WangXian Forever 5

Chapter 120 Bond

It was hard getting away from his husband, but Wei Ying finally managed to. His excuse was a visit with little Li Li, and Lan Zhan had hummed his approval in exchange for a few kisses, and if he hadn't left then, the entire afternoon would have passed...doing other things.

In reality, Wei Ying wanted to talk to XiChen-Ge, mostly about Lan Zhan, and what he wanted to say, couldn't be broached in front of him. So he hurried to the Hanshi, and knocked on the door.

Luckily, XiChen-Ge opened it, holding Li Li.

Wei Ying squealed with delight, earning another robust chuckle as the baby held out her arms wanting to go to him.

XiChen smiled at both of them and handed her over.

"Who's a pretty girl?Li Li, that's who!" Wei Ying cooed at her and sat down at the table.

"Did you only come to visit with us...or is something on your mind?" XiChen beamed at them both.

"You know me so well, XiChen-Ge!" Wei Ying became serious. "There's a couple of things, I wanted to ask about, and most of it concerns Lan Zhan...and you know how he is...that's why I had to find a way to come without him."

"I understand. What would you like to know?" XiChen-Ge smiled kindly at him.

"Any news on the Soul Bond? It's just that we're worried too." He asked, first thing on his list.

"We are going through the library now, even the Forbidden room. The moment we find anything, I will inform you both and Uncle, too."

"Okay, this next one is tougher." He smiled down at Li Li who gurgled with happiness.

"You know, you can tell me anything, Brother Wei." XiChen smiled encouragingly. "Is it about Didi?"

"Yes." Wei Ying took a deep breath to steady himself. "He only told me that day we returned, how he felt about coming back. I could feel something changing in him, as we were walking back, like he wanted to make our time away count for longer, and then...he finally explained. I didn't know he felt that way." He sighed. "You must understand, XiChen-Ge, that for us, even a moment spent away from each other is almost unbearable. Now...after our Bonding, it seems to be a stronger feeling."

"That's understandable." XiChen told him. "I have always regretted many things in the way Didi was brought up, but as an adult, he's had to bear much responsibility. Many times without my aid."

"I think he's tired of it. Never really having a break. When I asked him what he most wanted, he said it was to go away somewhere with me." Wei Ying reached out with his free hand to cover XiChen's shaking one. "Don't get me wrong, I'd never encourage him to do something so drastic, even because I know that ultimately, it wouldn't make him happy. But he's a stubborn person, maybe more than me." Wei Ying let out a helpless laugh.

"He loves you very much, Brother Wei. You know what he's been through, trying to prove it." XiChen didn't mean to be unkind, and he winced at the look of pain that crossed over Wei Ying's face. "I don't mean to make you feel guilty, or hurt. It's just I don't want you to take his sacrifices lightly."

Wei Ying felt as if his heart was being stomped on. He pushed back the tears and waited for his voice to sound normal before he attempted to speak. After all, XiChen had the most right to be angry at him for everything Lan Zhan had suffered.

It was not unreasonable, from his point of view. Up until the incident at the Guanyin Temple, when XiChen had spelled it out for him, being outraged at his flippancy over Lan Zhan's feelings, when the opposite was true. If his suffering and that of Lan Zhan's were to be put on a weighing scale to be judged, they would be equal, there was no doubt in his mind about that. The most difference was that Lan Zhan had to fight his family and then the rest of the Cultivation world, and his own doubts and beliefs.