WangXian Forever 7

Chapter 133 Tour

Dunshi said goodbye to his mother and she walked back the way they had come. Then he returned to the winding staircase which hugged the wall.

When he thought they were alone, Dunshi whispered.

"I do not wish for a new father."

"It's alright, Dunshi." Wei Ying patted his shoulder upon which half of them were sitting. "If everything goes according to plan, both you and your mother are going to be just fine, very soon. Try to relax and not worry, okay?"

"Okay...I trust you, Young Master Wei. You have helped me so much already, and not asked even a penny from me...you are noble and kind. I treasure your friendship." Dunshi smiled to the side at him.

Wei Ying blushed, leaning his head on Lan Zhan’s shoulder.

Lan Zhan squeezed his waist encouragingly.

"See? Wei Ying is appreciated." He whispered close to Wei Ying's ear after kissing the top of his head. "Wei Ying is good and kind. Wei Ying is loved."

Wei Ying smiled and closed his eyes.

Times like this, they were also healing for Lan Zhan too. For so long, Wei Ying's name had been dragged through the mud and spat upon, and Lan Zhan had had to suffer in silence for all those years.

So when people randomly praised Wei Ying, he accepted it because it made Lan Zhan feel so much better, as if his truth was justified, his belief was visible in what others saw of his husband. A balm on the wounds in his heart, that was what this was.

Dunshi continued to walk, all the way to the bottom level.

"Tired?" Lan Zhan asked Wei Ying, when his eyes remained closed for longer.

"No. Just conserving energy." Wei Ying sat up then, unwilling to cause Lan Zhan more worry. "I love how they've dug into the mountain, though. Isn't it clever?" He said brightly.

"Mn. Nature finds a way to thrive." Lan Zhan gently eased Wei Ying back into the position he was in, just moments ago. "Rest."

Wei Ying kissed the side of his neck and smiled shyly.

"Alright, but let me know when Dunshi wants to show us something."

"Mn."

Dunshi walked towards an opening which was emitting lots of heat, and they soon found out why.

Huge furnaces were kept burning, split into two parts. On one side were blacksmiths creating tools which could be used for excavation purposes, such as chisels and hammers, and on the other side, an area was sectioned off from which the most delicious aromas and fragrances were coming from, and Wei Ying guessed this was the kitchens that served the rest of the giants.

It stood to reason that the leaders would have their own kitchens close to where they lived, because to transport hot food from this lower level would be both hazardous and time-consuming, letting the food cool down unnecessarily.

Everyone seemed to know Dunshi, for he was met with smiles and waves from virtually every person they saw. He was popular among both young and old, and Wei Ying was puzzled about one thing in particular.

"Dunshi?" Wei Ying waited until there was no one around.

"Yes, Young Master?" He stopped walking.

"Why does your mother have to marry? Why can't you be the leader?"

"No." Dunshi replied, far too quickly.

"But why? You are the previous leader’s son, that already puts you in a good light. I don't know much about politics but I would assume that popularity would have a lot to do with your success." Wei Ying commented.

"I am too stupid to be leader." He admitted.

Of course that caused an outrage amongst the people he was carrying.

Wei Ying silenced the protests.

"Who told you that?" He asked softly.

"No one..." He scuffed the leg of his shoes, looking down.

"It was Juda, wasn't it?" Wei Ying guessed. His hand was constantly rubbing comforting circles on his shoulder, trying to make Dunshi feel better.

Dunshi nodded slowly.

"He doesn't actually say it...but he says that in other ways. It is implied." He added.

"Who do you trust more, me or Juda?" Wei Ying decided to be direct. This way of thinking had to be weeded out, gouged out from Dunshi's mindset. As long as he himself thought he was stupid or not as good as the others, he would never let himself stand up and be a leader.

And Wei Ying decided he was going to sow the seeds of confidence in this young man from now on.

"You, Young Master Wei." Dunshi replied straight away.

"Then, from today, we're going to have lessons for the way you think. Alright?"

Dunshi clapped his hands excitedly.

"Lessons! Yay!"

"But these are secret lessons..." Wei Ying added, quickly lest he went and spilled the beans to anyone who might not wish him well.

"I had secret lessons before." He supplied, still smiling. "I learned to read and write. My mother taught me." He sounded so proud.

Wei Ying smiled at him.

"Wasn’t allowed to go to school." Dunshi continued to say.

"Why ever not?"

"I was a bit slow...when I was younger."

"It's okay, Dunshi. Let's not think about anything else, Alright?" Wei Ying told him, instinctively knowing it would be something else equally sad.

"Alright. I will learn from Young Master Wei. I will do everything he says." Dunshi promised.

He continued with the tour, pointing out the places which held more interest for himself. He showed them the school rooms and dining halls. The apprenticeship rooms, where young giants were taught how to be more gianty.

Finally, he led them back to the higher levels.

The giants slept in little (for them) holes carved into the mountainside like cubby holes. One was big enough for all of them even with Dunshi.

It was funny, but now that they had spent all this time travelling together, none of them wanted to part, especially at sleeping time. They continued with the same routine they had stuck to since the beginning.

Xiao Zei pulled out the blanket for Dunshi, while Lan Zhan readied sleeping blankets for the children and himself and Wei Ying. He made Wei Ying lie down first, with the excuse that both Rumi and Li XiWang needed to sleep with a warm body and of course, the children did what he said.

Wei Ying kissed the top of their heads and prompt fell asleep.

Li XiWang waited until she thought he was fast asleep and not likely to wake up, before putting his hand from her waist onto Rumi's waist. She put a finger against her lips at him and he nodded to her, remaining absolutely still.

Then she turned to Lan Zhan.

"Father?"

"Mn?"

"What's wrong with father?"