Solstice Souls: Solstice Sons (Book 3)

The Precipice of Defeat

Lan Zhan's POV

Rage courses through Lan Zhan's veins at Wen Ruohan's words. How dare he say such a thing? To insinuate that Wei Ying is just a thing, something to be passed around like a cup of wine!

To sully their union and break it apart, to make it seem like it's nothing important. Just who does he think he IS?

He can feel the same fury rolling off Wei Ying in waves of derision and frustration. But this is not the time for anger or showing off. They need to strike at exactly the right time and catch this fiend unawares. Deep, meditative breaths bring awareness back to him and Lan Zhan knows he must share this rare equilibrium with Wei Ying, who looks like one wrong word from the Chief Cultivator will result in a useless attempt to take his life.

They have to be so careful now, because it's not just their lives on the line. Nor is it just the lives of their family. Whatever happens here will mark the start of a new era, a new way of life, and if Wen Ruohan wins, then it certainly means the destruction of the world as they know it. They cannot allow that to happen, under any circumstances.

Lan Zhan squeezes their joined hands together, standing just in front of his husband. He made a vow to be equals, and he's going to protect his man.

"We will stop you." Lan Zhan speaks out. He's glad his voice does not shake or tremble and he checks his other hand on Bichen; firm and steady is his knowledge.

"You and whose army?" Wen Ruohan laughs again, a deep sound from the pits of his belly. "Do you know what I find most fascinating about this?" He gestures around him.

It's a rhetorical question, not needing an actual answer.

Still, he pauses for dramatic effect.

"My father, who I dispatched rather too quickly to the other side, told me I would come to regret my choices. That my dabbling in the occult as he called it, would lead to my destruction. I have had an interesting time waiting for that to happen. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that harnessing resentment energy led to greater and more worthier rewards? And I'm still waiting for that regret to come." Wen Ruohan leans forward, black eyes full of malice and hatred upon them.

"Delving into unknown practices with the Yin energy is harmful for regular Cultivators," Lan Zhan says, his voice echoing off the barren stone walls. "It goes against the Cultivation World, of which you are supposed to be the Chief Cultivator. Explain yourself."

"Pah! UPSTART!" Wen Ruohan flicks his hand and a lightning strike of pure resentment energy strikes Lan Zhan, right in his chest.

He staggers back only slightly, but the attack had been so fast that he'd not been able to counter it.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying shouts, wrapping his arms around his numb body, now aching with a cold fire that burns up his throat in a different way.

Breathing deeply does not alleviate the pain, and Lan Zhan has to use his core to repair the damage inside. Wen Ruohan is like a coiled viper ready to strike at any time, his aim precise and measured. They should not underestimate him under any circumstances just because his looks are deceiving.

"You DARE to question me? Still wet behind the ears and fresh off his mother's teat?" Wen Ruohan spits on the floor beside his feet in disgust. "You, who knows nothing about this world as you call it. Such a narrow, limited vision. But soon, you will see what it can become, what is already taking shape before your eyes."

"Delusional! That's what you are! Trapped in this darkness you call a palace, blind to the outside world. Who are you to profess a desire to rule it? And single handedly at that? Wake up!" Wei Ying shouts back at him.