Black Greed

TWENTY EIGHT

After sending a messenger to Cloud Recesses, she went right away, with the dangerous item with her. That item isn't safe in her hands, but to someone she knows who can keep it safe.

Lan XiChen was waiting for Wei MeiLan at the entrance of Cloud Recesses together with a few disciples with him. After so many years, Wei MeiLan took the initiative to come to Cloud Recesses than him inviting her.

"Wei Qing," Lan XiChen smiled. "Are you planning to stay here for a few days?"

"I'm not sure yet," she told helplessly. "I'm currently on errand, that's why I sent a message. Is your brother here?"

He patted her head. "WangJi is still out. I can call for him to return right away."

"It's fine. If what he's doing is important, then I can wait. I just need to let him keep something for my brother." She said as she clutch the box.

"It's that important?"

She nodded. "We need to talk to Elder Lan too. I don't want him getting stressed and sick for not knowing this."

Lan XiChen's worried face nodded. "Let's go. Uncle is resting today, and he's also expecting your arrival."

Uoon their arrival, Elder Lan is standing at the balcony, waiting for the two of them. "Young Lady Wei, welcome back!"

"Elder Lan, thank you!" She smiled at the old man. "I'm here to ask Lan WangJi to keep an item for my brother. And to talk to you, of course."

"Come inside, dear. It sounds important." Lan QiRen ushered them to the office to keep them away from the crowd. When he found out what Wei MeiLan wants to do, he objected right away.

"That item is dangerous!"

"Yes, Elder Lan. Only your nephew can take care of this item. I'm sorry for deciding rashly, and I known you punished him because of my brother, but please, please, I beg of you, Elder Lan. Please be tolerant on the two of them. I know I'm overstepping some rules for doing this," she kneeled down and out her forehead to the floor. "I know you are against with what your nephew had done for my brother, but I see how my brother is important to Lan WangJi. I don't want them to miss the second chance that will be given to them in the future."

"How can you be sure that your brother will return?" Elder Lan asked. "Some tried to summon his soul, but there's no response. His soul already dissipated, never to reborn."

"My brother will return, Elder Lan. His soul is hidden away somewhere, and someone will drag him back forcefully in the near future from where he is," Wei MeiLan. "And this I swear on my cultivation."

"I don't agree on this."

"Uncle," Lan XiChen spoke. "Please leave it to us. This mess is caused by us, and we must clean up after this mess we made."

He stood up. "Wei Qing doesn't dare to disrespect by telling this so suddenly. Uncle, she wouldn't come to us to entrust this item, if she's confident that Jiang WanYin will be able to keep it. She asked specifically for my younger brother, when we all know that she is capable of keeping this item."

"This item is a dangerous one; this is what Wen RuoHan aimed back then. Wei WuXian got it too, but what happened to him?" Elder Lan wants to point out his concern.

"Elder Lan," Wei MeiLan spoke. "This metal is a food full of negative energy. If I keep this, it will not withstand my cultivation and might dissolve. Lan Clan's cultivation can preserve this without harming the keeper and the item."

"Jiang Cheng won't be able to keep this for me; I don't trust the Jins to take care of this. HuaiSang might misplaced this and get picked by others. This place is the safest for keeping this. And I want that Lan WangJi keep it for me and my brother."

Lan QiRen looked at Wei MeiLan kneeling at the floor. He knows at first glance of the girl thats she's different from her wayward brother, same yet different. He can't get himself hate the woman that his nephew took fancy to, but her request is quite ridiculous and dangerous.

"Elder Lan, it's fine if you don't want to. I know you're scared of risking your nephew's life for this. I will just—"

"No!" Lan XiChen said. "You know well that your barrier is accessible to anyone. What if they harm the common folks in your place?"

"They won't be able to locate it there," Wei MeiLan calmly spoke. "I will try to protect it."

"No."

Wei MeiLan stood up and saluted at Lan QiRen. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Elder Lan. I promise I won't do this again."

She turned away and left Cloud Recesses without glancing back. Lan XiChen's worry increased as the day goes by after the last visit of Wei MeiLan until a week after her departure, Nie HuaiSang came to Cloud Recesses with worry and fear at his face.

"S-second Brother, h-help Qing-jie... She—"

"Where's Wei Qing?" Lan XiChen shot up from his seat upon hearing his beloved from their youngest sworn brother.

"I-I don't know, her people was transported to our place six days ago. The, the people were terrified when they came, one kid was saying that there was a shadow human moving around, but they were transported before those things do harm on them. Qing-jie might be in danger!"

Lan QiRen was stunned to hear a news. "Will Wei MeiLan be able to fend those beings? She's the only person that is capable in her place."

Lan WangJi heard the news as soon as he took at step over the threshold, without hesitation he left immediately, with Lan XiChen in his heels, so as Nie HuaiSang.

"WangJi, slow down a bit." Lan XiChen said. "Why are you in rush?"

"She's in danger." Lan WangJi said.

"I know she is. But if you're always rushing out, do you think it will do good for us?"

"You said that she wanted me to keep something for Wei Ying but you rejected it. I will take it back."

"I didn't rejected it, uncle refused her."

"The outcome is still the same." Lan WangJi didn't looked back again and rushed to Wei MeiLan's place.

And what they saw was like the Lotus Pier back then.