WangXian Forever 5

Chapter 89 Benevolence

While noises of elation went around them, Wei Ying went back to the first picture.

No halo.

Fourth picture: halo.

And then, the three moons.

Exactly the same.

Wait...not exactly the same.

"Lan Zhan?"

A warm arm appeared at his waist and he shivered involuntarily.

"Mn?"

Kind eyes shone down at him. He felt cherished and loved and protected, all in one go.

"I love you."

"Mn." Lan Zhan kissed his forehead, his lips staying on that sweet spot longer.

Wei Ying forced his attention back. They could get lost in their affections...if he was honest, he could spend all day looking at this magnificent creature that was all his...but...they had a mystery to solve.

"Do these look the same to you?" Wei Ying touched the rounded shapes of the three moons, gently tracing the outer line of all three. "I...just what is it we're missing here?"

"Not same." Lan Zhan rubbed his thumb over a single curve. "Each one, slightly smaller. A piece missing."

Wei Ying looked closer.

"You're right!" He exclaimed, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "They look almost the same...that's why I didn't get it. So does this mean the night of the full moon, and consequently the next two days?"

"Possibly."

"It must mean something. Otherwise why not just fill up the empty spaces with all moons, in all the stages of her cycle? No..." he shook his head. "The full moon, Chang'e at her best...strongest...revered around the world."

He laughed suddenly.

Lan Zhan watched him, a smile upon his own face.

"Do you know, Lan Zhan? I often used to make the mistake of thinking it was the full moon when it wasn't? I just couldn't tell because they look so similar..." He snapped his fingers suddenly. "That's it! Lan Zhan! Whatever this is trying to tell us, it means we have three days or nights or whatever, to solve it!"

He paced slowly, tapping his nose, his thoughts working faster than a woodpecker on its favourite tree.

"It was the night of the full moon when we arrived, right?"

"Mn."

"And I slept away the second night. So tonight....we have one last night to do whatever this is."

Wei Ying wandered to the little tiny window, also round. Whoever had carved these, not just the window, but artistry of scenes, the goddess herself...it all had a theme.

Stars were just twinkling their way across the midnight expanse of skies, a depth that seemed infinite. Chang'e was up there somewhere...

He wished he could just ask her...

He heard a tinkling laugh, softer than the breeze that fluttered around his face, and he looked at the statue of the goddess again.

His feet took him to stand in front of her again. He brushed away the fallen pieces of ash by her feet and lit fresh incense. The smoke and the soft scent of jasmine and another night flowering fragrance filled his nostrils. He was feeling calmer than ever, peacefulness washing over him.

Lan Zhan followed him to the other side of the room. There were more pictures here, one of the seashore, of waves undulating upon the sand, invisible fingers reaching out to touch.