Dragon Phoenix Arises

Chapter Nine The Ceremony and The Nightmare

As the weeks passed the Nie sect and Lan Sect had many sects coming and going preparing for the ceremony and everything was organized from Laning Jin Sect's madam, the flowers that was bought were some that many haven't seen and Lan Sizhui was reminded of the 'damsel of annual blossoms' dead garden so he, Lan Jingyi, Jin Ling, OuYang Zizhen and a few other Lan disciples, after saying goodbye to Lan Zhan and promising him that they would care for his rabbits, they took little apple and went to the garden and purified it themselves then had bought seeds of ever flower and planted them, when the town saw what the boys were doing, the maidens decided to help as the young boys fetched the water and manure the men rebuilt the walls and the Lan Sizhui wrote the first poem that was ever recited by Hua Ying himself in the square in seal script along the wall, the plague above said

"The damsel of blossoms" 'she was pleased when a poem pleased her yet she showered the town when Hua Ying recited his own poem about her'

The town had agreed to look after the garden and one day hoped the damsel would return, Tung Mei seeing what the boys had done was moved and blessed the town with a rain of flowers and everyone rejoiced

The day of the ceremony came it had started in Gusu Lan Sect every sect was there and witnessed the union only the sect leaders was allowed within the ancestral hall but what amazed them was the fact the a very unique bird was perched among the cenotaphs. The bird sang a sweet happy melody, everyone was amazed it had a red and golden body and the tips of its feather were black as onyx, it's beak and talons were silver and sharp, no one had ever seen such a bird before. Once the ceremony was done only then did, they realize that it was no ordinary bird but a phoenix as it took to the air and flames surrounded its wings following Nie Mingjue and ZeWu-Jun out then took to the skies, Nie Huaisang drew a short distancing array and everyone stepped in and arrived at the Nie Sect entrance, with the disciples holding their swords in the air making an arch as Nie Mingjue and ZeWu-Jun who was tied together by his forehead ribbon walked through heading for the Nie ancestorial hall once completing the ceremony everyone cheered and before the forehead ribbon could be removed the phoenix landed gently on Nie Mingjue's arm, looked up at them both then bowed it head letting a tear fall onto the ribbon, as it took again disappearing into the horizon Nie Mingjue looked down and started laughing in his hand he held a black and gold ribbon with the clouds behind the bull and ZeWu-Jun was holding his white ribbon he looked and the motif changed from just clouds to the bull in-between the clouds.

He sure is something said Nie Mingjue as Lan Zhan looked up at the disappearing figure and whispered

"A-Ying"

Taking the head band, your happiness, is my happiness, your sadness, my sadness and your pain, shall be my pain. Where you lead, I shall follow, said Mingjue as he tied the ribbon on ZeWu-Jun's forehead, ZeWu-Jun smiled and repeated the same and tied his on Nie Mingjue who had to kneel for it to be placed. The cultivational world rejoiced and the festivities began.

That night Lan Zhan sat on the roof on the same spot he and A-Ying had sat before, and he stared up at the only star that shone bright.

Thank you for allowing me to see him just once. Thank you that he is alive and healing, thank you that ZhiRuo and DiSung are living and thank you for the memories that I can now cherish said Lan Zhan as he spoke to the star.

He will come back you know said a voice below

As Lan Zhan looked down, he saw Nie Huaisang looking up,

He will not said Lan Zhan, I had hurt him too deeply, I betrayed him severely and I was also the one to have made his soul shatter said Lan Zhan.

And yet he had forgiven you, hate can never last long within his heart, it has no room for such an emotion. Once he learns the truth he will come back and you can work on your misunderstandings, even your daughter will come around once she learns the truth said Nie Huaisang as he came up and sat next to Lan Zhan