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Lan Wangji knew that he shouldn't be as happy as he is feeling right now. The future Wuxian painted with his visions was grim but the moment he shared with his soul-bond while helping him bathe was the most satisfying. He couldn't fight the smile peeking from time to time. It's been a day since Wuxian has been confined to bed rest. Wangji woke up and went to work while his mate was still sleeping. By midday, Wangji returned to check on him. He found Wuxian still in bed sleeping, surrounded by books. Mianmain was sitting at the table in the room with him. She stood up to bow to Wangji.
Wangji asks her in a low voice: "Lady Lou, did my soul-bond eat lunch?"
Mianmian points at the untouched food on the table: "He fell asleep while reading and I didn't have the heart to wake him up. Healer Shi said that he still needs to stay in bed."
Wangji nods: "Where is my daughter?"
Mianmian smiles: "Master Wei sent her to Jiang Clan Leader. He said that he must take responsibility for giving her a dagger by teaching her how to use it."
Wangji bows slightly as a thank you and moves to sit next to his soul-bond on the bed. He watches Wuxian for a few minutes, letting loose his suppressed smile. His heart is so full. He never knew that happiness could make a man so content. He lowers his face to nuzzle his nose with Wuxian's and whisper: "Wei Ying."
He didn't get a response other than his mate's soft breathing. Wangji's smile widens and he tries again, nuzzling him more while whispering his name. Wuxian whispers back: "Hm?"
Wangji leans back to look at his soul-bond who didn't even bother to open his eyes: "Wei Ying, you need to eat."
Wuxian: "Tired."
Wangji cups Wuxian's cheek and leans in to breathe him in: "Zewu Jun and I are meeting Jin Clan Leader in a few minutes. Rest. We will handle it."
The plan was for Wuxian to join the meeting, but from his soul-bond lethargic response, he knew that that was not a choice. Wuxian sighs contentedly and rubs his cheek on Wangji's hand: "Ok."
Wangji looks at the books scattered around his bed. He picks up one of the marked ones and opens the page to see what his soul-bond exhausted himself while reading. The page was about talismans and how to nullify them with dark energy. Wangji frowns. These books are from the hidden library. How did his soul-bond get them here?
Something whispers into his ear: "Lan Wangji, may I accompany you?"
Wangji looks around, trying to figure out who spoke to him. Da Ziran slithers closer to him and looks directly at the taller man. Wangji's eyes widen. The snake rarely spoke to anyone other than Wuxian. He didn't question it and extended his hand to her. She crawled up his arm and wrapped around his body. He leans back over his sleeping soul-bond and plants a gentle kiss at the corner of Wuxian's lips, whispering: "I love you."
He brushes a few hairs back, gazing a few more seconds at his beautiful mate before leaving. Mianmian felt like a voyeur, watching how intimate and gentle Wangji was with Wuxian. She couldn't help it. These two were so sweet together and she found herself addicted to watching them. Her heart was filled with warmth for her friend: 'This love is beyond epic.'
Zewu Jun made sure that Jin Clan Leader was in a good mood before the meeting started. He offered him food, fine tea and shared interesting conversations until Wangji joined them. Zewu Jun was surprised to see the snake wrapped around his brother but hid it well, unlike Jin Clan Leader who visibly tensed when he saw it.
Zewu Jun started the conversation: "Jin Clan Leader, the Divine Oracle had a vision yesterday that pertains to a town in your sect."
Jin Ziyang frowns: "Why isn't he present to tell me about it?"
Wangji: "My soul-bond is busy with his duties. He will meet with you later."
Zewu Jun continues before Ziyang asks more questions: "The vision was not clear in terms of time and location. We were hoping you can help us figure that out."
Ziyang glares at Zewu Jun: "You blatantly refuse to share the Divine Oracle's blessings with us all and now you want my help?"
Wangji: "WE did not refuse you. My mate expressed his opinion and we respected his wishes. As should you."
Zewu Jun: "Jin Clan Leader, the Oracle has your people's safety in mind. It is related to the threat we talked about during the treaty negotiations."
Ziyang frowns: "The darkness that will swallow our sun and smother us in shadows?"
Both men nod. Zewu Jun: "A man will visit one of your towns and ask for something unattainable and when they fail to give it to him, he will kill everyone or destroy it."
Ziyang looks skeptical at them then sighs: "Who is this man?"
Zewu Jun shakes his head: "We don't know much about him. We call him the faceless man because he has no features. He steals others' faces to blend in."
Ziyang: "You're telling me that there is a man without a face, traveling the continent and destroying towns and we never heard of him before?"
Zewu Jun: "You probably did.." He goes into details, telling him about different towns and how Biming destroyed them all after being refused.
Ziyang looks shocked: "All these disasters were done by the same man? I find that hard to believe. They might be bad news but nothing about them seem connected."
Wangji was getting impatient: "You don't need to believe us. We only need your help in figuring out the time and place."
Ziyang scoffs: "If your Excellency thinks that you can waltz into my sect and create problems without my approval, you're sorely mistaken. We can save ourselves. Tell me the details and I will take care of it."
Zewu Jun shakes his head: "Only the Divine Oracle has the power to change fate."
Ziyang smirks: "Then maybe he should come stay with us until the matter is solved. We would be honored to have him in our sect."
Wangji tightens his hold on Bichen, slightly offended by the man's blindness to the situation.
Zewu Jun: "Jin Clan Leader, my brother is quite attached to his soul-bond. If he goes, then we all go."
Ziyang narrows his eyes: "Are you implying that we're not capable of serving and protecting the Divine Oracle as well as you do?"
Wangji was a few seconds away from slashing the man's throat.
Zewu Jun: "That's not the issue at hand, Jin Clan Leader. It is not our choice to make. Wei Wuxian made his wishes clear. If he goes, we must go with him."
Ziyang folds his arms, clearly starting to get angry: "Zewu Jun, not that I doubt your words. But I would like to hear this from him directly."
They all froze when Da Ziran slithered across the table to hiss and exposed her fangs at Ziyang. The man leans back, clearly startled by the snake. He screams at the men across the table: "Control this thing!"
Wangji shakes his head: "SHE is the Divine Oracle's spirit animal and a representation of the Earth Deities. No one can control Da Ziran but the Deities themselves."
The snake inches closer to the shaking man. The amount of energy emanating from her body was beyond normal. They can all sense it. Ziyang whimpers: "What does she want?"
Zewu Jun looks worriedly at the snake: "She is not happy."
Ziyang: "How.. How do we make her happy?"
Wangji: "She is very protective of my soul-bond, she even threatens me sometimes. Something you said must have triggered her."
Ziyang swallows hard and looks directly at Da Ziran: "I apologize if I offended you. All I want is what's best for my people. If the Oracle wishes to enter my sect to help us avoid a bad fate then I will be honored to welcome and assist him."
She slithers closer to the afraid man, pointing with her tail at the two men behind her. Ziyang shivers over her intense golden eyes and says: ".. The Oracle can bring anyone he wishes with him. I will welcome them all for his blessings."
She nods slowly and taps his hand with her head to show her approval. Ziyang hesitantly pets her head and she lets him. When he was done, she slowly returned to wrap around Wangji.
Zewu Jun: "As you can see, Jin Clan Leader. We do not control the Divine Oracle. We serve at his pleasure."
Ziyang, still shocked over what just happened, nods: "What do you need to know?"
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