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Wei Wuxian never considered himself unlucky. For a man who has fallen many times he was never ungrateful. He believes that everything that happens in life must balance itself out. This odd illness he's suffering from never really made him feel wronged. He still believes that whatever this is, he somehow deserved it. Many have suffered and died with his name being cursed while it happened. He was fooled but he was never the victim.
He woke up this morning and had the chance to take a good look at himself in the mirror for the first time since the Earth Deity changed his appearance. This soft golden hair.. His mesmerizing eyes.. His glowing pale skin. How could these delicate features be useful to anyone? He looks at Zewu Jun through the mirror and grunts in irritation when he sees how happy he looks brushing his hair: "Brother.. Is it something that runs in your family? Do all Lan Clansmen have a hair fetish or something?"
Zewu Jun laughs: "Not that I'm aware of."
Wuxian rolls his eyes: "I can brush my own hair! Why do you all insist on spoiling me?"
Zewu Jun: "Not spoiling you. I've never seen such soft and glamorous hair before so I was curious. Besides, I promised Wangji to take care of you."
Wuxian sighs loudly when Zewu Jun goes extra with the hair styling: "I never thought I would envy Nie for his short hair."
Once they are done eating breakfast, Zewu Jun turns to smile at Wuxian: "Are you ready?"
Wuxian looks excitedly at him: "I was born ready!"
Zewu Jun led the way and as they walked Lan Clan members and disciples would stop and either kneel or bow deeply to Wuxian. Wuxian goes closer to Zewu Jun to whisper: "Did I miss something? Why are people being extra respectful towards me?"
Zewu Jun wraps his arm around his shoulder as they continue to walk: "Word has spread about your new title, Divine Oracle."
Wuxain turns to stare at Zewu Jun: "We don't even know what that means. Why should it change my status?"
Zewu Jun: "You've been blessed by a Deity. That makes you different even if we still don't know how."
Wuxian rubs his nose in thought and is about to say something when Zewu Jun stops in front of a huge mansion-like house: "Treasure of Gusu Lan Clan, this is yours."
Wuxian's mouth fell open: "Woah! This is too big!"
Zewu Jun: "We expect big things from you."
Wuxian laughs awkwardly and whispers to himself: "No pressure.."
Zewu Jun guides Wuxian into what seems like a main hall area where they see Keeper Daozi ordering young disciples into finishing the final touches. He sees them coming and kneels to Wuxian: "Divine Oracle, I am pleased to see you're feeling well."
Wuxian grabs his arms and helps him up: "Don't be so formal with me Keeper Daozi. I should be the one bowing to you."
Keeper Daozi claps his hands in excitement and ushers them around for a tour. The place consists of 6 divided areas: The main hall, a small library, a sitting area for eating and entertaining guests, a work area for experiments and a vast underground space for dealing with spirits and spells. Keeper Daozi turned to address Wuxian: "The main structure of the place is done. We thought you might want the last say over the decorations and arrangement of furniture." He takes out large pieces of paper with layout schemes and they spent most of the day working out the details. Wuxian: "Keeper Daozi, what's this big area at the back?"
Keeper Daozi: "His Excellency asked us to keep it clear."
Wuxian: "Why?" Daozi: "He didn't specify."
Wuxian frowned in confusion and then shrugged: 'I'll ask Wangji when he returns.'
By the time the sun sets, everything was planned and Keeper Daozi promised the place will be done and ready by the end of the week. Wuxian was buzzing with ideas and things he wanted to create. Zewu Jun forced him to sit through a meditation session and then sat with him to make sure he drank all the prescribed potions.
Wuxian sighs in annoyance: "Don't you have anything better to do than to stick to me all day?"
Zewu Jun smiles at him: "With Wangji around, I wouldn't dare monopolize your time like this. Let me enjoy your company while I still can."
Wuxian glared at him: "Don't patronize me! I know you're doing this out of fear. You're his older brother!"
Zewu Jun laughs: "I really do enjoy your company. There is never a dull moment with you."
Wuxian tsks then after drinking all the bitter stuff prescribed by the healer, he looks seriously at Zewu Jun: "How come you never got married? Don't you have someone you fancy?"
Zewu Jun looks sadly at him: "I thought the relationship I had with my sworn brother was enough to sustain me for a lifetime.."
Wuxian reached over and grabbed his hand in comfort: "You can't possibly think that a few setbacks is the end. You're an amazing person, Zewu Jun. Open your heart for new relationships and let bygones be bygones."
Zewu Jun: "I haven't given up. I'm just waiting for the right person.. I think."
He grabs the hand comforting him and brings it close to sniff his wrist. He whispers: "Smells like family."
Wuxian laughs at him: "We are family."
Zewu Jun lets go: "Indeed."
Wuxian looks down then hesitantly says: "If I share something I've kept secret with you.. Will you help me figure it out before we tell Lan Zhan?"
Zewu Jun: "Why don't you want to share it with your soul-bond?"
Wuxian looks down in shame: "At first I didn't think much of it. It was a gift given by a random person. But things have changed and honestly.. I'm scared."
Zewu Jun ponders Wuxian's request for a few seconds then says: "I will try to advise you to the best of my knowledge."
Wuxian pulls a folded piece of cloth from his robe and gently lays it on the table between them. Zewu Jun looks puzzled until Wuxian swallows hard and nods for him to open it. The older man finds an old damaged parchment paper inside. He carefully picked it up and reads the clear parts out loud:
"When darkness swallows the sun and moon, a man is chosen by the â the light. He will command the spirit of animals, â the dead and see the future. For as many he will save, many will â. A man with golden features, who sees what was, what will be and changes the bitter end. When the time comes, he will â for the last time and fulfill his destiny. Some will hail him with respect. Some will condemn him. But he will â all equally. A man without a fate: A Divine Oracle."
Zewu Jun can feel the hair on his body rise in trepidation. He looks with wide eyes at Wuxian: "Where did you get this?"
Wuxian plays with his hair nervously: "A widow gave it to me as a gift. She saw the markings on my ring and thought I would be interested in it."
Zewu Jun reads the paper a few more times: "Why are you keeping this a secret?"
Wuxian: "I didn't think much of it when she gave it to me.. Until parts of it turned into reality."
Zewu Jun looks desperately at him: "A man with golden features? A Divine Oracle? That's definitely you!"
Wuxian sighs: "I know! I just don't want to acknowledge all the.. other stuff in there."
Zewu Jun slams the paper on the table, which makes Wuxian jump in surprise, then shouts at him: "This is not a matter of choice! You cannot avoid responsibility when it's handed solely to you!"
Wuxian lowers his head and whispers: "I'm not avoiding it.. I'm just.. I.."
Zewu Jun takes a deep breath to calm down then says: "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."
Wuxian looks at him timidly: "Can you help me figure it out?"
Zewu Jun looks at the paper then says: "This is bigger than you and I. We will work together to figure out what you can actually do then worry about your supposed 'destiny' later."
Wuxian whispers: "We?"
Zewu Jun glares at him: "Yes, we! You're part of a clan now. We don't keep life-changing secrets and hope they go away. When Wangji and uncle return we will share this with them."
Wuxian sighs: "Lan Zhan is going to be angry with me."
Zewu Jun: "He'll get over it."
Wuxian looks at the harmless piece of paper on the table and groans: 'No good deed goes unpunished.'
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