The next day dawns bright and early as all the cultivators gather in the banqueting hall for breakfast.
Lan Qiren is glad that Wen Tang Changpu has decided to keep the burglary attempt of the Lan quarters a secret for now, because otherwise these busybodies would, no doubt, be having the time of their lives gossiping about the possible reasons such an act happened.
But if you want to catch a mole, you have to lay a trap, and success depends on secrecy.
He's glad no one was hurt yesterday, although he's warned all those in his clan and under his protection to be on their guard. There's no guarantee that his loud denouncement of helping Wen Tang Changpu with the Yin Iron was heard by the guilty party. So far, they have no information on who it was or whether they are working alone or in a group.
If it's the latter, then Wen Tang Changpu will have her work cut out for her, because dissent within one's own disciples could lead to mutiny and a coup, but he sincerely hopes it doesn't come to that.
He's glad the children remain unaffected by last night's shenanigans. All four of them had slept in the same bed in the foreign room, pushing three beds together so that the younger ones wouldn't be scared. He smiles at the memory of waking up with Wei Ying next to himself, snuggled up to WangJi, who, in turn, was being hugged from behind by Lan Huan.
And considering everything that has happened under this roof, Lan Qiren is glad that he's successfully looked after everyone, especially these three children, and that they'll be leaving tomorrow as soon as they can.
**************
Wei Ying hasn't had a chance to talk to Lan Zhan privately since last night, and he wants to talk to Wen Qing, too. He waits until Lan Qiren is distracted before grabbing Lan Zhan’s hand and signing his question.
Wei Ying: What do you think the person who burgled our rooms last night was looking for?
Lan Zhan: I don't know. Do you have any ideas?
Wei Ying: Yes. When Xue Yang and I went to free the fierce corpses, we saw a piece of Yin Iron down there. I thought, with the roof falling in, that it might have been buried under all that debris. But now I'm thinking that Wen Qing's Mama might have cleaned up and found it. And because it would have been her disciples rather than herself, I think she might have given it to Shifu for safe keeping, and someone else knows this. I think whoever broke in was looking for it.
Lan Zhan: That, unfortunately, makes sense.
Wei Ying: We have to look after Shifu and make sure nothing happens to him. And we have to tell Wen Qing. She was around Wen Ruohan in our past life when her uncle got hold of three pieces. We know one is in Cloud Recesses, and one was hidden here in Nightless City. Another one was kept by the Damsel of Annual Blossoms in Tanzhou, but Wen Chao got to her first before we could. No one knows about the fifth piece, the sword inside the tortoise of slaughter. I think we can safely say that's the only one which is safe, out of anyone's reach.
Lan Zhan: We should tell Wen-Guniang as soon as possible. And wasn't there a fourth piece? We searched Xue Yang for it when we apprehended him.
Wei Ying: We should ask him. Will we get time today? Straight after breakfast, we might get a few minutes, but I don't want to risk anyone overhearing us. This should definitely be kept secret.
Lan Zhan: Agreed. Also, about Wen Qing, she may not be able to come to our room like last time. We are in a different place, and there might not be a secret way in.
Wei Ying: Oh, yeah, I forgot. Then we'll do our best today.
Lan Zhan: Maybe there will be time after the open day finishes.
