Abide With Me

Inside Utkarsavat Patal

'Not quite human!' was the first  that crossed Lan Zhan's mind upon hearing the voice. Low pitched and sibilant, the voice somehow was attractive and seemed to promise all kinds of riches and rewards. Lan Zhan strained his senses but was unable to put a face and body to the voice. The transformation that hit the workers upon hearing the voice however was sudden and shocking!

From inside the cabin the missing Jayawardene Māmā emerged. Tall and authoritative looking, he was wearing a short sword and carrying a regular one. He exuded confidence and strength. "Lori is coming" he announced albeit in a subdued voice

The workers were suddenly lively, carried their loads willingly, their steps no longer faltered and the clanking of chains grew brisk. Lan Zhan could sense the sudden increase in energy buzzing in the cavern. Sensing using his core, he however could detect nothing dark or negative at all which begged the question who and what was this Lori individual who so affected the mine workers?

Striding to a stop in front of Lan Zhan, Jayawardene did a quick evaluation and told Pranith, "Ruby mines!" Lan Zhan's eyelashes flickered. Pranith quickly inserted, "Hey Māmā, such a tall and strong fellow, didn't you say you are short on emeralds?" "Well, let's see, You, what's your name? Any mining experience?" Again, Lan Zhan's eyes barely flickered. Pranith, quick study that he was, said "His name is Zhan. He doesn't speak Sinhala. He is a traveller from the Orient fallen on bad times, needs money, worked in..." "Jade mines" supplied Lan Zhan softly, eyes towards the floor.

"Hmmm, let's see, jade mining is totally different. I can't promise you anything, let's wait for Lori," he offered. There was another ripple of energy felt and the much-anticipated Lori strode in. An especially large specimen for her species, Lori,  a Rainbow Lorikeet*, stood quite two feet tall! Brilliant red head, she sported blue wings, a golden yellow chest and green plumage on the rest of her body. She was very bright and compulsively cheerful. She opened her beak and that's when the magic happened and Lan Zhan had a tough time not falling under her spell!

Lori moved from worker to worker speaking DaNiese, Beaverish and Otterman tongues with fluency! Her eyes glinted and she cocked her head to one side listening to their low-voiced responses. She wrapped a wing around one, patted another's back and nodded in agreement at a third. Without exception each worker looked at Lori in the eye and smiled!!

Mystified, Lan Zhan edged  ahead of Pranith and with his hands that were clasped behind him, signed 'what is happening?' Pranith then held him by the arm and led him to Jayawardene Māmā. While walking, he whispered, "Keep your eyes down no matter what happens!" Lan  Zhan give an imperceptible nod.

Having completed her quota of communing with the workers, Lori signalled for them to leave. As she moved away, the workers expressions grew blank, their eyes glassy and their movements sluggish. Lan Zhan saw this change through the corner of his eyes and as Lori approached kept his gaze glued to the floor. Again a chill passed over him. Suddenly he could sense a pulsating powerful energy from Lori. His mind was filled with a flurry of images...  Wei Ying, the Jingshi, the rabbit hill, Wei Ying at their waterfall, Xiongzhang, his Mama, Wei Ying returning to Gusu riding on Little Apple, Wei Ying and himself at Lotus Pier, the flowers that Wei Ying left for him... WAIT! That was something that Lan Zhan and only Lan Zhan knew about, so why was it that these images kept reappearing abruptly in his mind?!!

Realising what was happening, Lan Zhan quickly drew in a deep breath and calmly blocked the key meridians in his upper body. With his advanced level of cultivation, he could practically control energy flowing through his body. What he had experienced just now, was a secretive form of cultivation he had seen mentioned in the Forbidden Section of the Lan Library. It was called Jiyi Kongzhi*. An accomplished cultivator of this skill could manipulate their subjects into feeling any emotion as they directed!!