, you were doing just well before." Wei Ying said as Wei Yue and Jiang Cheng stood behind him, looking at the boy as he prepared to shoot. He missed and the girl frowned, looking up at Wen Chao as he made a show of spitting out his tea before laughing.

"Great, so great" He laughed, leaning back in his chair. "What are you waiting for? Waiting for me to kick you out? Find someone else!" He ordered, waving off the boy. Wei Wuxian stepped towards the boy but Wei Yue followed, looking at him as she grabbed his elbow gently.

"You were just too nervous." Wei Yue whispered as she stood beside her brother, looking at Wen Ning. "Don't worry too much."

"You're really good, you know." Wei Ying added, smiling at the boy. "Among all the disciples of all clans, there's at most three guys better than you, and one girl." He glanced at his sister, winking gently as she smiled lightly. "See, you're better than this one!" Wei Ying jabbed his thumb back, pointing at Jiang Cheng.

"Shut up!" Jiang Cheng pushed Wei Wuxian into Wei Yue, making the girl laugh as she grabbed her brother.

"There's nothing to be nervous about, you just need to practice more." Wei Ying said as he turned towards Wen Ning, smiling at him as he rubbed his back. "Next time you'll leave them all shocked!"

"Why are you still chatting?" Jiang Cheng demanded, frowning at Wei Ying. "Just hurry up and go to the fields!" He ordered, Wei Yue gave Wen Ning one last wave before she turned and made her way to the opened array.

"Wei Wuxian, he's about to make me angry." Wei Yingyue hissed at her brother, glancing down to see Wen Chao following the twins.

"You're not the only one, but he is only following because he obviously can't find them on his own." Her brother stated, scoffing as they came to a halt, their eyes training on a spirit ahead. They notched their bows and aimed, Wei Yue almost released when an arrow shot towards the spirit, but it missed and her arrow slammed home into the bullseye on the spirits forehead before embedding itself into the stone wall. Wei Ying patted her head proudly as they landed on the ground, looking at Wen Chao as they held up their thumbs.

"Thanks!" Wei Yue stated, grinning at him as the black smoke shot into the sky, showing the end of Wen Chao's competition with the other disciples.

"Good job, Yingying." Wei Ying cheered, congratulating his sister.

"Wei Wuxian, you-" Wen Chao stopped talking and grabbed three arrows, aiming at two evil spirits that were flying up ahead.

"Do you have some problem with your eyes?" Wei Ying asked, watching Wen Chao as Jiang Cheng and another disciple, Ouyang, walked over to the scene. "Is that why you can't see the big "out" sign?" He continued.

"What did you say?" Wen Chao demanded as he turned to glare a Wei Ying, his hand still holding his notched bow.

"'Wrong shots and missed shots must be eliminated'." Jiang Cheng quoted from the rules told to them earlier.

"Are you going to break your own rules?" Wei Yue asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she raised an eyebrow.

"Rules?" He snapped, furrowing his brow. "I am the rules!" He sneered.

"This man is unreasonable!" Jiang Cheng muttered, frowning deeply. "Why bother setting rules in the first place then?" He continued, glaring at Wen Chao.

"He thinks he is above the rules just because he happens to be a Wen." Ouyang shook his head and turned, not taking Wen Chao's actions in a friendly manner.

"What did you say?" Wen Chao snarled, turning with his arrows pointed towards Ouyang, letting his arrows fly as Wei Ying called out to him to look out. Wei Yue pushed Ouyang out of the way as she glared at Wen Chao, Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng gasping as they reached for the girl when an arrow broke through Wen Chao's attack and turned, finding its way into an evil spirit's head.

"Lan Zhan." Wei Yue sighed as the GusuLan signal shot into the air, smiling as she looked at the man land in front of Wei Ying, blocking all of the younger cultivators from Wen Chao.

"Yo-you people." Wen Chao hissed before throwing his bow at his assistant, stomping away from the rest of them.

"Lan Zhan, nice shot!" Wei Ying called as the GusuLan disciple went to leave, ignoring the words coming from Wei Wuxian. "Hey! Wangji!" His shout made the man stop, but the following sentence made him scoff. "Your headband is not straight!"

"Liar." The eldest male murmured, turning to leave.

"It's true this time!" He rushed forwards, stopping behind the man. "Let me help you!"

"Wei Wuxian, no!" Wei Yingyue shot forwards to grab her brother but by the time she reached him he was holding the headband, Lan Zhan turned and was giving her twin an angry glare.

"I'm sorry." Wei Ying whispered, shrinking away. "I really didn't mean it. Here, you can tie it back yourself." Lan Wangji held his bow so tight it snapped, making Wei Yue finch as she grabbed the headband from her brother, stepping between him and Wangji.

"Wangji, take it." She whispered, ignoring the voice of her brother as she held it out. He reached out and took it, glaring at the man behind Wei Yue before leaving the competition.