A/N I know some people are going to hate me for the next spin on the story. However I hope I have left enough clues – especially in chapter 44 and the chapter below- for people to work out the general idea of what I'm aiming for. Trust me all will end well.

Ch 45

The days following the meeting seemed to go downhill for everyone in Gusu. Whatever had been said in the meeting was a source of rumour for the famously tight lipped Sect. Some of them had seen Lan Zhan walking out the meeting and completely blanking Wei Ying who was obviously trying to gain his attention. Although, as one of the leaders of the Sect he was normally quite reserved when it came to his relationship everyone was well aware how much he loved his husband and just how devoted to each other they both were. If that had been the only thing, the rumour would have quickly died down, however if anything it just got bigger and more exaggerated. The day after the meeting Lan disciples noticed the two men treating each other differently than before, if anything Lan Zhan was colder towards Wei Ying than he had been the day before and Wei Ying was more clingy. It wasn't until over a week after the meeting however that the first public argument happened though. This raising of voices between the two well known soulmates had shocked everyone, especially as Lan Zhan had even shouted at Wei Ying to 'be quiet' at one point.

Both Lan XiChen and Lan QIRen had watched this week of arguments and coldness between both young men and it obviously concerned them. Lan XiChen was especially concerned that his brother would not be able to cope with the emotional turmoil that came with fighting with his husband. After all Lan Zhan had grown up closing himself off from his emotions after the death of their mother, it was a legitimate concern that he may fall back into that emotional void if this carried on too long. To try and help his younger brother to cope with whatever problems had suddenly appeared in his marriage he had suggested he came to stay in his own home with him. XiChen was actually quite worried at the speed Lan Zhan agreed to the idea, the young brother he knew would never agree to such a thing.

In the meantime Lan QiRen had decided to speak to Wei Ying. He had found the younger man walking home after teaching the children and juniors archery and cornered him next to the library pavilion. With one glare from the famous Lan Elder the disciples that happened to be in the main square at the time quickly made themselves scarce, but a few could not help hovering close enough to hear the conversation. It was something that was against the Sect rules, however the chance to watch an altercation between two such legendarily fierce and stubborn men none of them could resist. The 'conversation' turned out to be as disturbing and entertaining as the onlookers feared it would be. Lan QiRen was concerned about his youngest nephew and didn't hold back in saying what he thought, they had helped save Wei Ying's life all because Wanji loved the man, the Lan Sect was now in this trouble simply because of Wei Ying, Wei Ying had bought nothing but trouble and upheaval to Wanji's life since they met and yet somehow his stupid young nephew still loved the man. The point of the tirade being that with all the sacrifices Lan Zhan had made for Wei Ying over the years, he owed him a lot more than his life, so had no business being angry at him for anything.

While this tirade had been going off Wei Ying's hands had been clenching into tighter and tighter fists, but otherwise he had remained silent and passive. The disciples watching knew enough about the man who was HanGuang Jun's cultivation partner to know that when he was still and quiet was when something bad was about to happen. For long minutes after Lan QiRen had finished speaking the two stood, locking eyes, neither of them willing to give ways in the battle of wills. The only sign of movement between the two statues was Wei Ying's hands clenching and unclenching, and Lan QiRen's heaver than normal breathing. Just as it seemed the silent confrontation could go on no longer Wei Ying said something so quiet that those listening had not been able to hear. However they had been unable to consider risking getting any closer to the pair because at that moment Lan QiRen had erupted.

'WELL AM I WRONG?' He had demanded at the top of his voice.

'NO!' Wei Ying shouted back. 'I'm bad for him OK? Is that what you wanted to hear!'

With that response Wei Ying simply turned on his heel and walked away leaving behind a sputtering, purple with anger Lan Elder behind him. Some of the watching disciples looked at each other astonished, they had no idea when, or if, anyone had ever dared walk away from Lan QiRen before. Let alone shouted out at the man in public. To be fair though it would never have crossed the Lan Elders mind that they wouldn't have followed his order to leave and stayed around to listen.

Because of all these unexpected issues between a pair of lovers everyone had considered solid enough to outlast the gods themselves, the rumours couldn't help get bigger and bigger as the weeks went on. It wasn't surprising then when some of the rumours began to escape the confines of Gusu. People from other Sects began to see either Lan Zhan or Wei Ying walking around Gusu city or various night hunts alone. Weeks had turned into months and no one had had seen both of them together in public. YanLi sent letters to her Wei Ying asking what was going on, her concern evident, but the replies she got back seemed half hearted at best. Jiang Cheng even tried to speak to his brother and brother-in-law but with no more success than his sister. YanLi eventually even tried to visit her brother but found him alone in the JingShi, A-Yuan's clothes scattered around the place and the bed dishevelled. It was obvious that Lan Zhan's presence had not been felt in the place for a while. She didn't know who else to speak to, but her brothers appearance was so downcast and he hardly spoke at all. It was almost like he had given up on living at all. It hurt her heart greatly to have to leave at the end of the two day trip.

If she had been able to see Lan Zhan she would have noticed that if anything he was even worse than her own brother. His time living with his brother had done nothing to help his sense of foreboding, his feeling that things were going to go horribly wrong. He wanted to run to the JingShi, to wrap Wei Ying in his arms and force him to accept him back. To say that this whole idea was just a stupid misunderstanding that they could fix together. However instead he forced himself to remain where he was, to eat and sleep, to go about his normal duties and return to his brothers home without showing any of the outward turmoil he felt. His brother of course saw everything but pretended he didn't, after all he knew his younger brother didn't need any 'I'm Sorry's' or 'How do you feel's', he just needed time and space to work out his own feelings.

The days ticked by and both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan seemed to both physically and emotionally degenerate visibly to the eye. Both men got thinner and spoke less and less in public. The whole feeling of the Cloud Reccess had turned from relaxed and organised to crackling with uncertainty and the feeling of treading on eggshells at any moment. Even Lan XiChen and Lan QiRen seemed totally unsure of how to deal with the situation. Having the famously strict Lan Sect degenerating was the cause of even more gossip among the Sects. Causing the idea of the rift between Lan Zhan and Wei Ying causing more problems than just between just those two individuals, it was causing an upset in the unity of the five high Sects themselves.

Again both Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen where getting mountains of letters, some full of concern and some full of anger, about three of the high sects being so intimately entwined that a family trouble could cause trouble among the governance of the of the cultivation world. As before most of the anger and blame was aimed at Wei Ying and his abominable behaviour towards, and seduction of, Lan Zhan. The letters flying back and forth, getting more and more angry and confused, of course did nothing to lessen to the rumours and feelings of the other Sects. These feeling where now being aimed not only towards Wei Ying and Lan Zhan but towards the Lan, Jiang and even the Jin Sects.

It was all turning out to be a nightmare, but as Lan QiRen sat on his cushion trying to meditate he could only feel deep down in his soul that someone was orchestrating the whole thing. It obviously wasn't Xue Yang, that man was smart but simply insane. No whoever was playing mind games with all the Sects had to be made to come out into the light. He just hoped they manged it before the current circumstances destroyed both his family and his Sect.

Months of angst and everyone feeling the uncertainty as soon as they walked out their respective doors eventually got too much. Everyone both both mentally and emotionally exhausted, and no matter how much effort all four men put into hiding the problem from the young A-Yuan the young boy was not stupid and was starting to notice. He was also beginning to be affected by the almost constant moves between his home in the JingShi with Wei Ying and when he was staying with his father in his uncles house. The excuses that he father was working late helping his brother so staying at the house was easier, didn't fool the now 7 year old child who could easily work out that walking from his uncles home to his own would take all of five minutes and was perfectly safe for his strong father. In the end both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had to sit down with the boy and explain they were having some problems and needed some time apart.

This honesty seemed to solve, at least one problem of, A-Yuan no longer asking too many questions. However soon the boys teacher started to send letters to both men about their sons behaviour and grades slipping to the point where neither were acceptable. There was nothing more to be done, drastic action was needed before things spiralled any further downhill and everyone in Gusu was to unnerved to even step out of their houses, let alone do their duties properly. Lan XiChen called both his brother and brother in law into his office the next day for a talk in the hopes to figure out what had gone so horribly wrong.

On cue the next morning Lan Zhan turned up at the steps of the office, having just dropped A-Yuan at school, however there was no sign of Wei Ying. As the two men stood speaking quietly and waiting for the third attendee, who had always had a flexible relationship with time, they pretended not to notice that any disciple walking in front of the office seemed to be walking half the speed they normally did. There was a rule about loitering, especially around the Sect leaders office, but Lan XIChen really couldn't bring himself to care to correct them right now as he had more important things to do. Lan Zhan looked as he always had, back straight, face impassive and when he bothered to speak his manners where impeccable. XiChen however knew different, he had heard his brother talking in his sleep, begging Wei Ying not to leave him, waking up nightmare after nightmare but refusing to say what they were about. He had also seen just how little his brother had been eating since that day when he moved into his home, barely enough for a normal person to stay alive. It was lucky for everyone that Lan Zhan was as stubborn as a mule and this could make him beyond normal when required.

Eventually, half an hour late, Wei Ying walked up carrying a small bag with him. Little bits and pieces could be seen sticking out as the bag groaned under the contents which seemed to exceed the bags actual capabilities. XiChen walked forwards and beckoned him forwards towards the open door of the office but Wei Ying stood where he was.

'I've come to say goodbye' He said in a factual, non emotional voice.

Those four words seemed to echo off every wall in the central square and soon everyone wasn't even bothering to pretend they were working, they were simply stood there staring in disbelief at what was going on. Things hadn't got this bad between the two men had they? XiChen had also been in shock for a moment but stepped forwards, albeit a little shakily, and spoke.

'You can not mean that! You have a family here, a son and a husband. How can you leave just because of some rumours?

Wei Ying still stood, glancing over at Lan Zhan who was pointedly looking the other way, not even glancing at him.

'It seems I'm no longer wanted by my husband'…..Wei Ying said blandly. 'As for A-Yuan, Lan Zhan can look after him better than I can, and I have bought nothing but trouble to the GusuLan since I married into it. I will a hindrance for no one any more. I am returning to the only place I actually belong. I am going back to YiLing.'

With that Wei Ying turned and walked out of the square in the direction of the main gate. His shoulders back and his chin held high. XiChen looked like he had been punched squarely in the jaw before turning to Lan Zhan and, obviously not caring who heard, almost shouting.

'Are you just going to let him leave?'

Lan Zhan's shoulder dipped slightly as he stood, still refusing to turn and glance at Wei Ying's retreating back. With a slow not he whispered.

'Let him do as he pleases.'

Then Lan Zhan himself walked out of the office, shutting the doors on a very concerned and confused Sect leader.