Lan Qiren watches his nephew and A-Ying leave and is suddenly reminded that he forgot to tell them that Qingheng-Jun is unofficially out of seclusion, and probably against his will, at that. But Xiongzhang's reaction to having been removed from his house is a problem for another day.

Right now, he has to deal with this traitor.

Nie MingJue didn't recognise him, so he doesn't belong to the Nies.

"Get him up. We're going to use the Mingshi," he tells one of the senior disciples. To another, he says, "Go and fetch Wen-Zhongzhu. Bring her here." This is just in case his theory is correct that the traitor belongs to the Wen Sect, given that this person knows how valuable and dangerous the Yin Iron is. He wants Wen Tang Changpu with him to identify this person, and if she doesn't, then she can help by being a witness and providing important insights on what to ask him.

Two senior disciples stand on either side of the unfamiliar young man, and when they remove Wei Ying's pressure point talisman, they grab him before he can make a run for it.

He still drags his feet as they bring him inside the Mingshi.

The Mingshi is a special room, with incantations written and sealed inside the bricks and the foundations, an action that their forefathers correctly predicted would be invaluable. There's a natural suppression around them caused by the containment array drawn in the centre of the room. Nie XiongMeng looks around in awe and with respect, feeling the weight of the atmosphere in this place. It's a little harder for him to move around, too.

Wen Tang Changpu arrives out of breath, and Lan Qiren quickly fills her in.

The senior disciples have tied the young man's hands up to a circlet of iron hanging from the ceiling; this contraption is designed to be lowered or raised as needed to cause maximum discomfort.

Nie XiongMeng eyes it with interest. "I didn't know the esteemed Lan Clan was into torture," he remarks, as if it is a casual thing.

"We're not," Lan Qiren replies curtly.

"I meant no disrespect," Nie XiongMeng bows immediately.

Lan Qiren checks his face for sincerity. Finding it, he forces himself to relax by breathing deeply and lowering his shoulders, a technique that Healer Fei told him about long ago. It's been useful to him, and Lan Qiren never appreciated it as much as he does now.

"That's okay. We're not here to torture him unless there's no other way." He looks at the young man, and then remembering that his eldest nephew and his son are inside with them, he turns to Lan Huan.

"You may return to the swimming event," he excuses him.

"Shufu...can I stay?" Lan Huan asks him.

That's interesting...

"Let them," Nie XiongMeng speaks up when Nie MingJue stares pleadingly at him. "You never know. They might learn something."

"You wish," the young previously masked cultivator says, giving them all a big smile.

"Very well, you may stay, but keep away from him," Lan Qiren tells all four kids, noting how Xue Yang looks far too happy. He waits until they go to sit down far behind the tied up man before turning to him. "What's your name?"

"How do you know I'll tell the truth?" He counters, winking mischievously.

"You can make this as easy or as hard as you like," Lan Qiren tells him. "If we think you are telling falsehoods, there are many options for us to choose to counteract that situation. Now, what is your name?"

"What do you think my name is?" He asks back with a mocking glint in his eyes.

"Raise the iron," Lan Qiren tells one of the disciples. "And let's leave him here to think about his behaviour. The four of you must stay and watch him at all times." He tells the four senior disciples. "If he supplies anything of use, then write it down, but he is not to be lowered. If he makes a nuisance of himself, then feel free to use the silencing spell. Come and find me if there is a change in the developments." He makes eye contact with Nie XiongMeng and Wen Tang Changpu to follow him out, beckoning the children to also leave with him.

Once they're outside, Lan Qiren mentions his office, so that's where everyone aims for.

The mood is anticipatory, as if they're all waiting for something to happen, but they're all subdued enough not to want to speak out loud in an unprotected area for fear of matters being overheard by those not worthy or trusted.

Once they reach Lan Qiren's office, he uses silencing talismans to secure the place so that they can speak freely.

"We need to make a plan," he tells the other two. They're all sitting around a large low table, and Lan Huan is pouring out some tea.

"First, can I say something?" Wen Tang Changpu asks him. When Lan Qiren nods, she stands up and bows towards him. "I must apologise to you, A-Ren. Not just as the Acting Sect Leader of the Lan Clan, but as my trusted friend as well. I feel responsible for my brother's actions. If he had not discovered the Yin Iron in the first place, and the evil things it can do, then we would never have been put in such a dangerous situation. I have brought a burden, and what a terrible one it is! I have brought it to your door and now we're making you fix our mistakes. My brother was seduced by evil, and it really should have remained an internal issue." She looks distraught.

"A-Pu, are you listening to yourself?" He tells her. "With any situation, there are two ways of looking at it. Say if none of us knew what the Yin Iron was, what if it had fallen into the wrong hands? What are the chances that this whole situation could have been ten times worse than it is now? So please, let us not dwell on could haves, and should haves. We have been given a second chance, and by God, we're taking it. If you feel bad, then help us to exterminate the threat, and I'll consider us equal. What do you say?"

She nods shakily. "You are too kind, A-Ren. But you also have our full loyalty and allegiance in friendship. We are honoured to be working side by side with you." She bows again and sits down quietly.

"Thank you," he replies softly. "But now, onto our plans. I propose we leave tomorrow morning as soon as we can, and travel to Qishan. It shouldn't take more than a few days to get rid of the resentment energy that's concerning you. Then we make our way to Muxi mountain and kill off the Xuanwu of Slaughter. I think three days at the top. I want to be back here by the end of the week, because otherwise, the strongest cultivators we've invited for the main event will start getting agitated. We should also send back anyone who isn't directly responsible for looking after the individual sects."

"It's a good plan," Nie XiongMeng says, thoughtfully. "But what about the traitor?"

"I think it's a waste of time if we stay behind to interrogate him. We can leave him to the mercy of the senior disciples, put them in a rota of eight so the matter stays confidential. But whether or not he cooperates, it is irrelevant to our main tasks, one of which is retrieving the fifth piece of the Yin Iron." Lan Qiren replies honestly.

"We can ask him questions when we come back, isn't that right, A-Ren? I think we ought to plan a day of rest when we return as it is, if we are to spend copious amounts of spiritual energy on our arrival." Wen Tang Changpu adds.

"In matters of health, I will leave that part to your discretion," Lan Qiren tells her. "We will only get one chance at this, so we better not-"

"Fuck it up," Nie XiongMeng finishes off for him.

"Quite," Lan Qiren agrees.

**********

He invites everyone to eat together in the guest house with the Wei family, simply because then, he can update Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren. A-Zhan and A-Ying will also want to know what's happening, and if they have any additional advice, it will be a great time for them to contribute.

More tables are pushed together to make space, and four adults go to the kitchens to fetch the meal with enough portions for everyone.

Cangse Sanren explodes when she gets her share, the usual bland medicinal soup and steamed vegetables.

"QIREN! I'VE HAD MY BABIES! WHAT THE FUCK?"

"Language," he admonishes her, getting a scowl in return for his trouble.

Wen Tang Changpu beams at her, finding her reaction hilarious. "Wei-Furen, let me explain. Healer Fei will probably want you to stick to the bland diet because if you're feeding them naturally, then their poor little stomachs can't cope with any spices. It's for the best that you maintain this diet until they're eating solid foods."

Cangse Sanren stabs a piece of broccoli with a vicious intent, muttering under her breath in retaliation, putting it in her mouth and chewing with forced gusto and trying not to gag.

Wen Tang Changpu saves the day by talking about their plans and the traitor that's under twenty-four hour surveillance. Lan Qiren and his nephews are the only ones not speaking, so they get a chance to listen to everyone else's ideas.

"What's gonna happen if no one recognises him?" Wei Ying asks, fidgeting with his chopsticks.

"What do you mean?" Nie XiongMeng asks him.

"Well, if no one recognises him, and he's unwilling to tell us his real name, then what?"

No one can answer that one.

Lan Qiren quickly inhales the rest of his dinner and begins to lift morale.

"It doesn't matter, really," he tells the children. "Now that we've caught him, all we have to do is keep him in confinement until the Yin Iron is neutralised. All that really matters is keeping him confined. I'll keep checking in on him, but I doubt he'll tell us anything unless he's ready." There were other ways to "encourage" him to start singing like a canary as well, and Lan Qiren hopes it doesn't come to that.

The Lan Clan has a truth serum, a specialised tea designed to encourage truth speaking, is a version, and otherwise, there are a few music scores kept in the Forbidden Room that might be worth taking a look at.

"In the event that we learn nothing, even that doesn't matter," he tells the group. "We can take the time to properly investigate AFTER we've destroyed the Yin Iron."

"Shufu," A-Zhan says, after having a private chat between himself and Wei Ying.

"Hm?" Lan Qiren is in the process of collecting the dirty dishes.

"Wei Ying and I, we want to come with you. We believe our collective input will be invaluable and you will be making a mistake if you do not bring us to both of those events."

"No." Lan Qiren is adamant. "I will not put you in danger. You will stay here."

"But we know things that will help you," Lan Zhan insists.

"Then you can write them down," Lan Qiren says, just as stubbornly. "But I will not separate you from your new family so quickly."

"Qiren, they're babies!" Cangse Sanren says, managing to sound both sulky and incredulous at the same time. "Heck, I'd come with you if I wasn't still confined to my bed." She waves a hand at the cradle where two hammocks are attached to the hooks, her babies sleeping peacefully despite the noise.

"Aww! How long do you have to be careful?" Wen Tang Changpu asks her sympathetically.

"Healer Fei cough-cunt-cough, said now I'm not actively carrying the kids, my golden core is finally learning to replenish itself. Basically until I stop feeding them naturally."

"You're making a great sacrifice, and it will be worth it in the long run," Nie XiongMeng joins in unexpectedly.

His first wife has passed away, and they realise he might be sensitive to such talk, so Lan Qiren changes the topic.

"Beautiful weather, we're having, aren't we?"

Cangse Sanren rolls her eyes. "Lame, Qiren, that's just lame. Look, you'll be back in a week, you said, right? These kids?" She shrugs nonchalantly gesturing at them, "All they'll do is drink milk, poop, look around, cry, and sleep. In that order, and probably a repetitive cycle maybe four times a day. Me and A-Ze have it covered. If A-Ying and A-Zhan say you will need them, then you better believe it. Take them. Take them and come back safely."

"Alright!" Both Wen Tang Changpu and Nie XiongMeng answer instead of Lan Qiren, and he knows when he's been outvoted.

"Fine," he concedes, "but just so you know, speed is of the essence, so we'll be flying most of the time."

Wei Ying pales with realisation, and Lan Zhan puts an arm around him to comfort him.

Lan Qiren feels ashamed; he was hoping it would make them back down, but instead both of them look even more determined.

"Well, now that's settled, does anyone care for a drink?" Cangse Sanren asks, clearly hoping for wine.

"NO!" More than one voice shouts back, reprimanding her.

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