Black Greed

FIVE

"I'm expecting that I need to drag my ass out of this bed to look for you since you refused my request, but despite your cold demeanor, you are a curious lad. I am Wei MeiLan, the twin sister of Wei WuXian. I believe they call you Second Young Master Lan WangJi," Wei MeiLan said. "Please take a seat while I'm collecting my thoughts as what shall I keep and say to you,"

Lan WangJi nodded as he looked for a seat and pulled it near her bed.

"I only have one request from you: please take care of my brother. Whatever method you want to do it, it's up to you. You have already occupied a special place in his life, and I'm afraid that only you who can support and help him when he needs it the most.

"Despite of your attitude, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. But perhaps, you will only realize it when it slips out of your hands and you will try to grab it.

"So, I'm telling you now so that at least you are still aware while it's still there. But if you don't heed on it, it's not going to be my loss, but you. I don't expect much, but only my request," She said in firm tone.

"Then what about you?" He asked. "Why care much for him and not for yourself?"

"I already found 'that' person, despite of every countermeasures to not meet him. Perhaps it is already dictated that it must happen," She smiled lightly. "So I need not to worry and just try to help them in the dark. My brothers have potential to become a good cultivators, but I fear for their temperaments. That's why I'm giving my brother to you,"

"Mn." Lan WangJi agreed.

"Well then, thank you in advance. I'm afraid that I interrupted whatever you are doing," She tried to bow at him but he stopped her.

"Take a rest,"

She lifted the barrier and a questioning gaze came from the man in front of him. "Ah, it's one of my spells. No-sound barrier,"

Lan WangJi nodded and left the room. Before the Jiang siblings enter the room, her eyes were falling down, sending her back to sleep again.

******

Week has passed after that talk, and she just woke up from, thankfully, a dreamless sleep. All she can do is reassure the Jiang siblings that her brother is alive.

Ever since that day she felt what her brother felt, it never left her memory in fear that Wei WuXian didn't make it out successfully. She knows he can, but worry lingers on her since it's a dangerous path that he's taking.

Lan XiChen kept his distance from her, yet he watch over her, sending curious looks from other cultivators. She knows what's happening around her but decided to ignore it to finish her task.

"Young Lady Wei!" A young man holding a paper fan chased her, making her pause her task and look towards the voice who called her. "Oh, no. You really look like Wei Ying if we don't look properly.

"I'm Nie HuaiSang. Pardon my rudeness, but may I ask why are you going out?" Nie HuaiSang flipped his fan open and waved it.

"Collecting herbs in the near mountain. Do you want to come too?" She's planning to decoct many medicine and keep some spare for her brother. After all, he did a stupid thing and she can't stop him.

"Uhm, are you sure? I'm afraid I might cause trouble for you down there," He hesitated. "Besides, I don't think I'm of use to you in there,"

"You're a cultivator like my brother, right? Wouldn't that be enough? Besides not all people can have a chance to that path," She said as she started to walk.

"What about you, Young Lady Wei? Are you not jealous of your brother?" He followed her.

"Why should I? What's his is his, and what is mine is mine, but it can be given to someone. If he decided to do something, all I can do is support him. For now, all I can do is patiently wait as he overcome that. I'm afraid for his future, but I will still watch over him," She smiled at the path they are walking. "I already achieved what I want,"

"I see. So you don't want to be a cultivator too?"

"I'm fine with what I have, why crave for more? Will it give you an eternal satisfaction and peace?"

He didn't noticed that they have reached the mountain forest until she knelt down and pulled a dagger from her back. "So, are you an apothecary?"

"No. I can make medicine but I'm not a real one. I just learned one or two from the apothecary store near the Lotus Pier. Other than that, I practice weapons and martial arts from Aunt Jiang when she's still alive,"

She only take the upper body of the plant and leave the roots intact in the ground. "Not going to pull the whole plant out?"

"I only need enough, and leaving it like that gives it a chance to grow again, so someone can pick it up," She kept on taking the top part of the plant until her basket became full. "That's enough for today, I think. Let's return immediately,"

She didn't look back and walked towards the path they were before to return to the fortress. Her pacing is fast for a person who's carrying a basket and as a woman.

Upon her return to the entrance, a man in a light blue hanfu is standing, watching over her as she comes near. "Welcome back!"

"Thank you! May I ask why are you at the entrance? Are you waiting for someone?"

"I am, indeed. Fortunately, that person I'm waiting has returned so I don't need to wait for long," Lan XiChen answered with a smile.

"Young Lady Wei! How are you able to walk so fast, carrying a basket?" Nie HuaiSang was chasing after her.

They both looked at the exhausted Nie HuaiSang, then looked at one another before shrugging. "For a cultivator, you have a weak physique. Should I teach you?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine with my routine, please spare me," He answered, earning an amused stares from the two people.