Thread by @phoenix_chim

#demonXian #WangXian
For @sassybluee Happy Birthday!
Yiling Laouzu, the nefarious demon who commands resentment is feared by the cultivation world. People are wary to set foot anywhere within 30 miles of Yiling. Some say he is a bloodthirsty demon who steals virgins and kids—

and sacrifices their souls to keep himself immortal. Some say he eats them. What everyone says:
'The demon of Yiling is easy to kill. It would only take a single blow to end him. You just need to know where.'
A minor clan leader decides to test the rumours.

It's no secret that years ago a Lan was taken away by the Yiling Laozu to the Burial Mounds. There had been an uproar, the Lans ready to wage war for their precious Jade. Every cultivator knew the tale. Danzhuang's father had told him how all the clan leaders met at Jinlintai—

A seige was planned. But as the discussion progressed, first the Nie clan retreated it's hand then the Jiangs. When asked why, they won't say. Only the Jins still supported the seige. JGY had been a staunch supporter of the plan. He and LXC were often seen together, discussing.

At last, the seige happened. Ming Danzhuang remembers the expression his father had while recalling the event. There was horror and fear. Danzhuang doesn't know what his father saw that day to be so scared of the Patriarch till his dying days.

His father once told him, "The seige was a failure, not because of lack of power and strength on our side but because of the aim. Because of our cause and the Patriarch's." But what was the aim? To save the Lan who had been captured. Wasn't it?

The Patriarch is powerful, Ming Danzhuang knows that. To defeat such a great being is near impossible, because if an army of strong cultivators couldn't, then how could he? Perhaps it was better to have this man (could the Patriarch be considered human?) as an ally.

Maybe, once he has the demon on his side he can see whether planning something would be fruitful. But first, he needs to learn more about the demon and his trophy husband. Ming Danzhuang soon learns that the Lans that the Lans won't speak of the matter at all—

Acting as if the seige never took place. The name of Yiling Patriarch does get a reaction out of the Sect Leader Lan but the man only flinched a bit before his smile turned frosty.
There's one more thing Danzhuang has learnt from the tales.

Lan Xichen, the first Jade and the current sect leader had gone into seclusion following the seige, just as the Jins fell out of power. No one knows the exact reason behind it. Seeing the man now, Danzhuang can say the sect leader looks weary on the sides—

But nothing about him gives away anything. The visit to the Lans is fruitless. His next stop is Qishan, where Nie Mingjue's glare keeps him from talking half of the time. It's only when Nie Huaisang, the sect leader's brother comes bounding in the hall with a letter—

That Danzhuang gets an opening.
"Nie zhongzhu, I have to say that you have much to teach me."
"Ming Zhongzhu, you are young and have much time to learn. Do not be in haste."
It's surprising to hear one of the Lan rules from the Sect leader’s mouth. Danzhuang blinks in confusion.

*that rule is made up by me so don't come at me saying it doesn't exist. I do not know the rules nor do I want to emsearch it up right now.

But before he can think more about it, the Nie Sect heir ropes him into a grand conversion about his latest fan collection and how Qingzhe Nie has started promoting art and wishes to host an exhibition along with his sect.

Danzhuang barely listens, nodding and humming as he agrees to everything. It's in his best interest to agree with the man because if the rumours were true, Nie Huaisang could be his key to the Patriarch.

The question is, how is he supposed to use this key.
While most believe the Nie Sect heir to be a lost cause, Ming Danzhuang knows the man has an eye for things he likes. If only Danzhuang can find something worthy of the spoilt heir's taste then...

He returns with an armload of painted fans and scrolls from famous artists around the Jianghu, contemplating his next step. So it is only convenient for him when the young Jin Sect visits him.

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