The White Phoenix

Chapter 4 - Conflict

Wei Wuxian was only a third of the way done with his writing when he was starting to doze off. He didn't like that he was this way, but he felt there are other things to worry about than a stupid punishment. He just dealt with it. This was Gusu after all. Wei Wuxian expected more punishments then he could ever expect. During his punishment, there were several times that Lan Wangji took a glance at Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji had a question in his mind ever since the greeting ceremony, 'Why did Wen Chao go flying across the room? Was it some sort of rebound charm that Wei Ying came up with?'

He didn't want to ask him though. Lan Wangji knows that he and Wei Wuxian were not getting along, and questioning him would only make things worse for Lan Wangji...as to what Lan Wangji thought anyway.

"Lan er Gongzi?" Wei Wuxian called out after getting tired of Lan Wangji always looking over at him.

"Mnn?"

"Why do you keep looking over at me? Am I that pretty?" Wei Wuxian teased.

Lan Wangji blinked at him as his ears started to turn pink. He rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the book in his hands. Wei Wuxian liked seeing the Lan flustered. He decided to continue teasing the man.

"It's okay, I know I'm good looking. If you want to stare, then by all means, please stare...as long as you let me stare at your beautiful face as well," Wei Wuxian flirted.

Lan Wangji shot a glance at Wei Wuxian. He was a bit more annoyed by the Jiang Disciple, "shameless!"

"Me? Shameless?" Wei Wuxian asked standing and approached Lan Wangji, "if anyone knew me, they should expect nothing else. I'm known to be the most shameless man in Yunmeng. Which is why I'm always getting into trouble. It's the other person's fault though. They got themselves mixed into my shameless behavior...and you are one of those people who are close to doing the same."

"Say another word, and I will silence you," Lan Wangji warned, "and I will also add one hundred more times to your punishment."

"Do you have that authority to punish me?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"Under my authority and our Shufu's," Sect Leader Lan interjected entering the library.

"Huh?" Wei Wuxian questioned.

"Lan Wangji is the second heir and is in charge of punishments in our sect when Shufu or I am not around," Sect Leader Lan told him.

Wei Wuxian huffed and went back to his seat, "The GusuLan sect has a rule against bullying. You two are treading on that rule," Wei Wuxian told the sect leader.

Sect Leader Lan was surprised by his call out, "if I don't recall, you were bullying my brother. I should punish you for that."

"I was flirting," Wei Wuxian told him, "bullying and flirting are two different things...I may have been known to flirt with girls but I flirt with men as well."

"So you like my brother?" Sect Leader Lan questioned.

"What's not to like?" Wei Wuxian shrugged, "his attitude is his selling point. If someone likes to be the dominate one, your brother would be the one to do so."

"Shameless!" Lan Wangji mumbled.

"Says the man who was staring at me like a wonderstruck girl," Wei Wuxian stated as he picked up his brush.

"You two still can't get along huh?" Sect Leader Lan asked.

"He started it when he threatened me outside your sect's gate," Wei Wuxian told him, "I hold grudges and I don't forgive easily. I accepted his apology, but that doesn't mean I forgive him."

"Why not?" Sect Leader Lan asked.

"My trust in others was ruined the day I turned six. I was enjoying my birthday with my siblings when I was blamed for something I didn't do. I was punished for it that same day. On my birthday, I got a taste of what Zidian feels like. So, since then, I never trusted a soul. I only trust one person and that is my ShiJie. I barely trust my Shidi, and that is because he is always berating me for something, just like his mother. So tell me, why should I easily forgive or forget?!" Wei Wuxian asked angrily. He had tears settling in his eyes and he had no interest of continuing this conversation, "if that is all, let me finish this stupid punishment that I somehow landed myself into."

Sect Leader Lan swallowed. He didn't know how hard the young Jiang disciple had it growing up. He felt sorry for the boy. Was he always punished for things outside of his control?

Sect Leader Lan sighed, "I won't let you continue with your punishment," he said.

Wei Wuxian looked up at the Leader, "what?"

"You are free to leave, no need to continue writing," Sect Leader Lan told him.

Wei Wuxian placed the brush down and stood up with his sword in his hand. Sect Leader Lan nodded in confirmation. Wei Wuxian blinked and glanced at the two brothers before leaving the library.

"Why did you let him go like that? His attitude is enough for punishment," Lan Wangji asked his brother.

"Wangji, just let him be," Lan Xichen told his brother, "did you not hear what he said. He is punished for things that are often beyond his control. Why make it worse for him?"

Lan Wangji sighed and nodded, "you believe him?"

"Would he get so worked up almost to the point of tears if he wasn't?" Lan Xichen asked. Lan Wangji thought for a moment and shook his head, "Wangji, I know this is pushing it, but would you keep an eye on him?"

"I can," Lan Wangji agreed, "is there a reason why?"

"I just don't what him doing something he shouldn't," Lan Xichen told him.

"I have to ask, do you know what happened with Wen Chao to go flying across the room like that?" Lan Wangji asked.

Lan Xichen shook his head, "I haven't. That's another reason why I want you to look after Wei Gongzi. I want to know if it's something he can do or if it is something else."

"I know he specializes in charms and talismans, maybe he made something to protect himself," Lan Wangji suggested:

"Please just keep an eye on him?" Lan Xichen asked of him.

Lan Wangji responded with a nod. After his brother left the library, Lan Wangji to the liberty of cleaning up his spot and Wei Wuxian's area where he was writing. As he was cleaning up, he saw a piece of parchment with something interesting written on it.

The feather protected me...why?

Lan Wangji wondered why Wei Wuxian had to write that thought down but he saw more written on the back.

Is this feather connected to my birth parents? Why am I being protected?

Lan Wangji now wanted to know about this Jiang Disciple and this feather of his.