Lan Xichen had planned to spend most of the day with Lan Wangji. Nie Mingjue had written to ask if a visit would be welcome. Lan Xichen had appreciated the desire to provide support, especially from Nie Mingjue, but he wrote back to ask Nie Mingjue to visit the following day instead.

Nie Mingjue had already offered assistance in the search for Wei Wuxian. He was more subtle about it than YunmengJiang. A decision intended to try and mitigate any dramatic reactions from the other sects. Nie Mingjue said 'other sects,' but Lan Xichen was quite certain that Nie Mingjue meant the LanlingJin sect. Given their response to the GusuLan sect searching for Wei Wuxian outside of Gusu... Lan Xichen thought Nie Mingjue was probably correct to proceed carefully.

Instead of openly providing disciples to create additional search parties, Nie Mingjue quietly dispatched disciples to act as guides to the GusuLan sect's search parties. One or two disciples would join up with each group to aid in searching the QingheNie sect's territory. Having disciples familiar with the terrain and known problem areas made for a much faster search.

Lan Xichen wished Wei Wuxian was in QingheNie sect territory. Lan Xichen was confident that they would find him before long if he was in the Nie's territory. Unfortunately Lan Xichen was not naive enough to believe that just anyone would be able to capture Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji and Wei Qing both had a primary suspect. They had experienced the future. They knew better than Lan Xichen did, who might hold a grudge against Wei Wuxian. Lan Xichen had to defer to their wisdom in this manner, no matter if he liked the conclusion they had come to or not.

Lan Xichen did not want to believe any Great Sect would kidnap someone, let alone also kidnap a sick child. However, even Lan Xichen could agree that no voice that spoke against Wei Wuxian had been louder than that of Jin Guangshan. Even Sect Leader Yao had not slandered Wei Wuxian as much as the LanlingJin sect had. A truly impressive feat given that Sect Leader Yao always strove to be the loudest voice in the room.

It was not always Jin Guangshan, and it was not always in the tone of an accusation. But that did not dismiss the facts. Jin Guangshan had repeatedly disparaged Wei Wuxian's abilities. He did this by downplaying Wei Wuxian's achievements. While also inflating the severity of Wei Wuxian's less respectful behavior. Wei Wuxian was occasionally rude, but Jin Guangshan always expanded on those breaches of etiquette like they were a sign of rebellion and an unstable temper.

Jin Zixun had repeatedly attacked Wei Wuxian in public. Verbal assaults and threats mostly, Jin Zixun would not actually pose much of a challenge to Wei Wuxian in a fight. But Jin Zixun was fond of accusing Wei Wuxian publicly whenever Wei Wuxian drew the slightest attention to himself.

Even Jin Guangyao spoke about Wei Wuxian often. Lan Xichen couldn't say whether Jin Guangyao was genuinely concerned after hearing countless alarming rumours, or if there was a more nefarious intention behind A-Yao's continued attention toward rumours that Lan Xichen had assured him were false.

To an extent it didn't matter which was the case. Lan Xichen had to set his own hopes and ideals for the cultivation world aside. He promised to trust his didi. He could only do that by placing Lan Wangji's word above all others. So he would. After all, Lan Xichen had doubted Lan Wangji before. It resulted in innocent people dying and Lan Wangji being whipped for treason. Lan Xichen was determined to walk a different path in this life.

So, he considered Jin Guangyao's frequent repetition of concerns and rumours to be a further mark against LanlingJin. Whether someone was whispering in Jin Guangyao's ear so much that he couldn't let his concerns go, or whether he was deliberately repeating these things because he was told to. Either option meant someone in the LanlingJin sect was entirely too focused on Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji and Wei Qing both believed that the LanlingJin sect was behind Wei Wuxian's disappearance. They had a clear preoccupation with Wei Wuxian, and they would have the resources to kidnap and hold a powerful cultivator. There was a chance that it was someone else. An unknown third party, a minor sect, or even remnants of QishanWen that might hold Wei Wuxian accountable for the part he played in the sect's downfall. These were unlikely options, but they would search everywhere just in case.

More importantly, it would be dangerous to let the LanlingJin sect know that they suspected them. As it was, they didn't know if Wei Wuxian was being held within the LanlingJin sect, or at a separate location. It was already a rather bold move to search another sect's territory so thoroughly. If they had done it only to the LanlingJin sect it could be considered enough of an insult to spark a serious conflict. Searching all of the sect's territories was still somewhat risky, but it at least could not be called a direct attack on the LanlingJin sect.

If Wei Wuxian was being held somewhere in the greater Lanling area, there was every chance they would find him. Holding the LanlingJin sect accountable would be a problem to worry about once Wei Wuxian and Nuan-er were home. If they were being held within Koi Tower, finding them would be more difficult.

They could not openly search Koi Tower. They would either need the LanlingJin sect to cooperate, which they would not. Or they would have to force their cooperation. Forcing their cooperation would either require violence, or a threat so serious they could not evade or dismiss it. They could not risk an attempt to rally all of the sects to their side. At minimum it would take too long. Jin Guangshan could learn of the situation if one person talked too loud without looking around them. In which case killing and disposing of Wei Wuxian and Nuan-er would be a fast way to ensure no evidence of wrongdoing would be found.

For the same reason they could not risk a long deliberation of trying to win the minor sects to their side in a discussion conference. The LanlingJin sect had always been wealthy. With so many minor sects rebuilding after the war, many of them were relying on larger sects for support in rebuilding. The LanlingJin sect had not claimed much from the QishanWen sect, but they had also suffered very few losses in the war. They were in the best position to offer financial relief to the minor sects. Relief that would buy gratitude and loyalty from many minor sects.

Lan Xichen dearly missed the days when he did not have to think about this sort of underhanded manoeuvring. Lan Xichen had known that Wei Qing's time in Qishan was not pleasant, but he had not realized just how dangerous and exhausting it must have been for her. Lan Xichen had not even considered that Jin Guangshan might order Wei Wuxian killed if he thought there was a chance of being caught. Lan Xichen could not imagine compounding one wrong with a greater crime in order to avoid consequences.

Unless they got lucky and Wei Wuxian was being held outside of Koi Tower, then their greatest hope for finding him would be if Wei Qing or Lan Wangji were successful in finding a means to track him. Searching Koi Tower surreptitiously would not be easy no matter how they approached it. However, if they had some means of tracking Wei Wuxian or Nuan-er, it would narrow down where they needed to search.

Lan Xichen tried to put these things out of his mind for the moment. Just for today, he would allow himself to breathe. Lan Xichen was relieved to see that his didi was sitting outside with the Wei's. A-Yuan was playing with a few of his cousins not far away. The children were smiling, and doing an excellent job of keeping A-Yuan entertained and distracted.

Lan Xichen greeted them quietly before joining them. The Wei's made for good company. They were somewhat subdued with the grief of the day. Wei Wuxian's absence was an ache that echoed in every soft voice. Popo sat beside Lan Wangji and patted his head like he was one of her grandchildren.

"A-Ying will be back. He's a clever one. If you don't find him first, then he'll find you." She spoke softly.

Lan Xichen's heart ached with her words, like the sting of medicine on a wound. He remembered being very small and very sad, and feeling so very isolated in those feelings. Only Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji grieving, while everyone else's eyes seemed to be indifferent or exasperated. It had been a struggle for a young Lan Xichen to try and comfort Lan Wangji. Both of them were so young and both of them were trying to mourn someone that no one else seemed to miss.

Lan Xichen watched Lan Wangi's fists tighten on his lap. Pale gold eyes shined with unshed tears. Lan Wangji exhaled a slightly shaky breath and closed his eyes. It was much subtler than how Lan Wangji would be with Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian made all of Lan Wangji's expressions freer, but it touched Lan Xichen all the same to see his didi accept Popo's comfort.

Lan Xichen was content to sit beside his didi. There was a slight pressure as Lan Wangji subtly leaned against Lan Xichen's side. Lan Xichen was glad Lan Wangji sought out the comfort. It meant so much to Lan Xichen that Lan Wangji would find comfort in him like this.

"Sect Leader Lan." A quiet polite voice interrupted them. Lan Xichen turned to the disciple, unable to help a small disappointed frown. Lan Xichen had done his best to ensure he would not be disturbed today, but he was the sect leader. Emergencies and urgent business could not always be scheduled.

"Yes?" Lan Xichen prompted the young disciple.

"A visitor has arrived for Sect Leader Lan." The disciple said with a bow.

Lan Xichen took in a slow quiet breath to sooth the displeasure that churned in his stomach. Lan Xichen did not wish to entertain visitors today. The disciple did call whomever it was a visitor. Were it someone in great distress, or an urgent request, it would typically be noted. Perhaps the individual simply did not wish to disclose the urgent news. For a brief moment Lan Xichen dared to hope that it might be someone with news of Wei Wuxian, but Lan Xichen calmed his heart. He would know when he met with them.

"I will return after." Lan Xichen said as he gently placed his hand over Lan Wangji's closed fist. There was silence for a few beats of Lan Xichen's heart.

"Mn." Lan Wangji acknowledged quietly.

Lan Xichen gave Lan Wangji's hand a small squeeze before he stood and followed the disciple to the Yashi. Lan Xichen paused in his step in surprise once he saw who was there. Jin Guangyao stood to greet Lan Xichen with a polite bow and a sympathetic smile.