Solstice Souls: Solstice Sons (Book 3)

Attempt The Impossible

Lan Zhan's POV

They set out from Yiling on foot, and then take flight on their swords as soon as it gets dark. This was a decision not taken lightly, but Xiao XingChen said they could easily be spotted in the open skies during daylight and so they should wait. They use the opportunity to rest every few hours. Speed is of the essence - they must reach Nightless City as secretly and as soon as possible, preferably before word reaches Wen Ruohan that part of his army is gone, defeated in Yiling by the Wei Clan.

Lan Zhan is still feeling raw about the way they left home, both little boys, their children now, crying because they were going away. He feels like crying too, the weight of the responsibility thrust upon them feeling heavier as each li passes by.

By walking, the Wens took a total of five days to march upon Yiling, and even accounting for their large numbers, they were still traveling fast. Flying is so much faster than walking so Wei Ying expects them to reach Nightless City by tomorrow evening.

They rest when folks are about the most, to remain undetected by hiding in thick shrubs in out of the way places. By staying away from villages and towns, they can reach their destination in secrecy.

They're taking breaks for two reasons: Wei Ying and Xiao XingChen both agreed that it would be a foolish risk to arrive faster but considerably weaker by using up all their spiritual energy in flying, therefore it made sense to travel in spurts, giving themselves time to recover in between, and secondly, they can practice dancing.

"They're like dead pieces of wood," Wei Ying whispers, a distance away from their two older students, watching them trying to twist gracefully in the simple routine Wei Ying came up with in just minutes.

Just because a warrior had mastered sword forms, perfecting agile and daring poses, with movements flowing from one into another like the wind, that did not afford them the natural grace of a dancer. There were subtle but no less important differences between the two, and these two were clearly thinking too hard about what their performance looked like.

"Mn. They need to thaw. Frozen trees." Lan Zhan is feeling smug because he used to be like them.

Wei Ying says he's much better now. And Wei Ying is a professional.

Wei Ying snickers, and then marches forward to correct their poses.

"Are you feeling okay?"

Lan Zhan hears him asking them, but his attention is suddenly divided. He concentrates on their surroundings, head tilted to one side and listening carefully.

"Why does my hip hurt?' Song Lan demands, as Wei Ying giggles at them.

The first pale light heralding a cold sunrise is inching across the skies, the same colour as the clouds that are drifting by. A chill wind blows, rustling the long grasses beneath their boots, and a wild, stray fox screeches far away in the woods they have sheltered in.

Lan Zhan is sure he heard something else, just behind them, and he doesn't look back but strains his ears searching for more, on high alert in case it is something.

"I didn't know I had those kinds of muscles!" Xiao XingChen complains, wiggling in one spot.

The noise happens again, but when a twig breaks on the ground, Bichen is out and at the necks of two men that have suddenly appeared behind Lan Zhan.

"Lan Zhan! Don't kill them!" Wei Ying shouts.

They look familiar, and anyway, Lan Zhan is just being careful! He unconsciously pouts, waiting until Wei Ying jogs up to him.

"Yan Bai! Mao Shing! What the hell? Why are you here?" Wei Ying demands.

Lan Zhan keeps Bichen on them, rather petulantly because Wei Ying sounds pleased to see them. He's not going to take any chances, though!