Phoenix

Chapter 7*Revised*

        They walked in an uncomfortable silence making Wei Wuxian think Lan Wangji intended to get rid of him permanently. If he was to die it would only be fair for his soulmate to be the one to do it. Still, he followed along resigned to whatever fate awaited him till they came to a familiar rocky cliff face. Lan Wangji stood by it with his hand extended as if inviting Wei Wuxian to go through an open doorway instead of a rock wall.

          Wei Wuxian couldn't help but frown as his mind went into overdrive. He just couldn't understand. Did this mean that it wasn't all just an elaborate dream? If it wasn't a dream why was Lan Wangji being so cold to him? Why would he purposely hurt his mate by rejecting their acquaintance? It didn't make any sense to him. He would never willingly hurt his mate even through his vampiric nature.

          Knowing his supposed soulmate wouldn't give him any answers he sighed and stepped inside the cave warily. The inside passage was just as cold as he remembered. Steeling himself further he made his way to sit in front of the altar holding the guqin. Lan Wangji silently sat beside him before bowing low with his perfect posture. This time Wei Wuxian joined him in the bow to the ancestor Lan Yi. 

        When they finished their bow and sat up it was to see Lan Yi with another beautiful woman that was looking at them curiously. The ice in the cave seemed to highlight the paleness of her skin making her onyx hair look darker as if it was swallowing the light around it. It was her sharp familiar-shaped eyes and mischievous smile that allowed them a clue of who this woman was. The woman looked at them like they were a puzzle she needed to solve until Lan Yi drew her attention away with her soft words. " Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian I introduce to you my mate and the answer to your problems Baoshan Sanren." 

          Wei Wuxian's eyes opened extremely wide in shock. It was well known that Baoshan Sanren never left her mountain for anyone. His reaction was exaggerated enough that both women burst into laughter a melodic sound that echoed in the ice cavern gently. It was a few minutes before the immortals could compose themselves only to giggle more at an amused Lan Wangji and a pouting Wei Wuxian. 

            Lan Yi held her mate's hand before speaking to all of them. "Baoshan this is your grandson Wei Ying the son of Cangse that you thought was lost to the world." Baoshan Sanren looked at Wei Wuxian carefully before her eyes teared up and a sweet smile lit up her face. "I'm so happy to know you are alive." Schooling her features again Baoshan turned to Lan Yi with a frown. " As happy as I am to meet my grandson that is not why you kidnapped me from the mountain without warning. So what is the real reason you summoned me here A-Yi?" 

              Lan Yi sighed before she explained the situation as best she could before telling Wei Wuxian to show the seal again. Hesitantly he stripped his top robes again getting tired of showing off something he was ashamed of so often. When the mark was revealed the pressure in the cave got so bad the young boys had trouble breathing and the ground started shaking below them. Amid everything Lan Wangji grabbed a hold of Wei Wuxian in an effort to protect him.

         Lan Yi stroked her lover's cheek, snapping her out of her thoughts and making the pressure vanish in an instant. Taking stock of the situation Baoshan grimaced before walking over and hugging both boys firmly. "Forgive me little ones I was just upset that my grandson was sealed with a bastardized version of a seal I created for prisoners. Come, A-Ying let Popo remove that seal I'll even make it so they don't realize it is off."

            She released them from her hold but moved Wei Wuxian to a place where she could work with enough light reflecting from the ice. Baoshan Sanren bit her finger letting her blood flow over her hand before she carefully wrote over the seal with the blood changing all the characters of it. When she finally backed away and activated the new array both boys were in awe. The seal literally pulled away from his skin completely before turning to ash leaving no trace on  Wei Wuxian's skin that it was ever there. 

           The relief Wei Wuxian felt was so overwhelming that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He started laughing maniacally while tears poured from his eyes. With gentle hands, Baoshan led Wei Wuxian to sit on her lap as she consoled him like a small child. She let him cry uninterrupted while playing with his hair soothingly.  Finally, when only sniffles could be heard from Wei Wuxian she turned her attention to the other occupants in the cave.

          Lan Wangji stood awkwardly by Lan Yi's side not knowing what to do. It made Baoshan want to laugh since he reminded her of how Lan Yi was when they first met. To her, he was easy to read and the boy still seemed troubled by something else. "Now that A-Ying is free of his burden what is troubling young master Lan? " 

          He was startled by the question enough to stutter as all eyes landed on him. "I-I--It's not really that big a problem. Only Shufu told my brother that he would never allow Wei Ying to be my mate when he mentioned it as a hypothetical. I would be secluded permanently and the Jiangs would take Wei Ying away. At worst he rather I get banished from the sect than allow Cangse's son to be my mate. That's what he told Xiongzhang. I am not strong enough to protect Wei Ying without a sect. I am unworthy of my mate." Everyone looked at him in shocked silence letting the information sink in. 

         Lan Wangji kept his gaze firmly on the ground too ashamed to look at them. He was tackled in a hug by an emotional Wei Wuxian. "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan is that why you were avoiding me? I thought you just realized I was too much trouble to be your mate. You are not unworthy of me never think that way I am the one who is always messing things up. Lan Zhan, you are worth soooo much." The two boys hugged on the floor for quite a while enjoying the feel of each other only to be pulled back to the situation by a cough.

           Lan Yi and Baoshan sat calmly holding hands seemingly waiting patiently for them to remember they weren't alone. "We may have a solution for you both if you are willing to put in the work for it." Both males looked at Lan Yi with bated breath for her next words. " You see my mate has agreed to act as Wei Wuxian's guardian. I will give you the location of three elders here in Cloud Recesses who went into Seclusion by choice. Your assignment is to get them to come here during lunch exactly a week from now. Active elder Nainai and active elder Lan Bai should also be asked to come. 

         Be honest with them about your problem. Trust them to understand and they will be a great support. Now go we will have a word with Qingheng-jun. Oh and bring one person you each trust too. " She tapped their foreheads implanting the information they would need before sending them out of the cave holding hands and with renewed hope.