WangXian Forever 5

Chapter 90 Responsibility

As the light faded in the temple, Wei Ying blinked his eyes open, still holding onto Lan Zhan.

The split second of shocked silence erupted into cheers of elation as they were congratulated on their return, but Wei Ying had eyes only for one little girl.

He dragged Lan Zhan through the crowd to where Hui Gai was holding a traumatised child, who had clearly been crying so much that only dry shudders wracked her small frame.

"Li XiWang?" Wei Ying whispered, kneeling beside her. He put a hand on her back and she opened bloodshot eyes.

With a cry, she scrambled out of one lap into his.

Hui Gai smiled gratefully and disappeared, but he spoke inside Wei Ying's mind.

She saw you both leave, and hasn't stopped crying. She thought you weren't coming back.

Wei Ying took in a sharp breath.

Thank you my friend. For being with her through that. Everything that happened was...unexpected.

No need. You're back now, and that's all that matters.

Wei Ying realised that Hui Gai must also have been worried about them leaving so suddenly. But right now, he had an inconsolable child to help.

He held her tightly to him, soothing her with his words, and soon her body stopped shaking so much.

"Little rabbit, you're so brave. We love you so much, you know we would never leave you out of choice, right?" He waited until she lifted her tear streaked face and nodded at him.

It would have been frightening for any child to see their parents, both of them, disappear but for Li XiWang, abandoned by her parents at such a young age, plus everything she had been through with her fake parents, meant it would have hit her harder.

"I thought...you were gone. Forever." She whispered, her eyes filling with tears again.

"My little rabbit! Do you think I could leave you like that?" Wei Ying kissed her forehead. "I will always find a way to get back to you, it is my Solemn Oath. I swear it."

"Mn. Both of us." Lan Zhan wrapped an arm around them both.

"Come. You must be tired. Let us sleep now, and we can talk in the morning. Alright?"

When she nodded, laying her head on his shoulder, Wei Ying picked her up and took her to their room with Lan Zhan. He lay down right next to her, still holding her close.

Lan Zhan summoned WangJi and began to play Rest.

The notes washed over them both, calming and soothing. In no time at all, Li XiWang fell asleep.

Lan Zhan stopped playing and lay down next to his husband. He shuffled closer until his arm covered both of them.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying whispered quietly, not wishing to disturb the sleeping child.

"Mn?"

He heard it in his ear and smiled sadly.

"Do you think we're bad parents?"

"No." The answer came back fast and strong.

Wei Ying turned so that he could look into the golden eyes he trusted so much.

"Why?"

The simple question was anything but that, loaded with guilt.

"Bad parents do not love their children."

"But Lan Zhan, love isn't enough. It can't be..." He stifled a sob.

Lan Zhan held him closer, kissing his hair.

"It is enough. As long as the child knows, it is enough."

Lan Zhan sounded so...sure.

Wei Ying burrowed for comfort, still feeling terrible.

"What happened tonight...it was an accident. Nobody knew it was going to." Lan Zhan held him tighter. "Not Wei Ying's fault."

"But she must have been so scared."

"Hui Gai was here." Lan Zhan sighed internally. This was yet another thing he had to thank the demon for.

"Yes, you're right." Wei Ying yawned, fighting sleep.

"Rest now. She will be better in the morning."

"Okay."

Lan Zhan heard a noise and raised his head to see Xiao Mao pad into the room, settling next to their daughter.

He lay back with relief, when he heard the steady breathing from his side, that meant Wei Ying was finally asleep.

Lan Zhan closed his eyes and rested too, hoping tomorrow would be easier.

*****

Breakfast was held in the altar room. Some porridge was put in front of the Goddess first before it was shared between all of them.

After they ate, Hongse came to sit with them. She bowed first and then made herself comfortable.

"We can't stay here forever. What are we going to do?"

"I've been thinking about that." Wei Ying told her excitedly.

Li XiWang held his arm, leaning against it while petting the little kitty in her lap. Xiao Mao was affectionate with only her and immediate family, hissing at anyone else if they got too close. Hui Gai was also an exception.

"What are you planning?" She asked with a smile.

Lan Zhan threaded his fingers through Wei Ying's, inaudibly sighing with relief at the contact. Wei Ying smiled up at him before answering.

"Well, the thing is, we can't go back down there...so how about we fly away from here? They'll never know, and hopefully it will be a while before they can catch up to us. We should do it at night, when it's harder to see."

"Mn. Good idea." Lan Zhan smiled back at him.

Wei Ying beamed with his approval.

They were interrupted by a red robed lady. Wei Ying recognised her as one of the ladies who had come with them to the flower market, the day they had met Yezi. She bent down and whispered something in Hongse's ear, which had the leader jumping up excitedly.

"What is it?" Wei Ying asked, curiously.

"My sisters have been exploring...and they've found something. Follow me."

With uncontained enthusiasm, she turned and left the room.

Of course, there was nothing else to do but follow her.