RAGING FATE (Hiatus)

CHAPTER 20

THUMBLING STRINGS

The day continues to sparkle with beauty, harmony, and grace, providing more reasons for many people who live beneath the mountain to smile alongside the sound of joyful streets. Unaware of the storm that is forming and approaching their land.

Three bird cranes fly through town, soaring deep into the clouds and thick fogs before landing on a vast land with a path of plum trees and a large pond filled with tiny fish.

Lan Xichen happened to pass through such a path and heard the sound of crane wings flapping. Turning his head, he was just in time to see this birds dipping their bill into the pond water, one drinking water while the other two caught some tiny fish to eat.

This made him smile and stop walking, taking a moment to stare and observe the behavior of the bird cranes, feeling calm and less tense. Things that had happened recently had made him forget to rest, eat, not feel exhausted, and not find a reason to slow down the pace of his responsibility.

Concerned that if he takes a brief break, something bad will happen. He needed to complete all of his tasks and secure all of the people he needed to secure in order to be at ease.

Xichen's gaze remains fixed on the three bird cranes until his mind has had enough and he strides further to where all the Yao people are staying.

Master Woo's first grandson walked through the path for four minutes before coming face to face with a wide wooden gate with a cloud clan carving design.

His gaze was drawn to the gate for a point in time before he noticed that it was guarded by a sealed barrier that only their clan and their invited guest could activate.

'Lan Zhan must have been the one who placed such a thing for the safety of all Yao people,'

Lan Xichen could not help but sigh in relief, grateful for his younger brother's consideration and independence. He approached the gate, touched it with his right hand, and it opened gently for him.

He entered smoothly, then noticed that many Yao people were busy helping each other and their injured strong people, treating their wounds, while others were busy with other important things.

Some children between the ages of three and six are assisting adults with their tasks, while others are crying and being consoled.

'Those children must have lost their parents in such an attack by those other clans,' Xichen's heart felt ache and pity for thinking such thoughts about the young children.

He took a deep breath and continued walking inside in light steps. One person, who was already dressed in a white fresh clean hanfu and leaning against one of the wall standing guards, spotted him through the crowd and ran up to him, greeting him with respect by putting his sheath sword in front of him and curtseying towards him.

"Greetings, brother Lan Xichen. My name is Jui Feng, one of the emperor's and Master Fen's senior disciples, and..." He stood straight and took something like a letter on his chest inside his hanfu, handing it to Master Woo's first grandson, who gladly accepted it and looked at him, eyes asking for an explanation. While Jui's gaze remained fixed on him before bowing his head again to say.

"This letter was given to me by my master without explanation, so I apologize for not being able to explain it other than lending it to you, brother Xichen. But my master instructed me to deliver this word to you and master Woo." Emperor Fen senior disciple sighed for a moment before continuing his speech.

"He hopes that you and your clan, brother Xichen, will forgive him and all of us Yao people after you have read everything written inside the letter."

Xichen looked at him and then into the medium-sized white envelope, which was sealed with a Yao clan pink violet clay stamp in the center.

"I understand; do not be concerned; whatever is contained in this letter, we cloud clan will never, ever change our attitude toward the Yao clan,"

Hearing his words, Jui could not help but sigh in relief and stand straight in front of him.

"Thank you, brother Xichen," he says, his face filled with gratitude.

Xichen nodded and smiled back at him until he remembered his true reason for visiting their residence.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I came to inquire about the presence of the person name Aye." He inquires, and Jui immediately frowns, displeased to hear such a name.

This made Xichen suspect something was going on, but he maintained his usual expression, not revealing to the other that he had noticed him change his expression.

"Why are you looking for him, brother Lan? Do you know him?" Jui inquires, his eyes suspicious and voice firm. Hearing him address him by his surname, Xichen's suspicions intensified; but he decided not to get involved.

It's not his place to bargain into someone else's clan's problem; getting involved would only make matters worse; what matters right now should be the only thing he cares about.

"Oh, no, I don't know him. Our guest Wei had a request for him, and he wants to see him inside his chamber right away," he explained with a thoughtful smile.

Jui's expression changed from shock to disappointment and sadness when he heard Lan Xichen mention their master's second son's given name.

"I see, I'll go in his place instead; could you please direct me to his chamber brother Xichen?" He finally addressed the other person correctly.

"Of course," says Xichen, with a gentle smile.

On the opposite side of the cloud palace, two people who had been walking down the corridor for five minutes had finally arrived in front of one of the designated rooms.

'Finally,' Wei thought, surprisingly the uneasiness and deep concern he had previously felt had vanished. He turned to face Jingyi and smiled.

"You can go take a breather for now; I'd like to be alone and not be bothered," he implied, opening and slamming the sliding door closed behind him without waiting for the other person to respond.

Jingyi stood in front of the close sliding door, still processing what had just happened, until he sighed angrily.

"As you wish! Jeez! I couldn't understand this person suddenly turning weird," he exclaimed as he walked away from where he was standing, giving the other person what he desired: to be alone.

To be continued.

Author: Tell, me if there's some sort of weird preferences. I will change it later, I will try to released the next chapter today. ^_^