Lan Zhan looks at Wei Ying, tongue-tied. He doesn't understand what he should say or ask. His hopes of finally living with his soulmate, a man with who he had been in love since he was seventeen, gone Lan Zhan feels like his heart is being ripped apart by a tornado. 

Yet, a part of him feels relieved that maybe his Wei Ying could go back to his carefree, happy self.

"Ummm, Hanguang Jun?" Wei Ying calls, dragging Lan Zhan out of his reprieve, "Mn?"

Wei Ying looks at his wounds, "How could Jiang Cheng leave me in a place like this!? He is here, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Hanguang Jun, I don't feel good-"

Lan Zhan tries to approach him again but almost immediately changes his mind. Instead, he bows, "I will fetch him and the physician. You were gravely injured. Please don't move. You are safe here." He interrupts and turns away.

He is almost at the door when he hears Wei Ying wince again. He stops but decides that Wei Ying needs Jiang Cheng more than him and starts walking again.

At least, he tries. But he finds that he can't. He finds a blue, glowing thread wrapped around his waist.

He turns swiftly; his eyes follow the thread and come to a stop on Wei Ying's wrist. He catches his eyes. Wei Ying's eyes hold happiness, affection, and a hint of mischief. 

"Aigoooo Hanguang Jun, looks like this heart, " He sighs, patting his chest, "Can't keep pretending any further; it can't bear to see you unhappy."

"Mn?"

Wei Ying tugs the thread and winces. His hand moves to his injury.

 "Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan exclaims and comes to the latter's side in an instant, "What... Why-" He tries to form a coherent thought but fails.

Wei Ying guides Lan Zhan's wrist to his heart, "Lan Zhan, Hanguang Jun... you are deeply ingrained in my heart. Nothing can take your memories, our memories, away from me." He smiles and kisses his knuckles one by one, "I am sorry-" he starts, but unexpectedly, Lan Zhan leans in and kisses the corner of his lips, "No, don't. No sorries or thank yous are needed. Not now, not ever." Lan Zhan joins his husband on the bed and carefully holds his soulmate in his arms.

"Lan Zhan, I am pretty sure being a cut-sleeve is forbidden in Cloud recesses."

"I don't care." The light bearer replies, tucking Wei Ying's head under his chin, "If cloud recess doesn't accept you, I will reject it." He pauses and looks into his husband's eyes, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I returned from death."

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"No, not anymore." Wei Ying replies, intertwining their fingers, "Lan Zhan, aren't you angry with me for tricking you?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I deserved it. Wei Ying, I think I should go call Elder Bao, your physician." Lan Zhan suggests, trying to leave the bed, but stops when the grip on his hands tightens. "Don't. Not yet. Stay with me a little. I don't feel like sharing you with anyone yet."

 "Okay." Lan Zhan readily agrees, kissing the top of the latter's head.

*Library pavilion*

After having left Wei Ying and Lan Zhan at his chamber, XiChen had thought to seek refuge in one of the guest quarters, but his feet had dragged him to the Library Pavilion instead.

Since the time he had returned from the in-between realm, he hadn't been able to calm down. He felt restless and miserable somehow.

He was more sure than ever, after what he had seen in the in-between realm, that Meng Yao had held feelings for him.

"Why did you not say anything?" He asks aloud, entering the empty place. He looks around; his eyes land on a lonely zither left on the floor. His mind drifts to the time he had taught Meng Yao to play the healing notes so that they could help their sworn brother's deteriorating health. He squats down and pulls the instrument in his lap, caressing its strings. He closes his eyes, "Why did you break my trust, A Yao? If you loved me, then didn't you think how I would feel when the truth comes to light? You were my closest confidant...my best friend, and yet, not once did you hesitate to hurt Wangji." He pauses, "I am sure you knew what Master Wei meant to Wangji, didn't you?"

He starts playing a tone: a tone filled with pain and anguish. It's a testimony of heartbreak and betrayal, for though the older Jade didn't know how he felt for his sworn brother, he was sure that his heart hurt to think about what his once close friend had done.

He closes his eyes and immerses himself in the cords and rhythm that echo through the walls of the library pavilion.

"Zewu Jun! Stop!" He hears a familiar voice call him, and he opens his eyes.

Jiang Cheng's worried face stares back at him, "What are you doing, Zewu Jun!?" He demands.

"Playing," XiChen replies absentmindedly.

Jiang Cheng huffs and grabs his wrist, "You are bleeding!" He exclaims, bring up his hands and showing them in front of his face, "Are you fucking crazy!?"

Lan XiChen looks at his bleeding fingers, "Oh."

"Oh. What 'oh'!?" Jiang Cheng's temper rises. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "Don't move." He instructs.

Before XiChen can protest, warmth starts spending through his body, converging at his fingertips, and within minutes, the wound heals.

Sweat breaks out on Jiang Cheng's forehead. He opens his eyes, "You should take better care of yourself. I won't be around to take care-" He stops as if remembering who he is speaking to and what their relationship is. "My apologies, Zewu Jun. I spoke out of turn." He stands up at once and steps away. "I... I just came to tell you that Wei Ying is out of danger now. Elder Bao says that he should regain consciousness soon."

"Oh." The older Jade replies as if still in a daze before adding, "I am glad."

Jiang Cheng gives him a forced smile, "If it's okay with Clan leader, I would like to stay in cloud recesses for a few more days," He looks up to see Zewu Jun quirk his brow, "I can leave if it's uncomfortable... I mean, if my stay bothers you." He waits for Zewu Jun to reply, but when he doesn't, the younger man adds, "I understand. I will ask my disciples to start preparing for our journey back. I will inform Hanguang Jun that I am required at Lotus cove before I leave." He states and walks out of Zewu Jun's sight.

As Jiang Cheng leaves the older Jade alone, tears escape his eyes. He wipes them off, "What did I expect would happen!? I kissed him. If I can remember it, so can he. He must be disgusted with me. He is being kind and not bringing it up. Jiang Cheng, you truly fucked up!"

After Jiang Cheng leaves, Zewu Jun looks at the blood-drenched zither and then at his fingers. He feels awkward. Jiang Cheng's face, when the latter was transferring spiritual energy to him, comes to his mind. "He was already weak. Why did he waste his energy on me?" He wonders.

Meng Yao's face swims in front of his face. "You were hurt, yet you tried to heal me. Why!? Why did you try to heal my body when you did not even think once before betraying my trust!?"

"I want you to know my heart... " Jiang Cheng's words come to his mind. He recalls how the Jiang clan leader had bared his feelings and emotions to him. He recalls how even though Jiang Cheng knew he was risking his reputation and was sure to be rejected, he had saved him over and over again.

"Without you, I would have lost, Wangji." Zewu Jun mutters. "No, you are nothing like A Yao. You are a good brother and a noble clan leader. You are not perfect, you have made mistakes, but none are above redemption. Jiang Cheng, you are nothing like Meng Yao."

He recalls the look on Jiang Cheng's face when he had said, 'Just don't hate me, Zewu Jun.' and his heart drops to his stomach, "I don't hate you."

'Zewu Jun, I will keep it till you want it back.' XiChen remembers the time he had handed over his headband to Jiang Cheng without a second thought, and the words he seemed to have forgotten come to him, "The headband is scared, it can only be touched by parents, children and significant other." His eyes widen, "Why did I not hesitate even for a moment before giving it to him!?" He wonders, and instantly his mind drafts to the things he had seen, heard, and experienced in the in-between realm.

His breath catches in his chest as the words 'Lan er gege, Ah!' whispered breathlessly, come to his mind. He closes his eyes, 'Was he perhaps...No, that's impossible!' XiChen doesn't dare to let his mind drift.

He leaves a breath he didn't know he was holding and stands, "I can't let him leave like this." His hand drifts to where his heart is threatening to leap out of his chest. He feels heat rise to his cheeks and whispers, "What is this feeling?"

He rushes out of the library pavilion with one thought dominating his mind, 'I need to stop Jiang Cheng.'

*Zewu Jun's Jingshin*

The knock on the door wakes up Lan Zhan, who had unknowingly drifted off to sleep with Wei Ying in his arms. After gently prying Wei Ying's arms from around him, he covers him with a blanket and opens the door.

He finds Jiang Cheng standing in front of him. A sad smile playing on his lips, "Is he up yet?"

"He regained consciousness, but... " Lan Zhan starts but is interrupted by Wei Ying's voice, "Let him in, Lan Zhan."

The two men approach the bed. Jiang Cheng's face erupts into a rare beautiful smile. He contemplates sitting next to his brother but decides against it and crouches down next to the bed instead. He takes his senior brother's pale hand into his, "Welcome back! Wei WuXian, you scared us. Don't do it ever again, or..."

"Or, you will break my legs?" Wei Ying adds mischievously, "Jiang Cheng, you are all bark no bite. Your empty threats won't work on me. After all, I am not Jin Ling." He says lightheartedly, making the younger man nod affectionately, "I am pretty sure the only man Jin Ling is scared of is your husband."

Wei Ying chuckles, but his brows knit instantly. He gulps and smiles, trying to hide his pain.

Jiang Cheng sees through the act. "I will send for Elder Bao." He states and leaves before Wei Ying can stop him.

A few moments later, as Lan Zhan is helping him to a glass of water, the door opens again; it's Zewu Jun. His eyes land on Wei Ying. He smiles, "You are awake! Welcome back." He walks over to the bed, "You scared us..."

"I won't do it ever again." Wei Ying finishes for him.

"How did you know -"

"Jiang Cheng said the exact same thing when he saw me." Wei Ying supplies, smiling secretively. He observes the smile drop from the older Jade's face, and he adds, "He went to get the physician. You can catch him if you hurry."

"Oh." Zewu Jun mutters, blinking and averting his gaze. With that, he bows and leaves the room.

"I wonder what the fuck is going on between these two?" Wei Ying voices; Lan Zhan clears his throat, "Language."

Wei Ying shakes his head, "Too late, Hanguang Jun. I can't change. You will, unfortunately, have to accept my fucks, till you fuck this bad habit out of my system. Lan er gege, you will fuck it out of me, won't you?" Wei Ying teases, batting his long lashes.

Lan Zhan's eyes widen, the tips of his ears turn scarlet; his heart starts racing. He slowly lowers himself on the bed, "Why do you say such things when you are hurt? Do you enjoy tormenting me?" He enquires.

"Lan Zhan, do you know that since the time you confessed, you have been tormenting me." Wei Ying's face clouds, "Why don't... "

Wei Ying doesn't get to complete his thoughts, for just then, the door opens again, and the physician enters. 

Wei Ying schools his features and pastes a smile on his face; he lowers his eyes, "Elder Bao, thank you, for saving my life."

{Note :- That's it for today. Hope you guys liked this update.

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