CH 47 : Night Court

By that evening Lan XiChen was already drowning under a mountain of paperwork from the other Sects asking him what he was going to do with Jin GuanYao, some demanding for their to be a trail while others demanded a simple execution. Publicly this time as no one wanted the man returning for a second encore. Some of the notes even wanted the Lan, YunMeng and Jin to hand over the criminal to one of the other Sects for judgement as they thought those Sects would be to biased towards him. XiChen couldn't help but hold his head in hands when reading some of the less tactful letters and thinking that all of the Sects where perfectly happy to let the Lan take the risk in capturing Jin GuanYao, but now he had been had been caught they were suddenly untrustworthy. The whole thing was a mess he could well do without.

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had been busy doing their own bit to help after the attack. They had spent a few hours moving the wounded and dead to separate sections of the Cloud Reccess, giving the dead the respect they deserved by covering them with a shroud and Wei Ying giving the wounded some water to drink while Lan Zhan healed what he could with his abilities. The fight had taken a lot out of both of them physically and spiritually so there wasn't much they could do. Eventually the two had been sent home by a grumpy healer who had complained that the two would soon be adding to his work instead of helping if they remained any longer. Wei Ying didn't think the famed Second Master Lan had ever been spoken to in such a disrespectful way, except for by himself, and tried hard not to giggle at Lan Zhan's face as the obviously tired and stressed healer simply turned away from them.

The healer wasn't far wrong though. Both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan were both running on empty by the time they reached home and just collapsed into bed, still fully clothed. The next morning Wei Ying awoke to find the bed already cold and wondered where Lan Zhan had found the energy from to get up early and go about his duties. It was then he heard some rustling in the room, to the side of the bed where they kept the wash basin and chamber pot, and he pushed bat the blankets a little as called out slowly.

'Lan Zhan'

No response came for a few seconds and even the rustling had stopped so Wei Ying gripped the blanket harder and made ready to get out of bed as he called again.

'Lan Zhan'

'Who did you think it would be this time in a morning?'

Lan Zhan's question came out in normal disinterested tone but that really wasn't caught Wei Ying's interest at the moment. Lan Zhan had just appeared back behind their bedroom privacy screen wearing nothing but an open loose robe that seemed designed to hang in just the right places to display his perfect naked figure, even down to the bare feet that made no sound as they walked across the floor. It wasn't that Wei Ying hadn't seen his husband like this before, of course he had many times, it was that it seemed to be sooooo long since he had seen his husband like this. So relaxed, so calm, and so sexy. Lan Zhan seemed oblivious to Wei Ying's current thoughts and turned to the small closet where he kept his clothes, Wei Ying had a similar one on the other side of the bed, and Wei Ying had to pull the blanket over his head to hide the whimper that threatened to escape his throat.

The movement must have gotten Lan Zhan's attention because the next moment Wei Ying felt a hand on top of the blanket gently but firmly pulling it away from his head. As Wei Ying looked up he met Lan Zhan's puzzled look which almost had him diving back under the blankets again. Which didn't exactly help as he could no longer focus on Lan Zhan's eyes and only feel the contours of his body, making him more aware Lan Zhan still wasn't dressed.

'You're doing this on purpose aren't you!' Wei Ying whined.

Lan Zhan still looked a little confused and tried to pull the blanket down even further but Wei Ying stubbornly held it up to his neck. Eventually Lan Zhan let go and tried asking.

'What am I doing on purpose?'

'Wei Ying blushed, surprised he was still capable of it around this man, and pulled the covers up over his head again only to have Lan Zhan pull them back off a second later. After a few moments of childish fighting over the blankets Lan Zhan signed and spoke with some exasperation.

Wei Ying!'

Wei Ying sighed and tried to put some kind of power in his voice and not let it tremble or whine to much as he spoke.

'You are walking around naked on purpose. That robe shows off everything especially when to turn around and it clings to your ass like that…..I…' Wei Ying stalled and Lan Zhan looked even more confused.

'I thought you liked me naked?' Lan Zhan only half asked. Obviously not following Wei Ying's train of thought this early in the morning.

'I do….It's just…' Wei Ying growled at having to say something that should be so obvious. He took a deep breath, tried not to blush again and spoke up. 'Lan Zhan it's cruel, for the next few days we are going to be busy with helping everyone after the attack…...and seeing you like this!…..teasing me like this...do you know the last time we had sex was when you practically fucked me awake that morning….since then we have lived like monks.'

'We sleep naked in the same bed every night Wei Ying, in each others arms, you have a strange idea of how monks live!'

This time Wei Ying did growl and pushed against Lan Zhan's chest as he pulled the blankets away in order to get up. Lan Zhan may have already gotten washed but he was still in yesterdays old, grimy, clothes and wanted a wash. He also wanted to clam down and Lan Zhan's attempt at a joke wasn't helping, he was too frustrated. Strong arms gripped him tight from behind, one wound round his stomach and the other round his chest pulling him closer to the firm body of the man behind.

'I know you are frustrated' Lan Zhan whispered into his ear. 'So am I. I have missed being inside you as well, missed hearing the sounds you make only for me. When these things are finished with Jin GuanYao I promise you we can stay at home for hours, days, however long it takes you to beg me to stop.'

Wei Ying turned in Lan Zhan's arms to look up slightly and meet his eyes, those unblinking eyes that scared many men but only held tenderness and promise for Wei Ying. As he spoke he let his voice return to that childish whine he used when teasing his husband.

'Begging you to stop has never worked before has it?'

'It is hard to stop when you are saying it but your legs are so tight around me I can only move deeper' Lan Zhan responded with a rare small laugh.

Wei Ying couldn't argue with that so he simply buried his face in Lan Zhan's shoulder for a moment and then with both hands against the strong bare chest, he pushed himself away before turning to go freshen up. Lan Zhan simply lowered his arms and watched him go until Wei Ying turned just before disappearing from sight, a huge grin on his face.

'So shameless Er'ge. Where did you learn such a thing?'

With that Wei Ying disappeared and Lan Zhan returned to getting dressed for the day, a small smile already tugging at the corners of his mouth.

By that evening all the teasing fun of the morning had been completely forgotten. Lan Zhan was sat, in his capacity as Eminence, at the top table of a hastily assembled group of cultivation leaders. It had been agreed that the assembly would take place at Lotus Cove as the YunMeng, Jin and Lan Sects had areas large enough for such numbers. The Lan where recovering after the battle so no one wanted to bother them and Jin ZiXuan had proclaimed that he didn't want to host such an important meeting about his own Sect member, despite the fact that everyone had thought the man dead for years. That had left the YunMeng Sect and Jiang Cheng had agreed to prepare as best he could on short notice. Lan Zhan. Wei Ying and Lan XiChen had all flown in that afternoon to arrive to barely organised chaos, but no one was blaming the Sect as it was doing its best. Jiang Cheng had appeared, greeted Lan Zhan and Lan XiChen and then told Wei Ying in a gruff voice which rooms they would be staying in and to make himself useful, before turning away and returning to whatever he had been doing before.

Wei Ying of course now sat in his usual place beside Lan Zhan, but rather than at the same table he had his own to side and a little behind. It was still on the dais as befitted his place as Lan Zhan's spouse but gave more significance to Lan Zhan's official position, which would be important in this meeting. A smart move on his brothers part he had to admit.

The sun had long gone down while the Sect Leaders had been speaking. the YunMent disciples had only entered twice, once to provide drinks to those assembled and the second time to provide a second round of drinks along with some snacks. Wei Ying had eaten without much concentration on what exactly it was he was eating, he trusted his brother not to make any stupid choices in food which would have him coughing or vomiting in the middle of the meeting. Instead, for the past few hours Wei Ying's main attention had been on the figure in the middle of the room. Jin GuanYao!

When Jin GuanYao had entered the hall he had been quite defiant as to what could be done to him, quite vocal that he had escaped death once so he could always do it again. However as the hours passed and the conversation got more heated amongst the Sect Leaders Wei Ying had noticed a subtle difference come over the proud man. The hall was now only lit by the many candles that lined its walls which, under the circumstances gave it quite an eery feeling. But they also produced a strange side effect which it had taken Wei Ying a little while to work out. The candles all shone inwards towards the centre on the room, leaving the tables and people speaking almost in shadow while leaving the person in the centre completely under the lights. Also the flicker of the candles couldn't be seen by those on the tables but Wei Ying could bet that Jin GuanYao was almost getting blinded by them every time he tried to look up and see who was speaking. The most creepy thing of all though to observe from Wei Ying's point of view was as the candles burned down, as the hours passed, the shadows from the candles seemed to move ever more closer to the man kneeling in the centre almost like an executioners sword. This gradual movement of the shadows was coinciding with the Sect Leaders growing more and more impatient to reach a consensus and return to their room with the problem solved. Now Jin GuanYao spoke no more, was defiant now more. Instead he knelt with his head lowered and bound in so many heavy chains he reminded Wei Ying of when he first met Wen Ning after he was resurrected, back when everyone still thought him the enemy, when everyone would have happily placed him where Jin GuanYao was now.

'Are you ok?'

Lan Zhan's voice was just above a whisper as he spoke, still looking forwards and for all outwards purposes showing he was listening to the argument that had been going round in circles without reaching a verdict all night. Wei Ying automatically nodded while fiddling with teacup before remembering Lan Zhan actually couldn't see him at the moment. He didn't even try to put false happiness into his voice as he spoke, Lan Zhan would notice in a second if he wasn't sincere.

'I'm fine Lan Zhan. This is just bringing up a few memories I would rather forget.'

Lan Zhan nodded quietly and then stilled before raising his hand high for those assembled to see. It was very rare Lan Zhan spoke at assemblies unless specifically called upon so it took everyone a moment to notice and quieten down. Wei Ying had noticed to and reached forward to grab his husbands robe, but Lan Zhan simply stood up gracefully to address the assembly, ignoring the tug on the back of his robes.

Everyone knows I do not like to speak but in this case I think I must…' Lan Zhan began, his normal monotone voice filled with authority.

'We have all been here now for many hours discussing the merits and problems with the idea of execution. I myself have more reason to want Jin GuanYao executed for his crimes than most people here. He not only broke the law on multiple occasions but years ago blamed my husband for them, so much so that he was left with no option but to take his own life at the age of twenty one!….' This was the longest anyone had heard Lan Zhan speak, and with the most passion anyone (outside his family) had heard so the audience where rapt. 'Despite getting a second chance and living he did not find the right path but rather further tried to harm myself, my Sect and my family. However all this can be forgiven, the attacks on Gusu can be forgiven. What can not be forgiven is the murder of innocents of our many clans. I ask that if you are going to convict him of anything that it be that alone.'

With that Lan Zhan sat down and the whole room was silent for a good few seconds with most of those in attendance staring up at him in shock. Had they really heard HanGunag Jun speak that much? XiChen who was sat at a table next to his brother smiled with pride up at his younger brother and Wei Ying behind also beamed. Lan Zhan however having spoken so much seemed happy to just sit quietly and sip his tea. Jiang Cheng stood up, addressing the people present and spoke.

'I want justice for the members of my Sect!'

Jiang Cheng remained standing and slowly XiChen also rose and said in a gentle but firm voice.

'I also want justice for those members of my Sect who died in the attack on Gusu'

After a moment Jin ZuXuan stood and added his voice, then a fourth, then fifth. Soon all the Sect Leaders where stood, each proclaiming their desire to give their own Sect Justice. As if as one they all turned to look at Lan Zhan, and by proximity Wei Ying. Lan Zhan this time didn't stand, he simply lowered his teacup and nodded his head gracefully in agreement.