.
They made their way to the well without an incident. Well.. some people fainted out of fear after seeing the giant Lion but Wuxian is counting that as revenge. Wuxian circles the well a few times, examining it and trying his best to remember the location of the markings from his vision. He leans over the well to take a look inside. He feels a hand grab his robes and looks back to see a worried Wen Ning.
Wuxian frowns: "What?"
Wen Ning: "Don't fall over."
Wuxian scoffs: "I grew up in Lotus Pier. We learn how to swim there before we learn how to read and write."
Wen Ning loosened his hold but didn't let go.
Wuxian groans but ignores him in favor of finding the markings.
It didn't take long. Just like what happened with the Mother Tree, all he had to do was look at the right location and it revealed itself to him. He took a deep breath and with a heart filled with determination, he reached out and touched the glowing markings.
This time around, he felt like he was floating in water. It took him a few seconds to recognize the weightless feeling and a few more to open his eyes to look around. It was a vast dark area, filled to his waist with water. He stood up in it and examined his surroundings. It seemed endless.
Wuxian looked in all directions and found nothing. Shouldn't there be a boy somewhere around here? It was the only detail that both Meili and the city fable shared. He took a deep breath and shouted: "Is anyone here?"
His voice echoed, falling on deaf ears. This place was eerily silent. A small part of him was thankful that no one actually lives here because it would be a sad existence. He felt something tug on his soaked robes and looked down to see a child's hand. He reached into the water and pulled whoever it is up and onto the surface.
It was a small boy, around seven or eight, pale and wearing rags. He barely breaks the surface with his head while standing. He looks up, confused at Wuxian's presence and asks: "I haven't had any visitors in a while. What brings you here?"
Wuxian smiles warmly at the boy. He reminds him of a young Sizhui. Wuxian: "I came to save you.. I think?"
The boy plays with Wuxian's floating robes and asks absentmindedly: "Save me from what?"
Wuxian reaches out and smooths his wet hair from his pale face: "A bad man."
The boy looks up with a suspicious look: "How do I know you're not a bad man?"
Wuxian: "How do you want me to prove it?"
The boy sighs and lays back to float on the surface of the water: "I don't really care. It's been so long since anyone cared about me. Any company is a good company."
Wuxian moves to stand near him: "How did you end up here?"
The boy turns to look at Wuxian: "My father built this well then threw me in it. He told me that I was born to lead our people and I need to stay here and provide blessings to those who need this water."
Wuxian frowns: "How do you provide your blessings?"
The boy showed a glimmer of excitement and stood up. He places his palms on the surface of the water and light glows around his hands and radiates around the water until it is filled with small glowing particles. Wuxian's eyes widen: "WOW!"
The boy smiles with pride: "I do this everyday."
When the glowing particles touched Wuxian's soaking hair, it created a ripple effect and caused it to glow in gold. The boy went close and touched it with wonder: "You're like me!"
Wuxian nods his head: "I am. How long have you been here?"
The boy, still mesmerized by Wuxian's glowing hair, asked: "How do you measure time?"
Wuxian: "A month is a moon cycle. A year is 12 months."
The boy thought for a second then said: "In your years.. I've been here for almost 408 years."
Wuxian eyes softened with sympathy: "Aren't you lonely?"
The boy sighs: "I was told to wait.. so I'm waiting."
Wuxian pets the boy's head to comfort him: "Wait for what?"
The boy looks up sadly and says: "For someone to find me and adopt me."
Wuxian: "Why don't you go outside then? I'm sure someone would love to have a son like you."
The boy shakes his head: "That's not how it's supposed to be. Only a descendent of my clan can be my true family."
Wuxian rubs his nose: "So.. all I have to do is find someone from your clan?"
The boy shrugs: "I'm only eight. You tell me."
Wuxian smiles at him: "Will you wait for me?"
The boy smiles back: "I have nothing else to do but wait."
Wuxian kneels until he's almost fully submerged and at the boy's eye level: "I will free you and prevent the bad man from harming you and this city. I promise."
The boy moves close, throws his short arms around Wuxian's neck in a hug and whispers into his ear: "You're a good person. I trust you."
Wuxian finds himself laying in Wan Ning's lap, blinking confused eyes at the evident worry in his soul-brother's face: "What?"
Wen Ning: "You passed out and we couldn't wake you up."
Wuxian sits up and straightens his clothes in embarrassment: "We knew that was going to happen. Didn't Lan Zhan tell you?"
Wuxian turns to glare at this soul-bond who was standing guard next to them. He said: "I told him. He worried anyway."
Wuxian pats Wen Ning shoulder after he helps him up. The pat turns into a grip when the world spins around Wuxian and he sways. Wangji moves closer to support his soul-bond before he faints. Wuxian rubs his eyes, trying to get them to work properly but after a few minutes.. things turn dark and he crashes into the warmth of the taller man's embrace.
Nie Huaisang was not a fool. He has been cultivating a reputation built on incompetence and showing weakness. He was none of those things. If anything, his ability to plan long cons and foresee everyone's moves before they made them makes him a superior man, if not a better leader. He never wished to rule or hold any significant seat between the cultivator clans but fate had other plans for him. He was born to be a leader. It was in his blood.
After he watched Lan Wangji carry his passed out soul-bond and rush him back to the inn, his earlier suspicions were confirmed. Something is wrong with Wei Wuxian. He still doesn't know what the details are but he had his ways. Yesterday, he gave the Phoenix warrior a few jars of expensive wine to share with her companions. What she didn't know is that he was sitting in the next room that separated him from their drunk confessions by a thin wall. If his friends who cut off half of his hair are not willing to share then he will do whatever it takes to find the information he needs. Normally, he wouldn't stoop to such.. low way of gathering information but the people surrounding Wuxian were tight lipped and he was running out of patience.
From the conversation shared between the drunken ladies he surmised a few key points: Wuxian body was vulnerable. He was not carrying his two main weapons. Something about a good looking finder that was supposed to find a secret book. And one of the women in that room was a class-A pervert. The last part for some reason confused him more than the rest.
One of the women in that room caught his attention the most. The local. He was present when the townspeople made a fuss about her being in the city border but he didn't pay it much attention. What confused him the most was the way she looked at him when they passed each other in the hallway. It was like he met his match.. intellectually, even though they haven't spoken a word to each other. With one look.. they both knew they were equals. Nie was intrigued.
He carried a book from his secret stash and went to her room, requesting an audience. He convinced himself that it was an information gathering mission but it was nothing short of curiosity that led him to her doorstep. She bowed to him with respect and ushered him in, offering him a cup of tea. They sat in silence, sizing each other up.
She played her cards first: "Nie Clan Leader, what can I do for you?"
Nie sips his tea and places the book at the table between them: "I heard you like to read. This is the only edition script of the events related to Yin Metal. I thought you might enjoy reading it."
Meili looked at him with a blank expression: "Why are you giving me this book?"
Nie opens his fan and says: "I didn't know I needed a reason to give gifts to those who are aiding my friends."
Meili took the book and leafed through it: "From my experience, people who offer things with no obvious reasons often harbor alternative intentions."
Nie fans his neck and smiles at her: "I didn't know you're an expert in human behavior."
Meili puts the book down and looks Nie dead in the eye: "I am not. I just read enough diaries to know when someone is not who they seem to be."
Nie's smile drops and he closes his fan: "Very well. I will not insult your intelligence."
Meili pours him another cup and says: "Let's try this again.. Nie Clan Leader, what can I do for you?"
Nie takes her offered cup and says: "I want to know what Wei Wuxian is hiding from me."
Meili: "Why do you think I'm privy to that kind of private information?"
Nie: "Since I'm not going to insult your intelligence.. the least you can do is reciprocate."
Meili studies the man before her. She read some accounts in her books about the knows-nothing sect leader. She's starting to doubt their credibility.
Meili: "Have you tried asking the Divine Oracle?"
Nie shakes his head: "That's not how our friendship works. I've deceived them before so I highly doubt they would trust me with this kind of information."
Meili: "So.. going behind their backs and fishing for it from others is your way of gaining their favor?"
Nie clears his throat, a little embarrassed by her.
Meili: "Friendship is about clarity and dependence. If you cannot be honest or trusting then don't expect others to include you in their affairs. Everything in life is give and take. The Divine Oracle has blessed me with his gifts. I wouldn't betray his trust. I might not be of a well known clan or a cultivator but I still retain my honor."
Nie: "You misunderstood. I did not mean to offend you. They have been my friends for more than twenty years. We have a history but I would never harm Brother Wei. He is in my sect, under my protection. I only seek information to better secure his safety."
Meili smirks at him: "You have an odd way of showing your concern, Sect Leader. Not a lot of people would appreciate your.. devotion."
Nie smirks back: "I try."
Meili pushes the book back towards him and says: "I respect your methods but I do not condone them. If this book is still available after your inquiry is complete I would be happy to borrow it from you."
Nie nods and stands up, making his way out the door. He turns to look at her before he leaves: "I don't know how Brother Wei always finds the loyal ones so easily."
She replies: "Because he carries his heart on his sleeve. It's easier to trust those who are transparent than those who hide under many layers of excuses and lies."
Nie whispers on his way out: "Well said. I will take your advice into consideration."
Wuxian woke up with a viscous headache. He groans and curls into himself, trying to ease the pain radiating from his brain. He feels someone place a cold cloth at the nape of his neck and hears them whisper: "You have a headache?"
He didn't have the courage to open his eyes and be assaulted by the light so he settled for nodding to Healer Shi.
She whispers: "I have made a pain killer potion for you. I sensed you would wake up with a headache when you started pulling your hair in your sleep. The light is dim. You can open your eyes." He tries it and when the pain doesn't flare, he allows her to help him drink the potion.
She continues to rub the cold cloth at his neck: "Sleep. When you wake up again.. all will be well." He trusted her words, so when sleep took him he didn't resist.
Wuxian slept for the remainder of the day up to the next morning. He woke up feeling fatigued but the headache was gone and the overwhelming dizziness has diminished. He felt his soul-bond next to him in bed but not touching him. He blinked his eyes open to see Wangji's relaxed face, still sleeping a few inches away. Normally, Wangji was a heavy cuddler. He would glare Wuxian to death before admitting it but sharing a bed with his soul-bond is proof that Wangji loves to pull the smaller man into an embrace whenever the chance presents itself.
Wuxian secretly loves it, that's why he never complained or called him out for it. It was a thing that suddenly started and he hopes it never has a reason to stop.
This was different. Wuxian was reminded of the old days, when Wangji would sleep alone; on his back with arms folded. Wuxian didn't like it. He sat up and placed his arms on Wangji's chest and leaned on top of him so his face was a breath away from Wangji's. He smiles mischievously and whispers loudly: "Lan Zhan, are you awake?"
Wangji didn't reply so Wuxian poked his finger inside Wangji's nose: "Psst.. wake up!"
Before Wuxian could comprehend what happened, he was flipped onto the bed by a wide awake Wangji fully on top of him. He laughs awkwardly: "Um.. you're awake?"
Wangji raises an eyebrow and Wuxian grabs a strand of Wangji's hair that was fanned around his face: "I was just checking if you were alright."
Wangji stares at him for a few seconds then says: "I wasn't the one who fainted yesterday."
Wuxian's cheeks turn red and he pouts: ".. but you were sleeping so far away from me."
Wangji's eyebrow rises further up: "We're sharing the same bed."
Wuxian soothes out his soul-bond's robes, avoiding eye contact: "Yeah. But.. normally you would be all over me like a furnace.. and I was cold.."
Wangji was surprised by Wuxian's embarrassing statement and moved to settle beside his soul-bond to give him more room: "You were in pain. I didn't wish to cause you more harm while you were recuperating."
Wuxian purses his lips, face fully red from how awkward this conversation turned out to be. He whispered: "Never mind." And hastily made his way off the bed.
Wangji grabbed his wrist before he could run away and yanked him back into his embrace, tightly cuddling with him: "Better?"
Wuxian nods while sighing with content.
.