.
Wuxian was enjoying an afternoon nap the next day. He was banned from leaving the room and boredom forced him to take it easy and he thought sleeping would help kill time. Wangji left to ensure that it was safe for him to visit the well with Zewu Jun. Meili was invited to stay in the inn while they're here. It would help them a lot not to worry about moving her in and out through the crowd of people who're still hogging the gate. Wuxian had a healing session scheduled tomorrow and when he recovers from that he will visit the well.
Everyone seemed busy so he was content with reading books and gazing out the window, watching people come and go during the day. He just woke up from his nap and stretched his limbs to get rid of the kinks in his joints. He felt arms around his waist and a body behind him inching closer, seeking comfort while trying to avoid his bruises with exaggerated care.
He knew before he opened his eyes that it wasn't his soul-bond. Wangji's cuddles like everything else he does in life; faithfully and wholeheartedly. He was a giver and found bliss in taking care of Wuxian and providing for him. The person currently laying with him in bed was the opposite; vulnerable and dependent. Wuxian places a hand on the arm around his waist and whispers: "Wen Ning, what's wrong?"
Wen Ning didn't reply and just snuggled closer to lightly bury his face in Wuxian's shoulder blade. Wuxian knows that Wen Ning is a sensitive soul. Even after rising from death, he still retained his wallflower personality. Wuxian was still learning how to read Wen Ning and help him deal with his emotions and express them in a healthier way. From all the people in Wuxian's life, Wen Ning is the only one that Wuxian fully and without a shred of doubt would rely on. Their relationship was beyond complicated and if Wangji was a lesser man he would've banned Wen Ning from ever being near his soul-bond. But, for all of his possessiveness, Wangji was not insecure. He encouraged the fierce corpse to take what he needs from his soul-bond and not hold back because he knows how important their bond is. Anyone else would've been dead before they utter an explanation.
Wuxian stroked the arm he can reach and hums his and Wangji's song to calm the emotional man behind him. Patience is what Zewu Jun and Lan Ran told him to exercise with his soul-bond. It's the only solution he has for Wen Ning as well. He will wait until Wen Ning is ready to share.
After a while, Wuxian drifted back to sleep and woke up in a cold bed. He looked around the darkened room to find it empty. He got up and opened the door to find Bhao and Taiho guarding the hallway. Wuxian: "Where is Wen Ning?"
Taiho: "He went to fetch you food from the city. Sizhui told him about a tea house that serves an infamous spicy chicken so he wants to get you some."
Wuxian stepped out to join them at the hall: "Did something happen today?"
Bhao shakes his head: "No. The city occupants have been contained and his Excellency, Zewu Jun and Leader Nia have not returned yet."
Taiho: "The woman you invited stayed with Lady Lou and Yuxio. I saw Yuxio sneak in alcohol so I assume they're drunk by now."
Wuxian didn't know how to ask more specifically without raising suspicion: "Where are Sizhui and Jingyi?"
Taiho: "They're in their rooms. Sizhui said something about cleaning his sword."
Wuxian smiles: "Would you mind summoning them for me?"
Bhao bows and rushes to comply.
A few minutes later, the two boys showed up with food. They set up the table and sat to watch Wuxian eat. He asks: "I thought Wen Ning was fetching me spicy food."
Sizhui nods to the dishes on the table and says: "This is it. He just gave it to us to serve you."
Wuxian frowns: "Where is he?"
Jingyi: "We're not his babysitters."
Wuxian glares at him: "Go find him." When Jingyi whines so he raises his voice: "NOW!"
Jingyi grumbles but goes out to find him as instructed.
Wuxian looks worriedly at Sizhui: "What's wrong with Wen Ning?"
Sizhui cocks his head in confusion: "There is something wrong with him?"
Wuxian rubs his nose: "Tell me what happened today."
Sizhui: "Nothing much. He stayed with you the whole time. Either outside the door or in here."
Wuxian whispered to himself: "Something must have happened. He's upset."
Sizhui: "How can you tell?"
Wuxian: "I made him. We are connected. I know when he's feeling down."
Jingyi barges back in followed by a calm Wen Ning. Wuxian eyes his soul-brother while eating and from his appearance, it was like the cuddle session that just happened a few hours ago never occurred. Wuxian was confused. Jingyi noticed Wuxian's absentmindedness and stealthily tried to grab a chicken from his side dish. Wuxian smacks his hand without looking. Jingyi: "OUCH! It's just one piece!"
Wuxian glare at him: "Go get your own food, you lazy bum!"
Jingyi groans: "Yours always taste better."
Wuxian huffs then gives him a piece: "If you tell Healer Shi about this, I will tell them that you soiled your pants while fighting Da Ziran as a Lion."
Jingyi looked horrified: "THAT NEVER HAPPENED!"
Wuxian smirks: "Who would they believe: a mouthy junior disciple or the Divine Oracle?"
Jingyi's eyes widen, then he points at Sizhui: "I have witnesses! IT NEVER HAPPENED!"
Wuxian pets his son's hair and says: "He's my son. He wouldn't betray his own father."
Sizhui smiles evilly at Sizhui: "Only one of us can be the favorite."
Jingyi stands up abruptly and shouts: "You're all conspiring against me! This is not fair!"
He storms out, followed by a laughing Sizhui, leaving Wuxian with the silent Wen Ning.
Wuxian looks at his soul-brother and gestures with his hand for him to sit next to him at the table: "Thank you for this meal. It's very delicious." Wen Ning smiles at him then looks down.
Wuxian sighs: "Tell me what happened."
Wen Ning shakes his head: "It's stupid."
Wuxian: "It's not stupid if it's affecting you this much."
Wen Ning swallows hard then says hesitantly: "I was standing guard outside the door and overheard disciples from Nie clan talk about me."
Wuxian sighs with frustration. He can tell where this conversation was going. Wen Ning takes a deep breath and continues: "They.. they said that I was.. that I am a mistake from your past that you're stuck with. They said that for all the good deeds that you've been doing as a Divine Oracle, my presence is a sour reminder that you're still the same man that was named Yiling Patriarch."
Wuxian closes his eyes and clenches his fists to contain his anger. Wen Ning continues: "I know that they're ignorant and that I shouldn't listen to what they say. But.. if they were to confront me with my past and present sins, what am I to say to defend myself from their accusations? What they said might sound cruel but it's nothing short of the truth."
Wuxian slams his hand on the table then grabs Wen Ning robes to pull him close. His expression was twisted with barely contained fury: "You do not have to defend yourself to anybody! I brought you back to life. I gave you your powers. You're mine to command and love. Just you and me. Nothing and no one else dares to judge us or condemn us. To hell with their opinions! While you were busy protecting me they were busy trying to kill me. If we were to rank who's better.. you are by far the superior!"
Wuxian takes a deep breath when he sees the desperation in Wen Ning's face. He smooths his robes and scooches closer to place his hands on the side of his neck: "I need you like I need air to breath. I don't care what other people say or do. You're my soul-brother. It's a relationship that never existed until I created you. If their words bother you I will go slaughter every one of them in their sleep to appease you. Believe that!"
Wen Ning smiles shyly and whispers: "I don't want you to kill anyone."
Wuxian pulls him into an embrace and whispers back: "Then tell me.. what will make you happy?"
Wen Ning pulls the smaller man until he was partially in his lap: "This.. this makes me happy."
Wuxian settles in for a long embrace: "Then so be it. I take care of what's mine."
Jingyi stomps his way towards the nearest tea house, followed by a more graceful Sizhui and Jin Ling. Ling leans to whisper to Sizhui: "Why is he mad?"
Sizhui: "Father teased him and he didn't appreciate his humor."
Jingyi turns to shout: "THAT WAS NOT HUMOR! THAT WAS ABUSE!"
Sizhui smothers a laugh and whispers to Ling: "It was funny."
They arrived at the tea house and sat for a cup of tea and desserts. Jin Ling looks around at the lively customers and asks his friends: "Something is off about this city. I don't like it."
Jingyi takes a bite of his food: "But the food is so good!"
Sizhui: "I agree with Jin Ling. The people here have extreme moods. They're either overly joyous or aggressively vexed. There is nothing in between."
Jingyi shrugs: "Who cares! We don't live here. They seem content with their way of life. Who are we to judge them?"
The other two boys conceded and continued their meal in silence. Sizhui looked around, keeping vigilance like he was instructed by Hanguang Jun. A few tables over, a man in dark robes was sitting in a shaded corner eating his meal in silence. Sizhui taps his chopsticks lightly on the table to get his companions attention and nods towards the corner table. All three of them straightened in hyper vigilance, straining their ears and stealing glances towards the mysterious man. He fits the profile of the man in Wuxian's vision. Jin Ling subtly got up to go inform the others of their finding while the other two continued to eat, watching their prey diligently.
The man finished his meal in silence and left payment on the table. He made his way out and the two boys followed. They spotted Zewu Jun who gave them a look that said: 'I got this. Fall back.' The older man bumped into the covered man and faked his surprise: "I apologize, kind sir. I wasn't looking." The man didn't reply. He just bowed and continued walking towards the well. Wangji spotted his brother following the man and watched him pass by the well without sparing it a glance. Both brothers frowned. The hooded man didn't seem interested in the blessed well at all. He continued in his journey until he reached the inn they were occupying. He stopped and looked up, towards the window Wuxian was currently looking out of and daydreaming.
Wuxian must have felt that someone was watching him because he looked down and spotted the man in dark clothing after a few seconds. Wuxian felt goosebumps all around his body when the man raised his hand and pulled the hood down. For a split second, both men made eye contact then the man vanished without a trace. Wuxian's heart was pounding and his eyes wandered around trying to find the man once more. He only succeeded in finding his soul-bond and brother, both looking back at him while shaking their heads. They came here looking for the man in Wuxian's vision.. but the man was able to find them first.
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