Chapter 1: Jin Hua

"Why did you do it Shijie?" Jin Hua asked, her voice soft, when they were far away from prying eyes. Her heart was still leaping in her chest from the earlier confrontation during the discussion conference.

"I owed him," her Shijie, Luo Qingyang answered and clicked her tongue, "and I couldn't stand their self righteous slander. I don't care what lies they spin, Wei Wuxian may be dangerous, but he wouldn't go so far as to indiscriminately kill innocent people."

That was probably true, Luo Qingyang has told Jin Hua about how Wei Wuxian had saved her life from the burning iron brand and subsequently scarred himself for her sake. It would be out of character for a man like that to kill without reason.

"But, you're leaving the Sect."

Leaving me alone, Jin Hua wanted to protest further but refrained from doing so.

"With the way things are heading, I no longer wish to associate with LanlingJin," Luo Qingyang says resolutely, her mind seemingly made up, "from now on, I'm just a rogue cultivator."

"Shijie..."

"Don't look so sad A-Hua. This isn't the last time we'll be seeing each other."

Jin Hua sighed, "alright, where will you go?"

Luo Qingyang shrugged, "I always wanted to travel further North. I heard the merchants near the coast have interesting tales to tell from foreign countries. Perhaps I'll sail across sea myself. See where that takes me."

Jin Hua feels even sadder that her older sister figure will be moving so far away. But it's also a good thing. If Luo Qingyang can stay far out of Jin Sect's reach long enough for them to forget about her, she wouldn't have any problems.

"A-Hua I need you to promise me something," Luo Qingyang says.

"What is it?"

"Don't isolate yourself unless it's for your cultivation and try to interact more with people your age. I know you have trouble making friends, but try to open up okay?"

"Shijie I don't need-"

"Yes you do," Luo Qingyang cut her off with sharp look which hid her concern, "don't deny it. You act like you're fine, but you do need people."

Jin Hua looked away, "but people don't need me."

"A-Hua," Luo Qingyang gave her a disapproving look, "Just try, okay?"

"Okay."

A few months later, Jin Hua hasn't made much progress in the friend department yet. But as promised, she had started going out more often. Nighthunts, training, shopping and relaxing at the hot springs took up her days.

No one in her Sect really noticed her absence aside from Sect Heir, Jin Zixuan, who despite how proud he acts always kept an eye out even for the most obscure members of his faction.

With reason too. Jin Guangyao had been quietly gaining more support within the Sect without Sect Leader's knowledge. Most people would not have noticed, but Jin Hua was very observant as she preferred to watch people interact than interact with people.

Perhaps Luo Qingyang had the right idea by leaving before Sect politics could get any more complicated. Though Jin Hua couldn't defect from the Sect peacefully without a good reason because unlike Luo Qingyang she was part of the Jin Clan's branch family. If Jin Hua left, she would have to give up the name 'Jin' and unless she had support from a member of the main family all of her businesses that she inherited from her parents would be confiscated.

Businesses made up the wealth of the Jin Sect afterall and hence its influence. The Sect couldn't afford to allow its clan members to disrupt that.

It wasn't worth it.

Now that she was getting out more often, Jin Hua had unintentionally eavesdropped on several conversations involving Yiling Patriarch.

Mostly vicious rumors that were likely planted to sway public opinion because Jin Hua knew that reports to the Jin Sect said that Wei Wuxian hadn't left Yiling since taking the prisoners of war to the Burial Mounds. As to how she knows that? Hey, don't look at her. It wasn't her fault that people tend to not notice her silent presence and gossip about classified information right in front of her.

Today, she was wearing her golden Sect embroidered robes accompanied by her spirit sword sitting in a popular pastry shop in a town not far from Yiling. There were reports of a haunted house at the outskirts which she planned to investigate. Jin Hua took a sip of fragrant peppermint tea when the conversation between two women behind her caught her attention.

"Did you hear? Last week, someone saw The Second Jade of Lan sharing a meal with the Yiling Patriarch."

"Impossible! Wasn't it said that they didn't get along?"

"This person swears up and down that he saw it. There was even a kid. Said that the two looked like a family having dinner. They even rode together on the same sword to the Burial Mounds!"

"I don't believe it. The Second Jade of Lan is a gentleman known for his righteousness. Why would he associate with a villain like Wei Wuxian?"

"You have a point..."

Jin Hua sighed tiredly. Really. How did one man manage to be the focal point of so much gossip? But this is interesting. If the righteous Second Jade of Lan is still on friendly terms with Wei WuXian, it is only further evidence that this man is not that bad, she decides, nibbling on a honey pastry.

As a pacifist who was forced into war at a tender young age of fourteen, even if it was just as an assistant medic because she refused to raise her sword with the intent to kill something that wasn't dead. She was luckier than most that her clan had decided to participate at a minimum. Even so, she was still exposed to the mass violence and death.

And that was an experience she would never forget.

If there was any way to prevent war from happening again she'd take it.

Jin Hua believed that there had to be a better way to deal with the infamous Yiling Patriarch than what the Great Sects were currently doing.

That is, courting death by trying to control him.

In her opinion, the solution was easy.

Just leave the man alone. From what she's gathered and concluded, Wei WuXian has only ever bit back because he was bitten first.

Simple enough.

You'd think if Wei WuXian really wanted to rule the Cultivation World he could have done that by now. Look, almost a year has passed and he hasn't done anything.

This was the guy who killed thousands by himself without help during the Sunshot Campaign. A true one man army. He was capable of cowing the Great Sects if he put his mind to it.

If the man ever did snap it would be because he was pushed too far.

But who was she to decide what the Sects should do? No one special. Just a rich young miss from a wealthy Sect. She had no power aside from an endless sea of money.

Jin Hua sighed. Best not to think about things outside of her control. She finished her tea and pastries before leaving the exact amount of money on the table and left the shop.

Just as Jin Hua rounded the corner she knocked heads with a cloaked figure.

Cursing in her mind she massaged her forehead, the apology died on her tongue when she saw who it was she bumped into.

"Young Miss Jiang?" Crap, this is Sect Heir's fiancé, Jiang Yanli, the future Young Madam Jin that she ran into.

Jin Hua felt her stomach flop with nerves and immediately cupped her hands in front of her and gracefully bowed in a respectful greeting, "This one must apologize for running into Young Miss Jiang. Hoping Young Miss does not take offense."

"It's okay. Don't worry about it," Jiang Yanli said and smiled gently. Though Jin Hua could see the slight distress in her eyes when the Young Miss Jiang took in her golden robes and the red dot on her forehead. She could tell that Jiang Yanli was dressed up in red under the cloak. Makeup done perfectly. Red lips and Phoenix earings. Usually worn on one's wedding day.

Before she could deduce the implications of that she noticed another figure beside them.

This Young Master in purple jianxiu robes had a confident if not intimidating bearing. Quite handsome too, in a sharp way. His almond shaped grey eyes are like two bolts of lightning. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up under his gaze as if there was a faint electric current in the air. And Gods, maybe there was considering his identity.

Time to get out of here.

"Sect Leader Jiang," Jin Hua repeated the respectful greeting and dared to meet his glare with a polite smile. She wasn't a coward. And she didn't do anything wrong so there was nothing to fear. "Sorry to delay you. I'm sure you are both busy. I'll take my leave."

Jin Hua moved to leave but was stopped on her tracks by a single word.

"Wait."

Jin Hua turned to face Sect Leader Jiang and asked, "is something the matter?"

"What is your name?" He demanded.

"Jin Hua."

"She's part of their Clan," Sect Leader Jiang muttered to himself and looked at her like he was trying to figure out how to deal with her.

Jin Hua started to feel uncertain. She looked at Jiang Yanli, who unconsciously clutched on her cloak. A cloak obviously meant to hide her identity. Did Jin Hua see something she wasn't supposed to?

Wait a minute, this was Wei WuXian's Shijie and Shidi. Yiling is not far from here. Jin Hua knows that Yiling Patriarch broke ties with YunmengJiang, at least publicly. Was that not the case privately?

Were they secretly visiting Wei WuXian? If they were actually still on good terms with each other, it would make sense since the Wedding is set for next week and Jin Hua doubts that with the current political climate that Wei WuXian will be able to make an appearance.

Better to make her stance clear.

"Young Miss Jiang, Sect Leader Jiang, it seems our unexpected meeting has inconvenienced you both. I can roughly guess the situation," Jin Hua has to force her nerves to settle when Sect Leader Jiang glares at her, "but please do not worry. I'm one of Sect Heir Jin's people. Young Miss Jiang, you are someone who is to become our Young Madam, it would not be in my best interest to cause you harm," Jin Hua said sincerely.

Once these words left her mouth, Jiang Yanli visibly relaxes and even offers her a smile before saying, "Young Miss Jin, we would appreciate your discretion."

Sect Leader Jiang is studying her intently as if he isn't sure what to make of her.

Jin Hua doesn't blame him. She knew that she lacked the arrogant demeaner usually displayed by her clan. Instead she came off as unassuming. Mostly likely a byproduct of her pacifism, which not many people knew about in the first place.

"Regardless of your intentions if I find that word got out, part of the Jin Clan or not, don't blame me for not being polite," Sect Leader Jiang said. The warning in his voice heard loud and clear.

"A-Cheng," Jiang Yanli admonished lightly.

"Of course, Sect Leader Jiang. This one does not dare. If that's all, I'll be on my way."

Thankfully, the haunted house case went relatively smoothly.

Well, as smoothly as taking care of a ghost that liked to pile large dead rotting animal corpses like horses, deer and oxen inside the client's house and write disturbing messages with their blood on the walls could go all the while the client doubts her abilities for being both young and a woman.

Luckily, Jin Hua knew how to play 'Rest' on her Xiao and was able to coax the ghost to move on once her client apologized for poisoning the ghost's pet dog and promised to treat dogs better. Jin Hua didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry because such a resentful ghost was actually pretty reasonable for once.

Moral of the story? Don't hurt a dog lover's dog.

Jin Hua returned to her estate at Lanling three days later to find a notice waiting for her in her mailbox to come to Sect Heir's office at Koi Tower as soon as possible.

She half expected this to happen so she burnt the message to cinders with her spiritual energy and made her way to Koi Tower.

Once reaching the office, she knocked twice and walked in after hearing an 'enter' from inside.

Facing Jin Zixuan who was seated behind his desk, she cupped her hands and bowed in greeting, "Sect Heir, this one wonders how she can assist you?"

"Jin Hua, Yanli told me you caught her and Jiang Wanyin outside of Yiling?"

She could guess what her Sect Heir could be concerned about, "Yes. I haven't told anyone. Sect Heir can rest assured. I wouldn't implicate the future Young Madam."

Jin Zixuan gave her a nod of approval, "I know. This is not why I've called you here."

Jin Hua tilted her head in question.

"Tell me, what do you think of Wei WuXian?"

It took a moment for the question to register in her mind and another for her to wonder if this was some sort of test.

"While I do not agree with the way he has... handled things as I feel it caused his intentions to be misunderstood. I do not believe that he is a bad person," was her tentative answer.

It seemed to be the right thing to say, as Jin Zixuan appeared, not exactly happy, but satisfied with her answer.

"Jin Hua, as you know, the general opinion of Wei WuXian in our Sect is not good. This has upset Yanli quite a bit. My Mother, is not fond Wei WuXian and this is the only strain in their relationship as she has begun to encourage the young misses of our clan to... drop hints to cut ties with Yiling Patriarch."

While that was unfortunate and rather insensitive to Young Miss Jiang, Jin Hua wonders what this has to do with her? She didn't socialize much outside of spars so she couldn't possibly have offended Young Miss Jiang could she?

"I see, Sect Heir is there anyway I could be of help?"

"Befriend Yanli."

I'm sorry, what?

Oh.

"You wish for me to be a support for Young Miss Jiang?"

"Yes. Although there is a bit of an age gap between you two, I've been told that you're mature for your age. Do you accept?"

Jin Hua deliberated. Shijie did ask her to break out of her shell and now Sect Heir has given her this opportunity. This could be considered killing two birds with one stone. She wasn't naive. Being Jiang Yanli's friend was more than just accompanying her, it was making sure that Young Miss Jiang had someone to trust and confide in. If she wasn't up to the job of truly being Jiang Yanli's friend, Jin Hua should refuse.

"I accept," the words were out of her mouth and she couldn't take them back.

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