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'Wuxian was back in his room. He saw the woman that haunted his feverish thoughts a while ago embracing his soul-bond. This time around, he couldn't help but choke up a little over how beautiful his daughter is going to be when she grows up. The frozen scene was interrupted by his future self: "You did it." Wuxian turned to look at the man: "Did what?" His future self started to fade slowly: "You changed the future." Wuxian moves closer to the fading man: "I stopped the darkness?" His future self shakes his head: "You stopped Shenhua Clan. I don't know how to stop the darkness. It's up to you to figure it out." Wuxian watches his future self fade as the man watches his daughter and soul-bond with longing. A single happy tear escaped the last remnant of the inked man and he whispered his last words: "They look so happy.. Thank you." Wuxian drinks in the scene before him, vowing to do everything in his power to see this future come true.'
Wuxian woke up feeling rested. He didn't remember falling asleep in the first place. He peered his eyes open to see Liwei pacing around his room while carrying his daughter. He was rocking the subdued girl, humming and rubbing her back as she rests her head on his shoulder. He's probably trying to get her to sleep, but it didn't seem like it's working because of the sniffs coming from the exhausted looking girl. Wuxian sits up and smiles at the man: "Give me my baby."
Liwei sighs loudly with relief and hands the girl to Wuxian. Hweiru immediately clings to him and rests her head on his shoulder, instantly giving in to sleep.
Liwei's mouth hung open: "How did you do that? I've been rocking her for almost an hour and she wouldn't fall asleep!"
Wuxian chuckles while rubbing his daughter's back: "My smell comforts her."
Liwei flops down, sitting next to Wuxian's bed: "It is true then. Mothers have special powers."
Wuxian glares at him then looks around: "Not that I don't appreciate your company, but where is everyone else?"
Liwei leans closer: "Busy."
Wuxian narrows his eyes: "With what?"
Liwei sighs: "Handling the shit show that your display created."
Wuxian: "The Slayer lost. How is that a 'shit show'?"
Liwei: "I'm not talking about the Slayer vs Wen Ning fight. I'm talking about the big elephant thingy."
Wuxian looks down at his snake that was slithering happily around his body: "Da Ziran?"
Liwei: "Yup."
Wuxian groans: "Why are you being difficult? Tell me what's happening in full sentences."
Liwei shrugs: "I'm not! I don't know what the old geezers are mad about. It seems like they just want a reason to argue. Lan Zhan and Zewu Jun have been stuck in the main hall for almost an hour trying to calm them down."
Wuxian sighs, moving the blankets aside and putting his feet on the ground. Liwei puts his hands up to stop the man from getting up: "Where are you going?"
Wuxian: "To placate the 'old geezers'."
Liwei shakes his head: "Lan Zhan will kill me if I let you out of bed! I have strict instructions: Protect Wei Ying. Make sure Wei Ying eats. Don't let Wei Ying leave the room."
Wuxian stares blankly at him: "You think you can stop me after seeing the.. 'Big elephant thingy'?"
Liwei thinks of it for a second then says: "At least eat first, so I have two out of three instructions done."
Wuxian sits back and sighs: "Fine!"
After eating in haste, Wuxian stood up and pointed to his coat: "Help me with that please."
Liwei frowns at the man still carrying his sleeping daughter: "We're taking the mini-you with us?"
Wuxian turns a little to show her death grip on his robes: "I dare you to try and pry her off of me."
Liwei laughs while helping Wuxian wrap his white coat around him, his daughter and the snake. Wuxian was glad that his hand was healed enough to carry his baby girl. He truly loved cuddling with her.
They reached the main hall and Wuxian stopped Liwei from opening the door. They stood outside listening to what the clan leaders were so loudly complaining about. Apparently, the display of power from Da Ziran and Wen Ning was overwhelming. Shenhua Clan were not happy that they lost. Jin Clan were being smug over Wuxian's visit which made the other clans angry. Some other clan leaders expressed their displeasure over the fact that Lan Clan has a living corpse and a divine spirit animal in their midst making the power scale shift in Lan Clan's favor. Overall, they all seem to be grasping at straws, panicking and making a fuss over things pertaining to Wuxian.
The smaller man sighs loudly and asks Liwei to open the door. His presence was not noticed by the noisy people in the room. Wuxian looked around and saw Zewu Jun folding his arms, clearly starting to give up over the unreasonable accusations being thrown around. Wangji had his eyes closed, rubbing his head like he was trying to erase the nonsense thrown around him. Wen Ning was clearly intimidated and half hiding behind Wangji's seat. Lan Ran was the only one responding with nods and 'we understand', trying her best to calm everyone down.
Wuxian bites his lips as Da Ziran glows, getting everyone's attention as she transforms into a big white polar bear. She stands on her hind feet to display her big size and growls loudly. The room was instantly covered in silence. Wangji snapped out of his subdued state and hastily made his way to Wuxian and wrapped his arms around him and his daughter, bringing their foreheads together: "Wei Ying, you should be resting."
Wuxian sighs: "After I clean this mess up."
Wangji nods and guides his soul-bond to the head of the room. Wuxian can see the other clan members visibly move to the side and lean away from Da Ziran. They were all clearly afraid of her. Wuxian sits next to Wangji with his daughter securely in his lap. Da Ziran sits next to him on the ground and her gaze travels across the room threateningly.
Wuxian speaks up: "Pray tell, what are you all squabbling about like children?"
Zewu Jun sighs: "I don't know at this point. They're making no sense to me."
Wuxian frowns over his brother's defeated voice. Clearly this meeting has depleted his patience. Wuxian started with Shenhua Qi: "Wen Ning clearly won. Your Slayer surrendered. What's the issue here?"
Shenhua Qi purses his lips: "Nothing. We admit defeat. We are not delusional. Your Guardian's power is.. unique and I don't think anyone alive can match him. We all witnessed it. He was so powerful that he almost killed you."
Wuxian rubs his daughter's back when she sighs in her sleep then says: "I almost killed myself. He was fighting to protect his title. I interfered to protect yours. Wen Ning is my soul-brother. If I die, he dies. I wouldn't think that a better drive exists than preserving one's own life."
Ouyang Clan leader spoke up: "With all due respect, Divine Oracle. Shenhua Clan leader is correct. We're just voicing our concern over how volatile his dark energy is. If he cannot control it properly, how is he supposed to protect you?"
Wuxian gently passes his sleeping daughter to Wangji. She stirs, opens her eyes and sees the taller man's smile and burrows close to him, falling back to sleep. Wuxian stood up and walked closer to the leaders, glaring at them all with his head held high: "You all seem to forget. I, Wei Wuxian, don't really need anyone's protection. I have more first-class weapons than any cultivator that ever existed. I have more energy in my hair alone than what most of you dream of harnessing in a lifetime."
He pets Da Ziren's soft fur as she walks next to him: ".. and I don't need to remind you of this magnificent creature's powers that you just witnessed."
Wuxian turns to stare blankly at Qi: "I don't have to prove anything to you. You should be thanking me for saving you from a fate worse than death."
The Slayer suddenly stands up and throws a knife at Wuxian. Da Ziran growls loudly, catching the knife a few inches away from Wuxian's face. The smaller man didn't even flinch, smirking as the bear growls loudly and breaks the blade with her teeth before throwing the remaining broken handle at the Slayer's feet. He folds his hands and says to Qi: "That's your proof." He nods to Wuxian and sits back down.
Wuxian turns around and extends his arms: "Anyone else would like to test my abilities?"
The clan leaders and their followers all bowed slightly, showing Wuxian respect.
Wuxian turns to Ziyang: "Jin Clan Leader, since the vision I saw happened to be in your sect, that doesn't mean that I favor you over the other clans."
Ziyang smiles: "I'm just overjoyed to have you in our domain. I will not apologize for receiving your blessings before the others."
Wuxian sighs loudly: "You are the only Clan that chased me out and ordered a manhunt to bring me down. The last time I was in your city, I was poisoned by one of your disciples. If lives were not at stake, I would never consider visiting your sect. EVER!"
Jin Clan Leader's smile dropped.
Wuxian turned to point at the rest: "I will say this for the last time. Lan Clan is my family. All they did since I was blessed is open their doors to you all and serve me while I help your people. We have been busy trying to save the world from total darkness while you bicker over power and dominance. GROW UP! What's the use of power if you have no one to lord it over. We have bigger things to worry about than waste time over your shallow demands."
Wuxian turns around, glaring at everyone present: "I may be a Lan Clan member, but I play by my own rules. What I choose to do with my powers is none of your damn business! If I hear one of you complain about anything related to me or my blessings, I will unleash holy hell on you and your followers! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?"
They all timidly nod. Wuxian huffs, grumbling under his breath. He takes his daughter from Wangji and makes his way out while glaring at everyone: 'Stupid children.. Stupid demands..'
Liwei smothers a laugh as he follows the agitated man back to his room. He whispers: "That was fun."
Wuxian turns to glare at him: "Don't you have a wife to entertain or something?"
Liwei winks at him: "She's busy with your husband."
Wuxian groans: "I pity Sister Ran. She deserves better than you."
Liwei gasps as Wuxian sits at the table and leans back to find a more comfortable position while supporting his sleeping girl: "I'm a wonderful person once you get to know me."
Wuxian chuckles: "'Wonderful' is not a word I would use to describe you."
Wangji enters the room and glares at Liwei. He puts his hands up: "I tried to stop him. He threatened me!"
Wuxian tsks: "You didn't even try."
Wangji sits next to his soul-bond at the table. He smooths a few stray hairs on Wuxian's head: "Do you feel better?"
Wuxian smiles tenderly: "I'm fine. The yelling was fun. Apparently, I like putting children in their place."
Liwei: "Apparently, we all like watching you do that."
Wangji glares at his friend: "Why are you still here?"
Liwei gasps: "You asked me to guard your precious mate! I fed him and clothed him. The only thing that should be coming out of your mouth is: Thank you Liwei. You're an amazing best friend."
Wangji says in a flat voice: "Thank you Liwei. You're an amazing best friend."
The Finder huffs at him and marches out, whispering under his breath: "Why do I even bother?"
Wangji smirks over his victory then kisses Wuxian's head: "Thank you."
Wuxian blushes a little: "One problem solved.. A million more to go."
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