.
Lan Wangji was standing in the newly constructed room that Keeper Daozi made for his daughter. He watched over his daughter for a few minutes as she slept peacefully for the first time in her new bed. He made sure that the room was big enough for her to grow into it. Cloud Recesses has a strict rule over men and women mingling but he will gladly break them all for the happiness of his soul-bond. Wangji was not oblivious. He knows that Wuxian has been super anxious about meeting his deceased father. Wangji has a good relationship with his father. Even though he considers Qiren as the one entitled to that name, his real father has tried his best with what he got.
Wangji used to think that his father was a coward. A man who ran away and hid when things got tough. After falling in love and sacrificing a lot for Wuxian, Wangji understood his father's suffering and forgave his shortcomings. After all, he is a father now to two amazing children who he would do anything for. Being in someone else's shoes opens up a whole new level of understanding.
Wangji returned to the main area to find Wuxian pacing again. It's a noticeable habit that Wangji has picked up on while living with his soul-bond. Wangji watched him for a few seconds then sighed: "We talked about this. You have nothing to worry about."
Wuxian turned to glare at him: "You are not the one who's going to be judged today!"
Wangji: "My father will not judge you."
Wuxian groans: "You don't know that! What if he doesn't like me? Is that a deal breaker?"
Wangji stood up and stopped Wuxian from pacing by pulling him into an embrace: "Nothing is a deal breaker for me."
Wuxian nervously plays with Wangji's hair. He whispers in fear: "What if he's disappointed?"
Wangji: "My father is not ignorant nor blind. You will be fine. This is not a social call anyways. We are summoning him for a good reason."
Wuxian nods: "Right. The Slayer. Not a social visit."
Wangji pulled back to look at his soul-bond's face: "I will be there next to you. If you choose to back off at any given moment, do not hesitate. Your comfort is more important than pleasing my father."
Wuxian takes a deep breath and says: "I can do this!"
A disciple knocks on the door, letting them know that Zewu Jun was ready to receive them in the Orchid Room. Wuxian walked with as much fake-confidence as he could muster while his heart was ready to burst out of his chest.
Zewu Jun, Wangji and Wuxian all sat at the table looking at the book the man they're about to summon wrote. Zewu Jun and Wangji will not be able to see their father but were there for support. Wuxian takes one last deep breath and slowly touches the book with his ring hand. A few seconds later, a handsome middle aged man joins them at the table. He silently stares at his sons then turns to look at Wuxian: "You are my son's soul-bond?"
Wuxian bows deeply to him and says in a slightly quivering voice: "I'm Wei Wuxian."
Qingheng Jun graces him with a gentle smile and asks: "Which clan do you come from?"
Wuxian looks like someone splashed ice water on his face. What was he supposed to say? He opened his mouth to say something.. anything.. but he couldn't come up with words that do not sound like Wangji bonded to an outcast.
Zewu Jun took his hesitation as a que to start talking: "Father, you are missed. That man is Wangji's soul-bond. He is Gusu Lan Clan's Treasure and the one blessed by the earth deity. He is known as the Divine Oracle."
Wuxian sighed in relief, thanking Zewu Jun with his eyes for the save. Qingheng Jun looked very impressed: "Beauty and skills. Wangji chose well."
Wuxian blushed and ducked his head. Wangji spoke up: "Father, my soul-bond has blessed us with the ability to speak to you. We have an inquiry."
Qingheng Jun nods to Wuxian. The smaller man clears his throat before explaining his visions about the slayer. He continues to say: "Zewu Jun thinks that he's your teacher's son. We don't have any proof to back up his claim."
Qingheng Jun sits back: "My teacher was a strange man. He believed in science and progress to the point where he was willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary to prove his claims. He told me a story once while we shared a night hunt in the wilderness. Before he became a teacher, he got injured in a fight with a rival clan and sought shelter in a small village. He met a widow who was kind to him and they shared a moment of affection. As you know, our clan has strict rules about affairs outside of marriage and bonding so he kept her hidden and would visit her as frequently as possible. You must understand, my teacher was not a bad man. He just chose a questionable path and once he started he couldn't stop. The widow gifted him a son.. if I remember correctly.. he named him Lan Jinhai. He told me in confidence about his existence and I tried to find the boy after my teacher's.. untimely death, but the village was raided and his mother was killed. He was lost and I never found him."
Wuxian relays the story to the brothers. Zewu Jun: "Father, have you ever seen the boy?"
Qingheng Jun nods: "I am ashamed to admit this but.. Before my teacher trusted me with his secret, I was suspicious over his frequent visit to that particular village. He had no obvious business there and I let my sense of adventure get a hold on me."
There was a soft knock on the door. Wen Ning opens the door to reveal a sleepy Hweiru holding her pillow and blinking slowly. She looked around and when she found her target she moved without a second thought. The little girl landed on a surprised Wuxian's lap and leaned her head on his chest, instantly falling back to sleep after sighing contently: "Mama."
Wuxian looks at Wen Ning for an explanation. The man was supposed to watch over her while they're away. Wen Ning: "She had a nightmare and just zombie-walked all the way here by herself. I didn't want to startle her so I just followed."
Wuxian looks down at the sleeping girl. While keeping a good hold on the book, he strokes her back in comfort and pulls her close to keep her safe. She looked so innocent and peaceful while she slept.
Qingheng Jun mouth hung open: "Is that my granddaughter?"
Wuxian looks up at him and nods: "She's a Lan child that was orphaned recently and we adopted her."
Qingheng Jun stares at the evident love in Wangji's eyes as he looks tenderly at his soul-bond as he comforts the sleeping girl. Qingheng Jun never knew what this feeling was like. His marriage and fatherhood was muddled with guilt and self isolation. His unrequited love was never reciprocated. He knew what love was.. he didn't know what being loved felt like.
For a second, the older man forgot that he was no longer in the land of the living. He reached with his hand to stroke the girl's hair but stopped when his hand felt nothing. He wishes for nothing else but to share these moments with his children but fate had other plans. He has sinned and this is probably his punishment.
Wuxian saw the sadness in his eyes and said: "Father-in-bond, I'm not feeling well at the moment but when I'm cured I will summon you again to reunite you with your sons."
Qingheng Jun smiles at him: "I am grateful to have the privilege to meet you and your child."
Wuxian smiles widely at him: "We have another one too!" He started babbling about Sizhui and Hweiru. Qingheng Jun watched the man before him, wondering if Wuxian knew how beautiful he looked when he's radiating with happiness. The older man turned to look at his youngest son. Wangji was smitten.
When Wuxian ran out of breath, Zewu Jun chuckled: "A father for just a few days and you can't stop showing off your children?"
Wuxian glares at him: "My babies are perfect! I don't need to show them off, they do that by just breathing!"
Zewu Jun puts his hands up in a sarcastic defense: "Can we get back on track? What did father say about Lan Jinhai?"
Qingheng Jun: "I followed my teacher one day into the village and saw him with the widow. I didn't know that her husband was deceased and thought that they were having an affair until a young boy ran up to my teacher and called him 'father'."
After Wuxian relates that part of the story, Wangji asks: "Can you describe the boy? Anything that can help us recognize him."
Qingheng Jun thinks for a few seconds then says: "I'm not sure.. nothing in particular stood out to me at that time. He was a normal looking boy."
Wuxian's shoulders sag in disappointment: "We need proof that he's a Lan Clan member other than my visions."
Qingheng Jun: "I'm not sure if it's significant.. but my teacher's sword went missing after he died."
Wuxian frowns: "You think the Slayer has it?"
Qingheng Jun: "It wasn't a first-class weapon that's worth stealing. Whoever took it had sentimental attachment to it."
Zewu Jun smiles: "We find the sword, we confirm the illegitimate son."
.