"Leader San," Hanguang Jun greeted me as I entered his guest room. Unfortunately he was sharing it with his brother so I had to be careful with what I say.

"I appreciate you taking the time to teach me," I said.

"Hmm," Hanguang Jun nodded and sat at the table where his guqin sat. I knelt on a nearby mat and watched him play cleansing. It seamed easy enough to remember.

I took out my flute and started to play. I remembered each sound, each pitch, each resting point. It didn't take long for me to learn. Once played, I set my flute aside and looked at Hanguang Jun and Zewu Jun, "How was it?" I asked.

"You really do have a good ear," Zewu Jun said, "do you not know how to read music?"

"No, just listening is fine for me," I said.

"Did you speak with Wei Ying?" Hanguang Jun asked.

I let out a deep breath, "As my spiritual power is limited, would you mind setting up a privacy barrier over the room?"

"Alright," Zewu Jun said and placed one before Hanguang Jun could.

"He spoke with me, he said if you wish to meet with him, it has to be done more privately. He doesn't want to be seen by his old sect," I told him.

"Why is he avoiding the Jiang Sect?" Zewu Jun asked.

"You really do as your principles say by not listening to rumors," I mumbled.

"How do you know what our principles are?" Hanguang Jun asked.

"Do you think Wei Ying spent all those days copying rules and not remembering a single one? I listen to him. He got drunk one night and just started talking about your rules," I said.

"You are close to Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan asked me.

Why is he looking at me like he wants to cut my head off...wait is he jealous? I internally laughed, "Hanguang Jun, I think of him more as a brother. I have no interest in him like that. He is all yours if you desire him," I teased.

"Nonsense," he said.

I bit back a laugh, "right," I said and cleared my throat, "if you must know, those rumors about Wei Ying being mistreated by his previous sect, they are not false. He was abused both verbally and physically. He spent all of his time here healing from the trauma he endured from there. He watched those people die and even took the blame for it. He was blamed for the massacre of Lotus Pier. Do you really think he is happy to hear those people are in his new home?"

"We...did not know," Zewu Jun said, "we are sorry he suffered from that. How is he now?"

"He still has his days of post traumata but he is okay," I said, "but as I said, if you wish to see him, you are to do so, more privately."

"If we stuck around longer than the others?" Lan Zhan suggested.

"Perhaps he'll come out," I said.

"Can't you just set up a place?" Zewu Jun asked, "surely there is somewhere private here."

"Nothing is ever guaranteed private," I said.

"Please Leader San, all I want is to see him," Lan Zhan said.

"Why?" I asked, "he told me that you think of him as a nuisance and annoying. He even believes you hate him, so why would I put him in the same room as you?"

I saw something break in Lan Zhan's eyes, almost as if he was about to cry, "he thinks that?" He asked, "I know that I wasn't necessarily kind but I never hated him."

I almost cracked and revealed myself but I didn't in the end. I need more than that, "then what is so important for you to say to him?" I asked.

Lan Zhan looked down at the floor. All of a sudden I was suddenly shoved against the wall. It may not have been much for a cultivator but for someone who doesn't cultivate, it was a big blow. I choked up some blood and looked up at the person who shoved me, "Zewu Jun?" I asked, "please explain before I kick you out forcefully."

"Xiongzhang, you didn't need to hurt him," Hanguang Jun said.

"He is being unreasonable," Zewu Jun said, "I apologize for hurting you but when it comes to my brother, I will not stand by and watch him get hurt."

I grabbed a talisman from my sleeve and tossed it onto the walls of the room. It locked us inside and made sure sound did not travel. I angrily removed my masked, "you wished to see Wei Ying, well here I am!" I yelled, "you come here to my home and disturbed everything and even go as far as harm me when I'm already weak. This is how far the Lan Sect had fallen. So much for righteousness!"

The two Lans looked stunned by my revelation, "why so surprised? You wanted to see me, and now you saw me," I said and put my mask back on, "now you know why I am not helping the sects, due to your incompetence."

"Wei Gongzi?" Zewu Jun questioned, "how are you so fragile?"

"Ha, now you're concerned?" I asked, "seconds ago you threw me against a wall because I refused to talk. Are you going to throw me again if I still don't talk?"

"Xiongzhang, leave," Lan Zhan said angrily.

"Wangji, I apologize," he said.

"Leave!" Lan Zhan yelled, "and if you spread that Wei Ying is here I will not hesitate to cause harm."

Zewu Jun sighed and left the room. Once he was gone, Lan Zhan reset the privacy ward, "what do you want?" I asked.

Lan Zhan grabbed my arm and had me sit down, "are you badly hurt?" He asked as he grabbed my arm.

"I'm fine," I said and yanked my arm away from him, "please do not touch me."

"I apologize," he said and sat beside me, "is it true....what you said? You think I hate you?"

"I may have been under a different name but the words I spoke were true," I said, "I left for a reason."

"Wei Ying, if it's just me, will you allow me to see you more?" He asked.

"Why?" I asked.

"I have regrets Wei Ying," he said, "I regret not taking you back to Lotus Pier. Perhaps it would have been different."

"It's over with, I'm not part of that sect anymore," I said, "and I have no desire to go back."

"What happened to you Wei Ying?" He asked, "you know I won't share anything you tell me."

"I'm weaker, that's all," I said.

"You don't use a sword anymore and you carry a flute. You use talismans more often too. What happened?" He asked again.

"Though only three of us survived, I sacrificed my life for them. Even gave up my cultivation for them...I can no longer wield a sword, Lan Zhan, and please do not let anyone else know," I said.

"Wen Zhuliu?" He asked.

"I took the blow for Jiang Cheng," I said, "and all I get in return is blame. I am happy here. These people used to live in Dafan and they are all healers. I helped them get away from Wen Ruohan. I may not be able to fight but I can help in other ways. Sending medical supplies is the best I can do now."

"As long as you wear your mask, could you come back to aid the healers?" He asked.

"No, if anyone finds out about me, they will come after everyone here," I said, "so please stop asking me to go. I can send supplies, and I can ask some of my fighters if they are willing to aid but I can't guarantee anything."

"If they choose to come, I will be responsible for them and make sure that return to you safely," he told me.

"Do you really not hate me?" I asked.

"Never have, never will, and never could," he said.

I smirked, "and you being jealous of my alter ego?" I asked.

"I am not," he protested.

"Sure," I said and sighed, "I should get back to my JieJie, as I've been shoved against a wall, I need to make sure I'm not too hurt."

"I am, again, sorry he did that," Lan Zhan said.

"It's alright," I said, "I'm sure you will have a nice conversation with him later."

He nodded. I stood by the door and was suddenly pulled into a hug, "I am glad you are still alive," he said, "your shijie has been looking for you too, but I won't tell anyone. I will make sure Xiongzhang doesn't either."

"Thank you," I said and patted his back before he was willing to let me go.