Wuji: A Promise Kept

10

Wuxian was sitting in a private room with Lan Qiren, Lan Xichen, and Lan Wangji. He had just finished an interesting conversation with the spirit of Lan An, the founder of the sect. He was still trying to process the conversation in his head but maybe it was a good idea to talk about it with Wangji, Xichen, and Lan Qiren.

"Are you willing to tell us what you two talked about?" Lan Qiren questioned.

Wuxian nodded, "he said he could help me cultivate again...but I'd need your permission to go through with it," Wuxian said.

"If he can help you, why would we deny you permission?" Lan Xichen asked.

"He told me that I would need to spend several weeks to a few months inside your sacred cold caves. So I would need your permission to enter. He told me that you three would know about it but there is a secret passage that leads to a cultivation chamber. He also told me that the day before I go into secluded meditation, to take a core strengthening tonic which is usually given to those who have been through or almost experienced a Qi Deviation. He said once I was inside he'd be there to guide me through the rest of it," Wuxian explained.

Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen looked at one another for a moment then nodded. Lan Qiren then looked at Wuxian, "we will allow you to go through with this. Did he say why he'd help you?"

"He said he knew my grandmother and was good friends with her. He said that he would help a family member of hers if they needed it...I guess he never spoke of this to anyone but apparently he could cultivate Yin and Yang energy, which is why he is able to help me," Wuxian explained.

Lan Qiren nodded, "You could cultivate both before losing your core?"

"I am not sure, but from what it seemed, I think I could," Wuxian said, "now that I am without it, all I cultivate is Yin Energy."

"I am guessing you will continue to heal inside the chamber?" Wangji asked.

"I think so," Wuxian said, "he didn't say anything about that. He also didn't tell me when I could go. He said whenever I am ready I can just go and he will be there waiting for me."

"Well, if you'd like to go through with it, why not set up to go into seclusion in three days. It would give the healers time to make the tonic for you," Lan Qiren said.

Wuxian nodded and looked at Wangji, "will you be okay without me for a little while longer?" Wuxian asked.

Wangji nodded, "why don't we set up the ceremony while he is in seclusion?" Wangji suggested, "that way we can have everything prepared when he comes out."

"Really?" Wuxian asked.

"I don't see why not, we would need to have Wuxian meet with the keepers to take measurements for his new robes. He doesn't need the forehead ribbon even though he has Wangji's but he has to wear robes showcasing that he is married into the sect," Lan Qiren explained.

"I can go meet with them and have them prepare some fabrics and samples for tomorrow afternoon," Xichen said, "even ask them to get a wedding hanfu set for him and Wangji."

"Are you two okay with that?" Lan Qiren asked.

"Do I have to wear pure white?" Wuxian asked.

Lan Qiren smirked, "we can work with the keepers. You can wear blue as Xichen and I normally do. Maybe even black and blue. You would need a couple white robes for special occasions," he replied.

Wuxian nodded, "I can at least handle that...I just don't want to give up my red ribbon," Wuxian said.

"You do not have to," Lan Qiren told him, "it was your mother's, correct?" Wuxian nodded. Lan Qiren spoke again, "as you do with Wangji's ribbon, you can wear the red ribbon on your wrists if you like. That way the red doesn't clash too much."

"Okay," Wuxian said, "thank you for doing this."

"You are family, Wei Ying," Wangji said, "no need to say thank you to family."

Wuxian looked at Xichen and Lan Qiren. The two nodded in agreement with Wangji. Wuxian couldn't help but smile, "I am still thanking you....for giving me a chance anyway," he said.

"Now that I understand your story, I have a better understanding of you," Lan Qiren said, "my behavior towards you in the past was wrong and I am sorry. I want to do what I can to make amends for my behavior."

"I honestly think it was justified in some sense," Wuxian said, "I was very annoying back then...I can't sit still for the life of me. So the fact that I lasted that long in this sect back then is actually very surprising."

Lan Qiren huffed, "since everything has happened, you have matured well. I am sure you will have your moments."

"I will try to behave," Wuxian told him.

"I will have Wangji deal with your punishments if need be," Lan Qiren said, "I'm sure he will be able to handle that."

"I will," Wangji replied, "he has been fine so far."

"That is because I have not been around the juniors yet," Wuxian told him, "speaking of, I know Sizhui is still out traveling with Wen Ning but where is Jingyi? I haven't seen him since I have been here."

"He is at the Hanshi...writing," Lan Xichen replied.

"Huh?" Wuxian asked, "your place? Why?"

"He is actually an orphan within the sect so I took him in and adopted him as my own. At the moment, he is writing as he is now dealing with a punishment," Lan Xichen explained.

"Do I want to know?" Wuxian asked.

"I have to say, that boy is worse than you were at sixteen," Lan Qiren said, "that boy had the nerve to put bees nests in the Lanshi (orchid room/lecture hall) during exam week."

Wuxian couldn't help but laugh, "that is one way to try and get out of an exam...at least he isn't Huaisang who tried to convince me to let him cheat. I told him no of course," Wuxian said.

"He did what now?" Lan Xichen asked.

"Oh, he didn't want to have to return so he begged me several times to let me help him cheat. I told him I was dealing with my own problems as I was busy writing rules at the time," Wuxian explained, "I think Lan Zhan even overheard him once."

"I did, however he got scared and left before I could reprimand him," Wangji said.

Wuxian giggled, "I still find it incredibly interesting how so many people find you either scary or intimidating. I did not think so at all."

"Actually, you are probably the first person outside of the family that did not find him scary or intimidating. You seemed to have some sort of daring nature as you would always try to provoke him," Lan Xichen said.

Wuxian smiled, "what is so scary about him?" Wuxian pointed to Wangji, "he may seem like an ice block but he is just a cute teddy bear."

Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen chuckled at Wuxian's honesty about Wangji. Lan Wangji, however, did not find being called a teddy bear endearing at the moment, "are you calling me soft?" Wangji asked.

"Maybe," Wuxian replied.

Wangji sighed, "we will talk about this later."

"Okay," Wuxian said as he was not the least bit worried. Wangji, though, was plotting in his mind on how to get back at him for calling him a softy.