WangXian Forever Book 8

Chapter 100 Talking

"Empathy?" Echoed Li XiWang. "What's that?"

Wei Ying took her hand, stroking her little knuckles. There was baby chubbiness still present so the dimples in between stood out.

"It is something...a skill that should be learned by everyone, especially cultivators. It allows the caster to experience the memories of sentient beings whether they are ghosts or still alive." There were so many times this particular skill had come in useful, that Wei Ying had lost count now.

More so in this second life of his.

"Will it hurt?" She asked, her eyes on her little brother who wanted to know, but did not know how to ask.

"No...not physically at least. But if Rumi can't remember or can't access trapped memories...then if we make him remember...he might be sad." And that was the crux of the matter, something Wei Ying wanted to avoid at all costs.

Unfortunately, some things were impossible to skirt around, and his instincts were usually on point; maybe that was why he had allowed a few months to slip by before even considering this option.

"Sad?" Rumi asked.

"Maybe?" Wei Ying told him cautiously. "I mean...in theory, I suppose there's no harm in just going there and activating that array. But there's no way of knowing where it would take us...or what will be waiting for us after we reach there. So that's the main reason for wanting to try Empathy first."

"So what do you both think?" Lan Zhan asked them.

"It's better to check everything first..." Li XiWang said slowly. "But I don't want Rumi to feel sad. He's with us now and nothing can change that."

"Mn."

Rumi yawned twice then and Wei Ying had a better suggestion.

"Why don't we all go to sleep now and decide in the morning? A good night's rest always makes a difference. We can talk about it tomorrow." Wei Ying told them.

When Lan Zhan nodded, they both rose with the children and went to put them to sleep.

They didn't last a whole story, falling asleep before Wei Ying got to the middle. They kissed warm foreheads, wishing for sweet dreams and peaceful rest.

Lan Zhan held his hand out for him and they returned to their bedroom. Lan Zhan’s attention was on Wei Ying and it worried him that Wei Ying was so quiet. So after they changed into their sleeping robes, and got under the covers, Lan Zhan pulled him closer.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, stroking that beautiful long hair.

"The fact that we're just delaying the inevitable...I feel like a terrible parent." Wei Ying admitted.

Lan Zhan held him tighter, his lips kissing Wei Ying’s head.

"You know that's not true. The fact that you are thinking about how to avoid harming him, how to protect him...speaks more about what kind of a parent Wei Ying is."

Wei Ying yawned, soothed by his hand.

"And truthfully, we are attempting to thwart future problems. Nothing else. If intentions are priceless in determining the next course of action, then we should use it as a guide, especially when the choices we have before us are difficult."

"How come you're so wise?" Wei Ying snuggled closer, closing his eyes.

"Wei Ying made me this way." Lan Zhan kissed him again, proud that he could be so  smug about this.

There was a whine of embarrassment and then Wei Ying said, "hey, Lan Zhan?"

"Mn?"

"If...if Rumi says yes, would you...would you like to come with me?" He held his breath, waiting for an answer.

"Yes." Lan Zhan told him, no hesitation in his voice.

Wei Ying made himself get up and kiss his beautiful lips.

"I love you." He whispered before settling down again.

"As I love you." Lan Zhan hugged him once more, feeling his own sleepiness creep over him. "Tomorrow...if Rumi says yes, we will go and ask Xiongzhang to watch over us."

"Mn."

And with that last reassurance, Wei Ying fell asleep in his arms.

Lan Zhan did too, thinking about how lucky he was.

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

In the other room, Rumi woke up, hours later.

He smiled because his sister's arms were cuddling him close and he didn't want to wake her just yet.

Instead, he thought about what his fathers had spoken about before they went to sleep. He wasn't too sure about what they wanted him to do...but he remembered how stressed Li XiWang was when she thought Uncle XiChen was going to give him away to the Sleeping Sickness Demon.

WingAnLaZhan said others might come to take him away.

He did not like the thought of that at all.

His sister...his fathers...they were his family now and he wanted to stay with them forever. He tried thinking about before...before that day in the marketplace, when he had seen these two people and decided that they were safe.

He had been so hungry...he remembered that part.

They had bought him food.

He had noticed that no one else could see them, at least in the beginning. And once they knew he had no one else, they kept him safe. Even Hui Gai, one of his own kind, loved them as much as he did...and that was a good thing.

His fathers said what they wanted him to do...it might cause him pain...but Rumi was surprised to not feel scared by this. Instead, what he felt more strongly was...curiosity.

Where had he been before that marketplace?

Where had he come from?

And what about his parents? Where had they gone? And why was his mother trying to protect him?

He had a lot of questions and now...he wanted to know. He knew he didn't always say much...but he liked to think...and he knew a little bit about what was right, and what was wrong.

And if his parents thought doing what they called Empathy was the right thing to do, then he didn't mind doing it.

Once he had decided that, a feeling of utter peacefulness invaded his senses and his limbs became heavy.

In the morning...when it came...that's when he would tell them yes.