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Healer Shi has had a hectic day. She originally planned to spend it mixing new combinations of poisons to test on Wen Ning later but the little rabbit has been interrupting her with a few health scares. She is here to tend to him but her research can save millions in the long run. Shi discovered that Wen Ning not only can eat poison and not get affected, he can confirm or reject the right antidote if he drinks or ingest them both at the same time. The healer took it upon herself to write a book about poisons and so far they have found and confirmed a cure for 73 different poisons.
Healer Shi was so excited about her discovery that she invited Zewu Jun for dinner to discuss publishing her findings for the world to benefit from. She was also hoping to address the attraction that they've been ignoring for a while. With every day that passes, she falls in love with the tranquil man even more.
They were enjoying a cup of tea after eating dinner. It was an awkward silent moment that neither knew how to break. Healer Shi clears her voice and says: "Zewu Jun, we've known each other for a few months now. I would like to.."
She was cut off by a loud noise as a frizzled Wuxian bangs the door open and marches into her room in fury. He slams his hand on the table between her and Zewu Jun, placing the salt rocks she gave Hweiru this morning in front of her: "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"
Shi's mouth hangs open. She has no clue why little rabbit was angry. Wuxian throws his hands in the air: "Did you do this on purpose? Are you trying to corrupt my innocent sweet child by giving her WEAPONS OF DESTRUCTION TO DESTROY MY SANITY!?"
Shi and Zewu jun looked at each other, exchanging looks of confusion. Shi tries to calmly speak to the fuming man: "The salt rocks?"
Wuxian points at her: "Don't play coy with me! Do you even comprehend what these.. demon rocks did to me! DO YOU?"
Shi timidly shakes her head. Wuxian starts to pace around the room, venting his anger: "As you know, HIS EXCELLENCY makes me wear these ridiculous amounts of fabrics he calls 'appropriate attire for the Treasure of Gusu Lan Clan.' WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?"
He flops around, moving the robes and the excess fabric around like a fish out of water: "Look at this! I look like an over decorated tree!"
Zewu Jun can feel Wuxian was veering out of topic: "How is that relevant to the salt rocks?"
Wuxian continues to pace: "Hweiru saw me trip once.. ONCE! Because who wouldn't find walking with a train of rags hanging off of every limb like.."
Zewu Jun cuts him off: "So.. you tripped?"
Wuxian stomps his foot: "I tripped once and she thought I was about to pass out again. I DIDN'T EVEN LOSE BALANCE FOR MORE THAN A SECOND!"
Shi sighs, realizing where this was going: "She offered you the salt rocks?"
Wuxian puts his hand on his waist: "I swear to all that is blessed in the heavens and earths that this girl somehow inherited Lan Wangji's stubbornness."
Shi: "You could've said no."
Wuxian stomps his foot again: "I SAID NO! But she didn't think I was being reasonable. So she put it in my water.. She mixed it in my food.. She even put some in my mouth while i was sleeping.. WHILE I WAS SLEEPING!"
Zewu Jun smothers a laugh behind his sleeve while Healer Shi purses her lips to smother hers. Wuxian sits between the two on the table and glares at Shi: "Do you know how gross salt water is? It's disgusting!"
He sticks his tongue out: "Look at thith! DO YOU THEE THITH!" His tongue had a white coat covering the surface. Wuxian covers his face with his hands: "She killed my taste buds! All I taste now is salt. Even air tastes like salt!"
He hears a strangled noise coming from Zewu Jun and he turns to glare at him: "THIS IS NOT FUNNY!"
Zewu Jun tries to compose himself: "You were right It is more enjoyable, if you're not involved in the drama."
Wuxian points at him: "I will unleash her wrath on you and you will regret this moment! Mark my words, brother!"
He pauses for a second then looks between the two. He points at them both and looks suspiciously at them: "What's this?"
Healer Shi frowns: "What's what?"
Wuxian narrows his eyes at them: "What's going on here? Why are you meeting alone.. at night?"
Healer Shi looks around, avoiding eye contact. Zewu Jun examines the cup before him like it is a piece of art that deserves his undivided attention. Wuxian smiles devilishly at them: "This is finally happening, isn't it?"
Shi scratches her chin: "I don't know what you're talking about. You probably ate enough salt to start hallucinating."
Wuxian leans into her space: "Don't deny it, little turtle. I see what's going on."
They hear Wangji's voice outside the door: "Wei Ying, it's time for sleep."
Wuxian smirks at the two before him before saying to his soul-bond: "In a minute! I have to see this through."
Wangji makes his way in and stands behind Wuxian: "Let's go."
Wuxian looks up at him: "But I'm not done."
Wangji manhandles him to stand then slings the struggling man over his shoulder. Wuxian screams his protest: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I need to see this through! They don't know how to do it right!"
His voice fades as Wangji moves away from Shi's room. Awkward silence returns between the two left behind. Zewu Jun: "That was.. Unexpected."
Shi chuckles: "He sure knows how to make a scene."
Zewu Jun nods: "He wasn't wrong though. I do sense a bond between us that I would like to address."
Healer Shi gestures for him to continue. He says: "Fu Shi, I would like to formally request your permission to court you."
Shi looks down, a little hesitant: "I initially wanted to ask the same of you but my clan history and past has been an issue."
Zewu Jun: "Uncle informed me of the deal you made to stop their civil war. I respect your sacrifice."
He moves to take her hand gently: "If it pleases you, I hope you consider extending your stay in Cloud Recesses.. Permanently."
Shi was surprised by his forwardness and took a few minutes to process his bold request: "I am a woman who believes in honor. I would like to complete my promise to Grandmaster Qiren by healing Treasure Wei completely before accepting your offer."
Zewu Jun nods and smiles warmly at her: "I expect nothing less from an amazing woman like yourself."
Wangji carried his struggling soulmate all the way to their room. He only let him down when they were inside and the door was closed. Wuxian huffed at his soul-bond: "You promised not to manhandle me in public!"
Wangji crowded the smaller man into the nearest wall and moved into his personal space: "You come first. This includes your health and wellbeing. When it's time to rest, we rest."
Wuxian huffs and moves his head to the side when Wangji places his nose under his ear: "You just don't know how to sleep without me."
Wangji: "I never denied my need for you. Why do you insist on testing me?"
Wuxian has never seen this level of possessiveness in his soul-bond before: "I wasn't."
Wuxian whimpers when Wangji playfully bites his ear: "I missed you all day and came back to an empty room."
Wuxian shudders when Wangji puts his hands on his waist to keep him in place: "I had a bone to pick with Healer Shi."
Wangji places soft kisses from Wuxian's ear to the corner of his mouth: "I don't care. This is my time and I don't like to share."
He captures Wuxian in a deep kiss. After a few long seconds, he leans back frowning: "Salt?"
Wuxian groans loudly, pushes his soul-bond away and walks towards their bed. This day started with the most amazing moment and morphed into a day from hell.
The next day, Wuxian had a family meeting to discuss the treaty Zewu Jun proposed last time. Zewu Jun was able to convince the other Clan Leaders to come to Cloud Recesses to assess Shenhua Clan as a candidate to join their alliance. Shenhua Clan leader was surprisingly open to the idea and reciprocated Zewu Jun's initiative for peace between clans.
Wuxian was not fooled: "Why do I feel like they're planning something sinister?"
Grandmaster Qiren: "They're not dumb enough to try anything in the presence of the top cultivator clans in the continent."
Wuxian huffs: "They tried to attack me.. in my own home! I think we established that intelligence is not their strong suit."
Zewu Jun nods: "Let them try. It will be an opportunity for us to wipe them out once and for all. We have strength in numbers. It's a losing battle on their end."
Wuxian sighs: "So far, most of the elements from my vision are present. The only thing left is the two people that I couldn't recognize in the fire. One of them is Mianmian but the other one is still a mystery."
Zewu Jun: "Even the headband on Lan Liwei is now a reality that we never thought will pass. The elders forced him to wear it while in Cloud Recesses as a compromise and to show respect to his wife."
Wuxian leans on his soul-bond: "How do we stop this? The events pertaining the blessed well went terribly wrong. I don't want to go through something similar to change the future."
Wangji tightens his hold on Wuxian's hand: "We will figure it out together."
Zewu Jun: "I have a piece of good news. Keeper Daozi was able to find a meditation book written by my father before he went into seclusion. It might be enough to summon his spirit so we can ask about the Slayer."
Wuxain swallows hard, still not comfortable with the idea of facing Wangji's father: "Can we wait a while?"
Zewu Jun frowns: "Why?"
Wuxian felt like a child waiting to be scolded. Grandmaster Qiren read his expression and said in a soothing voice: "Take all the time you need, son. We just want to make sure we have all the information needed to protect you and our family."
Wuxian smiles appreciatively at him and nods.
Zewu Jun: "The clan leaders will be here in two weeks. Shenhua Clan will arrive in three weeks. We're on a tight schedule but I have faith that this is the most peaceful approach to avoid a war."
Grandmaster Qiren sighs: "I really hope that your plan plays out well. From experience, Clan Leaders are the hardest to control. We need to find leverage to sway them to our favor."
Zewu Jun smiles while looking at the couple sitting next to him: "We have all the leverage we need."
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