WangXian Forever 7

Chapter 21 Confessions

Wei Ying took a deep breath and began the long climb. One hand was held tightly by Lan Zhan, who kept throwing him worried looks, and the other hand was gripped by his daughter.

One step at at a time.

It was hard, harder to keep his mind focused on the present, to climb up with surety, to project calm confidence but Wei Ying managed it. They reached the top of Koi Tower without incident, and then the real test began.

Sixteen Elders stood waiting for him.

XiChen and Jiang Cheng were standing in front of them, and they all bowed in greeting.

To Wei Ying, the Elders were looking extremely jittery, as if they couldn't wait for the formalities to be over so they could tackle whatever was on their agenda.

Jin Bendan came forward, with just a slight tilt of his frame. It was the least amount of respect applied to a bow, and did not go unnoticed by either Lan Zhan whose hand tightened his grip on Wei Ying's, nor Lan XiChen whose voice became quite cold. Zidian crackled dangerously, as Jiang Cheng folded his arms across his chest in disapproval.

"We want to meet with the Yiling Patriarch. Alone." The Jin demanded, keeping his eyes on Wei Ying.

Lan Zhan stood slightly in front of him, and Wei Ying had another one of those moments, when he was overcome with a particularly strong wave of affection for this man. Lan Zhan who would always, always stand between him and danger. But he stepped forward anyway, and whispered in his ear.

"It's alright, Lan Zhan. I can handle him." He let his voice carry so the other man heard him.

Jin Bendan's lip curled in dislike and he braced himself.

"It seems, with the demise of previous leaders, that the Jin sense of hospitality has also died." XiChen delivered a cutting remark, one that shocked the Elder, all with a smile fixed in place.

"First show us to our rooms. Our children are tired from the journey." Wei Ying told them.

"Of course, of course...however, if the Yiling Patriarch had agreed to meet with us sooner, this could have been avoided." Jin Bendan continued with a mocking tone.

"Let's get something straight." Wei Ying said out loud, letting his eyes change colour for a few seconds. "We are your guests, but I have come here with one intention and one intention only. It is to make clear to you that not I, nor anyone of my family is at your beck and call." Wisps of black smoke swirled around him, asking for permission, which he denied.

Another Elder Jin Fengkuang rushed forward quickly.

"Of course you must be tired. Please come this way." He said, slightly pushing the other man out of the way.

Jin Ling took over leading them, with SiZhui walking beside them.

"Sorry about that, Uncle Wei." He muttered.

"Your Elders are still a bunch of idiots." Jiang Cheng retorted, dislike colouring his words.

"Do you know why they wanted me to come?" Wei Ying asked him.

Jin Ling shook his head.

"They've been having all sorts of secret meetings. At this point, it could be anything."

"Want me to sort them out?" Jiang Cheng unleashed Zidian. He was perfectly serious too.

"Let us see what they want, first." XiChen replied. "They seem desperate so it won't be long until we find out."

They had reached their rooms by now, and the brothers separated.

XiChen took Jiang Cheng inside and they freshened themselves up, washing their faces.

"I miss Li Li." Jiang Cheng said, annoyed.

"I know you do." XiChen sat next to him and took his hand.

"I don't like leaving her."

"I know you don't. But she's too young to bring her here. She would have fussed." XiChen soothed.

"Jin Ling and SiZhui are also having a naming ceremony later. It will be her official birthday too, because they don't know when she was born. Jin Ling said they want to perform the test on her too before they decide on a name." He was talking about the newest addition to their family.

"Do you have any ideas on why they want to talk to Brother Wei? Their rudeness was inexcusable. I fear Uncle Qiren will be quite upset." XiChen said.

"With good reason. There's no way I'm letting my brother meet with them alone." Jiang Cheng declared.

In the adjacent room to theirs, a similar conversation was taking place. Wei Ying watched as Li XiWang sat on the opposite bed, cross-legged with Rumi, teaching him how to play Jacks, the game where pieces of metal were thrown in the air while others were collected. The little demon was fascinated.

Li XiWang didn't want to tell her parents, but when Elder Bendan was talking, little Rumi had taken an abject dislike to him, growling under his breath. Rumi had never shown that emotion before and in such a strong way; it made her want to hug it out of him.

Wei Ying was absentmindedly playing with Lan Zhan's fingers, trying to distract himself from what was to come.

"Is Wei Ying alright?"

He looked up into concerned golden eyes and smiled softly.

"I am. I just hate having to show off, especially to these types of people. It's clear they wish to use me for something...the question is, what?"

Lan Zhan bent his face so the children could neither see nor hear what he had to say.

"Wei Ying looked hot." His ears were redder than a ripe tomato.

Wei Ying blushed and grinned. "I bet I could hold you down with my new strength just fine, my love...Don't forget about our bet! This is going to be a stiff competition." He laughed at his own innuendo.

"Mn. I intend to win." Lan Zhan told him, although he really was in two minds about that.

"Are you sure about that, my love? It will be hard." Wei Ying giggled.

"Can we come and watch?" Li XiWang asked, dousing that particular fire.

Wei Ying held his arms open for both children.

"Night hunts, because it will probably turn into that, if these Jins are to be counted on, are dangerous. We are trusting you will stay here and look after your brother with your Uncle XiChen. Lan Zhan, Jiang Cheng and I will be more than enough to deal with whatever they're gonna throw our way."

Jiang Cheng had already told him in no uncertain terms that he did not intend to leave his side, something Lan Zhan had tried not to frown at. It brought back too many memories when the two of them had searched far and wide for a missing Wei Ying, who had as they had learned later, been thrown into the Burial Mounds.

No one here was free from their demons of the past.