WangXian Untamed Together

Chapter 23 - Moving On

Neither the Feng history nor the discovery of further Yin Iron-adulterated pills provided good news.

Lan XiChen, Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian sat silently, contemplating the tiny, terrible pellets. So small, yet able to wreak such devastating changes on unsuspecting Cultivators. Nothing of their origins revealed, just the ominous knowledge that there were more of the pills out there. There could be yet more, somewhere, anywhere, working on who knew whom and setting more tragic events into motion. Silently Wei WuXian reached out and returned the pills to the paper envelope, sealing it carefully and handing it to Lan XiChen.

"These should be placed with the others," said Wei WuXian. "I don't think there's any need to test them... they look quite identical to those provided to your uncle, and we all saw the resentful energy respond to my touch."

Lan XiChen nodded, then slid the small book across the table towards his brother and brother-in-law.

"Would you two please read the journal and see if there is anything helpful inside? Perhaps the child's mother knew more, or at least where the pellets came from... maybe it will shed some light on the events the child spoke of... so tragic, to lose her parents in such a manner. It certainly sounds like the events we were told from White Crane on Lotus Lake – that his father suffered a sudden and violent Qi deviation and was quickly put to death. It sounds like he may have been sent away afterward, too, although the reason is unclear. Perhaps the elders thought the Qi deviation an inherited weakness?" Lan XiChen shook his head. "This is tragic from every consideration."

Lan WangJi placed the book in his sleeve to return with them to the Jingshi when done and turned to his husband.

"Wei Ying? Tell brother what the resentless energy told you this morning."

Lan XiChen perked up and turned to face Wei WuXian. "Ah yes. The resentless energy has spoken with you again... you said it had a way to reduce the Yin Iron influence?"

"Just this morning," answered Wei WuXian. "Last night was a bit overwhelming-." He stopped, Lan XiChen having raised his hand.

"Don't tell me! I don't need to know!" Lan XiChen pleaded.

"Oh, no! I'm not going to tell you about that," said Wei WuXian, blushing at once. "It's just... well, a bit... not really..." Wei WuXian's glib tongue stumbled over what and how much to say. No. No, Lan XiChen didn't need to know that the resentless energy had visited during Dual Cultivation. It hadn't actually done anything and Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian themselves were still processing what that presence truly meant. It was simply the event that had precipitated the conversation and disclosed their solution. "Uh... I felt I had to talk with the resentless energy this morning." There. That was neutral and certainly true enough. "During our discussion I checked in on their promise to consult and see if they knew of any way to better handle the Yin Iron in me. And they had an answer this time!" Wei WuXian's eyes lit up now, excitement gleaming forth.

"They can't do anything just now; they said I need to become stronger still." Wei WuXian made a small grimace; he was working so hard on developing his kernel of a golden Core... "When they think I'm strong enough they said that they will rearrange the Yin Iron within me – they'll make it so not even the smallest bit of powder touches another and that will reduce the energy they can access. The call of the Yin Iron will be weakened and only the resentless energy ambient within my immediate vicinity will be summoned... there won't be any way for it to draw more from a distance, although I'll still be able to use Demonic Cultivation and call forth more when needed." Wei WuXian cut himself off abruptly. Darn! I have a golden Core now, maybe I shouldn't have added that last bit, he thought to himself, shrinking internally as he realized he'd just reminded the Sect Leader of Gusu Lan that he remained the only known traveller on a forbidden path.