Nie MingJue hugging him feels insane to Lan Huan, and under other circumstances, he might have enjoyed it more, but he's too nervous.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" A-Jue asks him again, his voice rumbling through his wide chest, vibrating between them.

Nie MingJue makes him feel safe.

"That's good," A-Jue laughs softly. "But I promised Shifu I would look after you, and I meant it."

Oh, he must have said that out loud. "I have to go and see him."

"But do you WANT to? There's a difference." Nie MingJue rubs his back, and it feels great.

"I wanted to go when Shufu was here. With him." Lan Huan admits.

"And now you don't?" Nie MingJue sighs. "I won't pretend to know what that's like, but do you want me to come with you? I don't mind."

"I'm going to be Sect Leader. I have to be brave." It sounds weak, even to himself.

"Not yet, you're not. And you can tell me the truth. I would never think less of you for being honest about how you feel about him. I can't say I understand why he did what he did because I don't agree with his actions. But that's how I feel, and I don't mean to project that onto you."

Lan Huan nods and forces himself to step back. They're outside the infirmary, having walked here together. All he knows is that Qingheng-Jun was brought here late afternoon yesterday because he had become unconscious.

And the chances of him going back into seclusion are as equal as him staying out here where Lan Huan can see him. Lan Huan knows this might very well be his only chance to talk to his father, and he knows too, that if he doesn't take it, he will probably regret it for the rest of his life. It is that last thought that decides it for him.

"A-Jue...can you wait here for me?"

"Of course. I will stay here until you come out."

"Okay."

"Don't let him bully you."

"Alright." That produces a small smile.

"And you, don't bully him."

Lan Huan laughs, feeling a little lighter. "Thank you."

"No need," Nie MingJue replies, just as quickly.

Lan Huan turns to the doors of the infirmary and pushes through, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

This is his father, and so he can't feel so nervous, right? He's never felt this anxious even when he's had to meet with Shufu, so he's being ridiculous, isn't he?

He is going to meet Qingheng-Jun, Leader of the GusuLan Clan, a famous warrior known for killing several rare evil beings. Bringer of Justice, and if directly translated, Lord of the Blue Ginger Plant. That makes him smile, and it becomes easier to place one foot after another to walk forward.

The infirmary is a huge room with beds placed on either side. All of them are empty, so Lan Huan walks up to the Healer in charge of the premises today and asks him where Qingheng-Jun is.

The Healer shows him to another door. "Acting Sect Leader Lan Qiren said he would be more comfortable here, so we moved him. I hope that is alright?" He sounds kind.

Lan Huan nods, his throat tight as he's left alone to contemplate going past the door. As his hand touches the cold, hard wood, he realises that he had said "Fuqin" instead of using his father's title when asking for his whereabouts.

But all thoughts fly out of his mind when he comes face to face with the man who is supposed to be his father.

Weak is the word that briefly flits around in his head before his strict training comes naturally to control his actions to banish it. He must think better of this man. However, it's with shock that Lan Huan realises that he doesn't actually know this person. The question mark in his heart regarding his father is still present and has always been there. He has no idea what to expect.

Luckily, Qingheng-Jun is asleep on his bed.

This allows Lan Huan to pull up a chair and sit as close as he dares in order to really look at him.

Qingheng-Jun's cultivation must be strong because his features are smooth, but he looks ill in the way that people who stay indoors are prone to. His skin is greying, with deep dark circles smudging under his eyes. His hair is long and loose around his head, and the thin sheet over his body doesn't cover the lack of muscle, or the fact that his bones are sticking out instead of being covered by the fleshy parts like a normal, fit and healthy human being.

His condition is disturbing to see, so Lan Huan turns his attention back to his father's face, trying to find common features that they might share.

Truthfully, it's difficult.

This person looks like a stranger, and if not for the knowledge that he is his father, Lan Huan can find no other evidence to suggest this.

That's a jarring thought, so he's not at all prepared to see dark, muddy eyes staring back, studying him. Lan Huan stifles a gasp and covers himself by bowing.

"Who are you?" Qingheng-Jun asks him.

That...that hurts.

Lan Huan rises. "I am Lan Huan. Your son," he adds in a moment of rebellion, just as quickly regretting his impulsiveness.

"Ah," the older man says.

The silence is awkward and tense, with neither of them knowing quite what to say. They watch each other like two spiders with a fly between them. Each minute passes by like an age, and all Lan Huan can hear is his heart thudding in his ears. Every breath sounds too loud in this quiet room.

Perhaps it shouldn't surprise him, Lan Huan thinks, trying to give his father the benefit of the doubt. He's never seen his children to know what they look like. The fact that his own father is unable to recognise him shouldn't hurt him so much.

And whose fault is that? Another voice pipes up inside him.

Lan Huan ignores it.

"What do you want?" Qingheng-Jun asks him bluntly.

"I don't know," Lan Huan answers truthfully. His own answer shocks him because what he dreamt about, what he expected, and what is really happening are two vastly different things. He wanted a reunion, to be recognised and loved by the sole surviving parent, his blood father. And yet, this man is exuding freezing vibes that are icier than the coldest storm in Gusu.

"Then, get out. I have no need to see your face."

Lan Huan's face snaps up in disbelief. Who IS this man?

"I can't believe you are my father," he whispers. More words threaten to choke him as he stumbles out of the room, not bothering to bow to him. Tears blind him as he chokes on air, stumbling outside, and then he's suddenly gathered up into strong arms and held safely by a furious Nie MingJue.

But outside the solitary room, under the slightly open window, Xue Yang, who had overheard Lan Huan's conversation with Nie MingJue prior to going inside, grimaces with anger. What a cunt, he thinks, as he checks in on Lan Huan. He's come to think of the kind boy as his own older brother, and so, to see him crying so silently, afraid to make a noise because he's been hurt so cruelly by the one person who was supposed to be safe, hurts him as well. He only knows one person who can make this right, and so, knowing that his Huan-Ge is with someone safe, he slinks off to find Cangse Sanren.

After all, Xue Yang made promises of his own, to His father, who is twice the man Qingheng-Jun will ever be.

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

In the morning after an early breakfast, the two Sect Leaders and the Acting Sect Leader look upon the river that flows down into Caiyi Town so much further downstream. From up here, the waters appear a healthy greenish blue colour, the strong current sweeping through boulders and past beaver dams, naturally progressing into a wider, stronger body of water.

"Where did you notice the disturbance?" Lan Qiren asks Wen Tang Changpu.

"A little further down," she points to the left. "It enters the shallows, forming a natural lake where people like to come fishing. The locals are scared to use the river's resources now, after so many people have died."

"A-Zhan mentioned that back then, A-Ying found it to be a convenient coincidence that Wen Ruohan was increasing his use of the Yin Iron, and somehow, a waterborne abyss had found its way into Biling Lake. They thought at the time that it had been chased that way before it became so powerful. Now that we know parts of the puzzle, it's easy to put the pieces together." Lan Qiren purposefully keeps his voice low.

Behind them, many disciples are already beginning to stir, some of them crowding around the fire to eat breakfast, others stretching their legs for morning exercise. It wouldn't do for strangers to find out about time travel, or that the GusuLan Sect is hosting two such cultivators.

"What is a waterborne abyss?" Nie XiongMeng asks.

"Shui Xing Yuan, a waterborne abyss is created by frequent drownings. Eventually, the resentment energy of the water ghouls that come about from drowned people causes the water to develop a personality. The waterborne abyss will then require living humans as sacrifices to keep it docile. If there are no sacrifices, the waterborne abyss stirs up its waters to drown people by force. This creates more water ghouls.

"Waterborne abysses are notoriously difficult to exterminate. The only proven method involves draining all the water, digging up all the people and items sunk by the abyss and leaving the lakebed or riverbed exposed to sunlight for a number of years." Lan Qiren explains with a frown.

"Exactly." Wen Tang Changpu agrees. "There have been several deaths in the lake further downstream, and if left unattended, there is a possibility of what you said happening. We need to stop the resentment from growing."

"But if the appearance of water ghouls has begun, then how are we to capture all of them?" Nie XiongMeng exclaims. "They are in the WATER. That means constantly in motion!"

"Thank you for mansplaining, I wasn't aware," Wen Tang Changpu replies dryly, with a smirk.

Nie XiongMeng scowls back at her.

"We are going to wait for the children to wake up," Lan Qiren says, putting a hand on his forearm. "A-Ying has come up with a few brilliant ideas, so we can form a strategy and choose the best option."

Nie XiongMeng is still sceptical, but he refrains from arguing. "That reminds me, how did those troublemakers' parents react? You know, the ones who tried to sneak into the Mingshi?"

Lan Qiren had to squeeze so much into the previous day that he had almost forgotten about the two boys being held, waiting for him. Lan Feng had reminded him, so it was at a late hour that Jin-Furen had been summoned along with Su Huang Dao.

"Jin-Zhongzhu told Jin ZiXun off right in front of me, a dressing down that he hopefully won't forget. Then she dragged him off to the library to write the rules while she arranged an escort home where he would be punished properly in Jinlintai. I am not sure what she's thinking of, but as she's staying on, I can only assume someone else will be in charge of that. As for Su Huang Dao, he was so embarrassed, he took Su She out of Cloud Recesses immediately, despite my offer of letting them stay overnight in Cloud Recesses. Yesterday was a day and a half, let me tell you."

Wen Tang Changpu laughs. "Just think, I used to imagine Cloud Recesses as being such a boring place, but that's where the most action and excitement is, these days," she nudges him.

"I would be happy to share," Lan Qiren offers with a straight face.

"I bet," she grins back. "But it's actually nice not to be the centre of attention for once. All of us in the Wen Sect are quite happy about our new status. We're gradually paying the people back whatever my brother promised them, and due to the increases in actual night hunts, we're finally making good money. Added to that is the medicinal Cultivation, though A-Qing insists on performing a public service rather than accepting a wage for her expertise. Some of her clients and patients refuse to benefit from her giving nature and pay her handsomely anyway."

"I'm happy for you, A-Pu," Lan Qiren tells her, and means it.

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