Wen Reian

2019 years after The Long Night

Xibù Shataar

It was two entire nights later, and Wen Reian was starting to get impatient. After having met with the Governor, a rather young and seemingly well-cultured woman named Ling Hai, he’d been given only empty assurances that they were going to do everything in their power to retrieve Song-jun safe and sound. Wen Rei needed more than that, he needed action…

Passed out on the desk in his room in the palace, his tired eyes kept glancing over at the letter he’d received today from Yi-jun and Songcai. Of course Reian had sent a message to them both immediately, explaining what had happened. For some reason he’d excluded the part about Lan Kai-Le, who knew why… perhaps he just didn’t want the two Kings to know that Reian had truly been the one to put their daughter in such a situation. He’d sensed Kai-Le’s cruelty, and he’d let it happen anyway.

Reian sighed, once again going to open the parchment, gazing down longingly at the familiar, wavy handwriting.

Dearest Wen Rei,

I received your letter just a moment ago. Jin-cai and I are waiting on your word to intervene. As long as A’Jun is brought home safely, nothing else matters.

Say the word, and I’ll go to war for you both. We can send people to Xibù Shataar to aid you, or straight to The Roaran Stronghold at a moment’s notice. If Xie Xingyue really is behind this, then it’s past time I pay him a visit…

Since you are there and you know more than I, I’ll leave that choice to you for now. Please get back to me as soon as you are able.

Songcai and I miss you, and A’Jun. Please come home safe,

Xie Yi-jun

It was impossible for Reian to sleep with this all raging through his head. He’d asked for Jin Songcai to use his connection to A’Jun and her King’s Mark, to search for her location, but Yi-jun had informed him that Songcai and Yi-jun had been having difficulties pinpointing Reian and A’Jun’s whereabouts since they’d entered into Xibù Shataar. Again, who knew why...

There was a growing list of things Reian didn’t know. At the very top, was this half-formed feeling that took up the majority of his mind and was the main thing that refused to let him sleep.

Useless. Can’t even project my family-

That bitterness sat like a seed at the base of his throat. Tormenting him day and night, always threatening to grow into a flower, likely a poisonous one, or a tree that would eclipse all light. The only time it somewhat abated was when the healer was actively out there searching for the Princess, which was just what he was doing now.

To hell with the Governor's promises! I’ll find out A’Jun’s whereabouts myself...

After making sure to dress far more casually than he normally would; wishing to appear as a local in case that might help tongues wag, Wen Reian slipped into the crowd of people milling about through the city streets, starting his investigation where he knew the men who’d taken Song-jun must have gone to once or twice; the market.

If it’s how it is in Hêi’àn City, especially Gen Jin, I shouldn’t have to look too hard for someone willing to trade secrets. As they say, it’s easier to dam a river than to stop people talking…

Reian tried acclimating first to the place as best he could, listening in on others’ conversations in order to match some of the townsfolk’s dialect and slang. He figured it was better to go all out now, rather than regret being shy later.

After chatting off and on with a young woman running a silks shop, Wen Rei was directed to the main street of the market, where he was told by the quite flirtatious lady that everyone who worked that street remembered everyone who walked it. Seemed like the place to start asking around.

Having had no luck slipping his inquiries about the ‘soldiers from the far east’ into conversations, Reian ended up asking folks, point blank if they’d seen them.

“Oh yeah, sure! I mean, we get all sorts here. Xichang Bridge goes right across the river. Anybody can come in… say, would you like to try one of my famous dumplings?? Won’t cost but a dime!”

Reian persisted with countless others, for hours until nightfall, and then returned in the morning as soon as the market opened. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept, and maybe that, coupled with the fact that all of the answers people were giving him were all monumentally useless, perhaps that had made him somewhat irritable.

After going back to a stall of a rather grouchy old man who obviously knew something, and whom Reian had failed to get any information out of the day before, the healer could no longer stand feeling like he wasn’t making any progress.

Acting unlike himself and knowing he would probably regret it later, Wen Rei’s hands turned to fists on the table he was leaning over and then he shouted quite loudly in the man’s face-

“I’m not leaving until you tell me what you saw! And when I say not leaving, I mean you will count each and every star in the heavens before you’re able to get rid of me!!”

The man’s eyes widened, then narrowed.

“Scram! Shoo!!”

He waved his arms at Reian but the healer was truly at his breaking point apparently, and ended up climbing on top of the seller’s stand and sitting on it cross-legged with his hands gripped firmly on his knees.

“Carry me away and I’ll only come back!” He announced, noticing the stares he was getting from a large number of strangers. He could care less.

Glaring down at the old man, who really seemed moments away from yanking his own hair out in frustration, Wen Reian gritted his teeth, saying-

“Where have you seen the foreign soldiers?!!”

At last, with a face as red as the tomatoes he was selling, the old man grumbled, calling out in desperation as he tried beating Reian off his stand with a shovel. The healer only dodged...

“Begone! Foul creature!! Fine, I’ll tell you!”

With a satisfied hmph, Reian slid down, eyes not leaving the man until at last he was given what he needed. The man looked both ways suddenly, then whispered to him with wide eyes.

“I know who it is you’re looking for. They arrived only a month ago and have since left, those soldiers, acting all noble… I wouldn’t bet my eyes on it! Those boys from far over east, they’re all bloodthirsty animals! I even saw them in the forest up near the border, making all sorts of mischief with The Wanderers… might even call those boys worse scoundrels than you!!”

It was precisely at that moment that Wen Reian felt the strangest, most familiar sensation that he was being watched from close by. He whirled around and practically had a heart attack when he caught sight of the bright golden eyes staring at him from a few stalls over.

How did he find me?! Is it just a coincidence? Dammit, why am I still so frightened of him?! Lan Kai-Le, what are you?

Not even bothering to thank the old man for his secrets, as he had had quite enough of speaking to him by now, Reian ended up ducking for cover, quickly hiding under the folded tapestries and cloths in the next shop over, willing his heart to stop pounding as he listened to the exclamations of the startled seller.

Please, he begged. Just let it be a mistake that we saw each other here, I can’t take it again if I’m face to face with that man!

Face to face? More like, face to toes, as pretty soon Reian was staring directly at the hunter’s heavy boots, holding his breath as he watched his shadow from the other side of the cloth, slowly reach down and lift up one end.

Mercy, mercy for my heart! I might just die right now… ugh, A’Jun would call me a crybaby. She’d be right-

Blinking up into those bright, tumultuous eyes, Wen Reian was frozen. He knew instantly that whatever had made Lan Kai-Le appear here today and find him, was not a coincidence.

Once he found his breath again, Wen Reian quickly scrambled to his feet, but then was immediately verbally assaulted by the woman who owned the fabric stall…

“Why are you bothering me now?!” She cried, grabbing a broom. “Go away! You’re scaring my customers-”

Reian flinched when he saw the long end of the broom aimed down at his face, but before it could hit him, Lan Kai-Le’s hand shot up, gripping the stick so firmly that it ended up splitting in two!

Mirroring the woman’s open mouth and shocked expression, Wen Reian had to blink several times before he was able to recall where he was and what was happening.

After seeing her first attack as a failure, the woman as well as the old man he’d tormented earlier ended up banding together to throw all manner of heavy objects at both Reian and Kai-Le.

“Master!”

The boy’s familiar voice came from an alley close by, and as Lan Kai-Le shielded Wen Reian with his body from the onslaught of flying projectiles, Mu Qin ushered them both to safety.

A few moments later, away from it all, A’Qin surprised Reian by immediately bowing, hanging his head and clasping his hands at them both as he pleaded-

“Forgive me! I-I didn’t know that any harm was going to come to you…” then the boy turned to Lan Kai-Le, “Master Lan… are you okay? I’m sorry I ran-”

The hunter grunted softly, and that seemed to be the end of it.

Reian didn’t dare to meet Lan Kai-Le’s eyes as he said; “How did you find me?”

Maybe not the smartest or best thing he could have said. The market wasn’t that big. It wasn’t astronomically impossible for their paths to cross again. Reian had just hoped it wasn’t so soon after he’d pushed the man out of a window...

Lan Kai-Le eyed Reian, and then he glanced at A’Qin. The boy stood there expectantly, practically wagging his tail as he waited for whatever his Master was going to say. Finally, the hunter spoke, his deep voice seeming to rumble all the way through each of Reian’s bones.

“Looking for the same thing.”

It was just what he’d said earlier. Reian frowned. Then strangely enough, a thought occurred to him. Blinking up at Lan Kai-Le as if seeing him in a new light, and that light was; well maybe I could use him instead!! Wen Rei ended up smiling.

“Say,” he crossed his arms over his chest. “You wouldn’t know where I could find The Wanderers, now would you?”

Shockingly, or perhaps not, Kai-Le nodded; “We’ve met.”

Reian’s eyes grew wide-

“Perfect! Take me to them immediately, the soldiers who took A’Jun spoke with them. Perhaps they know where she is and what their plans are!”

For some reason, Lan Kai-Le looked less than thrilled. Reian had no idea why, since this should be good news for him as well. One step closer to getting revenge on the person who murdered his parents, right? Repeating himself again like a broken record, Kai-Le frowned…

“We’ve met.”

Reian rolled his eyes, saying with an exasperated sigh; “Yes, I know! You just said that.”

A’Qin laughed a little awkwardly and seemed like he wanted to try and explain, but Lan Kai-Le was staring intensely at Reian, as if he was once again trying to communicate without words. Kai-Le’s jaw tightened, clearly frustrated, then his face softened. Reian found it rather fascinating to watch the change in his expression.

He must have figured out what he’s trying to say…

“We’ve met The Wanderers. Wen Reian has met them too.”

For several seconds, Reian couldn’t recall. He had not met The Wanderers! He had not met anybody recently but the unhelpful folks in the market and the equally as unreliable Governor! Wait a moment-

As if in slow motion, Reian’s eyes grew comically wide until he had to slap his hand down over his mouth to keep from gasping aloud.

No, no! That would be absolutely terrible luck...

“You mean-”

Lan Kai-Le only blinked, eyes the color of the wedding chalice Yi-jun and Songcai had drunk from, almost sixteen years ago. He really wished he could see their faces in a moment like this. So they could all laugh at how stupid he was.

My only hope to find out A’Jun’s whereabouts… the healer lamented silently.

And it had to be The Wanderers?! The very gang who ambushed us on our way here, who I wounded a member of, and who Lan Kai-Le killed a whole handful more??

Reian wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.

Destiny hates me. Destiny, damn her! She wants me dead!