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To be fair, the fierce corpse issue was on the Yunmeng/Gusu border. So the fact that a group of Jiang disciples arrived shortly after the Lan ones could be a coincidence. Or Jiang Cheng being really petty. Wei Wuxian maintains he had a right to suspect the latter.
In the two years since Guanyin Temple, he had not seen Jiang Cheng. So he couldn't honestly say the current state of their relationship in the face of everything. He spent most of those years traveling, and adjusting to how the world had changed in his sixteen years of death. He also avoided Yunmeng. He wasn't sure which of them he was doing that for.
He'd been roped into the night hunt by Lan Sizhui. Lan Jingyi was also among the disciples. Lan Zhan was mainly there for back-up in case things were more dangerous than they appeared.
He didn't recognize any of the Jiang disciples, which sent a pang of regret through his heart. There was a time he knew all their faces if not their names. There were a handful of the original disciples out on Night Hunts that had survived the attack on Lotus Pier and joined Jiang Cheng for the Sunshot Campaign. Even less survived the war itself. He didn't get to know many of the new recruits during the year between Wen Ruohan's defeat and his rescue of the Wens at Qiongqi Pass. Too busy avoiding his responsibilities, afraid someone would realize his secret.
The group called one woman Shijie, though. And she, like he and Lan Wanji, seemed mainly there to supervise and back-up if necessary. She also seemed badly tempered - giving only the shallowest possible of bows in deference to their positions, and speaking in a way that was a mix of haughty and fierce that reminded him of both Jiang Cheng and Madame Yu. “We are currently tracking a demonic cultivator. The fierce corpses were his creations. As it's connected to the Night Hunt we were on, Gusu Lan need not concern themselves further.”
“The town council called for help.” Lan Wanji stated simply.
“We have not spoken to them, we traced the demonic cultivator from a different location.”
“We have spoken to them.”
The Jiang disciple twitched, before turning to the juniors under her care. “Jiang Shang, Jiang Bo - you have been taking point. The choice is yours.”
The male and female junior disciples at the head of the line exchanged a glance. The teenage girl spoke first. “It is not in the habit of Yunmeng Jiang to leave a job half-finished. The fierce corpses are connected to our investigation. Therefore we can't leave until they're eliminated.”
Lan Wanji frowned, but also stepped aside - unwilling to be seen as trying to use his position to force the hand of the young disciples. Especially since the Jiang senior had stepped back as well.
Sizhui stepped forward, and bowed. “It would be our pleasure to take care of this matter for Yunmeng Jiang.”
“Do you know how many there are? Which graveyard the corpses were risen from?” The teenage boy asked.
“Not as yet.”
“We do. We collected notes from the demonic cultivator’s hideout. So we are well prepared.”
“Why don't we work together?” Lan Jingyi spoke up. “That would be faster.”
The teenage girl looked back at her senior sister, who sighed. “The choice is yours, Jiang Shang.”
After another exchanged glance with the teenage boy - Jiang Bo? - she turned back to Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi. “That seems a fair solution.”
“Then we look forward to working with you.” Lan Sizhui smiled.
“So where are we going?” Lan Jingyi asked with a grin.
There were three graveyards in the town. Which seemed excessive until Jiang Bo explained that it was because the town had been destroyed twice. Once from fire, and once from the war. The graveyard used was the one from the war. Somehow that didn't surprise Wei Wuxian.
Unlike the Lan disciples, who usually traveled in silence when on assignment, the Jiang were chatty as they led the way to where the fierce corpses should be. According to the group, they hadn't been aware they were after a demonic cultivator at first. They were investigating a set of disappearances in a town to the south. But one of the supposed witnesses seemed nervous and volatile. On the third day of the investigation he disappeared.
Inside his house they found the bodies of the missing town members, signs of demonic cultivation, and notes he had left behind. One which indicated he had practiced raising fierce corpses in this town. Hence their sudden appearance.
“Jiang-zongzhu would never have sent us out if he knew it was demonic cultivation. He only ever takes or sends senior disciples for that.” Jiang Bo stated. The other Jiang disciples nodded in agreement.
“We sent a message about our discovery and where we were headed. Some seniors will probably arrive tomorrow to take over the hunt for the demonic cultivator.” The senior Jiang disciple mentioned. He still hadn't caught her name. “Or Zongzhu himself.”
“Li Shu is going to be so jealous!”
“Jiang Bo!” Jiang Shang hissed, smacking his arm.
“You know he will be!”
They were still a mile from the graveyard, not expecting to find anything for another half mile, and the fierce corpse was fast. One of the Jiang disciples screamed in pain before they even realized it was there.
The fight was honestly over fairly quickly. Despite the fact they had to fight their way to the graveyard to make sure they got them all. Wei Wuxian noted the Jiang disciple whose arm was broken was still fighting. He considered pulling them from the fight, but the Jiang Senior disciple wasn't moving to do so. In the time he hesitated, the fight ended.
Lan Sizhui turned to the injured disciple after sheathing his sword. “Do you require assistance? I can-”
“Yunmeng Jiang takes care of Yunmeng Jiang." The senior Jiang disciple stepped in, her tone cool.
Lan Sizhui blinked in surprise. “I wasn't trying to impugn otherwise. I was just concerned.”
“Your concern is noted.” She led the disciple away. Jiang Bo and Jiang Shang exchanged a glance. Then Jiang Bo followed them and Jiang Shang turned back to the group.
“Yunmeng Jiang thanks Gusu Lan for the assistance. Please… don't think too badly of Senior Sister Liu Biao. She is no doubt worried about Bei Mi’s injury.” Jiang Shang bowed.
“Gusu Lan thanks Yunmeng Jiang for the assistance as well. We are sorry one of your disciples got hurt.” Lan Sizhui bowed in return.
“Thank-you. Perhaps we can hunt together again. We take our leave.”
The Jiang disciples headed out.
“Jiang Shang seems nice enough. But, gosh, their senior disciple’s rude.” Lan Jiangyi huffed.
“Jingyi!” Lan Sizhui complained.
Wei Wuxian snorted in amusement.
Apparently the one thing none of them counted on while trying to head back to town was the maze arrays the demonic cultivator put around the graveyard. The group got turned around trying to head back to town to report to the town council. Then the skies opened up, accompanied by the boom of thunder and streaks of lightning.
They opted to stop in a cave for the night. Somehow it wasn't surprising when the Jiang disciples appeared in the opening a short time later.
“Did you get caught in the maze arrays too?” Lan Sizhui stood to greet them.
“We destroyed two sigils of the maze arrays.” Liu Biao told him. “We opted not to search for the third until the storm passed.”
“We took shelter as well, you're welcome to share our fire.”
“No need. Yunmeng Jiang takes care of Yunmeng Jiang.” Her smile was cold again. “We will set up in the offshoot cavern.”
There was indeed another section of the cave off the main one. The Jiang disciples settled into it, and though the low murmur of voices was heard, they didn't reappear.
“What? Were they too good for our fire?” Lan Jinyi glared after the group.
“Must take after their sect leader.” Another disciple whispered. Jingyi snorted. Sizhui gave them a disapproving look.
Wei Wuxian felt irrationally irritated at that. Alright, so Jiang Cheng had never been easy to get along with, and the years seemed to have magnified that trait. Still, he doubted he would have gone so far as to avoid sharing a fire. Was their attitude because of the Lans? Or, more likely, he himself?
“I'm going to offer them some medicine.” Sizhui stood up, heading toward the entrance to the other cave.
“Don't go alone, Sizhui!” Jingyi hurried after him.
“Stay here.” Lan Zhan told the other disciples and followed. Unable to resist, Wei Wuxian followed him.
The flickering of another fire on the cavern wall was visible as voices grew louder.
“Shijie… the way you said “Yunmeng Jiang takes care of Yunmeng Jiang” was…” Jiang Shang began.
“Was what?” Liu Biao sounded like she was scowling. “Spit it out.”
“I always understood that phrase to mean we protect and help each other. Regardless of status. Servants, Civilians, Cultivators - Yunmeng Jiang takes care of Yunmeng Jiang.”
“It does mean that.”
“But you said it more like… Yunmeng Jiang couldn't trust anyone else to take care of Yunmeng Jiang.”
Liu Biao sighed. “It means that, too.”
Sizhui froze at the words. Jingyi paused next to him, frowning.
“Not even Gusu Lan?” Jiang Bo asked. “They have a reputation for honesty and upright behavior.”
Liu Biao snorted derisively. Lan Zhan glared at the flickering flames on the wall - they all seemed uncertain whether to keep moving toward the Jiang disciples' fire or not.
“Remember what Shifu says about reputation?” Liu Biao asked.
“It's one part truth and two parts rumor?” A disciple he didn't know the name of spoke up.
“Exactly. It doesn't matter if a person or a sect has a reputation for righteousness and honor. You can't count on it being wholly correct. You’ve heard the way they talk about Jiang-zongzhu, right?”
There was a pause, and then a bunch of snickers and laughter.
“They make Zongzhu sound so vicious!”
“In one town I heard someone say Zongzhu whips his disciples twice a day!”
“Once I heard said he has killed disciples during spars!”
“It's so ridiculous! Do they think he’d have any disciples left if he was awful like that?”
“Well, Yao somehow still has disciples…”
That started off the laughter again.
“Everyone in Yunmeng knows Jiang-zongzhu is more bark than bite.”
“Second Disciple says that Jiang-zongzhu exemplifies the phrase “Tongue like sword, heart like tofu.”
There was a general agreement on this fact. Wei Wuxian couldn't help an amused smile from crossing his face - even while the three Lans looked doubtful at this statement.
“Well, not counting on reputation or rumors to be an honest evaluation of a person's character, but judging it for yourself does seem like good advice.” Jiang Shang began.
Wei Wuxian noted the Lans seemed to grow less upset with her words. They needed to look no further than his own reputation for proof of how good of advice it was.
“But… the Lan juniors tonight did seem cordial and honorable.” Jiang Shang continued.
Sizhui and Jingyi both seemed proud of that declaration, standing a bit straighter at the proclamation.
“Yes, tonight they did.” Liu Biao hedged. “But tonight they had seniors present and we were of aid to them. That doesn't mean they would treat you the same another night.”
“I… have seen that happen before.” Jiang Bo admitted. “Some of the Jin disciples act that way even to Jin Ru- I mean, Jin-zongzhu.”
There were a few murmurs of agreement.
Okay, so far Wei Wuxian had to admit maybe Liu Biao was overly cautious but not exactly wrong in her advice to her younger disciples. Still, it wouldn't have hurt them to give the benefit of the doubt in early meetings rather than shutting everyone out from the start.
“I'm not saying there aren't honorable or trustworthy people in other clans. I'm sure the more you night hunt and attend conferences, you'll meet some. And maybe those Lans tonight might even be among them.” Liu Biao continued. Her voice grew lighter and amused for a moment when she added, “I would say Jin Rulan was proof. But we all know he was raised Yunmeng Jiang, not Jin.”
The Jiang juniors were quick to agree to those words.
“Jin-zongzhu is Yunmeng Jiang at heart!”
“He was raised by our Zongzhu, of course he is!”
“It's really too bad the Lanling Jin got to keep him in the end, instead of us.”
“Bei Mei just thinks so cuz she thinks Jin-zongzhu is the prettiest of the new heroes.”
“Tian Mozhu! How could you!”
“You said it!”
“You agreed!”
“Young Mistress the prettiest…?” Jingyi sounded like he was two seconds from breaking into laughter. “I am so telling him about this.”
“Jingyi…” Sizhui warned, despite his lips twitching in amusement.
“Oh my, should I tell Zhongzhu about Jin Rulan’s admirers?” Liu Biao teased.
“No!”
“Please, no!”
Liu Biao laughed at the shouts, and was still chuckling as she got the group under control again. “Look, there are reasons why our clan members and people, especially anyone old enough to remember what happened, do not inherently trust anyone outside of Yunmeng Jiang.”
“But you still haven't explained why.” Jiang Bo pointed out.
Liu Biao sighed. “It's because of what happened during and after the war. I'm sure to all of you that seems so long ago. But remember that almost every clan leader is still the same from then. So they are the ones who were involved in everything. Even those who had heirs take over since - those heirs were mostly Zongzhu’s age and older. So they were still involved in some ways.”
“But what happened?” Jiang Shang pressed.
“It isn't one individual incident. It was a series of escalating events and how in the end our clan was forced to stand alone. Jiang-zongzhu was forced to stand alone. Without a single ally. And that includes the oh-so honorable and righteous clan of Gusu Lan.” The sneer was obvious in Liu Biao’s voice.
Next to him Lan Zhan stiffened, eyes narrowing at the slight. Wei Wuxian put a cautioning hand on his arm. Given what the clan elders had done to his husband, he couldn't exactly say his view of the entire Lan clan was perfect. Still, the antagonism from the Jiang Senior hinted at more things he didn't know. Things that happened after his death. Or perhaps even before that, while he was in the burial grounds?
“What do you mean by “stand alone”?” Jiang Bo asked her.
“Everyone talks about how Jiang-zongzhu rebuilt Yunmeng Jiang from ashes. How he was little more than a child during the war, but single handedly rebuilt a decimated clan with his bare hands and force of will, right?”
There were sounds of agreement from the Jiang juniors.
“Now who can tell me why that's the story? Why one of the great stories of post-war victory was about how Jiang-zhongzhu rebuilt our clan alone and unaided?”
“Because… the Yiling Patriarch… I mean… Well, I suppose actually now we know it was actually Jin Guangyao murdered his sister at Nightless City?”
“And they say… well, the claim is that Jiang-zongzhu killed his martial brother.”
Wei Wuxian winced at the declarations. Lan Zhan glowered again. Sizhui and Jingyi cast worried glances in their direction. The few times he and Lan Zhan had tried to discuss that particular set of events they tended to disagree. He knew full well he had wanted to die at the time. He'd come to Nightless City to die. Had thrown himself off that cliff to die. Jiang Cheng couldn't be blamed for any of that.
But Lan Zhan was convinced that he could have saved him if not for Jiang Cheng. Blamed his attack for him falling. However, Jiang Cheng hadn't actually stabbed him. He thought he would and he had welcomed it. But the strike hadn't come. There was no way Jiang Cheng could have missed an unmoving target. Perhaps his Shidi had been convinced he could do it for a moment, but in the end he clearly couldn't.
What he had done in his explosive anger was chip the cliff face. Two of the only important people he had left in the world were on that cliff face. Wei Wuxian wasn't risking them all falling for a chance to say goodbye. And that would be all it was. He'd had no intention of being saved.
“Sure, that's some of the stories everyone tells.” Liu Biao admitted. “But tell me, what was the other grand story they always used to tell from the end of the war? Until recent events turned it on its head?”
“...The Venerated Triad?” Jiang Shang guessed.
“Yes, the great Venerated Triad.” The sneer was back in Liu Biao’s voice. “The sworn brotherhood forged across three of the four remaining great sects between two clan leaders and the son of Jin who would later rise to become leader as well.
“But wait, isn't that strange now that you think about it? Why directly after a war that erased one of the original five clans completely was a brotherhood that strengthened ties between only three of the great sects formed? One that cut out the final remaining great sect? The one whose near decimation started the Sunshot Campaign? Whose future was the most uncertain? The one who could most use support and allies?”
The Jiang juniors were silent. Wei Wuxian didn't blame them. He found he couldn't even look over at his companions to see what their expressions were. His mind was too busy considering Liu Biao’s words. He had never thought of it that way, not even back then when it was happening. How the brotherhood connected three of the remaining four great sects. But, well, it hadn't truly been on purpose as far as he knew. Jiang Cheng just hadn't built a close relationship with Zewu-jun and Chifeng-zun. And had no relationship at all with Jin Guangyao at the time.
“But, well, that was because they had a close personal relationship, right? I mean, in light of recent events I don't know what to think exactly about Jin Guangyao. But Zewu-Jun and Chifeng-zun were close. They lead the Sunshot Campaign, right?” Jiang Bo questioned.
“I would like to think that was the reason. That Chifeng-zun and Zewu-jun, who even Jiang-zongzhu speaks of with respect, had simply not considered the political ramifications. But the cold facts are both were sect leaders trained for their positions. I don't see how they could be completely unaware of the shift in balance of power that came with their brotherhood. Because of these very ties Jin sent monetary aid to Qinghe Nie and Gusu Lan to help rebuild after the war. Nie and Lan couldn't reciprocate with money, obviously, but they had other ways to share aid between them. Goods; Manpower. No such aid was sent to Yunmeng Jiang.”
From the three Lans expressions, Wei Wuxian had a feeling this was news to them. He had a feeling it was for the opposite reason of his own surprise. He was aware they hadn't received any aid from the other clans during the first year after the war. Hadn't even considered the other great clans had been aiding each other while they struggled alone. He’d been so worried someone could discover his secret in those days. So overcome with new found grief over what the loss of his golden core prevented him from doing for the clan, and struggling against the effects of the Stygian Tiger Seal. He hadn't paid as much attention as he should have to the rebuilding efforts beyond that they were ongoing. No wonder Jiang Cheng had grown so irritated with his drinking and avoiding duties towards the end of it.
“But that's not fair! We were the ones hit the hardest!” Tian Mozhu exclaimed. There were grumbles of agreement.
“That's not even the worst of it.” Liu Biao warned. “The Sunshot Campaign used our clan’s near destruction as a rallying point. ‘Justice for Yunmeng’ was among the phrases used to gain sympathy and support for the war. The few members of our clan who survived the massacre at Lotus Pier - ones that had been out on assignments and Night Hunts - they rallied around Jiang-zongzhu when he joined the campaign. If you ask them, they'll speak about how his presence was a morale boost that was ever so useful to the war effort. The young heir turned leader who had survived the attack and rose up to defy the Wen against all odds. Funny how happy they were to use our clan's name, our tragedy, and even our leader to boost their campaign. Yet when the war was over, dismissed our clan and Zongzhu entirely.”
That must have been the early days of the campaign. The months he had missed. Wei Wuxian couldn't help but feel a kernel of his old anger and resentment towards the clans. So, not unlike how he had been used and turned on, the clans had been more than happy to use Jiang Cheng and then drop him cold.
“Jiang-zongzhu fought countless battles in the Sunshot Campaign. He was on the war council from nearly the beginning of it all. The only Jin who did the same was Jin Rulan’s father - Jin Zixuan. Jin Guangshan, who was LanLing Jin sect leader at the time, never set foot on the battlefield. Never sat on a single war council. Yet the moment Wen Ruohan was dead, Jin Guangshan shows up at Nightless City and starts throwing his weight around and sticking his hand in every pot. While simultaneously cutting our Zongzhu out. Jiang-zongzhu had no say in the post war matters - from splitting of the seized Wen treasury to what happened to the prisoners. All of it was decided without his input. While Jin Guangshan was doubtless behind it happening, that doesn't change the fact that Zewu-Jun and Chifeng-zun let him do it!”
The mutterings among the Jiang juniors at the news wasn't distinct, but they were clearly unhappy.
Wei Wuxian tried to recall if Jiang Cheng had said anything about all this to him. His memory drew a blank. Yes, he’d been unconscious in the days following their victory over Wen Ruohan. And his memory was never the best. Still, he recalled thinking things were fine between Jiang Cheng and the other sect leaders. In fact, he had guessed his own presence would have a negative impact and had purposely kept distant. What a mess!
“Apparently for a while during the early days after the war, people even started saying things like: “Only Three Great Clans survived the war.” Nobody believed Zongzhu could rebuild Yunmeng Jiang. The other clan leaders were full of nasty comments behind his back about how he was an incompetent leader who couldn't control his disciples and who didn't contribute anything meaningful to the war effort. I've even heard the other leaders were condescending and rude to Zongzhu. Speaking over him all the time during meetings, and lecturing him on how he handled the affairs of his own sect.”
“How dare they!”
“Zongzhu is worth all of them put together!”
“And these days they all try to cozy up to Zongzhu! The nerve!”
“Apparently when Zongzhu tried to defend Wei Wuxian’s actions in rescuing the Wen remnants, Chifeng-zun even went as far as to call him unfilial!”
The horrified and angry gasps that followed were partly lost on Wei Wuxian as his mind reeled. When had Jiang Cheng tried to defend him? Why had he never mentioned it?
“Then he had clans claiming during trade agreements that he ought to be grateful to them for rallying around the Yunmeng Jiang during the war. That he shouldn't be “greedy” and demand too much from the other clans because we owed them. And then, well, after the Yiling Patriarch’s death, a bunch of smaller clans said Yunmeng Jiang owed them compensation for the losses at Nightless City and the rise of Demonic Cultivation.”
“This is too much!”
“But Wei Wuxian defected!”
“How were we responsible for demonic cultivation?”
Wei Wuxian decided to be grateful for the loud mouths of Yunmeng Jiang disciples compared to Lan. It was good to hear the outrage he felt shouted out so readily.
Liu Biao sighed heavily. “Because Wei Wuxian had used demonic cultivation while still head disciple. They said Zongzhu had encouraged demonic cultivation by allowing it. That's when he first started to hunt Demonic Cultivators in other clan lands. Rather than give away money or resources or lands we didn't have to give away as compensation, he volunteered to deal with demonic cultivators for them.”
“So the clans demanded he deal with demonic cultivation issues as compensation for the actions of his ex-head disciple, and then spread all those nasty rumors about him being violent when he did exactly what they asked?” Jiang Shang was furious.
“Ah, yes, the deep dark dungeon at Lotus Pier where Zongzhu drags demonic cultivators to and tortures them to death.” Tian Mozhu snorted.
“They do realize Lotus Pier is built out on the waters, right?” Jiang Bo mocked. “Where exactly do they think the deep dark dungeon is? Under the lotus ponds?”
The Jiang juniors snickered at that. It was clear they didn't believe the rumors at all. Curious. Wei Wuxian was pretty convinced Jiang Cheng had killed some Demonic Cultivators. Though he also didn't believe there were dungeons in Lotus Pier.
“Senior Liu?” Bei Mei spoke up. “The clans that didn't ask for compensation was it because of the rumors… that is, I mean, nobody seems sure anymore but… I mean, I don't know what to believe about…”
“About?” Liu Biao encouraged.
“Did Jiang-zongzhu kill the Yiling Patriarch? I've never heard him dispute it, but… I've also never heard him say he did either.”
The Jiang disciples grew silent at the question. Liu Biao sighed. “I honestly don't know. Though there's one thing about the story that's always bothered me.”
“What's that?” Jiang Bo asked her.
“Answer me this first. When Jiang-zongzhu is furious. Disciples injured on a Night Hunt furious, someone attacked Jin Ling furious; someone is going to die furious, what weapon does he draw first?”
“Zidian!” The Jiang disciples chorused, some of them breaking into giggles at the unanimous answer.
“That's an easy question, Senior Liu.” Jiang Bo told her.
“It is. Any Jiang disciple could answer it.” Liu Biao agreed. “Which is exactly why the story of Zongzhu killing the Yiling Patriarch has always struck me as odd. Because everyone says Zongzhu, in a fit of fury over his sister's death. stabbed the Yiling Patriarch with Sandu and tossed him off the cliff.”
The Jiang juniors grew quiet again.
“I don't know what happened. I do think it's more complicated than anyone says, though. If it was an easy answer, I can't imagine Zongzhu would leave it unsaid for so long. But… in the end I don't think we should pry. I think that's best left between Jiang-zongzhu and Wei Wuxian.”
There were a handful of murmurs of consent.
“I do think I understand better now, Senior Liu.” Jiang Shang states. “No clan in the past stood by us, no matter how good their reputation. And even individuals who had good reputations did and said such disappointing things. So it's better to depend on ourselves first.”
“Yunmeng Jiang takes care of Yunmeng Jiang.” Liu Biao repeated.
“Yunmeng Jiang takes care of Yunmeng Jiang!” The Jiang junior disciples chorused.
Sizhui glanced at the medicine in his hand, then turned and walked back the way they had come. Jingyi shot a concerned look at them before following.
Wei Wuxian took Lan Zhan’s hand and pulled him after the juniors. The conversation they had overheard had given him a lot to consider.