"Hi. Breakout time. Stuff happened and it is probably not going to be safe to be a hostage for very much longer." 

"Wei-guniang?"  Nie Huaisang hurries over to the door. "You're alright! What's going on? Is anyone hurt?"

"Yeah, uh, most of Lotus Pier. The Wens tried to press-gang them for their side of the war and it didn't work and I really don't want you guys or the Jiang disciples to be here when they remember that this is what hostages are for." 

"Aahh, oh no - I'm so sorry, Wei-guniang - but, but how are we going to leave?" He looks around with wide eyes. "None of us have our swords to fly..."

"Yeah, don't worry, that's where Lan Zhan is is stealing everyone's swords back." 

This is all very sudden, but being not-here definitely sounds like a great idea. Nie Huaisang lets Wei Ying inside and hurries to the other Nie disciples to start waking them up and gathering them together.

She repeats the story for anyone who asks. 

And then, you know what, she might as well involve the peacock and the rest of the Jin contingent in this, Mianmian's solid and doesn't deserve to be here and it's not like the Wens continuing to have a Jin hostage is going to improve the situation any. Guards die, annnnnd she doesn't have a great relationship with the peacock so instead of knocking on the door she's just going to come in unannounced and close the door behind her and put up a few silencing talismans so any yelling about why is she here doesn't alert anyone. 

There is some yelling! And scrambling around in confusion! What is this!!

She folds her arms. 

"The Wens sacked Lotus Pier," she says flatly. "You can wait here for Koi Tower to be next, or you can have your swords back and join the breakout." 

He splutters about how Koi Tower is very well defended, and then splutters about how of course they want to leave and stick it to the Wens. The Jins start packing up their stuff.

Jin Zixuan asks who died at Lotus Pier.

"I don't know. I wasn't there and the message I intercepted didn't say. 

But I wasn't there because I was helping Lan Zhan pull her sect back together, so I think I have some idea what it's going to be like, and it's not pretty." 

Well that’s not good.

The Jins are ready with their large packed bags in short order. Some of them have picked up candlesticks to use as weapons. 

Okay. That's everyone. She heads outside and leans against the Jiang house, waiting for Lan Zhan to get back with the swords, projecting an absolute confidence that covers the nerves she in fact feels. 

Lan Zhan returns flying Bichen, emerging from the night with a bundle of swords under one arm. 

“Swords,” she calls out to everyone once she lands, as order and invitation. 

She grabs Suibian with an incautious whoop and hugs her. 

She hushes her with a disapproving glare, but squeezes her back very tightly.

Everyone else come get their swords, they should leave as soon as possible. (Lan Zhan has enough time to strip from her Wen armor during the sword-distribution process, which she appreciates.)

Zixuan is very glad to be reunited with his sword! He checks it carefully to see if the Wens have left any dents or smudges.

Everyone is very glad to be reunited with their swords (possibly excepting Nie Huaisang?). Some of the swords are a bit dusty, but the Wens didn't manage to handle them carelessly enough to dent the spiritual blades or their sheaths. 

"I assume you'll be wanting to go back to Koi Tower, ultimately, but you'll all be safer if you stick with the rest of us until we're out of Qishan." 

"Very well."

"This might involve encountering your much cooler half-brother but you can cope." 

Jin Zixuan is too dumbfounded to respond angrily to this.

All the swords are distributed.

Are they sure everyone's here? Alright. Time to go.

A figure off in the distance turns away from hurtling towards the palace and starts heading in their direction. 

"--Oh shit." 

Fuck.

They need to head off whoever that is before he reaches the other disciples - or worse, sounds some sort of alarm. 

Lan Zhan leaps back onto her sword and shoots toward him.