Severing Time & Space

Small Talk, Part II

Wu Jian had changed into a more traditional hanfu instead of the lighter version he had been wearing. The white hanfu had silver designs curving along the surface, forming the shape of a dragon coiling around a cherry blossom.

He stood before the dining hall, waiting for Wu Meiying and Hou Jingshu to arrive. Several people bowed as they passed him. He returned their bows with a respectful nod, but most of his attention was focused on searching for the two girls.

Hou Jingshu soon came up to him. He was about to greet her when he noticed the worried expression on her face.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“I don’t know. The clan head and elders called for Wu Meiying. I suppose… it is nothing serious, but I can’t help but feel a little worried. Something doesn’t feel right,” Hou Jingshu admitted.

The clan head and elders?

Wu Jian looked back in the dining hall. Sitting at the long table in the back was Elder Wu Jinsu. Neither his father, mother, nor his father’s second wife were present, and the other two elders were also missing.

His lips formed a thin line as he turned back to Hou Jingshu. “Let’s go find Mother. I’m sure she’ll know what’s going on.”

Hou Jingshu didn’t say anything as she followed Wu Jian across the walkways leading to the hospital wing. He entered the building, walked to where his mother usually worked, and opened the door to find Wu Shaolin, Mother, Wu Taohua, and Father all located inside. Blood leaked down Father’s back as he was being tended to by Mother and Wu Shaolin. It looked like he had been scratched by a powerful magical beast.

“Jian? Jing’er? What are you two doing here?” asked Mother when she saw them.

Wu Jian didn’t answer her as he stared at his dad. “You… did not call for Wu Meiying, did you, Father?”

His father furrowed his brow at the strange question, but he responded with a nod. “I have not. I just got back from the West Fang Mountain and have been here since the moment I returned. As you can see, I was injured during a fight with a magical beast.”

Wu Jian felt something well up in the pit of his stomach as he realized who was most likely responsible for Wu Meiying’s summons. He quickly informed his father about what Hou Jingshu had witnessed. Father, Mother, and Wu Taohua all looked furious when they heard about it.

“It seems that old man is getting more desperate.” Father stood up. “I guess it is time I put him back in his place.”

“Dear, don’t move so quickly. You might injure yourself further. And let us at least bandage you up before you deal with Wu Wei,” Mother said.

Wu Jian wanted to argue that they could fix Father’s wounds later, but he understood that wouldn’t fly. He moved back to lean against the wall and waited for his mother to patch up his father’s wounds. Hou Jingshu nervously waited beside him, wringing her hands together. Meanwhile, Mother and Wu Shaolin finished applying the healing salve and wrapped Father’s torso in bandages. Once that was done, Father stood up, threw on his hanfu, though he left the chest open, and turned to Hou Jingshu.

“Do you know where Wu Meiying was being led to?”

Hou Jingshu shook her head, then paused. “Oh. She was being led in the direction of that large building.”

“The meeting hall,” Father growled in a voice like distant thunder.

Without waiting for anyone else, Father stormed out of the hospital. Wu Jian and the others scrambled to catch up and follow him. They fell into line behind the clan head as he led them to the meeting hall.

The doors were closed when they arrived. Two people were guarding the entrance, and they appeared startled when Father and everyone else arrived, though that did not stop them from bowing.

“Lord Yōushì, we were not expecting you back so soon. How was West Fang Mountain. Did you find any more rare and valuable ingredients?” asked one of them.

“Step aside,” Father ordered, narrowing his eyes.

“Um. My lord, please listen. This… we were told by Elder Wei to not let anyone inside. He has private business to attend to…”

“Are you saying the orders of a mere clan elder mean more to you than mine?”

Father’s words made the two guards panic. Their faces drained of blood and their bodies shook like leaves in the wind.

“N-no! It’s just…”

“I will only say this one more time. Move aside. Now.”

Wu Jian had always been intimidated by his father’s commanding presence, but now he was glad for it. The two guards had no choice but to step out of the way. Father didn’t hesitate to walk forward, press his hands against the door, and push. The door was locked. While this did cause him to frown, Father simply exerted even more strength. With a loud cracking sound, the lock on the other side broke, the doors were forced apart, and Father strode inside with everyone else behind him.

What Wu Jian found inside the meeting hall caused his blood to surge. Elder Wu Wei and Elder Wu Nin had cornered Wu Meiying. It was hard to tell what was happening, but it was clear they were trying to coerce her through intimidation. Beside him, Hou Jingshu held a hand to her mouth and gasped at the sight.

The two elders stood frozen under Father’s intimidating glare, which all but said one wrong move would result in dire consequences. However, like anyone who had nearly a century of experience under his belt, Elder Wu Wei was able to recover swiftly and smiled at Father.

“Lord Yōushì, you are back earlier than expected. Were their problems in West Fang Mountain?” he asked.

“None that you need to worry about,” Father said coldly. “What is going on here?”

“Nothing much. Nothing much. I merely wished to speak with Wu Meiying for a bit.”

Elder Wu Wei placed a hand on Wu Meiying’s head as though to ruffle her hair, but Wu Meiying pushed it off.

“He was trying to force me to use my power, even though I don’t have any control over it,” Wu Meiying said. While she spoke out of turn, her unique status among the clan gave her some leeway in situations like this, and she was the victim here.

“Is that so?” Father narrowed his eyes at Elder Wu Wei. “Care to explain yourself, elder? I would love to hear why you tried to force Wu Meiying to use a power we have already determined she can’t control.”

“What proof do you have that I tried to make her do such? I simply wanted to speak with her,” Elder Wu Wei said, his countenance finally cracking.

“I see. Well, now that you have spoken with her, you may leave. I also do not want to see you speaking to her ever again. You are to keep yourself far away from Wu Meiying. Do I make myself clear?” asked Father.

Elder Wu Wei wore an ugly expression, but he swallowed whatever he wanted to say, bowed once, and said, “Yes, Lord Yōushì,” before quietly leaving. Elder Wu Nin remained for a few seconds longer before he followed suit. Wu Jian watched warily as they walked past him and out the door. He didn’t know what those two wanted, but he had a feeling this would not be the last time they tried something.