Xiao Zhan faced Wen Zhuliu who stood before him with a stern look on his face, his hand was on the hilt of his sword that hung by his hip and his stance changed into one of combat ready. "I have no desire to fight you, but I will if I must," he said calmly but one could easily perceive his words as a warning.
"Wei Wuxian, why don't we stop this here?" Wen Zhuliu spoke in a low tone after weighing in the pros and cons of going against the teenager who held no signs of fear while facing him.
"Hmm?" Xiao Zhan glanced up at Wen Zhuliu, "Why don't you ask your master to stop being childish instead?"
Wen Chao let out a sharp cry in annoyance, "Zhuliu! You should be teaching that son of a bitch a lesson now instead of talking! What the fu-"
Before he could finish, he suddenly felt like his mouth were sealed shut by a thick layer of cotton and he couldn't speak anymore, and to add to the disgrace, he found himself frozen in spot like a statue. The only movement that his body was capable of making was shivering violently with his eyes wide open.
Lan Wangji glared at Wen Chao with a dark expression and a threatening aura radiating off of him. He had enough of this spoilt brat's nonsense who tried to humiliate his lover in front of him. Not only he used silence spell, he even casted stop motion spell at the same time. "The silence spell will be lifted in an incense stick time, Second Young Master Wen."
Lan Zhan must be really pissed enough to do double casting.
His tone conveyed an icy coldness and a hint of ire as he addressed Wen Zhuliu. "If you don't back off, I won't hesitate to take drastic measures against you."
The other Wen disciples who had gathered around them, watching everything unfold, flinched in response to what could only be perceived as murder intent from the usually mild mannered and collected Lan Wangji.
"Lan Wangji, you! Release the spell!" One of the Wen disciples yelled. He too was shaken but held onto his sense of decorum better than most of his peers. He was Wen Chao's loyal lackey after all. "How dare you do that to our Young Ma-"
And just like that, another one fell victim to Lan Wangji's silence spell who did not even bother to spare the person a glance.
Wen Zhuliu frowned in disapproval at how things slowly turning out. It didn't help that this young cultivator's spell was proven too strong that even he wasn't able to break it when he tried to dispel it. He implored, "Second Young Master Lan, please release the spell."
Lan Wangji didn't react or budge an inch at as he had no intention to do just that. He didn't want to listen to more of Wen Chao's screeching voice. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan next to him simply continued to stare at Wen Chao who looked very much like a deer caught in headlights at the moment.
How annoying! This fucking idiot is the root cause of every bad thing that happened in the book. Should I just finish him off? That would solve a lot of things! The massacre would never happen if he's gone. Thousands of lives would be saved. If only this Wen Zhuliu is not here.
There was an intensity to his gaze, a burning light behind his eyes which did not fit his usual solemn countenance. In fact, it was difficult to maintain composure as his emotions ran wild in his head and his core felt agitated in such a way. The sensation of power coursing through him made him feel tingling as if his whole body was burning that it was almost painful. And it was becoming more difficult to suppress the urge to attack someone which made him uneasy to the point where he felt like he needed to tear apart someone to relieve some of his stress. He wanted so badly to rip Wen Chao apart right then and there. To tear him to shreds and to see blood spilling freely in rivers around him, a satisfying crimson red color coating both his hands. The resentful energy started to accumulate in his fingertips as he subconsciously harnessed it.
What the fuck am I thinking?! I need to get a hold of myself! Calm down. Calm down.
Xiao Zhan exhaled sharply through his nose, and exhaled it again, willing himself to calm down. He didn't want to lose control of himself as the consequences would be catastrophic.
The second heir of Wen clan was unable to take his eyes away from those mystical grey eyes that held such overwhelming power and mystery. It was almost like the person could look directly into his very soul and know everything about him. He gulped nervously as he cursed the younger man in his mind.
He wasn't the only one affected by Xiao Zhan's gaze; Wen Zhuliu could sense the unspoken threat hidden behind that gaze as if it was a tangible force. He could also see that the rapidly growing spiritual energy revolving inside the two teens started to leak toward the surface as though they were ready to jump into a battle if given an opportunity. The air vibrated lightly from the intensity of their combined auras.
Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen who just arrived at the scene together with Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang turned to each other in silent understanding before approaching the duo in quick steps, stopping by their sides. Both of them had sensed the tense atmosphere that hung over the area and recognized the signs of brewing troubles when they saw them.
"What's going on here?" Nie Mingjue asked with furrowed brows. He looked over Xiao Zhan's form curiously, noting that he was trying to keep his emotions in check, before he glared at the group of Wen. His gaze landed on the petrified Wen Chao, and he narrowed his eyes at the sight. He growled, "Wen Chao, you are crossing the line again."
For a moment, everyone went silent as they stared at each other. The onlookers on the sideline had their eyes flickered between the two opposing sides. Yunmeng Jiang, Gusu Lan and Nie Sect parties seemed to band together and were all in high alert as their young masters grouped together in this face off.
"Why don't we all just calm down?" Lan Xichen spoiled the tension in the air and mediate between them. "We are currently in a conference, and it is highly inappropriate for us to start a fight now." He said softly, hoping to diffuse the tension quickly, especially since the situation was growing volatile and potentially dangerous.
"Alright, we'll leave." Wen Zhuliu said finally. It was wiser to retreat for now. They were outnumbered and it would end badly for their reputations. He motioned to the others who nodded back before stepping backwards slowly away from the scene with Wen Chao in tow. He had already done his job a personal guard and he did not want to further embarrass their sect.
Xiao Zhan watched as the Wen disciples retreated back with very dissatisfied Wen Chao who was still muted despite no longer being frozen, flailing around like headless chicken. Their footsteps gradually disappearing among the crowd. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes as his fingers curled into fists at his side. Once he released his knuckles, he raised his head slowly and met the crowd's expectant gazes. He made eye contact with many of the spectators from other sects who were whispering amongst themselves mainly on the topic of 'cut sleeves'. He ignored them completely as he focused on a particular person, staring directly into his golden eyes. He muttered, "I'm sorry, Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji's eyebrows shot up slightly at the apology. He didn't know why Xiao Zhan felt the need to apologize to him. It wasn't as if Xiao Zhan had broken the rules or hurt anyone in any manner. In fact, he hadn't done anything worth apologizing for. "What for?"
Xiao Zhan didn't reply back immediately, seemingly mulling over the words. Eventually, he just shook his head as a response, "Just because."
"..." Lan Wangji blinked at him, confused.
Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen looked at the couple with concerns but decided not to say anything. They had seen how Xiao Zhan reacted earlier on and they thought maybe it would be best to give them some privacy. Besides, the people around them seemed eager to talk, gossip and comment on what happened.
Jiang Cheng barked at those gossipmongers from other sects who were buzzing with their speculations and canards, "Mind your own damn business, idiots!"
"Jiang Wanyin, what a crude language!" A disciple remarked loudly at his choice of words, "Do you have to be rude?"
"You are the rude one, you asshole!" Jiang Cheng snapped. He might not be thrilled about his martial brother's personal choice of love interest, but no one (other than him) should be talking shit about that. "You don't even have the guts to speak directly to the person you are gossiping about!"
"Yeah!" Nie Huaisang chimed in enthusiastically, his hands were on his hips. He chided, "You guys don't have eyes to see things that are important! So, shut your mouths before something terrible happens! And if you don't, I'll make sure you never ever get married or reproduce!"
"What did you just say?!" The disciple yelled.
"Are you deaf?" Nie Huaisang asked him in nonchalance. "I said, I might turn you into a eunuch."
Everyone gasped loudly at that statement. Even Nie Mingjue's jaw dropped slightly from such bold statement from his usually cowardly brother.
Nie Huaisang added as he pointed at the towering muscular figure of his intimidating brother, "I mean, my Da Ge will."
"..." Nie Mingjue resisted the urge to slap his younger brother on the back of his head for involving him in his threat to castrate people. He knew the intention behind it, so he chose to hold his tongue and wait until all this is over to beat the crap out of that mischievous rascal. He then swept his eyes across the crowds that were hyped by Nie Huaisang's remark.
Xiao Zhan chuckled dryly as what Nie Huaisang had said was hilarious, but he couldn't bring himself to laugh out loud. He knew full well that the reason why that brat brother of his had uttered that statement was to get everyone riled up and make them focus on him instead. He didn't expect that his 'Er Ge' was protective of him like that.
Guess I have to call him Er Ge for the rest of my life now.
Even though the tactic worked to draw the audience's attention, Nie Huaisang found it hard to stop once he started talking. Afterall, he liked causing mayhem and excitement whenever he could. That made the other three worked pretty hard to do damage control because of his blabber mouth. As the situation turned chaotic once more, everyone soon forgot about the earlier incident and Xiao Zhan managed to slip away from the venue unnoticed in swift movement.
Lan Wangji followed him quietly, his expression unchanging despite the turmoil churning in his mind and quickly fell into step alongside him. He remained silent for some time as he concentrated on maintaining the serenity in his mind. He stopped when they reached an empty field of grassland with a small stream running along it in the center. Without saying a word, he sat down and leaned over the edge of the small stream and splashed his face in hopes of clearing his thoughts. After wiping his face dry, sighed deeply and stared up at the sky.
Lan Wangji observed him intently. "Wei Ying, are you okay?" He asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"Not really." Xiao Zhan shook his head. He turned to look at Lan Wangji and added, "But I will be."
Lan Wangji frowned, staying silent for several moments before asking softly, "Wei Ying, why did you apologize?"
"Because..." Xiao Zhan looked down at the stream again as he muttered quietly, "Your reputation is now ruined because of me."
"My reputation?" Lan Wangji replied, sounding puzzled as he tilted his head sideways to look at him.
"You heard what they said, Lan Zhan." Xiao Zhan said with a bitter tone.
Lan Wangji's eyebrows scrunched even more at that as he lowered his gaze onto Xiao Zhan. It wasn't something that he'd ever expected to hear his lover say. "It doesn't matter what the people think of us." He stated with his usual serene voice. If anything, he was rather pleased at this point that everyone knew that they are together.
"Even so... People might spread rumors about our relationship." Xiao Zhan said with a troubled expression. "Your good name will be tarnished."
Lan Wangji tilted his head slightly. That was not entirely unexpected considering the circumstances they're in right now. However, to hear him say that there were people who thought ill of him because of their association caused his chest to tighten painfully. He grabbed Xiao Zhan's arm tightly, startling him.
"Wei Ying." Lan Wangji said sternly. "My reputation is insignificant. Don't care about it. I only care about you."
He emphasized those last two sentences. His voice was firm, as though he was trying to show Xiao Zhan how serious he was.
"Lan Zhan..." Xiao Zhan hesitated. Even after being told this dozens of times, it still made the butterflies in his belly fluttered wildly.
"They're just petty people who can't control their own tongues. I don't care, Wei Ying. Whatever they say is irrelevant." Lan Wangji repeated firmly, tightening his grip. His gaze was intense but unyielding as he stared directly at Xiao Zhan.
A smile formed on Xiao Zhan's lips. He could always count on Lan Wangji to understand his thoughts. It was one of the most comforting things about him; he was always the one listening carefully when he needed to speak about his emotions or needs. He loved this man to pieces and he knew that he couldn't bear losing him. He wrapped his own arms loosely around Lan Wangji's neck. He rested his head against his chest and whispered gently with a teasing tone, "Then, care to kiss me, Lan Zhan?"
The corner of Lan Wangji's mouth quirked upward into a smirk. He did not waste any time to respond to his request as he bent over until his face hovered above Xiao Zhan's. Their noses touched lightly before their lips locked, and soon Xiao Zhan felt as if his entire heart was on fire once more and it burned fiercely inside of him. This fire, however, extinguished the fury in his mind. His fingertips dug into the soft skin behind Lan Wangji's neck while his other hand gripped his shoulder tightly.
As he kissed him deeply, the world seemed to fade away completely and all that surrounded them were the sound of flowing water, birds chirping happily, and gentle breeze brushing against their faces. The darkening sky above and the cool night breeze against their skin were what gave them the feeling that everything was right, like nothing else existed outside of their bubble. Their lips moved against each other passionately, almost in a daze as their hearts pounded in their chests.
As they broke apart to catch their breath, Xiao Zhan slowly opened his eyes and peeked through his lashes. The moonlight shone on the surface of the water in the stream as the breeze brushed against their cheeks lightly. Xiao Zhan gazed at Lan Wangji and smiled gently, "You're so good looking, Lan Zhan." he breathed.
Lan Wangji simply smiled at his compliment. He lifted his hand and tucked a few strands of hair behind Xiao Zhan's ear, then leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. He let out a contented sigh and smiled, "And so are you."
Xiao Zhan was once again charmed with how handsome his lover is and kissed Lan Wangji again to convey his feelings. Lan Wangji held him close and returned his passion wholeheartedly as he placed his hand on the base of his skull and deepened the kiss. They lost themselves in their own little world as their kisses became more heated, and more passionate than before. It seemed that every fiber of both of them craved more and deeper. It was driving them both crazy with desire that, ignoring all of the fact that someone could come along at any moment and witness them being intimate.
And that exactly what happened.
"Arghh! Fuck! My eyes!" Jiang Cheng screamed, covering his eyes and backing away from where they had been standing mere seconds ago. "How shameless!"
"Woah! Wow!" Nie Huaisang exclaimed beside him in a similar manner, peeking through his fan.
Nie Mingjue's jaw hit the ground as he stared at the pair, his eyes wide open. "..."
"Goodness gracious." Lan Xichen blurted before he turned Nie Mingjue's frozen-due-to-shock body sideways so he wouldn't be in direct view of whatever compromising position the couple was in. He sighed inwardly and pinched the bridge of his nose while he voiced, "Looks like we were worried for nothing."
The couple broke apart hastily at the sound of voices nearby. Both males shot an apprehensive glance towards the source and found themselves looking at the back of four men. One was cursing, another one was trying to placate the third one and one was giggling hysterically.
Of course! Of course, we'd get caught!
Xiao Zhan felt like he wanted to bury himself in a hole, and judging by Lan Wangji's reaction it looked as if he'd be very glad to be buried together with his beloved.
"Are you two done?" Jiang Cheng snapped impatiently as he glared daggers at them.
"You may continue if you want. Don't mind us." Nie Huaisang said with a wide grin which earned him a shove from Jiang Cheng.
"You pervert!" Jiang Cheng raised his voice.
"Hey! Hey! You have no respect towards the elder one!" Nie Huaisang retorted.
"Who would want to respect such a pervert?!" Jiang Cheng said brusquely. "You don't deserve it."
Nie Huaisang snickered, "Oh please, don't act like you are not one. You have yet to return my book, you holy one."
"Enough!" Nie Mingjue spoke loudly as he finally regained his composure and spoke in an uncharacteristically quiet voice, "We have dinner to attend."
Lan Xichen sighed once more as he glanced helplessly at the couple in front of him. He was about to tell them off and reprimand them for making such a public display of affection but seeing them looking like a couple of lovestruck puppies had him refrained from doing so. He rubbed his temples to ward off a headache. "Come when you two are ready and... decent."
With that, Lan Xichen turned around to lead the others to leave the scene.
Lan Wangji was the first to snap out of it and took Xiao Zhan's hand, helping him up from where he was sitting. He gazed apologetically at Xiao Zhan and murmured softly, "Let's go."
"Right." Xiao Zhan nodded his head. His face was flushed red from embarrassment, but nevertheless, he managed to smile up at Lan Wangji as he helped him tidy up his slightly dishevelled robes.
At the gesture, Lan Wangji forgot the embarrassing moment at once and placed a chaste kiss onto Xiao Zhan's forehead causing the latter lips to quirk upwards.
"We are really shameless huh?" said Xiao Zhan.
Lan Wangji merely smiled at his beloved as his acknowledgement.
The incident with Wen Chao spread like a wildfire amongst the conference participants. That prompted Qingheng-Jun to call upon the duo for a brief talk after they finished with dinner in the privacy of his tent although his eldest was present as well.
"Wangji, Young Master Wei. Is there anything that you want to tell me?" Qingheng-Jun asked calmly as he studied them attentively. Lan Xichen stood by his side gave them an encouraging smile.
Xiao Zhan cleared his throat and said softly, "Sect Leader Lan, we do owe you an explanation...We... Uh..."
"Father, I love Wei Ying." Lan Wangji interjected seriously; determination shone within those golden irises.
Xiao Zhan's eyes widened slightly at Lan Wangji's brazen admission. His heart pounded in his ears rapidly and his cheeks heated up instantly.
Ah! This man is too straightforward!
The moment the words left his mouth, the space went quiet for a hot minute and Lan Xichen was the first to break the silence by blurting out, "...and that's all there is to it."
Qingheng Jun let out a sigh as he stared at the two of them, his eyes twinkling slightly. A hint of wistfulness flashed across his eyes as he spoke. "I see." He looked at Xiao Zhan and asked, "Young Master Wei, do you also love my son?"
Good heavens, the father is also straightforward.
Xiao Zhan bit his lower lip, feeling nervous on how he should answer it. His heartbeat faster than ever. Eventually he settled with, "Yes, I do."
There was a soft smile curving on Qingheng Jun's lips. He nodded. "I see." He repeated, sounding somewhat relieved.
"Well then, I am happy that your feelings are mutual." Qingheng Jun smiled once again. His eyes sparkled with an emotion that Xiao Zhan could perceive as nostalgic. It seemed to hold some sort of profound meaning to them. As he gazed at the man's face, he could see the faintest glimmer of sadness and regret and concluded in his mind that, the older man was reminiscing about his own history.
"But Young Master Wei..." Qingheng Jun began once again. Though there was a tinge of sorrow in his voice. "I hope you understand that our clan might not be as accepting of relationships like this, and our sect members might find it hard to tolerate. However, you two have proven yourselves quite willing to risk everything for each other, especially during these past few months. I cannot fault the two of you for pursuing this relationship. Therefore, I shall give you two the freedom to enjoy the happiness you both deserve." He smiled again before continuing, "Besides, I don't want you two to get caught up in any trouble. After all, both of you are the future pillars of Gusu. Please, protect each other."
With that, he walked towards Xiao Zhan, and put his hands on the young man's shoulder, squeezing it in support. "I am glad that you make Wangji happier."
His expression turning serious, he looked down at Lan Wangji and said, "Wangji."
Lan Wangji looked up at him. "Do what you feel is right. Never regret it." His expression turned gentle, tender, and warm as he added, "I wish I could be as courageous as you are in front of the world, my son."
For the first time in his life, Lan Wangji smiled brightly at his father in the face of such genuine appreciation of his actions. "Thank you, Father." He said sincerely. His voice carried a strong sense of gratitude.
Qingheng Jun was taken aback by the smile that blossom on his stoic son's face directed towards him. That smile itself was enough reason for him to give his entire support of their relationship. He then nodded in acknowledgement. Turning towards Xiao Zhan, he smiled kindly again, "You too, Young Master Wei. Take a good care of my son."
"I will, Sect Leader Lan." Xiao Zhan nodded earnestly. "I promise."
"Good. Now that that's settled," Qingheng Jun said, "Shall we discuss how our next move is going to work? We have the whole night ahead of us. Perhaps the two of you would be better suited to rest after all the fiasco earlier."
Xiao Zhan smiled, "That would be nice. But I'm afraid that I'll need to take this chance to do a reconnaissance of the area."
Lan Wangji nodded. He already knew that Xiao Zhan planned out for recon, so he didn't object to it either. "I will accompany Wei Ying." He stated firmly as though it was the only thing he could think of.
"Alright. Then, Young Master Wei and Wangji," Qingheng Jun nodded approvingly as he looked between Xiao Zhan and Wangji, "I will leave it to the two of you then. I trust that you two can do it stealthily, right? He asked rhetorically while Xiao Zhan nodded quickly.
"Of course, Sect Leader Lan." Xiao Zhan stated confidently.
Qingheng Jun nodded. "Then, I shall leave both of you in capable hands."
He then focused his gaze on Xiao Zhan and asked, "Young Master Wei, may I have a word with you alone?"
"Yes, Sec Leader Lan." Xiao Zhan responded after glancing at Lan Wangji who gave him a brief approving nod, and he followed Qingheng Jun to go outside.
Lan Wangji watched as they disappeared together, still in a daze as his mind was reeling with mixture of emotions.
Lan Xichen chuckled as he glanced over at his brother, who had been staring blankly ahead the whole time, "Are you okay, Wangji?"
Lan Wangji blinked, his gaze returning to his brother. "Mn."
Lan Xichen hummed thoughtfully before asking, "Happy that Father approves?
Lan Wangji stiffened a little before humming a response, "Mn."
"I thought so." Lan Xichen teased his brother lightly.
"Brother." Lan Wangji sighed tiredly, "Why must you always tease me like this?"
Lan Xichen chuckled, "Because I love you, Brother."
"..." Lan Wangji's brows furrowed slightly, obviously displeased with his brother's wordings. However, he did not say anything about it.
"Why can't you say that you love me too like you did for Young Master Wei earlier?" Lan Xichen continued teasingly as he patted his younger brother's arm playfully.
Lan Wangji narrowed his eyes at his brother before huffing indignantly, "Brother, please stop."
"Oh, come on. Don't sulk at me." Lan Xichen teased. "But you sure love Young Master Wei more than me."
"Brother!"
"I'm just joking, Wangji." Lan Xichen laughed.
"Hmph." Lan Wangji glowered and moved away from the relentless teaser. Lan Xichen's giggle entered his ears but he could not utter a word against that. So, he settled on doing meditation instead.
Meanwhile Xiao Zhan and Qingheng-Jun took a spot in the shade outside the main pavilion.
"What did you wish to speak to me about, Sect Leader Lan?" Xiao Zhan asked politely as he fiddled with his fingers.
Qingheng Jun looked back at him, a small smile playing upon his lips. "Young Master Wei, to tell you the truth, I've known of your feelings since early on. So, I know that you love my son just as much as he loves you." His eyes shone with warmth as he gazed deeply into Xiao Zhan's silvery irises. "I can see how much you make my son happy and to that, I thank you. That being said, you two will have my support."
His tone suddenly grew firm, "But I do need to ask you a question."
"Ask away, Sect Leader Lan." Xiao Zhan answered promptly, bowing slightly in respect.
"I know that you are a very strong young man and will be able to defend yourself against any threats that come to harm you in any case." He started, his eyes locked into Xiao Zhan's, "Your other cultivation method. Is it going to harm you or Wangji in any way?"
A look of shock crossed Xiao Zhan's face before he regained his composure almost instantaneously. His expression remained calm as he answered, "No, Sect Leader Lan, I assure you that they won't."
Qingheng Jun gave him a nod and a small smile before reaching up and patting him on the shoulder. "That's good to hear." He paused briefly, considering his next words carefully. "I am not going to lecture you or anything of the sort, Young Master Wei, but I must tell you that no matter what happens, don't lose control. You must maintain control over your body and mind in order to prevent anyone from getting hurt by it and you must be careful not to let any emotions cloud your judgement. If you allow your emotions to consume you and become a danger to Wangji and you yourself."
Xiao Zhan was silent, pondering what Qingheng Jun had said to him before asking, "You are aware of the nature of my cultivation?"
"Yes." Qingheng Jun nodded in affirmation and continued, "And I also know that you have reached the highest possible level of attainment for someone at your age. This level is considered a realm far above my own. I don't know exactly what kind of cultivation method you are practicing, and I wouldn't dare assume what it really does. I have no say in that. But still, promise me that you will not let yourself lose control, Young Master Wei, because the consequences of that will most likely disastrous."
Xiao Zhan took a breath before replying earnestly, "I promise, Sect Leader Lan."
A small smile spread across Qingheng Jun's lips once he saw the determination evident in Xiao Zhan's eyes. "Good. That's all that I needed to hear."
After saying this, he clasped his hands together, "Now, I guess we have a war to fight soon."