(Above) Lan Zhan trying to answer which rule of his sect is the most important ... after he met Wei Ying.

Lan XiChen and Master Lan had been taking a stroll then stopped when they both noticed Wei WuXian standing on a roof top looking at the sect rules carved into the cliffs. They stayed silent when he called out to Lan Zhan as he walked out the library. XiChen realised they must have taken a break for lunch but Wei WuXian had waited for Lan Zhan and that made him smile.

'Lan Zhan, would you come here a moment please.' Wei Ying turned and smiled gently when the man didn't even think, just jumped up beside him and waited.

Luckily for the two men watching this spot where they stood, the people talking over there were easily heard so they didn't need to move closer to listen in.

'Mm.'

'Lan Zhan, what do you see there?' he raised his arm and indicated the wall of rules.

'Sect rules.' Lan Zhan just realised Wei Ying had left his sword by the writing desk, and the more he thought about it the more he realised Wei Ying would leave his sword around the place more often than carrying it.

'No ... um ... what do you see?'

With a frown he repeated himself. 'Sect rules.'

'Hm... then look at your sect rules and tell me how you see them?' he watched Lan Zhan turn his attention to the wall with a slight frown.

'Sect rules carved into the rock cliff.'

'Technically yes, you are right but ...' he turned and looked back to Lan Zhan who turned his body to look directly at him also. 'You read them perfectly fine right Lan Zhan?'

'Of course.'

'Why?'

'This is the place uncle and brother bought me to teach me the rules.'

Of course Wei Ying remembered this bit of information and that is why he waited right on this spot for Lan Zhan. 'Then would you tell me who taught you to read this kanji?'

'Same answer.'

'Okay. Let me ask you ... is this kanji used anywhere else in the Cloud Recesses?'

'Yes. The GusuLan Sect Members are all taught this when they first start learning but we do not really use it often. There are a number of scrolls in the library with the same kanji ... why are you asking about this?'

'Well, as you were born, raised and taught right here in the Cloud Recesses, you may not be aware of this but ... the rules of my sect are of the spoken variety. We do not write them down; we only ever pass them on through speech. Even then we are to memorise them and to this day, they have never changed. No deviation would ever be accepted. This is what most sects do. Rarely are they written down ... or altered ... or added too. Then there is the whole fact of this Kanji not being used anywhere else over the last twenty years. Now realising this fact, the youth of the sects outside this one are not taught to read this older kanji, instead we know the newer version ... the newer version is certainly based on this one but they are read very differently so what we read is not what you have read over your life. Many visiting cultivators, if they are not scholars see this wall and only see a few words to understand. I will agree that the last few lines down the end are in the newer kanji as they are recent additions.'

Lan XiChen and Master Lan felt twin shocks move through them but kept listening to a young man who sounded more like a scholar teacher than a new trainee cultivator.

'You ... can not read this?' Lan Zhan felt his heart begin to tighten at the thought of him being punished for not following rules he had no idea of.

'Oh no, I read them just fine.' He reached over and removed a small leaf that had just drifted down and landed on Lan Zhan's shoulder.

'How?'

He looked to Lan Zhan and was almost tempted to tell him but just gave him a soft smile. 'Never mind that at this time. I thought I might ask if it was not a good idea to have the rules written down in kanji from today and maybe a few months before a new student arrives here for their training, the rules would be sent out and this way they are more than likely to know the rules before arriving and so not as likely to break them unknowingly?'

Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying only to find him serious like he had never seen him before. 'Mm.'

'Please believe me; I am not trying to tell you or your sect what to do Lan Zhan. I just think it would be such a shame to have you locked up month after month while following students who are locked in the library to write the rules down.' He dropped his voice so only Lan Zhan would hear him. 'Mind you Jade Beauty, I have no objections at all with being locked up with you for another month.' He chuckled happily as they both went off for lunch, Lan Zhan just glared at him.

Almost a week later Wei Ying glanced up at Lan Zhan and realised he wanted to tease him a little so stood up and went and sat by his table.

'Lan Zhan?'

'Sit properly?'

'What?' he looked at how he was and realised his one leg was hitched up and not laying flat. 'But it's more comfortable like this ... however just because you're the Jade Beauty.' He sat properly with a sweet smile. 'Lan Zhan, don't you get tired of being so ... proper?'

'No.'

'What about the two of us run down to town and find something fun to do?'

'Finish your work.'

'Oh come on Lan Zhan, I'm sure that deep down inside you want to break away from this shy quiet way and live loudly for a short tim....' He stopped when he felt the silence spell placed on him. 'Hmm. MMmmmm.... Hmm mhhmmm.' When he didn't receive any response from Lan Zhan he stood up, walked behind Lan Zhan and sat down, placed his back against that amazing strong, broad back and began to hum a happy tune as he rocked back and forth forcing Lan Zhan to follow his movements. 'Hm mm mm mmmm, hhmmm mm mmm mm.' he managed to continue without chocking on his laughter until finally Lan Zhan used his bodily strength to stop his movement. His darling future husband was now like a rock wall that would not move.

'Wei Ying, stop messing around and do your work.'

'Mmmm hmm hhmmmh hmm.' He turned his head just that little and noted that Lan Zhan had done the same. Finally the silence spell was lifted. 'Lan Zhan, I thought I would die ...' he tilted his head to the side a little then leant it back to fall on Lan Zhan's shoulder and to this, he felt the man stiffen up even more. 'Don't you sometimes just dream of doing something other than what other people expect you do to. To be your true self and just ... be free.'

'... No... do your work.'

Wei Ying sighed happily as he felt the ear beside his cheek get warmer telling him that the ears of his darling was now pink at his words. He knew that images would be flying through Lan Zhan's mind. 'I do not believe you Lan Zhan; I know everyone has a driving need to be themselves at some point in their lives.'

'Not everyone lives a life they do not wish for. Now go and finish your work.'

'Oh Lan Zhan, there are times when you are just no fun ...' he dropped his voice into a slight seductive tone. 'And listen carefully Lan Zhan, I intend on making you have some fun before I leave the Cloud Recesses.' He stood up and without glancing at the man he knew had very pink ears at this stage, returned to his seat and began his writing. When he finally glanced up five minutes later, he noted that Lan Zhan had been watching him with a soft look in his eyes. 'It's a promise Lan Zhan.'

Every day Wei Ying was unable to resist doing or saying something to get some kind of response form Lan Zhan and would always leave for the day happy. Every lunch break, he would wait for Lan Zhan at a distance then walk to the dinning area with him, sit beside him and eat with him. He never said anything during the meals as he had become accustomed to not talking while eating. He even consumed the medical soup they were served once a month ... this shocked not only the Lan Sect members as they watched him not say a single word as he drank the bitter liquid, but his sect and all the others had just sat there watching him almost look like he enjoyed the taste.

Sometime during the third week of his punishment, Wei Ying had stopped on the way to the library one morning to talk to Cheng.

'So, have you learnt your lesson yet?'

'What lesson?'

'Not to talk utter nonsense in class?'

'Oh please. I never talk nonsense.'

'How about having to stay in the library for a month straight with no one but HanGuang-Jun?' he threw his arm around Wei Ying's shoulders with a happy grin only to see Wei Ying grin happily. 'Oh come on, there is no way you can enjoy being locked up with that cold man.'

'You have no idea how much fun it is.' He was about to say more but a firm but gently hand took his arm and he was being dragged away.

'You are late.'

'Oh Lan Zhan ... we were just talking ... no need to be jealous.' He chuckled happily as those ears became pink even when Jiang Cheng made the most horrid choking sound.

'Do not talk nonsense.' He didn't let go of Wei Yings arm until they were inside the library. 'If you are late again, I will double your punishment.'

'Really ... I would get to stay in here with you for another monmmmm ... hmnn mhnn.'

'Work now, no nonsense.' He found he needed to walk over to the shelving to take a scroll down so he didn't need to look at Wei Ying. Damn him ... what is he doing to me, making me act like a jealous boyfriend? It took him a few minutes before he could return to his desk and begin his work ... only to see Wei Ying watching him with a cute smile and a light dusting of pink on his cheeks. Stop that.