Light and Dark

九

Wei Ying was feeling restless, Jiang Cheng took him to his room to rest, but after a couple of minutes Wei Ying couldn't take it anymore, standing up and walking out, just as he stepped out he saw Lan Xichen. He didn't want to bother him so he was about to walk past him, or at least try to walk past but he did not succeed as Lan Xichen had turned around and saw him." Young Master Wei, the punishment was quite harsh, it may take a couple of weeks to heal". He said with an apologetic smile." Weeks? Zewu-Jun, is there a way to heal them faster?". Asked Wei Ying, not feeling particularly excited about feeling like this for weeks." You can go to Cold Springs, it certainly will help". Answered Lan Xichen. Wei Ying raised an eyebrow, he had heard of an infamous Cold springs that helped, but he had never went, no one outside the Lan Clan knew where it was located." It is behind the mountain". Said Lan Xichen as he pointed towards a particular mountain." Thank you Zewu-Jun". Said Wei Ying as he bowed, although with some difficulty as he felt a sharp pain shoot in his back." Lan Zhan might be there as well, Young Master Wei". He said before walking away, a slightly playful smile on his face, not having to look back to know that Wei Ying was blushing.

As he walked down the path, he noticed that Lan Zhan was indeed there, but his whole face flushed red when he realized that all of Lan Zhan's clothes were on the ground, Lan Zhan must have heard someone walking, because he turned around, and as soon as he saw Wei Ying he took his clothes and put them on, going back in the cold water." How did you find this place?". Asked Lan Zhan." Zewu-Jun told me". Answered Wei Ying with a cheeky smile, walking in the water." It's so cold". He whined as he stepped closer to Lan Zhan, wanting to feel some type of heat." Aren't you cold? It's freezing!". Exclaimed Wei Ying as he moved around, trying to not freeze to death." Stop flailing". Said Lan Zhan in a calm voice." But the water is so cold, if i don't keep moving my blood will coagulate and i'll freeze to death!". He said as he started to take off his outer robe." What are you doing?". Asked Lan Zhan as he moved away." Taking off my clothes to treat my injuries?". Replied Wei Ying, as if this was normal and Lan Zhan's question was pointless.

The two men were walking around in the water, although it really was just Lan Zhan trying to get away from Wei Ying and the latter following him, but suddenly they both fell in a hole in the ground, landing in some sort of underground cave." What is this place? Why is there a vortex to a secret passage under Cold Springs?". Asked Wei Ying as they both got up." And what is that?". Lan Zhan looked in the direction that Wei Ying was pointing at and saw a Guqin that belonged to the Lan Sect." The Chord Assassination Technique". Answered Lan Zhan as he stepped closer." Isn't that the specialized technique passed down by your Lan Clan ancestors?". Asked Wei Ying as he walked with Lan Zhan.

But he couldn't get far as the Guqin played a note towards Wei Ying, sending him flying back a couple of steps." What was that? Why does it only come for me?". Asked Wei Ying as he painfully got up, his injuries still not healed. " It does not attack me, probably because it can sense that i am a member of the Lan Clan". Replied Lan Zhan as he continued taking slow steps towards the Guqin." Why are there rabbits here? And they're wearing Gusu Lan forehead ribbons?" Said Lan Zhan as he noticed the tiny creatures." Lan Zhan, give me your forehead ribbon". Said Wei Ying, Lan Zhan turned around, almost flabbergasted at the request.

Lan Clan members were given a forehead ribbon in their early childhood, it was meant to be touched only by family members and later on, their significant other.

So Lan Zhan was hesitating a little as he walked towards Wei Ying. The latter felt how Lan Zhan had tensed up." Lan Zhan, is something wrong?". He asked, a little concerned." No". He answered, deciding to not tell Wei Ying. He tied the forehead ribbon around his and Wei Ying's wrists, they walked forward and luckily it worked, Wei ying walked closer with no problem. Lan Zhan sat down in front of the instrument, inspecting it while Wei Ying stood in front of him.