Black Greed

THIRTY ONE

Wei Qing never stopped thinking about the man who talked to her outside the Lotus Pier. The gentlemanly presence of that person wasn't infuriating compared to other guys she had met since she woke up.

It's directed towards her only, pure respect and admiration. And worry also. She had seen every faces and hidden intentions within their eyes, but his was clear; his dark eyes sees her and only her.

Jiang WanYin had been avoiding that topic after that incident, and she can't force him to answer every questions she has. Lan YuXia won't even open her mouth either for fear of saying something that can trigger Jiang WanYin.

Her only option was to sneak out and look for a person to answer her questions.

Leaving the Lotus Pier alone, she used a boat to reach another city; LanLing Jin Clan.

The Golden Unicorn Tower stood mightily at the city, but it appears to be lonely and sinister to her. She ran towards the place to check if someone resides in that place where she feels resentment and pity, and there, she saw a young man wearing a pale yellow robe with peonies embroidered, holding a sword that is still big for him.

"Aunt Mei!" A lively young voice from the young man greeted her cheerily. "You're wearing a different clothes, are you here to fetch me?"

Confusion spread in her eyes when the young man asked her, but she smiled. "Not yet, I need to ask someone. Can you bring me there?"

"Of course, Aunt Mei!" He guided her towards the meeting hall to meet Jin GuangYao and the other people who were meeting with him.

As soon as they saw her, people gasped. Wei MeiLan adorned with right accessories and wearing an elegant hanfu was a surprising yet pleasing to their eyes. Donned in dark blue hanfu and her hair tied up properly and nicely, one will think she's from a noble family, not a cultivator like them.

"Little Uncle, Aunt Mei is here!" Jin Ling said cheerily as they interrupted the gathering.

Jin GuangYao stood up and smiled while greeting her. "Our youngest sister, nice to see you after so many years, what brings you here in an auspicious day?"

"What? Sister? When the hell you became my brother with your glib tongue?" Wei MeiLan asked.

Jin GuangYao looked at Lan XiChen who closed his eyes in defeat. Jin GuangYao kept smiling. "It seems like you're totally confused. Shall we let you rest for a bit?"

A couple of female servants showed up, standing beside Wei MeiLan immediately. "No need. I need to talk to him."

She gestured towards Lan XiChen who were surprised to see that Wei MeiLan looked for him. He smiled calmly as he stood up. "Alright. Wei Qing, let's head this way."

Lan XiChen guided her towards the garden full of peonies. Standing few feet apart, Wei MeiLan felt awkwardness with their set up until Lan XiChen spoke.

"Wei Qing, has your memory returned?" Lan XiChen's gentle eyes gazing at her with worry. "Does Sect Leader Jiang knows you're here?"

"I need answers," Wei MeiLan turned around, the bells on her hair swayed and give off sounds like chanting a good melody. "And I know you can answer it. A'Cheng won't give any, so as A'Xia. And I won't let myself not knowing anything."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm quite disappointed to myself when I saw the kid who brought me there. He's expecting that I will fetch him back but I don't know him."

Sorrow from his dark eyes penetrates her soul, but not of pity. "Jin Ling is the only child of Jiang YanLi and Jin ZiXuan. You have raised him until it's time for him to reside here in LanLing. He's the only kin left by both Jiang and Jin Clan, and a Wei named MeiLan raised him to be proper young man like he is now."

"Huh, so that's what it is. But I still don't remember anything," Wei MeiLan stared at the valley. "If I stay in this condition for longer, it seems like many people will be worried."

Lan XiChen smiled. "Of course, we will worry for you. You have done a very good job with everything you do, whether you hate it or not. That's your own unique charm."

"Then—"

"Sister Wei, are you well?" A voice interrupted them from their conversation. Jin GuangYao walked towards them with a smile. "It has been a long time since you went to Golden Unicorn Tower on your accord, and I heard you were injured. Is everything fine?"

Wei MeiLan can't help but keep herself on guard by instinct when Jin GuangYao comes. "I'm—"

"She's still recovering," Lan XiChen interrupted. "Third brother, how's the meeting?"

Jin GuangYao shrugged. "As usual, there's never any new, just telling tales about Wei WuXian."

"Wei WuXian? What about him?"

"Well, it's the usual: him cultivating demonic—sister Wei, have you forgotten about it?" Jin GuangYao realized that Wei MeiLan asked about her dead brother with a straight face. "Are you, really, really well?

"Second brother said they found you all bloodied and standing with the help of Descend. Are you sure you're really fine?"

"If asking me three times that question and I answer you by punching you, will you be able to know the answer?" Wei MeiLan said.

Jin GuangYao flicked his sleeves. "Well, it tells me that you are indeed well with your physical condition. But what about mental and spiritual?"

"My spiritual prowess is still fine, thank you. If you're asking me mentally, I wasn't mentally sane since the day I was born so don't ask that."

"That's not what I mean," Jin GuangYao moved forward towards her. "It seems like you don't remember something, or everything?"

Lan XiChen avoided Jin GuangYao's gaze at them, confirming his thoughts. "Oh, memory loss. Is that why you are seeking for Second Brother? Why not ask me?"

"With your suspicious and malicious gaze, I won't risk my vulnerable state to you." Wei MeiLan stared back at him. Despite of them being of the same height, Wei MeiLan doesn't want to back down.

"I'm quite hurt by your statement, sister Mei. But, if you want to ask Second Brother, I wouldn't mind helping to add details. Also, it has been more than a week since you were wounded, and we know nothing of your condition since then. Does that mean they hid it from everyone? But why?"

"Spout more words," Wei MeiLan warned. "And I will hit you."

Jin GuangYao looked horrified. "Sister Wei—"

"Shut. Your. Mouth." She unconsciously released a silence spell on him, literally making him soundless whether he breathes or moves, even his muffled sounds were suppressed. "If you can't give me a nice and long conversation, I should go now and look for a suitable, or at least, reliable person to talk to."

She was about to leave when Lan XiChen held her hand, stopping her. "Wait! I—It's not that I don't want to tell you this. Sect Leader Jiang told me to stay away from you, and I don't know how to say it, really."

She looked back at him. "So what should I do? Let myself wander in the dark, not know what the hell happened to me and who am I for the past years? Is that it?"

"No! Please, just call down, alright? That's not what I meant. But if you want me to tell you everything, then will come with me?" Lan XiChen finally decided.

"You're wussing out, for a man." Wei MeiLan smirked. "Lead the way, gentleman."