.
Zewu Jun doesn't like feeling like a coward.
It's been over a month since Wuxian had his spirit container fixed and he has healed enough to resume his duties.
Zewu Jun was looking at the list of people he's supposed to vet and let in Cloud Recesses for a healing session or a spiritual reading.
He felt guilty.
He has accepted a long time ago that humans are bound to make mistakes. He is no saint and with humanity comes flaws. He's finding out that one of his is the fear of losing trust in himself and in others.
He never had to work hard to receive Wuxian's faith in him. Watching it slip as he forcefully tries to help the smaller man planted a seed of doubt in Zewu Jun. Was he even worthy to be by the Divine Oracle's side?
Grandmaster Qiren took it upon himself to assign Zewu Jun out of convenience above all else. Heaven knows Zewu Jun has committed his share of mistakes and he has nowhere to atone for them. All those involved were dead and he was left with self pity and trepidation.
A soft knock on the door breaks his pessimistic chain of thoughts and he gives permission for the person to come in.
Wuxian steps into his room and bows before sitting in front of Zewu Jun.
He seems nervous, so Zewu Jun offers him a cup of tea and waits for the smaller man to speak first. Wuxian takes a deep breath and says: "Brother, if you have the choice to do anything you want, what would you do?"
Zewu Jun was surprised by that question: "I like where I am. I love what I do."
Wuxian looks sadly at him: "Why does it feel like you're suffering?"
Zewu Jun purses his lips, not sure how to explain his predicament to Wuxian.
Wuxian felt the silence suffocate him so he whispers: "Do you hate working with me?"
Zewu Jun's eyes widened: "NO! Brother Wei, why would you think that?"
Wuxian grabs his flute's tassel and plays with it to avoid looking Zewu Jun in the eye: "I know you did not choose to be my advisor. Father is blinded by his devotion to me that he sometimes doesn't see the full picture but I do."
Wuxian looks into Zewu Jun's eyes: "I have a better grasp on my blessing now. I sense what other people are feeling and I know for a fact that when you are near me.. all I feel are your struggles. I don't want to be the reason for your unhappiness, brother-in-bond. You don't deserve this kind of life."
Zewu Jun sighs: "I am struggling, Wei Ying. But it's not because of you."
Wuxian cuts him off: "You don't have to coddle me.."
Zewu Jun reaches over and grabs Wuxian's hand: "I'm not coddling you. I am struggling because I feel like I am failing you. I failed you with my inability to be patient. I failed you with my inability to protect you. I promised you clarity with my actions and I broke it under pressure. I'm sorry."
Wuxian looks into Zewu Jun's eyes, trying to sense his emotions: "You're scared. Why?"
Zewu Jun smiles sadly at him: "I failed the last two brothers I swore to protect. I don't want to lose you but I sense that my insecurities are driving a wedge between us. You are dear to me, Wei Ying. I don't want our connection to weaken because of me."
Wuxian puts his hand over the one grasping his: "Brotherhood is not something that can be easily swayed, Zewu Jun. Jiang Cheng pushed me towards death once.. yet I am still willing to sacrifice myself once more to see him happy."
Wuxian smiles sadly: "I don't give up on people easily. You are the wisest man I know. I will follow you to the depths of hell if you asked me too."
Zewu Jun felt his eyes water: "I'm sorry I pushed you into the last healing session. I will do better in the future to listen to your needs over my fears."
Wuxian smiles: "Does that mean you still want to be my consultant?"
Zewu Jun nods: "I wish for nothing else in the world than to be by your side, Brother Wei."
Wuxian rubs his nose and then pouts: "That's not a good enough apology, Zewu Jun. I demand compensation for your actions!"
Zewu Jun chuckles at Wuxian's sudden childish demeanor: "What do you want?"
Wuxian's face splits into a wide smile: "I want to plan your wedding!"
Zewu Jun: "That's not up to me to decide."
Wuxian leans back, feeling confident: "I already played my cards with Healer Shi. As long as you don't object, it's a done deal."
Zewu Jun pretends to think about it: "Is that all you need?"
Wuxian smirks and leans in to whisper: "I also want to see the talisman you used to listen in on all our secrets."
Zewu Jun couldn't hide his alarm, but tried to deny it anyways: "I don't know what you mean.."
Wuxian tsks: "You Lan Clansmen pretend you're all high and mighty until a drop of alcohol runs through your veins. You told us your secrets, Zewu Jun. We know that you placed talismans into the walls of Cloud Recesses when it was rebuilt to record all secrets. I want to see the scripts."
Zewu Jun leans in to whisper in urgency: "What else did I tell you?"
Wuxian smothers a laugh at how worried Zewu Jun looks: "A lot. You told us about the time you jumped over the fence to look fo.." Zewu Jun almost leaped over the table to cover Wuxian's mouth: "You can plan the wedding and have the script of truth talisman as long as you never speak of what I said that night.."
He leans in to glare at Wuxian then whisper: "Do we have a deal?"
Wuxian nods.
Zewu Jun sits back and fixes his robe as Wuxian snickers at him: "I think Jingyi figured out your secret, by the way. That boy knows things he shouldn't."
Zewu Jun glares at Wuxian: "I expect no less from your disciple."
Wuxian sighs loudly: "I wish I can take credit for that boy's weird talents but he doesn't listen to me."
Zewu Jun smiles at Wuxian: "All your disciples are like you when you were young."
Wuxian nods: "I can't deny that. Karma sure has a twisted sense of humor."
Zewu Jun watches his brother babble on about the past and can't help but be grateful.
Brotherhood truly runs deeper than blood.
Jinhai stares at the fluffy rabbit as it silently eats the grass he just places before it.
He hates this assignment.
He didn't fully understand Wuxian's motive in making him care for this weak creature if it meant so much to him. He was a slayer.. Not a bunny-sitter.
The rabbit senses his dark thought and abandons it's food to sniff his hand.
Jinhai sighs: "What?"
The rabbit stares at him.
He groans: "I just fed you! What else do you want from me?"
Wuxian enters the Quiet Room and tsks: "Don't yell at my bunny!"
Jinhai turns to glare at him: "I don't understand what it wants."
Wuxian sits next to Jinhai and pets the rabbit. Da Ziran glows and transforms into a rabbit and he chuckles: "It sensed your anxiety and wanted to comfort you."
Jinhai blinks at Wuxian: "I don't want its comfort."
Wuxian smiles at his stubborn student: "It's not about what you want, Jinhai. It's about what others are willing to share with you."
Jinhai groans: "Everyone wants something in return. I don't like owing people things."
Wuxian reaches over and gently smooths Jinhai's robes: "I don't want anything from you, yet I am willing to share my blessing and friendship. What does that make me?"
Jinhai felt his heart beat faster: "A fool."
Wuxian laughs: "I am a fool who has gained the favor of the Earth Deities and your loyalty. What does that make you?"
Jinhai slowly touches the hand adjusting his robes: "Desperate."
For the first time ever, Wuxian was not afraid.
He senses Jinhai's genuine confusion and loyalty.
His blessing truly shined after he gained his powers back.
This man wants to gain his favor too.
Wuxian whispers: "Desperate people have something to lose. If you're willing to admit that then there is still hope for you."
Jinhai lets go of Wuxian's hand: "Why are you here?"
Wuxian laughs awkwardly: "I haven't seen you in a week. I just wanted to make sure that my father hasn't killed you yet."
Jinhai laughs hard: "I dare him to try.."
Wuxian was about to say something but the world dimmed and the walls around him shifted..
"Wuxian found himself in an odd place. It felt like a cave but the sun somehow made its way in. Biming walks before him and he follows swiftly. They reach the end of the cave and Biming stand staring at the wall like it offended him somehow. After a few seconds, he takes out a talisman and places it on the wall and it shatters into tiny rocks, revealing another room. An old woman was sitting, sipping her tea like nothing happened. She says calmly: "Force is the answer to those who never listen." Biming circles her a few times then sits on the opposite side of the table: "Force is the method of the desperate, Shaman. You of all people should know, I have no patience for riddles and vague declarations." She looks up and Wuxian is taken back by her red eyes: "You do not seek answers, young Wraith. You seek redemption." Biming laughs: "I am past redemption. Tell me what I need to hear." The woman stares into Biming's featureless face and says: "Will you find happiness within these answers?" Biming shakes his head: "I lost faith in finding anything he doesn't want me to find." Wuxian found himself sitting between the two, frowning over how vague they were both being. The woman reaches under the table and places two pieces of paper before her: "This is your last chance to choose: salvation or freedom?" Biming looks grimly at the choices presented to him: "I was born without a choice. Raised without a choice. A killer without a choice. Faceless without a choice.." She pushes the two pieces of paper towards him: "The deities have spoken. This is your one and only choice." Biming puts his hand out, hovering over both papers before he settles for the one on the left. The woman says in a low voice: "The young Wraith choses salvation." Wuxian felt his heart beat fast when the woman turned to stare directly into his eyes: "It is now your choice, young Oracle: will you choose to sacrifice or to believe?""
Wuxian found himself in Jinhai's arms, looking into the oddly worried face of the man who never showed care for another before: "What the hell just happened?"
Wuxian sits up, still feeling his heart beat like crazy: "Vision."
Jinhai frowns: ".. of the future?"
Wuxian grimly looks at him: "No. I saw something that is happening now.. but somewhere else."
Jinhai stands, helping Wuxian up with him: ".. and?"
Wuxian stares at Jinhai, confused with his sudden interest: "The faceless man made his choice. We need to prepare to meet him soon."
.