'Hey Wei WuXian ... are you going to introduce us so we can get this moving?'

'Cheng, Uncle FengMian, this is Wen Ning ... apparently he was partly turned into a fierce corpse but he has his soul and mind of his own. He is their protector and ... I think he will be a great friend.'

'Wait, are you saying he is a fierce corpse but ....'

'Is very much alive ... just ... kind of a little dead at the same time.' he grinned as he patted Wen Ning's shoulder. 'If you wish to check, he has a heartbeat and is breathing.' He watched as both Uncle FengMian and Jiang Cheng both checked for themselves only to show their wonder of it.

As they were doing this Wei Ying noticed Wen Qing walk out of the house and over to them.

'My brother told me you would be coming when he woke up like this a couple of weeks ago ... I didn't believe him but I watched as he protected us from a pack of fierce corpses by himself. My brother has not so much as lifted a sword in his life ... so I am inclined to believe him when he told us that this off shoot will be safe with you.'

'Wen Quin, I promise, you will live a better life than you have and would have if the Wen RuoHan came and took you away.'

'You can not promise that, you are not the sect leader.' She stood there with her arms folded, daring him to say otherwise.

He giggled happily as he enjoyed her brash way. 'I know that silly ... so I brought Uncle FengMian the sect leader and my sect brother Jiang Cheng the sect heir so you knew I was not just playing a bad joke on you.'

'How can we trust you?'

He again became that serious person he used to be, his smile vanished. 'How can you trust a sect leader who would take you in for such a short time just because he believed you would be helpful to his sect, then throw you away like you were nothing but trouble when you fail one single act. Wen Quin, with the Jiang Sect, people are not thrown away quite so pathetically as you all have been ... and your healing talents will be strengthened by powerful backing, will it not.'

Wen Quin took a breath then looked to Jiang FengMian and bowed with respect. 'Sect Leader, if my small healing sect was to go with you, will they be treated like any other of your people. Protected from those who wish them harm?'

'Of course.' He had instantly realised that he would take them with him for their protection. If the Wen Sect Leader was to find out about this Wen Ning, the whole off shoot would be in danger. 'Wen Ning ... do you mind me asking you a few questions?'

'I do not mind. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability.'

Wei Ying frowned at his words. Wen Ning used to say he promised to always tell the truth, but now it was ... to the best of his abilities? Then there was a flicker of Wen Ning's glance towards him and Wei Ying realised he would not mention that they both had memories of their lives ... that they were both reliving. He gave a quick nod.

'Very well. Do you have any idea what happened, before this happened to you? Before the fierce corpse thing?'

Wen Ning decided to tell them of what he remembered about the last life. 'Well ... I'm not sure ... but ... it was dark and cold ... and very wet, there was a pain in my stomach like I had been stabbed, I was on the brink of death, then I heard someone kind, they gently called me back and I wanted nothing more than to help that person who was in such pain. I then woke up ... like this ... but I will never harm anyone ... I kill fierce corpses and ghouls but not living people ... unless ...' he stalled.

'Unless? I need to know Wen Ning.'

'If they come back to take my sister away or hurt any of my family and friends ... I will fight for them.'

'And this is a kid who had never raised a hand against even the bullies over the years.' Wen Quin said with not just a little bit of pride. 'Sect Leader Jiang, I should advise you to the situation with my brother. When we were younger, we lived up in the mountains by a statue of a goddess, one day the Wen Sect Leader arrived and took something from the chest of the statue and ... it came to life and sucked the souls of many of our sect and they all died ... my little brother here had this done partly to him but ... it was not able to finish as I took off with him. You can tell his soul is within him but .... Part of it was in that statue also.'

'What was removed?'

'Uncle, how can a small child understand whatever it is that a sect leader would want from a statue's chest.' He laughed happily. 'I have the strongest feeling that she was too worried about her dear brother here.' He ruffled Wen Ning's hair.

'How good are you at fighting fierce corpses without training? We ....' Jiang Cheng asked only to stop when Wen Ning was suddenly on guard and he and Wei Ying turned and looked at the forest at the same time. 'What?'

With Wei Ying and Wen Ning facing the forest ready to fight some unknown foe, the Jiang Sect became tense as they expected something horrible to break out from the forest.

'Everyone inside now.' Wen Ning lifted his voice and moments later the adults were racing the children indoors. All doors and windows slammed shut and everything fell silent.

Jiang Cheng looked at his father with a shocked expression at the speed of the people and how they instantly listened to this boy.

Wen Quin looked at her brother. 'How many do you think?'

'Less than twenty.'

'Sixteen ... um ... I will guess sixteen.' Wei Ying added the last part realising he is not meant to know anything about fierce corpses as they didn't come around Lotus Pier that often. 'What about you Cheng?'

'How would I even know?' he became tense when the sounds of many people crashing through the forest came to them. When he went to step forwards, he felt a hand on his arm only to look and watch his father give him a small shake of his head.

Jiang FengMian nodded towards the two who looked like they intended to fight what ever headed their way, by themselves. He really wanted to know how Wei WuXian knew this strange boy and if the pair of them could really fend off even a few fierce corpses. He would step in when needed, but he wanted to test the boys abilities in the real world.

'Wen Ning you come with me. Cheng, Quin, if any pass us, cut them down.' Wei Ying didn't even think twice before he took off to stand between the fierce corpses and the tiny village of men, women and children. Sword drawn and ready to attack. The moment the sixteen fierce corpses broke into the open, they both set to work and killed them within twenty seconds, not one passed them, then they just stood there waiting to see if any more would come ... they didn't.

'Young Master Wei ....' He whispered.

'I can not use it in front of others yet ... until they realise I have total control over and mastered it. I don't want people to hate and fear me this time round.'

'I know ... I just thought you might slip and send them all packing with it.' They turned and walked back to the group who watched. 'You do remember that time right ... that whole horde tried to run away at the mere sight of you when you let them feel you. It was kind of funny watching everyone's faces when that happened.'

'I learnt to keep it hidden after that ... and that was over fifty years ago, or many years from now .... What ever.' They both laughed at the thought of talking about a time that had not happened and may never happen.

'Wei Ying, your skill has grown.'

'Oh ... um ... thank you uncle ....' He bowed to him. 'I only thought it best to get better to stand at your sons back ... you know ... when he grows up. You hear that Cheng, you still need to grown up.' He grinned at his sect brother but inside he was calling himself stupid for not thinking before fighting in his style not the Jiang Sect style. 'I have seen so many other sects drills so I use anything I can to win.'

'That's alright. I've known for years that you pick things from others and use it. From the first time I saw you dive into the lake and pull out a water ghoul then kill it.'

'Ah ... that.' He gave a slightly sheepish look. '... I wish I could say I picked it up form someone else.'

'He still does it if he thinks no one is looking.' Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

'If you are talking about the pair the day before we left ... they would have caused trouble on the dock.'

'I did hear that you killed two water ghouls on the docks after diving in and dragging them both out at the same time.' the truth of it was, he had been up higher and just happened to see Wei Ying jump in and drag the pair out.

'Sorry Uncle FengMian, I didn't want any people to be hurt or killed so I just .... Removed the danger.' He gave his uncle his best sweet smile.

'Okay, to anyone who wishes to come and live under the protective umbrella of the Jaing Sect at Lotus Pier, you are welcome to come with us now.'

It didn't take any kind of convincing for the whole minor sect to agree and pack what meagre belongings they had before they all returned to Lotus Pier.

To Wei Ying's surprise, uncle had told YanLi to arrange accommodation for them and many of the people found they not only had a place to live when they arrived but also offer of work. They didn't realise just how good they were at healing compared to others so were more than happy to help when asked.

It didn't take long for them to be claimed by the Jiang Sect as their own, even though they kept the Wen name.