Jiang Cheng flew out of Lotus Pier with a handful of Jiang disciples, including the one that had reported Wei Wuxian’s activities. On his orders, he was the only one in purple Jiang robes. They caught sight of Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning a day’s walk north of Yiling, on foot. Jiang Cheng and his disciples spiraled in to descend some way ahead of him.

Jiang Cheng stepped off Sandu and sheathed the sword in one fluid motion. Wei Wuxian had stopped when he noticed them.

“Wei Wuxian, just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jiang Cheng called out angrily as he strode back down the road to meet him.

Things happened very fast then. Wen Ning rushed forward to block his path. Jiang Cheng parried and stepped around the fierce corpse. Barely breaking stride he continued towards Wei Wuxian.

“Don’t you have a brain? You’re going to ruin—“

“Wen Ning, stop!”

At Wei Wuxian’s words, Jiang Cheng paused to look back. Behind him, Wen Ning was poised to attack, arm raised and palm held out as if to strike. The Jiang disciples were all rushing towards them in alarm.

Jiang Cheng frowned and turned back. “What the hell is this? Your pet corpse is attacking me now?”

Wei Wuxian let out a breath then waved a hand dismissively. “He reacted because you came at me aggressively. Don’t worry, I have him under control.”

Wei Wuxian addressed the fierce corpse. “It’s fine, Wen Ning, stand down. Jiang Cheng and his guys don’t mean me harm, do you, Jiang Cheng?”

Jiang Cheng let out an exhale and signaled his disciples to stop and sheath their swords. They did, but still fingered their hilts uneasily. Wen Ning relaxed, apparently appeased.

This was exactly why what Wei Wuxian was doing was a bad idea. Wei Wuxian had reacted to stop Wen Ning’s attack immediately, because he knew Jiang Cheng wouldn’t actually mean him harm. But what if it had been anyone else?

Or what if Wei Wuxian’s control simply slipped? He frowned. It could be disastrous.

“What are you doing here, Jiang Cheng?” Wei Wuxian asked him.

“Stopping you from making a boneheaded move. You need to send him back, I’m just relieved you didn’t get far enough for anyone to notice.”

“And why would I do that?” Wei Wuxian asked, crossing his arms stubbornly. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly the cultivation world's most beloved person right now, especially at Lanling Jin. I brought Wen Ning in case anyone gets funny ideas.”

“Wei Wuxian, you can’t just show up at Jinlintai with him!” Jiang Cheng realized he was close to sitting. He rubbed a hand over his face and lowered his voice. “Jiejie and Jin Zixuan and I have a plan on how to move forward, and it starts with you, at Jin Ling’s one month celebration, nit raising anyone’s hackles, refraining from telling anyone that no one can stop you from killing anyones, and most certainly not reminding people that you can command armies of fierce corpses.”

“I need people to be afraid to move against me, Jiang Cheng. You of all people should understand that. Isn’t Sandu Shengshou’s reputation something you cultivate for the same reason?”