.
Wuxian turned and numbly made his way towards Little Sanctuary. He crosses the little bridge and sits in the gazebo. He hears Zewu Jun following him silently, sitting next to him and waiting for him to explain what he just said.
Wuxian was confused. There were so many details that made no sense. What bothered him the most is that at this moment he didn't want to share any of it.. with anyone. He promised his father and Zewu Jun not to hide any important information from his new family. But old habits die hard.
Zewu Jun prods him after a few minutes of silence: "What do you mean by 'trouble'?"
Wuxian smiles while looking around Little Sanctuary: "Brother, did you know that Lan Zhan made this place for me with his own hands?"
Zewu Jun frowns at the change of subject but chose to go with it: "I offered to help many times but he refused."
Wuxian: "I can count on one hand the number of people who made anything for me in all my lifetimes. Nothing compares to the love I feel every time my eyes fall on a new detail in this place."
Zewu Jun smiles: "My brother's love for you runs deep. He has no qualms expressing it for the world to see."
Wuxian closes his eyes and sorrow washes over him. He whispers in agony: "I saw this place burn down."
Zewu Jun was alarmed: "Little Sanctuary will burn down?"
Wuxian opened his eyes to look sadly at his brother: "The Treasure Room, with all of you in it, will burn down."
Zewu Jun: "Do you know when?"
Wuxian shakes his head: "No. But it's not anytime soon."
Wuxian steps close to grab Zewu Jun's arm and says: "This vision was not like the one before it. There are so many things that make no sense. People look different.. Things are not what they're supposed to be. There are so many details that I feel I should recognize but the more I think about it the more it leaves me baffled."
Zewu Jun pats the hand grabbing his arm: "You need to calm your thoughts. Let me call Lan Ran so we can document your vision properly before we share it and come up with a plan of action to prevent it."
Wuxian tightens his hold on Zewu Jun: "NO! Not Lan Ran!"
Zewu Jun frowns: "Why?"
Wuxian shakes his head: "I don't.. I just.."
Zewu Jun can feel Wuxian's anxiety building and says: "I'll write it down if you feel uncomfortable with Lan Ran at the moment."
Wuxian nods his appreciation and they both went in to document the vision.
After Wuxian was done relaying what he saw, Zewu Jun took a deep breath and whispered: "You were right to refuse Lan Ran's services. But brother, some of these details make no sense. Are you sure that's what you saw?"
Wuxian nods: "It was clear as day."
Zewu Jun read what he wrote one more time then asked: "He was wearing a Lan Clan headband?"
Wuxian nods: "You didn't know?"
Zewu Jun rubs his chin: "I never bothered to ask."
Wangji made his way into the Treasure Room: "Wei Ying, it's time for your healing session."
Wuxian looks up and takes Wangji's extended hand.
Wangji stares at his brother: "What's wrong?"
Zewu Jun shares a look with Wuxian before he says: "Wei Wuxian had a vision today."
Wangji: "Was it about the blessed well?"
Zewu Jun shakes his head: "I will share it with you and Uncle after the healing session."
They made their way to the healing quarter as usual and after an hour, Zewu Jun and Yuxio left the room to let Wuxian rest after the energy transference.
Wuxian woke up a few hours later, expecting to feel exhausted but was surprised when all he felt was a little bit nauseous. The room was empty and he made his way towards the door to find Wen Ning sitting outside. Wen Ning turned to look at him critically: "How was it?"
Wuxian shrugs: "Surprisingly ok. I don't feel drained as I felt the last two sessions."
Wuxian looks around and asks: "Where is everyone?"
Wen Ning: "Hanguang Jun went to meet Zewu Jun and Grandmaster Qiren about your last vision. Healer Shi went into Gusu City to get ingredients for the cough candies you liked. She was impressed by how well it helped your cough and wants the cooks here to make more of it before we leave."
Wuxian hummed and made his way towards the Orchid Room. He enters only to find all three men looking somber. Wuxian frowns at them: "Who died?"
Zewu Jun smiles at him: "No one died. We're just analyzing your vision."
Wangji stood to embrace Wuxian and whisper into his ear: "Are you well?"
Wuxian rubs his back and whispers back: "I'm fine."
Wangji pulls Wuxian to sit next to him at the table and pours him a cup of warm tea. Grandmaster Qiren asks: "Son, I have prepared all what's needed for your travels. So whenever you're ready you can leave for Nie Clan sect."
Wuxian frowns when he sips his tea and it tastes off. He ignores it for now and smiles at his father: "I feel fine. We can leave tomorrow. Who's going with us?"
Zewu Jun: "Yuxio and I must accompany you for the healing session as well as Healer Shi. Your disciples will accompany us for protection. Uncle will stay to manage the sect in our absence. Lan Ran volunteered to stay as well to manage the people visiting for your blessings."
Wuxian nods his approval then asks: "What about Jin Ling?"
Zewu Jun chuckles: "Jiang Cheng has threatened the boy to keep an eye on Yuxio. He has no choice but to follow us."
Wuxian frowns at the tea when he tries another sip and the taste doesn't improve. He watches Wangji drink the tea that came from the same pot and not complain so he kept his mouth shut and moved the cup away.
Grandmaster Qiren: "While you are traveling, I will send senior disciples to look into Shenhua Clan. From your vision description, there is no doubt that they're the assailants."
Wuxian grabs a paper and brush and starts drawing something. He says: "That will not be necessary. I sent Liwei and his clan of finders to find their sect."
Zewu Jun: "Can we trust him?"
Wuxian smiles at his soul-bond then says: "If Lan Zhan trusted him enough to look for me when I went missing then I trust him too."
Wangji smiles back at him and nods.
Wuxian hands over a drawing to Zewu Jun: "Brother, can you please send this to Liwei? This is the brute who tried to take me in the vision."
Zewu Jun nods and leaves to prepare the message.
Grandmaster Qiren: "Son, go rest before your trip. I will see you off tomorrow morning."
He watched the couple bow with respect and leave.
On the other side of Cloud Recesses, Taiho was leaning on a fence, watching his fellow disciples run around looking everywhere for something. He was busy doing errands for his grandfather, Keeper Daozi, and returned to find his friends frantically jumping from one location to another: "What are you guys doing?"
Kaoji: "We're looking for shoes."
Taiho: "Shoes?"
Kaoji says loudly: "YES! SHOES!"
Taiho rubs his ears: "Stop shouting. I heard you the first time. Why are you looking for shoes?"
Sizhui: "Sect Leader Nie lost his shoes last time he was here. Hanguang Jun asked us to look for them so we can return it to him."
Taiho: "How does one lose their shoes?"
Jingyi: "They got hammered and none of them remembers what happened. Nie Sect Leader lost half of his hair and his shoes."
Taiho: "When did this happen?"
Sizhui: "A while back, after the bonding ceremony."
Taiho: "And we're supposed to find them?"
Kaoji: "Stop asking questions and come help us!"
Jin Ling: "Why am I dragged into this?"
Jingyi: "Because you have nothing better to do!"
Jin Ling: "YES I DO!"
Jingyi smirks at him: "Name one thing.."
Jin Ling looks around trying to find help from his surroundings then huffs: "Fine! I'll help because you're clueless without me."
Jingyi smirks at him: "Care to make this more interesting?"
Jin Ling: "How?"
Jingyi: "The person who finds the shoes first wins."
Taiho was intrigued: "Wins what?"
Jingyi steps into his personal space and whispers into his ear. Taiho's eyes widen and he smiles: "You're on!"
They all scrambled to a different direction, filled with enthusiasm like never before.
Wuxian woke up the next morning feeling more nauseous then the day before. He told Healer Shi about the strange taste he sensed in his food and drink and she assured him that it's nothing to worry about for now. His cough was gone. Thank heavens for small mercies. He walked with Wangji towards Cloud Recesses's gate to meet with the others and start their journey. He saw Qiren and Lan Ran standing with the others, waiting for the couple to arrive.
Grandmaster Qiren grabs Wuxian's shoulders and says: "Son, listen to the healer and don't be afraid to take a break when you need it. Nothing is more important than your health. Let the others handle all the physical activity. Alright?"
Wuxian nods and receives an embrace from his father. Lan Ran bows to him and smiles when he says: "Take care of yourself, Sister Ran."
Wuxian was about to transform Da Ziran to a horse but stops in his tracks when he sees a carriage: "Again? I'm fine! I can ride a horse!"
Grandmaster Qiren pushes him towards the big fancy wooden box: "You're fine riding a horse for Gusu City. Everywhere else your hair and look will attract attention and cause trouble to your companions. Be a good son and let this journey pass in peace."
Wuxian groans but lets his father push him into the carriage. He pulls the white coat around his body and leans back to sulk after saying his goodbyes. Wen Ning joins him and says: "I got you snacks."
He hands Wuxian a couple of wrapped cakes and Wuxian shakes his head, swallowing hard: "Maybe later." The building nausea was killing his appetite.
He looks at the big box laying next to him in the carriage as they start their journey: "What's this?"
Wen Ning: "Healer Shi's stuff."
Wuxian chuckles: "Little turtle sure travels light."
Someone bangs the side of the carriage, making Wuxian jump a little when he hears: "It's all for you, little rabbit!"
Wuxian peeks out the window to look at Healer Shi while she rides a horse near him: "Did Zewu Jun teach you how to eavesdrop like his other snitches?"
He hears Zewu Jun chuckles from afar. Healer Shi frowns: "Snitches?"
Wuxian gestures for her to come closer and says: "He knows everything!"
Zewu Jun says loudly: "Stop including me in your conspiracy theories."
Wuxian says back: "It's not a theory if It's true!"
Zewu Jun smiles at him while shaking his head.
Wuxian looks at a smiling Jingyi suspiciously: "Why does your smile make me feel unsettled?"
Jingyi puffs his chest and with pride says: "I found Nie Clan Leader's shoes."
Wuxian looks at all the other sulking disciples and asks: "Do I want to know how that happened?"
Jingyi smirks at him: "Probably not. Plausible deniability."
Wuxian debated whether he should grill him from more information or let it be. He settles with one last question: "Pray tell, where did you find it?"
Jingyi winks at him: "The last place one would think to look."
.