Call On Me

3

We settled in a run down village just south of Tanzhou. It didn't take long for the crumbled buildings to be restored and for a newly built little village set up. It was now considered as San Bao (or Three Treasures). It works because this is a new small village of healers. Health is based on three basic substances, the energies, known as the Three Treasures or San Bao: Jing (精), Qi (氣) and Shen (神). These terms are translated as essence, life energy and spirit, mind-heart.

It basically became a start to a new healer's clan, and the people had me as the leader. I guess this was my new way of life. Though I can't cultivate, I can learn from the Dafan villagers about healing. We raised enough money to buy new clothes and even have our own motif. Our clothes were black with an emerald green, white, and a honey colored yellow. Our motif was a white honeysuckle, which is where we got our colors from. I would wear all black robes though, with green accents, and so I could keep my identity hidden, I wore a mask that was silver, black, and green.

Something else that I started to do was play the flute. I thought back at the Lan Sect's music cultivation and as I have a photographic memory, I practiced until I could play those pieces perfectly from memory of only hearing them once. Some of them I know of their effects but not all of them, which, if I could get some sort of note of them it would be very helpful.

Setting up this new little settlement did make us more vulnerable and more likely for other sects to seek us out. I helped train some of the younger members whether they were male or female, in martial arts and if they had the ability to form a golden core, I would assist them with it.

Within a year's time, San Bao was thriving and we had some of the toughest warriors and they were strong and healthy. We were soon recognized as a small sect and we were asked to aid in the Sunshot campaign that was still going. We didn't want to get involved but we were able to send over some medical supplies. It was the most we helped with. I couldn't fight with them so it was best that I stayed in the background.

One day, we were visited by a few people. They were from the Jiang Sect, Jiang Cheng and his sister, the Nie Sect, Chifeng Zun, and the Lan Sect Zewu Jun and Hanguang Jun. I noticed them walking around the town. I sat up high in one of our finest taverns. Uncle Four and I have created our own wine of the fruits within the local area and sold it. It grew popular very quickly.

I sat there up high watching those three sects looking around our open village. To hide the Dafan Wen identities, we all changed our names to San to accompany our new sect name. So instead of Wen Qing, it's San Qing but I just call her Qing-Jie and I call her brother A'Ning. I was also called San Ying, just to hide more.

I sighed and tossed back the last cup of my wine before hopping down from the terrace of the tavern and right in front of the small group of cultivators, "it's quite rare to have such gantry people come by," I said loud enough for them to here, "not that I do not mind, I do not like when trouble stumbles upon my territory. So I have to ask, what are you doing so far from your own homes?"

"We came to seek out the leader of this small sect to ask for more aid," Zewu Jun replied, "we apologize if we came off as a threat."

"Not a threat, just suspicious," I said, "and I am the leader here. I already sent out a tone of supplies your way, don't tell me you are in need of more?"

"Not only that but any help we can get with this war the better," Zewu Jun said, "perhaps we could sit down somewhere more privately and talk?"

"I already said in a recent letter that even though I have fighters, they are not good enough to participate In another's war. Not only that, but they are living peacefully here. Why should we risk our lives for your war?" I asked.

"Even if you don't want to see your people die, it is selfish of you to think that way," Jiang Cheng said.

"Selfish?" I asked him, "don't think I don't know what your Shixiong sacrificed for you so you could be here! You can cultivate again, yet you still are arrogant as ever!"

"How do you know of my Shixiong?" He asked curiously.

"He lives here," I said, "he told me all that he suffered from your family. Which is a whole other reason why am not going to help you."

"Leader San," a man said from behind me. It stopped Jiang Cheng from saying whatever he was going to say.

I turned and it was A'Ning. He had a mask on as well and he became my best fighter. He is my head disciple and I treat him properly as one and even more so, a brother, "Yes A'Ning?" I asked.

"Jie is looking for you, A'Yuan isn't wanting to sleep without hearing a story from you first," A'Ning said.

I smiled, "tell him I will be there shortly."

"Yes sir," A'Ning said and left.

I then turned to the others, "since you came all this way, I can allow you to stay for the night as it is late. I will have someone escort you to your rooms," I said and started to walk away.

"Does Wei Ying know I am looking for him?" A familiar voice asked from behind me. I turned and saw Hanguang Jun standing there. The others were just standing there with their mouths open like they were surprised to hear him talk.

"Why would you be looking for him?" I asked.

"I just want to know if he is okay," Hanguang Jun said, "I have my regrets."

I narrowed my eyes and looked into his eyes. His eyes spoke the truth and I know Lan Zhan isn't one to lie, "what regrets?" I asked.

"I wasn't there for him when he needed me most," Lan Zhan said, "I wish to see him again at least once."

I was silent for a moment, "I will talk to him," I said, "I will see if he is willing to meet you before you leave tomorrow."

"Thank you," he said and bowed to me.

I stopped him mid bow, "no need," I said, "I do have a condition for it in exchange."

"What?" He asked.

"Teach me to play cleansing and I will do it," I told him.

"How do you know of cleansing?" Lan Zhan asked.

"He spoke of you once. Though you play the guqin, I play the flute. I learn from hearing only once. I have perfect memory," I told him.

"Very well, if you wish to learn, find me again before nine," he said and left with the group who were being escorted to their guest rooms.