WangXian Forever Book 8

Chapter 12 Gossip

After they had eaten a late lunch, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan went to visit with XiChen and Jiang Cheng and Little Li Li. To their surprise, they found Rumi and Li XiWang already there after school, playing with their cousin.

But from the moment Lan Zhan sat down, Little Li Li crawled from her fun spot into his lap as if she belonged there, as quiet as a mouse looking up adoringly at him.

"I hate to admit it but I'm so jealous." Wei Ying beamed at his husband as he took in the delightful sight.

"It's like we're nothing!" Li XiWang joined in, closing her eyes dramatically, while Rumi looked between the two of them, confused as to what they could mean.

"Don't be silly." Lan Zhan told both mischievous persons, but he looked quite smug about the whole affair.

"It's only because she can sense what an utterly awesome dad you are." Wei Ying told him, smiling because of the reddening ears. He nudged Lan Zhan playfully.

Lan Zhan looked into the beautiful brown eyes of his niece and felt a deep peacefulness settling within his bones. Her childish innocence reminded him of another person, just as guileless and perfect, content to just remain sitting in his lap. Perhaps there was another connection, one from a past life that neither could remember, but it should be treasured whatever it was.

Li Li had a round, open face, creamy skin with rosy cheeks, long thick lashes framing her wide eyes, and she hadn't blinked once. Lan Zhan felt honoured again at how much trust she had towards him.

XiChen looked on at them smiling too, because he also couldn't believe how much his daughter loved Lan WangJi and preferred sitting on his lap than anyone else. And, he didn't even do anything! Merely looked down into her cherubic face and smiled, and she was chortling in response.

"Hey, Jiang Cheng, I wonder if you knew about Uncle Qiren going to visit Wen Ning in his cottage?" Wei Ying whispered quietly.

"I haven't actually seen him go, but we heard about it." Jiang Cheng replied just as softly. "What do you make of it? And when did he start going? I thought he hated the Ghost General?"

"I know, right? And don't call him that, I don't think Wen Ning likes that name. Wen Ning said it was some time after we left to go South. He missed us too much." Wei Ying shrugged, watching Li XiWang bring out her familiars in their normal forms of desert fox, DaErduo and the tiny white cat, Xiao Mao. They sat and watched her and Rumi play Jacks. "How's XiChen-Ge?" He mumbled under his breath.

"The same. And still wants to come." Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "Oh, I almost forgot. You know I told you about that mysterious box we found in Swords Hall, under the Lotus Throne? I told Jin Ling to bring it here so you could have a look at it. He and SiZhui left this morning to go and retrieve it."

"Oh yeah...though I'm not exactly sure why you want me to have a look at it." Wei Ying admitted. "If it's been there such a long time, chances are there's nothing valuable remaining. But if it makes you feel better, sure. And maybe we should get a move on to that village now." Wei Ying yawned.

Lan Zhan tried not to look at him, concentrating on the toddler in his arms, but his attention was split between the two.

"Tired?" Jiang Cheng lifted a hand to his forehead to check his temperature.

"I always seem to be tired these days." Wei Ying rolled his eyes at himself. "I mean, I slept for seventeen hours this time, Lan Zhan says, so if anything, I'm tired of being tired...if you know what I mean?"

Jiang Cheng took a moment to really look at him. Wei WuXian wasn't someone who easily got tired. And usually he could hide it much better; but even though he had rested, he looked far from being alright. Shadows danced under his eyes, and he looked as if he was keeping his eyes open by sheer willpower alone. And he looked paler than normal.

"You'll be fine!" Jiang Cheng said, brusquely as if trying to convince himself more than for Wei Ying’s benefit.

Wei Ying patted his knee and grinned.

"Yeah I will. But we just came to get you guys and then we can go."

"Wen Ning?" Lan Zhan reminded him.

"We can pick him up on the way."

Hui Gai suddenly appeared right next to Wei Ying.

Wei Ying was just about to throw himself into his arms as usual when he saw his arms were rather full.

There was a tiny bundled demon in his arms, eyes brighter than twin stars staring back at him.

"Wow! Hui Gai...is that...is that?" Wei Ying gasped, looking in wonder at this new baby, so beautiful to see.

"My son. PengYou, meet Jez. He was born a few hours ago. But I couldn't wait to bring him to you." Hui Gai looked so proud, and Wei Ying thought maybe his red eyes were just a little wetter.

His own had no problem at all leaking like a fountain as he held his arms out to hold this precious baby.

"Hello Jez...what a beautiful boy you are!" He cooed, absolutely in love with this new baby.

Jez struggled to pull out a tiny hand and when Wei Ying touched it with his finger, Jez held on tightly with his perfect tiny fingers.

"Aren't you the best?" Wei Ying continued to talk to him and the baby cooed back making little clicks back at him.

Li XiWang and Rumi came to sit next to him, equally invested in this new addition to their family.

"How is Oge, and Klem?" Wei Ying asked Hui Gai, who was feeling completely overwhelmed.

"They're fine too. Resting. It was tough." He admitted.

"Did you bring anyone to help you?" Wei Ying asked, concern radiating from him.

"Er...about that..." Hui Gai rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, not willing to say anything more, but Wei Ying beamed at him reassuringly and so he did. "As you know, I'm great friends with that little guy...you know the one...the one that made your health tonic..." He gestured vaguely at Wei Ying.

"What? The one that passed out cos he was so scared of you?" Wei Ying bit his lip to keep from smiling too hard.

"Yeah, that one. He's actually the type who works well under pressure." Hui Gai ploughed on.

"Omg..." Jiang Cheng muttered under his breath, catching the sparkle in Wei Ying's eyes.

"I gave him back!" Hui Gai replied, defensively. "He's fine. Now."

But before anyone could say anything else, Jez let out the biggest build up of hot air anyone had heard, and then suddenly everyone was coughing and spluttering, trying to get out of the Hanshi.

Wei Ying was heaving and trying to take in big breaths of clean air, while the children choked and wheezed their discomfort.

Lan Zhan was probably the only one who looked perfect, hardly affected by the stink bomb.

XiChen was green and holding an equally green looking Jiang Cheng, especially when the breeze carried another whiff of the noxious gas their way.

"Wow!" Wei Ying was giggling and trying not to throw up. "You're so lucky, this one is exactly like Klem in that department!"