Wei Ying tries to gauge his husband's reaction but Hanguang Jun has his back turned to the Yiling patriarch.

"Lan Zhan, a moment please." Wei Ying calls his husband.

Lan Zhan stops and lets Wen Ning carry Su She inside the tunnel.

"Wen Ning, give us a few." Wei Ying yells and closes the tunnel entry, just before adding, "We will be right there."

Once inside, Yuan helps drag Su She's unconscious form to a side and enquires, "Wen Ning, what are they doing?"

Wen Ning doesn't answer, he doesn't need to as a light flush colors the Ghost General's pale cheeks and he looks away. SiZhui is the only one who gets the answer provided by the ghost general without words.

"Now what are they waiting for?" One of the disciples asks SiZhui.

"They are probably strategizing." Jin Ling answers confidently. The young boy's words have the same effect they always do and the rest of the disciples' nod in agreement.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying says, turning his husband to face him, "Trust me, I had no intention of touching Wen... Ammmm."

The next moment Wei Ying's back hits the wall of his jingshin. He finds himself pinned between a hard and harder place... and he likes it... He always has.

Lan Zhan steps between Wei Ying's legs and captures his bottom lip between his full lips and sucks hard.

"Ammmm.... " Wei Ying tries to resist but gives up almost immediately when he feels Lan Zhan's hardness between his legs.

Wei Ying forgets that there are almost a dozen young impressionable minds just a few meters away from where they are doing some things that can definitely be categorized under scandalous, and palm his husband's clothed member.

Lan Zhan sucks in a breath and breaks the kiss, "Wei Ying!" He whispers looking thoroughly scandalized.

Wei Ying smiles and winks before directing his most innocent pout at his poor defenseless husband, "Why Lan Zhan...why did you scold me... after all..." He stops and traces Lan Zhan's moist lips with tips of his thumbs and adds, "After all, you started it... I was merely cooperating... Hanguang Jun, I really don't think you should be looking at me like that... You know what I love most, don't you?"

Lan Zhan looks away and closes his eyes. Yes, he is aware of what his husband likes the most... He had after all made his feelings known to the light bearer years ago and the light bearer had never forgotten them.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have." Lan Zhan apologies, stepping away from his husband, and before Wei Ying can say anything more Lan Zhan enters the tunnel.

Wei Ying follows Lan Zhan inside, all the while thinking about what had happened between them just a few moments ago. 'Why did Lan Zhan apologize?' The Yiling patriarch wonders.

He hears murmurs as soon as he steps inside, but he ignores it. He continues to remain silent till Lan Zhan's clear confident voice pulls him out of his thoughts, "Cultivators, and future clan leaders, as you may have noticed, you were kidnapped. It was thanks to the ghost general, who informed us of your whereabouts that we were able to make it here in time to save you all."

Lan Zhan notices that most of the disciples barring SiZhui and Jin Ling, are still throwing accusing glances towards Wei Ying. His heart hurts and he wonders remorsefully, 'Wei Ya, look at them. They still hate you.... blame you, and you were ready to give yourself up for them.' His temper rises, "Can't you still see the truth?" He bellows and the disciples flinch and direct their hate-filled gazes towards Lan Zhan.

"Lan Zhan." Wei Ying mutters under his breath and puts a comforting hand on his husband's shoulder, "It's okay. They don't know me the way you do." He comforts. Then his gaze shifts to the disciples, "You can hate me all you want, but what has Hanguang Jun ever done to you?" He questions and presses on, "Every word that leaves his mouth is the truth. He stands for truth and justice and all that is good and pure, so, please spare him from your hatred."

"Wei... " Lan Zhan interrupts, but Wei Ying continues, "Now, we need you all to cooperate with us. If you don't then you won't be able to stop Clan leader Jin from seizing control of all major and minor clans."

The tunnel falls silent as the words 'Clan leader Jin' leave Wei Ying's mouth.

Wei Ying smiles and rotates his flute between his fingers and informs, "As you may have noticed, this here is clan leader Su, he was the one who kidnapped you on Meng Yao's... I mean clan leader Jin's command."

"You are lying!" One young boy accuses and pulls out his sword, "Clan leader Jin would never do that!"

"Really?  Then how do you explain the fact that Su She was wearing a mask to hide his identity." Wei Ying retorts, putting the mask back on Su She's face.

The young disciples gasp simultaneously when they see the perfect way the mask fits Su She's face.

"Now, do you believe me?" Wei Ying asks, looking at the shell-shocked faces.

A few of them nod, yet there are still a few who refuse to believe Meng Yao's involvement in the kidnapping, "Just because clan leader Su is here doesn't prove that he is working on Chief cultivators orders."

Instead of looking hurt, Wei Ying looks impressed, "I agree. You will make a wise clan leader one day....if you have a clan to rule by the end of this week." Wei Ying pauses before continuing, "Did you notice the undead corpses outside... I mean, did you get a glimpse of them when you entered burial mounds?"

The disciples nod.

"And how may I ask, were you all brought to burial mounds?" Wei Ying enquires, directing his trademark impish smile at them.

The same boy who had challenged Wei Ying's explanation earlier, answers, "By thugs wearing masks."

Wei Ying turns first to SiZhui, "Tell me dear boy, how would you describe my financial situation?"

"Senior Wei, it's a well-known thing that you have no money. Hanguang Jun takes care of your needs." The young boy answers innocently.

Wei Ying gulps and looks away while Lan Zhan wants to kill something. He clears his throat loudly and SiZhui realizes what he had said, "I mean Hanguang Jun pays for Senior Wei's food and accommodation."

"Thank you, young man." Wei Ying says before turning to Jin Ling who looks like he has just been enlightened, and interrogates, "Jin Ling, can you tell me, who was my health when I was captured by your Uncle?"

'Captured!?' Jin Ling thinks, and is about to rectify what he thinks were mistakenly spoken words, when Wei Ying adds, "You know, when I tried to go to your family shrine to pray?" Wei Ying winks.

That's when Jin Ling understands what his uncle is trying to do, 'He does not want anyone to think that Uncle Cheng is involved with him and helping him.'

"You were almost on your death bed." Jin Ling answers, and adds, "If not for Hanguang Jun pleading for your life, you would have died."

'Well done, Jin Ling, you are smarter than your uncle.' Wei Ying thinks proudly, before once again turning to the defiant disciple, "You See, if I was involved in your kidnapping, then that would mean that I had money to spend on hiring thugs, which I don't and even if I did, I would much rather spend it on better things like The Emperor's Smile." Wei Ying explains, slyly winking at Lan Zhan.

The disciple's brows knit together and Wei Ying continues, "Now, let me tell you a secret, for anyone to control so many people at once as well as trapping you all here by putting a barrier, is no easy task and definitely not a one-man job, especially not a job that can be done in an injured state."

Wei Ying pauses and takes a deep breath, "And lastly, why would I kidnap you all, when I know that it will incriminate me further?" He once again twirls the flute and smiles, "I am known for many things, but being stupid is not one of them."

"That's true." The boy finally agrees and looks at all the other clan hires, "Clan Leader Su's son is the only one not present here!" He observes before looking at Wei Ying, "But then... aren't you a power-hungry villain? Why did you save us?" He questions.

Lan Zhan finally breaks his silence, he can't take it anymore. He purses his lips and speaks in a louder voice than usual,  "Read your history boy, Wei Ying never once attacked without being provoked. He used his demonic cultivation technique to vanquish the Wen's who had harmed all the other clans and then sheltered those Wen clan members who were innocent. Even in the battle of...."

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying interrupts, stoping his husband who was subconsciously advancing towards the young boy who was now shaking like a leaf, "He gets it. It's not his fault. He is just repeating what he has heard."

Lan Zhan immediately calms down and without caring about the looks of disbelief directed towards him, he pulls Wei Ying into his arms, "Why don't you ever try to protect your reputation, why don't you put yourself first? Why do you continue to care for those who wouldn't blink an eye if you died?"

Wei Ying returns the embrace, "Lan Zhan, not everyone's heart and actions are pure like you." Wei Ying answers, returning the embrace.

'Pure heart...pure actions... Wei Ya... I don't deserve those words.' Lan Zhan thinks, and steps away from his husband. He looks at everyone, "If you want to save your fathers and your clan from falling into Meng Yao's hands, you need to do as we say."

Finally everyone seems to agree that they had indeed been saved by the feared Yiling patriarch, and they nod.

Wei Ying nods at the group, and signals Wen Ning to carry Su She. But before the ghost general can follow the command, Su She moves and kicks Wen Ning with full force. Still in a state of daze and weak from dispensing too much spiritual power he stands up and struggles against the knots before giving up and trying to make run for it.

Wen Ning unceremoniously tries to stop him without hurting the clan leader more than necessary, and in an attempt to do so, ends up tearing the front of Su She's robes.

Wei Ying who was observing Wen Ning's antics with a comical expression suddenly bellows, "Wen Ning, stop him. Hold him still!"

{Note :- My apologies for the delayed update and I hope you have enjoyed it.

Lately, I have not been keeping well and I am busy in ril life, thus I am unable to keep up with updates. But things should calm down by 15th.

I have updated Mine a couple of days ago so you can chk it out if you have missed it.

Please let comments to let me know how you are liking the story so far. I will reply as soon as I can ❤

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Thank you for reading.
Have a nice day.}