Chapter Two

It had been a day or so since the disciples of the Lan Sect set out, leaving Wei Yingyue nervous as her didi's went out on a Hunt on their own. After enlightening Lan Zhan about her worries, he told her more about the situation and tried to relieve her stress. That is how the two were in their current situation; Lan Zhan had practically kidnapped the female cultivator early in the morning before the others in the Cloud Recesses had awoken and dragged her up to the top of a mountain, presenting her with the view that made her heart leep. The two cultivators perched on a flat rock that sat at the top of the mountain, sitting in the Lotus Position for sometime. Almost an hour and a half passed when, suddenly, Lan Zhan pulled out his guqin.

As the cords surrounded them in the vast silence, Wei Yue felt herself calm down as he played the Cleansing song that he had taught her when she was grieving the loss of her brother. They continued to sit like that, silent and content, when Wei Yingyue's stomach growled like a hungry beast. She did not move as the sound of the guqin halted, her cheeks reddening as she heard a rare chuckle come from Lan Zhan.

"Don't laugh at me, Lan Zhan. You woke me up at four, dragged me up here, and didn't feed me. It is probably six or seven by now." She murmured gently, he made a small noise of understanding before a familiar scent wafted into her nose. Her eyes opened and her gaze shot down, landing on a bowl he was offering to her. It was Lotus Root and Pork Soup.

"My brother told me you began to crave this the other day, so I found the recipe from the YunmengJiang Sect. I wanted to help." He murmured lightly, the tips of his ears turning pink as she took the bowl lightly.

"Did you make this?" She asked lightly, looking at the soup. He nodded and watched as she smelt the food, closing her eyes at the familiar smell. She took the spoon and filled it with broth, bringing it to her lips. She smiled as she tasted the food, emotions crashing through her as she lifted the Lotus Root up, taking a bite out of it before taking some meat as well. "This is amazing, Lan Zhan. Eat some." She held out the bowl, taking in that he had only brought one bowl.

"No, I made it for you to-"

"Lan Zhan, please." She whispered, holding out the bowl. He looked into the mix of blue, gray, and purple hues that made up her eyes, the frown on her face causing him to submit. He bowed his head and took the bowl, sipping on the broth before following Wei Yingyue's lead, eating some root and pork. "Thank you, Lan Zhan." She smiled as he ate, resting her hands on her thighs as she watched him.

"Finish it." He ordered, holding it out. She took it and silently finished the food, setting the bowl beside her when she finished. "We'll sit here to let everything settle, then we're going to start going South." She nodded and moved over, letting him have the spot he was in before. The pair sat there in Lotus position, they listened to the wind, birds, and other animals that were in the woods behind them. The meditation only lasted for a few minutes before they gathered all of their things, Lan Wangji leading the way into the woods on a path that he knew like the back of his hand. Wei Yingyue followed close behind, her hands behind her back as she held Yīnyáng. Her fingers brushed against Zìyóu Fēixiáng, her bow and quiver slung across her body. We Yue never traveled without her swords, bow and arrows, or the Jade Xiao Flute Lan Huan had gifted her when they first met after her hair pinning ceremony. The Flute was named Yìngyù and she treasured it almost as much as she treasured the Guqin given to her by her Uncle Jiang.

After they reached the destination Lan Zhan had intended for them to go, he and his partner walked through the town. Lan Zhan brought Wei Yue outside the borders of town and made her stand in the road.

"Come." He instructed, placing his hands on her shoulders as he made her straighten. "I want you to listen and tell me what you hear." She followed his orders and closed her eyes, opening her senses as he backed away. She listened and concentrated but only silence welcomed her waiting ears.

"There's nothing." She whispered. She looked up at Lan Zhan and he nodded, looking around as he narrowed his eyes.

"There have been reports of the children who wander into these woods at night going missing. As you saw, there was no one outside when we came here." He informed her.

"Demon?" She asked, he hummed lightly and pulled out his guqin, sitting down in front of her. His ability of Inquiry was something that Wei Yue always admired about Lan Zhan, she was pleased when he began to teach her how to do it when she became excellent at playing the guqin, as she was almost as good as him.

"Do you wish to do it or shall I?" Lan Zhan asked after a moment, Wei Yingyue sat beside him and shook her head.

"You're already set up, I'll just watch this time." He looked at her and she smiled, nodding lightly before waving for him to continue. There was complete silence as Lan Zhan began, his fingers working along the strings swiftly before the energy of a spirit came forwards, settling around them. The tune from the cultivator stopped, his hands silencing the instrument before moving his hands away, allowing the spirit to answer his question.

"Are there any spirits here?" The spirit keyed the note for 'yes' and Lan Zhan went forwards. "Do you know what killed you?" He asked.

"No."

"Was it here, in this village?"

"Yes."

"Are you one of the missing children?"

"Yes."

"Will you lead us to you?" Lan Zhan looked at the girl beside him and she nodded, standing as the spirit confirmed his wishes. She walked forwards with the tunes played with the instrument, the sound carrying deep into the forest as she continued walking until the music stopped. She looked around and frowned, the trees blocking the setting sun as she pulled out her swords.

"Wei Yingyue." The quiet boom of Lan Zhan's voice carried to her as he remained at the forest entrance, waiting for her to answer him before walking into the dark.

"Lan Zh-" Her voice was cut off by a low, animalistic growl. She froze and Lan Wangji, still at the road, tensed as he heard the noise. Wei Yingyue pursed her lips whenbher charm pulsed at her throat as she turned, looking at a bush that rustled as something ran around her.

"Wei Yingyue!" Lan Zhan called more urgently.

"Lan Zhan, I'm here." She called just as something lunged. The creature knocked her off her feet, causing a loud groan to rip through her chest as she landed on the hard ground. The demon dashed into the bush, growling as it watched her. "Lan Zhan, hurry." She groaned, pushing herself up just as something jumped on her. Nails scratched her cheek as the creature pushed her face down, though it's hand was soon laying beside the girl as Bichan was brought down on it. The creature screamed and dashed away, running into the underbrush as Lan Zhan grabbed Wei Yingyue off the ground, the girl pulling out her swords as the sound of more growls surrounded them.

She turned as one of the beasts jumped out, one her blades slicing across it's chest as the other cut through it's breast bone, stabbing into it's dead heart. The monster dropped and she ducked, Bichen swung where her head had been and sliced the head off the demon.

"I don't sense anymore." He murmured after they killed the last two, he looked at the girl and frowned. "Wei Yue." His eyes zeroed in on the scratch that was on her face.

"I'm fine, Lan Zhan. Let's find their nest." She patted his shoulder as she brushed past him, walking where the first demon had originally come from. She walked through the overgrown brush before they came upon an area that was filled with resentment, the grass either rotted or black with dark energy. She frowned deeply as she looked around, covering her nose due to the smell of rotting flesh.

"Here." Lan Zhan murmured when he found the source of the horrid smell. Wei Yingyue walked over and her eyes widened, looking down to see the body of a dead little girl, her head laying a few steps from her body. Wei Yingyue closed her eyes and turned away, placing a hand over the charm that hung from her neck.

"Let's finish this." She whispered, the other cultivator nodded and he found a place to sit, pulling out Wangji, his guqin. Wei Yingyue stood beside the man, pulling out Yìngyù and raised the fine instrument to her lips. As they played the Cleansing melody, Wei Yue felt the dark energy fighting back. This caused both her and Lan Zhan to play louder, their musical energy that was pure overpowering the resentment that was created due to the loss of all of these young children.

Just as they finished Cleansing the area, Wei Yingyue and Lan Zhan's eyes snapped to the sky as the GusuLan firework flashed into the air. The female's blood ran cold, her mind thinking of the only people who would use that firework at this moment.

"Lan Zhan, it's them. It's Sizhui and the others." She tucked her flute into her belt, turning as Lan Zhan wrapped his guqin. He nodded and pulled out his sword, jumping into the air before flying off. The female cultivator followed closely to Lan Zhan as they rushed to where the symbol had been fired, their focus on the young disciples that needed help while they flew.