Xue Yang quickly explains everything he overheard and who he saw, on the way back from the kitchens. Everyone is quiet, listening to what he tells them. When he's done, the questions begin.
"Who is the person wearing a mask?"
"Are they really a Lan Clan member, or pretending to be?"
"Did you recognise the voice at all?"
"Clearly, the one wearing the mask is the real traitor. And whatever he or she is planning, it's going to happen tomorrow. I would think the timing of it would be when the swimming event would take place," Wei Changze mutters, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "The real question is, now that you know what they're planning, are you going to let them carry on?" He stares at Lan Qiren.
"That's the whole point of the trap. I think it would be in our best interests to let it happen. Then, if we play along, the real culprit won't be alarmed and we'll have a better chance of catching them because they'll think their plan is working. Now that we know the bare bones of it, we have the advantage. I shall have a word with those supervising the punishment in the library, and tell them to go along with whatever happens. At the very least, we'll be able to rid Cloud Recesses of those two stains upon the Cultivation world." Lan Qiren is lost in thought.
"If it really is a Lan disciple, they might have carried out the search of your rooms in Nightless City as a ruse to throw us off their scent," Cangse Sanren says, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.
"Either way, the less people that are in Cloud Recesses when we have to destroy the Yin Iron, the better. Less people to monitor." Lan Qiren murmurs.
"You don't look upset," Cangse Sanren tells him, giving him an encouraging smile.
"I kind of expected something like this. After all, that's why we keep dangling the Mingshi in front of them. When the conference ends, I'm also going to ask the main people helping us to keep only the minimum number of their retinue of disciples with them. Anyone not directly responsible for something important must go. Then, we're going to put Cloud Recesses into lock down. No one comes in, no one gets out. Not until the deed is done."
"Now we're talking!" Cangse Sanren laughs, a moment before she grimaces. "Ah, baobeis, spare a kind thought for your Mama, huh? No need to go kicking anything, alright?" She squirms, speaking to her tummy. "Listen, I know it's cramped in there, but you can make it better, I swear! If you come out soon, I'll buy you tanghulu for the rest of your lives! Okay, okay, if not tanghulu, what about Dragon's beard candy, huh? That one's popular nowadays!" She cajoles, wincing when none of her bribery attempts work.
It takes Xiao XingChen and A-Qing yawning in synchronicity for everyone to realise how late it is, and then they sort themselves out in terms of who is sleeping where.
Lan Qiren gives the Hanshi over to Song Lan, Xiao XingChen, A-Qing and Xue Yang, while he spreads out two bedrolls for himself and A-Huan. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying snuggle down next to Cangse Sanren, and Wei Changze grabs another bedroll. When the others stare at him, he grins.
"Last night, I found myself on the floor," he explains, laughing. "So tonight, I'll just get there first."
"I'll organise a larger bed brought here," Lan Qiren murmurs, his eyes already closing.
"Thanks, Qiren!" Cangse Sanren shouts out, and everyone groans at her loudness.
As the night deepens, the stirring sounds cease as they fall asleep, one by one.
**************
Lan Qiren wakes up with a warm weight on his chest. The nights are balmy and hot as it is, so he's uncomfortable to begin with, until he realises that A-Huan is hugging him, and is very much awake.
