The Lotus Lake
You got up and sat in the boat. You saw that we were in the middle of the lake and wanted to know how we got there. I couldn't tell you the whole truth, I had just promised Wen Ning and then you were still weak. Disturbing you with the revelation of the truth about your golden core would not help us.
"There was an argument" were the only words I could utter. It was true after all!
"I knew Jiang Cheng wouldn't let me go, he's stubborn! You can't reason with him!"
Why were you always trying to excuse him? I know he was your brother, but what did he do for you?
You looked at me with an embarrassed expression.
"Lan Zhan, forget what he said, he's always been like that. When he's upset, he just says whatever comes into his head without thinking of the propriety? It's been so long, but it hasn't changed apparently. Don't take it to heart.
How could I not take it to heart, after what he had implied when we were in the Hall of Ancestors! He had found me out! I understood his anger at me in particular, the death of his parents and you.
Did he think...that I had turned you away from him? Was he jealous? Was that why he was so angry at you too? I couldn't believe it, but you had always been so close, I had often been jealous in the past. He could hug you and hold you without shocking anyone, because you were "brothers. I was nothing.
It was my fault of course! I was the one who kept you at a distance. I was ashamed of what I felt. I thought these feelings were unnatural. But my nature, now I know, was to love you even if you were also a man.
You were talking with Wen Ning and smiling. You seemed to have regained some strength. You mentioned your shijie and your eyes became distant. You seemed to be lost in your memories. Your smile disappeared. Wen Ning called you repeatedly without you hearing him. What were you thinking in this place full of happy memories? A tear rolled down your cheek, as you reassured Wen Ning's worry.
"I am hungry" you then grabbed some lotus flowers and took out the seeds to eat.
You seemed to have recovered your cheerfulness and liveliness. But now I could read you. I knew that you had just put your mask on your face to hide what you really felt. It also meant that you wanted to talk about something else! Very well!
"Wei Ying, does this lake belong to anyone?
"Of course not!"
"They say that the lakes all have an owner around here."
"Han Guangjun, you know everything? I didn't even know!"
You looked like a child caught in the act. You reminded me of your nephew, Jing Ling, when I caught him after drinking alcohol five years ago.
"Wen Ning, let's go!"
I was weighing the pros and cons. You were hungry, so was Wen Ning and so was I. It was only a few flowers after all! I bent down and picked one.
"Just for today!". You took the flower I was holding out to you and we started eating.
We had just finished when a butterfly message arrived telling us that Jin GuangYao was in Yunmeng. I was worried about my brother. Wei Ying understood it at once.
"Jin Guangyao's reactions are hard to predict" You thought for a moment, then suddenly straightened to me, almost capsizing our boat!
"Lan Zhan, I know where we need to go"
"Where?"
"To the city of Yunping. I told you that in the secret room, there was not only Nie Ming-Jue's head. There was also a title deed for a property in Yunping City."
This title deed must have been really important to Jin GuangYao, otherwise he wouldn't have kept it near him in his secret room!
You turned to Wen Ning and shouted:
"Wen Ning, to the city of Yunping!" you brandished your lotus stem like a general giving the order of the charge! In the end it was a bit like that! We were approaching the end, I could feel it and so could you.
We traveled all night. In the early morning we docked in Yunping. The town was known for its brightly colored fabrics. The craftsmen were drying the fabrics on poles, with which they would make beautiful clothes.
You asked for directions and we decided to go through the city. Wen Ning followed us. Three teenagers decided to have fun with him and rolled buckets on his way.
"Let me through... Master!" We turned around, the young men were playing with the buckets, blocking Wen Ning's way.
I wondered what their reaction would be if they knew the identity of the person they were annoying for fun! I pulled a talisman from my robe and handed it to Wei Ying.
"Lan Zhan, do you have any more?" You grinned and tossed the talisman in their direction. It immediately turned into a multitude of butterflies. Taking advantage of the diversion, Wen Ning joined us.
We went up the main street. You were close to me. You asked me if there was anyone in my clan who didn't pay too much attention to the fierce corpse.
Why were you asking me this question? What exactly were you trying to find out?
"It's not for me, it's for Wen Ning, he is an adult now. He can't keep following me. He is not my servant!" You made me look back at him. I think I understood what you meant. In spite of his power and what he had been through, Wen Ning still had an almost childlike innocence!
You were watching Wen Ning being teased again, but by 8 to 10 year olds this time!
"He can't go on like this, as a friend, I have to find him good company. Han GuangJun what do you think?"
"Mnn"
"He must make friends. Hey Lan Zhan, I think SiZhui is a perfect candidate.
SiZhui? If I did what you asked, SiZhui might find out what I hadn't told him: that he was the last member of the Wen clan. I could lose him!
I turned away from you and headed for the main square, leaving you to pick up Wen Ning who had been overwhelmed by the children!
I walked, wanting to get away from him. I knew it wasn't his fault and that he didn't want to take my son away from me. But he was the only family by blood that A-Yuan had left! I had to calm my heart before Wei Ying caught up with me!
"Lan Zhan wait for me. I let you join me.
After a few quick breathing exercises, I had calmed down. We drove to the address you had seen on the title deed.
The property bought by Jin GuangYao was a Guanyin Temple!
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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