Chapter Four
When the encounter with Jiang Cheng had finished and the temperamental man left, Wei Yingyue left Lan Zhan and the other disciples. She walked on her own through the forest, clutching a bell in her hand. It was a bell that she had been given while growing up at Lotus Pier, though she never wore it after her exile. She simply carried the bell around in a pouch that she hid in her Hanfu. Soon she came to a stream, walking forwards to sit on the rock as she looked at the water. The girl looked down at the bell, running a finger over it as she felt tears welling in her eyes. After sitting by herself for a while someone finally came to stand behind her right shoulder, the smell of sandalwood wafting into her nose as Lan Zhan stopped right behind her.
"Are you okay?" He asked lightly, his voice filling the entire area around them effortlessly. Wei Yue pursed her lips as she shook her head, looking at the sky.
"No, I'm not." She sighed, blinking as tears fell from her eyes. Lan Zhan looked down at her hand, her long fingers clasped around something. He reached down and she looked at her hand as he took the bell, studying it closely as he held it by it's string. "I wasn't prepared to see Jiang Cheng. I didn't want to see Jiang Cheng. I didn't want to think about what happened the last time I was at Lotus Pier." She whispered, looking up at the older man as he stared at the bell. His eyes shifted after a moment and he froze, his eyes landing on her tears falling down her cheeks.
"I've only ever seen you cry three times." He muttered, she looked away and wiped her face. "Wei Yue, Jiang Ch-" Lan Zhan was cut off by the sound of a flute flowing through the air, the sound causing both of them to freeze. It sounded familiar, the melody causing chills to run through Wei Yingyue's spine. Lan Zhan and Wei Yue started towards the noise, moving swiftly through the woods, up the mountain, and through the trees to see the man who Jiang Cheng had tried to attack before. Lan Zhan grabbed the man's wrist, causing him to stop mid melody. Wei Yue came up on the opposite side of the stranger, scanning over his bamboo "flute" before her eyes landed on someone she hasn't seen in years. A small gasp left her lips when her eyes fell onto Wen Ning, the Fierce Corpse looking around nearly two zhang in front of her.
The sound of the flute cracked through the air, the pace was faster and sharper. It was shrill and harsh, causing the female to wince as she watched Wen Ning flee from the scene as the flute was dropped by the man in Lan Zhan's grip. Wei Yingyue's eyes turned to look at the two men, seeing them watching each other.
"A-Ling!" "Uncle!"
These two voices broke Wei Yue's gaze away, moving to stand in front of the stranger and Lan Zhan as she watched Jiang Cheng scold his nephew.
"Didn't you bring signal firelights with you? Don't you know to use them when you meet something like this? What are you pretending to be strong for? Scram over here!" He ordered at the young disciple.
"Weren't you the one who told me that I have to catch it? And, if I don't catch it, I shouldn't see you?" The brat mouthed back, causing Wei Yue to roll her eyes gently.
"What on Earth can it be, beating up in such a dignified way?" Jiang Cheng asked after taking in the scene before him.
"Sect-Sect Leader, it's Wen Ning." A cultivator forced.
"What did you say?" Wei Yingyue clenched her fist.
"Wen Ning is back!" The same person exclaimed. Wei Yingyue watched the emotions flash across his face.
"The thing was ground to dust in front of everyone long ago, so how can it come back?" He growled bitterly.
"It really was Wen Ning! There's no way for it to be wrong! My eyes couldn't have mislooked." The cultivator suddenly pointed towards Wei Yingyue's direction. "He was the one who summoned him!" He spoke, regarding the man Lan Zhan was still holding and staring at. Wei Yue tensed as she thought silently to herself, coming to the same conclusion that, as it seemed, Jiang Cheng had come to as well.
"Well, well. So, you're back?" He asked with a twisted smile, stroking the ring on his finger. Wei Yue grabbed her sword's hilt, eyes not leaving Jiang Cheng's when he released Zidian. He raised it and slashed it down, the purple lightning hurtling down at both Wei Yue and the stranger she stood in front of. Lan Zhan's guqin, suddenly, was in front of her and she stood in front of the stranger as Lan Zhan faught Jiang Cheng with the zither's notes. Suddenly, much to Wei Yue's dismay, the stranger ran towards the woods and then he was whipped with Zidian. Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng started at him as Wei Yue rushed to his side, helping him sit up as she looked at Lan Zhan as the man leaned against her heavily.
"How amazing! You really can do anything when you're from a powerful clan, can't you? You can even beat up anyone you want!" He practically cried, tisking at Jiang Cheng's behavior. There was silence after the madman's words, though Jiang Cheng seemed to grow even more enraged.
"What is going on?" He growled, preparing to whip again. Wei Yue went to shield the man beside her, raising her arm when Lan Jingyi stepped forwards.
"Sect Leader Jiang that should be enough, right? It was Zidian!" He exclaimed, as everyone knew the power that whip held. Lan Jingyi looked towards Wei Yingyue, though the woman never looked away from Jiang Cheng as she remained in front of the stranger. For some strange reason, ever since Jiang Cheng went to attack him, she felt a strong pull to protect him. It confused her, but she never moved from her spot.
"Who on Earth are you?" He scowled, pointing towards the man behind the exile.
"Sect Leader Jiang, you might have not paid attention to these things so didn't know about this. Mo Xuanyu was the LanLingJin Sect's-" The man speaking stopped and cleared his throat. "He used to be a foreign disciple of the Jin Sect. But, because his spiritual powers were low and he didn't work hard in his studies, and also had that-He harassed a peer and was thrown out of the LanLingJin Sect. I've also heard that he lost his marbles? In my opinion, he was probably bitter from being unable to cultivate using the correct method, he ventured off onto the wrong path. It might not be the Yiling Patriarch seizing this body." Wei Yue felt the man's, Mo Xuanyu's, hand tighten around her wrist slightly at these words.
"That? Which?" Jiang Cheng asked.
"That, as in that-" The man trailed off.
"The cut-sleeve penchant!" Someone commented finally. This comment caused Jiang Cheng's eyebrows to twist, his eyes showing more disgust.
"It's not him no matter how you look at it. That flute was also played horribly. That is definitely a case of blind imitation, hearing how inferior it sounded." Wei Yingyue narrowed her eyes as she started at Jiang Cheng as he thought silently to himself, her mind racing as she watched a familiar look flash across his face. Mo Xuanyu jumped over, pulling her with him as he hid behind Lan Zhan.
"Ah! What are you going to do to me?" He exclaimed. The girl released her arm from him and stood, standing beside the Second Young Lord as they blocked the man from Jiang Cheng's view.
"Second Young Master Lan, Wei Yingyue. You're purposely making it difficult for me?" Jiang Cheng inquired when the pair made no movement.
"Sect Leader Jiang. The evidence is clear-Mo Xuanyu's body was not taken. If so, why should you want to trouble an unimportant person such as him?" Lan Sizhui asked shortly after.
"Then, why is Second Young Master Lan and Lady Wei going to such great lengths to protect an unimportant person such as him?" Wei Yue's fist clenched behind her back as he emphasized on "Lady", though when she went to speak a suppressed laugh rang out.
"Sect Leader Jiang, I'll feel very troubled if you keep on bothering me like this." The madman spoke, peeking between Lan Zhan's left leg and Wei Yue's right leg. "Thank you for being so enthusiastic. However, your thoughts are quite off. Even if I am attracted to men, I don't like just any type of man, much less follow anyone who waves at me. For example, I'm not interested in ones like you." Wei Yingyue let her hands unclench as she listened to the man's words, her mind making the connection that he was playing on something Jiang Cheng hated most of all; being compared to others.
"Oh really? Then, may I ask which type you're interested in?"
"Which type? Well, I am very much attracted to people like Hanguang-Jun." Wei Yue glanced at Lan Zhan out of the corner of her eye. He turned silently, emotionless.
"Mark your words." He stated bluntly, Mo Xuanyu making a questioning sound.
"We'll take this person back to the Lan Sect." Wei Yingyue stated in a strong, even voice as she stared at Jiang Cheng, silently daring him to challenge the wishes of the Second Young Master.
"Huh?" The madman exclaimed, his efforts going to waste.