The next month at YiLing seemed to fly past as the community lived within its own little bubble separated from the world outside. The once downtrodden little shacks people lived in where now turning into proper homes, complete with front doors and even curtains. Everyone had jobs to keep up there days and this was showing real results. The garden beds had been sown, and next year they might not have to buy so much food to sustain themselves. A little area had been put by to entertain and teach the children with one of the elders allocated the job of the teacher, something the woman had always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. All in all people where slowly forgetting that the place they were inhabiting was one of the most feared places around. They were becoming a proper little community and the sounds of laugher and arguing where never far away.

Someone had finally got up the courage to raise the subject of an oral shield with Wen Qing who had practically ran into the cave and ordered the two men to use it. Since then no one had been awoken by any strange sounds, but they were aware of the relationship and turned a blind eye. Every morning Wei Ying would wake up to the now familiar rhythm of Lan Zhan's resting heartbeat as he lied back on their, now shared bed, reading a book. As soon as Wei Ying was awake Lan Zhan would get up, get dressed and encourage Wei Ying to do the same. The two of them would normally spend their days reinforcing the shields around the settlement and going into town to pick up any supplies required. The only visitor anyone had received was Jiang Cheng who had come up the mountain to inform Wei Ying that he was officially no longer a member of the YunMeng Sect. Wei Ying had nodded with a blank face until Jiang Cheng had left, then he had broken down in Lan Zhan's arms and wept.

Both of them had settled into a relaxing routine, but of course nothing lasts.

One day on their visit to the town their was a big buzz among the townsfolk as the two walked through the market looking for their purchases. It seemed like two big events had happened lately in the Cultivation world and everyone was speaking about them. Glancing at each other they finished their purchases for the day and decided to go to a nearby inn for a drink and hopefully to listen to the news from the outside world. Today they had bought with them A-Yuan as Wei Ying thought it would be good for such a young child to see more of the world than just the burial mounds, and Lan Zhan could hardly argue. A-Yuan hug off of Wei Ying's arm as his small head swivelled this way and that looking in astonishment at everything around him. Lan Zhan had to smile and admit internally that Wei Ying looked very good with a child in his arms.

After finding a seat at the inn, the two ordered a wine for Wei Ying and a tea for Lan Zhan and A-Yuan. Upon receiving their order they began to listen to the conversations around them with a little more attention. Slowly the voices came over, all of them almost tripping over each other in excitement, and both of their eyes locked over the table.

'….yes the young miss of the Jiang Sect….'

'…..wasn't she the sister of the cultivator who is doing the strange practices?'

'….marrying the young master of the Jin Sect what's his name?'

'Wei WuXian'

'No idiot that's the strange one who's her brother I'm talking about the other one'

'…..oh her new husbands name…...that's Jin ZiXuan….the next leader of the Sect'

'Ohh im not interested in the wedding I heard that Wei WuXian has some strong powers from doing things the demonic way. So strong in fact that he is even able to control HanGuang Jun and make him do whatever he wants!'

Wei Ying choked on his drink at the insane idea of him making Lan Zhan do ANYTHING he didn't want to do, as the group gasped and begun muttering again.

'What! Wei WuXian can control such a powerful cultivator as HanGuang Jun?'

'HanGuang Jun is such a strong person how can he be controlled by anyone?'

'How dangerous is this Wei WuXian if he can do something like that?'

Wei Ying finally took a deep breath and didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the suggestions that he was the one controlling Lan Zhan's actions, however he did know that if these rumours got back to Gusu there would be problems. He was just about to speak up when Lan Zhan shook his head slightly, reached into his money pouch and placed some silver on the table without even looking. Wei Ying was used to Lan Zhan's caviller use of money in the past, but over the last few months he had become much more careful with money as he couldn't just go back to Gusu for more. The fact he wasn't checking the amount showed Wei Ying more about his mental state than his face could. Lan Zhan rose from his seat and walked out of the inn, Wei Ying quickly grabbed A-Yuan and followed.

Lan Zhan was walking so fast Wei Ying wondered idly if he was breaking the Gusu 'no running' rule, but then dismissed the thought from his mind. Struggling to keep up with both the provisions they had bought from the market and a wiggling A-Yuan in his arms Wei Ying could only yell to the disappearing figure in front of him.

'Lan Zhan slow down!'

Lan indeed did slow down….he stopped dead….and Wei Ying walked right into the back of him.

Lan Zhan turned round, the eyes in his normally blank face blazing. Wei Ying quickly put A-Yuan on the floor, stuffed a toy in his hand and told him to go and play on some nearby steps. Having accomplished this he turned his full attention to the man who, in his current mood at least, was several times more dangerous than himself. Wei Ying rested a hand on Lan Zhan's shoulder.

'You need to go home…...back to Gusu…..you need to explain everything to you brother and uncle before these rumours reach them'

Lan Zhan's body tensed.

'No!'

Wei Ying sighed…

'Lan Zhan think about it! What will they think if these rumours get to them before you do? They will come to YiLing and practically drag you back, and if you don't go they will come back again, and again until you do'

Lan Zhan's face remained hard and unreadable as Wei Ying sighed more heavily and tried again.

'The people in YiLing have just started to rebuild their lives, do you really want it destroyed again because your family misunderstands rumours?'

This time Lan Zhan shook his head, some of the fury leaving his face, but looked Wei Ying firmly in the eyes.

'These rumours are too specific'

Wei Ying let out a breath. He had been thinking the same thing. They had had a quiet few months with no problems and now the rumour was coming around that he was not only using demonic cultivation to control another cultivator but that that cultivator was none other than Lan Zhan! Everyone knew he was not only one of the most gifted cultivators of his generation but loved by both his brother and uncle, and a member of one of the most powerful Sects around. In terms of a rumour making him out to be both evil and powerful, this one was almost too perfect. He didn't of course say any of his concerns to Lan Zhan but rather nodded and quietly said.

'Lets go home first, we need to deliver all this stuff. You can go from there.'

Lan Zhan nodded, picked up the supplies from where they had been dropped on the floor and this time waited for Wei Ying to pick up A-Yuan before heading back to the settlement.

That evening in the cave, Lan Zhan stroked Wei Ying's forehead as he slept. Lan Zhan knew he had been particularly rough that evening in their lovemaking but Wei Ying hadn't complained, although he had fallen asleep straight afterwards though so it had obviously taken more energy out of him than normal. Lan zhan couldn't help looking down at the man next to him and feeling that the rumour was someone's attempt to separate him from the group. Without him there they were just a group of wanted criminals protected by one cultivator who had been thrown out of his own sect. If any attack came while he was away Wei Ying might be unable to defend everyone, and the man was stupid enough to get himself killed trying.

Wei Ying was right though, he did have to go back to Gusu and explain everything to his brother and uncle. If this was ever going to get resolved it needed their help, and that meant him speaking to them in person. He also knew that both him and Wei Ying couldn't leave, someone needed to stay here. Someone needed to lead, someone needed to protect. As much as he hated the idea, this was the best one any one could come up with.

Lan Zhan silently slid from the bed and got dressed in his white robes. He hadn't worn them for a while as they were a little impractical in the dust and dirt of the burial mounds. However for him it was like wearing a second skin. Picking Bichen up from a wooden rack by the wall he just as silently walked from the cave, walked through the protective barrier and started heading for Gusu.