《All Formal Requests》


 Make me an Offer

    <div>


    Wei Wuxian had been back in the past for the last several days.


    After waking up in his familiar makeshift tent and spending a few hours panicking and unsure how he had even ended up back here- he decided that he needed to make some changes, fast. The most important of which was sealing off the Tiger Seal and creating a fake tiger seal with enough power to fool the major sect leaders to replace it and have to percent to them and possibly destroy in front of them. The real Tiger Seal itself was too powerful to destroy safely just yet but he also did not want to spend the next year dodging Jin Guangshan''s overtures.


    On the first day of the now Former War Council meetings he had pushed to have Yunmeng Jiang to have oversight of the Dafan Wen Branch and other likely prisoners, sighting Yunmeng Jiang''s need for laborers and their debt to the Dafan Wen. It was partly successful and had split the division of the prisoners more evenly among the great sects, the bulk of which were still taken by the Jin.


    He had not attended before- in fact- if he went by how the meeting started he is pretty sure it was delayed until after Jin Guangshan arrived but this time Wei Wuxian was unwilling to wait for that worthless pile of trash to make himself available and made sure to encourage Jiang Wanyin to be more assertive.


    This time it will be the Nie with the help of Jin Guangyao (at the time of the agreement still Meng Yao) who would process them since they had the most hands-on knowledge of who would have participated in the war. Still, the Dafan Wen had not fallen into the category they had used to define as prisoners, labeled civilians, and left in supervised encampments in the Qishan area the Jin would supervise until Yunmeng could start taking them in. As civilian contributors to the Sun Shot Campaign, under Yunmeng Jiang they will be given slightly better land to farm and have better chances to live on, or so Wei Wuxian hopes. He still does not trust those other encampments made by the Jin, it all seemed too similar to the past.


    He had thought about it for a long time, thinking about what he might do differently this time if things should go as badly as they had before. How he could prepare some money he could use this time for the encampment in the burial mounds. How he would not be so afraid to show their faces to the world at large and the cultivation sects this time to prove that the people he has with him were not soldiers. How he could raid Qiongqi Path without having the Jin know it was him. But he still came back with several problems.


    He is sure his actions would still be found out eventually. Sooner or later the events will be blamed on him, with or without proof. He knows he will be blamed for it. With his mind clearer than it has been in a while, he can see how big and easy a target he has made of himself.


    He knows he can not hide both his lack of core from Jiang Wanyin and the whole of the Jiang Sect. He would need to break ties with them eventually and leave his adoptive brother without his support again. His continued use of resentful energy is too dangerous, he had always known it but he had never feared hurting those around him before. He could not risk Shijie as he did before.


    So when Lan Wangji had asked Wei Wuxian to go back to Gusu with him at that disastrous banquet where Jin Guanshan was again trying to bully Shijie into marrying the peacock, Wei Wuxian had snapped a little and replied ¡°All formal requests for betrothals and alliance should go through my sect leader Lan Zhan¡±


    To Wei Wuxian¡¯s surprise, it was Lan Xichen who had replied, apparently, he had been nearby and heard their whole interaction. ¡°You are right young master Wei, It would be best to formalize this request and have it done with¡±


    ¡°Brother¡±


    Wei Wuxian could not help but stare, Lan Xichen¡¯s sudden appearance and uncharacteristic sevier attitude jarring next to Lan Zhan¡¯s slight reprove. ¡°Ah Zewu-jun, that¡¯s ¡­¡± Wei Wuxian trailed off, having felt the frosty presence in contrast to the usual affability the first jade was radiating.


    Lan Xichen continued as if his brother had not spoken, his words encouraging even as his eyes grew flinty. ¡°It is a fine idea, Young Master Wei. Yunmeng Jiang has made it stance on such subjects known, it would be remiss of Gusu Lan to ignore it. Come Wangji, there are a few things I need your help with¡±


    With that Zewu-jun had walked away. Lan Zan apologized before excusing himself to follow his brother.


    Wei Wuxian was left there, staring after them more than a little confused.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The next day Jiang Wanyin had cornered him after the midday meal- demanding to know what kind of joke Wei Wuxian had been playing with Hanguang-jun, did he not understand how much Yunmeng Jiang needed alliances and could not afford to insult the other great sects, as he practically shoved a letter into his hands. It was a formal request for a marriage alliance between Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang, specifically for Wei Wuxian to marry into Gusu Lan as Lan Wangji¡¯s spouse signed by both Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji. Lan Xichen¡¯s words from the night before suddenly made more sense but then all of Lan Wangji''s actions from before were so much more confusing because this could not be right.


    He looks at Jiang Wanyin, eyes wide in disbelief. ¡°This is serious?¡±


    ¡°I received it this morning from an official messenger. All seals are authentic¡±


    ¡°This is serious.¡± He tells himself and Jiang Wanyin, because he can think of no time Lan Xichen would ever joke about this, but more than that he can¡¯t come up with any reason as to why?


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, what is this about?¡±


    ¡°I- I just didn¡¯t think, I mean. I guess I misunderstood- last night Zewu-jun said he would formalize things. I thought it was¡­ ¡° and Wei Wuxian stops because what had he thought? That Gusu Lan would demand Wei Wuxian handed over as some prisoner along with the seal- he is not dealing with The Lanling Jin or even the Qinghe Nie. No, the Lan just wanted him to stop actively cultivating the ghost path now that the war was over but surely they would not sacrifice their 2nd jade just for that. Lan Wangji could not be so ¡­ no, Lan Wangji was never like that, had never forced anything, never tried to even bring his sect into it. It had been Wei Wuxian who had pushed again and it was Lan Xichen who had answered back this time, and Wei Wuxian now understood that Lan Xichen must have been furious.


    ¡°It would be best to formalize this request and have it done with¡±


    Be done with you, is what Lan Xichen meant. Because after Wei Wuxian officially refuses Lan Wangji¡¯s proposal Lan Wangji¡¯s continued overtures would stop, they would have to. It would be unseemly to continue to pursue someone who has already rejected you. Especially in the way Wei Wuxian has been rejecting Lan Wangji. Moving forward, they could not spend any time alone, Lan Wangji having already shown interest in Wei Wuxian- it would not be proper. It would be inexcusable. He wouldn¡¯t ever really be able to seek him out. After this rejection, would Lan Zhan even want him to? Wei Wuxian would be expected to avoid Lan Wangji as well, after all why would he search out a suitor he has already rejected? It would be scandalous-


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, what am I supposed to do with this?¡±


    ¡°Accept¡± Wei Wuxian replies without thinking.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Accept- I mean tentatively accept? I need to think some things over, and well you also said you needed an alliance and now you will have one.¡±


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, I¡¯m not just going to sell my brother for an alliance. I did not do that to A-jie, why would you think I¡¯d do that to you!¡±


    ¡°The difference is A-jie doesn¡¯t want to marry the peacock right now. I might want to! Not the peacock of course! I mean- I need to decide soon, who knows if the Lan might change their Minds- This is Lan Zhan after all! Their precious 2nd Jade... damn- I just want to think about it for a little, alright!¡± Wei Wuxian rambles on as he paces the room, letter still clutched in his hand.


    ¡°What?! WEI W-¡±


    ¡°I mean it Jiang Cheng. Tell them I¡¯m seriously considering it. I just, I need to think about it and talk to Lan Zhan¡±


    ¡°Are you seriously telling me you want to marry that jade statue and live on that mountain of thousands of disciplines to orthodoxy? You, the grand master of demonic cultivation?¡± Jiang Wanyin asks, eyes wide in incomprehension.


    ¡°Ah Lan Zhan isn¡¯t like that, and don''t call me that. It makes me sound old and I¡¯m only what. 20 now?¡± Wei Wuxian deflects, even as he runs the number in his head, honestly having forgotten just how old he should be at this current time and place.


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, this isn¡¯t a joke. I know you like to play with Lan Wangji but this isn-¡±


    ¡°Stop¡± Wei Wuxian is surprised by just how sinister his voice comes out, dark and full of promise. It must stun Jiang Wanyin just as much because he stops immediately.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious Jiang Cheng. I would neverplaywith Lan Zhan.¡±


    Jiang Wanyin¡¯s jaw twitches, like he has something he would like to say about that.


    ¡°It is not the same Jiang Cheng. That was harmless teasing, This is serious.¡±


    ¡°Harmless teasing? It wasobviously shamelessflirting! Now we have a marriage proposal from Gusu LAN! Are you even a cut-sleeve?¡±


    Wei Wuxian can feel his face heat, unsure of how to reply, even as his mind runs through certain yellow book''s images only with his and Lan Zhan''s faces. As if his mind had just been waiting for him to turn his thoughts in that direction ¡°I¡¯m- I wasn''t. I mean I am..maybe? But it didn¡¯t- I wasn''t... Jiang Cheng! I¡¯m going to need some time. I really need to think about this. I have to go, let Lan Xichen know I¡¯m honestly considering this.¡± He stuffs the letter back into his brother''s hands. "I''m sure, I just need to clear my mind. I should go"


    Jiang Wanyin looks after his brother in complete bafflement, wondering if his ridiculous brother had really been flirting with the second Jade of Lan this whole time?


    Extra:


    LXC: WWX, is truly considering my brother¡¯s proposal? (Surprised)


    JWY: Yes¡­ he is thinking on the matter¡­ carefully. (gritting his teeth)


    LXC: Is there something the matter?


    JWY: He was surprised by the¡­ speed of the proposed marriage. He has only asked for time and that he might speak to LWJ privately.


    LXC: Very well...

 Give Me Some Time

    Wei Wuxian tells himself he will not be stopped.


    And so, Wei Wuxian starts to make his way to the Lan sect portion of the encampment. He is determined to find Lan Wangji and get his answers. The Disciples he passes along the way are quick to move aside to let him pass undisturbed.


    He spots the first few Lan Sect disciples and feels his stride falter and slow.


    His slowed hesitance steps let Wei Wuxian notice the curious looks of passing disciples, of which there are more and more cultivators wearing distracting white Lan Sect robes. Wei Wuxian can feel his palms begin to sweat.


    He sees the tops of the Lan Sects Gleaming white tents.


    He detours to the nearby woods, He ignores the confused stares that follow after him. He continues to walk further into the woods until he is sure he has let the camp well enough behind.


    "What am I doing? Argh!"


    He proceeds to pace aimlessly for several long moments as he thinks. Running over his past memories of Lan Wangji and viewing them with this mornings newfound information. He isn¡¯t sure if he is miss remembering or re-imagining everything.


    He wants to go looking for Lan Wangji and demand answers but doubts he will get the ones he currently needs. Besides, Lan Wangji and him have not been the best at talking and maybe that should matter more to Wei Wuxian than it does when he is considering marrying the man, and not just that but actually considering marrying into such as stuffy clan. But it doesn¡¯t in so far that it seems to be an obstacle keeping him from Lan Wangji.


    He turns in the direction toward the Camp grounds.


    "Ahhgg! This makes no sense. What is wrong with me. This is ridiculous. Yes, Ridiculous." He feels his face heat.


    "I am Ridiculous. and Shameless. Why can''t I just go over there and find Lan Zhan!?" He feels his heart begin to pump wildly in his chest and turns to continue his pacing.


    Wei Wuxian isn¡¯t sure what is wrong with him. Just the other night he had been pushing the man away, coming up with ways to avoid him until they had to leave for Lotus Pier, but just one letter and Wei Wuxian is wondering how he might rearrange his life to be near him.


    Wei Wuxian plops down on the ground uncaring of where he is and tries to calm his mind. Jiang Cheng is not wrong. He is being ridiculous. He needs to think about this. Logically he already knows the right answer to this question -but his brother did not ask for that answer.


    Politically, marrying the 2nd jade would be the right thing to do. The Jiang need allies, Wei Wuxian needs to better his reputation and the Lan can serve as his character witness if Jin Guangshan should try anything against him. Most people would have little to say about Wei Wuxian''s cultivation if Lan Wangji was there to serve as the sects¡¯ barometer of his unorthodoxy. After all, everyone knows just how Lan Wangji hates his new cultivation. But There has to be more than that, or why would the Lan have sent him a marriage contract, Wei Wuxian reasons but this he wont know until he asks.


    Objectively, having Lan Wangji by his side could help him.


    If Lan Wangji had been the one to ask his brother to tour the Labor camps, Lan Xichen would have found a way to make it happen without causing a giant scene. If Lan Wangji with his reputation and status had seen the camps, had been there. If Wei Wuxian had just taken some time and maybe even reached out to Nie Huaisang¡­


    Wei Wuxian understands how much his use of resentful energy had continued to affect him. His memories of the siege are barely comprehensible to him. Few of the decisions he made near the end make sense to him now and there are noticeable gaps in between. Coming back to a time when his body and mind are comparably clear of resentful energy has shown him the difference. He will need to find better ways to control how the resentful energy affects him.


    Maybe this time he might be able to ask Lan Zhan for help. He needs to keep his use of demonic cultivation but just maybe he can convince Lan Zhan to help him keep just his mind clear. He can see Lan Zhan''s face from the night before, apologetic and confused, as Zewu-jun practically dragged his brother away, or as close to it as he has seen any Lan do in a public setting. The First Jade had been furious but maybe, Zewu-Jun can''t be too against him just yet, or why even risk asking for Wei Wuxian.


    Logically, this is a good decision.


    Being on closer terms with the Lan means Wei Wuxian can also try to better his standing with the Nie, who would be helpful to have on his side against the Jin.


    Personally...


    Wei Wuxian growls in irritation, throwing himself down to writhe on the forest floor in frustration. After a while he lay still, looking up at the bright blue sky and it''s fluffy white clouds.


    Personally, even with all Wei Wuxian has lived through, he can honestly say that even with the mountain of positive reasons he can think of, it is not why he is actually considering accepting. Memories of a peaceful day in Yiling crowding his thoughts and making his heart beat faster.


    Now that the thought exists in his mind, it won''t leave him. Bringing with it all those times Wei Wuxian had taunted and teased the 2nd Jade. The images of Lan Wangji and his elegant movements, his noble bearing flood his mind. Wei Wuxian had drawn portrait upon portrait of the man. His slim calloused fingers, his long silky hair, his flawless jade like skin. Truthfully He doesn''t need to even look at Lan Wangji to be able to draw him anymore. But still, Wei Wuxian had a hard time keeping his eyes off him- during the hunt and by the liquor house when Wei Wuxian had thrown flowers at the man. How he has always stared into those beautiful golden eyes, and reached out just to skim his fingers over the sleeve of his robes or brush his shoulder. Wei Wuxian is so embarrassed by his past actions he can hardly think over the delayed embarrassment. No wonder Jiang Cheng had been so annoyed with him. He had been so much worse than any young infatuated maiden.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Wei Wuxian turns away from the sky and its stupid white fluffy clouds, as he curls into a tight ball. He can feel his face grow hotter and hotter with embarrassment as each memory hammers home how oblivious he had been. How many tantrums he pulled when he was both pulling and pushing on Lan Wangji with no idea of what he wanted, all the While Lan Wangji kept allowing it, accepting the large boundary he raised, lowered, and then raised again.


    Wei Wuxian decides he needs a break from embarrassing himself when he remembers he had planned to visit the Wen''s temporary encampment to see if he could find Wen Qing or Wen Ning. Since Wei Wuxian had managed to get the Dafan Wen to have slightly better treatment, then it should be no problem to visit them and check to see that all is going well this time around. Hoping that this will take his mind off things for a little while, he heads out to find the Wen siblings.


    *


    Wei Wuxian finds Wen Qing around two hours into his search and to his surprise she is not alone but surrounded by several children, as well as holding a little one in her arms. It is not that Wen Qing never took care of A-Yuan, it was that she was always so busy with other things and she had told him before that she prefers not dealing with young children, so to find her as the designated caregiver is more than a little entertaining to him. He tries not to think of how he has never met any of these children before.


    ¡°Wen Qing¡±


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping we could talk¡­?¡± He lets his question taper off.


    Wen Qing eyes him suspiciously but nods her agreement, calling over a few of the nearby Aunties that had been busy mending clothing to take over for her, before motioning for Wei Wuxian to follow her into a near by tent.


    The tent they enter is foreign but familiar in its practical setup for Wei Wuxian to recognize it as Wen Qing''s current temporary medical workspace.


    She sits him down on a nearby stool before he can say anything and starts looking over his meridians.


    "Ah, Wen Qing, I''m fine- that''s not why I came here"


    "Fine, he says after how long he has been repeatedly using resentful energy" Wen Qing mocks even as she continues her examination.


    "It''s not that bad"


    "Wei Wuxian, are you a medical professional now? Just sit still and let me look you over." He sits still for a while longer as she looks over his injuries.


    But as the moments pass by Wei Wuxian can not continue to take sitting in silence with such a stilted echo of their former interaction.


    ¡°I¡¯m in love with Lan Wangji¡± Wei Wuxian tells her without prompting.


    ¡°What- Why are you telling me this?¡± Wen Qing replies, eyes wide and confused.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of anyone else to talk to. Maybe Wen Ning but he is too soft. And you know sect politics better.¡±


    Wen Qing huffs, disapproving. ¡°What about your sister? Or your brother, the Sect Leader?¡±


    ¡°The Lan asked for a Marriage alliance, for me to marry in- to Marry Hanguang-Jun¡±


    Wen Qing Sighs ¡°I still don¡¯t understand, Wei Wuxian¡±


    ¡°How can I agree to marry him when I don¡¯t have¡­¡±


    Wen Qing pauses in her work for a moment, understanding lighting behind her eyes. "You haven''t told anyone?"


    ¡°No. Of course not. Do you think they would have let me fight in the war without a core? No, No one knows. He doesn¡¯t know. They wouldn¡¯t have asked if they knew. The Lan sect¡­¡±


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, you don''t have to tell the Lan Sect but if he really means that much to you-"


    ¡°I know- I know, I know I need to tell him but...¡± Wei Wuxian groans in frustration.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see how he would not find out after, unless you plan to keep your distance for the rest of your life¡± Her No Nonsense response is oddly comforting even with its bluntness.


    Wei Wuxian scoffs. Keep his distance, keep away from Lan Zhan- to keep his hands to himself when he had been given permission to... To have all the rights given to a spouse, just to ignore them. To give Lan Wangji hope and be so near but to have to pull away. Wei Wuxian does not see how he would be able to do that. It would be torture, for both of them if he is reading things right.


    ¡°I did say you wouldn¡¯t be able to hide it forever¡± Wen Qing Reminds him.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on forever- But I lived past the war so-¡±


    A sudden stillness as Wen Qing stops in her work. ¡°Wei Wuxian!¡±


    ¡°I know¡±


    ¡°Wei Wuxian, you don¡¯t need me to tell you your options. But you''re here and you will listen to me. The war is over. If your brother and sister Love you half as much as you have shown me you care for them. You can not keep treating your life so lightly. And this Hanguang-Jun of yours- if he cares for you at all- how must he feel watching you take risks as you do? I''ve heard enough stories to know how you have been pushing yourself. After all A-Ning and I went through to keep you alive, Wei Wuxian. Take better care of yourself- now sit still, your Meridians are awfully inflamed- but thankfully still treatable, If you had waited any longer to see a healer I can''t imagine the state they would have ended up in"


    And so Wei Wuxian Sits and lets her yell at him about the state of his body. Last time around He had not seen a healer until after they were settling into a rhythm in the burial mounds. Wen Qing had not said much on the possibility of his meridians healing or the possibility of salvaging any of his cultivation. So he sits and listens to her instructions. Sits and realizes that with the plans he had made to insure everyone elses well being, he had never thought about himself at all.


    Even now, when Lan had asked for him, when he had stopped and contemplated his future with himself in mind- he had not stopped to consider his health, at all.


    Even now, it was only a coincidence that the only person he could think to ask for advice is a pushy healer.


    "So, I could cultivate a new core?"


    "Maybe, but you haven''t healed as much as I would have hoped after all this time. Your use of resentful energy is not helping. Before you can even try for a new core, You need to stop- while you strengthen and heal your spiritual pathways, and your meridian''s are too enflamed with resentful energy to be of much help until they are cleansed."


    Wei Wuxian sits there, stunned by her easy acceptance of the possibility when before there had been none. "I ... How would I do that?"


    "The Lan have several different cleansing songs that might work... and Hmm, well, if you really are marrying one of the strongest cultivators in our generation. I can also think of fairly traditional methods of cultivation between spouses."


    "Wen Qing!"


    Wen Qing Laughs, short and her usual level of mean . "Your the one asking a healer for marital advice."


    "Wen Qing that is not the kind of advice I asked for" Wei Wuxian hides his face behind his hands.


    "Mhh, you might not have asked but I''m starting to think you might still need to know"


    Wei Wuxian peaks at her from behind his fingers.


    "Right, before starting on traditional forms of dual cultivation between Men..."


    And So Wei Wuxian sits and listens to her explanations even as his face is set a flame.

 And Ill tell you My Secrets

    The small clearing they had found to speak privately in might just be the one Wei Wuxian had his melt down in only that morning but Wei Wuxian tries not to think about it. What matters is that no one will know to look for them in the woods and the clearing is close enough for only a short awkward walk but still far enough that Wei Wuxian is sure that no one will walk in on their private conversation.


    The clearing itself is peaceful, with only the intermittent rustling leaves and the sounds of songbirds to interrupt them. The charged air between them is something Wei Ying had not expected. The tension feels very different from the one he has come to know and expect.


    ¡°Wei Ying¡±


    ¡°Lan Zhan¡±


    He looks upset, and concerned. Everything about him is unsure. So different from the Lan Zhan he is used to seeing and his steadfast determination to have Wei Ying give up his unorthodox cultivation. But then again, Wei Wuxian knows he had not been paying enough attention to their interactions before- or he would have been able to predict a marriage proposal of all things.


    Wei Ying nods and motions for Lan Zhan to speak.


    ¡°I heard from brother,. . . you are considering the marriage alliance.¡± It is not a Question, except that Wei Ying knows that it is. His youngerself would have read judgment in Lan Zhan''s stony silence, but Wei Ying can see the crease of Lan Zhan''s Brow and the stiffness in his shoulders as restrained hope and confusion.


    Wei Wuxian nods again, feeling unsure about what he should say or do now that Lan Zhan is in front of him, waiting for him to speak. Even though he had made his decision, with the reality in front of him Wei Ying is afraid to continue.


    Lan Zhan steps closer, his hand seeming to reach out to him before it settles back on Bichen''s hilt. His grip on the hilt tightens. Wei Wuxian can see his knuckles grow paler by the moment.


    ¡°Wei Ying¡±


    ¡°Lan Zhan¡±


    Lan Zhan huffs, but presses his lips together gazing intensely at Wei Wuxian, as if to hurry him into speaking first. Wei Wuxian would have laughed at the show of impatience except he is much too wound up to really find anything in their current situation funny.


    ¡°I won¡¯t accept a political marriage," Wei Wuxian blurts out and Lan Zhan stiffens even more, eyes shuttering.


    "Lan Zhan. I haven¡¯t known the Lan to seek out political marriages but It¡¯s not like I can just ignore all these people who are suddenly interested in me. Though this is the first marriage request. So this might be- a ridiculous question, I know- I mean how can I honestly expect something different but I thought maybe. Lan Zhan, you¡¯ve always ignored me in the past- So I have to ask.¡±


    Lan Zhan has practically turned to stone but Wei Wuxian can not stop the words from leaving his mouth.


    ¡°I have to be sure. I don¡¯t want to marry someone who only sees me as part of their duty. I really can''t accept that- especially not from you. I couldn''t take that, Lan Zhan. I want- I need a partner. Someone who loves me and I love in return. So if you are only asking to marry me because you feel sorry for me or because your sect wants the seal-¡±


    It takes him by surprise, and for a moment he is lost. confused as to just where and when he might be. The kiss is searing, hot and demanding, and Wei Wuxian is swept away by its need. He thinks he is blindfolded again, having his kiss stolen on Phoenix Mountain, but then he opens his eyes- eyes he did not remember closing- to the sight of long down turned coal black lashes on jade smooth skin, silky black hair and the unmistakable cloud patterned ribbon.


    He feels his Legs go weak and Lan Zhan is there pressing Wei Wuxian harder against the rough uneven surface of a tree. ''When had they moved?'' He wonders idly.


    This is not his first kiss but, The Phoenix Mountain hunt has not happened yet. There has been no stolen kiss. There was no shy strong maiden, who''s hands were just as strong, and trembled just as sweetly. The unmistakable scent of clean sweat and sandalwood, surrounds him and reminds him of safety on endless battlefields. Wei Wuxian feels a fool, but he is also dreadfully grateful. Though he will never be able to ask now. The answer lost to time, but he knows. He is sure. And this will be their first Kiss. His first kiss.


    ¡°Lan Zhan?¡± He practically pants, surprised to hear his voice sound so breathless and so needy.


    Lan Zhan is gone, having set a surprising amount of distance between them in such a short time, or maybe Wei Wuxian had been too dazed to notice. Wei Wuxian is still leaning on the tree for support, mind hazy with lust. His eyes are clear enough to see Lan Zhan bowed deeply before him. ¡°Apologies. I have overstepped.¡±


    Wei Ying looks down at this unbelievable man, mind still reeling from the realization that he had been so wrong in his past life. He takes in a long breath to settle himself. As he walks over to his old friend he takes in his tight posture and down-turned eyes, his red ears and bruised lips. That look of confused anger- Wei Ying recognizes. He can''t help the small happy laugh that escapes him.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Lan Zhan''s guilty eyes meet his, as Wei Ying closes the distance between them. ¡°I don¡¯t care, you can overstep all you want,¡± Wei Wuxian says as he pulls Lan Zhan to a standing position.


    ¡°Wei Ying?¡±


    ¡°I really like you Lan Zhan, I want to be with you- when I got the letter I thought. - I wasn¡¯t sure. I had thought for the longest time that you didn''t want that- especially not with me - but then I thought maybe it was just the Lan sect making you- but then I couldn''t believe Lan Xichen would do that to you but- you have been so angry- I couldn''t believe-No, Lan Zhan is too good ...and I thought you hated me.¡±


    ¡°No- never. Wei Ying is good. I was worried. I like Wei Ying. Want Wei Ying. Love Wei Ying"


    ¡°Yes, Lan Zhan¡±


    ¡°Wei Ying¡±


    And before he knows anything else, all he knows is Lan Zhan, his strong warm body pressing against his, thickly muscled arms holding him close, hot mouth and tongue plundering his mouth, long graceful fingers tangling in his hair.


    Lan Zhan''s heat and the thrum of strong clean spiritual energy simmer closer to the surface of Lan Zhan skin. It calls to him, to the aching abused mostly hollow core of him. It is that familiar feeling that reminds Wei Ying that there is still more he needs to tell Lan Zhan before they can go any further. The center of him aching to respond to Lan Zhan¡¯s power, as it would have, had he still been whole.


    ¡°Lan Zhan- wait. Oh- gods. Lan Zhan- yes-No! I mean Wait, I- Lan Zhan you shameless man!¡± Wei Wuxian practically squeaks when he feels Lan Zhan pull back and as his hands settle low on Wei Ying¡¯s hips, more accurate to say Lan Zhan is practically fondling his ass.


    ¡°Mhm, apologies for taking liberties,¡± Lan Zhan says, he does not, however, move his hands or look particularly apologetic.


    Wei Ying can¡¯t help the giggles that escape him at seeing Lan Zhan say something like that with such a stoic face, even as he continues on in his errant way.


    He smiles, a small soft thing, Wei Ying has only ever seen twice before, one he fears might not happen again.


    ¡°Lan Zhan¡± Wei Ying starts and stops again. His throat closing around the words he has held back for so long. He can feel himself begin to shake. Lan Wangji raises his hand from the swell of Wei Wuxian''s ass to wrap more securely around Wei Wuxian''s waist, hoping to lend comfort.


    Wei Wuxian leans in closer, resting his head on Lan Wangji''s shoulder. ¡°I need your word. Promise me you won''t tell anyone, Lan Zhan, please.¡± Wei Ying pleads.


    ¡°I promise, Wei Ying¡±


    He stays wrapped in Lan Wangji''s arms as he tries to work out where to start. After several more moments of silence he settles on the most important part of it.


    ¡°I have no golden core¡± Is Wei Ying''s broken whisper.


    Lan Zhan''s hold tightens almost painfully before loosening to a firm comforting embrace. ¡°Wen Zhuliu.¡±


    ¡°Ah..¡± It would be easier to agree. Lan Zhan was not asking a question, only explaining his conclusion. A likely one most would come to, but Wei Wuxian can¡¯t bring himself to lie to Lan Zhan about the reason he might no longer be able to be his cultivation partner.


    ¡°No,I ... I gave it away.¡±


    ¡°Wei Ying?¡± An inflection of confusion more than anything else.


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell him. But- after Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng he ... ¡° Wei Ying''s voice trails off, unable to finish his story.


    ¡°Baoshan Sanren.¡± Lan Zhan finishes for him. Understanding dawning on him even as he speaks the name aloud.


    ¡°How?... -He told you?¡±


    ¡°Hm, when we searched for you. He¡­ He doesn¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°No, he never would have agreed.¡±


    Lan Zhan Pulls Wei Ying into his arms fully and buries his face into his hair. ¡°Wei Ying is too good, too selfless. Wangji has been too blind.¡± He can feel the small tremors that rock Lan Zhan''s body and horrifyingly, can feel soft droplets fall on the bear exposed skin of his neck. Lan Zhan is crying.


    ¡°Lan Zhan- No, it''s not- I didn''t want you to know. I pushed you away. Lan Zhan. I will understand if you can''t marry a commoner like me. I know that the Lan were expecting someone -"


    "No. Love Wei Ying. It does not matter if Wei Ying has a core. I will not marry anyone but Wei Ying" Lan Zhan assures him.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Mn" is Lan Zhan''s reply as he pulls Wei Ying close. In his arms, Wei Ying can feel Lan Zhan''s rapid heartbeat thrumming just below the surface of his skin. the resentful energy still clogging his meridians roiling in an odd mix of interest and apprehension. "Will only ever be Wei Ying."


    "There is still a chance... I could cultivate normally again. But Lan Zhan, even if I can cultivate normally again, I don''t want to stop learning more about resentful energy. How I use resentful energy is not like other cultivators have in the past. There is so much we could do and so many people we could help if cultivators had tried to understand resentful energy better. There could be so many spirits that might not have needed to be exterminated and removed from the cycle of reincarnation." Wei Wuxian feels Lan Zhan tense.


    Lan Zhan pulls away so he can look into Wei Ying''s eyes as he speaks. "Wangji understands. Wangji will not stop Wei Ying from helping others, or Wei Ying from going where he wishes. But If Wangji can stay by Wei Ying''s side, and help Wei Ying in all he does. That is all Wangji would ask for."


    Wei Ying looks into Lan Zhan''s worried face, and listens to the man''s modest request. notes the moisture still collected in Lan Zhan''s long lashes even now and the stark red rim of his eyes. Wei Wuxian wipes away the stray tears. He remembers Wen Qing''s words and wonders at what he had missed his first time around because of how he had refused to look. "Ah my Lan Zhan is too good to me.¡±


    He leans into Lan Zhan. ¡°What will you tell your brother.¡±


    ¡°The truth. Wei Ying¡¯s cultivation was greatly damaged after the fall of Lotus Pier and might not be recoverable. And that Wei Ying believes in furthering understanding of resentful energy for the betterment of upholding our responsibility of protecting the people and widening the base of our cultivation knowledge¡±


    "Ah Lan Zhan, you brazen liar." Wei Wuxian Laughs.


    "Not A lie, Wei Ying is allowed to keep his concerns private." Is Lan Zhan''s stubborn reply.


    "Lan Zhan, why even bother telling Lan Xichen anything?"


    "Brother is a Sect Leader and should know of any possible ...complications but he does not need more than that. He will understand Wei Ying''s need to keep his matters private. The war is over but peace still waits for more stability. "


    "Alright,... But I need Wen Qing. She is my doctor. the best when it comes to golden cores."


    "Mhm, ... I will let brother know."


    Wei Ying breathes in deeply, taking in the unexpected turn this new life has taken. It is far from what he had expected but better than anything he had planned on. This decision will changed things drastically and sooner than expected Wei Wuxian will not be able to used the information from is last time around but even so Wei Wuxian feels hopeful. This time he will take care to live this life for himself as well.


    "Lan Zhan, Lan Er-gege"


    "Mn"


    "Future husband"


    "Wei Ying"


    "A-Zhan, take me back to your tent."