Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Come Back To Gusu With Me Part 3

The Lan disciple is too quiet, throwing nervous glances at Wei Ying periodically, as if he expects the other to start making fierce corpses on the fly, or some other such nonsense he might have been told. Wei Ying is bored, and sad because he doesn't know when he might next be allowed back, and if at all, seeing as he hasn't actually helped Jiang Cheng in running the Sect. The horses plod along amicably and Wei Ying wonders if they'll take a break soon. His ass has gone numb already and this is just the first day. They've been riding for a few hours now, and if they keep this speed up, then it'll easily be a week before they reach the Cloud Recesses.

He idly wonders if he can actively sabotage this most pleasant of hostage taking. It's idle because he knows in the back of his mind that he must go through with it, but doing the opposite is simple entertainment for now. He could overpower the kid that's travelling with him, that's the easy part. But then, where could he go? His clothes, Chenqing, even the description of himself is enough to scare anyone who sees him. So daylight travelling would be out. The thought of going to new places where no one knows him, or heard of anything he's done feels impossible at the moment, though incredibly tempting. But it's a castle in the sky, a dream that he won't ever pursue.

So the afternoon passes in warmth and ice cream colours painting the sky as dusk settles over the horizon.

They've reached the borders of Yunmeng now and if Wei Ying isn't mistaken, there should be an inn coming up soon. One last lake to pass, and Wei Ying stops his horse just to look upon the last rays of the sun turning the entire body of water into a golden bowl filled with honey nectar. It's so peaceful to listen to the sounds; frogs calling their mates, cicadas rubbing their wings and crickets making up a natural symphony. Birds calling out their last good nights while the gentle breeze ripples the waters in front of him. Pink and purple lotus flowers sway with the currents and dragonflies hover above them, flitting here and there.

Wei Ying remembers the first time he had seen a lotus flower. A whole lake full of them, and wondering if this was what heaven looked like. Now, he bows out of reverence, a quiet gratefulness settling in his heart and a sincere thanks for keeping him safe while he lived here. Maybe he knows that he will never return as the same person again.

His horse neighs softly, a question to his rider, and Wei Ying gently strokes his neck, calming him. The Lan disciple is watching him from a short distance away, and Wei Ying can feel the impatience rolling off him in waves. They say that when a door closes, another opens, and it's mostly to do with opportunities.

As he rides away, guiding his horse forwards, Wei Ying silently says goodbye to the place that had become his home since he turned nine.

***************

The light of a young moon brings them to an inn, the same one Wei Ying thought of earlier. The kid with him seems to be in an awful hurry now, as they hand over their steeds to the stable hands. Wei Ying finds out why as soon as they enter the main building.

"Greetings, Lan-Zongzhu." The kid bows.

Wei Ying follows a heartbeat later, surprised. "Zewu-Jun, greetings." But he should have expected this. He vows to himself to try and think steps ahead in this game of weiqi. The Lans fear and distrust him; there's no way they would have entrusted his trip to the Cloud Recesses to a little kid still wet behind the ears. Sending the young man to Jiang Cheng was supposed to be non-threatening; if Lan XiChen had come himself, the meeting might have crumbled in the wrath of a Sect Leader who had no prior warning. Jiang Cheng does not react to surprises well, a fact that Wei Ying can attest to.

"Thank you for agreeing to come," Lan XiChen says, in that gentle way after he, too, bows. "You must be tired. Let us all replenish our energy and rest while we can."