The meaning of protecting you with my life

They talk

Lan Wangji was sitting next to Wei Ying at the breakfast table and was letting the conversation completely slip by him. He was watching how his husband was trying to keep things going and act as normally as he could. He could tell just how much effort it took him and how hard it was to actually even try to keep some level of normalcy.

He would be happy with Wei Ying being broken or sad or afraid; he could just not bear to watch this theatrical play which was hurting him deep down a little bit more every second while he forced himself to hide his true emotions. Lan Wangji had seen his husband's reactions and behaviour these last few days and could tell that Wei Ying was not the same person he had once gotten to know. All his cheerfulness and easy personality was now dimmed and what was left was a sad and hurting teenager who needed help.

He could tell that the Yunmeng Jiang clan members either could not see it or were too much at a loss about how to support Wei Ying. They carefully avoided talking about anything upsetting with him and were keeping him in the dark about his own situation. Lan Wangji did not find that just. He had tried to inform his husband at least a little bit, however he still did not believe that it was his place to be telling him about the Yunmeng Jiang sect's matters. He had felt trapped.

And he felt that way even now. The only thing he could do for his clearly distressed and tense husband was to discreetly hold his hand under the table. Hopefully, all the misunderstandings would be cleared up soon.

From his position by Wei Ying's side, he could tell that his family greatly cared about him, only they did not quite know how to express it properly so their concerns and care had been suffocating the Yunmeng Jiang sect head disciple. On the other hand, Wei Ying seemed to have misunderstood something and he had been tense and saddened despite Lan Wangji's best efforts. He had been forcing himself to fit and the Second Jade did not appreciate to see him doing that much for the family whom he had already rescued once and had paid the greatest price for that.

Finally, Jiang Fengmian spoke and broke the uncomfortable silence around the table: "A-Xian, I am happy to see that you are feeling better. We have been worried about you." There was a short pause when everyone was looking even more uncomfortable, especially Wei Ying. Lan Wangji squeezed his hand in silent support. "We know that you deserve to know what is going on and we want to tell you everything. Things have changed and we do not want to have any misunderstandings between us anymore."

Then, Jiang Fengmian with the help of Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli explained what had happened from the moment of the fall of Lotus Pier. Lan Wangji had already heard some of it, but not everything and he was surprised at some facts. Especially by the openness and honesty with which everyone was narrating their part, even Yu Ziyuan had expressed her own experience and told everyone that she wanted to change her ways now.

Throughout the entire time, Lan Wangji could tell what Wei Ying was feeling. The smaller and previously warm hand had now become completely ice cold in his hold. It started trembling just as the rest of his husband. There was no doubt in Lan Wangji's mind that We Ying was greatly surprised and distressed by the narrated events.

And especially when his family explained to him that everyone already knew about his missing his golden core. At that point, Wei Ying's fingers had balled into such a tight fist that Lan Wangji was afraid his husband would hurt himself. He started gently rubbing soothing circles into the back of the said hand, trying to ease the tension.

He could understand why Wei Ying did not like to hear that. It was such a personal matter, Lan Wangji could not imagine how it would feel if he had lost his golden core and someone revealed that information to everyone without his authorisation. Until now, he could not agree with the Yunmeng Jiang clan's choice to tell the disciples the truth. Of course, Jiang Yanli explained the reasoning behind it – that they had only wanted to make things easier for his husband upon waking up and did not want him to force himself, which he had done anyway – but he did not think it justified anything. They should have spoken about this with Wei Ying before saying anything at all.

Lan Wangji now looked at his husband's face which was downturned and his eyes never left the table. He could see there the immense hurt but also resignation he had not expected to be there. Now he was even more confused. Why would Wei Ying not say anything back and only accept all of this? If it had been his younger self, the Second Jade was sure that the Yunmeng Jiang sect head disciple would have rose the dead to show his fury, figuratively speaking of course. But now, it seemed like Wei Ying was only resigned and sad.

Jiang Fengmian finished his explanation: "A-Xian, please do not think poorly of us. We have just wanted for you to not be burdened by having to do anything. You have already sacrificed too much for the Yunmeng Jiang sect and our family. You should not suffer anymore. No matter what you do, we are ready to stand up in front of the whole cultivation world to defend you. You have done nothing wrong; I know you must have considered picking up demonic cultivation to be necessary at that moment. And it saved us all, no matter what Jin Guangshan says."

Jiang Cheng nodded, he had already explained the whole situation around the ultimatum in less than courteous words. He had also assured Wei Ying that Nie Huisang was working on this and would soon be able to unmask both the Lanling Jin sect leader and Jin Guangyao to the whole cultivation world. Then, Wei Ying would be free.

Yu Ziyuan finally lifted her head and Lan Wangji saw tears in her eyes. It was something that he would have never believed possible but it seemed like today was a day for miracles and great revelations.

"We believe in you. We want to protect you and stand up for you no matter what you do. We are a family and we all love you very much A-Ying. I am sorry it had taken us so long to realize this, especially to me. Now at last, we are all ready to treat you as you deserve. You have no obligation to us or to the Yunmeng Jiang sect, we just want you to be happy and safe. So..."

Yu Ziyuan was now clearly fighting against her tears and she choked a little on a sob which escaped her before she could finish her last sentence: "So, you can take your time to recover and to think things through. We will support you in whatever decision you take. And if that would be to leave the Yunmeng Jiang sect because of how we had treated you in the past, we will accept that. But if you decide to stay, we will support you in whatever way we can."

Wei Ying's hand was now shaking nonstop in Lan Wangji's hold and a sob escaped to him as well. The Second Jade's eyes were immediately drawn to him. Just in time. His husband did not care for who was in the room with him and he all but threw himself into Lan Wangji's arms and sobbed into his chest. All tension had now left his body and he let himself be cradled and supported by Lan Wangji's arms.