Wei Ying and I were in the library pavilion doing some research on different cultivation techniques. There were various types but it has to be something suitable for the cultivator and also to make sure they want to learn it. Something that the Lan Clan is known for is Music cultivation. We use zithers as a form of power and in return it can improve cultivation if one chooses to use it properly.

As we sat there, Wei Ying seemed too lost in his thoughts. Elbow on the table staring into the middle of the library, and tapping his fingers on the table. I couldn't tell if they were worried thoughts or bored out of his mind, kind of thoughts.

"Lan Zhan," he finally said to me getting out of his head, "I have a question."

"Ask," I told him.

"How do you craft a spirit instrument? I mean you have zithers so do they give you one or do you make it yourself?" He asked.

"It depends," I said, "sometimes a family member will pass one down, some will be given one from a master, or some can choose to make it. Mine was given to me, but I altered it to my liking. It had no designs or anything on it and was just a simple instrument. I took the time to carve something into it and cultivate it to a spiritual instrument. It just requires a lot of focus and passing energy to the instrument. Especially if you craft it."

"Okay," he said nodding, "I thought maybe I could try a dizi again, but learn to use it with Yang energy instead of Yin energy. If I can do that, then maybe I can still overcome the Yin Iron in Ruohan's possession."

"There are plenty of books in crafting dizi's and types of music for them. My brother has more information on that because he uses a Xiao, so it is similar. He can help you find the right materials and guide you to make a dizi," I told him.

"Okay, will he be available at all?" He asked.

"We can go check," I told him.

As we were about to get up to leave, Xiongzhang actually was passing by, "Xichen-Ge!" Wei Ying called for him.

"A'Xian," he said stopping to speak with him, "how are things going."

"Okay," Wei Ying said, "I was hoping to ask you something, and was wondering if you have time?"

"I have time," he said and joined us in the library, "what would you like to ask?"

"Well, I was asking Lan Zhan about crafting a dizi, and he said you would be more knowledgeable in that, so I was wondering if you could guide me into making one?"

"Of course," he said happily, "hopefully to use it for good energy."

Wei Ying laughed a little, "yes, I want to look into more music on cleansing and Yang Energy. I want to do things right this time."

"It's not that you did wrong last time, A'Xian, you just kept us all in the dark that we wronged you, terribly," Xiongzhang told him.

Wei Ying nodded, "I apologize for back then though I only have knowledge through empathy, but I also hope both of you know that you have nothing to be sorry for. I forgive you," he said.

"So, crafting a dizi, you need to decide on material first before anything," Xiongzhang advised, "for example, mine is made from Jade."

Wei Ying nodded, "my last one was black bamboo," he said, "is bamboo most common?"

"It was only bamboo?" I asked, "strong dizi."

"As far as I saw it was bamboo," Wei Ying said.

"Black bamboo is the most durable in terms of bamboo," my brother told him, "and when you cultivate it to a spiritual tool, it's durability triples."

"Oh," Wei Ying said, "interesting."

"Does Jade only come in white?" Wei Ying asked.

"No," Xiongzhang said taking out Liebing, "mine is white but it has swirls of blue and silver in it. To go with the clan's colors."

Wei Ying nodded, "is black bamboo only in the burial mounds? If not maybe I can try to craft Chenqing again but with Yang energy."

"You still want to use Chenqing as the name?" I asked him.

He nodded, "seeing the reason behind why I chose it spoke to me. Plus, I really like that name," Wei Ying said, "plus black would go well with anything."

"We would have a hard time with black bamboo but there is black Jade, obsidian, there is something called Blizzard Stone which is a very pretty stone," Brother said.

"Blizzard Stone?" Wei Ying asked, "wouldn't that be white?"

"Actually no, it's a marble like stone with black and white, it's mostly black. Depends on the stone, it can be very durable," he said, "it is also known for spiritual growth. I did research on it when I made my flute."

"Oh," Wei Ying said, "is there a place with samples? Maybe?"

"There are books with sample images of them," brother told him.

Xiongzhang went to the book shelf's where they are located at took out a few. He showed them to Wei Ying and there was already ideas brewing in his head, just by looking into his eyes. While they did that, I took the time to look for some things that might bring ideas out for golden core protection.

"Okay, so you want to go just with black Jade?" I heard brother ask Wei Ying.

"It's probably closest to the original Chenqing," Wei Ying said.

"We can look for black bamboo, since you found it in the burial mounds last time, there might be some around Yiling," Brother said, "that is if you want to just remake Chenqing."

"All we can do is look, if needed can we cleanse the bamboo?" Wei Ying asked.

"We can," Xiongzhang answered.

"Okay, then I want to try at least," Wei Ying said.

"That we can do," Xiongzhang agreed, "until we get the material, I feel like we could wait for the next set of information."

"That is fine," Wei Ying said, "ahh, where did Lan Zhan go?"

"I am here," I said peering around the bookshelf, "I am just searching."

"Anything worth while?" Xiongzhang asked.

"As I was researching, I had a thought but I don't know if it is a good one," I said.

"What is that?" Asked brother.

"Well, Wei Ying has made many protection barriers, right," I stated and they nodded, "well my thought was, is there a way to create one used for a golden core? It would be an extra barrier of protection, especially if one were to get hit by Wen Zhuliu."

"Golden Core protection barrier?" Wei Ying thought out loud then looked at me, "Lan Zhan, you are a genius!"

After saying that he said goodbye and left to Mingshi to work, "well, he's gone to work," Brother said.

I nodded, "I'm just trying to help think of ideas that could help Wei Ying," I said, "he told me he is worried about having the same outcome."

"I am sure he is," Brother said, "we will help him through this. He will keep his core this time. I could tell last time, even though he said he didn't regret it, the pain in his eyes every time someone tried to get him to use his sword back then, you can see he really wanted to, but he couldn't."

I sat back down with my brother at the table in the library, "I saw that too," I said, "I am sure he had every right to miss it. The amount of times he said he felt useless afterwards hurt the most."

"He wasn't though," Xiongzhang said, "he can still do amazing things without his core, we have seen it, and with out the resentful energy. Even when he had that he was in control. No one had ever mastered what he did."

"I remember him saying it was something he didn't want to use but he had no choice," I told him, "he wanted to protect his family."

"That was all he really wanted in the first place, his family at Lotus Pier, and the Wens."

"Did you want to try to convince Wen Qing to let us help her in any way? They don't deserve to be slaughtered a second time," I asked, "they didn't the first time either."

"We can try, maybe when you leave to look for the Yin Iron, at Dafan, speak with them. We have spaces here, and we can set up a protection camp in the mean time as well. We can speak with the Jiangs again at some point, maybe they will understand," brother said.

"We will have to tell them everything to understand," I told him.

"I know, it's the only thing I can think of, maybe Da-Ge."

I nodded, "by the way, Meng Yao, going through empathy and looking at his expressions and demeanor through some situations seemed...off."

"You noticed that too?" Brother asked, "I know I looked out for him then but now, I am having doubts...is he the one who framed A'Xian?"

"Maybe, it's hard to say, but it would not surprise me if he took part in it," I told him, "we should inform Sect Leader Nie to look out for him and tell us if he notices anything off."

Brother nodded, "I will let him know, I still need to give Huaisang that fan A'Xian made."

"I didn't even know he made those, but I am glad and impressed," I said, "I would be happy to give them tips on cultivating and meditation if they want it."

"I set up two hours a day starting tomorrow after lunch, so I should go give this fan to him now and let him know so he can decide," Brother said standing.

"Okay, I am going to go check on Wei Ying."

Brother and I parted ways and I went to meet with Wei Ying as Mingshi. On the way, I was stopped by his sworn brother Jiang Wanyin. I wasn't sure what his intentions were but I will have to keep my conscious clear and calm to get through this conversation. After all, I do not have a good relationship with this man, nor a good thought about him at all. I am trying for Wei Ying, but it is very difficult.