The White Phoenix

Chapter 44 - Exchange

Almost a year has passed since the whole kiss ordeal. Wei Ying has been doing really well with his training and keeping up with his studies. Though, he has been very quiet and distracted lately. Lan Wangji started to notice the chance in Wei Ying's demeanor almost immediately. He knew Wei Ying was concerned about going back to his home land, and possibly not seeing Lan Wangji again. That wasn't to be the case though, as the two were soulmates Lan Wangji and Wei Ying were far from being split apart.

To distract his mind, he decided to work on his sword skills. Even though he has followed Lan Wangji's style and the Guse Lan Sect's style, Wei Ying started to develop his own. Today though, his was fumbling quite a bit, misstepping, is postures were off, and his ability to be accurate with his movements and swings were not good. Wei Ying was thankful that he was practicing alone at the moment too, he was sent in the mood to be picked apart for what he was doing wrong.

Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were both off in the distance though, watching as Wei Ying struggled, "he is distracted," Xichen said, "I have never seen him fumble this much."

"I know. I think he worries about what the future holds. He will gain his old life back soon, and I am sure he is worried, scared, concerned, maybe even confused," Lan Wangji explained.

"Do you want me to speak with him, or are you okay with doing it?" Xichen asked, "I'm sure he worries what will happen between you and him."

Lan Wangji nodded, "I am sure he is but I can speak with him. I have something I have been meaning to give him anyway."

"Your lips?" Xichen teased.

Lan Wangji glared at Xichen, "no."

Lan Xichen laughed as he watched his brother walk over to Wei Ying. He then sighed and decided to give them some space, so he went inside to spend some time with Zhūhóng. When Lan Wangji approached Wei Ying, he watched as Wei Ying took a misstep and fell backwards to the ground. Wei Ying groaned as he pounded his fist into the ground before sitting up.

"You are too distracted, and it is clogging up your mind too much to focus and concentrate," Wangji explained.

Wei Ying looked up at Wangji and nodded, "I get it," he replied.

"How about you take a break, I have something to discuss with you anyway," Lan Wangji told him.

Wei Ying was surprised to hear such things. Not about Lan Wangji wanting yo speak with him but for him to suggest a break. Wei Ying began to wonder if Lan Wangji could read his mind or knew of anything that was already on his mind.

"Okay," Wei Ying says as he stood up, "do you want to go somewhere else to talk then?"

"I want to take you somewhere," Wangji said as he held out his hand.

Wei Ying smiled as he took Lan Wangji's hand. He then just walked with Lan Wangji and let him take him wherever he wanted to take him. Lan Wangji led Wei Ying into a glass dome. Inside was a beautiful garden with an abundance of flowers, and a winding path throughout. Even a nice pond that was settled nicely on one side. Wei Ying was in complete awe and Lan Wangji led him through the garden.

Lan Wangji and Wei Ying sat at a table that was placed near a small trickling waterfall. The area was calm and peaceful, and it was a nice place for them both to just sit and talk.

"Why take me here?" Wei Ying asked.

"I thought it would be a nice place to help you ease your mind," Wangji replied, "and it is private enough to talk...I have an idea of what might be on your mind but are you willing to tell me about it?"

"I-I—" Wei Ying stuttered, "I am...af-afraid."

"What are you afraid of?" Wangji asked.

"Losing you, never seeing you again. I am to be eighteen soon and I worry about that all the time," Wei Ying answered.

"You won't lose me. As your soulmate, once you get your old life back, your parents told me that I will ascend with you. That I will be by your side forever," Wangji told him, "is that something you like to think of now?"

"Forever?" Wei Ying asked.

"Well, gods live for a very long time, and once you are a god again, you will technically be older than me," Wangji said.

"How much older?" Wei Ying asked.

"49,966 years older than me," Wangji answered, "as your god form is fifty-thousand years old."

Wei Ying blinked a couple times to process that information, "if I have been older than you this entire time, we could have been more intimate," Wei Ying stated.

Lan Wangji couldn't help but let out a laugh, "so shameless."

"It's true though," Wei Ying said.

"We will have more moments, A'Ying. Kissing is as far as we will go for now," Wangji told him, "...now is that all you worry about, losing me?"

"I think so," Wei Ying said, "although, you say I will see my real parents again as well, but they did not want to raise me again?"

"They placed you with me for your protection, and it was also a requirement for your Nirvana to live in the cultivation world as you grew up," Wangji explained.

"Oh," Wei Ying said.

"I have something for you, by the way," Wangji told him.

"What is that?" Wei Ying asked.

Lan Wangji reached into his robe and took out a white feather that shimmered gold in the sunlight, "this was with you when you came to me," Wangji said, "I figured you didn't want to lose it so I held it for you."

"A feather?" Wei Ying asked as he took it.

"It was one of yours. As you are a white Phoenix," Wangji explained.

"I'm the only white Phoenix as well, right?" Wei Ying asked.

"Mnn," Wangji replied.

Wei Ying smiled at the feather in his hand and decided that he wanted Lan Wangji to have it, "I appreciate you holding this for me, but I want you to have it."

"Why?" Wangji asked, "it is yours."

"I feel like it should belong to you. As it is a piece of me and I can always be with you, even when I may be millions of miles away," Wei Ying said as he handed the feather back.

"Very well," Wangji said as he put the feather back and removed his forehead ribbon and started to tie it around Wei Ying's left arm, "then you shall have this."

"This is sacred, only family can touch this," Wei Ying protested.

"You are my family, as my soulmate, you are the only one can touch it," Wangji told him, "plus I have a couple others if you are wondering."

Wei Ying nodded as he blinked several times to try to keep the tears from falling. Once Wangji finished tying the ribbon, Wei Ying moved to sit on Wangji's lap and latched his lips onto Wangji's. Lan Wangji gripped onto Wei Ying's waist as he was taken by surprise by the sudden kiss. Lan Wangji only took a moment to calm down and take control, moving his arms to wrap firmly around Wei Ying. Wei Ying kept his hands on Wangji's face as he took in the soothing feeling of Lan Wangji's lips, his taste, and his touch.

Lan Xichen and Zhūhóng were actually only on the other side of the garden and not only heard the two talk, but they witnessed their kissing. Lan Xichen was quite surprised to see that his brother gave his forehead ribbon away. He knows he should have expected it, but maybe more so if they were at the alter. The two then decided to leave the garden to give the boys their privacy.

Wei Ying slowly pulled away and calmed his breathing before speaking, "I love you so much."

"I love you too, A'Ying."

Wei Ying giggled as he shoved his face into Wangji's neck. Lan Wangji could only coo at how cute Wei Ying was.