WangXian Forever Book 8

Chapter 9 Relief

Lan Zhan teleported them back to the Jingshi.

Even in sleep, Wei Ying looked so beautiful. He curled naturally into Lan Zhan’s chest, seeking refuge from the cold. Lan Zhan would have liked to walk to walk back from Wen Ning's home but it really was too cold for that, even if Spring was only a few weeks away.

Night had fallen and the stars were out, twinkling with a brightness that they seemed to have sucked out from his heart.

Wen Ning had looked at him with a knowing glance, his eyes staying upon his friend.

"What's wrong with him?" He had asked, just as Lan Zhan prepared to leave.

And that was the priceless question, wasn't it?

What Lan Zhan wouldn't give to know?

And the saddest truth was, no one knew, no one could provide any answers as to what was going on with Wei Ying.

"Before...when you said he smelled like you? What did you mean by that?" Lan Zhan asked him.

It was a clue, however vague it sounded.

"Exactly that. And it isn't a strong scent, just a whiff." Wen Ning clarified.

"What do you think it means?" Lan Zhan persisted.

"I am not sure. If my sister was here, I'm sure she would know, or at least shed some light on his condition. I do not like to see him suffer."

"If your sister was here, she would never let him suffer to begin with." Lan Zhan admitted.

And if Wen Ning didn't know, then there was no point hanging around.

Snow swirled around them, its ceaseless magic kissing their faces as Lan Zhan entered the Jingshi. He placed Wei Ying on their bed, made sure he was comfortable and wrapped up in blankets to ward off the cold. Things were better now because his core helped to regulate his temperature.

Then Lan Zhan went to check on his children, making sure they were asleep too.

Li XiWang and Rumi usually went to sleep in separate beds, but ever since the encounter with Wu Po, Rumi unfailingly would make his way into Li XiWang's bed, sleeping with their arms around each other.

Lan Zhan looked upon their flushed faces fondly, kissing their foreheads before leaving them. He took his own outer robes off and crawled into bed next to his husband, letting out a sigh of relief when Wei Ying sought out his arms.

This warmth, this weight of his husband at his side, it was much missed and much needed. Lan Zhan sent out a wish into the Universe, praying for answers.

*************

In the early hours of the morning, Lan Zhan awoke. The comfortable presence of Wei Ying mostly draped all over him was grounding, even if he knew that Wei Ying would probably not wake until much, much later.

His sleep usually lasted for around sixteen to seventeen hours these days, and Lan Zhan had a plan for today.

But it could wait for a few minutes.

There was a peacefulness here, a solid tranquility that settled in his heart as he looked upon the pink tinged face of his beloved. Dark thick lashes curled upon soft cheeks, rosy with sleep.

Wei Ying was gorgeous.

It did not matter to him that this was Mo XuanYu's body. From the moment that Lan Zhan had laid eyes on him upon Dafan mountain, to him, it was Wei Ying playing their song.

It was Wei Ying in every mannerism, every tap of his thoughtful nose, the way he bounced in between people, the way he talked, the way he loved. It was Wei Ying shining out from those silver eyes, so intelligent, so real, so loved.