Lan Zhan had got back to Gusu at a speed even he didn't know he was capable of. With everything going on he wanted to speak to his uncle and brother and get back to YiLing as fast as possible. No matter how often he told himself it was just a feeling that had no place in logic, he couldn't shake the unease he felt as he got further and further from the place, and man, that had been his home for the past few months. Eventually though the familiar sights and sounds of Gusu town had appeared below him, and not long after that the almost sparkling white walls and towers of the Cloud Recess where he had been raised and still thought of as home.

pAs soon as he landed and sheathed Bichen a group of young disciples had walked over to him, asking questions about where he had been and what he had been doing. They seemed so excited that they where almost tripping each other up to hear his responses but not giving him time to answer one question before asking two more. Not that he intended answering junior disciples anyway! He was just about to tell them to get back to whatever studies or chores they should be doing when a familiar voice sounded from the direction of the library pavilion.

'Leave us!'

Although the voice sounded soft and polite it held the undertone of authority that no one dared question. Certainly no one dared question the man that the voice came from. Almost as one the group turned and bowed.

'Yes ZeWu-Jun' They exclaimed, the excitement in their voice of a few moments ago gone completely, and then turned and went there separate ways.

Lan Zhan watched the juniors leave and then turned and bowed himself.

'Brother' He pronounced.

'Wanji' ZeWu Jun's face lit up with a smile as he walked down the library steps and approached Lan Zhan. 'I didn't know when you would come back. I know you have been protecting Young Master Wei these months, but did you know the trouble you have caused for myself and uncle with your actions?'

Lan Zhan bowed once again a little lower this time.

'I apologise for causing any harm to brother and Uncle. However I must ask to speak to you both on an important matter.'

ZeWu Jun's smile faltered.

'Does this important matter have to do with YiLing and Young Master Wei?'

Lan Zhan remained in his bow and simply answered. 'Yes!'

ZeWu Jun's sigh was something that could only be understood by another long suffering older brother being frustrated by a younger sibling, yet he kept his voice happy when he replied.

'Then we had best go to speak to uncle'.

The atmosphere in the main hall was chilly to the point of freezing, yet all three men in the room pretended they didn't notice. They also pretended that even though they were family and had been together through many trials in the past few decades, they were not actually standing as far away from each other as was possible in the large whilst still being able to speak. Lan QiRen as normal stood on top of the small set of steps at one side of the hall. Lan Zhan and ZeWu Jun stood on opposite sides of the hall just beside thin pillars. Since ZeWu Jun had bought his brother into the hall the atmosphere had only got colder as their uncle had lectured Lan Zhan on his stupidity and Lan Zhan had refused to give way. Neither Lan QiRen or ZeWu Jun were quite sure how to handle this new assertive Lan Zhan.

For about the fifth time in the last few minutes Lan QiRen huffed into the silence. ZeWu Jun decided it was time for him to speak and try to finally try and break this stalemate. He cleared his throat and spoke into the deafening silence.

'Uncle….Wanji has come home to speak to us. We didn't call him home, we didn't send somone to bring him home. He came back on his own so he must have something important he wants to speak about.'

Rather than his intended response which was to start his brother speaking about the reason he had literally appeared out of the blue, Lan QiRen turned and glared, his eyes shifting from one nephew to the other.

'And why shouldn't he come back?' He ground out obviously at least making some attempt to keep his famous temper in check. 'We shouldn't have to call him or send people after him! He knows better than to run away from his responsibilities! I taught him better than that!'

Lan QiRen huffed again before turning his back on both nephews, obviously unsure of what to say next. Before ZeWu Jun could speak again Lan Zhan stepped forwards slightly and bowed at the still turned back of his uncle.

'Uncle you did teach me well and I have not returned that teaching well. I apologise' Lan Zhan remained in his bow. 'However on this point I will not give way. What Wei WuXian is doing is not wrong, neither he or the survivors of the Wen clan deserve death.'

Lan QiRen turned on him again, his race nearly purple with rage.

'And what gives you the right to decide what is right and wrong?…..what gives you the right to decide what people deserve?'

Lan Zhan maintained him calm tone, at least on the outside.

'Uncle has always taught us that strong should not pick on the weak, the wealthy should not use their power against the poor. The group of survivors at YiLing are both weak and poor, I would be ignoring Uncles teachings if I did not help them. I do not choose what is right and wrong, strong or weak. I simply help those who are.'

Lan QiRen definalty had gone purple now and ZeWu Jun was worried the older man either explode or stop breathing if something wasn't done soon.

'Wanji' He said as gently as he could. 'You have travelled a long way and not rested or eaten since you got home. Why don't you go to your Jinshi to rest and we can continue this tomorrow.'

He hoped his brother had the sense to see their uncles temper and leave the room while he still had a chance of calming him down once they were alone. Luckily Lan Zhan nodded, rose from his bow and looked at his brother.

'I am a little tired brother, I will go home and rest as you advise.'

With that Lan Zhan bowed once more and left the hall. As soon as he left one more audible huff came from the direction of Lan QiRen. ZeWu Jun smiled inwardly and walked closer to his uncle. He had gotten rid of one half of the problem for now, now he needed to solve the other half. Although seeing Wanji's behaviour lately he wasn't sure which would be more difficult.

'Uncle' He began, trying to get the older man's attention. 'Both you and Wanji have valid points in what you have said today. How about listening to an idea I've had.'

Lan Zhan walked back into his Jinshi and all of a sudden felt exhausted. It had been such a long day and the conversation with his uncle and brother had been more unpleasant as he had expected it to be. He had never expected his Uncle to take the idea that he was living with Wei Ying with a smile on his face, but, but the explosion he had received was something else. Looking around is home as well didn't bring any comfort, this place had once been his sanctuary from any outside problems, But now it just looked empty and unloved. A few bowls of food stood on the table in the middle of the room but the single pair of chopsticks just reminded him of who he was missing back in YiLing.

Forcing himself to eat and regain his strength for his trip back home his chopsticks paused half way to his lips. When had he begun to think of YiLing as home rather than Gusu? He guessed it had more to do with a person rather than a place. Wherever Wei Ying was would always be home to him in the future. Such thoughts were not helping him eat his food though, which was now cold. Quickly finishing off the cold, bland meal he went over to the bed to get some much needed rest. Again though the comfortable bed just reminded him of the cold cave where Wei Ying would be sleeping, and he tossed and turned most of the night finally falling into an erotic dream which he would never tell another soul about.

When he woke up in the morning he went through the washing and dressing routine that had been with him since he was a child. Upon opening the door though he found a junior disciple waiting for him with orders to go yet again to the main hall to meet with his uncle and brother. Lan Zhan simply nodded to show he had received the instruction and headed away.

This time when he arrived at the hall both men already in attendance where stood together and seemed to be in a better mood than the day before, however neither appeared to have slept. As he entered he bowed, first to his uncle and then to his brother. Before he could speak though ZeWu Jun spoke up.

'Wanji, uncle and I were talking until late last night about this problem and I think I have come up with a solution, although you may not like hearing it.'

Lan Zhan just nodded and ZeWu Jun began telling all about the idea he had spoken to his uncle about the night before. It had not been easy to get his uncle to agree. There had been a lot of 'No' and 'Never' responses before anything approaching an agreement. Eventually though the two had agreed that it was the best way to solve the current crisis. As ZeWu Jun finished speaking though Lan Zhan looked back and forth between the two and said in a firm tone.

'NO!'