Chapter Text
He was standing tall on the large balcony of the banquet hall, looking down at the people below. His hair was fluttering in the wind, and so did the white robes with the red flames on it.
Even if someone didn't know this person, he would never go against him. His presence alone was pressuring down the lower people, letting them avoid his gaze and cowering down on the ground.
When one person entered the banquet hall, a smile appeared on the elegant, but cruel face. „A wonderful night for a meeting, don't you think, Sect Leader Jiang?“, he said without turning around. His voice sounded magnetic and powerful, and Jiang Fengmian bowed respectfully. „Indeed it is. Many thanks for the invitation, Sect Leader Wen.“
It wasn't unusual for the leaders of the five great sects to meet. But it was unusual to meet outside of their rotation. And the Wen Sect already was the host not long ago. And no one knew the reason why the Wen Sect invited them again. So Jiang Fengmian was just standing there, maintaining a respectful distance to the other one and waiting for a sign to sit down or move anywhere.
Finally, Wen Ruohan turned around, fixating his gaze on the other Sect Leader. The handsome appearance, the gentle smile – it was the same as always. Too gentle, too indifferent.
Wen Ruohan wanted to rip this smile out of his face.
„How is your family doing?“, Jiang Fengmian politely asked, and Wen Ruohan humphed. „Since when is Sect Leader Jiang interested in my family affairs?“
Jiang Fengmian didn't flinch and kept up his smile. „I just wanted to be polite. Nevermind, if I asked something too private.“
Wen Ruohan leaned on the balcony. „I'm not into small talk“, he said coldly, watching other guests arriving. There was no need to talk about something like family. Even if his two sons were to show themselves in broad daylight, being arrogant and going overboard, he didn't care. He never thought of them as his heirs anyway. His first son maybe, but the second one...
To kill time, he opened his mouth again. „Maybe you want to talk about your familiy? How is your wife doing? How about your son?“ He seemed not interested at all, but he knew a lot about them. Madame Yu, with whom the other sect leader quarreled a lot, his daughter, the quite normal one not worth mentioning. And his two sons, the blood related one with some talent, and the brilliant adopted son who stirred up trouble everywhere he went. Yes, he knew everything. More than the other one would ever guess.
„I thought, Sect Leader Wen isn't into small talk?“, Jiang Fengmian politely asked. „So wouldn't it be better if-“
Suddenly, Wen Ruohan laid his gaze on Jiang Fengmian His red eyes were looking straight into the darker ones of the other Sect Leader. The hint of violet made them look more beautiful. He liked them. He didn't like the look in them. „If you want to make small talk, then talk.“ It wasn't a request. It was an order.
Jiang Fengmian sighed and opened his mouth while sitting down to talk, when another Sect Leader entered the banquet hall. It was a tall and bulky figure, his face a frown as always. Without a greeting he sat down next to Jiang Fengmian, displaying his bad mood openly. Jiang Fengmian sighed again, while Wen Ruohan turned away again. He knew, Nie Mingjue hated him to the bone, and this was mutual. He only tolerated the other Sect Leader, because he didn't want to go to war with his sect. At least for now.
The other two Sect Leaders arrived soon, and so the banquet started without delay. There was chatter between them first, and Wen Ruohan was only observing. He never joined this brainless talk, and no one bothered himself with trying to speak to him.
They ate and drank for a while, until Wen Ruohan suddenly raised his voice. „I think it's time to talk about the matter why I invited all Sect Leaders.“
Instantly the chatter died down, and all gazes were laying on him.
Lan Qiren seemed interested, Nie Mingjue still was hostile. Jin Guangshan was aloof as always, and Jiang Fengmian...smiled. He just smiled as always, and again there was the urge to slap him and wipe his indifference out of his face.
„After gaining so much strength, the Wen Sect reached the peak of the sects. We are still expanding our area with great success.“
That was nothing new, everyone who was interested the slightest bit in looking into the matters of the most powerful sects already knew this.
„Now there were thoughts coming up of merging the sects under one flag.“
The reactions on the faces of all were quite entertaining. Three of them were looking shocked, only one remained indifferent. Only him. It made his blood boil.
„I think it's too soon to think about something like this. But I will now announce, that the Wen Sect offers help to any sect present expanding their territory and stabilizing the connections to the towns and cities there. We will send some advisors to help look into the sect matters and help optimizing them.“
It was quiet for some time. Only then a laugh was heard, but it wasn't out of joy. It was cold and distanced.
„Do you really think we are that dumb?!“
Nie Mingjue's voice rang through the banquet hall. „You want to control us and send spies who officially can report everything back to you.“ He briskly stood up and turned around.
„Sect Leader Nie...“, Jin Guangshan tried to persuade him to stay, but one glance of the other one and he fell silent. „We're done here!“, he said and left without looking back.
The other Peak Lords were stunned, but no one dared to say anything. Wen Ruohan only smiled. „So the Nie Sect doesn't approve. I want to request the other Sect Leaders to think about this offer.“ With this, he dismissed the banquet and left the hall.
-
Each Sect Leader was offered a room for the night; Nie Mingjue didn't want to stay and had left already, while the other Sect Leaders accepted the offer.
It was deep at night, when Wen Ruohan and Jiang Fengmian met again.
Wen Ruohan was on his way back from his study, while Jiang Fengmian was sitting in a pavillon, reading a book. He was so engrossed, he didn't notice the other Sect Leader.
Wen Ruohan didn't want to stop for the other one, but since the expression on his face looked so different like the one he always wore, he had to take a look.
The forehead was wrinkled, the eyebrows lifted slightly. The dark eyes were focused on the book, never looking up once. So this was how Jiang Fengmian could look like, too. He really was able to show other expressions.
It made Wen Ruohan wish to see more expressions on this face.
When Jiang Fengmian looked up again, he was all alone. But still he felt a shudder running down his spine, as if something cold had gripped him tightly. He closed the book and returned to his room, thinking, that he should leave the next day as soon as possible.