*Lanling*
*Jin Ling's room*

"Uncle I thought you were going to leave Lanling. How come you changed your mind? " Jin Ling asked curiously.

"Don't ask that which doesn't concern you." Jiang Cheng says distractedly.

Jin Ling nods and continues playing with fairy.

'Meng Yao... there is just something about him that I don't trust. Wei Ying is not stupid to make blind accusations. Why did he ask to look Meng Yao's secret vault?... How did he know there was a secret vault?... Even Jin Ling didn't know that there was such a secret room attached to the bedroom.' Jiang Cheng thinks, pinching the bridge of his nose.

When Wei Wuxian had confidently walked into the secret room, Jiang Cheng had suspected that Wei Wuxian had seen something that, if it comes out may incriminate Meng Yao.  But incriminate him of what?

Was Wei Wuxian trying to make trouble again? That would be highly unlikely.
What could Meng Yao have done that was so disturbing that Lan XiChen had accompanied Wangji and believed in Wei Wuxian over his sworn brother?

Was Wei Wuxian trying somehow to prove his innocence? 
Jiang Cheng had once believed that his brother was a self righteous fool. He had even sided with those Wen people believing in their innocence. He had abandoned Yunmeng and gone to Burial Mounds just to help those Wens.
His mind wanders to Wen Qing. 'Not all of them were evil... Some of them were good.' he thinks wishfully.

'My conscience is clear Jiang Cheng .' the words spoken by Wei Wuxian once long time ago , echo in Jiang Cheng's mind.

Had he misunderstood his brother all there years? Had he wrongfully blamed him for deaths of his parents and sister?
Was there a way he could reconcile with Wei Wuxian....his brother?

"Uncle, why are you smiling?" the boy asks Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng says nothing.

Jin Ling doesn't push for answer.

'Now that I have made sure Meng Yao will not send his people to Yunmeng I must think of how I should deal with Wei Wuxian.' He thinks unsure of his next plan of action.

*Lotus Cove*
*Court yard*

"Aunty we heard a rumour that there was an unfortunate incident that happened here a few days ago.... Deaths of a pair of siblings. Is there any truth to it? " Wei Ying asks in a serious tone.

Yenay's usually calm face darkens.
"A Xian, what and how much do you know?" she asks.

Wei Ying tells her all the midwife had told them.
After listening to it Yenay sighs.
"Yes, what you heard is almost accurate. It's really unfortunate what happened to the them....But there are a few things in your account that are incomplete and inaccurate." she says thoughtfully.

"The young Lady came to visit her brother in the morning. We put her up in the room next to yours. She was a true beauty. Once she freshened up, they went out to the market. They came back in the evening. They looked happy. The lady went to her room and the young man went to his quarters. The next day the maid went to call on her but when she entered..." Yenay's face darkens and she takes a long pause unable to continue.

Wei Ying wanting to spare Yenay from speaking the embarrassing words takes upon himself to complete the story, "Let me guess, the maid saw the Lady dead on the bed...strangled..... And her virtue taken."

Yenay nods.

Wei Ying continues, "She also found the young man... the lady's brother dead next to her. His throat slit with his own sword. All evidence pointing to one glaring horrible fact that... He was in fact the person responsible for the loss of the young lady's virtue."

Yenay nods again.

"It is just as I had suspected Lan Zhan" Wei Ying says looking at his friend.

Lan Zhan nods in acknowledgement.

"But how did you guess?" Yenay asks, wondering how Wei Ying could get it so right.

Lan Zhan's face becomes grim and he lowers his eyes.

"Aunty, you know how smart I am right? I just guessed. Anyway it's not important how I guessed." Wei Ying says dismissing the question.

"Aunty I want you to inform everyone not to go to the eastern end of Lotus Cove. Give them any reason you think fit. Tell them it's forbidden and punishable by death." Wei Ying says with an air of authority.

Yenay opens her mouth to ask what was going on but thinks it's better to not know.
"I will do as you have instructed A Xi'an." she says and rushes off.

"Lan Zhan we need to prepare ourselves." Wei Ying says and stats walking towards their room. Lan Zhan follows him.

*Outside Wei Ying's room*

"Lan Zhan, I told you earlier that Dream demon is very powerful. It's an  upper level demon, what I don't understand is why would it get attracted to this place? Also remember how the midwife's house also attracted those undead corpses, I think there is a link between them." Wei Ying says pacing in front of his room.

"What can attract a demon of that level to any place?" Lan Zhan asks.

"A very strong negative energy or it has to be summoned. In very rare cases it can attach itself to human beings who have a lot of blood on their hands... Ha...thinking of it now.. it sounds like I attracted it here." Wei Ying says laughing humorlessly.

"But it can't be you, at least not this time. Both incidents happened before we arrived." Lan Zhan says matter-of-factly.

"True. I am not the cause this time... Lan Zhan, let us use your soul summoning technique and see if we find anything?" Wei Ying says excitedly.

"Mn."

The men walk inside the room. Lan Zhan brings out his zither.

"What should we ask first?" Lan Zhan asks Wei Ying.

"Man or woman".

Lan Zhan strums a note.

"Men and Women." Lan Zhan answers surprised at the revelation. Wei Ying nods as if he expected it.

"Ages."

Lan Zhan strums a different note.

"Young and old." Lan Zhan answers. Wei Ying nods.

"Place of death?"

Lan Zhan strums a note again.

"They don't know." Lan Zhan answers.
Wei Ying doesn't look surprised.

"Who killed them?"

Lan Zhan strums and answers, "They don't know this either."

"Ask them do they know of any dream demon...no.. ask them if anyone of them was going to marry a Lan clan member?"

Lan Zhan looks surprised and strums a note again.

"Yes." He says looking at Wei Ying.

Both nod at each other. Lan Zhan puts his zither away.

"Lan Zhan, just as I had suspected. There are many people here. But I don't think all died here. The dream demon was the cause for at least some. He is just controlling their spirit. But the rest and the dream demon were attracted here because of some other reason." Wei Ying says thoughtfully.

"Should I perform a clensing ritual?" Lan Zhan asks hesitantly.

"I think you should. That way at least the spirits held captive by the demon will be released." he says as he walks towards his bed and picks up his flute.

For the first time since entering the room Wei Ying looks around. The room is clean. There is no sign of spilled water or the tub.

"Lan Zhan!  We have been robbed!." He says urgently.

"Wei Ying, I cleaned the room before I came to find you." he says reading his friend's mind and looking done with his friend's stupidity.

"Ah.. So it was you... Hehe." He says cutely and smiles.

'I love this stupid idot'.  Lan Zhan thinks fondly.

"By the way Lan Zhan, I am really upset with you." Wei Ying says angrily.

"Mn?"

"In the morning you were so rude with me. All I wanted to do was show you that I really appreciate what you did for me and you just... ignored me and asked me to leave... Oh by the way what took you so long to come and find me?" Wei Ying asks finishing his ranting.

Tips of Lan Zhan's ears turn red... again. 'Why Wei Ying... Why did you have to remember that now.... Control your emotions Lan Zhan,' he tells himself.

Wei Ying waits for Hanguang Jun to answer but he doesn't, so Wei Ying walks towards him and sits next to him. He puts his flute on the side.

"Lan Zhan, I don't understand you..I know you have feelings for me... but when I try to get close to you, you push me away. Why Lan Zhan? Are you unsure about your feelings for me?" Wei Ying asks. He tries to sound strong and practical but it comes out sad and needy.

Lan Zhan had not expected Wei Ying to question him directly. He doesn't want to tell Wei Ying that he is doing it for him. He doesn't know how to lie either so he just keeps quiet and gives a pained look to Wei Ying.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei Ying  says coming closer, "don't you like it when I touch you?"

'I love it when you touch me Wei Ying.  Please don't come any closer... I can't control myself. ' Lan Zhan's mind starts screaming.

Lan Zhan doesn't answer so Wei Ying comes closer still and puts his hand on Lan Zhan's knee. Lan Zhan abruptly stands up.

"Wei Ying, we have work to do. Your questions can wait." He tries to say emotionlessly but his voice breaks and trembles.

Wei Ying notices 'He is trying to avoid answering me.'

"Hanguang Jun ... " Wei Ying says Lan Zhan's name like A Yuan and starts pulling on his robes.

"Hanguang Jun, don't you like me? Am I not cute? Look at me. Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying shouts all the while pulling on Lan Zhan's robes.

When Lan Zhan doesn't move and continues to ignore him,  Wei Ying stomps his feet and gets up.

He turns his back towards Lan Zhan and starts walking away. Lan Zhan's heart hurts but he has no answers for Wei Ying's questions for now.

Wei Ying walks a couple of steps and sways on the spot, his knees give way and he falls.... He falls in Lan Zhan's arms.
'I knew you wouldn't let me fall Hanguang Jun.' Wei Ying thinks keeping his eyes shut and pretending to faint.

Lan Zhan carries him to bed and gently puts him down. But before he can stand up straight Wei Ying puts his arms around him and pulls him down. Lan Zhan almost loses his balance and falls but controls himself.

"Wei Ying ! Let me go." Lan Zhan scolds.

When Wei Ying fails to pull Lan Zhan on the bed he pulls himself up using his arms that are still around his friend's neck.

He kisses Lan Zhan's cheek and says,  "Come to bed Lan Zhan." in a husky voice.

"Wei Ying! Let go." Lan Zhan scolds again but there is no power behind the words.
Wei Ying shakes his head.

"Hanguang Jun..." Wei Ying's voice is barely a whisper now. He bumps there noses together and plants a kiss below Lan Zhan's lips.
"Come to bed...please....please just let me touch you Lan Er gege. I promise I won't do anything else... Lan Er gege...." Wei Ying says looking up through his lashes at Lan Zhan's lips while biting his lips seductively.

{P. S. :- Going forward in the story it's going to get more and more mature (adult content will increase). I will tag it so the young readers, if they choose to, can skip it}

{Note :- Yes... I know... Wei Ying is horny at the wrong time... But he can't do much when a man like Lan Zhan is rt there looking like a God damn snack!

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