Solstice Souls Book 2: Black Fire, White Flame

Doubts and Dark Magic

Lan Zhan POV

Lan Zhan didn't know what to do.

XiChen had just stated that both Lan members were killed by resentful energy.

The Black Death.

But then, why the leap to conclude that Wei Ying had done it?

"Wait! Xiongzhang! Wei Ying. With me. Whole night through!" Lan Zhan fought hard to keep his tone and volume low and not disrespectful.

"The whole night? Did you not sleep? He could have snuck out when your eyes were closed!" Uncle Qiren spat out, his voice full of contempt.

"No, think! What about the guards on duty? Outside. Jingshi." Lan Zhan was calmer now that they had an alibi.

"I had not thought of that." XiChen admitted.

Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying now that enough doubt had been cast upon the situation. Wei Ying's eyes had filled with tears, and he was still staring at the lifeless bodies of the two men killed in such a horrific way.

Even Lan Zhan had to concede it was a terrible way to die. Their eyes were black and lifeless, bodies paler than normal, an unnatural whiteness that made it seem as if all the blood in their bodies was sucked out...or burned away, evaporated with resentment energy. He had never seen anything like this before...but Wei Ying looked like he had.

And yet, Lan Zhan knew that Wei Ying had had nothing to do with the killings. Not only in his gut, but in his heart of hearts. Wei Ying was not that kind of man.

This took cruelty to another level.

To kill someone with a sword was a clean death. Cut and dried, a person died and that was the end of the matter. Lan Zhan had seen his fair share of bodies on the battlefield, had played Cleansing and departed too many souls to the other side to be too affected by death...but this...this was something else.

"Wei Ying would not do something like this." Lan Zhan glared at the men holding onto his beloved.

They tried not to cower and looked towards Uncle Qiren and XiChen, only letting go when the latter nodded at them.

"But as a member of the Wei Clan, he must be able to control resentment energy! How else do they remain in Yilling, so close to the Burial Mounds?" Uncle Qiren continued, glaring back at both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying.

"Two separate issues. We are wasting time." Lan Zhan stared at his older brother, desperately trying to convey his meaning.

Luckily, his Xiongzhang understood.

"WangJi is correct. It is an undisciplined desire to throw blame around without first gathering evidence. While we are in dispute over this, if other culprits are involved, we will lose evidence if we delay." XiChen said, letting his gaze settle on their Uncle.

The atmosphere in the room became tension-filled and much colder.

Another disciple rushed into the dungeons, out of breath and with clearly something very important to say, but he balked at the bodies, getting paler with every passing second.

XiChen stood in between him and the mess behind him, protecting the newcomer from the macabre sight.

Lan Zhan used this as an opportunity to wrap a single arm around Wei Ying's waist, needing the contact. He dared not sheathe Bichen yet; this situation was too volatile still...and they did not know yet what this man was going to divulge.

But the moment he pulled Wei Ying closer, both of them let out an agonised sigh. Their cores hummed together, and Lan Zhan could feel his bracelet getting warmer.