CH 41

Wei Ying was working his way towards the main square of the Cloud Reccess and Lan Zhan. It was taking a little longer than planned as he had already come across three separate groups he had either had to avoid or knock out and hide. He was getting more and more annoyed at the slow progress he was making, he needed to be next to Lan Zhan and fighting alongside his husband. He needed to know what was happening and to see Lan Zhan was safe and well with his own eyes. Although if he was honest with himself the chances of anyone harming Lan Zhan were very slim indeed, that didn't stop him worrying any less though. One more set of black clothed men appeared in front of him, but Wei Ying didn't even have the patience to to hide first and deal with them one by one. He charged at the group of five armed men, who appeared stunned by his appearance and froze in place their weapons either partly drawn or raised. Wei Ying didn't bother bringing Chenqing to his lips he just smacked the first two over the head with the flute, knocking them out almost instantly. The second pair fell to an elbow to the throat almost as soon as the first hit the ground. However by this time the third pair had managed to get their wits about them and swing their weapons at his head. A quick duck and kick though had the two on their backs where another sound kick to the head had them seeing stars, despite it being broad daylight.

Having dispatched them Wei Ying took off at a run, hoping for all he was worth that everyone he loved was going to get through this day safely. He rounded one of the corners of the main square to see what seemed to be an ocean of black, there were so many people that it seemed to be some kind of black mass filling the entire square. For a moment Wei Ying worried, then out of the centre of the mass appeared a figure. It was draped in white, and appeared almost godlike when emerging from amongst the darkness. Despite his earlier fears Wei Ying couldn't help but stare and the figure of perfection that was his husband, the way Bichen effortlessly flew and spun, killing everyone who stood before him. Wei Ying couldn't help but smile to himself and part of him thought about standing and watching the scene unfold, just for a moment. Hard to tell if he looks better with or without his clothes on,...he thought to himself before shaking his head….time and place Wei Ying, and this is neither….he scolded himself before refocusing.

Suddenly his attention was directed off the scene in front of him. A small sound had caught his attention, coming almost directly from behind. If it was someone who was allied with him they wouldn't be trying to hide from him, they would already know that as a musician his sense of hearing was a lot better than most so it was pointless. This meant that whoever it was, was one of the gang in black. With one of his wide grins on his face, which always meant trouble, Wei Ying turned around to face his prey.

Lan Zhan had been aware of Wei Ying's presence as soon as he poked his head round the corner, however he trusted Wei Ying was capable enough to look after himself. Anyway he was a little busy at the moment. After killing the first black clad man, the others had noticed his presence. At first there had only been a dozen or so men in the square and he had thought he would be able to easily deal with them and go find his brother and Wei Ying. However after the third man had fallen in quick succession the men seemed to finally realise who they were fighting and one managed to escape to raise the alarm. After which for every man he managed to kill it seemed two more arrived. The men were definitely skilled and familiar with their weapons, not all fought with swords but some fought with weapons unfamiliar to him. This mix of familiar and unfamiliar weapons had given him a few problems at the beginning but that had been momentary. However now the mix of wave after wave of attack aimed at him, and the few injuries he had sustained, were starting to take their toll and he was beginning to feel tired.

Of course only those intimate with him would know there was anything wrong at all, his movements where still as fluid as before and his sword movement still as accurate. He had noticed Wei Ying as soon as the other had approached the main square, it seemed to be some sense the two had between them that enabled him to know where his husband was and when he was getting into trouble. Another man ran at him and was quickly dispatched with Bichen's icy sword glare. These men seemed determined to either wear him down or keep him pinned down and unable to help the rest of his Sect and family. He didn't know who was behind all this, but he could be sure it wasn't the men he was currently fighting. Wei Ying had disappeared from view, he wasn't sure why but something tingled in his spine about the disappearance, something that made him want to go and find his missing lover. He just had to get through the horde of bodies first!

Wei Ying had managed to knock out two of the men only to find about eight more standing just behind them. They were more than the small patrols he had seen on his way so they must have been sent as reinforcements to those fighting Lan Zhan. Wei Ying remembered the scene already taking place in the main square, all the men in black already fighting many against the one, who know matter how skilled would tire eventually. He didn't know what the aim of the attack on his home was, but it seemed to hinge on killing Lan Zhan. Well if that's what they expected to do he would have something to say about it.

Although he was severely outnumbered himself it never occurred to him to try and escape, for two reasons. One, Lan Zhan was in the centre square so that's were he was headed and two, anyone who knew Wei Ying knew it wasn't in his DNA to back down from a fight. In stead he simply backed up to the nearest building, using its wall as protection to the rear, the men could only come at him from the front now. They were also forced to come at him less people at a time as half of the avenues of attack had just been cut off. Some of the men sneered as they approached, seeing him stood in such a defensive posture with only a flute for protection. A small smile crossed his face at the stupidity of some people, then swung the flute once again to connect with the skull of the nearest attacker.

The patrols he had dealt with had been skilled, if a little slow, but these men where extremely alert After the first man's head got dented by the flute the others remained just out reach. It was frustrating knowing Lan Zhan was literality just round the corner fighting off a whole horde on his own, and here he was cornered by a small group. Suddenly Wei Ying slipped to the ground, holding his head in his hands, crying out loud for them not to harm him. A completely shameless display! Chenqing was held loosely in his palm, no longer a danger to anyone, as he crouched in the dirt sobbing. The men around stood stunned, completely at a loss as to what to do about this strange change of behaviour. One would look at another, who looked at another, and another, until everyone seemed to be looking at someone else. Still the figure on the floor continued to sob, even wiping his red eyes with his blood covered sleeve. The group of men were gathering round as if to speak about what to do next, still unsure as to the best course of action with the strange person. This left a gap in the human wall they had created, but Wei Ying wasn't stupid enough to try and reach it he knew someone would think it was a test and keep an eye on him.

After a few minutes, his eyes were really beginning to sting from the fake crying and running his sleeve across his face, he hated to think about the type of dirt he had smeared all over himself. But if it got him what he wanted he really didn't care. After longer than he thought one of the men came back over to him and grasped his shoulder. This was the cue he had been waiting for! As quick as a snake Wei Ying struck the man across the jaw with Chenqing, knocking him out instantly, he spun on the ball of one foot allowing the sweep of his leg to take down the other who were lurking nearby. While they were fighting to get to their feet they were in turn knocked out. Idiots…...Wei Ying thought to himself….you have to be to fall for that trick.

In Lan XiChen's office there had been a deafening silence almost since the moment Xue Yang had introduced himself. The guards still lined the walls, weapons drawn and faces impassive and they either stared at the door or the central space of the office where the three men stood. Xue Yan stood relaxed, his trademark manic look on his face. His eyes shone with a wildness bordering on insanity, while his mouth was curled up into what would safely be called a manic grin. Facing him where the two elder Lan's with their backs straight, unblinking and unmoving while at the same time keeping their faces a mask of indifference. This non reaction from the Lan's seemed to the last thing Xue Yang expected to come up against. Although his own eyes never blinked, or he never turned his head away, it seemed hard for him to figure out how to break the united front he was facing.

A bang and gust of wind signalled the office door had unceremoniously been shoved open, nearly flattening the two guards posted next to it against the wall. Another man ran into the centre of the room, up to Xue Yang who still had his focus squarely on both Lan's, and bowing deeply spoke in a flat voice.

'Master. We have managed to contain the one target as you commanded. The second target is nowhere to be found though, however someone is moving to help and may ruin the plan if not dealt with soon.'

Without moving his gaze Xue Yang spoke in a measured tone, completely different to what anyone had heard before.

'Let them meet up, but don't make it obvious'

'Yes Master'

The unknown man saluted once again before running back out the door, whereupon the guards slammed the doors shut with as much force as they had been opened. The three men had never taken their eyes off of each other throughout the small exchange and the banging of the doors that threatened to shake them of their hinges, instead they had stood staring at each other as if no one else in the room existed. Xue Yang's face suddenly changed, his expression became more pronounced and the light in his eyes grew even wilder. When he spoke everyone in the room could tell the tone was full of some sense of self satisfaction.

'It seems it's my turn to go for some fun!' he said pridefully, straightening his shoulders. 'You know when I was told the famous HanGuang Jun was a cutsleeve who even had a plaything from amongst his own Sect I was astonished….How could that be true of such an honourable Sect.' His tone was turning mocking now, trying to get a rise out of the two Lan's who still stood unmoving as stone. 'Yet I never expected that plaything to turn out to be the YiLing Patriarch…..ohh you noble Sects are so naughty.' He grinned and then sighed 'Pity we can't find Wei WuXian, I would have liked to kill them both, but I will settle for the great and honourable HanGuang Jun and whoever is stupid enough to help him'

With that Xue Yang turned and walked out the door, laughing hysterically as he left. Lan XiChen had listened to the tirade with his fists firmly closed in the sleeves of his robes, a few things about what the madman had said confused him. The most confusing thing however was the lack of reaction from his uncle, Lan QiRen was not the kind of man to sit back and take insults flung at his face without retaliating. Yet for some reason he had done just that. As soon as the doors has shut though Lan QiRen seemed to come back to life, a hand grabbed onto his wrist and hauled him towards the back of the office. There were no doors or windows back there so no guards had been posted, the guards at the front simply watched them for a moment before turning back to their assignments.

'What…..' Lan XiChen tried to get out.

'Shhh and listen' QIRen growled quietly as not to let the guards hear.

XiChen simply nodded, trying not to look as confused and uncertain as he felt.

'The madman mentioned meeting Wanji in a cave before…..he must be the same man who captured Wei WuXian and his sister a few years ago. He aimed for Wanji's reputation back then, it isn't unreasonable to think that the target one in the report was Wanji.'

'How can you be sure' XiChen asked looking hopeful.

Lan QiRen looked at him like he had spent the last several decades raising a total fool.

'I thought you were smart XiChen, or at least could do some simple deductions. The report the madman received mentioned two targets, one of which they couldn't find. He mentioned both Wanji and Wei WuXian by name so he has to have met them somewhere…...'

'They can only find one….' XiChen butted in, earning a glare from his Uncle 'They can't find Wei Ying?'

'Exactly!' QiRen said exasperated 'But if I know that boy he won't be too far away from Wanji, meaning for some reason the unknown second person heading that way is him. I can only assume that no one has realised Wei WuXian's identity because he has married into the Clan. When this….Xue Yang….last came up against him he was wearing the clothing of an outer disciple. Now he wears the clothes of a senior Clan member.'

Lan XiChen smiled before speaking.

'And if I know Wei Ying he is taking advantage of that right now'

'That boy has always had the ability to get into trouble and break rules, maybe it will actually be of use in this instance' QiRen muttered under his breath.

'Anyway we don't need to worry about Wanji then, that madman will get a shock when he gets there and realises he is fighting those two together.' XiChen smiled

QiRen nodded but looked worried.

'No we don't need to worry about those two, we need to get out of here and rescue the children. I just hope Wanji keeps enough control on his troublesome husband that there is still enough of the Cloud Recess left standing when all of this is over.