Perseverance (Wangxian)

Chapter 3 - Song of Clarity

Lan Xichen stood there outside the door of the Jingshi in shock. With tears in his eyes and his hand over his dantian, he never thought of a day where he would live without his golden core. He never even had the thought of giving it to someone else; he didn't even know it was possible. If his little brother lost his core, and he saw that option, he would not hesitate but to do the same, and he knows Wangji would do it for him.

"What have we done?" He asked himself in a whisper, "I should have picked up on that. Looking back it was so obvious."

Lan Xichen wanted to bash his head against the wall of Jingshi; and the things he had just said to Wangji not long ago. The things he said to him in the past, like he had to get over Wei Wuxian being gone and not coming back. Or he is too corrupt from the resentful energy, there is no use to help him.

Since he didn't have a core, he never had to worry about it getting corrupted by the dark energy. Which means, he never actually lost control. The only time he was ever close to losing control was when others provoked him, and if that was to happen, his little brother would step in and he calmed down instantly. So in Qionqi Path, when Wangji passed the information that Wen Ning gave him, he lost control because of a second flute. Thinking back, he saw when the puppets came out, Wei Ying was not playing but a flute was heard.

Lan Xichen closed his eyes and was ashamed of his words, his actions....and his uncle, he whipped his Didi for stand up for an innocent man. Wei Wuxian WAS innocent. So who did it all? Who was behind it? Lan Xichen's thoughts were running wild, and could not calm them.

"You brought me back to Cloud Recesses! What if your brother finds out? Huh?" He heard Wei Ying ask his Didi.

He adjusted his composure and wiped the tears away, "I have already found out!" Lan Xichen said and put on his gentle smile.

Wei Ying turned to Lan Xichen and bowed to him, "pardon me, Zewu Jun."

Xichen shook his head, "it was me who told Wangji to bring you here. With me around here, others wouldn't think to look at Cloud Recesses," he assured him.

Lan Zhan took a glance over at Wei Ying and nodded, "Zewu Jun, Chifeng Zun and Jin Guangyao?" Wei Ying asked.

Xichen nodded with a sigh, "he is looking into it," Lan Xichen said, "are you sure you saw what you saw?"

"I am," Wei Ying said confidently, "why would I lie to you, Zewu Jun?"

Wangji said that same thing to him. Those words echoed in the back of his head, "Wangji, you said you trust Wei Gongzi?"

"Yes," Wangji answered with one word.

"And Jin Guangyao?" Xichen asked.

"Not to be trusted," Wangji said.

"You trust your friend, while I trust mine," he said, "is that wrong for me to trust someone too?"

"Zewu Jun, may I try another way?" Wei Ying asked, "perhaps, would you listen to something and tell me if there is something wrong with the tune?"

Xichen nodded. He sat there as he listened to Wei Ying play Qing Xin Yin (song of clarity/ pure heart song). There was a moment where there was a section that was wrong.

"Does this piece sound familiar?" Wei Ying asked.

"It does, it is Song of Clarity," Xichen answered, "it is a difficult piece to learn, as you even played a section wrong. Are you aware?"

"Wrong?" Wei Ying asked confused, "but I couldn't be, this is what Jin Guangyao played in empathy. I played what he played. I guarantee you, I did not play wrong. If I did, then he was wrong as well."

Xichen stood up thinking it over, "did I teach it wrong? I taught him to play," he said out loud, "I am so sure I taught it correct."

"Jin Guangyao is incredible smart and clever. Chances are you did teach it correctly, he just changed it on his own," Wei Ying said, "let me play again and you tell me to stop when you hear where it was wrong."

Xichen and Wangji nodded. Wei Ying played again and was stopped when he got to the incorrect verse.

"Why don't you get dress properly and then come with me. As you do, Wangji can I have a word?" Xichen said and stepped out.

Wangji helped Wuxian gather some clean robes and stepped out to meet his brother at the gate of Jingshi, "what is it?"

"I know eavesdropping is bad, but I heard what Wei Gongzi said to you....and I am so sorry that I hurt you. I am sorry about my words and my actions."

"You are forgiven by me, you did not know," Wangji assured him, "but I will say what I said before. Wei Ying is the one who deserves an apology."

"He does," Xichen said, "his current body though...Mo Xuanyu's?"

"There is a core but it is barely noticeable," Wangji said to him.

"We have methods to increase it quickly, remember?" Xichen reminded, "he can get a strong core again if he follows our methods for a few months and he should soon be able to handle a sword...maybe not his current sword yet but a sword."

"That is right," Wangji remembers all of there methods of growing and strengthening the core, "but with everything going on, will we have time?"

"I am sure you two can think of something. I will help out best I can, if you allow me," Xichen said. Wangji nodded and heard the door to Jingshi open.

Wei Ying walked over to them, "where are we going?" He asked.

"Library," Xichen said, "follow me."

Wangji and Wuxian followed him to the library pavilion. Wuxian was a bit more confused than Wangji mostly because he did not know what was going on. Xichen then went over to a bookshelf and with a whoosh of spiritual energy, the bookshelf opened, revealing a set of stairs leading down.

"What?" Wei Ying asked.

"Forbidden library," Wangji told him, "there must be something here to help."

Wei Ying nodded and followed them down. There were thousands of old books and scrolls. He now knew that this was the important scrolls that Xichen must have taken when he went missing after Cloud Recesses burnt. What were they looking for here?