There's an abrasion on Jiang Wanyin's wrist where Zidian was ripped free. Neither of these things should be possible: Zidian only responds to her masters, and does not harm them.
It's a small matter in the face of the strength of Jiang Wanyin's core1, but the implications are horrifying. He stares at the child -- no, not a child; he seems to be about Jin Ling's age -- who caused this to happen, without so much as a talisman, shocked into stillness for barely the blink of an eye. It's enough time for him to hear what Wei Wuxian mutters about him, and he twists to stare at the man, aghast. Too much propriety! That's obviously not the only reason --!
...Jin Ling would be upset!!
Sandu leaps back to Jiang Wanyin's hand after an irritated jerk of his qi, but Zidian is harder to locate. Jiang Wanyin glowers at Lan Wangji, at Wei Wuxian, at this intervening adolescent -- and turns to locate his spiritual weapon, instead of pressing forward with Sandu alone. Lan Wangji will probably do something stupid and infuriating, like try to squirrel Wei Wuxian away yet again.
Whatever2. All reports from Jiang Wanyin's disciples at lectures in Cloud Recesses this year have been that Hanguang-jun and his cultivation partner are nowhere to be seen for months; that it's unclear if they're in seclusion or traveling or worse. It seems Jiang Wanyin has forgotten, in this brief peace their disappearance has allowed him, that his former shixiong, like a cockroach, is impossible to destroy. He hasn't been looking for him, and now that he knows that he's tucked away in some weird stupid array with his stupid fucking canker sore of a partner, he can make extra sure to keep not looking for him.
1Ah. 2The least-heartfelt 'whatever' in the world!
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It's a small matter in the face of the strength of Jiang Wanyin's core1, but the implications are horrifying. He stares at the child -- no, not a child; he seems to be about Jin Ling's age -- who caused this to happen, without so much as a talisman, shocked into stillness for barely the blink of an eye. It's enough time for him to hear what Wei Wuxian mutters about him, and he twists to stare at the man, aghast. Too much propriety! That's obviously not the only reason --!
...Jin Ling would be upset!!
Sandu leaps back to Jiang Wanyin's hand after an irritated jerk of his qi, but Zidian is harder to locate. Jiang Wanyin glowers at Lan Wangji, at Wei Wuxian, at this intervening adolescent -- and turns to locate his spiritual weapon, instead of pressing forward with Sandu alone. Lan Wangji will probably do something stupid and infuriating, like try to squirrel Wei Wuxian away yet again.
Whatever2. All reports from Jiang Wanyin's disciples at lectures in Cloud Recesses this year have been that Hanguang-jun and his cultivation partner are nowhere to be seen for months; that it's unclear if they're in seclusion or traveling or worse. It seems Jiang Wanyin has forgotten, in this brief peace their disappearance has allowed him, that his former shixiong, like a cockroach, is impossible to destroy. He hasn't been looking for him, and now that he knows that he's tucked away in some weird stupid array with his stupid fucking canker sore of a partner, he can make extra sure to keep not looking for him.
1Ah.
2The least-heartfelt 'whatever' in the world!