Chapter 4

Lying on the ground, the cultivator's vision was blurred as his consciousness was fading. Am I done for? he wondered before someone came to his rescue. This is probably the person that distracted me, he thought.

Wen Ning pulled the heavy chains on his waist around his wrist and gave a dangerous punch to the bat demon. As it slammed into a tree, he aimed the chain again at the demon's direction and it wrapped around it's neck; tightening as Wen Ning pulled.

Suddenly, he remembered the juniors were here for this creature and would be disappointed if he killed it. 'Wei Gonzi might not be happy about me weakening it this much', he thought. So he released it and watched briefly as it flew off with some broken bones.

Wen Ning quickly went to the cultivator and propped his shoulders up. The mask on his face was striking but fearful. Such details would of course not scare off the infamous Ghost General, Wen Ning.

'Are you okay', He wanted to ask but this person was unconscious. Lying in his arms, Wen Ning was more curious about the mask but his hands only hovered over the person-he wondered if he was allowed to take a peek.

"If I'm going to help him, I have to see his face.", Wen Ning convinced himself. The moon was high up in the sky and the only light he had. But Wen Ning did not need much to see in the dark and his senses were sharp. Slowly, he pulled off the mask, anticipating a horrifying scar or mark.

"Huh?...A female?" He said. clothed in layered robes was the face of a beauty that appeared gentle and pure. Wen Ning suddenly jolted up and the person's head fell hard on the ground. He had never come this close to another woman apart from his beloved sister, Wen Qing, and to touch one was never his intention.

But he had no choice. This man!... Woman, needed his help. So he slid the mask over her face again and picked her up along with her sward. Whoosh! He leaped into the sky and his chain tinkled around his waist.

Wei Ying was teaching the disciples with Suibian as he had a quick fight with Meirong. Although Wei Ying had lost his core to Jiang Cheng, that of Mo Xuanyu was still intact. But this body was weaker than his own so he took it slow. He preferred Chenqing now anyway. The juniors watched with rapt attention and gave some 'oous' and 'ahhs' when they caught some few tricks.

"Wei Gonzi!", Wen Ning approached carrying someone in his arms. Wei Ying stopped and met him halfway, surprised.

Wen Ning, "Can you help?"

Wei Ying tapped his own forehead and sighed. He thought Wen Ning might have clashed with another cultivator who thought he was another fierce corpse.

Wei Ying, "I ask you to help me find the Bat Demon's hideout and you bring back an unconscious souvenir."

Wen Ning looked down. He did not get that Wei Ying was only teasing him and felt bad. He lowered the body. "A mask?!", Jingyi said as he hid behind Zizhen. Jin Lin rolled his eyes and shook his head. Wei Ying lowered himself to examine this person and took off the mask.

"Huh?... What's happening this evening? First they look scary, then they turn into a pretty lady." Zizhen commented without thinking and got smacked on the head by Jingyi. Sizhui let out a 'Pffft' trying so hard to control his laughter. Everyone turned to look at him and he blushed.

Wei Ying, "Where did you find her?"

Wen Ning, "Closer to the mountains. He... She was fighting with the bat demon."

Wei Ying raised his head and stared at Wen Ning.

"No! I did not kill it.", Wen Ning waved his hands clumsily.

Wei Ying's brow was lifted, still staring at the conflicted Wen Ning.

"I only injured it! But I did not kill it." Wen Ning added. Hearing that the bat demon was injured, Lan Jingyi relaxed.

Wei Ying, "Why didn't you kill it? It will only hide somewhere else and probably terrorize another village to feed."

Wen Ning's eyes dropped again. Wei Ying smiled and patted him on the shoulder. He knew why Wen Ning did not kill the demon.

Wei Ying, "Don't worry, the juniors will stop it."

After a brief examination Wei Ying spoke, "She will be fine after resting but her foot is injured. We should take her back for treatment first."

Wen Ning, "No need, I can do that. My sister thought me well. Let me treat her."

Wei Ying's mouth dropped and his eyes widened with a pleasant surprise. He suddenly felt hopeful and teased again. "You don't want us to take her off your hands?... Wen Qionglin! You want to take care of a damsel on your own?... What crazy thoughts are going through that head of yours?", Wei Ying exaggerated with a slightly pitched voice. The disciples fought hard to conceal their laughter.

Wen Ning's head shook in confusion. He did not know how to react to such accusations. "No... You have to catch the bat demon, and this can also not wait. I...I also want to help." he fumbled. After getting a good laugh, Wei Ying said, "You go ahead...We will come to you later."

Wen Ning carried the lady again but suddenly paused in his steps and turned to Wei Ying.

Wen Ning, "Wei Gonzi, what do I do when she wakes up and... gets frightened by me?" there was sadness in his words. Wen Ning barely associated with others even when he was a normal boy and now that was a living dead, he was not sure it would be better.

Wei Ying understood that and forced a humble smile, "You're a handsome young man, Wen Ning. She wont run. But if she tries, it wont be because you frightened her but because she was not expecting to be saved. Okay?".

Wen Ning nodded and turned to leave. Lan Sizhui drew closer to Wei Ying and asked, "Will he be okay?" and Wei Ying simply replied, "Don't worry, we will go to him tomorrow."

The night hunt was eventually successful. Again, Wei Ying left the demon to the disciples after he drew it out using Chenqing. He was pleased to see they had picked up one or two tricks from his fight with Meirong and watched as they worked together. On their way back, he teased and scolded them for other silly mistakes they made. Lan Jingyi seemed to be at the receiving end of the rod most of the time.

"Next time you'll be the teacher, Jingyi." Wei Ying said with a grin; the boy nearly cried. Their next hunt would be at the outskirts of a town called DaJiao, and the place was rumoured to be filled with fierce corpse and creatures worse than the bat demon.

Ouyang Zizhen and Jin Ling settled in an inn for the night while Wei Ying and the Gusu disciples went back to their sect. They were not that far from home. After helping the juniors sneak into their rooms, Wei Ying went to Jingshi. Seeing Lan Wangji already in bed, he tiptoes to his side and leaned in to enjoy the view of a sleeping Lan Zhan.

"You're late.", Wangji said with his eyes still closed.

Wei Ying, "Lan Zhan...You're awake?"

Lan Wangji, "I could not sleep without you here.". He opened his eyes.

Wei Ying, "Liar, you were asleep a while ago."

Lan Wangji pulled him and flipped over; He kissed Wei Ying on the left cheek, "No", then the right cheek, "I do not lie.", then on his neck,"...Was only meditating.", then finally on the lips.

"Ouch...Lan Zhan." Wei Ying cried from the sudden bite. Lan Wangji only looked at him briefly then kissed him again, passionately.

"Okay! Okay! But just once..." Wei Ying chuckled almost out of breath. Wei Ying could feel his heart beat fast as Lan Zhan's weight was pressed over his chest. The smell of sandalwood lingered and his senses eased into his husband's embrace. Every now and then he pinched himself to make sure it was not a dream when Lan Zhan was this close to him. But with each kiss and whisper from Lan Zhan's love confessions, the doubts would go away. After so much pain, was he really allowed to be this happy.

Lan Wangji was losing control and he loved it. He loved Knowing that Wei Ying made him feel this way. That when everyone called him composed and pure, Wei Ying could arouse such dirty thoughts and overwhelming emotions. He pulled off their robes and prepared Wei Ying, then entered. Wei Ying gasped and moaned with a slight nasal tone that made Lan Zhan's member get bigger. As he pounded his way into paradise, Wei Ying began pleading again...

"Quiet..." Lan Zhan said hoarsely. But heaven knows he didn't want Wei Ying to stop teasing and Wei Ying certainly did not stop running his mouth as his insides were invaded and pleasured...

Far off, Wen Ning brewed some medicine and was ready to feed it to the unmasked cultivator when she suddenly woke up and attacked him. The first thing Jiayi saw after waking up was a pale man approaching. She felt around for her sward but could not find it so she made due with a dagger hidden in her sleeves. Wen Ning was fast enough and dodged many of her attacks. Jiayi spotted her sword and called for it. The blade rushed towards her and she fought fiercely in the house. For a moment, A'Ning could only imagine what the bat demon must have endured. Seeing that her attacks were not yielding results, Jiayi twisted the hilt of her sward and it split into two; revealing two separate blades. A'Ning's brows were slightly raised. Earlier, he had searched for the other sword but only found one. Caught in an awkward situation, he thought to himself, 'I do not wish to harm her... How can I make her understand...How can I calm her down?'