Collide and Cry

Troubling Coin

Wei Ying could not help but be curious about the reaction of the elder Lan to the coin which Lan XiChen had given him. He thought that maybe he had done something wrong by trying to draw attention to the coin. He did not really even understand fully what the coin was used for how in the world could he have expected that this one little piece of metal would have such a drastic interaction. Even Lan Zhan seemed shocked at the coin. Wei Ying could not really understand why everyone was on the fence about it. Perhaps he should have just kept the information for himself. If he had, it may have fixed a couple of things, namely the shocked and drastic reaction that he had seen in Lan Qiren's face. For some reason, it seemed as though this little coin held a ton of implications which Wei Ying was certainly not privy to. 

He followed Lan Zhan idly. He could not understand. He always seemed to be doing something wrong, no matter what it was or where he was. Mayhaps he should have ditched the Lan disciples and just become a Rogue Cultivator. It has happened to tons of people. Many became rogue cultivators, history was full of them, or so he thought. It would make sense, not everyone could belong to a specific sect after all. Yet, for some reason, it would seem that this petty little thing had caused such a huge reaction, and Wei Ying was certainly not having it. He did not want to cause trouble and yet he seemed to be doing just that. 

He knew that there was going to be a storm brewing. He had seen it plenty of enough times to notice when something similar was emerging. It was obvious, and things were clearly causing some tensions. When he had pulled that metallic coin out something had shifted in the atmosphere. He probably should have just kept it to himself. Or maybe just mentioned that he had seen Lan XiChen have something similar and then described the coin rather than just handing it over. He may have been able to snatch some information from people rather than causing this big fiasco.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying hesitantly called. He did not really want to know the answer as to what exactly the coin entailed, but he was determined to figure it out as well, despite his feelings of reluctance. He needed to know, he wanted to know, and his stubbornness outweighed the fear of what the answer would be. It always had, and it always would, there was simply no other choice in the matter, he had to figure it out. Not knowing would simply cause him more anxiety than he was currently feeling having started what had felt like some type of battle of wills.

Lan Zhan, as usual, did not really answer. The other never really did such things, and it was understandable. From what Wei Ying could grasp, the Lan Clan was not too big on large expressions of emotions. Very different from the Wen Clan which Wei Ying had been a member of before the Jiang Sect had...relocated him to their Pavilion. Wei Ying missed it sometimes. Sure the streets were terrifying, but at least you could hear the screams of terror and of joy. There were both. Lan Zhan seemed to communicate more towards slight body language which Wei Ying was beginning to pick up, something that he was incredibly grateful for. 

"What exactly was the big deal about the coin?" Wei Ying asked softly. "First-Master Lan XiChen just told me to show the coin to the guards so that they would let me into the Cloud Recesses, but you showed up, so I did not need to use it. Why did Lan Qiren react so suddenly? I just thought that it was some type of access coin to get into the Pavilion." Wei Ying tried, valiantly, to explain his reasoning. He was a bit nervous. He was nervous about the trouble which he may get into. After all, Lan XiChen had specifically told him to give the coin to the guards, and he had not done that. Though Wei Ying was certain that it was justified through the fact that Lan Zhan had been with him, he was not sure whether or not he would be exempt from some type of punishment for not listening to that simple order. Even more nerve-wracking was the fact that not only did he not show it to the Guards at the veil's entrance, but he had shown it to the Elder of the clan. It was something that Wei Ying was pretty sure he probably should have avoided, what with the reactions of the two before him. Not to mention, Lan XiChen had not told him to show the coin to anyone other than the guards, and yet he had done exactly that.

"The Lan Sect gives each of their high division Cultivators a coin. As Sect Leader, my brother has one, I have one, as do the elders. Each one of us have one coin to hand over to a person. That coin ensures the protection of that person. This can extend to political protection, physical protection, or just verbal protection. The power of the coin is that everyone knows that one with the coin could easily have just made enemies with the Lan Clan, should they have wronged the person who has the coin within their possession. Just as the coin can be given, it can be taken away as well. There is no telling what type of protection was offered, or when it may be changed, or taken away."

"So, First-master Lan gave it to me to protect me?"

"Yes. To give you access to the Cloud Recesses. Brother was worried you may be detained as you are not part of the clan and have no formal invitation." 

"But I did not need to use it." Wei Ying protested. If this was the case, whether he was with Lan Zhan or not, he should have most certainly been questioned. Otherwise, why would Lan XiChen give him the coin in the first place? He had sent Lan Cultivators with him, so if just being in the presence of a Lan was not enough to gain entry, even if he was with Lan Zhan, he should have been questioned at least once. 

"I am the heir. Lan Xichen had no descendants, therefore, I am next in line to inherit the title of sect leader. None would dare question who I bring in and out of the Cloud Recesses. Especially not guards." Wei Ying nodded. He supposed that made sense. Plus the other did seem to have that icy front going on.

"I see." Wei Ying nodded. No wonder the Coin had caused such a reaction. It was so important. Master XiChen only had one, he needed to give it back to him. Wei Ying could not dare to keep such an important thing.

Right now, XiChen was being kind, Wei Ying did not really have anywhere to go but back to the streets of the Wens. Something which, as much as he had both enjoyed and hated his time there, he was certainly not eager about leaving the Cloud Recesses.

Something about the Lan Sect seemed like home. Sure, it was kind of stifling with all the silence, but the silence was something that Wei Ying seemed to crave at the moment, and Lan Zhan...for as cold as the elder could be at times, and as dark and depressing as others may see him, Wei Ying did not see the same. Lan Zhan was the main reason that he really did not want to leave. He was not entirely certain as to why, but it was certainly something that he felt. He did not want to leave  Lan Zhan held this sort of innate beauty, which was portrayed through his silence. Wei Ying may not have been around the elder for too long, but he was beginning to pick up on some of the ways which the typically silent Cultivator operated. People just did not look close enough, and that was why they were always so confused. Sure, Lan Zhan was definitely not the easiest to read, but he was also not the most complex person which many seemed to make him out to be. 

Lan Zhan just had this beauty about him. He was cold and harsh, like ice, but that sort of crystallized ice, which had just frosted over.