.
Jiang Cheng was once again watching his brother sleep. Healer Shi was able to seal Wuxian's energy container and there was no permanent damage. Cheng couldn't help looking at his brother and tracing his finger over his lashes and face, fascinated over the fact that his brother looks totally different.. yet the same.
Wuxian's eyes flutter open and he sees Cheng smiling at him. He mumbles: ".. ssstill here?"
Cheng: "I was on my way out when Yuxio told me about what happened."
Wuxian closes his eyes and sighs: "Snitch."
Cheng chuckles: "That woman has no brain-to-mouth filter.."
They hear someone shout from the far corner of the room: "I can hear you!"
Cheng turns to glare at her: "NO TALKING!"
Wuxian opens his eyes to see why she sounds so far away and is surprised to find his daughter and Yuxio, standing near the opposite wall, holding their hands up: "What are they doing?"
Cheng huffs: "Time out."
Wuxian closes his eyes when a shiver runs through his body: "What did they do?"
Cheng tucks the blanket around his brother: "Apparently, your smart daughter started some kind of a war with your mouthy disciple.."
Hweiru: "Brother Jingyi!"
Cheng sighs: "Yeah.. Jingyi. Then your smart senior disciple thought it would be fun and joined in instead of stopping it."
Wuxian chuckles weakly, eyes still closed: "Do I want to know what they did?"
Cheng: "No."
Wuxian feels Cheng return to tracing his finger on his face and whispers: "What are you doing?"
Cheng: "Shush. It's my time now."
Wuxian debates whether he has the energy to argue or not: "mmk.."
They hear Yuxio whisper loudly: ".. and they call me the pervert."
Wuxian chuckles while Cheng throws his shoes at her: "HE'S MY BROTHER! I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT!"
Yuxio ducks to avoid the shoe and smirks: "I dare you to say that in front of Hanguang Jun."
They continued to argue while Wuxian weakly took out his hand from under the mountain of blankets to wave at his daughter. She smiles widely at him and waves back.
Wuxian cuts the arguing couple off: ".. sso loud."
They both stopped and Cheng asks worriedly when he sees Wuxian wince: "Are you in pain?"
Wuxian shakes his head slightly: "Just tired.. I feel like a mammoth stepped on me and squeezed all the energy out of my body."
Cheng: "Healer Shi said that you used up too much energy and will feel extreme weakness for a few days."
Wuxian closes his eyes again and whispers: "I want Lan Zhan."
Cheng pouts: "But it's my turn.."
Wuxian: "Lan Zhan.."
Cheng huffs and gets up to find Wuxian's soul-bond. Wuxian must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, Wangji was planting small kisses on his hand as he warms it up with his big ones. Wuxian smiles tiredly at him: "What did you see?"
Wangji smiles back: "Later. You must rest now."
Wuxian pulls Wangji's hands to nuzzle it with his cheek: "Play me a song."
He hears Cheng huff from a distance, clearly annoyed: "You called a busy man who's running a clan to play you music?"
Wuxian felt his heart fill with dread. Was he this inconsiderate? He got so used to Wangji spoiling him.. Was he being difficult?
He slowly let go of Wangji's hand and looked sadly at him: "I.. I didn't know you were busy."
Wangji turns to shoot Cheng a glare then leans in to whisper to Wuxian: "I am yours to command, my love. Your brother is just jealous because he doesn't know how to play any instruments."
Wuxian feels his anxiety wash away as he chuckles: "He is tone deaf."
Wangji walks towards the two being punished at the corner and says in a stern voice: "Go feed the rabbits, wash Apple and remove the snow from the Treasure Room's roof."
They both bowed and left to follow his orders while Cheng took his place next to Wuxian's bed. Wangji sat at his zither and played a calming tune.
Cheng fidgeted with Wuxian's hair as he returned to watching him rest: "I'm coming with you to Jin Sect."
Wuxian answers without opening his eyes: "No, you're not."
Cheng: "I am not asking."
Wuxian: "You have a sect to lead, slacker. Don't make me summon your father to set you straight."
Cheng sighs loudly then whispers: "You need help. From what I heard, last time you faced the faceless man was a disaster."
Wuxian opens his eyes to stare lovingly at Wangji as he continues to play music: "We will be fine."
Cheng: "More people means more power. Why are you refusing me?"
Wuxian looks sadly at his clearly anxious brother: "I love you brother, but you need to live your life. My blessings have dragged so many people down. I promised your parents that I would protect you. Not the other way around."
Cheng leans close to cup Wuxian's cheek: "I'm strong enough to protect the both of us. Let me.."
Wuxian takes a deep breath then says: "Not this time, brother. Go home."
Cheng frowns: "Promise me that you will send for me if you need anything? I may not know how to play music but I can pretty much do everything else."
Wuxian nods: "I promise."
Cheng gently grabs Wuxian's wrist and takes a deep breath from his comforting smell. He whispers to the now sleeping man: "It's so hard to leave when you smell like home."
Wuxian was able to sit up and stay awake by nightfall. Zewu Jun and Ran visited with him and gave him an update of what happened with Jinhai. They sat in silence afterwards as Wuxian drank his potions and thought of what to do with the Slayer.
Zewu Jun says: "It seems like my father did not know the whole story. My mother never told him why she fought Keung Jun and he assumed that she was guilty."
Wuxian: "The past is in the past. We need to figure out a way to find closure for Jinhai or he will continue to wreak havoc on the innocent after he leaves Cloud Recesses. I have felt his anger and frustration. It's not something I would wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy."
Lan Ran: "How do we offer closure to someone who is so emotionally consumed?"
Wuxian looks at Zewu Jun: "Do you still have Keung Jun's sword?"
Zewu Jun nods: "Uncle kept it after the meeting. He said that if the Slayer has to stay in Cloud Recesses, then he would not carry any weapons."
Wuxian: "Please bring it to me."
He turns to Ran: "Bring me food, snacks and honey tea. From what I saw earlier, Keung Jun is a sociopath and I need to approach him with care."
A few days have passed and Wuxian has recovered slowly. He tires easily, so when Grandmaster Qiren suggested the carriage for transportation, Wuxian did not argue with him. The trip was arranged. Wangji, Zewu Jun, Yuxio, Mianmian, Healer Shi, Liwei, Wen Ning, Wuxian's disciples and Jin Clan leader and his party will travel with him back to Jin sect. Wuxian asked Hweiru to stay back with Qiren and she pursed her lips but did not argue with him.
The Slayer was asked to join them and he had no other choice but to comply. When the Divine Oracle gives you an order, you listen.
Grandmaster Qiren hugged his son fiercely in front of Cloud Recesses's gates and whispered to him: "Return to us safely this time."
Wuxian smiles while patting his father's back: "I will try my best."
.