"Huh, really? I didn't even know Cloud Recesses had caves, that's -- really weird, actually, that nobody's mentioned that?? Especially if it's dangerous enough that people could get stuck there overnight - unless no one knows about it yet? You should tell Sect Leader Lan. If he already knows about it then you should tell him to put signs up, honestly."

"It was really weird and Lan-guniang didn't know what was going on either, we're super agreed that telling Sect Leader Lan is a high priority."

"I'll walk back to the main house with both of you! If you wanted, anyway?"

"Lan-guniang?" 

"Mn."

They can go. She's fine.

"That sounds great, then." 

They make their way back to the main house. Wen Ying briefly considers the tradeoff between getting there slightly later but in dry clothes and decides it's not worth it. 

They part with Mianmian at the door and go inside. Wen Ying manages to prod Lan Zhan into bringing her to where, apparently, Sect Leader Lan and Lan Qiren are apparently having tea and discussing something, concerned. They both look up when the two girls enter. 

Wen Ying falls to her knees and presses her forehead against the floor. 

"Teacher Lan. Zewu-jun. This one must apologize for the deception. This one does not think it qualifies as lying, since this one has never stated any outright falsehoods, and you were of course aware that there is no way Sect Leader Wen would actually send even branch relatives for innocuous purposes, and if he did, he definitely wouldn't send his son with them. The fact of the matter is that I have now learned that the Yin Iron, which he sent us to steal, is enormously important and must never fall into his hands." 

Qiren chokes on his tea. "Pffwh -- WHAT.

Sent - sent you to steal the Yin Iron?"

Deep breaths. D e e p breaths. He tugs at his beard.

"Wen Ying -- you may rise. Clearly you have described a severe breech of trust between our sects. However, you are correct. We surmised this upon your arrival, despite not understanding its full extent. If your confession proves to be completely honest -

We appreciate that course of action, without pardoning your intrusion or allowing it to continue. We would prefer assisting you and your siblings to safely defect and counter Wen Ruohan, if that is indeed your intention. A-Zhan. Is what she says true?"

She bows. "Master Lan Yi appeared to us. She believed so."

"That is our intention, but--I mean, if you took in A-Ning, that would be great, but--letting him know that I've defected seems like a bad idea. He thinks I'm loyal to him, he at least sorta trusts me--I can get close to him. I can take him out without anyone else having to get hurt. I mean, probably something would also have to be done about Wen Xu and Wen Chao, but they're not as powerful as he is, and--" 

She swallows. 

"And he already has a piece of Yin Iron. I didn't know that's what it was called, but--it killed our parents. And a lot of other people in our village." 

Xichen's face is pale. "Are you certain?"

"Very, very certain. I had flashbacks when I saw the thing." 

"Lan Yi entrusted hers to me. I have it, unsealed. Two others remain; what should be done?"

"Give it to me for the moment, I'll see what I can do about it." 

She gives it to him, hand tilted so that Wen Ying needn't see the thing again and suffer any more flashbacks.

"Where are Jiejie and A-Ning? If I've been missing, I'd like to reassure them I'm alright." 

"Ah. Well, given how suspicious we were of all of you, when you and A-Zhan disappeared at the same time, we put them under house arrest. I can have them brought here now if you like." 

Nodnod. "Yes, please." 

He calls over a disciple and sends for the other Wen siblings. 

Wen siblings arrive shortly, both looking concerned!

"Jie!" Wen Ning hurries over, barely remembering to bow to the assembled Lans. "Ying-jie, are you okay!"

"Wen Ying, where were you! What have you been doing, are you hurt?" 

"I'm fine, I'm fine! I was accidentally sucked into a weird magic cave with some kind of weird time effect. Speaking of the cave, there's good news and bad news. The good news is I know where the Yin Iron is now. The bad news is it's another piece of the same thing that made the goddess statue go berserk and Wen Ruohan definitely cannot be allowed to get his hands on it," she says in front of all assembled Lans like it's not even a secret anymore. 

So many levels of WHAT THE HELL are happening right here at once.

"A-Ying -- what are you talking about?" she hisses, eyes darting to Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren. Wen Qing drops to her knees, holding her arms out in a bow. "Sect Leader, Teacher Lan -- I take responsibility for my sister. She has never been in favor of causing the Lan Sect harm. Please do not punish her before I have a chance to explain."

"I already explained! They offered us sanctuary if we wanted to defect and I said that would make overthrowing Wen Ruohan more difficult." 

Wen Qing can't yell at A-Ying in front of Lan Xichen for these Decisions, but she stares at her furiously.

Why would A-Ying tell them? Why would she tell them without asking Wen Qing first??? This is the exact sort of thing that Wen Qing is always saying A-Ying needs to tell her about first, ask her about first -- how could she jeopardize the entire mission and their safety so thoughtlessly! What if the Lans had gone and caught her or A-Ning in a lie afterward before they knew? Why is she LIKE THIS.

She grits her teeth. Looks cautiously at Zewu-Jun. "You... offered us sanctuary?"