WangXian Forever Book 8

Chapter 14 Investigation

The implications of what both the brothers were saying wasn't lost on anyone.

"You think it's connected to why we're here?" Hui Gai asked, unconsciously moving to stand next to Wei Ying.

Even Lan Zhan shuffled closer, squeezing his hand.

"I'm saying it's connected to something, and whether or not it's anything to do with whatever we find out here, that remains to be seen. But you have to admit, something just lying around and maybe shoved from place to place, when something like that can't be found, that's suspicious." Wei Ying admitted.

"Mn."

"I agree. Maybe we ought to take a trip to Lotus Pier too, just to see if we can find it." Jiang Cheng said.

"I love going home." XiChen injected.

Everyone turned in surprise towards him then.

Jiang Cheng had a warm smile on his face as he tugged the Sect Leader closer and kissed his temple.

"I didn't know you thought of Lotus Pier as your home. That's nice." He murmured to his husband.

"A person can have more than one home, you know. And I have nothing but good memories of that place. Only when you were ill..." He stopped himself from continuing.

"Well, as long as we're here, we should probably do what we came for." Wei Ying quickly changed the subject and Jiang Cheng shot him a grateful smile.

Lui Xing meaning Falling Star village was a medium sized place with around five hundred residents. There were clusters of cabin-like homes and cottages littered about, close enough to be called part of the same village, but far enough apart to afford some privacy between the residents. It was relatively clean and organised with patches of vegetation, at the moment barren because of the end of the winter time, but Wei Ying could see the beginnings of shoots springing up here and there.

Outside one of the huts, an old lady wearing a brown shawl stoked a fire. She eyed them at first suspiciously, but recognition dawned on her face as she took in their coloured robes. She stood up and bowed, her aged face crinkled with years of understanding.

"Madam, please rise. We have come to ask you questions about your village." XiChen said, lifting up her arms.

"Where is everyone?" Wei Ying asked, looking around.

He spotted a few faces behind dirty windows, hurrying away when he made eye contact. There was an underlying fear present here, one not easily felt unless you were looking for it.

Jiang Cheng threw him a questioning glance.

"It's not that late in the afternoon...at the very least, children would normally be running around, people would be out...all that kind of ordinary bustling around...is missing." He explained.

"These aren't ordinary times though, are they?" The old lady spared him a shrewd look. "At least we should be glad that finally, the Cultivation Sect under which we reside deemed it necessary to visit." She had a tone.

XiChen blushed. He was about to answer when Jiang Cheng did instead, perhaps more defensively than was needed.

"The Lan Sect is responsible for over a hundred villages like this one. It would be prudent to remember that." He would have said more, but a hand on his arm from his husband stopped any more words from coming out.

"We're here now. And someone of your sharp wit would surely have grasped the reason for our visit. Now please tell us, how many victims has your village suffered? Where is the current Leader? Perhaps it would be easier to talk to him." XiChen took control of the situation immediately.