He gathers up his things, this time not leaving Suibian behind.  He's got his golden core back! This is great news!  He's...probably still gonna have to learn demonic cultivation, really, he's not sure how they would have won against the Wens without the stygian tiger seal, but he should be able to hide it better this time, since he is not letting Jiang Cheng lose his golden core again.  This second chance thing is really the best possible outcome.  By the time he leaves his room, his smile is genuine and not at all forced.

Jiang Cheng, unaware of potential futures or the plans Wei Wuxian is making based off of them, continues to be dutiful and resigned about the upcoming Indoctrination.  He can be found at the docks, along with the other young cultivators who have been selected as hostages students.

He goes and stands beside Jiang Cheng to wait for the others to see them off.

Jiang Yanli has food for them for the trip.  Enough for the whole journey, and more if they happen to get their boat stuck or get lost or the weather turns into a storm.

He will accept as much as he can hold.

"Alright, Shijie, I think this should do" he laughs once his arms are full.

It seems like such little help, but it's all she can offer.  

"Please do what you can to stay safe.  We'll be waiting for your return."

"Of course.  I promise we will return safely!"  He's gonna do better this time, he's not gonna let Lotus Pier be destroyed. 

Jiang Cheng will get onto the boat before he drops any of what he's carrying.

They and the other Jiang disciples set off. Those who gathered on the docks to see them off stand and watch them go, until the boat that carries away their heir and their brothers and their future shrinks to a speck in the distance. Yanli doesn't stop waving until the boat turns and her brothers are out of sight.

It is a peaceful journey. The river waters remain calm for all four days, though the skies bleed an ominous ashen grey as they approach Qishan. While nobody present is in high spirits, there's at least a reasonable sense of camaraderie among the disciples. And Yanli's food is quite tasty.

They arrive in Nevernight's nearest port right as the sun would be setting, were they able to see it. The sun is not itself visible, but red light bleeds through the clouds over the fortress. Red also bleeds from the surrounding mountains: thin veins that glow hot. The air here is bitter and dirty with ash.

Wen soldiers are stationed around the port. They don't seem to be expecting the Jiang Clan's arrival in particular, but two of them approach once the boat is docked and the young disciples begin to exit.

"You here for the Indoctrination? Which clan are you?"

"We're disciples of the Jiang Clan.  I am Jiang Cheng, heir of Jiang Fengmian." 

"I am Wei Wuxian, Jiang Clan disciple." 

The two soldiers confer very briefly, and then turn back to face the arrivals. Neither of them bow.

"Welcome to Nevernight. We will escort your party to the house for Jiang Clan. Violence or disorderly conduct on the walk will not be tolerated."

They can carry their things with them. They are not offered any horses for assistance with this. They are not allowed to fly their swords.

The walk lasts three hours at least, most of it uphill.

"That means you," he whispers, side-eyeing Wei Wuxian as the most likely source of trouble.

Wow he wasn't even going to cause trouble yet but now he wants to.  He will refrain for the sake of Jiang Cheng who doesn't hate him yet.  Look at all the trouble he isn't causing.

Jiang Cheng and the other disciples will walk in orderly lines up the unpleasant climb through the ashy air.

Eventually they reach some housing in the shadows of a tiered fortress, dirty white stone nestled among volcanic rock. The Jiang House is downhill and off to the side slightly, but one could assume that the proximity to the fortress was intentional. 

They are not in close proximity to Wen Ruohan's enormous palace, although they caught a glimpse. No one wants the hostage disciples within convenient assassination distance of His Excellency. 

The guards point out the door to the Jiang disciples' new residence and then stand there quietly to watch them.

Jiang Cheng will lead the disciples into the quarters.  He claims a bed, and his extra robes and things are stashed nearby.

Does it seem like they want them back out and continuing, or are they still waiting on other clans to arrive?

The guards do not want them back out and continuing. If approached about this, they can clarify that the Jiangs have the remainder of the night to rest. They are still waiting on one clan, although for now they're mostly lingering to make sure that the Jiangs settle in smoothly and don't start immediately setting buildings on fire or something.

Jiang Cheng certainly wouldn't mind resting.  As sect heir, he makes a check to ensure that everyone has a bed and no one is fighting over places.  Hopefully they can have a chance at a good night's rest.

Alright, they're settled in and nothing is needed of him.  Before he does anything, he's gonna send out a paperman and see what's around them.  What is in his immediate vicinity? Guards at the doors? Who's in the nearest quarters?

There are two guards at the doors, different ones than those who escorted them here. Every other house in the vicinity appears to also have two guards posted at the entrance.

A peak through the windows of the nearest house reveals it to contain the Lanling Jing sect. Most of them are asleep. The interior seems basically identical to the Jiang House, only with more luggage.

He's going to check all the other houses, suspecting that the missing clan is the Lan clan.  When he's done with that, he's going to bring the paperman back and check the house he's in for other exits.

The Lan Clan is indeed unaccounted for, leaving the furthest house from them empty.

The house Wei Wuxian is in has plenty of windows, though none of them are designed to be opened. There are no other doors. 

He's going to check if any of the windows can be made to open quietly even though they aren't designed to, and if not he's going to send a paperman out again to check if there is a second set of guards keeping them from leaving the area where the houses are, or just the guards on the doors.