Ch 47

Months passed and both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan fell into their new routines. Neither man was happy, Lan Zhan fell back behind the wall of indifference that had served him well for many years before he met Wei Ying. He did however look after A-Yuan all by himself, only occasionally allowing his brother to have the boy for sleep overs when XiChen thought his brother needed some rest. Lan Zhan would have normally sent A-Yuan to the Wen village for some amusement, however they had all agreed that if the Lan's could have no interaction with the Wen's at the moment that would be safer for both parties. After all Wei Ying's secret might have come out, but the secret of the Wen's was still very much in place.

Wei Ying on the other hand had no one to speak to, or to bother him if he shouted and screamed at the empty mountain all day. In some ways he was better off than Lan Zhan, emotionally at least, he could be free to externalise his feelings as he wanted and no one saw or cared what he was doing.

The days for both of them where long, quiet and getting extremely tedious. However outside of their small bubbles things where beginning to happen. Jin Zixuan had tried to put off the offensive on YiLing as long as he could. After all attacking the beloved brother of his wife was not going to help the health of his marriage. YanLi had already threatened him repeatedly that if he took any part in harming her A-Xian he could forget about coming in her room at night. The rest of the Sects were looking to him to actually lead the attack…..he knew his wife. If he did actually lead the attack on YiLing, that would get him a divorce letter, if not a dagger in the ribs. YanLi was very placid and docile usually, however she was extremely loyal to her brothers and could turn from a kitten to a tiger when one of them was threatened. Eventually the meeting about the attack on YiLing could not be put off any longer.

All the Sect leaders attended, most where surprised to see that even Lan XiChen turned up, and over two days of talks a plan was devised and a date set. A small argument had erupted at one point about the part Lan Zhan should, or should not play in the attack. The Lan's had steadfastly ignored some of the calls to have HanGuang Jun once again prove his loyalty to the righteous Sects by including himself. Lan XiChen had made it clear his younger brother was not well enough to attend and that was final. Just as things looked as if there where about to get out of control Jin GuanYao had spoken up from his place beside Jin Zixuan. Normally the other cultivators would have ignored the bastard son of the past Sect Leader, however this time he seemed to hold himself straighter than before.

'My honourable Sect Leader's' He began, speaking loudly enough to be heard while somehow not shouting. 'When demanding that HanGuang Jun takes part in this attack please take into account that for many years Wei WuXian was his husband and they cared for a child together. How many of you gentleman would be able to kill a loved one in cold blood after sharing such tender moments?…..' He paused allowing the words to sink in but before anyone could respond he continued. 'Hasn't HanGuang Jun already proven his loyalty to the righteous Sects by throwing out such a man when it was obvious he was once again treading the wrong path?'

His words had hung in the air for a few moments before, amongst loud mutters and gruff snorts, people had begun nodding their heads before returning to the problem at hand.

It had been agreed. The Cultivation world would attack YiLing the following week! And this time they would leave no avenue of escape!

Landing back in the Cloud Recess, Lan XiChen headed straight for his office. His Uncle had been watching the Sect while he was away at the meeting, neither of them quite trusting Lan Zhan's state of mind at the moment. Opening the door to the office he glanced around and seeing no one but his Uncle present he closed the doors quietly before placing an eavesdropping spell around the room. Lan QiRen looked up from the table.

'Well?' He asked expectantly.

'As we thought.' XiChen responded, walking slowly towards the table. 'More rumours about what the YiLing Patriarch is doing, about his powers growing substantially since returning to YiLing, about his hatred for the correct way of cultivation. It was decided the attack will proceed in six days time.'

Lan QiRen simply nodded his head as if everything he had heard was to be expected.

'Wanji?' He asked slowly.

'I haven't mentioned anything to him yet.' XiChen replied, hearing the concern in his Uncles voice. 'However not knowing how he will react when he finds out, I think it's safer to get A-Yuan to the Wen's. We haven't been in contact with them for a while so it should be safe.'

Lan QiRen nodded again.

'I agree. Get the boy to the Wen village for a few days, then we will speak about the next step with Wanji!'

The next five days at the Cloud Reccess where taken up with the preparations for the attack. Many of disciples where unsure of what was happening. They had seen the change in Lan Zhan while Wei Ying had been living with them, a few of them had received teaching in archery or talismans from the man himself. He had bought light and a sense of life to Gusu, and certainly to the two Lan brothers. None of the disciples believed for one moment that Wei Ying was the devil he was being made out to be. Yet they had orders from both the senior elder and their Sect Leader, they couldn't disobey. They just spent the days doing their duties and preparing for an attack that they hoped in their hearts they would never have to complete, because even though Lan Zhan had not said a word about it, they all knew that if they took part in this the Lan Sect would never be the same again.

Lan QiRen and Lan XiChen where also making preparations. To show their loyalty to the other Sects they both aimed to be at YiLing when the attack began. Of course Wanji had not taken this well and had refused to speak to either of them since he was told. That day Lan XiChen had gone over to the Jingshi to speak to his brother. After being invited in and sharing a cup of tea Lan Zhan had spoken up in his normal impassive tone, only the sharp look in his eyes giving away the emotions he felt deep down.

'You went to the meeting about Wei Ying this morning brother and now you are here to see me. I assume you have something you wish to say?'

Lan XiChen had been thinking about this all the way here, but now could only blurt out the truth.

'Yes. All the Sects will be attacking YiLing in six days. The Sects have agreed you need not attend however until then you will remain in the Cloud Reccess.'

'That's thoughtful of them!' Lan Zhan's monotone voice was still there but something dangerous was beginning to dance behind his eyes.

'Wanji!….we must think of out Sect!' XiChen began…..I know you love Wei WuXian but….'

'But nothing!' Lan Zhan spoke up sharply. 'You know if you wish to stop me warning him brother you will have to lock me in here?'

XiChen sighed before clanging the cup down and shoving the table back with a scrape in his temper as he turned back towards the door.

'Very well' He said with an authoritative voice as he walked out the jingshi, waving his hand behind him to seal it.

Everyone in the Cloud Recess had seen the Sect Leader walk up to his brothers sealed home every morning since that day. Just as everyone knew Lan Zhan refused to speak with his elder brother and he would return to his office barking out orders to anyone close enough to listen.

The five days ticked by and soon the sixth day arrived. The day the Sects had all agreed they would attack YiLing and wipe the YiLing Patriarch off the face of the earth once and for all.

A new day dawned in YiLing. Wei Ying stretched from where he had fallen to sleep under the shade of some rocks the day before. Another morning alone, another day to do nothing but watch his flowers grow, wonder if his vegetables would provide him enough to eat over the winter. Once again he looked over at the cave that had once been home to himself and Lan Zhan. When winter came would he have the heart to go back inside, see what was left after the fire. What was left of their home, their bed, their memories. He had called himself a coward many times over already for preferring to sleep outside under the stars, or even under rocks when it rained, anywhere but going back inside that cave. A flash above him broke him out of his reverie. Someone was trying to break through his wards. They had been quiet for days so he should have known something was coming, these people didn't just give up.

Gracelessly sinking to the floor he opened a drinking bottle and took a deep drink of the water he collected the night before, it was warm but still drinkable. The flash came again, then again. Whoever it was wasn't giving up. Flash, flash, flash…..he was beginning to get a headache this early in the morning. Why did people never attack him at a decent hour when he was actually awake? Groaning a little and muttering to himself about people getting up waaay to early, he stood and moved towards the little nook he had slept in, drinking as he went. Just then the flashes in the sky turned from an almost playful orange to an angry red and almost lit up the morning sky like midday.

Wei Ying ignored the colours in the sky and kept sipping his drink as he knelt down to eat some of the meal he had left over from yesterday. Half way through though a fire talisman flew towards him, it was a form of long range communication he had created the first time he was in YiLing. Catching it in his his hand he waited patiently for the message to form. It was a simple two word message and he smiled as he let go and the message once again burned up in the air.

He swallowed the last of the meal before standing up and speaking to the empty space in-front of him.

'They're here!'

Outside 'the YiLing ward of flames' there was complete disbelief. Both the senior Lan's had volunteered to break the ward and allow access to the area where the YiLing Patriarch currently hid. No one thought such a ward would withstand the combined attack of both Senior Lan's but somehow it managed. It was as everyone was scratching their heads in confusion that Jin Zixuan had stepped forward adding his own power to the others. With the combined power of the three, the ward had soon wavered, seemed to flutter as if failing. The three men had added power to overwhelm the collapsing ward and everyone had felt a rush of relief. This had soon turned to a gasp of despair when seconds later the ward lit up once again, fire billowing out to engulf the three cultivators, and then retreating once more leaving no sign of their existence.

If such a ward actually existed, that it could not only kill but devour such strong men, how could it possibly be beaten? And even if they did get past it what did that say about the man who built it? The murmurs amongst the gathered men were getting louder and louder, more unsettled and unsure. No one knew what to do, but they were sure that they where no longer as positive about defeating what was waiting inside. Slowly the cohesive group splintered back into the Sects who just looked about as if someone, or something, would jump out from the nearest patch of foliage.

Just when everything seemed to be completely falling apart Jin GuangYao cleared his throat and spoke up, loud enough to be heard amongst the mutterings of the rest of the group.

'I have just seen my Sect leader killed by him and you are all thinking of ways to escape!' He said with a little heat in his voice before softening it to a gentle croon. 'If all of us work together the YiLing Patriarch can not match our power, he is simply trying to scare us and make us disunited. Can we let him get away with killing so many of our elders? If he will kill his own brother in law I ask you who is safe from his demonic power?'

He was about to speak again when a cackle echoed around the whole of YiLing. And the ward dropped.