Chapter Text
Jin Ling doesn't know what possessed him to do this, but he couldn't turn back now. As he stands in front of the doors, he takes a deep breath, before letting it out. He squares his shoulders, trying to look like he doesn't want to run, and knocks on the door.
This morning, Jin Ling had woken up feeling like something was missing, but he didn't know what it was. As he tried to figure out what it could be, a thought struck him. He brushed the thought off, not thinking it was important, and just something he'd only be curious about for a few moments.
But as the day had gone by, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Which is why he finds himself standing here, waiting for the doors to open. When the doors did, in fact, open, he mentally prepared himself for whatever would happen.
"Sect Leader Jin?" The Nie disciple said, confusion lacing her voice. Jin Ling took a deep breath again, and let it out. "I need to speak to Sect Leader Nie." He said. the Nie disciple was still confused, but nodded. "A moment, please. I will tell Sect Leader Nie of your visit." She said, then left. Jin Ling wouldn't blame Sect Leader Nie if he couldn't see him today.
He did come on such short notice, after all.
The Nie disciple came back, opening the door more. "Sect Leader Nie is available." She said, leading him to Sect Leader Nie. He followed her silently, still thinking about what he wanted to ask Sect Leader Nie. He knew what he wanted to ask would be a risky, possibly even touchy, subject. But his curiosity wouldn't let him think of anything else.
When they arrived in the garden where Sect Leader Nie tending to his birds, Jin Ling bowed respectfully, watching as Sect Leader Nie did the same. "Sect Leader Jin, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?" Nie Huaisang asked, as he straightened back up. Jin Ling did the same, fists clenched and shoulders squared. "I apologize for my unexpected visit, but I have a request." He said.
Nie Huaisang tilted his head curiously, fan low enough so his whole face was seen. "What is it?" He asked, sounding just as curious as he looked. Jin Ling bit his lip and closed his eyes tightly. "I want to learn how to wield a saber, so please teach me, or have someone else teach me!" He said quickly. When he was met with silence, he opened his eyes and looked at Nie Huaisang.
Nie Huaisang was staring at him, eyes wide with shock. "You do realize how risky wielding one of our sabers is, don't you?" He asked. Jin Ling nodded. "I do, but...Is there any way I can wield one without risk?" He asked. Nie Huaisang moved his fan to cover the lower part of his face. He was thinking, Jin Ling could tell. "There is...one way. There is a saber, our ancestors found it, and we still have it." Nie Huaisang said.
The Nie disciple's eyes went wide. "Sect Leader Nie, surely you don't mean..." She said, and Nie Huaisang nodded. Jin Ling started to get anxious. "What? What's the big deal?" He asked.
Nie Huaisang gestured for him to follow, so he did. "This particular saber has no master, and is completely clean of resentful energy. It also won't allow anyone to wield it." He tells him. Jin Ling's jaw drops. "And you expect ME to be able to use it?!" He asked. Nie Huaisang shrugged. "We'll find out, won't we?" He said.
As they stepped into a new room, Jin Ling saw the saber that was displayed. The saber had a long blade that was slightly curved, and a handle for both hands. Jin Ling felt as if he's seen this weapon before. "The saber hasn't allowed anyone to touch it, so we should be prepared if-" Nie Huaisang says, but his words die in his throat when he sees Jin Ling standing right in front of the saber. "Ah, wait, don't touch it yet!" He said.
But it was too late. Before Jin Ling could think twice, he picked the saber up. It should've felt too heavy in his hands, but he felt as if it weighed nothing at all. He stared at the blade, stared at his reflection in the blade. The weight of the saber felt familiar in his hands, and he felt the strange sense of déjà vu.
His reflection changed from his own, to a man with long black hair, pale skin, and obsidian black eyes. Jin Ling gasped, but he didn't let go of the saber. He shook his head and looked at his reflection once more, seeing it back to normal. "I don't believe it..." He heard Nie Huaisang say behind him. He turned around and looked at Sect Leader Nie.
Nie Huaisang looked stunned, his fan lowered enough so his expression was on full display. "It's letting you hold it..." He said. Jin Ling looked at the saber once more. "It almost feels...familiar to wield." He admitted.
The rest of his day was spent training with the saber. Jin Ling didn't expect to learn so much so fast, but as he pins the Nie disciple he was training with, he finds himself thinking wielding a saber is easy. "I'm surprised you learned so quick." The Nie who was teaching him said. Jin Ling looked at him, frowning. "What do you mean?" He asked.
The Nie teacher held his hands up defensively. "It is not easy to learn the way of the saber, yet you wield it as if you've known how for years." He said. Jin Ling rolled his eyes. "Of course I have." He said, but froze at his words as the Nie teacher raised his eyebrow.
It was a well known fact that Jin Ling never once wielded a saber until now. So this statement should've been a complete lie. But he said it with honesty that not even the Nie teacher could deny, despite knowing Jin Ling, until today, never wielded a saber before in his life. Jin Ling has no idea why he said that, and he has a feeling that something is going to happen. Something bad.
He sheathed the saber and ran off without another word, unable to fight this sudden urge he was feeling. He had taken the saber with him, ignoring the shouts he heard behind him. He had to leave. He had to see them, and he had to see them NOW!
He had to see his friends.