Lan Qiren looks at both of his friends.
"The timing of this is unfortunate, but perhaps we can still make it work to our advantage. We were thinking of ending the conference and then destroying the Yin Iron."
"Why not lay the trap at the end of the conference and catch the traitor, then we can peacefully destroy the Yin Iron. Doesn't that make better sense?" Nie XiongMeng says, finishing his tea with gusto.
He's obviously looking forward to this. Lan Qiren tries not to roll his eyes.
"The idea has merit, A-Ren," Wen Tang Changpu says thoughtfully. "That way, it's one worry less to have found the traitor."
"Have you made any progress in your Sect?" Lan Qiren asks her. "I was watching your disciples enter earlier, and I hated thinking of any of them being the one after the Yin Iron. All of them, such innocent faces, and yet one person among all those gathered in Cloud Recesses is drawn by the evil inside that artefact. It pains me to think of that."
"Not as such," she admits ruefully. "I wish I had more to tell you, but the ransacker seems to be lying low for now. What is even more annoying is that the searches were carried out on the last day of all the sects being gathered in one place. I know that the highest suspicion should be aimed at my own disciples, but really, it could be anyone. We can't cancel anyone out because the same people are together here, as well."
"That's why we must get them to come to us, to give themselves away instead of us having to look for the proverbial needle in the haystack. This way, we will have undeniable proof that we've found the culprit." Lan Qiren pours more tea for everyone.
"So, what is this plan of yours?" Nie XiongMeng asks him, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Lan Qiren smiles. "Let me explain, it is quite simple."
*****************
Lan Huan brings Nie MingJue and Nie Huaisang to the guest house to meet with Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, and to his surprise, Wen Qing and Wen Ning are also there. Xue Yang comes in a little while later, and sits down quietly next to Wei Ying, who is being examined by Wen Qing.
Her two fingers rest on his wrist and both of them have their eyes closed as everyone silently waits for her verdict. There is a noticeable tension in the room.
After a while, Wen Qing takes her fingers away and opens her eyes, a clear shock on her face.
"What about you?" She says, and grabs Lan Zhan's wrist to do the same.
It doesn't take long and when she lets go of him, this time she asks, "How?"
"Meditation," Wei Ying tells her, sounding somewhat smug. "But you should definitely check out XiChen-Ge and A-Yang, too. We all spent a couple of months in seclusion. Well, Lan Zhan and I were together, but you get the gist."
"Here, Laoshi!" Xue Yang offers his wrist eagerly, leaning forwards.
"Don't call me that!" she snaps half-heartedly, still checking the condition of his golden core.
"I have a lot to learn from you, that's the only reason," Xue Yang tells her earnestly, and he sounds like he means it.
Wen Qing feels bad instantly. She's been harsh with him, only because she remembers too well what he was like in her past life. The few times she was in the court when he was speaking to Wen Ruohan, that Xue Yang was bloodthirsty and without a shred of conscience, ready to kill in the blink of an eye. But even she cannot deny that he's different now, somehow lighter of spirit. She makes a mental note to ask Wei Ying if anything significant has happened to him lately.
