Black Greed

TWENTY THREE

And if there's anything that Lan XiChen disapproves of, is that letting Wei MeiLan alone with her cat.

He has seen the skills of that wild cat once when he asked her to help him to do a hunt once. The cooperation between the said animal and Wei MeiLan is too good that he was rendered speechless that day. Wild cats aren't the easiest to tame compared with dogs, but the cat with Wei MeiLan answers at her every command.

He's doesn't fear that the cat might do something worse to her, but what he fears is that whatever is in this forest that they are trying to find out, the cat might not be enough to protect her.

"ZeWu-Jun," A young man wearing a pale violet clothes interrupted his thoughts. "Is Young Lady Wei will be fine at the center part of the forest?"

He looked back and smile. "Wei Qing will be fine. She's a resourceful one and she has her animal companion with her."

"But we don't know what we are facing here right?" The other young man answered. "And she's a woman."

He stopped from walking and fully faced them. "Never underestimate women. They might look like a fragile creatures to a man's eyes, but they are capable of doing what we can, probably way better than us."

The two young men turned their heads down. Lan XiChen isn't the type of person who will scold someone when they say something offensive. He rather compromise to avoid fights and misunderstanding.

"But still, she's alone. What if there's someone or something located where she's heading off to?"

"Midnight won't let anything befall to his master. Of course she will ask for help is she's in pinch," Lan XiChen answered. "She might be talking like that, but it doesn't mean she's too prideful enough to not ask for help. She initiated this large scale night hunt to give you guys a chance to redeem yourself."

The young men with him didn't spoke anymore and followed him until they sensed something disgusting. The resentful energy that Wei WuXian uses is far different from this. It feels unnatural, synthetic, amd obviously a fake resentful energy. Lan XiChen drew out his sword.

"Who are you?" He asked calmly.

The presence is all around them, making him unable to pinpoint the direction of the source.

A shuffling of footsteps are heard around them, making them all look around until a figure in black appeared in front of Lan XiChen. The latter took a step backwards to distance himself from the former.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" The black figure replied. "You cultivators are invading my home."

"Home? Why are you emitting such energy like that?" Lan XiChen asked.

"If that seer woman brought you here, then that means she's indeed a formidable one," The man replied. "Perhaps she's the one who can help me. May I ask where is she?"

"Who's this seer woman you are talking about?" Lan XiChen put his sword down to tell that he won't strike the man.

"I'm afraid that I only know that she's a Wei. Other than that, I know nothing else." Honesty is in his words, making Lan XiChen at ease.

"She's at the central part of this forest. Do you mind if we bring you to her?"

The man's head snapped back to him. "At the center? Be haste, young man. She's in danger. Our common enemy is located on that part together with the people he created like me. Anyone who trespasses on that place are ambushed."

Lan XiChen faltered. "You-I-what?"

"Come with me, I will bring you there right away." The man is far more worried than him who just heard that Wei MeiLan was in danger.