Black Greed

THIRTY SIX

Lan XiChen was flabbergasted when Wei MeiLan said she's in hurry.

Wei MeiLan has been strict with her schedule ever since he met her. But saying now that she's in hurry was a news for him.

"Are you telling me that, you still have to do something after this? Are you belittling us?" Li ChangJin snarled.

"Well, I'm not... technically insulting you, but if you prefer that, it saves me time and some ideas before insulting you." Wei MeiLan shrugged.

"Y-you!"

"Yes, I am me. You don't need to remind me. I already have my memories back so you don't need to say 'you' or keep calling my name."

"Kill them!" Li ChangJin roared.

"Hey come on! You're already deciding to kill me? That hurts, you know? You're not even asking me what I discovered other than your stupid identity? I guess idiots stays as idiots forever."

Wei MeiLan murmured a chant as she swiped her blade, sending spiritual energy to the blade, making it glow.

As one of the black figures ran towards her, Lan XiChen lifted the flute to his mouth and started to play a song. The intention is to suppress the resentful energy but the energy doesn't heed upon the song.

"Lan Huan, keep it away and use your sword," Wei MeiLan spoke. "I don't want to see my man just plucking notes here and there while I swing a blade. Or I will swing this to your way."

Lan XiChen smiled. "Apologies, my dear. I was trying to keep the energy at bay and calm it."

"You can't. Compared to my brother's, this is a bit stronger. A halfhearted performance can't do the trick, so swing your sword."

Ten black figures ran towards them without any weapon. Like the ones they encountered in Flowing Water Valley, as long as there's a core, they won't die.

A shout from afar caught their attention as a pair of people in pale blue and violet robes were running towards them. "Second sister!/Master!"

"Ok," Wei MeiLan swung her sword downwards. "Let's invade the house and end this."

"I'll stay, bring A'Xia with you." Lan XiChen said.

"I'm not inviting you to join me, Lan Huan. I don't care who will come with me, but I will prefer you to stay here as watcher. Stay safe boys." She smiled towards them and left, with Lan YuXia following her.

"Second sister never said that to us back then. It sound so creepy." Jiang WanYin murmured.

"Well, she declared me as her man, so—"

"Ok, stop right there, Master Lan," Jiang WanYin's face is in utter disbelief. "That's way more creepy and scary. I think the head trauma did a number on her, she's spouting creepy words."

Lan XiChen laughed. "They are not creepy. Perhaps she's turning to a real lady?"

"If she is, I swear to our ancestors that it's the end of the world. She has in mind, and it's not a good one."

"Well let's hope she won't get hurt."

******

Wei MeiLan and Lan YuXia went inside the house to chase after Li ChangJin who just disappeared after he ordered the black figures to kill them.

Some of it were inside, waiting for them to come. Wei MeiLan fend them off, temporarily immobilizing them as they check all door that can lead to an underground passage.

"A'Xia," Wei MeiLan spoke. "This siege I decided upon myself, I'll make sure you won't get hurt as long as you follow my order. As we clear?"

"Yes, Master." Lan YuXia reassured her.

They found a small passage that leads to underground. It was conspicuous at first; no one will notice it if you don't look closely. The walls are well lit with torches, leading to a chamber leading to another chambers. They heard the muffled sound of screaming.

Lan YuXia was shocked to see how some people were degraded to a something she didn't imagined.

Some people are already halfway to being like those black figures. Others were already insane looking enough that they don't scream or look directly at a person.

"A'Xia don't look further," Wei MeiLan said. "Some things are better left so that no one will do it again."

"B-but master..."

"They are beyond of help. Even if I exhaust my spiritual energy, it won't be enough to revert them back to normal," Wei MeiLan took a deep breath. "Calm yourself then steel your nerves. We need to end this insanity they made."

They went deeper until they saw a weird looking altar where Li ChangJin and Li Duan currently, sitting casualty at the side.

"Lady Wei," Li Duan spoke. "It has been a long time."

"Well, almost a month of empty memory indeed looks like a long time," Wei MeiLan admitted. "But I didn't came for chitchat here, old man."

"I already gave the metal to you, so that you will leave us alone."

"...yeah, you gave a trap. And it almost cost my life. Do you know the inconvenience of it? Me, not being dead. It's unsatisfactory, isn't it?"

Wei MeiLan sighed. "I'm no hero like my brother, Master Li. I will do what I want to keep my family safe, regardless of the methods I will do. And your plan hinders my peaceful life.

"So, I came here to end your bullshits. I have another matter to watch out for, and your schemes are kind of, annoying, but manageable if I am just, not busy back then."

She pointed the sword towards them. "Destroy those black things you made, or I'll destroy you and your so-called pathetic life."

"We won't," Li ChangJin said. "We put so much efforts in this and we're almost there!"

"No, you won't achieve it. Ever. Not in a decade or your lifetime," Wei MeiLan answered. "I will stop you; and even if I perish trying to stop you, someone will. Defying the laws of nature has a heavy price to pay."

"Ha! As if."

"Look here, Lunatic Li," Wei MeiLan is getting impatient. "Your daddy is calm but your bullshit irates my ears. Now, choose: you are going to stop this thing you are doing, or I'll do it my way?"

"I'm sorry, Lady Wei," Li Duan answered. "But we refuse."

"Ok then," Wei MeiLan said. "Since you refused, then I'll do it my way. Don't conplain."