Early the next morning, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan get ready to leave. Lan Qiren has brought Lan Huan over for a shared breakfast enjoyed by everyone except the one advised to eat less spices.
"Be good," Cangse Sanren hugs A-Huan first, and as she wraps her arms around his slim form, she asks him under her breath, "Are you feeling better now, Haizi?"
He nods, and he certainly looks better today than yesterday. She pats his head and hugs A-Zhan next. "You're always good so I shall counsel you to have fun on this trip," she murmurs, looking into his pale golden eyes.
"Mn. I will have fun because YingYing is coming. He will make sure I have fun," Lan Zhan assures her. She giggles, kissing his forehead, delighted with his response.
Cangse Sanren reluctantly lets go of him and tickles Wei Ying before hugging him closer. "A-Ying, you must also have fun, alright? While we are children, our sole duty is to make time so we can play. A-Zhan and A-Huan haven't had a lot of fun in their lives, but it's up to us to make up the daily quota."
Wei Ying nods seriously, no doubt already thinking up some kind of mischief.
"And what of me?" Lan Qiren bows towards his friends.
"Well, the last time you set off on an adventure, namely to Nightless City, you all went off and had an insane party all by yourselves! I don't have much to say to you at all," she snickers. "Just safe travels and hurry back. My days are infinitely more entertaining when all of you are here." She beams at them. "I shall go over A-Ying's prototype talismans and see if we can make them better."
"I imagine we will have to get started on preparations for dealing with the Yin Iron straight away, as soon as you're back," Wei Changze observes.
"Hmm. The longer such a dangerous threat is out there, the more chances of someone getting seriously hurt." Lan Qiren gestures towards the children, herding them outside. "We will see you when we get back."
They meet Xiao XingChen by the Ivory pillars. He's waiting for them patiently with a few hand chosen disciples that Lan Qiren picked especially to accompany them on this trip.
"How long will it take?" Wei Ying wants to know.
"A week to reach Baixue Temple and a week to return, so at least a fortnight." Xiao XingChen informs them. "Thank you for coming with me, I greatly appreciate the company."
"It is our pleasure," Lan Qiren replies, feeling odd about not being able to tell him the real reason why they're going with him.
The less people who know about the Yin Iron, the better.
When they reach Caiyi Town, Wei Ying makes Lan Qiren buy lots of candy for Xue Yang and A-Qing. It's stored safely away after their lunch, and then they're on their way again.
But they encounter many children on their path and while each one breaks their hearts, they can only offer to buy them some food and give out the candy.
"I wish there was something I could do about that," Wei Ying murmurs as they leave a child happily munching on a steamed bun on the outskirts of another town. "Like a talisman that can provide infinite food, or clothes, or somewhere to sleep."
"The sects are supposed to be responsible for looking after ordinary folk and laymen," Lan Qiren tells them. Privately, he's in agreement with A-Ying but his mind turns to more practical solutions. "I can bring it up at the next interclan conference, in four months' time. It will be held at Cloud Recesses this time, and as hosts, we will be busy with preparations, but there are issues which must be addressed on the agenda, and I will make sure this is one of them."
