Unbroken

20

"Where are you two staying?" Yanli asked.

"At the moment we are starting a new sect," Wuxian answered.

"Excuse me?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"That is why I want to look more into my father's family. The Qishan Wei Sect. We took over the old Wen Sect area. Wei Qing and Wei Ning are there. We even have some people who just came in for some salvation. Even if it is for a few days. We are helping those from the streets...especially children," Wuxian answered.

"That is sweet of you," Yanli said, "it also seems like something you would do. That also explains the robes and the phoenix embroidery."

"The phoenix is our motif. It's a sign of rebirth, a fresh start," Wangji answered.

"That's nice," Yanli said, "why don't we take some time to reflect on what was said."

Yanli then handed Wangji then pouch with his and Wuxian's weapons. Wei Wuxian then grabbed Wangji's hand and pulled him out of the main hall and to the library.

"I don't necessarily know where to look...family history maybe," Wuxian suggested.

Wangji nodded. They then grabbed a couple books each and started to gaze through them for anything on Wei Wuxian's parents. After a good few hours of searching, they were about to call it a day when Wei Wuxian found something interesting. It was a book specifically about the burial mounds. Throughout the mountain, skeletal remains poke up from the soil from the sheer number of bodies buried there.

Allegedly it was said to be an old battlefield, the Burial Mounds is famed as a haven for walking corpses and vengeful ghosts. It resists the Qishan Wen Clan's purification attempts multiple times, until they are forced to close it off. Wei Wuxian was looking through the book more, seeing that there were secrets hidden behind all the resentful energy, such as hidden treasures, pathways, and other mysteries.

"Lan Zhan?" Wuxian asked.

"Hmm?"

"This isn't related to my father but look at this," Wuxian said handing him the book. He gave him a moment to look through it, "why would the Jiang's have such a book?"

"Remember when you told me Madam Yu didn't want you snooping around here?" Wangji asked.

Wei Wuxian ponders for a moment, "was this one of the reasons? Is this related to me?"

"I do not know," Wangji said and took out some parchment and ink, "I will write the locations down with the suggested treasures and secrets."

"Okay, I am going to clean these up and then we can go eat after we both finish," Wuxian said.

"Mnn," Wangji nodded.

Wuxian put the books back on the respective shelves. He then found another book that he found interesting. He decided to borrow it and put it in his Qiankun pouch.

"Lan Zhan," Wuxian said as he returned. Wangji looked at him, "I will let Shijie know but there was another book I saw that seemed to be helpful so I am just going to borrow it. I will tell her I will return it."

"I will make sure you do," Wangji says.

"That is why I am telling you," Wuxian said, "as you know my memory can get...well messy sometimes."

Wangji nodded, "having such a smart brain it can be hard to hold so much information."

Wei Wuxian blinked a couple times at his comment, "I think that was a compliment?" He asked.

"It was more something that I figured out about you. As you are smart but you have your moments where you forget about things," he said.

"Oh...I guess I will just take it as a compliment," he said, "but you are smart, and you are good at remembering things better then me. Why do you think that is?"

"Because I am disciplined to remember things more. I have grown to write things and repeat things over and over until I remember," Wangji said, "plus my mind isn't as chaotic as yours."

Wuxian giggled, "you like this chaotic brain of mine though," he said.

"I do," Wangji told him.

Wuxian smiled as he watched Wangji write down the last of the information they needed. As Wangji cleaned up, Wuxian put the book back. Just as they left the library, Yanli came to see them.

"Shijie," Wuxian says, "I hope you don't mind, but I am borrowing a book I found in the library. I will return it by morning."

"I trust you A'Xian," she said, "I made you and Wangji something to eat...it's not as spicy so it is suitable for Wangji...it's your favorite."

Wei Wuxian's eyes started to sparkle with joy, "is it what I think?" He asked.

"It is," she said, "it's in your old room."

"My room is still here?" He asked.

"It is," Yanli said, "do you remember the way?"

Wuxian nodded, "I do," Yanli nodded and bowed before walking away, "Lan Zhan, I suppose we can stay here for one night, hmm."

Wangji replied with a nod, "we can."

"Come," Wuxian said softly as he pulled Wangji's hand and led him to his old room. Once he enter, Wei Wuxian was hit with some nostalgia, "it all still looks the same."

"It's a fairly decent size for one person...but it's lacking things," Wangji pointed out.

"I wasn't given much, but it was enough," Wuxian said, "at the time I just felt happy to have a roof over my head and to be off the streets."

Wangji nodded but then his eyes turned to something he saw on the headboard of the bed. He took a closer look and it was a drawing of two male figures kissing, one of them wearing a forehead ribbon. Wangji smiled at the image knowing its implications and meaning.

"Wei Ying?" He pointed.

"Ugh, that," Wuxian said shyly, "I drew that a long time ago."

"When?" Wangji asked.

"When I came back from Gusu...before looking for the yin iron," he answered still being shy.

"Me?" Wangji asked, "and you?"

Wuxian nodded.

Lan Wangji smiled fondly at him and pulled him into a hug, "You are so sweet, A'Ying."

Wuxian blushed. He then saw the pot and two bowls on the table, "oh, look," he said.

Wangji chuckled, "let's eat."

Wuxian removed the lid, "lotus roots and pork ribs soup. It's my favorite and my shijie is the best at making it."

"I am looking forward to trying it," Wangji said happily. Wangji served the two and ate quietly.

After they ate Wuxian spent some time looking through the book he borrowed. It happened to be the history of the Jiang sect and its residents. As he searched through, he found his father's information. It didn't say anything about where he came from but it says that he left after his marriage to Wuxian's mother. They left the next morning, apparently because they wanted to travel. Wei Wuxian felt there was something odd about the passage and even felt there was missing information.

"Lan Zhan, does this seem as if there is information missing?" Wuxian asked.

Wangji looked through Wei Changze's section and he too, felt there was something missing from his section. What were the Jiang's hiding? Or was it Wei Changze who didn't want his history shared? If that was the case, then why?