.
Wuxian settled on the ground, with Yuxio's sword once again. Grandmaster Xian sits in front of him smiling: "Your health is improving. You look better."
Wuxian laughs: "According to your disciple's pervert stare, I look much better."
Yuxio, sitting near Wuxian, sighs in frustration: "Don't call me a pervert in front of my grandmaster! And it's not my fault. Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?"
Wuxian shook his head and her grandmaster sighs: "She is forever shameless. I don't know if her being our last warrior is a blessing or a curse."
Wuxian: "Hopefully, she'll find a man who'll accept her admiration, settle down with him and forget about this weird obsession she has with me."
She barks: "Never! I will have eyes only for you!"
Wuxian blushes and turns to glare at her: "Shut it! Let me concentrate on the last phase."
In the last few weeks since they started training, Yuxio has been looking forward to this day. It's the last phase that she needs to learn to complete the Phoenix cycle to become a full fledged warrior. Her clan's legacy will be preserved and she will once more fight in their honor.
She looks at Wuxian, who's sitting on the ground and listening to the spirit of her grandmaster, and cannot help but wonder how she could ever repay him. She feels someone staring and turns around to see Jin Ling, once again, gazing at Wuxian with sorrow filled eyes. She heard the rumors about his relationship with Wuxian and seeing him stare at him for the past few weeks was unsettling. Is his sorrow based on ill intentions or regret?
Wuxian gets up after a few hours and smiles at Xian: "This is the last phase, grandmaster Xian. I will teach it to her today using her sword so you can watch her progress."
Xian bows: "I am grateful for your blessings, Divine one."
He turns to Yuxio and throws an unsheathed Suibian at her: "Let's do this."
Cheng steps into the training ground to check up on the progress of his trainees. He sees all the disciples standing on the side, staring in wonder towards one side. Wuxian and Yuxio were going through the drills with fire lit swords. Cheng was stunned like the others. It was one of the most impressive and breathtaking scenes he's ever seen. Wuxian was leading with smooth and graceful moves and Yuxio was a few seconds behind showing power and edge. The contrast was complementary and Cheng felt honored to witness it. With one last mighty strike, they both unleashed a flaming Phoenix, flying into the air. It rises then fizzles into tiny bits of red energy dots floating down like sinking stars.
When they were done, Yuxio looked joyfully at a proud Wuxian. He extends his hand and says: "This is the first and last time you get to hold my hand. Enjoy it."
She grabs it without hesitation and her grandmaster appears: "Yuxio. You've grown."
She looks tearfully at him: "Grandmaster! It's been so long."
She bows to him and wipes her eyes then says: "Thank you for completing my training."
Xian looks at Wuxian: "He did most of the work. He's your grandmaster now."
Yuxio smiles at Wuxian: "I already expressed my admiration to him and I will continue to do so in the future."
Wuxian pouts at Xian: "Don't encourage her! She's already acting more like a stalker than a student!"
They both laugh then Xian looks seriously at Yuxio: "I have taught you the basics of our clan ways. Now it's up to you to develop your own fighting style befitting of a Phoenix warrior. I have no doubt you will make us proud."
Yuxio bows deeply and loudly declares: "Thank you grandmaster! I am grateful for your guidance."
Xian turns and bows to Wuxian: "Divine one, How may I repay your kindness as a spirit?"
Wuxian shakes his head: "No need for formalities, grandmaster Xian. I have learned alongside your disciple and that's enough for me. I do have one question."
Xian: "Name it."
Wuxian: "Why do you call me 'The Divine one'?"
Xian smiles warmly at him: "You are connected to the heavens and earth. You speak to the dead by will and allow them to continue their passing in peace. What else would I call you?"
Wuxian looks at his ring: "It's not my will. The ring gives me this power."
Xian shakes his head: "The ring does not create. It amplifies what already is. Why else would it show your name after you wore it?"
Wuxian looks confused. Xian chuckles and says: "The time will come when all will reveal itself to you. Have a little patience."
Wuxian smiles and bows, Yuxio follows him, then he hands over her sword back.
Wuxian turns to look at everyone in the training grounds. They're all staring at him in wonder: "What?"
Yuxio breaks the silence by kneeling: "Grandmaster Wei Wuxian, thank you for your blessings. On the behalf of all Phoenix warriors, we owe you a great debt."
Wuxian laughs awkwardly and waves dismissively: "Get up pervert. I'm hungry so let's go eat."
Cheng moves closer to his brother: "Stop calling my senior disciple a pervert."
Wuxian glares at him: "Have you seen the way she looks at me?"
Cheng turns to look at a confused Yuxio: "What's wrong with you?"
Yuxio takes deep breaths and moves around. Wuxian looks horrified: "Oh no.. No no no!"
He hides behind his brother when Yuxio starts smiling like an idiot: "I smell home."
Wuxian grabs the back of his brother's robes and sobs dramatically: "Dear heavens NO!"
Cheng elbows his brother gently: "Calm down! She won't do anything.."
Before Cheng could finish his sentence, Yuxio charges and yanks the unexpected Wuxian by the arm from behind Cheng and moves in to sniff him hard: "Why do you smell like my old village?"
Cheng smacks her hand away and yells: "I SAID NO SNIFFING!"
Yuxio pouts: "But it makes me feel good!"
Cheng: "It makes us all feel good! Just do it stealthily like the rest of us you pervert!"
Wuxian lets out an exaggerated cry: "Damn you Mother Tree! I don't think I can handle more people sniffing me like dogs!"
Cheng glares at him: "Don't be over dramatic." He grabs his arm and drags him out of the training ground: "Let's go eat." Yuxio followed, occasionally stepping behind Wuxian to sniff happily while Cheng kicked her shin when she gets too close. One more believer is always a good thing.
News about Wuxian started to spread like wildfire. His last display in the training grounds served as fuel especially when people found out that not only can he heal all ailments but he can also speak to the dead and share it with others. Cheng was not prepared for the amount of people who crowded the gates of Lotus Pier to be 'blessed by the Treasure of Gusu Lan'. Yelling and threatening didn't seem to work on them so he's down to blocking the gates with more disciples every day. Wuxian was slowly making progress with his health and Wangji informed Cheng that they will be leaving soon. He wasn't in a good mood because of the news of his brother's hasty departure so when Jin Ling asked to join him for dinner he violently declined.
Wuxian was on his way to have dinner with Wen Ning, Jingyi and Yuxio when he saw Jin Ling sulking outside his uncle's study. He moves closer and warmly asks: "Jin Ling, why do you look upset?"
Jin Ling turns to look at Wuxian and then at the group of people who seem to always travel with him: "It's none of your business."
Wuxian can feel his hostility was based on frustration rather than hate so he smiles: "Did Jiang Cheng refuse your audience again?"
Ling huffs and turns to leave. Wuxian grabs his arm: "Wait. I can help!"
Ling whispers: "How?"
Wuxian addresses the youth behind him: "Go have dinner without me. I'll join my brother this evening."
They all bowed and made their way to the dining hall while Wuxian nodded to his nephew to follow. He barged into his brother's study and happily made his way to sit next to him.
Cheng didn't even bother looking up but smiled while reading. Wuxian poked his cheek: "Aren't you going to greet your older brother? Your manners have suffered throughout the years."
Cheng smacks his hand away and says: "You just barged in unannounced. Don't lecture me about manners."
Wuxian pouts at him: "But I brought a gift." He points at a shy-looking Jin Ling, still standing near the door. Cheng sighs: "More like a headache."
Wuxian punches his arm: "Don't call our nephew a headache!"
Cheng rubs his arm: "He deserves it!"
Wuxian glares at his brother: "He's just a kid. Why are you treating him like your mother used to treat me?"
That sobered up Cheng into sitting up straight: "W.. what?"
Wuxian takes a deep breath and says seriously: "I didn't enjoy being bullied by her while I grew up. Unlike me, he doesn't have siblings to block the constant hostility. So stop it, please."
Cheng looks sadly at Wuxian then turns to nod to Ling so he may join them at the table.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Wuxian sighs: "One of you needs to talk soon or I will start threatening with bodily harm!"
Jin Ling yells: "I don't even know why he's mad at me! He never said why!"
Cheng points his finger at his nephew: "You ungrateful brat! I told you to apologize to Wuxian and build a relationship with him and instead you treat him with hostility!"
Jin Ling: "How is it your business how I treat him?"
Cheng: "Because I've raised your sorry excuse of a cultivator and if you're unwilling to listen to me then why should I bother being your uncle!"
Wuxian slams his hand on the table and shouts: "ENOUGH!"
They both clammed up and looked worriedly at him. He takes a deep calm breath then looks at Jin Ling: "What is your issue with me? Talk to me so we can get over whatever it is that's causing all this unnecessary conflict."
Jin Ling bites his lips then after a few seconds says: "I don't know.. I was raised to hate you, to cringe at the mention of your name. How can he expect me to be cordial to a man who I've believed killed my parents and broke my home?"
Wuxian looks sadly at him: "You still think I'm to blame?"
Ling looks down and doesn't answer.
Wuxian rubs his forehead in despair then extends his hand: "Give me your sword."
Ling looks offended: "What? No! That's my father's sword!"
Wuxian sighs in irritation: "I know. Give it to me!"
Ling looks at Cheng, who glares at him to comply, then reluctantly hands it over to Wuxian.
Wuxian grabs his brother's hand when Jin Zixuan appears and silently joins them at the table. Cheng smiles at him: "Brother-in-law, you are missed."
Zixuan bows his head to them both then turns to look at his son. Ling looks around, not sure who they're speaking to. Zixuan smiles mournfully: "I missed watching him grow up."
Wuxian: "He inherited your pride and his uncle's temperament. A deadly combination."
To everyone's surprise, Zixuan laughs hard and barks: "I knew he'd be a spirited one when he grabbed my sword as a baby."
He turns to Wuxian: "Thank you for allowing me to see him."
Wuxian whispers sadly: "I'm sorry you had to die so young."
Zixuan shakes his head: "My death had nothing to do with you. We were both pawns in someone else's sinister scheme."
Cheng huffs: "That's lightly put."
Zixuan turns to stare at his son: "Can I speak to him?"
Wuxian lets go of Cheng and extends his hand to Ling. Ling looks confused, so Wuxian smiles at him: "Trust me."
After a moment of hesitation, Ling grabs his hand and sees a man in gold, sitting next to them at the table. He was clearly a Jin Clan member from his clothes and red dot on his temple: "Who are you?"
Zixuan smiles: "I'm Jin Zixuan, your father."
Ling gasps and bows in respect. He was starting to shake from shock when his father went near him to place his hand on his shoulder: "You have grown well."
Ling swallows hard, looking at Wuxian in fear.
Wuxian: "Why are you freaking out? I can't keep this connection for long so if you have something to say make it quick."
Ling turns to his father: "I don't know how to avenge you."
Zixuan looks amused: "I've been avenged. All I ask is that you lead our clan in the future and restore our legacy."
Ling nods his head in determination then looks warily at Wuxian. Zixuan follows his gaze and says: "When I met your mother, I was jealous because no matter what I did she always seems to love him more than she could ever love anyone else, including me. But as our bond grew closer l realized that what she shares with him is nothing to be envious about. It's something precious and unique. Your mother and I died trying to protect him, so don't insult our sacrifice by aiming your anger at him."
Ling's eyes started to water at the mention of his mother. Zixuan wiped the few stray tears and smiled at him: "Make us proud."
Wuxian lets go of the sword and Zixuan disappears, leaving a sobbing Ling clutching his uncle's hand: "I'm sorry."
Wuxian sighs: "I didn't do this to hear your apology. I just want your mind to be at ease."
Ling nods and continues to sob: "Thank you."
Wuxian groans and looks at his brother: "Kids these days are so emotional."
Cheng smirks at him: "You're a grown man and cry more than he does."
Wuxian gasps: "Take it back!"
Cheng chuckles: "Doesn't matter. He already inherited your over emotional temperament."
Wuxian looks at his nephew who's still desperately gripping his hand and says: "I cannot in good conscience say that I'm not to blame for all the misfortune that happened to our family. But if you would allow me, I would love to be your uncle and help guide you like your mother did for me."
Jin Ling nods while wiping his tears and says again: "Thank you."
Wuxian smiles at him and looks at his brother: "Well.. Aren't you going to feed me?"
Cheng smirks at him: "Gusu Lan Clan sure knows how to spoil their Treasure. When was the last time you prepared your own meal?"
Ling shakes his head violently: "NO! I'll do it. The last time we ate his cooking, it was poisonous."
Wuxian laughs awkwardly when Ling jumps to get the food before anyone could protest: "It was a little bit spicy and none of them would let me forget it."
Cheng grabs his brother's hand: "Wei Ying, thank you."
Wuxian smiles happily and nods. The comforting silence that follows promises nothing less than a new beginning for their small family.
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