Call On Me

2

~*Wei Wuxian's POV*~

Dafan was a cute little village. It was mostly of elderly people and healers. These healers were very skilled and advanced in their trade and I'd say their skills are better than most healers within a prominent sect. The only sect that is really known for its advanced healing techniques is the Lan Sect. The other sects fall short in that.

I have noticed that each sect does have their own advantages, like Yunmeng Jiang is right on the water so it is known for their ability to trade and sell and import and export goods. The Qinghe Nie Sect is more known for their fighting. The Lanling Jin is known for their wealth and are glad to flaunt it anytime and anywhere. The Lan Sect, while they have good healers, they are known for their music cultivation and for producing exemplary cultivators.

As for the Wen Sect, they are the largest so they have everything really. It wouldn't surprise me if Wen Ruohan took over a place just so he could have something so another place didn't. If someone has extraordinary talent, he would want them working for him. He has to have the best of everything but that is starting to get to be too much and he just wants more and more. He's killing off sects just to get what he wants.

It does bother me a little bit that I won't be able to help out in the war but I know I can do what I can to protect these people here at Dafan. I may not be able to use a sword but I can still fight without it and I can still use talismans. I might have to learn how to fight differently now but it's only for emergencies only.

I helped these people gather whatever they needed. They had some horses and mules along with wagons so they can take a bit of supplies but we had to be selective. Food, medicine, and anything that can help protect us along the way is most important. Once everyone was set, we all took a horse, wagon, or mule, some horses even walked, and we began to move.

There was a town called Tanzhou, and there is where we decided to go. I went to Tanzhou once and I was with Lan Zhan looking for the Yin Iron. Nie Huaisang happened to be there too. There is located Shi Hua Nu (Damsel of Annual Blossoms). It was furthest from Qishan. While we traveled, we urged everyone to rid of their Wen sect robes and wear regular civilian robes. It would be easier to hide if we didn't have Wen Sect red. We all had dull gray, brown, beige and black robes to choose from.

Traveling with these people was actually really nice. They were nice to talk to and even just being around. I was free to really be myself. They didn't laugh when my secret of being afraid of dogs came about. A couple wolves crossed our path and I froze on the spot. Wen Qing said that she would be able to help me overcome my fear if I really wanted to. I said I'd consider it.

"Some say exposure therapy works really well," an elderly woman that I call Wen Popo, said, "though it can also be dangerous. It could cause the person to have setbacks."

"Anytime I am around a dog I am afraid. Even if it's a little puppy," I explained, "it is because I fought off some wild dogs when I was young. I used to live on the streets as a child so it was a struggle to keep away from them, especially when it came to food."

"Why were you living on the streets so young?" Another person, Uncle Four, asked, "I thought you grew up in a sect."

"I wasn't born in one, and my parents were rogue cultivators. I was told they were killed by another rogue cultivator. I was on my own for a few years before I was taken in," I answered.

"Well, you have us now," Wen Popo said.

I nodded and smiled. As we were traveling, we traveled south towards Meishan and then to Tanzhou. Though Meishan I might run into someone I might know as it is where Madam Yu's family lives. Shijie might still be at Meishan but I am also not sure. As I knew we were getting close, I put on a bamboo hat that obscured my face. Hopefully I can get through town smoothly.

A few disciples would pass through, some of them were actually either Yunmeng Jiang or Gusu Lan. Why are they working together suddenly? I thought maybe I ruined any possible alliances with them a long time ago. Being lost in thought, I was brought back to the present when a sword glint passed my vision. It was a very familiar sword glint too...it belonged to Bichen.

I glanced up and saw Lan Zhan. He had a couple Lan disciples with him but he seemed to be patrolling, almost as if he was looking for something. I kept my head down as I knew he'd recognize my face if he saw me. I wanted to say hello but I knew if I did, all my plans would fail. I couldn't risk it.

"Hanguang Jun, any news?" I heard a familiar female voice asked.

I glanced over and saw a woman in purple, "Shijie?" I whispered... "Hanguang Jun...beautiful title Lan Zhan. You deserve it."

"I know you believe he's alive too right? Jiang Cheng thinks he's been captured by Wen Chao," I heard Shijie said.

"Only rumors," Lan Zhan said, "don't listen to it."

"Alright," Shijie said, "I am going to get back to Jiang Cheng before he worries where I am. Let me know if you find anything."

"Mnn," Lan Zhan nodded.

They were looking for me. I felt a small bit a warmth fill my heart knowing that I was being looked for but then I frowned, it's pointless. I am not the cultivator I once was. It's best if they can't find me.