Wei Ying picked up Bichen, quite reverently because this sword had protected him on many occasions and it would not be false to say he owed it his life. The hilt was made of reinforced steel and together, the sword and the scabbard were quite heavy, yet it was a testament to the famous Lan arm strength that Lan WangJi could wield it so efficiently.

He felt a little bit nervous too, because Lan Zhan wasn't there right now, and Wei Ying had succumbed to his mischievous mind, that had long desired to see it up close without being on the receiving end.

Sure, if he had asked Lan Zhan if he could touch it, the sword Master extraordinaire would never refuse him, but there was something wildly intimate about looking at it now.

By himself.

The scabbard was also made from the same reinforced steel as the hilt of the blade and both were intricately carved with white jade and silver, rendering the sword as priceless anyway, even if it were not feared in the Cultivation world as a formidable weapon, equal to its owner.

Very gently, he pulled the sword out of its sheath, examining the fine blade. There was a perfect balance in its weight, a little heavy all around, and certainly not as light as Suibian. The cold metal vibrated, recognising his touch and just from that, Wei Ying felt a warmth grow in his chest at its acceptance of him. The thin blade was nearly transparent, emiting an aura of ice and snow, and Wei Ying had witnessed the blue glow it was able to give off in the past.

He was pretty sure had he been anyone else, the sword would not have budged from it's scabbard and because the sword held him in such high regard too, he felt a little overwhelmed by its trust.

Wei Ying did not mean to cry, and for a second he wondered where the moisture had come from, but the drops continued to fall and to his dismay, upon the blade itself.

And Lan Zhan chose that moment to return.

Wei Ying vaguely heard the door of the Jingshi open, that faint swish as it closed again, and somewhere in his head, he knew he was being called. The sword was taken out of his hands and he was wrapped in a cloud of white fabric as Lan Zhan drew him into his arms.

He sniffed, kind of embarrassed and simultaneously relieved.

"Did Wei Ying hurt himself?" His deep voice was calm and gentle.

Wei Ying felt better already.

"No. Not at all." Wei Ying rested his damp cheek on Lan Zhan's strong shoulder, smiling gently.

"Then why is Wei Ying crying?"

"You know, Lan Zhan...I don't even know. I'm sorry for getting Bichen wet."

"No need. Wei Ying is more important."

His arms tightened and Wei Ying knew what he was asking silently.

"I have had this wish for such a long time now...I...I wanted to touch Bichen. Maybe because your sword is part of you, and partly because there's this mystery about it...but anyways, when I saw the naked blade...I remembered how my sword didn't let anyone else touch it, but yours...yours has protected me so many times, too many to count...and I guess I just felt grateful. And to be honest, I was really surprised when I could open that scabbard." He sighed softly.

"It is because Bichen recognises you. Wei Ying is part of me. Bichen will always defend you."

"I guessed as much...but...how did you know I was touching Bichen?" Wei Ying leaned back to look at him.

Lan Zhan looked down but his ears were a bright red.

"It wasn't just a coincidence, right?" He stepped out of Lan Zhan's embrace to test his theory.

Lan Zhan was watching him with increased intensity, those golden eyes full of anticipation at what Wei Ying was going to do.

Wei Ying picked up the sword, noting the way Lan Zhan's breath hitched.

His hand caressed the blade, the flatness strong and cold, deadly to others. His fingers slid up the middle ridge to the name engraved at the hilt.

Lan Zhan was clenching his fists.

Wei Ying lifted the sword to his lips and kissed the name.

Lan Zhan flung the sword out of his hands and captured those lips, swallowing every breath as he sought to taste more, more, more of Wei Ying, wild with need. His mind was full of frenzied devotion, eagerly tasting the richest delicacies hidden within, his hot tongue invading and powerful, feeding off every moan and every whimper. Teeth clashed as desire raged like an uncontrollable storm, battering their senses.

Lan Zhan pushed him towards their bed with an urgency, and his frustration at not getting there fast enough had him lifting Wei Ying and physically throwing him onto the bed.

Wei Ying tried to catch his breath but he was caught in the golden glare of a man in need, and his own matching desire, he did the only thing he could: Wei Ying opened his arms.

Lan Zhan pounced.

*********

Later, he spoke.

"There is to be a banquet in Lanling. We have to go." His voice was full of distaste.

Wei Ying rolled over onto him.

"I'd rather not go, too. When is it?"

"Two days."

"Okay. I suppose we should set aside our differences."

"..."

"Give them another chance."

"Jiang Cheng will be there."

"Oh."

Wei Ying had not seen his brother since the Guanyin Temple.

"What if we don't go?"

"Uncle is insisting. Xiongzhang cannot."

"I see. Then...I guess we'll have to."

"Mn."

********

Lan Zhan hated Koi Tower.

Lan Zhan hated the Jin Sect.

Lan Zhan hated Jiang Cheng, Jiang WanYin.

So to go back there, with Wei Ying, when all three things did not like his lover, went totally against the grain.

But he held onto Wei Ying and faithfully flew there on the day of the banquet.

Wei Ying hated Koi Tower. For various reasons, none of which he liked to remember, so he didn't. He remained quiet instead.

Up those dreaded steps, the many flights heightening his anxiety, and then, who did they have the fortune of meeting but Jiang Cheng.

His sneering face doubled in disdain, and Lan Zhan thought, not today.

Wei Ying faltered, but the squeeze on his hand gave him added courage.

And then they were facing him.

"I see you brought your boyfriend." Jiang Cheng scowled.

"Husband." Wei Ying proudly corrected him.

"You have no shame." Jiang Cheng retorted.

Wei Ying did not answer and walked on, but Lan Zhan wasn't going to let it go.

"No brother, either, it seems."

He watched in satisfaction as those purple eyes widened.

Unfortunately, their seating arrangement sucked, because they were placed right next to him. Lan Zhan made sure to sit in between the brothers as a shield for his Wei Ying.

"Wei WuXian, what do you do all day in that boring place? Jiang Cheng fingered his cup, clearly baiting him.

"Oh, it's not boring at all, is it Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying smiled at him brightly.

"What do you think we do?" Lan Zhan raised a brow suggestively.

Jiang Cheng: "Ew."

Wei Ying leaned over their table innocently.

"Yeah, what do you think we do? I love playing with our rabbits."

"And swords." Lan Zhan took out Bichen a few inches and slammed it back into its scabbard a few times, pointedly, never dropping his eyes from Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng stood up and stormed off.

Wei Ying looked blankly at Lan Zhan, who smiled and stopped doing it.

Lan Zhan thought it was going quite well, all things considered....

********

Hardly anyone bothered to mess with them, being the Great Hanguang-Jun and the Yilling Patriarch, but a few liked to slip under the radar.

"It's such a shame that Zewu-Jun could not come instead." Sect Leader Yao said, making a point of coming to their table just to tell them that.

All Lan Zhan could remember was how fiercely he had opposed Wei Ying.

"How did you get here? Did someone leave your cage open?" Lan Zhan told him, staring back coldly.

"You-" he was getting redder by the minute.

"I would say something complimentary," Lan Zhan went on, unsmiling,"but it is against the rules to lie."

"How dare you!" Sect Leader Yao blustered. "If you're not careful, I shall insult you too! So what if you're the second Jade of Gusu?"

"In order for you to insult me, I would first have to value your opinion." Lan Zhan calmly sipped his tea while Sect Leader Yao was apparently suffering a hear attack.

He was led away, and no one dared to mess with them again.

When it was time to leave, they were presented with a box of calla lily bulbs. Lan Zhan smiled and gladly accepted it.

On the flight home, Wei Ying asked him about it.

"What's the significance?" He wondered.

"Does Wei Ying not know?" There was unbridled amusement in his tone.

"No, tell me!"

"They are a symbol of farewell, meaning don't come back again."

Wei Ying laughed out loud.

"Not that I'm complaining, but I wonder what we did?"

"Mn."

"Who's going to tell uncle?"

Oh yes, there was that...