WangXian Forever 5

Chapter 47 Intel

Wei Ying was putting off talking to Li XiWang.

He could talk to her about anything and everything, just not what he was supposed to. Every time Lan Zhan asked him, he would shrug it off, saying she wasn't ready, but in truth, he wasn't ready.

How would she react? Would she be frightened or scared? Or would she accept his plan as the best course of action? And all the while he delayed, the ever present threat of another attack loomed on the horizon, a silent danger gnawing away at his insides.

Zhitiao had stopped eating or drinking anything, two days had passed already.

Wei Ying was worried about her too. Not just the fact that she didn't trust them at all, hence her extreme reaction to the truth serum, but if something happened to her, they would bring about a sure retribution from her sisters.

And Wei Ying hated inviting trouble.

He had already worked closely with the ward casters of Cloud Recesses, and even earned their praises; they had reported back to his XiChen-Ge full of good things to say about his suggestions.

Wards and talismans were his forte after all, and Wei Ying never minded sharing what he knew with those who needed it.

But, today was the day.

He woke up with a new resolve; that today he would talk to Li XiWang and tell her everything he knew so far.

So when her teacher left for the day, Wei Ying sat down next to her.

"What's wrong, father?" She asked him, immediately.

Wei Ying sighed. Was he that easy to read?

The walls of the Jingshi seemed to close in on him, making him feel jittery in response.

"Can we...shall we go for a walk?" He suggested instead.

She nodded and stood up, slipping her little hand into his bigger one, when they left. She tugged on his hand, and when Wei Ying looked at her, she gave him a beautiful smile.

Perhaps they did not need words then, because Wei Ying read many emotions in her expression. She was smiling just for him, but it was to tell him not to worry. Her eyes held a little bit of fear, and resolve to deal with whatever he was going to say.

His little girl was so brave.

Summer in Gusu filled Wei Ying with joy. Flowers bloomed everywhere they looked, hidden in the tiny nooks and crannies of the mountainside. Wei Ying breathed deeply, noticing the many floral scents, mixed in with the essence of Cloud Recesses.

Even as a child of merely sixteen, he had appreciated the magnificent beauty of this place, never imagining that it would become his home permanently.

Green lush leaves decorated the many varieties of trees upon the higher slopes, this well trodden track giving them a glimpse into the healing qualities of where they walked.

Silence settled comfortably upon them, as they walked, enjoying the warmth of the sun on their faces, cooled by the mountain air. Wei Ying found a tree stump, wide enough for them both to be seated, that someone had cleverly levelled out.

"Let's sit over there." He pointed at it with his free hand.

Li XiWang obediently sat next to him, playing with his fingers in her lap. Her face was so full of trust, and love, that Wei Ying half expected himself to abandon his plan...but, the words of his uncle came back to whisper in his ear.

Fear can be paralysing. Embrace change with open arms.

So it was now or never.

"So...Li XiWang, I have to tell you some things." How to begin, he wondered, searching for the right words.