Untamed Hearts

Chapter 12

"Lan Zhaaaaaaaan! I missed you!" Wei Wuxian flung himself onto his husband the second he stepped into the Jingshi and immediately showered his cheek with kisses

"Missed Wei Ying too." Lan Wangji's eyes softened and he returned the kiss and caressed Wei Wuxian's cheek in his hand. They sat together behind the table. "How was Yunmeng?"

"It was great as always. Jiang Cheng and I pushed each other in the lake like old times. And we visited the cenotaph of Wen Qing and her family. Oh and I got Jiang Cheng a kitten!"

"A cat?" Lan Wangji blinked. "From where?"

"It was a stray. I found it on the street. Not sure where the rest of the litter or the mother cat was. I looked around but couldn't find them."

"I see." Lan Wangji simply nodded.

"He has his hands full now with two kids and a cat in his ward. At least...he will not be lonely at Lotus Pier." Wei Wuxian sighed and laid down his head onto Lan Wangji's lap.

"You visit him often. As does Xiongzhang whenever he can. He is not lonely," Lan Wangji replied.

"Ah, you're right...but it's not the same as always having someone there by your side. If he is married..well," Wei Wuxian paused to look up into his husband's golden eyes.

"Would Xichen..marry into the Lan sect? Would the elders or your uncle allow it?" Lan Wangji stared back down into his silver eyes.

"It is hard to say. Sect leader Jiang cannot leave Lotus Pier, but Cloud Recesses still has me. Although Xiongzhang is no longer in seclusion, I spent two years as acting sect leader with my uncle. If he were to pass the position officially down to me, we also have a good candidate for the next heir."

"Sizhui? Or...Jingyi." Wei Wuxian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Our Sizhui is already the head disciple, right? So, would the elders pick Jingyi? He's like a mini version of me!"

"Perhaps Gusu needs someone like that then...though Jingyi does follow the rules." Lan Wangji's mouth formed into a smirk.

"More than me," Wei Wuxian agreed, letting out a chortle of delight. "But really, I can't stop being surprised about the Lan sect producing a gremlin like him! Shufu must have been reminded of me because of him!"

"He reminded me of you too, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji's voice was full of fondness and a hint of sadness.

"Their generation is...so much more carefree. I know that was your doing, Lan Zhan. You're too cool." Wei Wuxian sat back up and stood up.

"I'm going to check on our lotuses, though I'm sure Sizhui took very good care of them. He always does." Wei Wuxian walked to the back garden, kneeling down to touch each of the lotus flowers gently. They were quite different from the ones in Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian realized that more each time he went to and fro Lotus Pier and Cloud Recesses. The lotus roots and ribs soup Lan Zhan made for him also tasted different.

"Wei Ying, a letter from Sect leader Jin has come for you." Wei Wuxian turned back to the backdoor of the Jingshi where Lan Zhan was standing.

"Jin Ling sent a letter?" Wei Wuxian took the letter from Lan Zhan and read the contents. His lips curled into a smile.

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! Jin Ling, Jingiy, Sizhui and Sect leader Ouyang have become sworn brothers. Isn't this exciting?"

"Mn." Lan Zhan nodded. The last time a sworn brothers ceremony had been held, it had been over a decade ago. One of them had suffered a fate worse than death, another had done many evil things in his climb for power and the third had to suffer in the aftermath of the faith of his two sworn brothers. This generation, unlike the older one, was kinder, more forgiving, less greedy for power and were influenced by goodness in their hearts. Wei Wuxian saw it in all the juniors.