Blood Cultivation

invitation

Lan Sizhui sat with his back perfectly straight and his expression placid. That is, it was placid until Lin Meili gave in to her curiosity and took the seat across from him, causing Sizhui's eyes to flash with something angry before being schooled into calm a second later. He poured a second cup of tea and placed it before her. Meili drank as he partook of his own, the muted sounds of other customers fading with the intensity of the silence between them. A second cup of tea was consumed and still Sizhui said nothing, but his disappointment was palpable.

Meili knew his Lan upbringing was keeping him polite, but with a small ripple of her fingers easily sensed the tension in the quick beating of his heart. "Lan Sizhui," she said coolly, "if you have something to say to me, then say it."

Sizhui lifted his eyes to hers and let his expression drop just enough to reveal his distress to her. "Senior Lin. You left without saying goodbye. In your clan, is it not considered respectful to thank your host?"

"I did thank him. Are you telling me Hanguang-Jun was surprised to find I'd gone in the night?"

Sizhui looked away, lips pressed together.

Meili continued. "I meant no disrespect to him or to Gusu Lan. Cloud Recesses is beautiful and I did not doubt for my safety there."

"Then why did you leave?"

"No one wants me around for long. They suspect things even if they can't prove them." Meili poured herself a third cup of tea. "Even if Hanguang-Jun kept quiet and no one else knew. My focus is on cleansing the land of resentful energy. There is still so much to be done. I could not stay and be idle as long as I was recovered."

"How many people know of your cultivation practices?"

"Almost no one. Most people consider me to be a traveling cultivator but with unrecognizable techniques they would rather they didn't see and never knew about."

"Senior Lin, come back with me."

"Why?" Meili was genuinely curious. She'd laid out her reasons, simple and effective, had she not? "What do you hope to accomplish by keeping me around?"

"You can make Cloud Recesses your home and travel as you like. Lan disciples are also interested in cleansing the resentful energy. Your help would be appreciated, not scorned." Sizhui sounded very sure and eager, causing Meili to suppress a smile.

"And does Hanguang-Jun echo your sentiments? Or are you going behind his back in your efforts to bring me back?"

Sizhui stiffened, chin coming up in protest. "Of course I have his permission to invite you back. He agrees that we could learn from you and that your skills would be useful in our mutual desire to purify the resentful energy in the land. It's true that there is much to be done and one person cannot do all of it, especially if she is generally unwelcome. If you are in alliance with Gusu Lan, no one would dare to harm you."

Meili tapped her fingers against her teacup. "They would, regardless of who I am friends with if they consider me a threat or sense resentful energy on me."

Sizhui remained silent, perhaps considering what he might say to convince her of his arguments.

"I have a mission to undertake first." Meili set down her empty cup and regarded Sizhui with neutrality. "Will you assist me before we travel?"

"You," Sizhui started and stopped, happiness blooming over his face as he realized her words. "You will come back, then?"

With a smirk she did not feel, Meili regarded the young Lan in his excitement. "I will. I cannot say for how long I will stay, but I will return with you for now."