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Zewu Jun was overjoyed to be the one planning his brother's Bonding Ceremony. With the misfortunate turn of events that happened with his sworn brothers, he's glad that this task will take his mind off of all that's happened. He was pleasantly shocked to see how hands-on his uncle was into making sure that the ceremony was well planned with no spared expense.
While sitting with his uncle he remembered: "Uncle, something odd happened a few nights ago after the banquet. Wuxian claimed to have met my mother in the Silent Room while he was drunk. He was able to describe her accurately and relay stories from our childhood that only Wangji and I know. Wen Ning said that the ring glowed when he touched our mother's flowers before this happened. Can you explain it?"
Qiren looked calm and smiled at his nephew: "The ring Wuxian wears is my mother's guqin. It's not unusual for him to communicate with spirits while wearing it."
Zewu Jun looked confused so Qiren elaborated: "Enquiry. Just like we play the chords to summon and communicate with spirits of the dead, he can do that if he wishes because of the ring."
Zewu Jun frowned: "But he saw her. We only communicate by chords."
Qiren laughs: "That boy is special. I'm not surprised that he would surpass our conventional methods.. even while drunk."
Zewu Jun smiles and nods with agreement: "Does that mean he will be able to perform all our signature techniques that pertain to the guqin?"
Qiren shrugs: "Only time will tell. All we can do is keep an eye on him and guide him through it."
A week before the Bonding Ceremony, Wangji was awakened in the middle of the night by a shivering Wuxian. The smaller man was unnaturally cold to the touch, so Wangji tried to wake him to see if he was in pain: "Wei Ying, what's wrong? Are you ill?"
Wuxian looked at him in confusion and when he tried to sit up, his movements were lethargic: "I.. I don't feel so good."
Wangji got an extra cover to wrap the shivering man and went to fetch the healer. After examining Wuxian, the healer said: "I cannot determine the cause but I can treat the symptoms. I will prepare a hot potion that you can drink now with a warm meal and hopefully that should help return your strength. Do not leave the bed for the next three days and eat two extra meals a day because you're still underweight."
Wangji stayed up all night watching over a shivering Wuxian. Wen Ning and Sizhui took over the vigil while he went to do his duties. Wuxian kept complaining that he was fine and was about to leave the room when the Grandmaster blocked the door: "You better not be planning to escape!"
Wuxian smiled awkwardly then went back in and patted the bed, pretended to soothing the covers: "Nope. Just stretching my legs. No escaping."
Qiren glared at Wen Ning and Sizhui who were diverting their gaze so as not to expose Wuxian's obvious lie: "Sit down before I whip you!"
Wuxian bit his lips and sat on the bed in fear. Qiren sat next to him and took his cold hand: "You're still cold. Sizhui, can you please prepare a pot of hot tea?" Sizhui nods and goes to get the herbs. Qiren: "Master Wen, can you go ask the healer for incense that will help in calming the mind." Wen Ning bows and leaves to follow his instructions. Qiren brings the covers on the bed and wraps them tightly around Wuxian's shoulders: "You need to get better before the clan leaders show up. We can't have others think that we can't take care of our own."
Wuxian slumps and whines: "But I'm bored. All I'm allowed to do is sleep and I'm not tired enough to do that."
Qiren smiles and takes out a book from his robes: "This is a book that I found in the library that should keep you busy." Wuxian looks unamused but took the book and read the topic: 'Locks: A collection of Bonding Spells and Talismans'.
Wuxian was intrigued. He was so engrossed in reading that by the time night came, he looked up to see a smiling Wangji staring at him: "What?"
Wangji: "Thank you for following the healer's instructions today."
Wuxian looks around in confusion and laughs: "I did?"
Wangji smiles: "Sizhui said that you ate well and never left the bed."
Wuxian looks at the book in his lap: "I guess I did. That sneaky old man has skills."
Three days later, Wuxian recovered enough to leave bed and go out of the Quiet Room. He was sitting with the bunnies feeding them carrots when he heard someone rushing over with a shout: "WEI WUXIAN!" He didn't have a chance to react before he was yanked up and crushed in a warm embrace: "I missed you!" Wuxian patted his brother's back and smiled: "You're here early."
Jiang Cheng huffs and refuses to let go: "I wanted to see you before the others demanded your attention." And as an afterthought: "I brought the stupid brat with me to make amends too."
Wuxian pushed his brother: "What stupid brat?"
Cheng points behind him at a pouting Jin Ling who's kicking the bushes while sulking.
Wuxian punches his brother's shoulder: "Don't call our nephew a stupid brat! It's not his fault that he inherited your temperament."
Jiang Cheng frowned but chose to ignore the jab. He settled back into hugging Wuxian and breathing him in. Wuxian rolled his eyes: "You know Lan Zhan will slice both our throats if he sees you clinging to me like a child." Cheng huffs in irritation: "I'm not scared of him! You're my brother. I've known you longer than he has. I can do whatever I want. I win."
Wuxian pats his back and laughs: "Win what?"
Cheng just squeezes harder: "I don't know.. but I win."
Wuxian gestures to Jin Ling to come closer: "Come.. take your uncle off me!"
Jin Ling tries to grab his uncle's arm but Cheng threatens him: "Try it and I will break your legs."
Ling swallows and shakes his head at Wuxian, who rolls his eyes at the constant empty threat.
A few minutes pass by before he shows an evil smile and says: "If you don't let go.. I will tell Jin Ling about the time you tried to flirt with the tea house host in east Yunmeng.."
Before he was able to finish his sentence, Cheng pushes himself away and gasps: "Don't you DARE! We agreed never to speak of this! EVER!"
Wuxian dusts his robes and grins at his brother before he reaches out and pats his shoulder: "Have you been well? How is Jiang Clan faring?"
Cheng smiles: "We're alright. I've been busy training new disciples and making sure that that thing doesn't get into more trouble." Pointing at Ling who's sulking again.
Wuxian gets closer to Ling who won't look him in the eye: "Are you still mad at me?"
Jin Ling looks up in surprise and yells: "NO!"
He coughs then says in a low voice: "I'm just.. I don't know.."
Wuxian looks at his nervous nephew and sighs: "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
Ling bites his lips and looks at Cheng for help. Cheng glares at him: "HE has something important to say!"
Wuxian stops Cheng: "Don't force him! He doesn't have to do or say anything if he doesn't have the right intentions."
Wuxian sits down, followed by the other two men.
He picks up one of the bunnies and smiles sadly: "Do you remember the last time we sat here and played with these bunnies. Shijie wouldn't let me take a few back with me home."
He closes his eyes in sorrow and says: "I feel like I've failed her. I wasn't able to keep any of the promises I made to her. I'm the worst brother in the world and I don't expect Jin Ling to acknowledge me as an uncle so don't force him."
Cheng grabs Wuxian's hand and shakes his head: "I don't care about promises. She loved you more than anything else. She died protecting you and that should be enough proof for her forgiveness." He looks at Wuxian's hand and frowns: "Why is your hand so cold?"
Wuxian laughs awkwardly and slowly removes Chang's hand from his: ".. because the weather is cold?"
Cheng glares at him: "It's summer. The sun is at its highest. Cold is not a word you can use to describe anything today." He leans closer and continues to glare at Wuxian: "Why are you pale? ARE YOU SICK AGAIN?"
Wuxian rubs the back of his neck awkwardly and gets up to walk towards the main hall: "I'm hungry. You must be hungry too. Let's go eat."
Cheng follows in anger: "Don't change the subject! Come back here!"
Ling groans and follows his silly uncles at a slower pace.
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