BOOK 10. There are two tales at the beginning. Zhao Yunlan is searching for a lost artefact while Black Robe is searching for the same thing in a different world. One story is partly an illusion, while the other is very real and when they merge...
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Wei didn't like holding things back from Yunlan especially this new skill he had been given, and he knew that the detective would find out on his own, even if he said nothing.
Yunlan had been called to an unidentified body which had been found in one of the quieter areas, known to be dangerous after dark. There were no signs of a weapon and if it hadn't been for the fresh pattern left in the middle of the victim's forehead, the case wouldn't have been allocated to Yunlan's office. Lin Jing took photos of the crime scene while Daqing searched the area for evidence, but he couldn't find anything unusual. Chu examined the body which was still warm, meaning that it hadn't been lying here for very long.
"Find anything interesting Chu?" Yunlan asked as he kept his distance.
"You mean apart from the new artwork on his forehead? No, there are no other injuries to say how he died, but I don't think it was a suicide, not in this area." Chu replied, but he could see how uncomfortable Yunlan was.
"Why don't you let us finish up here and you can go back to the office, we really can't do very much except wait for the autopsy report. You look ill, are you feeling alright?" He asked as he watched the colour slowly draining from Yunlan's face.
"I think I'll go home, Chu. Cover for me this afternoon, would you, thanks."
Yunlan could remember the same pattern that had appeared on Wei's forehead very clearly during a nightmare and the effects the dream had on him when he awoke. He badly needed to talk to Wei and ask him about it, so he immediately headed for home and hoped that he was free for the afternoon.
Ava watched as Yunlan strode towards Wei's study, trouble she thought but hoped she was wrong. He walked straight to Shen Wei and wrapped his arms around him tightly as he rested his head on his shoulder before he spoke gently to him.
"You need to explain something to me, something that upset you not that long ago. Its important for me to know now."
Yunlan felt Wei's arms tighten around him for a minute before he released him and they sat down to talk. He had already guessed what Yunlan wanted to know, and he explained as simply as he could what had happened.
"Alright my love, it's a gift, but it wasn't the caretaker, it was from someone higher in status, and they waited until Black Robe was away before they gave it to you, which means that he's not pleased about their actions and he would have objected. Therefore he knows what they did and who they were and can probably speak their language." Yunlan sighed in exasperation, before he pulled Wei closer and held him
"Temporary they said, Ah.Lan. Black Robe was furious and offered to remove it if I reach the point where I'm forced to ask him."
Yunlan didn't know how to answer him, because he fully understood what Wei was implying by his last remark and he held him tighter, wishing he could make thing easier for him. Wei has a difficult enough role in life without something else added, even if it is temporary, Yunlan thought to himself.
