Because of You

23

Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli decided they would go check on Wangji and Wuxian. When they entered, they saw the to laying on the bed snuggled up to each other. Wuxian had his head resting on Wangji's chest and his arms wrapped around him. Wangji had his hand tangled in Wuxian's hair. The other wrapped around his waist. Lan Xichen and Yanli giggled and stepped back out as they didn't want to wake the two.

"So, our work is done to get them together," Yanli said, "but if they remember everything, I can only imagine how difficult it might be to trust others."

"You might be right on that," Xichen said.

"Since you and I planned to go find the iron, maybe they can come. With their memories they will know where to look and what to do," Yanli suggested.

"We could do that, it would also help keep Wen Chao off their backs," Xichen said, "but I still want to get rid of that owl."

"Want to go see if we can find it?" Yanli asked.

"Yes, let's go," Xichen said and they went to the back hills. They walked around the backhills for a few hours and didn't see anything. They had to think about where it could be.

"It it be somewhere that A'Xian or Wangji would hang out oft—" Yanli began to say but slipped on a stone she stepped on near the river.

Lan Xichen caught her before she could hit the ground. The two were stuck on each other's eyes. Yanli blushed as she looked away. Xichen smiled as he helped her stand properly, "are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes," she said, "thank you."

Xichen nodded as they heard a throat clearing behind them. They turned to see Wangji and Wuxian standing there, "what are you two doing?" Wuxian asked.

"We were talking," Yanli answered.

"A'Jie...I...Lan Zhan and I have our memories of the past...that was why we were asleep," Wuxian said.

"We know," she said, "we can sit and talk if you want."

"We can...once you tell us the truth about why you two are back here," Wuxian said, "we saw you in Zewu Jun's arms."

Yanli blushed, "and I saw you sleeping in Wangji's."

"Because he is my husband-to-be," Wuxian said, "he can hug me all he wants."

"Husband-to-be?" Yanli asked with a smirk.

"Well, we want to marry this time before we...you know," Wuxian said, "and we want A'Yuan back."

Xichen smiled, "as long as I don't have to see it," he said.

"What do you mean?" Wuxian asked.

"I went through your memories so I saw everything," Xichen said, "never thought my quiet brother had such a wild side."

Wuxian laughed. Lan Wangji blushed and turned away from him, "I'm leaving."

"Lan Zhan, don't go," Wuxian said.

"Then don't make fun of me," Wangji said.

"Okay," Wuxian said, "we will not...well, you know me, I'll just tease you behind closed doors."

Lan Wangji sighed as he couldn't help himself with him. Wei Wuxian was too cute to say no to. He said behind closed doors, so no teasing in public.

"Have either of you seen a dire owl?" Xichen asked changing the subject.

"That stupid bird is back," Wuxian said, "we know where to look...or I do..come." They followed Wuxian until they reached the entrance of the cold caves, "I saw it here a couple times...like they know what's here but they have doubts."

That was when the owl appeared, "there it is," Yanli said.

"Anyone have a bow?" Wuxian asked.

"Ugh, no," They said together.

Wuxian sighed and saw a branch and grabbed it. He then took out his whip to make a makeshift string and then found a sharp stick. He made it into a makeshift bow and arrow and shot the owl out of the sky.

"I got it," Wuxian said putting the stick back and his whip away. They all stared at him in shock for a moment as they watched him walk over to where the owl fell. Wuxian then used his sword to cut the owl apart to make sure it was dead. He then walked back to the others, "what?"

"How are you so good with archery?" Yanli asked.

"I don't know," Wuxian replied with a shrug.

"Why don't we go sit and talk now, A'Li and I have talked about some things about what we can do," Xichen said.

"Alright—wait, A'Li?" Wuxian asked teasingly.

"A'Xian," Yanli warned.

"What?" He asked and then stood behind Wangji, "You have to go through him first. Lan Zhan won't let anything happen to me again I'm sure."

"Never," Wangji said, "will do my best to protect you."

"Lan Zhan, you are going to make my heart melt," Wuxian warned.

Xichen smiled, "let's go," he said. They then went to the Hanshi and had a privacy barrier placed so that can talk more freely, "so A'Li and I were talking about going to find the iron this time."

"Can't we all go?" Wuxian asked, "Lan Zhan and I have been to the locations and we know where to look. With you two, it might also be easier to take out Xuanwu."

"How did you manage to kill him before?" Yanli asked.

"Lan Zhan used the chord assassination technique," Wuxian said, "I went into the shell to lure it out and found a sword made out of the fifth Yin Iron piece. I started to technically use Resentment then, as it helped us kill it...am I going to have to resort to that method again? I don't like using it and I don't want to be hated again."

"We will find a way to win this war without you having to use it," Xichen said, "we thought maybe you should pick up a flute again and learn songs from our collection. There may also be other methods of cultivation we can use."

"If I pick up a flute, even if not a ghost flute anymore, I will only use Chenqing," Wuxian said, "as she has a place in my heart."

"She?" Wangji asked.

"I always saw Chenqing's spirit as a she," Wuxian said.

"All we need is black bamboo, correct?" Yanli asked.

"Well, I found Chenqing in the mounds," he said, "so she may still be there."

"Can we cleanse the flute and have you cultivate it as a spiritual tool?" Wangji asked.

"We can but we would need the flute first," Xichen said.

"I can always go and get it, and have you cleanse me when I come out," Wuxian suggested.

"Might be our best option...but can you handle going back in the mounds?" Yanli asked.

"I have to for at least a few minutes," Wuxian said, "I feel like resentment still has an effect on me so I might be able to manipulate it to stay away from me."

"Well, how about once lectures are done, we do all this as you had back then. You left right after lectures ended," Xichen said, "we can get Chenqing first and then go find the iron."

"Unless you give us a couple days to go get it as Wei Ying and I have sat through the lectures once already," Wangji suggested.

Lan Xichen looked at his brother. Yes they went through the lectures once but hearing his brother suggested they not attend was completely new.

"I suppose it would be fine," he said, "I will give you a week to go and get Chenqing. If you have not returned I will personally go find you myself. And you better keep your hands to yourself and your legs closed."

Wei Wuxian chuckled, "yes Zewu Jun," he said, "Lan Zhan and I agreed that we want to marry this time before we are intimate. Though I am not sure if we will stick to that but we will try."

"Good," Xichen said.