Live Again, Love Anew

Chapter 26- Meeting the Wens (Or at least 3 of them)

Summary

Lan Yue and the boys arrive at the Dafan Wens'.

Beginning Note

I've decided not to do pinyin until later in the story when more characters are introduced. (Maybe when the boys start getting friends across the Sects.) At that point, I will go back and change all previous chapters to pinyin.

Also, there's some world building in here. It's pretty much just a bunch of BS I made up, so don't really worry about how accurate it is, just know that it's true for the story.

Anyway, Enjoy the chapter!

Lan Yue

"Who're you?" A girl's voice asks.

Lan Yue looks up from where she's been watering Lil' Apple. They've been traveling most of the day, so Lan Yue decided to give Lil' Apple a break and the boys a chance to run around for a bit and burn off some of their limitless energy.

A young girl, no older than ten, stands on the other side of the stream, brandishing a knife as long as her forearm. Her stance is confident and firm. She definitely knows how to use that knife.

Lan Yue cocks her head to the side, making sure to keep her movements fluid and calm. "My name is Lan Yue." Laughter can be heard from behind her in a nearby clearing. "I have two children with me. My five year old son and his friend."

She takes another look at the girl, trying to figure out how much of her situation she should tell. The girl's wearing plain brown robes with red flames stitched into the sleeves. The flames look like they could belong to the main branch of the Wens, but she knows for a fact that those pompous people wouldn't be caught dead in such plain robes. She could be...

"I have a... condition... that my Clan's healers can't treat." Lan Yue finally says. The girl doesn't react. "A friend recommended to me that I find the Dafan Wens, and told me that they are the best healers of our time. My Sect Leader has given me permission to make the trip." She carefully reaches into her robes and pulls out the letter stamped with the official Sect Leader's seal.

She slowly reaches across the stream and hands the girl the letter. The girl takes it with cautious hands and carefully inspects the seal, but doesn't break it, still brandishing the knife towards Lan Yue. The girl makes a few glances between the letter and Lan Yue before her stance softens and she stores her knife away in leather sheath at her hip. Her face stays blank, icy even, though her eyes soften. Just like A-Zhan , Lan Yue muses.

"My name's Wen Qing, granddaughter to the matriarch of the Dafan Wen." She points behind her. "Our village is about half a mile that way. I can lead the way."

Lan Yue nods. "Boys!" She yells behind her. "Time to go!"

She only has to wait a few seconds before the boys come tumbling out of the underbrush- Well, before A-Ying comes tumbling, pulling an infinitely graceful and utterly unfazed A-Zhan behind him.

A-Ying opens his mouth but abruptly stops once he spots the girl. He looks between Lan Yue and Wen Qing before approaching Lan Yue with slow steps, never once taking his eyes off the girl.

A-Ying furrows his brow and opens his mouth, hesitating before whispering, "Wen Qing?" Lan Yue can't quite pinpoint what tone he uses. He sounds hopeful, but almost as if he hopes he's wrong, instead of hoping he's right. She slowly nods.

A-Ying's expression breaks a little before he plasters a smile on his face. "My name's Wei Ying!" A-Ying shouts across the stream.

Wen Qing winces a little at the volume, loud even with the stream burbling in the background. "Wen Qing." She says. "I'm going to lead you guys back to my village so your friend's mom can get help."