Dust & Gold

22

After a nice breakfast the next day after our nice and pleasurable night last night, Lan Zhan and I went outside and sat down at a table we had set up. It was a nice day so we wanted to spend it outside together and just relaxing and talking.

"Wei Ying, would you be okay with my brother coming by?" Lan Zhan asked me.

"Ugh, sure," I said.

"He doesn't know where we are as I wanted to respect your privacy...it's just he wants to speak with me. I sent a message to him that I would visit soon but he said that he could just come to me," he explained.

"Lan Zhan, I may be a bit uncomfortable with being in a sect but that doesn't mean I don't mind visiting one every now and then. Also, you withheld information about our location for my sake?" I said.

"I did," Lan Zhan said.

I sighed and looked down at the ground, "you must not like how things are going right now...I'm sorry...I don't blame you if you left," I told him.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, having me look back at him, "I am happy here, I want you to know that. I actually like that I do not have to worry about sect duties."

I had tears forming in my eyes, and I shook my head, "this is too much Lan Zhan. I want to believe what you say but I just feel like I am keeping you from your family. Zewu Jun can come visit, but if you really want me to, I can do back to Cloud Recesses."

Lan Zhan sighed, "Wei Ying, I told you already that I want to be here. My duties as a cultivator are still there but my duties as a partner is more important now. Once we complete this bond, we will be linked together. This bond won't ever break no matter how far away you are from me. The separation will only hurt us emotionally and mentally."

"What does your brother want to talk about?" I asked.

"He wants to know if we have more information on the Wen Sect, but also to just come and say hello in person," Lan Zhan told me, "he is actually glad that I am happy here."

"You're happy here?" I asked, surprised.

"I am," he said and he smiled.

***

Lan Zhan wrote to his brother and Zewu Jun arrived just a few days later. I actually kept my distance because he came specifically for Lan Zhan, so I spent time outside at the river. During my time at the river, I was taken aback by the sudden shift in the atmosphere. I could feel resentment nearby. I then heard howling and froze in place. It was dire wolves. Resentful dire wolves to be exact. The moment I saw one wolf, I bolted. It chased me and I ran until I reached my house.

"Lan Zhan!" I called out.

"Wei Ying?" He asked.

"I need help, dire wolves, but they are filled with resentment...I can't...they... I am..." I said and began to panic.

"Wei Ying, try to breathe," he said. Suddenly, the wolves were coming and growls were heard, bearing their sharp teeth, "Wei Ying?"

I couldn't respond. A wolf snapped towards us making me jump back, "help me!" I said and curled up into a ball on the ground.

"Wangji, let me help you, these wolves need to be handled," I heard Zewu Jun say.

I soon heard Lan Zhan take out his guqin and used chord assassination. The wolves flew back several feet. After the wolves were gone, Lan Zhan spent a lot of time trying to calm me down and soothe me, "I'm sorry," I said quietly.

"What for?" Lan Zhan asked.

"I couldn't help," I answered, "ever since I was little, I've had a very big fear of dogs...it's mostly because I lived on the streets for a little while and had to deal with wild hounds while fighting for food. Now any dog I saw I freeze and panic."

"It's alright," Lan Zhan said and pulled me into a hug, "I am here to help."

I nodded, "also, I am sorry I interrupted you two."

"Nonsense," Zewu Jun said with a smile on his face, "I was actually wondering if I would see you at all during my visit."

"I didn't want to intrude on you spending time with Lan Zhan," I said.

"You are like a brother to me too," Zewu Jun said, "I'd like to get to know you more too. I came to see both of you."

I nodded and Lan Zhan lead me to sit down with him at the table outside where the two were sitting, "are you alright?" Lan Zhan asked.

"I am now," I answered, "I did accidentally leave the fishing stuff back at the river but I'm too shaken to go back and get it."

"Since it's not too far, I will go get it," Lan Zhan said, "plus, you and Xiongzhang should catch up."

"Thank you," I said, "I did catch a good amount today."

"Mnn, alright," he said and left.

I looked at Zewu Jun, "I...am sorry I left the way I did."

Zewu Jun seemed to be very relaxed and also seemed to understand what I was going through, "I understand," he said, "Wangji told me about it all after he found you. I was a bit upset at first but I didn't even consider how you were feeling back then. I am actually glad that you are doing better here. Wangji also seems to be a lot happier here too."

I nodded, "he is."

"How are you doing?" Zewu Jun asked.

"I've been doing alright," I answered, "though I am still dealing with some post trauma, which it may take a long time before that goes away...if it ever does."

"Even if it doesn't, you still have Wangji there for you. You also have us back at Gusu," Zewu Jun said.

I nodded and smiled. Lan Zhan then returned with the fish that I caught today, "you did catch a lot today," Lan Zhan said.

I smiled, "maybe I just wanted you to cook your fish soup again."

"Then I will," he said and set them aside to take care of a bit later, "did Xiongzhang want to stay for dinner?"

"I would like that," Zewu Jun answered, "it's not every day that I can eat something made by my Didi. I didn't even know you could cook."

"While I was waiting to hear from Wei Ying back at Gusu, I asked some of the cooks to give me some tips and teach me," Lan Zhan said.

"It's still nice to hear," Zewu Jun said, "have you had other issues aside from the wolves?"

"Not really," I answered, "Lan Zhan and I usually patrol the area for a few hours each week just to make sure it's safe. Lan Zhan seemed to take in a few new rabbits in the process."

"That doesn't surprise me," Zewu Jun said, "he has a soft spot for rabbits."

"I've noticed but I don't mind," I said. I was glad that Zewu Jun's visit was not too overwhelming for me. I felt that I misjudged him just a bit. I am slowly gaining some confidence in trusting him, which is good. The only person I have fully come to trust is Lan Zhan.