untamedbox | Brothel Meme: Part 3

The first day of the tournament dawns bright and clear in Lanling - there's a chill in the air that speaks of the coming winter, but the sky is clear and the sun is bright and the day promises to warm long before any of the events actually start. It's an auspicious morning.

Officially, the tournament is being hosted by four clans - Jin, Jiang, Nie and Ouyang - but everybody knows this is Jin Ling's time to shine. This is the young clan leader's first official public appearance since the attempt on his life, and though his people have seen him several times, rumours have been rife amongst the cultivation community - the tournament is to be well attended, the visitors all expecting to confirm the rumours or dispel them.

There's talk, too, that Jiang Cheng's involvement in the planning is largely to try and repair his own damaged reputation, and Ouyang are there to strengthen their own ties with the Jin clan rather than improve their shaky relationship with the Jiang. Nobody's quite sure why the Nie clan are involved at all, though recently a few more rumours have surfaced about recent 'planning' trips to Lotus Pier...

In short, the gossip is everywhere and everybody who is anybody wants to be there to find out the truth.

It's the grandest tournament to have been held in quite some time - days of feasting and competition intended to bestow glory and accolades upon the greatest cultivators in the land. The Lan clan are not known, of course, to seek such things, but they similarly would not shy away from the chance to prove their worth and put their students to the test.

There are yet more rumours that Lan Xichen himself will be attending - it is known that the clan leader has come out of his seclusion, but he hasn't yet left Cloud Recesses, could this be his first public appearance as well? Not to mention the talk of Hanguang Jun's long lost son...

Those wishing to gawk, however, should have gotten up early, for the Lan delegation is one of the first to arrive. Xichen is indeed there, along with the chief cultivator and, of course, the incorrigible Wei Wuxian, and they climb the steps of Lanling followed by a column of young men, clad in pristine white and walking two by two in perfect step.

And at the head of that column, walking beside his sworn brother, is a young man whose serene expression perfectly hides the turmoil in his heart, and he can't help but be reminded that the last time he was here everything was different.

Threaded | Flat

Jin Ling twists in front of a full length mirror inspecting his new golden robes. He's added a dash of vermillion to the traditional gold and white. His gold and ruby hair jewelry are beautiful and opulent- a symbol of his wealth and position. Instead of holding his sword as a gentleman normally would, the blade is hooked onto his back. It wasn't so unusual to do so that it was thought impolite and was a particular favorite way for the former Nie-zongzhu to carry Baxia. However, it was a change for the Jin clan.

In its original place, is an ornate, full length, gold and white scepter is in his hand instead that serves as a cane. It was once used by his great grandfather after a war had left the legendary man with a limp the rest of his life. Fortunately, Jin Ling has managed to get rid of that since his attack. It was his strength and energy that the scepter was to help conserve, at least while the chill in the air made his muscles ache.

"Jin-zongzhu, the Lan Clan of Gusu have arrived," a servant informs him.

Jin Ling looks at Liling, who smiles and nods her approval.

It's time.

Squaring his shoulders- as best he could given his worst injury- he steps out of the room and heads to the entrance of the main hall to greet his guests with Liling a few steps behind him. As he gets close, he nods to Jin Yatsen- the new captain of his guard and original one who had been loyal to him. With the older man are his two head disciples. Their bravery and loyalty during the ambush cemented their worth to him. Flanked by his retinue, he waits, hiding his anxiety behind a mask of calm/ arrogance.

~~~

Lan Wangji walks first with his brother and husband immediately behind him. Behind the three of them are the disciples. His expression is the same as it always is- stoic, unreadable, deceptively frigid. As he approaches the sect's leaders, his gaze lingers on the proud young man at the center. Silent approval touches his face as he sees how well his husband's nephew has obviously recovered- though with the scepter, maybe not quite as far as they'd all hoped.

He also approves when it's Jin Ling who bows first- as appropriate to the Chief Cultivator. The boy knows manners too.

"Welcome, your Excellency." Jin Ling's gaze only after that slips to the two behind him and pointedly, no further. "Welcome Lan-zongzhu and uncle Wei. I hope your trip went well."

Lan Wangji bows back to him along with the rest of his clan. He doesn't speak, but Lan Xichen does. He smiles, though it has yet to be as fully bright and easy as it once was- it's still genuine at least, as is the kindness in his tone. "Thank you for your hospitality, Jin-zongzhu. Our travel was uneventful and pleasant. We're glad to see you have recovered so well. We'd burned incense on your behalf to the gods when we heard of the incidents that you'd endured."

Jin Ling's hand subtly tightens around his scepter, but he keeps his expression polite and warm. "Thank you, Lan-zongzhu. We're grateful to see you as well. The cultivation community as a whole will benefit from you rejoining us."

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