"What do you intend towards Wei Ying?"

"Wei-xiong is my friend.  I never doubted him or his motives."  Maybe slightly his methods.  As effective as they were, Nie Huaisang has a certain issue with his friends and family using cultivation techniques that might cause them mental damage.

He considers this. Believes him.

Wangji nods curtly, once, and then turns to go without another word. There is no more time to comb through the library looking for abstract time travel theory. Nie Huaisang came back in time as well, which means Wangji isn't the only one, which means there could be more. Very few people from their future would be interested in Wei Wuxian staying alive.

If he's lucky, no one is actively planning to kill him yet. 

Nie Huaisang follows automatically.  He knows that there's no way he's going to be allowed to stay down here.  He'll have to figure out a different way to get the book out.  That, or find a way to maneuver the Lan elders into giving it some real security.  Or possibly have them move their secret library somewhere that isn't the first place anyone is going to look for it.

They can leave the secret library. Wangji reseals the bookshelf and brusquely escorts Nie Huaisang outside.

Once they're in the courtyard, he pauses. "Keep Wei Ying occupied. He shouldn't get involved."

The working list of things Wei Ying should not be involved with currently includes: Yin Iron, Wen Clan, Wen Chao especially, flutes, Tortoises of Slaughter (Wangji is thinking he should go take care of that himself ahead of time, get rid of the sword somewhere before Wei Ying can go near it, but he's not sure when that will fit into his schedule), Jiang Wanyin, and the general concept of necromancy. There's a lot to juggle here.

That sounds like a terrible idea.  Wei Wuxian is clever and capable, and would be a valuable ally capable of watching Lan Wangji's back and getting things done.  The safest place for him is Lan Wangji's side, because otherwise either of them is going to run off alone.  

After a longer than usual pause, "I can try to distract him from time to time, maybe.  Do you really think that anyone is going to be able to keep him away from you?" 

Nie Huaisang probably did not mean for that to hurt.

Wangji walks away. If Nie Huaisang isn't committed to being helpful, he will need to move more quickly.

He's not going to promise to keep Wei Wuxian contained.  Or any other impossible task.

Though, he should go find Wei Wuxian.  For all that Nie Huaisang has many memories of spending time with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng in their days in Cloud Recesses, the two of them don't know him very well yet.  If he does need to distract or guide them, it will be easier if they know him better.

Wei Wuxian has been snooping around, without much success. He's taking a break for now, lounging on the rocky riverbank. He smiles and waves when he sees Nie Huaisang. "Nie-xiong! Have you found anything? Lan Wangji drove me out of the library, he's so very cruel. I don't know why he wants that boring library to himself anyway. But maybe it was a good thing - I just ran into Lady Wen out here, did you see her? She was looking around shiftily and holding these curious needles even though there was no one in sight who might need a doctor, right over there by the mountainside." He gestures in the appropriate direction. "What do you think she's trying to find, out here?"

"I don't know, Wei-xiong.  Maybe medicinal plants?  If it were me, I'd be looking for interesting beetles or something."

"We can look for beetles! There are lots of bugs out here." He crouches down to do just that, poking the ground with a stick. "Little beetles, where are you... Will you tell me some secrets finally? Hmm?"

And they can spend the rest of the afternoon entertaining themselves with similar antics.

There are so many types of beetle!

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng is also enjoying his second chance at spending time with once-future-dead people.

Yanli is still somewhat confused over A-Cheng's strange mood, but always has time for her brother.  

She wants to take a stroll through the walkways of Cloud Recesses.  It is lovely and peaceful.  

He will go with her.  

Jiang Cheng wants to tell her everything about the future.  That seems like a bad thing to do in public.  

Instead, they walk mostly in silence.  Occasionally, one of them will share their opinions on a particular plant or feature.  At least he went back to their first day at Cloud Recesses - he doesn't have to worry about contradicting some opinion he had and can't remember.

Yanli is sure that she can get whatever is bothering him out of him eventually.  

Not today though - she already promised her late afternoon to another task.  She will see him later.

Jiang Cheng can keep walking on his own.

Wen Qing is also walking on her own. Wen Ning is close by; she had him sit by the waterfall and promise not to go anywhere.

It is hard to focus on finding the Yin Iron while something is so wrong with her brother. She doesn't know how to fix it, which is shameful. She's a good doctor. She should know what's wrong with A-Ning. 

Oh. Looks like she isn't alone anymore.

"Young Master Jiang." She bows curtly.

"Lady Wen," he returns her bow.  He's not sure what to say.  She helped him, in the future.  Her and her brother.  Before he became that undead abomination and started killing brother-in-laws.

He'll try to be polite.  They didn't do anything wrong yet either.  Well, other than sneak around trying to steal the Yin Iron.  Considering they didn't find it before, he's not too worried about their skulking now. 

He's bad at being polite.  At least Wen Ning isn't with her. 

It would be a disaster if the Wens found out anything that would happen in the future.  He keeps repeating this to himself.

"I apologize again for interrupting you at the salute ceremony. I hope we did not cause too much trouble."

They definitely caused too much trouble. Wen Chao is so dumb.

He can accept her apology with all of the practiced formality of his yet-to-come years as clan leader.  Maybe if he just pretends this is a formal affair he can avoid making a scene.

"Jiejie!" Wen Ning appears on the path, hurrying towards his sister. "I kn... I know you said to sit there but I remembered another thing, I think-" 

Oh, Young Master Jiang is here. Wen Ning lowers his eyes and bows to him hastily.

"A-Ning, you go back right now! What did I say? You need to be resting. How can I figure out what's wrong if you just get yourself into more trouble?"

She's worried that Wen Ning's episode was brought on by proximity to the Yin Iron, somehow. If she lets her little brother wander around all over Cloud Recesses, he might get closer and have an even stronger reaction.

"But Jie..."

What was he just thinking about, not making a scene?  It is driven straight out of his head by the sight of the Ghost General.  Face less pale, but still that creepy expression.  His own face contorts with rage as soon as Wen Ning comes into view.  

It is now time for swords.  

"Wen Ning - I'll make you pay for killing Jin Zixuan!"