.
Wuxian didn't expect things to change so drastically after Yuxio's confession. It seems like Zewu Jun and his soul-bond took her accusations to heart and their promises to him were not empty gestures. Keeper Daozi cornered Wuxian early in the morning, dragging a few disciples who are carrying different fabrics and pattern designs. Apparently, Wangji ordered the keeper to redo Wuxian's outfits based on what he wanted. Daozi actually had to go to Gusu City to find colors that might appeal to the Oracle.
Wuxian's mouth hung open as Daozi overwhelmed him with options. Lan Ran, who was sitting with him when this was all dumped on him, tried her best to hide her laughter over how confused Wuxian was. She said: "Just pick what you like. His Excellency wouldn't ask Keeper Daozi if it wasn't allowed."
Wuxian felt uncomfortable: "What if father sees it and disapproves? I'm the Clan Treasure. Keeper Daozi has been dressing me up like a festival tree since I accepted that title. We can't just change it up on a whim!"
Keeper Daozi got the gist of Wuxain's situation from Zewu Jun. Once it was pointed out to him, he saw the subtle hints of Wuxian's deep depression. The Treasure of their clan is an amazing man. He of all people deserves to be happy.
Daozi pats Wuxian's shoulder: "If it makes you feel more comfortable, you can tell Grandmaster Qiren that I chose the new clothes for you. He wouldn't dare complain to me."
Wuxian shakes his head: "You're a good man. You don't deserve to be punished."
Daozi laughed hard: "He won't punish me! I run this place. I manage the food, the clothes and keep the grounds. Unless he wants to eat plain rice, wear torn up clothes and live in a dusty room, he will accept what I make for you."
Wuxian chuckles at the man: "Blackmail! I like it."
Wuxian didn't exaggerate with his choices. He kept at least one white element in most of the new clothes, but chose to have lighter, more comfortable form-fitting attire instead of the flowy and flashy ones he's been forced to wear. He hated being shown off like a fair maiden every time someone visits. He also had his red hair ribbon back. Daozi braided it into his hair while keeping the white jade ornament on his head. For the first time in a while, Wuxian looked at himself in the mirror and saw glimpses of his old self.
Daozi made his way out after he promised to have his new clothes ready soon. Lan Ran smiled at Wuxian as he continued to play gently with the red ribbon in his long hair: "Does it mean that much to you?"
Wuxian: "When I was adopted by the former Jiang Clan Leader, his wife got angry when Shijie dressed me in Jiang Clan colored robes. She said that sons of servants should know their place and dress according to their status."
Ran frowned: "That's awful."
Wuxian chuckled: "I picked red and black robes to stand out and it made her so angry. It was the first thing I ever did to stand up for myself and that feeling.. The feeling of control made me happy."
Ran: "So it's a reminder."
Wuxian nods: "Yes, a reminder that I am still in control. After all these years.. it still makes me happy."
The moment was broken when his students walked into the Treasure room, looking somber. He sighs loudly and says: "Let me guess.. None of you found the last stone?"
They all nodded. Wuxian stood up and picked it up from a book shelf: "I'm not sure if I should be disappointed at your incompetence or my failure as a teacher."
Jingyi points his finger accusingly at Wuxian: "YOU SAID IT WASN'T IN YOUR ROOM!"
Wuxian screams back: "SURPRISE! I lied. People lie all the time! It was on display in front of you the whole time. You ran around like headless goats when all you had to do was pay attention! For over a week, it's been sitting there..YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME HERE!"
Sizhui wrung his hands nervously: "Sorry, Treasure Wei. We will do better next time."
Wuxian glares at him: "You can't sweet talk yourself out of this. You either get punished or find another teacher."
They all bowed, including Yuxio, and said: "Punish us!"
Wuxian smirks at them: "You will regret this.."
Wangji kept his promise to Wuxian. They went to Gusu City in the afternoon, accompanied by their daughter, Sizhui and Linao. Wuxian asked the young lady to accompany him to Gusu City and she was more than happy to join them. He cornered his son before they left and made sure that he had the tassel they prepared as a gift for his crush. Sizhui couldn't stop blushing and Wuxian had to pinch him to get him to settle.
The young couple walked ahead of them, enjoying a light conversation. Wuxian couldn't hide his joyous smile and leaned to whisper to his soul-bond: "They look good together, right?"
Wangji nods, clearly uninterested but trying to placate his soul-bond. Hweiru pulled on Wuxian's hand to get his attention: "Where are we going?"
Wuxian smiles down at his daughter: "We are going to have fun!"
Wuxian bought so many toys. Wangji knew that half of them were things his soul-bond wanted to play with and had nothing to do with their daughter. But the pure joy radiating from the smaller man as he went from one stall to the other, showing Hweiru how to play with different toys made his heart flutter with content. It was the first time he heard his daughter squeal and laugh so openly. Her serious personality and mature attitude makes them forget that she's still a baby. These rare moments of pure bliss should happen more often. He silently vowed to put more effort into asking his soul-bond what he needs if this is how happy it will make them.
Wuxian kept an eye on his son the whole time. Sizhui seemed nervous but the twinkle in Linao's eyes was promising. Wuxian helped Sizhui a while ago to place a spell he invented on the tassel he's giving Linao. It gives her the ability to know whenever she's around something in disguise; figuratively and literally. The tassel will chime to get her attention when she's in the presence of someone who's possessed, someone who's lying to her or if she entered an illusion. It was Wuxian's idea: 'She will know that your feelings are real when you confess and the tassel confirms it'. Sizhui had to do the spell since Wuxian had his spiritual energy sealed. It took a long time and countless failed attempts before they finally had it ready. It made the gift more worthy in his eyes.
When Linao nodded and tied the tassel to her sword, Wuxian can safely assume that she accepted his son's gift and confession. He pulled Sizhui to the side and smacked his back hard: "I'm so proud of you!" Sizhui rubbed his back and laughed awkwardly: "She liked the gift." Wuxian sighs happily: "You will make me beautiful grand babies.."
Sizhui starts to panic: "WHAT? She just agreed to receive my feelings! How does every conversation with you lead to marriage and kids?"
Wuxian pulls his son into a hug: "Because I can see the future. Now go and make my future daughter-in-law happy!" Sizhui couldn't scramble faster than he did.
Before they returned, Wuxian sent his daughter with Sizhui and Linao to Cloud Recesses and led the way to the shed he saw in his vision. He thought he would be nervous, but after an amazing day filled with laughter and love, he was only filled with determination.
They hid behind a tree, watching the shed for a few minutes. Wangji saw the look on his soul-bond's eyes and said: "Please don't provoke him."
Wuxian smirks: "I will try my best. Let's go!"
Wuxian calmly made his way to the door and knocked. Shenhua Kai answered them and he was clearly shocked: "Divine Oracle!"
He dropped to his knees and bowed. Wuxian ignored him and stepped around him into the shed. He saw the Slayer and some disciples sitting around. They all scrambled to bow, except the Slayer. He continues to sip his tea calmly at the table, not sparing Wuxian and Wangji more than a glimpse.
Wuxian sat in front of him and poured himself a cup. After a few minutes, Kai asks: "Divine Oracle, why are you here?"
Wuxian didn't even look at him, he said in a clear demanding voice: "If you're not a Lan Clan member, leave."
They all looked at each other in confusion. Wuxian slams his cup on the table: "I SAID LEAVE!"
They rushed to comply, leaving Wangji, Wuxian and the Slayer behind.
Jinhai smirks while swirling the tea in his cup: "That was clever."
Wuxian: "I don't need your validation, Lan Jinhai."
At the mention of his name, the Slayer's stoic facade was replaced with a hint of anger: "Don't call me that."
Wuxian: "That's your name."
Jinhai glares at Wuxian: "Call me: the Slayer."
Wuxian: "You can't fight your blood. It gave you life and you must embrace it."
Jinhai: "That's rich, coming from a clan-less orphan."
Wuxian chuckles: "True. But only a man with no roots understands the value of having one. Why do you run away from yours?"
Jinhai leans back, looking judgmentally at Wuxian: "What does the great Divine Oracle want from a man like me?"
Wuxian imitates Jinhai's posture: "The right question is: What does a man like the Slayer want with a man like me?"
Jinhai folds his arms, clearly unimpressed by Wuxian's mind games: "I don't need anything from you."
Wuxian raises an eyebrow: "That's not what I saw in the future."
Jinhai: "What did you see?"
Wuxian: "I saw a desperate man, willing to risk his own life, willing to burn down his home just to get his hands on me."
It was clear to Wuxian that Jinhai didn't have as much control on his emotions as the other Shenhua Clan members. He slams his hand on the table and screams: "Cloud Recesses is NOT my home!"
Wuxian: "Stop deflecting. Tell me what you want."
Jinhai groans loudly and says: "No one can give me what I want."
Wuxian looks back at Wangji, who was standing guard behind him and shares a knowing look. He turns to the sulking Slayer before him and says: "You have no idea what I can do. All you have to do is ask. I am known for making dreams come true."
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