Perseverance (Wangxian)

Chapter 41 - The Night Before

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were separated the night before the wedding as tradition. Lan Wangji was with his brother at Hanshi, and two lovely juniors, Jingyi and Sizhui, were with Wei Wuxian at Jingshi. It was the first time Jingyi was in Jingshi, as Sizhui has had numerous nights there when he first arrived at Cloud Recesses.

"I am surprised to be in Jingshi right now," Jingyi said.

"Why?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"Nobody ever enters Jingshi other than Hanguang Jun. Sizhui has a few times and since you've been here, you've basically moved in," Jingyi explained.

"Well, you are here now," Wei Wuxian told them, "so I know Sizhui's background, what's your story?" He pointed to Jingyi.

"I was originally born here, but my parents died during the Wen Ambush. I was only an infant at the time. So I was around Sizhui's age when he came here. He was new and I didn't have much friends so we became friends. Hanguang Jun noticed I was alone a lot so he let me be his disciple alone side Sizhui when he started cultivating," Jingyi explained, "so Sizhui and I have been friends since and I've always looked to Hanguang Jun as an older brother or father figure."

"Oh," Wei Wuxian said, "I'm sorry about your parents..I know Sizhui has been adopted by Lan Zhan and I but are you adopted into a family?"

"No, not really, but I don't mind," He said.

"Nonsense," Wei Wuxian said, "I am going to speak with him about that. You are a good kid. You deserve to have a family. Why not be apart of ours?"

"Are you...are you serious?" Jingyi asked surprised.

"I am," Wei Wuxian said.

"Thank you," Jingyi said launching himself at Wei Wuxian for a hug.

Wei Wuxian chuckled and hugged him back, "no need to thank me, it's what should have been done a long time ago."

"I don't care, thank you anyway," Jingyi said and cried into his shoulder.

Sizhui joined in for a group hug.

Meanwhile, with Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen, the two were sitting at the table drinking tea just having a casual conversation.

"How are you feeling for tomorrow?" Lan Xichen asked him calmly.

"I'm okay right now, but I'm sure I'll just get nervous when the ceremony starts," Lan Wangji answered.

"I trust you will be fine," He said then questioned him, "how is Wuxian doing? I know he was having a rough day the other day when we were talking about the wedding coming up."

"He is doing okay," Lan Wangji answered, "it's only normal for him to respond the way he did right now. He suffered from so much, way more than a person should ever suffer through."

"That I know, you both suffered though, don't forget that," Lan Xichen told him, "you suffered just watching him suffer through all of that...and then suffer for another thirteen years not even knowing if he'd ever come back."

Lan Wangji nodded, "I think that is why I am cherishing my time with him more than what others expected. I lost him once and to lose him again...is my biggest fear."

Lan Xichen knew that all too well. He knows just how important Wei Wuxian was to his brother. Lan Wangji was a person who always kept his distance from everyone. He wouldn't even have a simple conversation. Lan Xichen had to almost pry the words out of him. That is how he got so good at reading his brother's micro-expressions, and to know just about anything that was on his mind.

"I am going to hope that fear never becomes a reality again for you," Lan Xichen told him, "you both deserve to be happy. It took a while for Wuxian to come out to you about how he feels but he finally did. You have each other to rely on now, and he is cultivating again."

"I hope him cultivating is something he actually wants," Lan Wangji said, "he's told me a couple times that he has had doubts about cultivating again. He said that the cultivation world was already cruel to him once, he just doesn't know if he can handle it if something like that happens again...he also fears that no matter was it is, he will more than likely be the first to blame if something bad happens."

"He is a member of this sect now, and we will make sure that he won't have to suffer like that again," Lan Xichen told him, "he is marrying into our sect, and I really don't think anyone wants to try to go against the GusuLan Sect. We are a lot stronger than what they seem to think."

Lan Wangji smiled, "that we are," he said, "I know he also what's your cultivate Chenqing again."

"I have no doubt about that," Lan Xichen said, "I know he does. I am willing to help him with that since I have cultivated with a flute as well. I can teach him things from our sect."

"I'm sure he would be happy to accept that," Lan Wangji said.

Lan Xichen nodded, "it's getting close to curfew," he said.

Lan Wangji nodded, "let's go get ready for bed then."

Between Wei Wuxian and the juniors, and Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen, they went to bed at the proper time. Sizhui and Jingyi managed to get Wei Wuxian to comply to it.

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Sorry it's a bit of a shorter chapter.