Just to remind you this is just a flashback.
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8:30 a.m.
Arrival in : Gusu.
Arrived from : Yunmeng.
Jiang Cheng and his nephew start to climb the never ending stairs of Gusu.
While climbing up high with his nephew by his side and his disciples behind of him. Jiang Wanyin recalls the time when he was climbed the very same stairs 14 years ago. But at that time he was with his beloved shixiong Wei Wuxian instead.
As he recalls those moments, his heart starts to feel kind of uneasy suddenly.
Knowing the past will never come back again, knowing he and his shixiong won't ever be the same again. His already broken heart starts to deteriorate. And an unpleasant expression appears on his face.
Somehow, Jin Ling managed to notice that. He asks, "Uncle, is something wrong?"
Jiang Cheng sighs and turns his head toward his nephew, he was surprisingly very soft spoken for the moment, "Mm, everything is alright."
Jin Ling nods, "Oh.?." and turns away but deep down he knew something wasn't right.
The disciples behind Jiang Cheng also managed to understand what was happening.
But by asking more they didn't want to make their Sect leader more upset.
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As they finally reached the gateway of Gusu they could see the Gusu elders mainly Lan Qiren and some of the juniors waiting outside for them.
Firstly, Lan Qiren greets with a bow and says, "Good morning Sect Leader Jiang. It is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you've been doing fine."
All the others also bow.
Jiang Wanyin replies with a bow as well, "It is a pleasure for me as well to meet you again Grandmaster Lan. It has been a while since I came here. Seems you've been doing well as I am."
Lan Qiren, "Hopefully."
The other disciple begin to greet each other.
Jiang Wanyin, "I hope you will teach my nephew a lot as you did to me. I hope a lot from the best teacher in Gusu."
Lan Qiren, "Sect leader Jiang has flattered me enough. I am not that good."
Jiang Wanyin, "Hmm. Anyways, Sect Leader Lan didn't come to greet me?"
The Lan disciples stopped moving.
Lan Qiren also hesitated, "I guess.....you haven't heard. Xichen has been in seclusion since the Guanyin temple incident."
Jiang Wanyin gasps a little, "Oh. My bad- I mean I also just came out of seclusion so I was unaware of it."
Lan Qiren sighs, "It is absolutely fine. I can understand."
Jiang Wanyin, "Thank you."
Jiang Wanyin could see the overly excited face of his nephew. Jin Ling would always act as if he didn't cared about his friends, but just simple meets like this made him overjoyed.
Jiang Wanyin noticed, especially seeing the Smart one, his Shixiong's son basically.
Now that he thought of that, he wonders how Wei Wuxian teaches his son, talks to him, in what way he provides his love to a child. He was one of the child Wei Wuxian stayed with in the burial mounds and where he (Sizhui) got adopted from. So Jiang Wanyin wondered how his shixiong managed to give the child enough comfort to make him feel warm and-
Lan Qiren voice brings him back to reality again, "Your nephew, Jin Zongzhu will be escorted to his room by his friends. In the meantime, I will escort you to yours."
Jiang Wanyin, "Oh- of course."
Lan Qiren, "Sizhui. You should go with Jingyi and escort Young master Jin to his room now."
Sizhui, "Understood. Granduncle."
Jiang Wanyin thought, "Granduncle? Oh wait a minute isn't that Jingyi also my brother's son???!! Anyways, nevermind."
He turns to Jin Ling, "Don't cause trouble to your friends A-Ling."
Jin Ling pouts a little, "I won't Jiu-jiu."
Lan Qiren, "Then..." Asking Jiang Cheng to follow him.
Before following Lan Qiren he commands his disciples to go back to Yunmeng. And of course, his head disciple to follow the lan boys.
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The previous night
Time - 7:35 p.m.
Location - Gusu ( Lan Xichen's secluded room/Not Hanshi).
It has been a year since in seclusion for Lan Xichen. His brother and Uncle and Brother-in-law have visited him quite a few times now. But none of them have ever talked to him about getting out of seclusion.
Maybe because they think he needs some time more to be able to stand back as a Sect Leader or that he is not capable any longer or that could be his overthinking.
After Jin Guangyao died, everything changed. As the rumours of him loving Jin Guangyao had spread, he noticed it to be true. But wrong the same time, because he did love him but not romantically. How exactly was it possible to love a brother like that? They were sworn brothers and on top of all he could never fall for a married man.
Right now, he was in a depressed stage. Thinking if he hadn't cared or trusted Jin Guangyao. Then, maybe some things would have been different.
When he organises his table, he stumbles upon a letter by his uncle one week ago. He hadn't read it yet. Now when he looked at it, the letter was from Yunmeng.
From YUNMENG.
From the JIANG CLAN.
Written by Jiang Wanyin his first love, his only love.
The thing is Lans only love once and for Lan Xichen his only love was and is, has been Jiang Wanyin.
Looking back at the letter he opened it and recognised the handwriting and got some flashbacks of the past.
First flashback: (1)
They (Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen) were working together on the frontlines when they suddenly faced attack from the Wens.
It was only the two of them fighting.
They managed to destroy and kill the first wave and suddenly one of them stood and ran towards Lan Xichen to stab him from the back. But too bad, Lan Xichen turned around immediately aware someone was there and snapped his neck.
Actually the Wen did managed to pierce the sword through his arm.
As it started to bleed heavily when Lan Xichen suddenly pulled the sword to the ground.
Jiang Wanyin panicked, "Oh my fvcking god's sake!! You got an injury."
Lan Xichen, "It is just a small injury Wanyin. No need to worry."
Jiang Cheng got a little flustered with the way Lan Xichen called his name. But it wasn't the time for that, "No it isn't Zewu-zun. You could bleed to much and pass out or even die. I mean the sword pierced through."
Lan Xichen, "I'm.....I guess....you're right."
Jiang Cheng, "Now, do we have a cloth, a clean one with us. I mean I don't have one with me."
Lan Xichen, "I don't either."
Both of them could see the second group of wens approaching towards them.
Lan Xichen, "Such a timing."
Lan Xichen suddenly felt his forehead ribbon torn away from him. His eyes widen for a minute as he turns towards Jiang Wanyin who is tying his arm with the ribbon.
Jiang Cheng, "I'm sorry but I can't handle the army alone and don't want to die yet."
Lan Xichen felt an anger rising in him but he didn't say anything. They defeated the Wens for now with only a few injuries on them. They, then went to the infirmary. After they got treated, Lan Xichen was sitting beside the window of his camp, mad thinking about what had happened.
When suddenly, he heard a knock on the door.
"You can come in." He says.
"Thank you." Says a familiar voice as the person opens the door.
The person turned out to be Jiang Wanyin. He said a little dull, "What would you need? Sect Leader Jiang?"
Jiang Wanyin felt a little surprised and murmured, "Wanyin? Now Sect Leader Jiang again."
Lan Xichen, "Huh?"
Jiang Wanyin, "Oh! Um.......The thing .....is I am sorry for earlier. I know what your ribbon means but I didn't, hadn't occur to disrespect you. Zewu-zun. It was because of your injury,.........." He said many more.
Lan Xichen had assumed himself to speak angry with Jiang Cheng but all he did was smile and accept his apology.
You know, his heart skipped a bit with what Jiang Wanyin said lastly.
Jiang Wanyin, "Since you have forgiven me, I shall take my leave. Ummmm. How do I say this???? You know if you want to call me Wanyin just call me that. But don't it into something formal again. I mean you'd say it like we are very close and now you are behaving like we are strangers. It hurts my feelings you know.
And he runs out of the camp.
Leaving the idiot Lan stupified."
But that wasn't the time Lan Xichen first fell for him. The first time was----.
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