WangXian: Reunited ✔

Chapter 8: What Precious Treasures?

"Quiet, we're nearing the town." 

Wei Ying pranced around the marketplace, shamelessly grabbing everything he set his eyes on. His arms were filled with an array of knick knacks. "Look Lan Zhan," he proclaimed, proudly holding up a compartment of rouge he had bought from a charlatan. "Isn't it pretty?" 

Lan Zhan frowned. "Who is it for?" he asked, clearly displeased with the notion that Wei Ying might've bought it as gift for a pretty maiden. 

Wei Ying was his, and his alone. Lan Zhan didn't like to share his things with others.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Wei Ying teased, wagging his eyebrows. 

Lan Zhan just scowled before grabbing the rouge out of his hand. "No," he pouted, tossing it aside. 

Wei Ying scrambled after it, but it had already been lost in the crowd. "But that was mine," he whined, silently sulking. 

"Wei Ying can only give me presents." Lan Zhan grunted, thoroughly satisfied with his actions. 

Wei Ying glared, "Stop being so possessive, I'm not a thing you can just boss around like that."

"Wei Ying is mine." Lan Zhan declared, as if that settled the matter.

"Now wait a minute. Who said I was yours huh? I'm nobody's but myself." 

Lan Zhan didn't reply, but shot him a look that said 'You are mine. Just you wait.'

Wei Ying rolled his eyes, but inwardly he jumping with glee. 

"I'm thirsty," he said with a pointed look at Lan Zhan, "And I want wine." 

Lan Zhan's eyebrows twitched slightly before giving a small sigh and leading him into a nearby restaurant. "Two bottles of wine please," he gestured towards the waiter. 

"Of course young master! Two bottles coming up right up!" the short, chubby man immediately replied. Though the he was no cultivator, even he felt the air of authority that surrounded the man in white like a cloak. He knew these were no ordinary people, and thus, almost tripped over himself in his haste. 

Lan Zhan turned towards Wei Ying, "Are you satisfied now?" he asked when the waiter brought them their wine. 

"Almost," Wei Ying said, and blinked his left eye almost flirtuously at Lan Zhan. The latter immediately preened, and Wei Ying chuckled before turning towards the waiter, "Has anything strange ever happened here?"

"What does the young master mean by strange?" the waiter replied nervously. While the man in white gave him a sense of security and comfort, the man in black made him feel anxious and tense. 

"Like anything supernatural?" 

"Oh, uhm no not really..." the waiter mumbled, turning to leave,"If young master needs anything, please let me know.."

"WAIT!" Wei Ying called and with a loud bang, promptly dropped a stack of silver on the table. The waiters eyes immediately widened, and forgetting all of his earlier agitation, he grabbed the silver and sat down before Wei Ying. 

"Young master has come to the right place," the waiter said, much more amicable than before, "Many people come to our restaurant so I'm well versed on all the latest gossip." he grinned, all his earlier hesitation being wiped away by the silver in front of him. "So you wanted to know about strange findings huh? Well then, let me tell you the story of the Man-Eating Ridge..." 

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"So you're saying that a group of thieves entered this Man- Eating Ridge, and was never seen again right?" Wei Ying asked, quirking one eyebrow upwards, "And that's why it was bestowed such a title?" It was clear he didn't believe such nonsense. 

The waiter was offended by his quick dismissal. After all, he had grown up to such tales, and full heartedly believed them. "Does young master suspect otherwise?" 

"Well, it's just that nobody has seen the thieves getting killed right? Then how can you call it a Man-Eating Ridge if you've never seen it eat men?" 

The waiter spluttered, "W-Well someone must've seen it then." 

"But didn't you say that anyone who enters the ridge will never see the light of day again? Anyone who saw the thieves die, would surely be dead themselves." 

The flustered waiter was at loss for words. He unable to refute such clear logic, but also didn't want to acknowledge his mistake. "I-I-I don't know!" he finally exclaimed, tossing his hands up in frustration. 

"Now now, don't get upset, we mean no trouble," Wei Ying quickly soothed him. "Thank you for your time, we'll be going now." 

The waiter nodded briskly and quickly escorted them out the door, "Young masters take care!" he called before wiping away the sweat that had started to form on his forehead. 

Whew, I'm glad they're finally gone... he thought before turning back to his work. 

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"Lan Zhan, did you hear that? I think we should go and investigate this Man- Eating Ridge. I'll bet we'll be able to find another part of our dear friend there," Wei Ying tutted. He had resolved to calling the hand they found at the Mo Family village, his "dear friend," as he still didn't know whom it belonged to.  

Lan Zhan nodded, "Mn." 

"Did you buy what the waiter said?" 

Lan Zhan shook his head, "No." 

"Yea me neither," Wei Ying agreed. "The Man-Eating Ridge is located on the Qinghe Nie Sect's property, there's no way they don't know about it. Usually when something this big happens, even the major sects take notice. The Nie Sect should've resolved the issue years ago..." he trailed off, deep in thought as he contemplated the situation. 

"Maybe it's on purpose." Lan Zhan said thoughtfully. He paused, then added, "Maybe they were the ones that started the rumor in the first place." 

Wei Ying sobered. What precious treasure could the Qinghe Nie Sect be protecting for them to go to such lengths? "Either way," he said solemnly, "We need to check this out."