MDZS Fanfic

Red Strings of Connections

Chapter 04 The Drifting Cloud

Wei Ying is studying the history of different sects when a certain sect caught his full attention.

XingXiu CaiPi, "GusuLan Sect? Why the sudden interest A-Ying?"

"Do you know them? Are they still existing?"

"Well yeah, of course. The Lan Clan is one of prominent sects, they are known being righteous and upright people, especially known for their rules."

"Rules?"

XingXiu CaiPi nodded, "A-Ying which sect have most rules?"

"Hm? Umm... LanlingJin Sect!"

"Correct. However, the GusuLan beaten them with 3000 rules, carved in stone wall."

Wei Ying couldn't hide his shock, "Wh-" making XingXiu CaiPi smile.

"Now then, answer me A-Ying, why are you interested in them?"

Wei Ying pouted and didn't answer.

He, himself, doesn't know where this feeling is rooting. Wei Ying simply just couldn't help but wanting to know more about their sect-no, something deeper than interest, but the child is just nine years old, how will he possibly know the answer, or figure out this feeling?

XingXiu CaiPi and Tiao LiuJuan understand him, so they did not push the topic.

"Me, and Liu will be going at GusuLan sect three days from now, wanna go with us A-Ying?"

"Can I?!" Wei Ying beams.

XingXiu CaiPi nodded, "but-" he paused, "We don't want them to feel disrespected. A-Ying do you know what you need to do?"

"No Uncle Cai."

"To show respect, you must know their rules; don't break them and later reasoned that you don't know them."

Wei Ying, "Then I must-"

"You think you can do it before our departure?"

Wei Ying is no doubt smart, everyone knew that, but Wei Ying isn't, he is in stage of self-doubt. Thanks to everyone's effort the young master able to past self-pity, but this? Yeah, he is mischievous for goodness sake, but self-doubt is still different topic. They having a hard time removing it even after raining him with praises. Wei Ying's self-doubt seems not faltering. Memorizing the 3000 rules of GusuLan sect might help to crack the hard shell, they only could hope so.

The Madam that embraced Wei Ying two years ago enters Sect Leader's office chamber.

"My lovely wife! What are you doing here?" XingXiu CaiPi shows his happiness seeing the woman.

"I'm looking for A-Ying..."

"Another prank?" The Madam giggles behind her sleeves, XingXiu CaiPi and Tiao LiuJuan made an awkward smile knowing they were right.

Tiao LiuJuan, "Houki, A-Ying is currently memorizing the GusuLan sect's rules."

"Oh... isn't he a little young for that?"

"Not at all, not at all my love~"

"But 3000 rules for a nine-year-old child?"

"A-Shun memorized the 3000 rules when she's only seven."

"This is a good time and way to develop their brain."

"How long did A-Shun takes to memorized it?"

"At least five days."

"What about A-Ying?"

"Three days."

"For only three days?!"

"Calm down-" a knock stop the heating conversation, the adults awaits for the person behind the doors to enter. Tiao Shun opens the door and give her respect to the three adults.

Tiao LiuJuan, "What it is A-Lin?"

Madam Houki still don't understand why this girl is insisting on being called by her sister's name.

"I'm only here to report about Young Master Wei's progress on his task."

"Yeah... and how is he?"

"The young master is..."

O Dokun peaks inside the library staring at the very serious kid sitting on the floor with GusuLan's scroll laid in front of him, muttering on himself, ang doing some counting.

"Running is prohibited. Venturing out at night is prohibited. Alcohol is prohibited. Fighting without permission is prohibited." And so on, so forth.

The adult smiles as he is closing the door quietly.

"Be kind, moderate, cautious, virtuous." Wei Ying finishes his 3000th word and looks at the eight adults standing in front of him. They were inside the XingXiu CaiPi's office, and all have unreadable expression. Wei Ying is anxious as he's waiting for the result. Worried that he forgot one rule or forget one.

"A-Ying you-" Wei Ying gulps. XingXiu CaiPi smiles and starting from him, everyone claps at him, "have done a great job!"

Wei Ying finally let out the breath that he's been holding back,

"You're amazing A-Ying!"

"To be able to memorize the GusuLan's 3000 rules at your age, so great!"

"You've surpassed us!"

"He really did! Now thinking of it, Shun and Gui haven't finish memorizing them."

"It is really necessary to mention that, huh Dokun?"

"Not really~"

"He broke A-Shun's record, no da."

"Yeah, he really did."

Lan Qiren is eyeing Wei Ying from head to toe.

Finally, Wei Ying have set foot at Cloud Recesses and currently right now facing Lan Qiren, the acting Sect Leader of Lan Clan. For some reason he couldn't figure out, the boy feels so awkward to the adult, worried that any movement will make him burst in anger and would shout Wei Ying's name with full of rage.

It's probably because Lan Qiren is like a stress uncle you could see in streets, but in truth it is only Wei Ying, the other kid with them, Tiao Shun, doesn't any expression on her and just sitting there like it is the most normal thing to do. She simply observing the tense atmosphere between the Goat Adult and Trying-so-hard-to-behave child.

XingXiu Caipi cough to get their attention, it's been half an hour since Lan Qiren started throwing glares at their child.

"Thank you for welcoming us yourself Sir Lan Qiren."

Lan Qiren, "Mn." Stroking his goatee.

"A-Ying you can walk around, but-"

Wei Ying nodded, "Don't break any rules!"

After receiving a nod from Sect Leader Lan, Wei Ying left making sure to close the door quietly.

"He is CangSe Sanren's son, isn't he?"

"Oh, you can tell."

"Who wouldn't?"

"No wonder you are giving him glares."

"Aren't you glad Lan Qiren sir, you've finally got to grow your goat beard~"

"It's not a goat beard! It is-"

"Ah! No shouting at Cloud Recesses."

Lan Qiren only groans.

The Lan Clan sure loves white, as from head to toe there are nothing but white. If they could dye their white, they might actually go for it as well. Surprisingly, Wei Ying isn't shocked on this, actually he seems already anticipated this view.

Smooth steps, so smooth that there's no sound is being make.

Looking at them from distance reminds Wei Ying clouds in the sky, drifting smoothly, quietly.

Wei Ying walks further and aimlessly, looking at everything in awe.

The place sure is clean and silent.

His feet seem to know where they are bringing him, however he has no idea, and right now he left his being on them.

The Zhu's Young Master halted and stare at an empty lot way down where he is, he felt there's supposedly something in there. Something that could adore by someone, fluffy and cute. He wonders what it should be.

Continuing his aimless journey, he soon finds himself in devastation.

"Don't get lost!" He clearly remembers his Uncle Zhun's strict reminder, before they left the sect, and despite that here he is, lost in the woods.

The boy turns around, 'I must find the way back-' be he felt overwhelmed when he sees nothing unique on the place. How? How will he able to go back?

Wei Ying sits, hold his head, and stay quiet. If he scares or what, no one could tell as no one could see his current emotion. He wiped his face and revealed half of his face, and again look around without removing his hand.

"A-Ying, you should remember, if you lost have a pause first then look around, don't stop and finally move forward, ready or not."

Wei Ying removes his hands revealing a smile, stand up and step up to the direction he chose.

Pause, observe, and move. Wei Ying could clearly remember his mother's lecture and chose to follow them.

Whichever this path would lead him is something he must look forward to.

Despite getting lost, Wei Ying wonders why this place doesn't make him scare, moreover as he looks around, he felt something inside which he cannot tell, yet it doesn't feel bad, actually he feels like he misses this place.

Not far away of where Wei Ying is now, he could finally see a different sight. A small house, which makes the boy smiles.

He was about to run but stop as soon as he remembered one of the Lan rules. He nodded first before walking at normal pace aiming to that house.

Upon approaching the porch, at the door, Wei Ying sees a man maybe around his uncle Tiao LiuJuan in age, wearing Lan Clan's clothing along with their signature white forehead ribbon.

Sitting in crossed legs with close eyes, the boy could tell that he is meditating, so Wei Ying who wants to ask for direction decided not to disturb him knowing how important meditation is to those in cultivation.

But what Wei Ying should do?

"Who are you?"

Wei Ying whips his head towards the voice in shock. Did he done something to disturb the man? Now that would be bad... right? Like the man would deem ZhuQue sect as undisciplined? That would be his fault!

"Child are you lost?"

Wei Ying looks at him, anxious, still he nods.

The man smiles and gesture Wei Ying to come to him, which the child obeys.

"Come here, don't be afraid. I won't do anything; I won't scold you either."

Wei Ying who stands still at the stair steps, finally sits next to him.

The man just asks Wei Ying some typical questions, question that are used to ask at a kid on his age, like: what his name, age, where he is living, why is he there. Just typical normal questions which Wei Ying easily answered.

Wei Ying in curiosity, "Why are you in seclusion, sir?"

The man stare at the vast forest in front of them, "Because I have a sin."

"Hm? What it is?"

"I don't think Young Master should hear it. At least you are still too young for those topics."

"Have long are you have been in seclusion, sir?"

"Hmmm probably around seven? Or eight? A-Zhan might be around your age now."

"A-Zhan?"

"My youngest son. He's really cute when he was born, he gets his mother's beauty."

"But if you're in seclusion for eight years, isn't that means you haven't seen him since?"

"Yes." Sadness could be heard from his voice.

"Don't you want to see him?"

"That would be my biggest wish A-Ying."

"Then why won't you stop your seclusion to be with him?"

"That's because-"

"Is your sin being much greater than your love for your family?"

The man narrows his eyes, still with smile, "How old are you again A-Ying?"

"Nine?"

"Only nine and yet you talk as if you are the same age as me."

"Is that bad?"

"No." He smiles lovingly as he is thinking of his family. "Thank you, I might think about somethings."

Wei Ying nods, "I'll be leaving now Sir, my uncle might be already looking for me."

"Alright. Then go straight ahead, don't make a detour."

"Thank you esteemed sir!" Wei Ying bows after jumping down and left.

The man sighs, the urge to see his family has increased.

'That kid-now I want to see my family.'

'Don't make a detour.' That being said Wei Ying couldn't help but to strays on his path, why? He just has a feeling he should and just like earlier he felt that somehow, he has a feeling that he knew where he must go.

Soon he found another house which a little bigger than to the esteemed sir's. He looks beyond the barricade and finally found someone.

'Is he also in seclusion?' Wei Ying wonders, 'Better not disturb him.' He decided but he couldn't move his feet or better to say, he doesn't want to.

Since coming here in Cloud Recesses Wei Ying felt himself having more questionable emotion inside him, and just like now he just simply let his body take over.

Silently and with light footsteps much quieter and smooth than to the Lan members. Wei Ying just wants to take a peek of the kid, clearly has no intention of mischief or disturbance, he simply just wants to see the other's face.

Pretty, beautiful, gorgeous, are the only words Wei Ying could come up to describe the other.

He looks so calm and yet Wei Ying couldn't help (yet again) but senses sadness on him.

The ZhuQUe's young master is curious if the kid is really meditating, then why is he facing the door or Wei Ying is just weird to question it? He no longer knows how long he has been staring at the other. He just there, next to him, arms, and head on the floorboard.

'He' opened his eyes showing beautiful golden orbs and finally sense the presence next to him. 'He' turns and blinks.

Wei Ying being caught red handed tries to find an excuse for his action.

One is confused while the other is awkward.

Instead of backing away Wei Ying choose to lean to him.

"Are you here for seclusion?"

"No. You-"

"Me? My name's Wei Ying, what about you?"

"Lan Zhan."

'Oh... he is A-Zhan!' Wei Ying smiles, "Lan Zhan what are you doing here?"

"Visit."

"Visit? Visit who?"

"Mom."

"Is she here because of seclusion?"

"No."

"Then this your house? But why aren't you going in? Did Lan Zhan done bad things and being punish?"

"No."

"No? No to all?"

"Mn."

"Then why are you here?"

"Mom is always opening this door by herself. I... never come there alone."

"Then why Lan Zhan is alone now?"

"Escape."

"Escape? To whom?"

"Uncle."

"Are you being lock away by your uncle?"

"No."

"Then it is your mom that being lock up?"

This time Lan boy didn't answer.

"You-what are you doing here?"

"Me? I'm lost... then I found you."

This kind of conversation between the two kids get more and more longer as Wei Ying continues on babbling many things to the other. Lan Zhan offers him at first to walk him back the main building, but Wei Ying insisted on waiting for his mom since it is Lan Zhan's reason for being there.

Lan Zhan is captivated by Wei Ying bubbliness and smiles, that he lost his sad longing for his mom and just enjoying having listening to the other. Not bothered yet has no expression on his face.

Lan Zhan felt grateful for Wei Ying's existence.