Dust & Gold

36

Lan Zhan and I spent a few days training with Baoshan. We learned the basics of our common immortality abilities but when it came down to our own special abilities, we had yet to figure out. Well, Lan Zhan seemed to have figured his out, he has pure yang energy and has the ability to cleanse anyone or anything. He even had the ability to cleanse the burial mounds which was the most filled with resentment.

That wasn't the case for me. I couldn't seem to figure mine out. Baoshan had checked me over and said I was Lan Zhan's opposite, meaning I was pure Yin energy. Even though I still cultivated like everyone else, I can use resentful energy and control it. I can see and speak with spirits. I can sense an area filled with it. Baoshan figured since her mountain was so clear of Yin energy, it was harder for me to tell what it was.

"So this is something I have to learn on my own?" I asked.

"No, Wangji is your counterpart," Wai Po said, "you cannot have Yin energy without Yang. Why do you think you two work so well together? Why do you think the bond works so well?"

"So can I be too overwhelmed by resentment?" I asked, "What if people treat me differently? What if they don't like my methods? I am immortal but I know they will question me."

"You are protected by Wangji," Baoshan said, "it may be hard for some people to accept but it has been a long time since there was a Yin and Yang duo. You two may represent a sect but you don't live within it anymore, correct?"

I nodded and looked at Lan Zhan, "what about you? Will you treat me different?"

"Never," Lan Zhan assured me, "I love you and I will always be there for you. I am here."

"Now, this war is about to begin. The archery competition still has to happen, correct?" Baoshan asked.

"Yes it's in about a week," Lan Zhan said.

"You two can teleport to me anytime you need to, but it's time for you both to get back to the real world. Wangji, it may be a bit difficult at first to see your husband's abilities but always be there for him. He will need you more than ever, alright," Baoshan said.

Lan Zhan nodded, "you have my word."

"What about the Jiang's?" I asked.

"You can handle them now, but there will be a trial coming for them to face," Baoshan said, "if they survive the war that is. Can you wait until then?"

"I can," I said, "maybe we can let them suffer a bit."

"Since they caused the Lan Sect trouble and banished A'Ying, they are considered to be an enemy to you," Baoshan said, "you do not have to help them out in any way during the war."

"I guess that's true," I said, "...Will we be seeing you again soon?"

"You can visit me anytime you like. Just don't bring strangers here," Baoshan said, "as for Wen Qing, the woman who helped you earlier, I looked into her and her family branch. I have her village being protected. If you run into her, let her know that her family is safe, and I have a group of my disciples watching over them."

"Thank you," I said, "anyone who is a Wen but isn't involved in this will be targeted just for their name. I just want to make sure the children and the families who do not cultivate are safe."

"I will look further into it," Baoshan said, "now you better get going."

"I love you and we will visit again soon," I said.

"Bye, see you later," she said.

Lan Zhan took my hand and teleported us to Cloud Recesses. As much as we wanted to go back to our domestic life, with the Wen Sect getting more aggressive, we would be needed. Plus the conference meeting at Qishan and the archery competition were finally approaching us.

We teleported to the Jingshi. Lan Zhan sent for his brother and then we sat down at the table for tea. Zewu Jun arrived shortly, "Wangji, A'Xian," he greeted, "it's good to see you back."

"Mnn," Lan Zhan nodded and placed a privacy ward over the Jingshi.

"Always to the point with you," Zewu Jun said and sat with us, "alright, what is going on?"

"Wei Ying is cured of the curse, and we met with Baoshan to do it. We are immortal now," Lan Zhan explained.

"That's incredible," Zewu Jun said.

"About that," I said, "so you know how each immortal has their own unique skills?"

"Now I do, but what is this about?" He asked.

"It's been a couple centuries since a Yin and Yang duo were together," Lan Zhan said, "meaning I am pure Yang and Wei Ying is Pure Yin...meaning..."

"His use of resentful energy," Zewu Jun said and he now looked concerned, "as you are immortal beings, you cannot be corrupted by the energy, but many people will want to target him for his powers alone. They will either want him to join them or kill him."

"The bond protects him," Lan Zhan said, "we may not live in Cloud Recesses much anymore but we still represent the sect. If the sect refuses to help protect him like they are supposed to, no matter his abilities, we will leave here and not help with the war at all."

"Lan Zhan!" I argued.

"I will not let you be a target, Wei Ying, if we have problems, Baoshan will let us go back to her," Lan Zhan said, "we are bonded now, anything happens to you, comes back to me. We may not be able to die easily but we both know that we are to protect each other. As your husband and Yin cannot exist without Yang, and Yang cannot exist without Yin."

I found myself bowing to Zewu Jun, "please do not hate me for who I am," I begged.

"A'Xian!" Zewu Jun said suddenly and kept me from bowing, "I could never hate you. Wangji is right. People with our sect may have a hard time with it but you are protected by law. Shufu needs to know of this matter."

"He will be angry," Lan Zhan said.

"Possibly but if he knows that you are A'Xian's balance, he will be fine," Zewu Jun said.

"First it was the curse and now it's this," I said, "I am sorry."

"A'Xian, please do not apologize," Zewu Jun said, "I accept you. You are my brother as Wangji is. You can still do anything a cultivator can do but you have more power than anyone else too. You and Wangji together may be the key to this war."

"Just promise me that he is protected," Lan Zhan said.

"I promise you," Zewu Jun said, "oh, your robes for the competition arrived. We leave in a few days for Qishan. This conference is a week long, so be prepared."

"Alright," I said, "and for the time being, even if the rest of the elders know of my abilities, I will hide them for a while. It could be an advantage."

"Alright," Zewu Jun said, "I will go speak with Shufu about this. We will probably meet again tomorrow to discuss things further."

"Mnn," Lan Zhan nodded.

Once Zewu Jun left, I felt the tension in the air leave, "he's just concerned," I said, "we don't know all that I can do. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You won't," Lan Zhan said, "I am here for you."

I smiled and crawled into his lap, "I love you."

"I love you too, Wei Ying," he replied as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. There was no telling what was to come but I felt that Lan Zhan would always be there for me, even if his sect was not. Baoshan would also always be there for us. He and I could always go to her again if we ever need an escape.