It was late night as Asami returned from her journey.
How said it was.
It was a journey through memories of a young man who died and was summoned back. As a powerful evil spirit.
How ironic - with the lore which founder he was.

The memory... It was so light and airy and happy.
Wei Xian, witty and energetic, fooling around making those who would see realize what life really was. And it was fun. And free. And happy. With all challeges and downsides it possessed.
Lan Zhan, stuck in his house rules, experiencing life only inasmuch the limits let him do so. Friendless. Emotionless. Serene. As if!
He needed Ah Xian to notice treasures he was letting slip by unheeded. Such as freedom. And life in its bright colors. And friendship. It would take only a person like Ah Xian to make friends with that thick-skinned doll. Only a sunny soul like Ah Xian could gradually - and annoyingly - peck and bug him to break through Lan Zhan's guard and make him reveal his vulnerable and reclusive self. Who as everyone just needed someone to be with. An equal. A person he'd respect despite whatever noncense that person would spout.
Peaceful days in the Cloud Recesses. Full of light and fun. Simple student days. When they all were allowed to be kids. But the adults knew that the storm was brooding.

And clan after clan was wiped off.
And nature was toyed with.
And home of happy memories lay in ashed, one after another.
The Cloud Recesses were burned down first. And it was the Lotus Pier turn now.

They'll share the same pain, Ah Xian and Lan Zhan.

Lady Yu... Asami didn't like her firy character. She reminded her of her granny - the person who speaks in one's sake but hurts the one with her very words.
But... She was the mother who with dignity stood up for her home, her family and her clan. She was claver to see through the scheme of the Wen clan and see that there was little choice - either bow and lick boots of impertinent or/and simply silly envoys the Wen leader cared to send or fight back and stand for her clan's honor and home and believes and everything the clan upheld.
She had nerve enough to act independently under the scrutiny of the Wen parody of an envoy. She hit Ah Xian but oly as much as she herself wished.
She would not let a lowly person like that daring girl command her what punishment in her house should be. She would not turn her home over.
She fought. She took her son and the hateful adopted son - to Asami's awe - and fled to force them run away. She saved them both. She protected them both. And said to the son of Wei - protect him, even after you die. He nodded.
And soon his father did the same.
Don't cry, he said to his son. Don't cry, he said to hes daughter. Take care of them, he said to Wei Xian.
And the clan leader went away and headed for the Lotus Pier, their home to fight alongside his wife who cared for and trusted him. Who was his worthy wife.
And the two cried out and weeped, and so did Wei Xian. But with the burden of responsibility he was laid with his tears were few.
The back of his adopted father when he was sailing off was stiff. At that fleeting moment Wei Xian and the clan leader seemed alike to Asami.

Why are there people so irrational and unreasonable and just inhumanly stupid to lust for power?
To put at risk, given that they care little for anithing else, endangering first of all their own lives?

A pray sent to a calm evening sky during lectures in the Cloud Recesses 'I wish I can protect the weak and little with a good conscience'.
It seemed to Asami that soon a bloody slaughter would break out and every second would be the weak one and the two of them would never make it to protec them all...

Asami smiled sadly. What's the Yunmeng Jiang Sect motto? The belief Ah Xian was brought up with?
Even knowing you can't do it, if there's something wrong something is to be done.
So do the impossible.