Gifts, Surprises And Secrets

Wei Ying

The next day, they all were relieved to find out that their punishment regiment was finally over and their spiritual energy was once again restored to normalcy. To give them some credit for their hard work and endurance, Lord Wei Lao had grant them a few free days wondering around the towns inside the barrier to have some fun.

Wei Ying was actually quite eager to show his Lan Zhan and the others, the many markets and other wonderful things the east had to offer. He wanted to show them that despite the harsh environment they also had good stuff and their own captivating places.

They went down to the Tongyuan Town that held a flower festival at that time of the year and wander about the markets that offer from rare items to elixirs. Wen Qing was found of that town, because the medicines sell there were the best and great for both, common humans and cultivators alike. Thus she guide them among the stands that sells the best elixirs first, to replenishing lost energy, to keep their meridians at best, cleanse darkness (which Lan Zhan buy a few for him), to enhance physical strength (which most of them buy for themselves) and so on, until she deemed them well prepare for all kind of future occasions.

Then Mainmian wanted to see the textiles of the area and the robes, so Wei Ying guide them to that part of the town and wait for the girls to make their happy purchases that of course included hairpins, combs and makeup. Jiang Cheng found himself sneaking away on his own to buy something pretty for Wen Qing and found a nice comb and a petty pendant that had four small butterflies, facing a phoenix and a dragon, two of the guardians of the realm grabbing a pearl, made with filigree brass over a green jade stone.

The craftsmanship was good and he was hoping she will like it and accept it as a token of his feelings. They had already pass through so much and his feelings for her had not waver, but deepen as the time passes. Their future was uncertain, but he was going to enjoy their time together whatever short or long. With equal intentions, Wen Ning shyly asked Wei Ying for a gift to Mianmian and Wei Ying dragged his Lan Zhan and the rest of the men away, while the girls were distracted.

They chose a beautiful set of flower hairpins and earrings that matches, in soft pink and gold. Then they kind of forced Zixuan to buy something for Yanli too, to make for the nasty treatment of last month. In fact, when Jiang Cheng join them, he make Zixuan buy a set of red hairpins and earrings for the wedding that was still scheduled to happen in a few years. He was obviously not good at choosing gifts, so he simply told the woman selling the hairpins to give him the prettiest of the lot, no matter the price.

At the end, both Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng were quite pleased with the gift their sister will get and then they were dragged to buy a new fan for Huaisang and Wei Ying a protective courting green jade pendant for his Lan Zhan and himself. The one he chose have two halves, with one dragon half, he gave to his husband, while he took the matching part of the pairing phoenix.

Lan Zhan was quite embarrassed when Wei Ying put over his neck one of the two parts, but he was very pleased deep inside. Wei Ying laughed as his 'cute' red ears and took his hand to drag him to buy some candies for their son, who will return to them before sunset. In such high spirit, they went back to meet with the girls and had some lunch together before heading back to the main Clan. However, as they walked back to the appointed meeting place, they begin to hear some rumors among the villagers.

"They said is a giant beast not even Zilin could kill." One villager was saying.

"Do you think it will come for us? That thing had slaughter thousands of people since it came to be in this world." Another said.

"Could it be the rogues are now coming after us? They killed the Jin Clan Leader and some people said that they try to kill Nie Mingjue... now is our turn..." They keep going.

"But Lord Wei is very strong and so it is Lady Sanren and the Wen's are no less either, we should be safe." Another said.

"You kidding? It's the Tortoise of Slaughter, an ancient legend! The evil thing is said to be a dark copy of the one of the four guardian of the realm!" At that, they all shared a look. Obviously, it was clear that Meng Yao was trying to lure them out, as they did last time when they saved Nie Mingjue.

"Hey, don't even think about it. We just came out of your father's punishment and got our spiritual energy back after a hellish week. If we defy him again, he will seal our energy next time for months for sure." Jiang Cheng said to Wei Ying.

"I haven't said anything yet..." Wei Ying protested.

"I know what you are thinking." Jiang Cheng insisted.

"But Jiang Cheng, you can't possibly said we had to ignore the threat just like that." Song Land said.

"They are luring him out!" Jiang Cheng pointed as his recently sworn brother.

"But..." Huaisang try to add.

"Lan Wangji, will you let him go out to risk him be capture?" Jiang Cheng asked next.

"No." He said with all honesty, as his first priority will always be Wei Ying's life. Wei Ying sighed.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei whisper a he took his hand, but when he was going to talk him out, an old woman with ragged clothes, mess-up long gray hair and dirty face, came closer to the group.

"Young Masters, you all look so formidable, even when disagreeing about the great futures you may have ahead of you." The old woman said and they all turned to look at her.

"Hum... thank you, elder." Wei Ying reply politely as he bowed to her a little.

"For having such discussion you most all be good friends. A brother that doesn't want to lose him and a lover that will rather risk himself instead. Yet friends that will not stay still and let his Clan fall. I can see you have fated strong ties, so let this old woman help you in these troublesome times." The woman said.

"Get lost, old woman. What we are discussing doesn't concern you and our futures are in our own hands." Zixuan rudely said.

"Zixuan!" Wei Ying scold him.

"Are you really sure your futures are entirely in your hands? Didn't you brought something today, in hope to give it to your future wife? A wedding gift that was forced on you, yet it will do both you and your Clan so much good?" She asked.

"What? How can you possibly know, old woman? Did you follow us around?" Zixuan asked and Wei Ying took a better look at her.

"An old woman like myself had better things to do than following brats around town. You will do well to spend more time with your future wife. She will help to become a better leader and less irritable." Wen Ning laughed and Wei Ying smiled.

"This is quite unexpected, Lady Baoshan... or should I call you the great seer?" The woman also laughed at Wei Ying's revelation and as she did, the others looked in astonishment as her appearance changed right in front of them, to that of a younger woman with long black hair and impeccable cerulean robes. Both Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan bowed respectfully to their missing Master.

"Greetings Master." Song Lan said at along with Xingchen.

"I am no longer your Master, but I am quite pleased with your progress. The west Clans will be left in very good hands." She told them.

"She is really the seer?" Jiang Cheng asked Qei Ying, dumfounded.

"Who else will know about the necklace and comb you brought for Wen Qing? By the way, she will love it and treasure it for years to come." She assure him and he smiled happily.

"And so will the girl you like, Mianmian. When the fate is strong kids, there is always a way to get done what it must happen and been especially lucky ones, I have the perfect solution to your current problem. You see, Wei Sanren was once an orphan child in the west, one that I found abandon in the streets, living with only what she could steal to survive in such a cruel world. I knew she had a great future ahead of her, so I offer her a home in where she will never have to go hungry and give her my name, bringing her with me, to be more than a trusted disciple, but also my beloved daughter."

"Right at this moment, she is out there fighting a thing that it was not supposed to exit, so helping you get rid of the unnatural beast, is also helping my beloved daughter from dying prematurely, as well as a son that will learn her secret in order to save her." The seer said while looking at Wei Ying.

"Wait, what do you mean by that? Of what secret are you talking about?" Wei Ying asked, coming closer to the seer.

"Oh, you will find it out soon enough, but let's talk about your futures somewhere else. Follow me." Baoshan said, but Jiang Cheng looked back.

"There is no need to worry about the girls. They will be distracted for as long as you stay with me, now come." She repeated and they follow her outside town in where she used a blue talisman to teleport them somewhere else.

When they repapered, they found themselves at the entrance of what seems to be an old abandon temple. The double dual doors were once deep black, but they were now full of dust and cobwebs. Wei Ying looked around, but was unable to get his bearing, because the scenery around them was nothing he had seen before.

The temple was made of stone over the top of a mountain, as they could see several mountains picks from there, as well as a deep greenish forest below. The wind was strong there and there were white clouds bellow the entrance of the temple, meaning they were quite high, but it didn't looked like the floating islands of the Gusu lands, nor like the half dry lands of the east.

"Where is this place?" Wei Ying asked as he walked over the border and try to look down, but the border was also half ruined and if Lan Zhan had not pull him away, he would had fall, like the rocks that had been below his feet.

"Be careful." Lan Zhan told him and he smiled at him.

"You will do well to heed his words. This place was once a sacred land, a place where the people could come and find their peace. Many cultivated behind that ruined door, many asked to the gods to grant their wishes, many prayed for better futures, but after the darkness spread, it was sealed away and became abandon. Now only very few can enter." The seer said and with a movement of her hand, the black doors open inwardly and she walked in.

Not sure of what to was inside, Wangji held Wei Ying's hand and walked behind the others, always making sure he was fine. He knew that certain places with residual energy gave him a hard time and as they waked in, he could tell that will be the case. Just to be sure his Wei Ying will not fall, he passed one of his arms over his waist, half supporting him when he begin to feel dizzy.

"Wei Ying..." Wangji whisper as he hold him closer.

"Lan Zhan, don't worry, I'm fine." He told his lover.

"You sure?" Wangji asked, still worry.

"Hum, yes. It's just... seen this place... while hidden and all, I think I had been here before. Weird, huh?" He try to joke it, still Lan Zhan kept him secured, at the same time blue flames burned on the torches all around the big temple.

"Ah, of course you had been here before... This is the place in which your future was changed, as well as the rest of you in return. Years ago you were fated to die as a child, but with the help of the gods, you were granted a second chance of life, as well as a bright future. Now let me tell you the story of your death and of your rebirth as a child that will save the world." She said, as she turned to look at him, while transforming herself into her true form, as the descendant of the goddess Nuwa, mother of humanity.

AN: Buaja! More mysteries!! Sorry my dears for the delay, I was trying to write the next chapter of The Wanderer as well, which is also half done. Wei Ying will learn the secret behind his control of dark energy, as well as to save his mother without defying his father. Also, Lan Zhan will become more essential to his Wei Ying from here on. Thanks for reading, I hope it was interesting and more Wangxian moments are going to come, as well as the trip to the Burial Mounds, is getting around the corner. With all my love, until next time, please take care.😙💖💖💖😄