The White Phoenix

Chapter 21 - Unwanted Repeat

Lan Wangji was in the library catching up on some books and writing for his private classes. He has been a bit more active now that Wei Ying was seven, he was close to developing his golden core and also been taking classes. Wangji has been helping Wei Ying study. As he always had a busy mind and can never sit still, Wangji found a way to get Wei Ying to like learning. Challenge his mind like many children like.

As he was reading, Wei Ying came storming in, hands down by his side and balled in fists and stomping his feet. He huffed as he sat down beside Wangji at the desk. Wangji couldn't hold back a smirk as he couldn't help but find Wei Ying being cute when he is mad or grumpy.

"What happened?" Wangji asked him.

"Grandmaster Lan," Wei Ying answered, folding his arms across his chest and humphed.

"What did he do? Of what did you do to upset him?" Wangji asked.

"I didn't do anything," Wei Ying answered hesitantly.

"What happened?" Wangji asked again.

"Another student was picking on me, tried to fight me, so I defended myself, but Grandmaster Lan didn't even ask for my side of the story when he asked the student who bullied me what happened. He had me write the rules fifty times doing a headstand and the kid only knelt as a punishment. The kid called me a nuisance, and freak," Wei Ying answered and showed Wangji a cut hidden by his hair, "the kid did this to me, and all I did was push him away and he fell. He cried and that is what Grandmaster Lan saw."

Lan Wangji was a bit furious at what he heard. He knows that self-defense is fine in Cloud Recesses. He also knows that judgement would be served after here both sides. Lan Wangji pulled out a handkerchief and started to tend to the wound on Wei Ying's head.

"Am I really a nuisance?" Wei Ying asked, "a freak?"

"No, Wei Ying is kind and did not deserve such treatment. I will talk with Grandmaster Lan," Wangji told him, "and I want the name of the kid who hurt you."

"I do not know his name," Wei Ying answered, "I'm very sorry for being a problem."

Lan Wangji hated it when Wei Ying said such things. His uncle was putting words in Wei Ying's head whenever he supposedly did something wrong. Lan Wangji from now on, does not want his uncle near Wei Ying if he treats him such a way. He knows that Wei Ying can been playful and mischievous, and he is disciplined when needed, but he was a good kid. He was always eager to learn. Wei Ying would wake up every morning with a smile on his face, and go to sleep at nice still wearing that same smile.

"You are not a problem, do you understand me?" Wangji said holding Wei Ying's head with both hands, "you are so smart, and I do not like hearing you say these things about yourself. You should always be happy, A'Ying."

"Can you hold me?" Wei Ying asked.

Lan Wangji nodded and opened his arms to let Wei Ying in. Wei Ying smiled as he crawled onto Wangji's lap and snuggled close to Wangji's chest. Lan Xichen was just on the other side of the library, towards the back, looking into some of the books that Annchi brought them. He heard what Wei Ying had to say and he didn't like hearing the injustice that Wei Ying had just received. As a sect leader, it was his duty to make sure everyone was treated equally; especially Wei Ying.

Wei Ying already went through two Nirvanas and he was only supposed to go through one. One nirvana was yo reset his life as his past one was such a mess, thanks to the Jiangs. He did not want a repeat of that. Lan Xichen stopped what he was doing and left the library. He went to the lecture hall to speak with his uncle.

"Uncle," Lan Xichen greeted.

"Xichen, what brings you here?" Lan Qiren asked.

"Wei Ying," Lan Xichen answered.

"I only punished him because of the fight he caused," Lan Qiren told him.

"Are you sure he caused it? Did you ask for his side of the story?" Xichen asked. Lan Qiren was silent. Xichen spoke again, "I heard him explain it all to Wangji. He has a cut on his head from the punch he received from the kid and the kid also called him a nuisance and a freak. Wei Ying is a special person. Do you want a repeat of what happened last time? Or do you wish for a visit from Tian Jun as well. You heard of the Jiang's fate. I want you to be smart when it comes to Wei Ying. Wei Ying will be taught by Wangji until you learn to accept and tolerate him. Also take care of the bullying you have going on with your students. I do not want Wei Ying to feel like he is a burden. He is Wangji's soulmate and in the future, you will have to deal with him."

Lan Qiren did not know what to say. He knows he had made a mistake but he forgot just how important Wei Ying really was. Since Wei Ying was in the care of Wangji and Xichen, he was behaving well enough. Lan Qiren sighed and agreed to Xichen's terms. Lan Qiren honestly did not want a visit from Tian Jun for harming his family in anyway.