Ch 43 - The Storm arrives
A/N I got the basic idea for the next few chapters from the following quote which I thought I would share with you. 'Without Chaos there can be no order. And one's destiny is a joining of the two. (Heath D Alberts)'
The systematic work that had gone on in the Cloud Reccess had to some extent made everyone a little forgetful about what would eventually happen. It was one thing having to patrol around each day, practice a set of spells that one wouldn't normally bother with or even deal with their home being locked down like a strong box. It was another to actually believe that any of the rumours and threats going around would actually affect their lives. Of course some of the people in the Cloud Recess were well aware that no matter how much they prepared mentally and physically, the storm would descend on them eventually and it would cause great damage when it arrived.
Lan XIChen and Lan QiRen were having their daily meeting in the Sect leaders office, going over what had been done so far and what still needed to be completed, when the doors swung open and in walked Lan Zhan and Wei Ying. The two elder men couldn't help stopping their conversation to glance over at the pair. Both younger men seemed thinner and more tired than they had the last time they had appeared out in the general areas. Lan XiChen couldn't help staring despite the fact he knew he was being rude, even Lan QiRen seemed to be fighting his countless years of training not to stare himself. Wei Ying seemed to notice what was going on and for once didn't tease but gave a small smile.
'We have been practising something. In hope that we can give Jin GuanYao a little surprise when he arrives.' Wei Ying offered as an explanation.
Both older Lan's nodded as if the small explanation covered everything but didn't ask for more. They simply turned and headed back to the desk. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying followed silently. As the four reached the desk Lan QiRen spun round to face the three younger members of his family. It wasn't the look on his face of the Lan Elder or teacher that everyone was used to, it was something more terrifying and intimate at the same time, it was a look of an unhappy Uncle to unruly younger members of his family.
'We are preparing for battle. A battle that should never have been allowed to happen as that man should have been dead many years ago. He certainly should not be aiming for members of my Sect and my family!' No one spoke as Lan QiRen ranted, uncertain where this would end. Lan QiRen didn't seem to notice and just kept speaking, his eyes fiercely focused. 'You all know what we have to face, what is coming for our Sect, for our family. Yet you two decide to weaken both your bodies and your power when it could be needed most. XiChen you have been doing the same! Overworking with hardly any rest. Exactly what is Gusu supposed to do to protect itself when three of its strongest fighters are too damn weak to stand up let alone defend it.'
Both Lan XiChen and Lan Zhan glanced down at the floor at the tone, unsure what to say at being dressed down so seriously by their uncle. Wei Ying stayed quiet, trying hard not giggle as a mental image of when he was child being taught at the Cloud Reccess ran through his head. The memory of arguing with Lan QiRen in the classroom about the pro's and con's of demonic cultivation, just to show off to Lan Zhan, and getting a scroll thrown at his head for his troubles. Lan QiRen spoke up again with a huff, breaking all three men out of their various thoughts.
'All three of you go rest!, We need you all at top strength when the battle arrives.'
Just as the two younger Lan's and Wei Ying nodded a loud noise sounded outside. Four heads whipped round to face the door, all full of surprise.
'What the….?' Lan XiChen began in response to the noise.
They all knew that no one, well no one but Wei Ying, would make such a noise on the door when they knew the Sect Leader was busy without something serious going on and yet no one was entering. The noise sounded again, this time a little louder as if someone was using their power to bang on the door as loud as possible. Everyone glanced to each other before Lan XiChen nodded to his younger brother, drew his sword and backed both himself and uncle towards the back of the office. Lan Zhan moved towards the door, Wei Ying at his side. Each man reached for a doorknob, nodding to each other as they pulled the door open gently.
As soon as the doors opened a crack a form fell through the small gap, slumping in an undignified heap on the floor. The disciples robes pooled in a mess of blue and white, looking a little like a windswept pool in the middle of the entrance. The priceless blue headband signalling his place as a Lan disciple seemed like it was half undone and had somehow tangled itself in the young man's hair. Wei Ying didn't even try and stop himself staring, but he did at least try and stop himself from laughing, to mixed result. After all it wasn't everyday he saw the poise of one of the famed Lan's disappear into a messy lump on the ground. One glare from Lan Zhan though made him swallow any outward laugh he would have allowed out and try to behave.
Lifting his head up from the ground the disciple didn't even try to raise himself from the floor as he spoke in a voice that somehow managed to keep a reporting demeanour.
'Sect Leader. Jin GuanYao has arrived at the gates!'
At the words the four men in the room seemed to explode into action. Both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying immediately ignored the no running rule and dashed out the door, neatly jumping over the disciple still slumped on the floor. XiChen paused just a moment before running out the door himself, pausing only long enough to reach down and haul the disciple up and drag the young man along with him. Lan QiRen in comparison walked over to the doors, closing them gently and carefully as if he was shutting himself in for a usual meeting. Nothing different from any other of the thousands, millions of times he had closed those doors before, except this time….this time raised his hand and a silvery white shield very few knew existed sprang into place effectively sealing the Lan Elder inside the small, windowless room.
As slowly as before he approached the Sect Leaders deck in the centre of the room and waved his hand once again. The simple wooden desk vanished and in its place appeared a large, big built, stone slab which seemed to glow with power. Seemingly unsurprised Lan QiRen touched the slab and a map of the Cloud Reccess appeared hovering above it. There was only one colour on the map, blue, ally. Only himself and XiChen had been present that evening when both his youngest nephew and nephew in law had come to the office and put in place the shield that now surrounded it. Only they knew about the ingenious talisman that created the map and linked it to the outside. Only they knew that he Sect Leaders office, the heart of the Sect that had always been known for its peace and fairness, was now a war room.
All the Lan disciples had been given a bracelet in the last few days by QiRen himself. Supposedly it was simply for good luck, and being good members of Gusu they had put them on without question. However each bracelet was spelled to show up as a blue dot on the map. It could precisely tell him where everyone was. The bracelets had been easy enough to make once Wei Ying had shown him once, however they did require power, and making enough for the entire Cloud Recess had nearly drained his deep reserves. So QiRen had placed himself here, in the office while the battle went on outside, and hoped deep down that the second function of the bracelets would not be needed.
Outside the office the other three had automatically gone to their assigned positions. Lan XiChen had dashed for the right side of the Reccess to protect and lead the defences and warriors there. Lan Zhan had paused just long enough to share a glance with Wei Ying, a glance of goodbye; farewell; hope and promise of return, before he to turned to sprint for his own assigned spot. Lan Zhan's spot was at the left side of the Recess where he could reinforce the men and defences. Wei Ying's position was more complicated. Wei Ying's place was both to distract and to attack. Wei Ying's place was in the central square.
The gate of the Cloud Recess was being overwhelmed by sheer numbers of men by the time the recall signal came for them to all withdraw. It hadn't taken the enemy long to break through the wards protecting the gate and each of the men pushing their way through the now defenceless entrance to the Cloud Recess did so with an almost manic smirk on their faces. The defenders had done what they could to keep the fighting to the small, narrow stairways and paths, minimising the numerical advantage of the attackers but the sheer numbers just seemed to be overwhelming. How did someone like Jin GuanYao get so many people to follow him? Let alone without the Sects knowing anything about it?
The man himself didn't seem to be there, but then no one was particularly amazed at this as he was not only a famous opportunist but coward and would hide in the back until the last possible moment letting others die for him. It didn't take long in the fight however for something to start to not seeming right to the defending disciples. It didn't matter how they fought, where they hit the attackers or how hard they defended. The attacking men seemed to not feel the wounds on their own bodies. Oh it wasn't like the puppets years ago that Wei Ying had created which where just reanimated and completely under his control. These men seemed to be completely aware of what they were doing, why they were doing it and for whom. They just didn't feel pain at all and this was putting the Lan defenders on the back foot a little when it came to the skirmish at the gate.
The strong beat of the drum echoed through the entire Recess, calling all its fighters to withdraw. The Invading soldiers automatically followed hunting down each person they caught, stabbing and killing. Until!….one soldier reached out with his hand to grab a Lan disciple and unknowingly slipped through Wei Ying and Lan Zhan's outer ward.
A bell sounded in the Sect leaders office and as Lan QiRen looked down at the map he noticed small red dots begin to appear. The marker ward was working, he could see the invaders pouring into his home. On both sides of the Recess small bells attached belts at the hip of both jades of Lan also rang, a low but insistent sound. Almost as if they where side to side rather than opposite ends of the Recess, both looked simultaneously skyward towards the gates. In his spot in the centre Wei Ying's bell also rang at his own belt. However unlike the others his gaze didn't move downwards or upwards but rather his eyes simply crinkled at the corner. His mouth twitched slightly also as he almost whispered to himself, the sound as relaxed as if he were teaching archery to his class of juniors.
'Years ago Jin GuanYao you made everyone fight on your battlefield. Lets he how well you do now your on mine!'