[[[忘羡 | WangXian 1]] : The Second Kiss That Came Too Soon

[31.] Plans.

- Ah, Young Master Wei! I see practice is going too well?

- Zewu-Jun!!!  –  Wei Ying jumped to his feet, splattering mud all around him, but managing a respectful bow. - Zewu-Jun, your brother is a monster!  –  he complained, and shouted the last word loud enough, making sure Lan Zhan heard him from inside the room. – Did you see?!? So rude!!! No manners!!

Lan Xichen did not comment, but he knew that Lan Wangji would not do such an outrageous thing unless provoked to an extreme extent.

- Wei Wuxian, please, would you be so kind as to convey a message to my brother when practice is over – I would like to speak to the both of you in my chamber over dinner tonight.

- But... he locked me out...  -  Wei Ying mumbled, shaking his head.  –  But, yes, I will try, Zewu-Jun. Yes, we will be there! – he smiled and bowed again.

Lan Xichen nodded, and walked away.

Wei Ying was soaking wet now, so he unhappily trudged towards his room to get changed, but not before stopping in front of Lan Zhan's door to yell:

- I have a message for you, you moron!!!

**

In the evening, in Lan Xichen's room, the tension could be cut with a knife. The two boys had seriously fallen out, but Lan Xichen was not alarmed. They were sitting at opposite sides of the low table, not even looking at each other. 

He smiled and started:

- As you both well know, Master Wei is staying with us as a guest...  –  Lan Zhan blushed, guests were supposed to be treated with respect  –  ...and you, Wangji, are responsible for his training, being his Shizun.

Lan Zhan lowered his eyes, not daring to face his brother.

- I wanted to dine with you tonight, and check on his progress. Also, if I may add, both of you look a lot better than two weeks ago  –  I reckon the bad weather  agrees with you both.  -  Lan Xichen smiled gently, tilting his head to the side and expecting an answer.

- Brother, I must apologize for my incompetence. I am failing as Wei Wuxian's Shizun, obviously.  –  Lan Zhan said bitterly.

Wei Ying pouted; he wondered if anyone was going to get punished now – the Lan Clan just loved punishments,  if memory served.

- Zewu-Jun, please don't listen to Young Master Lan here. I admit I was being....hmmm, difficult.  He is an excellent teacher.  –  he added, bowing his head in Lan Xichen's direction.

- No, it's my fault, Xichen, and if I may add  –  Wei Wuxian is excelling with sword practice, but he is having hardship with...the boring stuff.  –  Lan Zhan glared at Wei Wuxian, who squinted his eyes and bared his teeth at him. Neither had forgiven the other about the afternoon mud incident.

- Well, well. So, am I to understand that both of you  are to blame now?  –  in Lan Xichen laughed heartily.

The boys were staring at the floor, but at one point Lan Wangji broke the silence, saying:

- I might have a solution, brother. – he raised his eyes, choosing not  to look at Wei Ying. – If you give us your permission – we could travel to Lake Lin, to practice there without any distractions.  It is not too far, and I think some survival-in-the-wild practice would do Young Master Wei here a world of good.  –  he said through gnashed teeth.

- Ah, Lan Zhan, why do you want to punish me now! It wasn't so  bad!!!  –  Wei Ying cried, forgetting his table manners, and referring to the joke during their meditation practice.

- Hmmm, an interesting idea.  -  Zewu-Jun intercepted.  –  What is your plan, A-Zhan? – he raised an eyebrow, wondering about this new development, and slightly worried whether the boys would be strong enough for this new adventure. In his mind's eye he could still see the image of his younger brother, as pale as a specter not too long ago.

- We will need to travel soon – before the Rain Season settles. It would be impractical to be there while it rains, but I do hope for us to be able to go and come back before it starts. Maybe stay 5 or 6 days. Travel light, maybe two horses. We can meditate and practice patience  without any distraction!  –  he glared in the direction of Wei Ying.  –  Ideally.

Wei Wuxian was pouting. 

He hated the outdoors  and nature. Cold, and damp, and bugs everywhere! His Shizun was definitely  punishing him!

- And no servants.  –  Lan Wangji added. –  We will fend for ourselves. Food, water, shelter, fire, the basics. And plenty of time to practice.

Wei Wuxian gaped. 

No help? At all? Had he lost his mind???

- Sounds intriguing, I must admit. What do you think, Young Master Wei? I love the idea, but will you two be alright? Tonight you both seem a little...on edge.  –  Lan Xichen smiled.

The two boys avoided looking at each other again - Wei Ying took some food to his mouth, frowning,  and Lan Zhan's face showed no emotion at all, as usual.

- If you approve, we can start tomorrow morning. I will do it!  –  the boy stated cheekily.

Lan Xichen was silent. 

Maybe his brother was right. He did not care too much about meditation, but perhaps the boys needed some time apart. He knew Lan Wangji was responsible enough for the both of them, and would manage such a trip. Of course, he could not help but notice that they were very close. He was observing their practice carefully, seeing well the laughs and exchanged glances, the way they touched when they thought nobody was watching. 

Lan Xichen wasn't stupid. He knew they spent an awful lot of  time together in their rooms, and sometimes  –  would spend the nights together too.

He wasn't too worried about it all  –  his brother looked a lot better, healthier than ever, and he was genuinely happy, and this was all that mattered. Zewu-Jun would never admit it, but he was ready to sacrifice absolutely anything for his brother's happiness. He had suffered so much already.

- Alright. I will allow it.  –  he said.

Wei Ying moaned, and not in a good way.

- But under the condition that you stay no more than 6 days. If you are not back by the end of next week, I will dispatch a search party.  -  Zewu-Jun nodded.

- That won't be  necessary, Brother, I assure you.

- Unless I kill somebody.  –  Wei Ying mumbled under his nose. 

When he looked unhappily at Lan Zhan, his eyes were saying "I will deal with you later!",  and he grinned unpleasantly at him in response, defying him.