Ch23

Both men ate in an uncomfortable silence. No one came to the Jingshi to ask how Lan Zhan was, Wei Ying didn't know if this was because he had been healed before he returned home or if no one cared. If he was honest with himself he wasn't sure how he would react if he saw one of those people who had just stood around like a rock which while watching someone as honest as Lan Zhan get whipped. Maybe it was best no one else named Lan appeared in front of him tonight after all.

Just when all these thoughts were running through his head a knock came at the open door and a familiar head appeared. Master Lan poked his head inside, as if looking for something, before walking in with the confident stride normal to the Lan Clan. He stopped once he saw Lan Zhan and Wei Ying still sat opposite each other at the dinner table, his face carefully blank as he looked at the strange scene of domestication.

Wei Ying went to speak up only to receive a kick under the table from Lan Zhan as he rose to bow to Master Lan. Taking the hint Wei Ying forcefully shut his mouth but fixed his gaze on the much older man, refusing to lower his eyes even though he knew he was being disrespectful. Right now he couldn't bring himself to care. Master Lan glanced over at Lan Zhan and dismissed the graceful bow with a wave of his hand, without ever removing his eyes from Wei Ying. It seemed the two stubborn men had turned this visit into stare off.

Upon standing Lan Zhan glanced from his uncle, who was still by the door, to Wei Ying half way across the room by the table. Even though most people wouldn't realise it his Uncles body language showed he was annoyed. Wei Ying's on the other hand, even a blind person would have been able to tell he wasn't happy. Although the silence felt it could explode at any time Lan Zhan tried to speak and break the deadlock.

'Uncle may I ask what has bought you to my room this late in the afternoon?'

It was perfectly obvious what had bought Master Lan to the Jingshi, his arms were filled with bandages and ointments to treat his wounds. However neither of the other men seemed to notice or care about the completely obvious questions and continued to stare.

'I bought you some treatments for you wounds Wanji. You don't want them getting infected and taking any longer to heal than necessary'

'Thank you Uncle' Lan Zhan replied.

A loud, inelegant 'Pffffft' came from the direction of the table and Lan Zhan quickly glanced a warning over to Wei Ying, who looked like he would happily chew rocks right now, and hope he would keep quiet. Master Lan had not moved his stare from Wei Ying, his body growing more rigid as he fought for self control, however he spoke in his ever present monotone voice.

'If you are unable to treat your own wounds I will send a healer over to assist you'.

Again Lan Zhan nodded and repeated.

'Thank Yo…..'

'I will help him treat his wounds!'

Lan Zhan hadn't even finish speaking when Wei Ying couldn't keep silent any more and spoke up in a determined tone that could rival Master Lan's for command. For once Lan Zhan was unsure what to do. This was his home and he was loosing control of the situation. He wasn't used to not being in control of things but something inside him knew that with these two people, in these moods, in one room he had two choices, duck and cover or stay and try to minimise the damage. Master Lan spoke almost immediately in a dismissive tone, almost designed to wind up Wei Ying.

'Wanji has wounds on his back and legs, you think I would trust you to see him unclothed while you treat them?'

For a horrible moment Lan Zhan thought Wei Ying would simply say he had seen him unclothed many times before, so treating his wounds wouldn't be a problem. Although his brother had worked out something was going on between them his Uncle hadn't and he wasn't ready to explain it all yet. The response Wei Ying came out with though, well he wasn't sure if it was better or worse.

'At least I am not the one who caused them!' Wei Ying spoke indignantly and then completely ignoring the fact the older man's face was turning an alarming shade of purple carried on as if speaking to himself 'ohh I forgot you didn't cause them either did you Master Lan, you got someone else to hit your nephew while you stood and watched'

'Wei Ying eno…..' Lan Zhan tried to hiss but again he was cut off, this time by the explosive voice of his Uncle. Please no one hear this, He thought desperately.

'WEI WUXIAN! I will forget how disrespectful you are being to an elder. But you dare speak to me about my part in Wanji's injury when you don't even face up to your own responsibility regarding it!'

Wei Ying looked stunned like he had been punched while Master Lan looked like his temper was a thread away from fully breaking. All that could be heard in the room was Master Lan's heavy breathing as he tried to regain his temper and Lan Zhan's own hurried breaths as he frantically tried to work out how to solve a situation that had quickly and drastically gotten out of hand. Wei Ying on the other hand didn't seem to be breathing, he made no sound at all for a few moments, only stood looking at Master Lan before, for the first time in the argument, shifting his gaze to Lan Zhan. The eyes were full of confusion and pain.

'Lan Zhan?' it came out more a deep breath than his normal deep voice.

Lan Zhan didn't know how to answer, that voice, those eyes. It killed him to know the harm he was already doing to the man he loved. Instead he looked back to his Uncle who seemed to be completely unaware of the silent exchange.

'Uncle please don't!'

He still couldn't bring himself to look at Wei Ying but Master Lan also turned his head to look at him. Lan Zhan hadn't felt under this much scrutiny from his uncle since he was a child. After a few minutes though Master Lan sighed loudly and dropped his eyes slightly.

'He doesn't know does he?'

'Doesn't know what? Wei Ying interrupted.

'No!' Lan Zhan said simply 'and I was hoping he was never going to'

'HE...Doesn't know what?' Wei Ying asked again, this time loosing both patience and temper.

Master Lan once again looked at Wei Ying for a moment before shaking his head. He moved a few steps forwards and held his hands out to the completely confused younger man.

'Take these and make sure Wanji is healed properly Young Master Wei'

With those instructions and a final shake of the head to Lan Zhan, Master Lan handed over the supplies to Wei Ying and walked out the room, leaving two very emotionally and physically tired younger men behind.

Lan Zhan remained where he was while Wei Ying seemed to be doing a great impression of a statue. He barely breathed and none of his muscles moved as his uncle left the Jingshi. Even for a few moments afterwards Wei Ying remained the same. Just when he began to get worried Wei Ying exploded into motion. Moving over to the bed the ointments and dressings go placed on the covers, a few steps took him back over to the spare bed that in put in the room for when Wei Ying arrived (although never actually used) and the already immaculate bed cover was straightened. Pillows where plumped, towels where folded, tea was poured. Wei Ying was moving around the room doing anything and everything he could find to occupy himself, but he wasn't making a sound. In the end it was Lan Zhan who couldn't take this abnormal behaviour and spoke up when Wei Ying started searching for a duster to dust the privacy screen.

'Wei Ying!' He didn't quite yell but his voice was sharp enough to get the attention of the person it was aimed at. 'Stop doing whatever it is you are doing. If you want to ask me something then ask'

Wei Ying paused and turned to look at him, his eyes red with unshed tears.

'I don't have to ask I know. You got hurt because of me didn't you?' It wasn't quite a question, more of an accusation.

Lan Zhan could hear the pain in his voice but didn't know how to solve such a problem. He could only offer up the truth.

'Wei Ying I got punished because I made a choice that concerned you. A choice I don't regret and would make again if I was given the same chance. But in doing so I broke some of our rules. My Uncle and Brother had no other choice but to punish me.'

Wei Ying was only just holding back his tears but felt like he had to know the whole truth, so he gathered his courage and spoke the words that neither of them really wanted to hear.

'What did you do?'

Lan Zhan paused for a moment and then began to speak'

'You remember that I said I was sorry for not getting you out of the cave in time when you were injured?'

Wei Ying nodded in response but stayed silent while sinking back down to the cushion next to the table .

'I didn't tell the whole truth about that day' Lan Zhan continued 'That day many cultivators from various Sects didn't want to leave. I don't know why but they seemed focused on destroying YiLing with you in it. Overly focused! They wouldn't leave until you came out or they saw your remains. Either way I knew I had to make them leave, so…...' he paused again before taking a breath and continuing '30 cultivators from various Sects got injured before I made them retreat. While you were unconscious their some of the leaders came to speak to Brother and Uncle demanding and explanation. They kept the secret of the Wen's and you but said I was there to look out for the innocents and had saved A-Yuan. The leaders knew they could not demand the life of a 3 year old child but wanted me punished for the injures I caused.'

Wei Ying had completely slumped to the floor, his strength almost gone as he muttered almost to the floor. His voice shaking so much it almost broke.

'30 strokes…..30 people…..they wanted your own people to kill you Lan Zhan!…..they wanted them to kill you because you helped me'

Wei Ying didn't know he has broken down in tears until he felt those strong, safe arms wrap around him. Then he was cocooned in a sense of safety in a world that hated him, but hated the sacrifices this person had to give in order to provide this for him.