.
Wuxian fell asleep the moment they entered their room. Wangji had to wash up and leave for his duties so he called for Sizhui to watch over Wuxian and make sure he's awake to meet the clan leaders for afternoon tea. Sizhui looked at his surrogate father while he slept and took his pulse to make sure he was sleeping peacefully: 'His pulse is still weak. His hands are still cold and he's still underweight. Father, what is wrong with you? How can I fix this?'
Wuxian fought Sizhui since he woke up, whining that he wanted to sleep more. Sizhui pushed him as instructed and made sure he was at the main hall for afternoon tea. Wuxian didn't feel so great but didn't want to disappoint his father so he kept a smile on his face, listened and commented when necessary and drank the offered tea. Wen Ning, who was sitting behind Wuxian, noticed his hand shaking, he got closer and whispered to Wuxian: "Master Wei, do you want us to leave?" Wuxian shook his head: "We have to stay. These clan leaders came all the way to see us and since Wangji is busy with Clan duty, it's my job to entertain them."
Wen Ning frowned: "Your hand is shaking."
Wuxian smiles at him: "I can endure."
Qiren and Zewu Jun were busy speaking with other clan leaders while Wuxian stuck to staying seated and pretending to enjoy his tea. Jiang Cheng crawled his way to sitting beside his brother with a groan: "We're never drinking like this again. I feel like my insides are being cooked with fire and my head is about to split open." Wuxian smirks at him: "You're getting soft in your old age." Cheng glares at him: "I'm younger than you!" Wuxian huffs: "You act like an old granny. I highly doubt anyone would believe that I'm older."
Cheng lets out a chuckle: "At least I showed up. Nie is probably still out looking for his shoes."
They both laugh until Wuxian goes into a coughing fit. Cheng pats his back until he stops then asks him: "Are you alright?" Wuxian nods and accepts the cup of water Wen Ning hands him.
Cheng smiles at him: "We're both aging nicely."
Wuxian elbows him with a playful smile.
Zewu Jun was speaking to Leader Ouyang when he heard Wuxian cough. He turns to check on him and doesn't like what he sees. He excuses himself and takes Jiang Cheng's place next to Wuxian when he gets up to mingle with the other leaders. He takes Wuxian's shaking hand in his and asks: "Brother Wei, why don't you retire early?" Wuxian shakes his head: " I don't want to be disrespectful." Zewu Jun pats the hand in his: "I will make an excuse on your behalf. You should go rest for now." Wuxian lets out a forced laugh: "I.. I don't think.. I can get up."
Zewu Jun was getting really worried. He shared a look with Wen Ning before getting up and whispering something to Jingyi and Sizhui who were standing nearby. They both nod and walk further away, grabbing Zizhen and Jin Ling on the way. Zewu Jun kneels near Wuxian and grabs his arm: "Brother Wei, I will help you up in a minute. Be ready." Wuxian looks confused until he hears a commotion on the other side of the hall. The teen disciples are bickering again and attracting attention. The moment people turned around, Zewu Jun and Wen Ning helped Wuxian up and out of the hall unnoticed.
They were not able to reach the Quiet Room before Wuxian faints.
Wangji was sitting in the Underworld Room, supervising a spirit cleansing ritual performed by young disciples when he felt an overwhelming coldness. He was confused as to why this feeling felt so foreign. So he ignored it for the sake of the ritual he's overseeing. A knock on the door drew his attention. A disciple snuck in to whisper into his ear: "Your Excellency, Treasure Wei has fallen ill again. He passed out while Zewu Jun was escorting him back from the afternoon tea meeting."
Wangji's heart skipped and questioned the messenger: "Where is he now?"
Disciple: "The Quiet Room."
Wangji: "Xichen is with him?"
Disciple nods so Wangji dismisses him and returns his attention to the ritual at hand.
Never in his life has he felt like he hated being a clan leader than at this moment. His heart and soul were with his bondmate but his duties are keeping him away.
The moment the ritual was complete, he was out the door. Walking hastily towards his room to make sure Wuxian is getting treatment. He enters the room and finds him shivering on the bed, surrounded by Zewu Jun and Wen Ning. Zewu Jun was trying to pass some of his spiritual energy and Wen Ning was rubbing his cold hands to warm them up.
Wuxian was still unconscious and seemed to have trouble taking a deep breath. When Wangji approached the bed, the other men stepped aside to give him space.
Wangji: "Have you summoned the healer?"
Zewu Jun: "He still cannot figure out the reason behind the consistent health problems. He went to prepare potions and incense that should help with the symptoms."
Wen Ning: "I think Grandmaster Qiren is trying to find someone to help cure Master Wei. I was asked to watch over him until he's successful."
Wuxian stirs and his eyes open, he looks confused for a second until he sees the concerned face of Wangji: "Slacking off again?"
Wangji holds his cold hand and rubs it like Wen Ning was doing: "You passed out."
Wuxian pouts: "If you leave your duties every time I pass out, the clan won't have a leader."
Wangji smiles: "I'm your soul-bond THEN their leader."
Wuxian sighs, which was a mistake since it triggered a coughing fit. He was helped up and patted until it passed. He slummed, leaning on Wangji: "Why do I feel so tired? I haven't done anything all day."
Zewu Jun: "The healer will be here shortly with potions to help you recover."
He looks at Wangji: "Brother, rest assured that Wen Ning and I will not leave his side. You should go see to your duties."
Wangji nods, kisses Wuxian's cold cheek and lays him back down before he reluctantly leaves. Zewu Jun made sure that Wuxian drank the potions and went back to sleep. He was sitting next to the resting man, playing the song of clarity, when the grandmaster walked in. Qiren looked troubled and a little bit angry but didn't say anything. He sat next to Wuxian and held his hand until Zewu Jun finished playing and sat next to him. He glared at his nephew: "Why wasn't I informed?"
Zewu Jun: "Uncle, calm down. I meant no disrespect. You had to entertain our guests and I had this under control."
Qiren sighs: "This cannot keep on happening. I will head out soon in search of a master healer."
Zewu Jun nodded his agreement and they sat in silence, watching over the ill man.
Qiren asked Zewu Jun to see to the clan leaders' departure on his behalf while he stayed. Wuxian opened his heavy eyes to see Qiren meditating near him. A few tears of frustration made their way down his cheeks. His hitched breath brought Qiren out of his trance to see a silently crying Wuxian. He rushed over to check on him: "Son, are you in pain? Why are you crying?"
Wuxian shake his head and whispers tiredly: "I feel so incompetent. I can't even entertain a bunch of people without looking weak. I'm so sorry."
Qiren wipes his tears and smiles at him: "This is not permanent. I will find a cure for you and once you're healthy again, all of this will be in the past. Please try to endure it."
Wuxian sniffs and looks around: "It's night time already?"
Qiren: "Yes, the leaders left. They asked me to convey their respect and hope to see you soon."
Wuxian: "Do they know that I am ill?"
Qiren laughs and says: "No. Zewu Jun told them that you rushed to help a disciple who touched one of your unpredictable experiments and ended up with blue skin. He said it was contagious so you were in isolation until the spell wears off."
Wuxian chuckles softly: "That's what happens when honest people lie. They come up with the most ridiculous things."
After a few deep breaths, Wuxian looks hopefully at Qiren: "Father, Zewu Jun said that you knew my mother. I lost her when I was four but cannot remember her at all. Can you tell me about her?"
Qiren smiles warmly and starts telling him stories about how wild his mother used to be: "You remind me of her. She was caring, justful and hard to predict. Just like you, she came up with the most bizzare ways to solve problems. One time ..." Qiren kept telling stories until he noticed that Wuxian had fallen asleep with a smile on his face: "Rest well my son. The next time we meet, I will hand you your salvation."
Qiren took off the next morning with a group of disciples. He had a list of master healers he was planning to visit and hopefully one of them will be the one to cure his son.
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