The next morning, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after a proper bath, Lan Qiren checks on the disciples next door and is alarmed when he hears what they have to say.
"Sir, I woke in the middle of the night, and I thought I saw a shadow in the room," Lan Ping tells him in a whisper. "But as soon as I got up to investigate, it seemed to disappear. I woke the others and we checked the room, but there was nothing strange."
"Maybe it was a dream?" One of the others asked him.
Lan Qiren looks at him sharply and is pleased to find it a sincere question.
"I don't think so. I'm sure I saw someone, but it was too dark. I left our belongings scattered around the room anyway so that if they came back, they might trip up and wake us."
"I'll be glad to go back home," another says.
This is the fellow who came with them to Muxi Mountain.
"Are you alright?" Lan Qiren asks him, feeling sorry that he hadn't made sure yesterday.
"Yeah...I just can't believe he's gone."
The others comfort him gently.
"We will have a tablet made in his name and erect it in the Ancestral hall," Lan Qiren promises.
When they all go down for breakfast, Wen Tang Changpu is already there and makes them welcome, serving everyone food with her own hands. Nie XiongMeng turns up later and looks as if he spent the night tossing and turning. He's paler than usual and has dark smudges under his eyes. Thankfully, his appetite seems to have returned, and he joins them for breakfast.
When the meal finishes, Wen Tang Changpu grins at Lan Qiren.
"I know you were eager to revisit my rose garden, so maybe you could take Nie-Zhongzhu to see it? It's very relaxing to take a walk in the early morning, and while you do that, I'll get ready so we can leave for Cloud Recesses."
Lan Qiren is taken aback and hopes his eyes convey his confusion even if his mouth agrees. He's been meaning to talk to the Nie Sect Leader anyway, but he wonders how she knew this. Then again, she and her family specialise in healing, so perhaps she already knows that there is something wrong with Nie XiongMeng.
Wen Qing offers to look after the children, including her delightfully cute little brother, Wen Ning, and so that's how Lan Qiren and Nie XiongMeng end up on a walk together.
**************
Nie XiongMeng is distracted, that much Lan Qiren can tell. He doesn't look at the pretty flowers in the height of this season, when the gardens are full of vivid and vibrant colours. Scarlet roses, purple hyacinths, and golden marigolds, life bursting through the mineral rich soil in these parts. Lan Qiren thinks that with such fertile land, there's not much that won't grow here. All the trees are a lush verdant green, thriving with wildlife and all manner of tame creatures.
Squirrels and chipmunks scurry alongside them, darting out onto their path, while overhead, larks sing to their hearts' content. Magpies cackle and a wide variety of butterflies flutter among the sweet perfumed flowers, seducing drunken bees towards their pollen.
The sky is already a deep cobalt blue with not a cloud to be seen.
Yet Nie XiongMeng doesn't seem to appreciate any of this.
"Nie-Xiong...are you alright?" Lan Qiren asks him, after quite some moments of quiet. "You seem...not yourself today. Have you rested enough to travel?"
"What? Oh, yes. I'm fine," he says, giving himself a little shake.
"I was wondering if you would let me play something for you," Lan Qiren suggests lightly, hoping they can talk openly about what is affecting him. Even if the Nie Sect Leader isn't aware of what is happening to him, Lan Qiren wants to help him.
