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A blank canvas. Colours and brushes. Birds twittering in the sunlit backdrop of the Hanshi. He let out a heavy breath. Yet, something kept him unsettled. Still, his canvas remained blank. Lan Xichen looked at the splattered ink on the paper. His hand holding the brush, wavering after being unable to put anything on the canvas for the past hour. There was everything, yet nothing to inspire him. I am missing a muse....does nothing call out to my soul?
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It was raining heavily. It seemed there would be a thunderstorm soon. Lan Xichen stood ndear the Receiving Hall to ensure supervising that the hurridly arriving dignitaries for the Discussion Conference would be escorted safely in this weather. When.....Fire. Storm. Raging Calm. Burning Embers. There were no other words to describe the ocean of emotions in those purple-grey eyes that stared back. Unflinchingly. It could have been hours or days, months or years, yet he would be flung into the raging storm of emotions in those eyes....drowning? No, swept away, thrown against the shore and flung along with mountain high waves. Lan Xichen’s breath stuttered. Agony, vengenance, hatred. His eyes burned with the effort of keeping his eyes locked with those mesmerizingly haunting eyes. Blink. And gone. What, where-
“Xiongzhang”, Wangji nodded beside him. “Shufu requires your presence in the Main Hall”. Lan Xichen felt as if the world has tilted on its axis and he was floundering to regain his bearings. Cloud Recesses Discussion Conference. Of course, as the Sect Heir, he was required to greet important dignitaries and assign the disciples to escort them to their prepared quarters.
“I will report to Shufu immediately. Return to your tasks Wangji”, Lan Xichen managed a smile over his shoulder to Wangji before again turning back to search for the owner of those haunting eyes. There was another delegation approaching and the last one had passed by. He roved his eyes over every person in his eyesight, behind or ahead of him. A realisation struck him and his heart thudded underneath those immaculately ornate Gusu Lan robes. Those eyes were imprinted and seared into his mind, yet he could not recall the face beholding them. Who was the person? He didn’t know whether it was a man or a woman! How would he find them? In the chaos of the Discussion Conference and numerous Sects convening along with rogue cultivators? Amidst all his responsibilities? Lan Xichen felt his hopes sinking like a man pulled down by weights tied to his feet in the water.
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Purple-grey eyes stared back at him from the canvas. His canvas, void of anything for the past year, was graced with a beholding of pain so powerful it left Lan Xichen breathless. Tomorrow was the last day of the Conference. He was yet to find the one he was desperately looking for. Please, let this one find success in his endeavor. He fervently prayed to any deity listening and hoping to receive this one grace.
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“Guniang”
A small smirk of triumph graced the curl of her lips slightly as she quickly led the raging storm of the ocean in her eyes to appear as the deceptively calm waters of the lake. She stopped and slowly turned around to face the voice. Dark amber eyes filled with warmth and unnamed emotions gazed imploringly into her own purple-grey pools.
“Apologies, gongzi. There is some misunderstanding. This one does not deign herself a maiden of high birth”, she replies in a calm voice and a conventional smile, slight bow of a head and the appropriate gesture of respect- all the while maintaining the piercing gaze with the one having sparkling eyes, intense smile and a rising pink flush on the cheeks of a Jade like visage.
“This one would not dare make any presumptions. However only a lady adept and comfortable in her own right would venture by herself with the grace and confidence of someone ruling a kingdom”, replied Lan Xichen with humoring smile gracing his lips.
A small snort almost left her and she coughed lightly to smother it. “I was only eager to have a look at the Hall of Instruments with the showcase. I did not mean to intrude.” She replied inserting a shy and hesitant note in her voice.
“Anyone who wishes to showcase their talents with the instruments are welcome to do so. The Lan Sect seek to welcome guest disciples and personal disciples through this. You could find the Masters of each instrument willing to choose their disciples based on the showcase performance. Guniang, do you wish to take the opportunity?”, he asked curiously.
She gritted her teeth and dug the nails of her hand into her palm. Never again would she ever touch a musical instrument, she thought, a one from Gusu Lan? Never. But, she had a goal to accomplish today. And if it required her to bleed her heart through the strings of the guqin, bleed she would. It would hurt her like every breath taken with a broken shard of the past stabbing her heart. Holding Lan Xichen’s attention here and for longer would mean the others would have time to do what was to be done. She would have given away her Golden Core to do it herself. Considering the circumstances, she had to account for minimum casualties. Besides, she trusted her Spiders to do the work on her behalf. They were her sisters, blood and sworn in all that counted.
Jiang Wanyin feigned hesitance before replying haltingly, all the while wearing the mask of a guest who was probably overreaching,” I do not presume to possess the skills worthwhile to be taken notice of by the esteemed Masters of the Lan Sect. However this one cannot refuse the opportunity to witness such a display of musical prowess. Perhaps I could be an appreciative audience. Would that be allowed Young Master?”
“I am afraid it is expected that the audience would also be a participant in the demonstration. I would implore you to make an attempt. It would not be impossible, would it?”
Bending the rules, not breaking it. How amusing. She would rip out his tongue and gouge his damn warm dark amber eyes if she could. Attempt the impossible. Of all the people to utter these words, the last one would be a Lan. Could it be possible that he suspected...? No, she had taken utmost precaution to leave behind anything and everything that was physical and material....though she knew nothing could be done about her features and personality. She had taken care to wear a disguise throughout the Conference. Today was the last day. She wanted to watch the show unfold as herself. Not completely, she wore Zidian underneath her robe and her sword Sandu was hidden in a Qiankun pouch in one of her sleeves. She had not expected to catch the eye of the First Jade of Gusu Lan. On the first day itself, when they locked eyes....she... all her hatred and vengenance had burst forth at the glance of the white robes and forehead ribbon. Good, this was good. As long as she could distract Lan Xichen and stall him here, easier it was to get past the strongest defence to their target.
Meeting his eyes again after thinking for some moment, she did not trust her eyes to hide sufficiently, she nodded. “Alright then. Please follow me...uh...forgive me, how should this one address yourself?”, a mischievous smile aimed with polite words intended to get what he wanted, Lan Xichen observed the young Lady reluctantly agreeing. He had a good read on people. He could read her but he could not understand her. It was intriguing at best and frustrating at worst.
“Cheng-guniang is fine, Lan-gongzi”, she replied with a smile like a rose- alluring and sharp with thorns. His responding smile and nod made it clear that he understood it was anything but a truth. Two can play a game.
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Jiang Wanyin had overestimated her abilities to see this through. Digging her hands into the earth in some corner of trees in the huge Cloud Recesses she had run away in tears, she grasped for breath as she tried to get back her composure. It was fine till she was a spectator in the crowd, trying to blend in as a normal participant. Not that it worked spectacularly while Lan Xichen had taken upon himself to be a gracious host and be her guide through the entire showcase. There would be eyes upon whoever held the attention of the precious First Jade. More, if it was a Lady. She forgot all about the eyes and whispers around her when she glimpsed the musical instruments. Time slowed and and the world converged just to the guqins lying innocuously waiting the next demonstration. Belatedly, she realised Lan Xichen was speaking something to her....perhaps he asked a question? Startled eyes locked with his own, Lan Xichen took a moment too long to admire but before he could risk himself getting lost, he moved and placed the guqin on the table. He came back to her side and swept his sleeve beckoning her to proceed. With a question in her eyes, she looked at him and started to move.
“Your eyes, guniang, are incapable of hiding any secrets. They speak what you do not allow to escape forth your lips.” Lan Xichen whispered in a low tone as she walked past trembling to the table. She placed herself appropriately at the table in front of the guqin, eyes only on the instrument before her. Mechanically she placed her hands on the strings, her hands shaking too much, head void of any thoughts about what she was doing, where she was and what she was supposed to do. Breathe in, Breathe out. She does not know how much time passed by before she managed to summon the courage to pluck the first string. The eyes on her, the whispers nothing reached her. Yet, she could feel one concerned warm gaze assessing her, piercing through her defenses, You have no right to look at me, look through me, like this, First Jade.
She closed her eyes and summoned all the courage and pain, hatred and vengenance that formed her being and sustained her this past decade. She played. She allowed herself to let loose some of that raging storm of revenge within her bleed through the notes of sorrow. She played till she felt the blood on her palm hinder any further playing and the guqin strings cutting through the flesh till one of them broke. Twaaanng. Silence. Trembling, she opened her eyes and let the bloodstained guqin string fall from her hands before she ran out of the hall as if Death chased her.
Now, she sat in some clearing catching her breath and trying to stop herself from falling into the hurricane of memories that flooded her mind. Gut-wrenching cries burst forth her lips and tears streamed down her face, till she was left grasping for breath and her cries now turned into silent mourning. Eventually her cries tapered into sniffles and she wiped her face on her sleeve. Jiang Wanyin winced at the prickling sore red eyes that she must have. A scent of sandalwood and jasmine wafted towards her before she heard the footsteps emerging out of the foliage she had sequestered herself into.
“Cheng-guniang...?”
How long had he been there? Had she cried out anything in the throes of anger and sorrow overwhelming her? She hoped not, however it was nearly time, judging by the position of the sun in the sky. It wouldn’t really matter even Lan Xichen became aware of her truth. She stood up from her croutched position on the ground and greeted him with a bow, apology ready on her lips. She found a white handkerchief gently put forth her as he made her straightened from her bow.
“It...has been a while...since I played the guqin....it was overwhelming...please excuse this one’s folly..”, she managed to say without her voice breaking. “ Your wound....seems to have reopened....allow this one to help it heal”, Lan Xichen apologised in a tender voice. Jiang Wanyin took the offered handkerchief but turned away to dry her tears. What can you give to heal this wound, Zewujun? Huh, wounds like these...don’t heal with time or medicine, only the blood revenge can sooth it. “There’s nothing for you to apologise for. It is I who broke the guqin string. I am sorry about the broken guqin string”, she bit out the words, desperate to get this done, get away from this infuriating man’s presence. He had made her do what no one, none left alive now, could make her do in the past decade- this infuriating man made her listen and play the very instrument she loathed.
She turned and handed him the handkerchief. She watched as he took the handkerchief back and then she held on to the end suddenly, pulling him towards herself using the handkerchief. He stumbled into her personal space taken aback and flustered. He was taller than her but since she’d caught him off-balance, he was now slightly bent bringing them at the same level. She moved her face near to his, both of them now nearly breathing the same air. Lan Xichen’s eyes widened and his breath stuttered, heart thudding too loudly in his ears. She met his eyes, and said letting the eyes reflect the cold satisfaction,“ This one thanks Zewujun for the opportunity”. She wrapped the handkerchief around his hand and let go abruptly. “It would be of use to you, more than me, presently. For my wounds have just started to close. Yours, have just begun in existence”, she chuckled, mirth reflecting in those purple-grey eyes. Suddenly her eyes focussed on somewhere behind him, and triumph flashed through them.
Numbly and instinctively, he turned towards the direction and watched thick plumes of smoke visible through the trees that surrounded Cloud Recesses. Fire. Fire in Cloud Recesses. Lan Xichen had a very good sense of direction, especially in his own home. Dread pooled in his gut as he realised the specific direction of the fire. Fuqin! Sect Leader Lan’s quarters are in that area...Fuqin, was in seclusion...and the wards...NO....!
Furious with disbelief, Lan Xichen whipped around to confront ‘Cheng-guniang’ when he found the clearing empty. He clenched his fist in an attempt to ground himself when he realised that the only thing left in his hands was the handkerchief he’d offered returned with a dark spot of blood.
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Lan Xichen stared rooted from his place in the ancestral hall. Shufu was fuming, with barely held anger while he convened with the Lan Sect Elders. Wangji stood beside Xichen clutching Bichen’s hilt in white knuckled grip. Xichen was still not sure if he was seeing right. One of the disciples from the medical wing fast-walked, did the appropriate greetings given the situation, and informed them that Qingheng-Jun lived, severely injured due to the fire and suffering burns, but alive and out of the cottage he had locked himself in. Everyone felt a rush of relief at the news, however momentary. The ancestral tablet with Qingheng-Jun’s name placed in a box carved in the insignia of the purple nine-petalled lotus of the Yunmeng Jiang glowed ominously.
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News?
Sect Leader Lan, Qingheng-Jun suffered before the wards of seclusion could allow his rescue. His existence henceforth will be physically painful. He is alive.
For now. Enforce the borders, I won’t tolerate any fools.
Yes, Jiang-zongzhu.
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These are my sins coming back to haunt me, Xichen. Why did they save me? I am not worthy of calling myself the Sect Leader of the Gusu Lan. I became unworthy the moment I committed myself to the task a decade ago. Xichen, you are my Heir....I do not want you and our Sect to suffer the consequence of what happened 10 years ago.....I thought Seclusion would suffice....but no....how can it pay for the blood of those I’ve spilled...?
Fuqin...Fuqin..what...? Is this...is this related to the Jiang Sect Leader....? You were on a joint nighthunt....
Who can oppose the might of the Sun and survive? He held his own sister hostage then and now. His ambitions burn everything in their trail. You and Wangji were robbed of your mother too soon. I only know that she is alive....It is forbidden to speak of the Jiangs...as if they never existed...
But..but why...? Fuqin, this son begs you to enlighten him so he can do his duty. As your Heir, it is my right and duty to uphold the Lan Sect values. As a son, let me shoulder your burden. Fuqin...please..
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Jinzhu, Yinzhu- moves from the Wens?
Our spies have yet to report back, Jiang-zongzhu. News will be there by tomorrow. Could this one ask something?
Ask
After undertaking so much risk and infiltrating the Lans, during the Discussion Conference...why did you ask us to set fire to QinghengJun’s house? Why not kill him yourself, when you had the chance? Our vengenance would be one step further...
Jiang Wanyin chuckled. A debt was owed, a debt is paid. I owe QinghengJun nothing hereforth. Not my life, not my mercy.
You do not owe him your life! For they did....to our Third Lady and your Father, and the rest of the Jiang Sect...
I do not remember much in detail from the night. I remember my parents trusting a fellow Sect Leader, a guest, who betrayed their trust by in their own home in the worst way possible! It was a two pronged attack. A-Niang and A-Die were always on their guard against the Wen, especially when A-Niang rejected Wen Xu’s suit of marriage for me. The Wen’s attacked by water, the Lan’s were to be a distraction. I remember practising the guqin everyday till the visit so that I could perhaps have chance to learn from the Lan Sect masters themselves. I remember performing and receiving praise. In return, QingHeng-Jun performed his own piece. Ha! It sealed our spiritual energies...I still remember the moment A-Niang and A-Die realised, but it was too late. Righteous Lan-zongzhu bowed and pleaded apologies for his betrayal. A-Niang handed me Zidian and A-Die tasked Wei Wuxian to protect me with this life. The Lans with Qingheng-Jun were killed by the Wens to silence everything. QingHeng-Jun hid us two kids before heading outside. Still, we saw. My parents, fighting for Lotus Pier without their spiritual energies. Fire, everywhere....Lotus Pier burning....the bodies of the Sect disciples....the cries for helps from the women.....Do you know sixth shimei was just 9? Didn’t stop those Wen dogs. .....There were no survivors that night. Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying perished in the massacre. Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian rose from those very ashes....
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That little 12 year old Jiang heiress looked me into the eye and declared that she would be the death of me. From then on, I resigned myself to that. I deserve that for my treachery and betrayal. If death by her hand would give her the revenge, then it is what it shall be. My only fear has been for the Sect. The actions I took were those of a desperate husband seeking to save his wife’s life from her own brother. Those were not the actions of a Sect Leader. But it seems, the Sect might end up paying for my sins. Xichen, son, I entrust this Sect to you. Whatever is my outcome, promise me, do not try and shield me from my sins. It is a burden I must carry. I need you to be the Sect Leader and protect the Sect from Jiang Wanyin, Sandu Shengshou.
Jiang...Wanyin...is Sandu Shengshou..!...?
The Jiang heiress is Sandu Shengshou, the lethal Meishan Yu assassin. It can be no other. The attackers....left...warning evidence..when they set fire to the cottage....I will never forget the hatred and pain I saw in those 12 year old‘s eyes. And now It must be even more pronounced. You must convince her to not harm the Sect....even if she demands my execution at your hands! Do not let the role of a son overwhelm that of a Sect Leader. Do not make the same mistake as mine. Us Lans, love once and do anything for our fated one. This is a curse....truly ....a curse...
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Purple-grey eyes filled with agony, hatred, and vengenance stared back at him from the incomplete painting. He sat kneeling in the Hanshi, the canvas in front of him, one hand clutching a guqin string with dried blood, and another hand holding the handkerchief with a spot of blood in a corner. Jiang Wanyin has imprinted herself into his heart, mind, and soul. Trembling hands bought the handkerchief to his face, a stray tear falling onto it. Lan Xichen breathed in the scent deeply. Lotus and Lightning. He smiled bitterly.
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Wei Wuxian, progress on translating the scroll? Is it still giving you trouble?
Aiyah, have some patience. It was not easy getting hand on this copy....the only line I have managed to successfully decode is the one you yourself told me about....
I overheard QingHengJun’s pathetic kneeling and apologies that night...” He believes about the prophecy...he believes that clouds will eclipse the sun truly....”. From what we know is that Wen Ruohan’s sister Wen Ruohui left the Sect to go rogue. Apparently there was always danger to Wen Ruohan to be careful for betrayal from his own blood. He became paranoid, keeping tabs on everyone from his family. Except his sister had left. When he demanded she be captured and bought back, she had eloped with Lan Sect Leader QinghengJun. There must have been some treaty made between them that war didn’t break out. All seemed to be well for 8 or so years, the Wen brother-sister seemed to have reconciled. Suddenly, Madame Lan Wen Ruohui left her husband and children in the Lan Sect returned to the Wen Sect. Some say she was dissatisfied with the Lan lifestyle, some say her brother imprisoned her. No one knows the truth. But it is likely that she is being leveraged, or atleast was being leveraged till she was alive, against her husband and my extension the Lan Sect. You know what they say about the Lans in love. Utter fools. To think, that us, the Yunmeng Jiang’s had to suffer due to this Wen Sect’s ambitions and family drama....is outrageous. All in all, one thing is what I’ve gathered- Wen Ruohan wants the Lan Sect under his thumb. No chance to let the prophecy of the Cloud eclipsing the Sun, coming to fruit. My revenge shall be completed the day the Wen and Lan destroy themselves among themselves. Blood turning against blood. Hmmm...nephews killing their uncle for righteousness? I will make the prophecy come true. Lan Xichen will be my weapon, because there is no weapon more lethal or dangerous than a Lan in love. And I think I have mine....
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~sometime in the future~
1
Footsteps sounded in the background. Right outside his Hanshi. The doors crashed open. Lotus and Lightning. Lan Xichen focussed on his meditation, drowning out the crashing thunder and rain pouring outside. He felt a cold touch and water dripping down his neck as a finger traced the shell of his ear. “Zewujun....Sect Leader Lan......Lan Xichen......Huan-gege...”, the voice whispered into his ear with each breath of Lotus and Lightning falling on his cheek. Lan Xichen clenched his fists till the point of drawing blood from his nails biting into his palms. Still, he kept his eyes closed. If he opened them, and looked at her.....he would.....he would lose control....and he cannot afford to do that now.. His Sect needs its zongzhu to protect them from this raging fire named Sandu Shengshou....he cannot afford to be Lan Xichen, Lan Huan whose fated one is the one threatening the Lans.
Lips brush against his, a tongue sliding to swipe and a bite given hard enough to make his lower lip bleed. He jerks back, eyes opening, standing up and holding out Shuoyue as a defense in reflex. A defense he knows will be futile. Jiang Wanyin stares back unflinchingly, amused, raindrops clinging to the lashes of her purple-grey eyes. Her mouth quirks into a smirk, tongue swiping out to taste his blood drawn from the bitten lip. Xichen gulpes, breathes in deeply, and moves his gaze away from those eyes which doomed him from the start. Looking at Jiang Wanyin’s soaked robes highlighting her profile is doing nothing good for his body or heart. But he will resist. However futile that might prove. His aim is to minimize collateral damage.
“What do you want, Sect Leader Jiang?”
“Oh, we are playing this way then. Okay, Sect Leader Lan. I will get straight to the point. The previous Sect Leader’s trial. He is alive isn’t he? I told him I would be the death of him. I am here to fulfil that. I keep my promises and take them very seriously.”
“Is it not enough, that he has suffered and paid for it? Will his death be enough for you? How can I be sure that after you supposedly take your revenge, and fulfil the promise of being his death, you would be satisfied? That your revenge would be over?”
“Do you really think that way about me? How curious. I can see passion, love, devotion, and lust in your eyes for me. I do not find trust and understanding. I am just a tragic revenge driven redeemable maiden to you? The one who you save with your love and righteousness...HA!”
“Then help me understand. Allow me to trust you. If you hold me at an arms length how do you expect me to comfort you in a lover’ embrace? Let me Wanyin, please let me be beside you. Let me sooth this fire, this fire....it will destroy you and those who cherish you.....don’t do this to yourself Wanyin...”, Xichen says moving close to Wanyin, taking her hands in his and resting them on his heart, pulling her closer yet giving her enough space and leverage to pull out of his grip.
“DO you think you can handle this darkness born from that night? What do you expect me to turn into? You think you can live with me? Or is it better that you die by me?”, she hisses out locking those intense eyes on him and gripping the lapels of his robes in a clawlike fist so viciously, Xichen can feel her touch sear on his chest.
“I am asking an exchange. Me, Lan Xichen, Sect Leader Lan to be by your side. The sins of Sect Leader Lan will be borne by this Sect Leader Lan”
“Sect Leader for a Sect Leader, Sect for a Sect.”
“Technically, you have the Wen Sect under you, their Sect leader burned and turned to ashes, scattered to the winds at your command, by my hand. I am willing to be the Sect Leader you want to be handed over, my only demand being, leaving the Gusu Lan out of it. We have suffered through the war enough”
“A war your leader started along with your dear maternal Uncle. One that you proposed ending.”
“For peace of the future generations, yes. For Wangji and Wei Wuxian to find happiness together, yes. For the peace of your mind and soul, a thousand times yes.”
“Come back to Yunmeng with me”
Lan Xichen pulled Jiang Wanyin flush against him, trapping her soaked body within his arms and robes. Eyes darkening, a growl almost threatening from his lips, Xichen speaks each word forcefully, “Speak clearly, not in riddles. Do you accept my proposal, Wanyin? Do you accept me by your side and do you accept being by my side forever?”
Wanyin smirks, slides her hands from his chest to neck and trails them up under his hair along the nape, stroking gently. Gripping her hands in his hair, she brings his face close, the only part of his body not in touch with hers, and smiles. “ For now, I am asking Sect Leader Lan to be my prisoner. Then I will decide if Lan Xichen is to be allowed to remain by my side. If I see that trust, respect and understanding in your eyes, then this Jiang Wanyin will surrender herself to Lan Xichen and stay by his side forever. Do you accept?”
Lips sealed over hers, tongues clashing, teeth biting. A particular vicious bite and suck on her throat made her pull Xichen’s hair till he finally left sufficient marks on her throat, where they were easily visible, and pulled away. She licked her lower lip, having drawn blood due to Xichen’s ministrations. He looked into her eyes, thumb tracing her swollen lower lip. “I accept”. She cupped his face and stroked his cheeks tenderly.
“Oh...and...”, she drawls looking into his eyes, smirk curling along her lips,” you will be permitted visitors once a month. Do inform your brother and Shufu. And your Father. If you wish. To bring him to Lotus Pier, that is.”
Lan Xichen flinched and closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. Jiang Wanyin pulled out of his arms, laughing that cold chilling laugh of hers, as she strode out of the Hanshi, back into the rain and storm that bought her to Cloud Recesses.