RAGING FATE (Hiatus)

CHAPTER 19

THE HEART

Birds fly above clear blue skies, spreading the calmness and brightest color of the day, while trees sway and dance along the wind, making a humming sound of the wonderful morning.

Wei couldn't help but be mesmerized and forget all his worries for a while as he gazed at the breath taking scenery of the cloud clan whenever they passed through various paths to reach the dining room, where his breakfast was already waiting for him.

The two people were walking quietly side by side until one of them couldn't stand the silence any longer and asked.

"So, is that silk something you treasure?"

Wei was brought back to reality by his words, and he smiled at him.

"How'd you know?" he replied, pretending to be surprised, and Jingyi showed a smug and proud expression as he looked closely at Wei, suspicious of him.

"Of course, I'd know; I'm good at observing and guessing facts, you know?" Jingyi arched his left eye brow proudly and continued to express himself to the person beside him.

"So, why did you inquire about your hair earlier? Are you concealing something?"

Wei laughed at his words; he liked this young man's personality.

"Well, you guess," he says, teasingly.

"I believe—"

"Wei,"

Jingyi was unable to finish his response when someone called out for his nick name; the two of them immediately looked straight and saw Lan Xichen striding to where they are.

"Greetings, brother Xichen," Jingyi said immediately, bowing and respecting him as Xichen moved closer to his side and touched his shoulder. Jingyi immediately stood up and smiled gratefully at him.

"Do you want something from me, brother, Xichen?" Wei inquires, as Xichen smiles and replies.

"Your people have arrived," His words brought relief to Wei's eyes.

"Really? Where are they now? Can I see them?" he asks, his eyes wide with excitement, until he recalls something that causes him to pause, take a deep breath, and look down at the floor. His expression is one of endurance and forced hesitation.

"Never mind, I'll see them when the prince of the Yao clan arrives with his parents," he says.

He can't see them yet as he knows that if they see him, they'll burst out crying in front of him, with no regard for their surroundings, and then they'll unconsciously address him with his true identity. Every person who has been through a wildfire will undoubtedly have a lack of clarity in their thoughts and emotions.

'It's not good to face them right now,' Wei reasoned.

The cloud clan is still unaware of his condition, so seeing them is not a good idea for the time being.

Master Woo's second grandson is taken aback.

"Are you sure you won't see them today? I can direct you to them right now," he inquired. Wei fixed his gaze on him, his smile masking his concern for his people.

"Yes, it's fine, brother Xichen," Wei says, 

"But may I make a request?" 

Xichen nods without hesitation.

"I... can you summon a person among our people named Aye and tell him to wait for me in my given chamber? Alone," He only needs one person to ask their people's condition, and a chamber is a safe place for them to talk privately, so it's fine.

"Of course, I will do it right away," Xichen replied, causing Wei to sigh in relief and gladly smile at him.

"Thank you, for your consideration, brother Xichen," he said gratefully, and Master Woo's second grandson simply nodded, patted Wei on the back, and said.

"There's no need for you to thank me. Your clan is always and forever welcome here with us. Now, I presume you both are going somewhere right now?" Xichen inquired, prompting the two to recall something.

"Ah, yes, break fast," Wei said, as if he had forgotten something.

"Oh, then you two can go ahead first," Xichen said, smiling. Wei nods and thanks him again before proceeding to the dining room with Lan Jingyi.

Lan Xichen stood there for a moment, staring at them as they walked away, until he couldn't see their silhouettes any longer. He sighed as a harsh wind blew through his side, revealing a tall sturdy man wearing a cloud clan hanfu and a head band standing two meters away from him.

"Thank you; you may rest for the time being, Wanji; Jingyi is with Wei; he will be fine,"

"Mn," Lan Zhan replied, his gaze fixed on his elder brother with the same expressionless face. Xichen smiled at his brother one last time before leaving him alone and carrying out Wei's request.

Two seconds had passed when they finally arrived at the dining room, and Jingyi immediately assisted Wei in serving him his food and giving him what he desired. Wei stares at his food, unsure why, but his appetite has suddenly loosened, and he no longer feels hungry.

"What's wrong?" Jingyi asked, perplexed as he saw him only holding a spoon and not eating.

"I... it's nothing," he replied, then scooped a food into his spoon and ate it slowly into his mouth, just now his heart thumb, he felt a sudden surge of uneasiness, he couldn't understand. He was unsettled.

Wei scooped another food into his plate for the second time, trying to avoid what he was feeling inside, and put it into his mouth again. This time munching it as if he was in a hurry, his breath quickened and his face showed discomfort. 

 The uneasiness he was feeling right now grew stronger as a moment passed, and he couldn't bring himself to eat any further. It bothered him and made him feel deeply uncomfortable.

Strange, why would his heart suddenly beat with uneasiness? It concerned him; it made him wonder about something unpleasant, filling him with anxiousness and causing him to lose his appetite even more. He took the cup beside him, drank the water from it, returned it to the table and then stood up.

"I'm done, let's go back to my chamber now," he said, darting out to the dining room before the other person could retort or ask him what was going on.

"Hey! Wait! What's wrong with him all of a sudden?" Jingyi exclaims, running after him, leaving the unfinished food on the table and the dining room empty.

To be continued...