BOOK 6. The story carries on briefly from the end of the previous book. Shen Wei is doing what he loves best, teaching and hasn't met the new Zhao Yunlan. The mansion where the hologram lives is for sale but it never will be sold, the mysterious p...
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Yunlan sat in the small dining room upstairs in the mansion listening to Wei talking about his life and history, enjoying the feeling of being in this old house while he paid attention to what he was being told.
Wei explained about his power coming from the original source who was living within him and all about the exchanging of hosts when the human part died, and a volunteer who cared for it until the next descendant of Black Robe took over.
"So that makes him timeless, more or less. But how old are you now, because you look about my age?"
"I'm about 200 years old I think, maybe just over that, I tend not to count anymore. The power within gives me a longer lifespan, but not all the descendants chose to live that long, some died when their partners left this world, our last few years were peaceful and happy and my heart was in a good place when he died, so I stayed to wait for the next one to come along."
Yunlan watched as he listened, beginning to understand why everyone he'd met so far, paid their respects to this kind and gentle person. He could imagine him being able to control and teach his students with ease on their chosen subject, holding their attention as much as he was holding his, as he spoke of his life. He could have listened to his voice all night but he started to yawn and Wei suddenly realised what time it was and he shouted on Kunlun to prepare a room for a guest to stay overnight.
"Who exactly is Kunlun? And how would he hear you from here, are there security cameras in the house?" Yunlan asked as looked around but couldn't see any.
"Yes there are cameras but they were switched off this afternoon after I arrived. Kunlun is a highly developed hologram who might confuse you with someone else at times, which I will explain when I think it's necessary. Kunlun, show yourself."
The hologram appeared in front of Shen Wei not knowing about Yunlan because he had been working without monitoring Wei after the security was switched off.
"Good evening My Lord, or should I say morning because you are up very late, or early, depending on how you view it. What can I do for you?"
"Can you prepare one of the rooms for our guest who is staying tonight and we'll have breakfast in the morning, he's sitting behind you."
The hologram turned around and his programming almost shut down in shock, as he lunged forward and hugged Yunlan like a long lost brother without showing signs of releasing him any time soon.
"Kunlun, the room, you can hug him again later, Kunlun release him please, or he might not come back." which seemed to do the trick and he let go of Yunlan who had almost been crushed.
"What would you like for breakfast My Lord, and do you have the watch by any chance? And what about the Little Master is he still angry with me?"
Yunlan looked across at Wei for explanations but the hologram suddenly disappeared.
"Kunlun can travel outside in your watch which is where he is right now. The Little Master is the whip but Kunlun and the snake had a disagreement and the distance between them was never resolved, the whip stayed angry with him for a long time. I don't know why.
Kunlun, come out and arrange the bedroom please and yes Yunlan is carrying the whip, try talking to the snake tomorrow, he's probably as tired as Yunlan , so bed, please, fast."
"Yes My Lord, I'll do it now." and the hologram slowly slipped out of the watch and disappeared along the corridor to find a bedroom for Yunlan while Wei switched on the security system.
"Sleep well Yunlan, the hologram will show you to your room and breakfast will be here tomorrow morning. Transport to work won't be a problem, I can take you. Good night, see you in the morning."
Wei left the dining room knowing that the excited hologram wouldn't be long in coming back to speak to Yunlan and take him to his room. he was tired and needed rest before having to start another day's teaching, so he settled down quickly, and fell asleep. Yunlan loved his room. It took a bit of persuasion to convince the hologram to leave, and he assured him that he would see him in the morning, but eventually he left and Yunlan could go to bed.
He hadn't been asleep for long when he heard the shouting and the screams coming from Wei's room and he immediately ran to find out what was wrong. Wei was dreaming, something that hadn't happened for a very long time, and he thrashed about the bed as the sweat soaked his PJ's while he screamed and took short breathes to control what was in his dream. Yunlan spoke to him to try and awaken him, but it was no use and tears started flowing down the sides of Wei's face as his shouts became less and he cried silently.
Yunlan slipped his shoes off and sat on the bed beside Wei and held him as he cried, wiping the tears away as they formed, but he couldn't even guess at anything which would cause him such emotional pain. he remained there for the rest of the night, leaving just as he smelled the breakfast passing by and followed it to the dining room.
"Smells lovely Kunlun, thank you. Can I ask you about Wei's nightmares?"
"He used to have them years ago and then they went away. They haven't happened for a long time, but this seems different, maybe a premonition he's having, I can let you read some of his past life in the history book, if you think you are strong enough to handle learning about it. Security was switched back on before we all settled down last night, so he is worried about something. Now choose what you would like to eat before it goes cold My Lord."
Shen Wei arose tired and remembering what he had dreamt about but wasn't ready to speak of it to anyone. He hurriedly dressed and went along to the dining room for breakfast, forgetting that Yunlan would be there and was mildly surprised before he remembered inviting him to stay overnight.
"Good morning Zhao Yunlan, did you sleep well?"
Yunlan was surprised that Wei hadn't been aware of his presence during the night but it made sense in a way, because obviously if it had been a premonition, then he wouldn't have known what had happened around him, during his sleep last night.
"Yes thank you, I did. What about yourself, you must have been tired after bringing me here?" Yunlan asked and watched for his reaction.
"I was a bit restless, yes I was tired. I'll sleep better tonight, I haven't been back to this house for a long time and maybe that had something to do with it, too many memories."
"I suppose having lived for so long, there would be good and bad memories which could come back in your sleep, is that a problem that you have had to deal with?" Yunlan risked asking.
"Many years ago, the new hosts were tested through nightmares, but the next Black Robe at that time banished that method from ever being used again, it was a cruel way of finding out the strength of the new host, my sleep has been restful most of the time, but last night wasn't, and I need time to figure out the message."
Yunlan brought a cup of tea over to the table for Wei while he was picking at his breakfast, noticing the bad eating habit that Chu had spoken about.
"It's best if you eat some more, or at least take a couple of energy drinks to the university with you to help with your power levels." and he watched as Wei looked at him and nodded to agree, with a beautiful smile.
"You sound like Chu, and you're right, I will, when you're ready to leave I'll drop you off at work, slowly by car." and he finished the food on his plate and collected a couple of Chu's bottles of juice for his briefcase.
