Beyond Control

Chapter 63

It's been a couple days since being in Lotus Pier. Lan Zhan and I wanted to go and roam the streets for a bit. Even eat out for lunch. It's been a while since I really just lingered around the streets here. Lan Zhan and I strolled out on the docks for a bit and sat down further out to just relax and look out onto Lotus Lake. We removed our boots and rolled up our trouser's so we can put our feet in the water.

"Lan Zhan, mind if I try to practice a bit while we are further away from other?" I asked him.

He nodded, "I am here in case you need me."

I nodded, "I want to try water. Though I saw that the elements react to my emotions, I want to assume I can get beyond that."

"Do you remember how you felt when you first found out about the water cultivation?" He asked. I responded with a nod. He then spoke, "try to remember that as you practice. Maybe not the emotions but just how you may feel."

"Okay," I said. Before I even attempted, I saw a woman watching us from afar, "Lan Zhan, you see her watching us too, right? Should I not?"

Lan Zhan took a glance, "I will keep watch on her. You can go ahead."

I took in a deep breath and then exhaled. Remembering the calm but flowing energy inside me, I extended my hand and tried to call upon some water. A melon size blob of water came afloat and was now hovering over my hand.

"Okay, so far so good," I said calmly.

Lan Zhan smiled at me. He was giving me looks of acknowledgment and encouragement. I then extended my other hand and started to try and manipulate the water. I started to allow it to flow around, circling around Lan Zhan and me. I smiled as I allowed the water to create a small wall. Lan Zhan ran his finger across the water. It was like I could feel his energy as he touched the water. It was strange, how was it I could feel his energy through the water?

After Lan Zhan pulled his hand away, I tried to manipulate the water to go back into the lake, but with a loss of concentration, the ball of water popped, getting Lan Zhan and I wet.

I laughed a little, "sorry, I didn't mean to do that," I told him.

"You are forgiven, you are still trying to control it," he said.

It was out of nowhere, the woman who was watching us, started to approach us. I stood up and took Suibian out of my belt. I clenched onto Suibian until my knuckles turned white. Lan Zhan even got his sword ready. Though, this woman didn't seem to have any intentions for harm.

"Sorry to have been observing you, but you looked like someone I once knew," the woman said, "the water, how was it that you are able to do that?"

"I'm a cultivator," I answered, "cultivations elements is within my family bloodline."

The woman blinked a few times, "oh? And who might that be?" She asked.

"I already answered a question that might have given you too much information about me," I answered, "I've been judged by others before so I don't want to answer anymore personal questions."

"I did not mean to overstep," she said, "can I ask for your names?"

I looked at Lan Zhan. He stepped in front of me, "I am second master Lan Wangji, of the GusuLan Sect," he greeted, "I also go by Hanguang Jun."

I then greeted myself, "I am his soon-to-be, soul-bond, Wei Wuxian, adopted brother to sect leader Jiang Wanyin of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. I also go by Yueguang Jun."

"Wei?" She asked, "your name is Wei?"

I blinked, "yes."

"That ribbon, where did you get it?" She asked pointing to my red ribbon tied into my hair.

"My mother gave it to me before she...passed," I answered, "why?"

"Is there an embroidery of a Qilin?" She asked.

"A what?" I asked.

"A *Qilin? It's a mythological Chinese creature," she explained, "A Qilin or kirin is a chimerical beast resembling a deer with scales like a dragon covering its body. It has a tail like an ox's and a flowing mane. Its body and mane are covered in brilliant holy fire. Its face is the picture of utter serenity.

"Although it looks fearsome, the qilin only punishes the wicked. It can walk on grass yet not trample the blades, and it can also walk on water. As it is a peaceful creature, its diet does not include flesh. It takes great care when it walks never to harm or tread on any living thing, and it is said to appear only in areas ruled by a wise and benevolent leader (some say even if this area is only a house). It is normally gentle but can become fierce if a pure person is threatened by a sinner, spouting flames from its mouth and exercising other fearsome powers that vary from story to story."

((Qilin/Kirin))

I took off the ribbon and looked at the little embroidered creature on it. How did she know of this? I looked at the woman, and looked closely at her features. I wanted to place her face to look similar to my mother's. As I saw my mother's spirit recently, I can say that they look similar.

"Cangse Sanren is my mother," I told the woman, "Wei Changze is my father...I spoke with my mother's spirit recently as I was trying to find her master. They would be my grandmaster and grandmother...are you...?"

"You are Wei Ying?" She asked me happily.

I nodded, "I am, you are Baoshan, aren't you?" I asked.

"I am, I have been looking everywhere for you," she said.

"I only recently thought of seeking you out...as I felt you didn't want to see me..." I told her.

"There is a lot that we have to talk about," she said, "how about we talk over a meal?"

I smirked and looked at Lan Zhan, "can you handle that?" I asked him.

"You are Lan Yi's grandson?" Baoshan asked.

Lan Zhan nodded.

Baoshan smiled, "Lans still continue with no talking while dining."

"Lan Zhan has broken that rule for me a few times now," I told her.

"Can he break it once more? So we can talk? All three of us?" She asked.

"I can," Lan Zhan answered after a moment of silence.

////////////////

*Qilin - a mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature known throughout various East Asian cultures and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler. It is a good omen that brings rui; roughly translated as "serenity" or "prosperity" and often depicted with what looks like fire all over its body. It is sometimes misleadingly called the "Chinese unicorn" due to conflation with the unicorn by Westerners))