Ch 45 – The Earth shakes.
People approached Wei Ying, slow and shuffling as if in a daze or a dream, and he didn't even so much as look at them as he continued to play his haunting tune on Chenqing. When each person reached a certain distance they would slow and stop, eventually creating a circle around the white clad musician in the centre. Wei Ying stood proud, his fingers easily skipping across the smooth surface of the flute. His eyes bright and his shoulders relaxed. Anyone walking in on the situation would wonder how such a man, surrounded as he was by men who make a stone feel unnerved, seemed to be stood as if he owned the whole world.
As if it was a strange accompaniment to the slow, haunting, melody the sound of the two battles could still be heard drifting on the wind. The gentle sounds of the flute seemed to have a marked contrast to the harsh clang of metal upon metal. Again Wei Ying didn't seem to notice this surrounding noise but rather seemed focused on his own tune. It was as if this small area of the Cloud Recess had fallen into one of the Lan's silence spells where only Wei Ying and the tune existed. The minutes passed by and still the cultivators stood still, almost like living statues, as Wei Ying slowly rotated his body around in a circle. A loud clap broke the spell around the circle but not one of the men in the circle moved in response. Wei Ying himself slowly turned his head, his fingers and mouth not pausing for even a second as he saw the man approach through the crowd.
'I would expect nothing else from the YiLing Patriarch' Jin GuanYao exclaimed in his usual arrogant tone as he stepped forwards still clapping slowly.
Wei Ying kept his eyes fixed on Jin GuanYao as he stopped a few steps away. Still the circle of cultivators didn't so much as twitch a finger, neither did Wei Ying stop playing. Jin GuanYao stepped one step to the right and Wei Ying automatically stepped to his left to avoid the two getting any closer. Every time Jin GuanYao took a step Wei Ying would automatically counter him and maintain the distance. It was almost as if an intricate dance was happening between the two men surrounded by the silent circle of observers.
'I would ask what you have done to my people but I know you won't tell me….' Jin GuanYao began while taking yet another step round in the circle. 'At least not yet anyway…...but even you are not strong enough to control all the men I bought with me…...I will manage to destroy the Cloud Recess and when you see the bleeding bodies of ZeWu Jun or your beloved HanGuang Jun….I'm sure you will tell me then.'
Wei Ying's only response to the taunt was a narrowing of his eyes but he didn't allow himself to pause in his work even as his emotions and mind screamed internally at him to shut up the man in front of him permanently.
Lan Zhan stood facing the man who had led the assault on this part of his home. Most of the group the man had led had now wandered off towards the central square, however there were still enough people fighting for it to be dangerous. A small opening had appeared in the centre of the battle where the two leaders now stood. Lan Zhan's once crisp white robes where now stained with blood, some of it his own. The man stood across from him might be from a relatively unknown Sect was he was good with a sword, it was a pity he hadn't cultivated in a righteous Sect. The two moved towards each other again, clashed swords and parried each others lunges, before falling back. The group leader had a look of astonishment on his face that he was keeping up with the renowned Lan Zhan, however it was not stopping him from trying to take his life.
Another clash of swords between the two saw Lan Zhan slightly misjudge the speed if his opponent, an error that saw the other man's sword scrape across his ribs in a near miss. Hearing the slight grunt the Lan disciples paused for just a second, this seconds pause though allowed the attackers to gain ascendency in the fight. Lan Zhan gripped his side reflectively while rushing to protect one of the more junior disciples, gaining him another gash on the back.
'HanGuang Jun!' One disciple cried out without thinking.
'Withdraw' Lan Zhan ordered, nothing but solid command in his tone.
The Lan disciples looked at him confused for a second before nodding and almost in unison turning and withdrawing deeper into the Cloud Recess. Lan Zhan himself though didn't leave, he turned and stood straight, ignoring the pain in his back and side. Facing the attackers alone he once again raised Bichen and waited for the next onslaught.
Wei Ying was getting dizzy! Jin GuanYao was obviously waiting for something or someone and was trying to keep him in one place until they arrived. But did the man really have to keep walking in circles while they waited? If he was honest with himself he wasn't actually sure what it was that Jin GuanYao was actually waiting for, however he knew why he himself was stalling for time. It was the only reason why the man in front of him wasn't unconscious on the floor right now….no not the only reason. GuanYao might make a habit of underestimating his abilities and desire to fight, bit wasn't foolish enough to return the favour. The man in front of him was weak yes…..had always been culturally and powerfully weak. That had once made everyone dismissive of him, some to the loss of their lives. Yes GuanYao was physically and spiritually weak but his devious mind was his strongest asset.
The circling continued with Jin GuanYao occasionally speaking up with sarcastic or insulting comments to try and break Wei Ying's rhythm. If Wei Ying had been his old self, his younger self, then the ploy would almost certainly have worked. However he just stepped to the side when required and kept playing the same tune, his hard eyes the only outward response to the inward emotions. Just as it seemed Jin GuanYao was getting frustrated at Wei Ying's complete lack of response to his goading a voice appeared from behind the ring of cultivators. Because of Wei Ying's constant playing this ring had been steadily increasing so the man obviously had to shout to be heard both over the flute and through the mass of bodies. Upon hearing the man's voice Jin GuanYao's voice changed instantly from frustration to elation as he shouted to the man to come closer. Wei Ying only kept his eyes on the, once lead cultivator, and ignored the noises around him. He nearly stepped to the side automatically before realising Jin GuanYao had stopped moving. The dance around them had suddenly paused. Jin GuanYao smirked at Wei Ying with a look of glee and superiority.
'Are you going to put the flute down yet?' he asked, not trying to hide the victory in his voice.
For a moment Chenqing's tune wavered as its owner looked confused at where this newly found confidence had come from. Jin GuanYao waved his hand to one side to direct Wei Ying's as if it would provide an answer to that confusion. Wei Ying moved gracefully and turned to look where the other had pointed. The tune stopped dead, chenqing only just remaining in his shaking hands when he saw who had arrived. The second man he didn't know, but he made sure he remembered the face for future retributions. The first man, the man tied up and gagged, being pulled along by a particularly humiliating rope leash around his neck….Wei Ying not only knew him, but would never forget that face in a thousand lifetimes…...it was Lan Zhan!
Jin GuanYao clapped as he saw the horrified look on Wei Ying's face when he noticed his husband. He even ignored Wei Ying for a slight moment as if trying to exert his superiority as he turned to the man holding Lan Zhan's leash.
'Well done. I have to admit I thought it would have taken you longer and you would have lost more men to capture him. But you did well.'
"HanGuang Jun's reputation is not deserved boss. He even thought he could send all the others away and fight us on his own.' The man retorted. An obvious sound of pride in his voice.
'Ahhh' Jin GuanYao said as if something had just clicked into place. 'That's why you managed it so quickly. Many men against one, no wonder.'
Jin GuanYao gave a sideways glance over to Wei Ying who looked like he was going to keel over and throw up on the ground. Inwardly smiling, part of him surprised at how quiet the other man was being at such a time, he carried on the conversation.
'Why don't you explain how you caught the famed HanGuang Jun. I would like to hear it, and I'm sure the YiLing Patriarch would to….' He turned to face Wei Ying as he addressed him. 'Wouldn't you YiLing Patriarch?'
'Fuck you!' Wei Ying ground out between harsh breaths, looking at the ground, the buildings, anywhere but at Lan Zhan.
Jin GuanYao Laughed once again and simply waved for the man to begin his explanation. The man did so very happily, even occasionally tugging on the leash to make Lan Zhan stagger as he got to the parts where he was most important. As the story wore on Jin GuanYao's laughter and smiles filled the square, along with the occasional clap. Wei Ying had raised his head to look him in the eyes once again, a murderous intent clear on his face, however Jin GuanYao was having the time of his life and completely ignoring anything but the fact that he had finally managed to bring the two men most responsible for his downfall to their knees.
Then his head whipped round at a part of the story the man was currently telling.
Wait! What!…..tell me that part again!' He exclaimed uncertainly.
The man looked unsure at the order but quickly repeated what he had just said.
We eventually caught him when he was fighting one on one with me. Three of my men sneaked up from behind, two grabbed his arms and one took away his sword. Then I knocked him out with his own weapon. We didn't need it so we left it there.'
'But Bichen is…..' Jin GuanYao exclaimed as he tried to sort out his thoughts. He knew HanGuang Jun had been caught quickly but by his men using Bichen against him! That made no sense.
While Jin GuanYao was wracking his brains to try and put the pieces together to the puzzle that had been presented to him Wei Ying raised his head. The horrified look had vanished, so had the sense of defeat, however the rage and hatred still blazed in his eyes as strong as ever.
'Your right…..Bichen is….' Wei Ying snarled, a voice full of anger.
Wei Ying then raised his hand, a motion that further confused the cultivators around him. Wei Ying hadn't had a sword for decades so why was he calling for one now? Just seconds passed and Bichen flew into sight making the unknown man and Jin GuanYao step back in pure astonishment. Lan Zhan who had been waiting for this cue suddenly moved. The strength of Lan Zhan had either been forgotten or overlooked by his 'capture' and it was only a matter of seconds before the ropes around both his arms and neck had been shredded and the gag removed. It was at this point Jin GuanYao seemed to finally work out he had been tricked and that something was going to happen. Wei Ying was stood quite happily in the centre of the circle, only now he confidently held both chenqing and Suibian.
Jin GuanYao reached out to the other man just as he shouted at the top of his lungs.
'Grab HanGuang Jun don't let him…'
But it was too late. Lan Zhan had confidently stepped out of the circle of stationary people and a few steps closer to Wei Ying. In doing so he crossed the boundary of the inner most ward the two had placed days earlier. The ward pulsed and became visible at feeling the presence of its second Master, the /greyish tinge of and almost solid wall appearing and sealing off the three men inside from the battle outside. Jin GuanYao's head was whipping around as if he could find an exit to the prison he had suddenly found himself in, and the people in there with him. Both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan ignored him completely as Wei Ying tossed Bichen back to its Master and raised Chenqing, Lan Zhan raised Bichen until the two weapons touched.
Then the ward exploded.