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Lan Wangji was the one to find the map, and he almost didn't. It was buried in the corpses of another decimated Supervisory Office. Despite the bad blood between the Wen and Lan, they still took the time to lay the deceased to rest. They cleansed the area of as much resentful energy as possible before consolidating the resources left behind to help the others from the Sunshot Campaign.
Lan Wangji found the scroll, the cleanliness of the parchment scroll standing out against everything else, which seemed to be covered in blood. Wangji slipped it into his sleeves and only remembered it during their next strategy meeting.
He pulled out the parchment, unfurling it to reveal a map. It was rather detailed, and random stars were placed on specific cities; Gusu, Yunmeng, Yi, and Yueyang were among those starred. Wangji brought the map to the attention of the others, the group proceeding to compare their map to the one the Twin Jade had found.
"What do you suppose the stars are for?" Nie Mingjue questioned, eyes never leaving the parchment as he crossed his arms.
"If I may." Meng Yao spoke up from his place, half behind Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen.
The two parted, allowing the quiet male to step forward. Meng Yao peered down at the map before placing his fingers on one of the stars.
"This was a Supervisory Office we found decimated a month ago." His fingers trailed to another spot.
"And this was a port left unattended after all the Wen managing it were slaughtered." Once more, Meng Yao pointed to another star.
"I'm not sure about this one. Though I know this is rumored to be a major city where supplies pass through. And it is next to a star representing another decimated Supervisory Office." Lan Wangji observed the map closely, eyes narrowing as he looked closer.
"This is a rogue cultivator working with the Sunshot Campaign. The stars are key strongholds of the Wen." The realization came to Lan Wangji slowly, but his mind whirled with potential when it did.
"Where do you suppose they will strike next?"Nie Mingjue questioned; Meng Yao pulled the map closer to him as he began marking off cities.
"That is the question."
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Wei Wuxian had never felt like this before. Having his golden core removed was close, but nothing beat the numbness that buzzed through him. The resentful energy with his last resort after being thrown into the Burial Mounds. It felt like someone scooped out his insides, and spite was the only thing holding him together.
The resentful energy fed into those emotions. They wrapped around him like a cloak and slithered through his veins, purring thoughts of revenge against those that burned his home. Wei Wuxian was a cold, hollowed shell of his former self, but he was also angry .
Wei Wuxian was also brilliant. He couldn't just take down the Wen. He needed to systematically dismantle their entire sect. He wanted to make them regret the moment they decided to try to conquer the cultivation world. More than anything, though, Wei Wuxian wanted revenge for those that burned with Lotus Pier.
The resentful energy within him purred. Yes. They would certainly get their pound of flesh.