Ch 36 Who is the man…..

Wei Ying had taken a few days to recover. He hadn't been ill, just exhausted. After he woke up though Lan Zhan's temper had finally calmed enough that people felt comfortable around him again, well as much as they ever did anyway, and stopped treading so carefully. Also the days of interrogating the Sect Leader where starting to show fruit. Although the Lan didn't have what would be a traditional prison as most Sects did, they simply had a secure room where people could be kept shackled and guarded by specially trained and chosen disciples. The Sect Leader had been well looked after in the days in the secure room, however he had not had any contact with anyone but Lan Zhan and Lan XiChen. Although Lan Zhan seemed cold and impassive most of the time, in the secure room he had been anything but. That Lan Zhan had been very aggressive and physically overbearing towards the shackled prisoner had been an understatement, but no one had mentioned anything.

The story was finally coming to the fore that the Sect Leader had been approached over a few months before with the plan. The idea was to aim at Wei Ying and the Lan Sect as a whole through two main points. The Sect Leader had been instructed to undermine Wei Ying through rumours and lies as well as physically attacking the Cloud Reccess, focusing on the JingShi to try and make the YiLing Patriarch emerge and give them enough reasons to kill him. As for who had come up with this idea, and was giving the orders from behind the scenes, the Sect Leader either didn't know or refused to tell. He had simply said that the man giving him the orders had always worn a hood to cover his face, plain robes and met him in a public area. On being asked where the public area was he had given a simple and generic answer that didn't seem to help in the search.

This all remained the case until one day about three weeks after the attack. The Sect Leader was still locked up in the Lan's secure cell, but no other Sect had come forwards to complain about such treatment or offer an alternative so there he remained. As for the man's own Sect, well they had been mostly captured with him or ran away and hidden from the wrath of the Sects involved in the whole mess, so there was no help for him from there either. Finally able to come out of seclusion though, after his recovery from the illness, Lan QiRen had appeared in Lan XiChen's office. He had heard all the rumours regarding what had gone on and wanted to speak to those principally involved to try to work out how something so drastic could have happened.

Lan QiRen, Lan XiChen, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying all stood around the main desk after debriefing Lan QiRen on everything that had gone on since he went into seclusion. The elder Lan simply stood still, staring at the wall, as he had done for the past half hour. The occasional sighs and grunts the only outward signal that he had any kind of displeasure at all. The other three waited for him to sort through all the information they had gained so far, some with trepidation and some with just annoyance at the time they were wasting repeating themselves. Eventually though Lan QiRen spoke.

'What did you say the description of that place the snivelling idiot gave you again XiChen?'

As Lan XhiChen repeated the description given by the Sect Leader while trying to fight back a smile at his Uncles unusual language Lan Zhan's mouth hung open in astonishment. Wei Ying didn't even try to hide the wide grin that covered his own face as he placed one finger under his husbands jaw and physically closed it with an almost audible click. Lan Zhan glanced over at Wei Ying, who had through an almost superhuman effort managed to school his face back into something resembling a serious look. While this was going on Lan XiChen had kept his eyes on his Uncle, who still had his back to them all, his head was moving up and down slightly as if nodding and various grunts could be heard from that direction.

Before anyone could say anything though, probably 'Uncle are you ok?' from the two Lan's or 'Uncle have you gone nuts?' from Wei Ying, Lan QiRen walked over to the Sect Leaders table and began rummaging around looking for something. Normally Lan XIChen would have had a problem at anyone taking liberties in his office, after all it was full of paperwork that only a Sect Leader should see. But he could hardly inform his own Uncle that he needed his permission to be going through the papers looking for whatever it was he wanted. So the three waited while, with a series of grunts, Lan QiRen searched through the piles of neatly organised paperwork in his eldest nephews office, discarding some and simply dropping other bits on the floor. The two Lan brothers looked at each other. They had never seen their uncle behave in such a manner, he had taught them to always be organised and tidy. Here he was though doing this! If either of them had looked over to Wei Ying they would have seen he was nearly doing himself internal damage trying not laugh to out loud at the situation.

Eventually Lan QiRen found what he needed and beckoned the other three over to the desk. On it laid a map of the cultivation world, complete with the names and locations of all the main Sects along with any Sects that defer to them. It was quite a complex map, with writing of various styles and sizes showing it had been added to and adapted over the years. All the men hovered over the map, wondering what on earth Lan QiRen was going to do next. The Lan Elder didn't say a word for a moment, then he stabbed his finger at a place that wasn't too far away from their present location, yet far enough to be outside the Lan's sphere of control.

'Here' He spoke with his normal authoritative tone. 'The place they met is here'

Just as Wei Ying was about to open is mouth to huff and say that the Lan Elder couldn't possibly be sure on such vague information, Lan XiChen once again spoke.

'Uncle, how can you be sure?'

'You all told me that the snivelling idiot in the cell does not have the brain capacity to do this himself. As he decided to not only attack our Sect at home but also decided to attack two of its most powerful members without ample troops I will agree with you. So whoever is behind him needs to keep control of him, but won't risk stepping into our territory himself. The description is of a small town about 3 days ride away from here, on a road junction which makes it easy for his controller to disappear without him knowing were. This town is the first town outside of our control, it's on a junction and is just over 2 days if you ride your sword properly. Plus the town has a curfew so anyone wanting to slip out would find it easy after a certain time of night.'

The others could only nod in agreement, as QiRen continued.

'It seems these people want Wanji and Wu Xian. I have no doubt they are not strong enough to manage that, but for some reason they overestimate themselves. Why don't you two go to the town and see what you can find out about this strange controller. XiChen and I will remain here.

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan bowed in agreement. XiChen turned to his uncle as if he was about to disagree but one look from the elder closed down any argument he might have made. Instead he nodded to his brother and brother-in-law, who returned the nod before walking out the office to prepare for their journey.

The two arrived early on the first evening. They had decided to ride Lan Zhan's sword, which despite carrying two people instead of one, would still be faster than horses. Instead of three days to get to their destination it would only take two so they had landed about half an hour ago in a small town. Walked down the main street, where Wei Ying as usual had found something pretty pointless to buy, before gaining a room at the only inn. The innkeeper had actually asked twice as if unsure he had heard correctly that they only wanted one room, before nodding politely and getting a maid to lead them to the assigned one. As they walked up the stairs Wei Ying had nearly burst out laughing when one of the servants asked the innkeeper.

'They are obviously rich young Master's why would they want to share a room?'

The whispers response from the Innkeeper had been simply.

'They are cultivators, who knows what strange things they do! Just stay out of their affairs and they will stay out of ours'

Wei Ying had still been sniggering as Lan Zhan thanked the maid, whispered something and then closed the door. Turning round he placed his ice cold look on his husband and spoke with a long suffering sigh.

'Are you done?'

'Ohhh come on Er'ge that was funny!' Wei Ying laughed.

Lan Zhan huffed as he turned round to place a silencing talisman on the door. Turning back he noticed Wei Ying had dumped his travel bag in the middle of the floor and was proceeding in putting some other talismans on the bed.

'What are you doing now?' Lan Zhan asked in an exasperated voice that could only be used by one spouse to another.

'This is a small inn Er'ge. I don't think the bed is built for your type of….errr... enthusiasm….so I'm strengthening it a bit.'

Lan Zhan took a few steps into the room, neatly placing Bichen on the table they would use later when they ate, as he looked Wei Ying straight in the eye.

'You make me sound like I have no self control' He said, his voice as monotone as usual but fire beginning to dance in his eyes.

Wei Ying just burst out laughing once again.

'Ohhh Er'ge you have lots of self control…...the most self control I've ever seen in my life….'he paused and pointed to the door, a little out of breath from the laughing fit. 'THAT'S exactly why you need to put a silencing charm on the bedroom door!'

Lan Zhan's eyes were now blazing as he stepped forwards with a steady step towards Wei Ying. The later didn't retreat but rather just stood there with a large grin on his face. Lan Zhan's hand snaked round his husbands head, fingers twining in his hair, before he pulled him close. The kiss was not one of seduction but one of desire. Not one of gentleness and exploration, but pure need and claim. No matter how long Lan Zhan was married to Wei Ying it never ceased to amaze him how these emotions never faded, in fact if anything they continued to get stronger. Wei Ying's hand had found their way inside Lan Zhan's upper robes to his collar bone, round the back to his shoulders, and then clasped round the back of his neck. The two kissed as if it was the act of entwining tongues that was more important than breathing.

Just then there was a loud knock on the door.

Wei Ying grumbled something uncomplimentary about peoples timing that made Lan Zhan smile, as the two broke apart. Lan Zhan headed for the door as Wei Ying turned to open the travel bag. In came three men carrying two buckets apiece and they disappeared round a small screen to one side. Splashing sounds could be heard before the men walked out of the room only to reappear a few moments later. This was repeated a few times, all the while Lan Zhan stood quietly at the door unmoving. As the last man left for what was the last time Lan Zhan put a hand out to stop him.

'You do not need to empty the bath this evening, we are leaving in the morning you can do it then.'

The man nodded and hurried out the room as Lan Zhan closed the door, once again engaging the talisman. Wei Ying turned, still smiling.

'You can bathe first Er'ge I'm fine for now'

'You are not bathing with me?'

Lan Zhan sounded disappointed but Wei Ying spoke firmly.

'NO!….we agreed no more double bathing in Inn's, the furnishings can't take it, neither can the floors.'...he then pulled a innocent face has he wiggled a finger in mock annoyance. 'Self control remember!'

Lan Zhan just smirked as he walked over to the small side table beside the bed, stripped off his clothes, slowly folded then neatly and then strode completely unabashedly behind the screen to bathe. Iv'e seen him with his clothes off countless times…..Wei Ying thought as he tried not to stare….when will it stop making my heart pound. Hearing the splashing of water behind the screen Wei Ying smiled and carried on with unpacking. After about twenty minutes Lan Zhan emerged, dried but not dressed. He still walked about the room unashamedly nude which Wei Ying couldn't help but both laugh and stare at. When Lan Zhan looked at him puzzled Wei Ying spoke up.

'Do you remember our first night together in that inn before all hell broke loose with Jin Guangyao? That night you were drunk and I was trying to get you to have a bath, you walked around the room as confidently naked as you are now.'

'Are you bathing?' Lan Zhan asked as if it was perfectly normal for him to walk around the room of an inn with nothing on.

Wei Ying nodded and actually walked behind the screen before stripping and bathing himself, surprising himself at where his sudden modesty had come from. Later in the evening the two settled down a nice meal which Wei Ying, who had actually bothered to put at least some clothing on, had accepted into the room. Wei Ying's clothes didn't last long however past the doors closing on the maid retrieving the empty plates. Lan Zhan had appeared from behind the bathing screen, where he had been hiding as not to scare the inn's female staff, and grabbed hold of Wei Ying straight away. With a play fight in which Wei Ying pretended to want to keep his modesty and clothing, while Lan Zhan fought to remove both as quickly as possible. in a graceless ball of arms and legs the two soon made it to the bed. It was lucky that they had put the talismans out earlier in the day, as Lan Zhan definitely had lots of enthusiasm and Wei Ying was also definitely NOT quiet.