CH 33

With Lan Zhan's sense of direction and Bichen's light it hadn't taken them long to make their way out of the cave system. Although the tunnel Lan Zhan had used to get in had been blocked by rocks and they had been forced to make a detour which had added time to their walk. Back in the cavern Wei Ying had wanted to find the gruff man who had carried his sister after all he knew things about what was going on. Lan Zhan had disagreed, they were now in the dark and Bichen could only light up a small area around them. The cavern was huge and who knew what kind of traps were out there in the darkness. In the end though the argument that made Wei Ying see sense was that when Lan Zhan pointed out that YanLi would not leave him alone to search in the dark and would he want to risk his sister by searching with her close by. As expected Wei Ying had shaken his head and all three of them had begun their journey to the outside world once again.

Once they got to the mouth of the cave they all took a breath of fresh evening air. The sun was going down and the sky was a deep red. Lan Zhan quickly sent off a Lan message butterfly to the Jin Sect members who had been accompanying their young Mistress on her journey. Seeing this Wei Ying glanced at him before he answered the unasked question.

'The Jin will be at the inn waiting to escort Young Madam Jin when we return' he said blandly.

Wei Ying's eyes fell to the floor at the unspoken reproach that he couldn't keep his own sister safe any more without someone's help. YanLi must have sensed something was wrong and leaned forwards to hug him once more. Lan Zhan turned and walked away a few steps, giving the two siblings some privacy.

'A-Xian' she whispered 'I know what your thinking, that you didn't protect me well…...you and A-Cheng always think you need to protect me….you don't…...I'm an adult and you are my little brothers its my job to protect you!' she leaned back until they were face to face. 'I don't know when we will next be able to see each other but promise me, wherever you are and whatever you are doing you will be safe! And you will be happy!'

Tears were welling in both their eyes as they looked at each other, as Wei Ying nodded.

'A-Xian promises he will be safe and happy sister, and he promises the next time he sees you nothing like this will happen.'

YanLi smiled and wiped the tears from his cheeks before doing the same to her own. Then she turned to Lan Zhan who simply nodded before placing Bichen on the floor and stepping onto it. As YanLi joined him for the quick ride back to the inn Lan Zhan turned to Wei Ying and spoke in a voice mixed with longing and something she couldn't quite discern.

'I will come back for you when your sister is safely away.'

'No need' Wei Ying spoke a little quickly 'I have been in that cage to long, I need some air….just give me the directions back to the inn.'

Lan Zhan did so and soon himself and YanLi were on their way back to the inn to meet up with the Jin. YanLi couldn't help herself, she tapped her hand on Lan Zhan's shoulder gaining his attention.

'Can I help you Young Mistress Jin' He replied automatically.

YanLi smiled and decided just to speak her mind.

'I noticed something was different between you and A-Xian after we exited the cave'

If it was possible Lan Zhan's back and shoulders got even straighter and more tense.

'The other day I did something. I can't remember what. And I don't know if he will forgive me for it!' That was as close as Lan Zhan was going to come to speaking about what had gone that night to anyone else, especially Wei Ying's sister. He could feel her smile on the back of his shoulder though as she spoke loud enough to be heard over the whistling wind.

'Whatever you did Young Master Lan I'm sure its not as bad as you think. A-Xian is the forgiving type and no one ive ever met can make him do something he doesn't want to do. If he forgives you he means it.'

With that they both fell silent for the reminder of the journey.

It was well into the night when Wei Ying made his way up the road to the inn. He was bone achingly tired and all he wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep for week, forgetting about the everything that had happened since that day he returned to the Jingshi from the Wen village with Lan Zhan. The day when everything he thought he had been rebuilding in his life began to turn to hell….once again! His eyes focused on the white robed figure before his mind registered who it was. Lan Zhan stood, the light of the inn creating a halo behind him making him look more like an ethereal figure than he normally did. Wei Ying had to pause momentarily to steel himself. There was only one reason Lan Zhan would be stood outside at this time of night, that was to wait for him, but whatever Lan Zhan wanted to talk about right now he really wasn't in the mood for it.

As he approached the inn it was obvious Lan Zhan had already noticed him but was remaining stationary. His eyes roaming over Wei Ying's figure as if looking for injuries before snapping back up to his face. Wei Ying drew to within a few steps of the steps of the front door and asked the only question he could be bothered to think of at the moment.

'Is my sister ok?'

Lan Zhan nodded, his face blank, but his eyes bright and seemingly wanting to burn holes in Wei Ying's skull. Wei Ying just sighed.

'I need to go to bed'

As he went to brush past though, Lan Zhan's hand gripped his forearm tightly not allowing him to go any further.

'Wei Ying…..I' Lan Zhan's began from behind him…...those three words full full of uncertainty and hesitation. Two emotions he had never even known Lan Zhan possessed.

Wei Ying screwed up his eyes against the desire to turn round and hug the man hard. Kiss him. Anything to get rid of the emotions that shouldn't come from a man such as Lan Zhan. But right now the weight of the last few days, few weeks even, where catching up with him and he just needed to rest.

Lan Zhan I know you want to talk to me, and I want to talk to you about some things to. But right now I'm too tired to focus. Can we have this talk in the morning please?'

Lan Zhan's hand didn't release him, if anything the grip got tighter. Wei Ying stayed still for the moment allowing Lan Zhan a few minutes to register what had been said. After what seemed like hours a voice broke the silence.

'You have been walking for a long time' Lan Zhan spoke quietly. 'But answer me one question before you go….please?' Hearing the word 'please' come out of Lan Zhan's mouth broke Wei Ying enough for him to nod in agreement and the hand gripping his arm lowered completely. Wei Ying though remained where he was, his back to Lan Zhan as the man spoke again. 'Are you ok?'

Wei Ying almost laughed. Which type of OK was Lan Zhan talking about? Physically, mentally or emotionally? Physically he was exhausted, his head hurt and everything he had drank in the last 24hours had made him even more dehydrated. Mentally and emotionally he been forced to act like a shameless ass in front of his sister, the man he liked had been treating him like a pariah, he had been kicked out of his home with no one seeming to care they thought he was dead, and the one person who did care he was helpless to protect! Plus he was the reason Lan Zhan had been in danger in the first place!. Wei Ying decided on the simpler option and nodded his head.

'I'm fine Lan Zhan'

Lan Zhan could sense that Wei Ying wasn't telling him everything, however he reluctantly allowed Wei Ying to walk inside the inn and shut the door. Knowing full that he would get no sleep again tonight, he wouldn't sleep properly until he had spoken to Wei Ying.

Wei Ying awoke the next day, still tired but not exhausted like the day before. The sun was high in the sky and its rays were fully coming through the window, which he hadn't bothered to close the shutters off when he fallen into bed the night before. It gave the whole room a welcoming warmth to it that he had missed when he had been underground in that grey pit. Figuring he needed to get up, bathe and eat something, he swung his legs over the side of the bed just as someone knocked on the door. Part of him wanted to fall back into bed, cover his head with the sheets and pretend he was still asleep. The knock came again, this time someone spoke.

'Young Master Lan, are you awake?' It was clearly the innkeepers voice voice which both surprised and relived him, then annoyance set it that he was so relived it wasn't Lan Zhan's voice. Shaking his head to clear the conflicting emotions, after all he had just woken up, he shouted.

'Yes I'm awake. Do you want something?'

'No not at all' The reply came, reminding him for a second of the disembodied voice in the cavern yesterday. 'HanGuang Jun just gave orders that when you wake we are to send you hot water for a bath, and when you have bathed and changed he asks you meet him in his rooms for a meal.' A pause came and Wei Ying thought the man had left…..then 'Is there any particular dish you wish to order?'

Yes a main course of go away and a side dish of leave me alone…..Wei thought sarcastically before remembering he was still disguised as a Lan. Instead he told the Innkeeper everything was fine and let the man go about his business. It was only when the attendants arrived with the water and he could see the grimaces they were, unsuccessfully, trying to hide that he understood why Lan Zhan had thought he needed to not only bathe but change. After 3 days wearing the same clothes, over one of which had been spent on the floor of a cave, he stunk. But after an hours soaking in the tub, in which time the water had not only gone cold but turned a deep shade of brown, and changing into some fresh clothing he felt a little better. The one problem though was now he had to go to his meal with Lan Zhan. He had been right yesterday, there were things that needed to be said, but Lan Zhan was the main reason he was still alive let alone living in Gusu. If this conversation went wrong, he might be finding himself back in YiLing again. IF that happened hopefully this time he would be alone, the Wen survivors would have nothing to do whatever was going on between himself and Lan Zhan, he just wished he knew what it was himself.