The whole way back to the Gusu Wei Ying had said nothing. Even when they landed at the JingShi and walked in he had simply gone to the bed and laid down without a word. This uncharacteristic silence and stillness was beginning to worry Lan Zhan, he never usually behaved this way, maybe the argument with his brother had harmed him more than he was letting on. By the second day of Lan Zhan having to coax him into changing, bathing and even eating, Lan Zhan was seriously worried.

A sudden knock on the door broke Lan Zhan out of his thoughts and tore his gaze away from the still figure hunched under the covers on the bed. Sighing inwardly he walked over and opened the outside door, letting in a nice fresh breeze. Outside stood his own older brother, ZeWu Jun, with his normal regal bearing. Lan Zhan felt a little like he needed to wash and change clothes stood in-front of him at the moment. ZeWu Zun said nothing but instead motioned with his head to the small courtyard outside. Lan Zhan understood the subtle cue and stepped outside shutting the door behind him.

'Wanji' Zewu Zun began 'I know you are having problems at the moment but Uncle has noticed you are not spending as much time on your work as you used to. He already dislikes Young Master Wei, don't give him another reason.'

Lan Zhan gave the only response he could, after all everything his brother had said was the truth. He nodded in agreement.

'Also'….ZeWu Jun continued in a quieter, more relaxed tone, as if Lan Zhan where a horse he might startle away. 'Don't forget we have the big meeting at the Jin Sect in a few days, Uncle isn't well enough to go so I will be attending, I want you to be there also'

This time Lan Zhan spoke up

'What about Wei Ying?'

'I'm sure Young Master Wei can look after himself for a few days and not get into trouble'

'Brother!…..he!…..' Lan Zhan was lost for words and couldn't finish his sentence.

ZeWu Jun sighed.

'I have heard about what went on at Lotus Pier Wanji, it can't be easy for him…...but if you are that concerned for his health we can take him with us when we leave.'

Lan Zhan knew his brother was making a huge concession. By taking Wei Ying with them they were effectively proclaiming they had taken him in after his own Sect had thrown him out. They were also proclaiming that they were protecting a man who's cultivation method was unknown, maybe even demonic, and therefore feared by the other clans. This would make Gusu itself feared, and maybe even a target in the future. But at the moment Lan Zhan feared what would happen if Wei Ying was left alone in his current state.

He simply nodded again and muttered with a heartfelt feeling towards his elder brother.

'Thank you'

The three men slowly made their way into the great hall of the Jin Sect. As usual it was decked out in gold and white finery which made it look a little gaudy but its what the host Sect enjoyed so no one mentioned anything.

Wei Ying had kept hanging back from the others on the way in, so Lan Zhan had had to hand back as well to make sure he didn't try to go anywhere he shouldn't. Who would have thought that his brother's agreement to bringing Wei Ying to the meeting was the easy part, getting Wei Ying himself to agree to go! That had been a nightmare…...but on the plus side at least it had involved him speaking for the first time in days.

Eventually the three made it to their assigned seats, Lan Zhan and ZeWu Jun in front and Wei Ying directly behind Lan Zhan. Unfortunately Jiang Cheng was already seated directly opposite their party, in Wei Ying's eye line. Lan Zhan tried to glance behind him as much as possible but with all the Sects around he had to be careful. He had tried to catch Jiang Cheng's eye already but the man was defiantly looking over his head at his brother.

Maybe it was because of the tense situation but the meeting seemed to go extremely slowly, but at least there was no major incidents. That was until Jin XiZun, a cousin of the Jin's with a extreme dislike of Wei Ying, began speaking about the Wen prisoners that had been captured in the Sunshot campaign and the Nevernight battle.

Jin XiZun stood proudly in the centre of the hall as he explained about the extermination of the Wens down to the last man, woman and child. How the few that had escaped had now been caught and the Wen clan was no more. At this point Lan Zhan heard a rustle of movement behind him but was to slow to grab Wei Ying's arm as he moved past to the centre of the hall. The agreeing whispers and murmurs that had been there a moment ago suddenly stopped as Wei Ying slowly looked around before focusing on Jin XiZun.

'I applaud Young Master Jin for catching the elderly and children who couldn't run away, and women who couldn't fight back'

Although this was delivered in a neutral the anger behind the words could not be missed. Jin ZuXun's face also turned an angry shade of red, but before he could retort Wei Ying continued.

'As you know the battlefield was dangerous that day and many sadly lost their lives. I salute you Young Master Jin risking an equally dangerous situation just to round up the Wen survivors.'

Finally Lan Zhan's eyes locked with Jiang Cheng's as they both shared the same thought….Wei Ying had lost his mind.

The whole hall was stunned, but soon a howl filled the silence as Jin ZuXun finally erupted.

'You dare speak like that to me? And here in this hall?' he was almost sputtering he was so angry, yet Wei Ying kept a small smile on his face. 'I think you feel sorry for those Wen dogs don't you? You are the same as them after all. They tried to control everything, tried to make us all their slaves and puppets. Arn't you trying to do the same thing with your demonic cultivation...huh..…..You even sickened your own brother enough that he kicked you out..….'

There was still no noise from around the room, everyone was just watching the two men stood at its centre. Everyone except Lan Zhan who was overly conscious of the grip Wei Ying had on Chenqing, it was getting tighter and tighter, which was meaning he was binging to loose his control.

'I dare speak to you because you are a coward' Wei Ying spoke up, his voice dangerously without emotion. 'And it doesn't matter which hall you are in you will still be a coward. Only a coward would brag about capturing elderly women and children. Where have you put them?'

Jin ZuXun scoffed at the question.

Wei Ying slowly lifted Chenqing and lazily twirled it in his fingers. This present who foolishly had been ignorant of its pressence could not escape it now and a low exhalation passed through the room. Jin ZuXun fought with himself not to step back.

'What?' Wei Ying asked to innocently 'You said I was the same as the Wen's. You said I was someone who sickened my own family, my own Sect, so much they kicked me out. So why are you surprised that I would think about harming you to get the answer I want'

Lan Zhan could see Jiang Cheng struggling with himself not to get up and interfere. He himself was trying not to do the same. Right now who knew what reaction Wei Ying would have to either of them, Everyone else seemed to have frozen in place at the threat, including Jin ZuXun.

'Well?' Came question, that would have almost been polite if not for the ice in the voice.

Jin ZuXun looked around the room in vain for any help. Finding none he eventually ground out an answer.

'The mine to the north'

Wei Ying bowed to Master Jin at the head table, an almost comic display of respect, before turning and walking out the hall. A collective breath was released as he vanished before words and voices began to collide with each other in a huge din. ZeWu Jun looked over to his brother who still sat at his table, knuckles white where they gripped Bichen.

He noded to Lan Zhan slowly before turning his attention to the now completely chaotic assembly. They had both seen the same thing, the same look. Before Wei Ying had left the hall he had turned and pinned Lan Zhan's gaze with a look of 'don't follow me' before disappearing out the door.

Bringing Wei Ying with him had turned out to be a very bad idea!