Fate

Ch. 29

After that long story and everything that has happened so far, Zhan and Yibo finally got to take Wuxian and Wangji to the beach. The took Xichen and A'Yuan as well and had Haikuan meet up with them and he could bring Fanxing. Xiao Zhan and Yibo even packed up food for a picnic. The beach they went to was actually a private beach that Yibo and Xiao Zhan go to a lot with their families.

It was nice to get everyone out for a while and destress. Yibo was sitting beside Zhan watching the two little boys play. Haikuan and Xichen, Wangji, and Wuxian were relaxing near each other just enjoying the warm fresh sea breeze.

"Thank you for bringing us here," Wuxian said, "it's nice and warm. The air reminds me of Yunmeng a little but."

"Can you tell us what your homes look like?" Yibo asked.

"Well, Yunmeng isn't really my home anymore. I do not have one," Wuxian said, "Starting from the end of Lotus Pier, after just a while of paddling, one will see a large lotus lake, more than a hundred miles in length. The wide, verdant leaves and the smooth, pink blossoms brush shoulders against one another. As a breeze blows over, the petals and the leaves sway as if nodding their heads. Amid the purity and grace, one can also feel a naive sense of clumsiness.

Unlike the other clans' residences, shutting their doors and refusing to let commoners come within a boundary miles away, the docks in front of Lotus Pier's entrance often bustle with vendors selling seed pods, water chestnuts and all kinds of pastries. Children from households nearby also sneak into Lotus Pier's fields to watch cultivators practice their swords. Upon getting caught, instead of being scolded, they sometimes even play with the Jiang Clan's disciples....at least that's how it was before the war happened."

"Wei Ying, I will be your home. If the sect will not accept you, I will follow you. I will not let you be on your own," Wangji told him.

"Wangji, I will make sure he is accepted. If I have to scold some people then I will. I will not be against it if you decide to live outside of the sect though. Just talk to me about what you decide," Xichen said.

Zhan was glad they were working things out and mending their relationship, "Lotus Pier sounds pretty...what about your home?" He asked Xichen.

Lan Xichen smiled, "Cloud Recesses, located in Gusu, is actually on a mountain. The Gusu Lan Clan was founded by Lan An. He was born in a temple, became a famous monk at a young age, and chose to cultivate as a musician. After searching for his "fated person" and becoming their cultivation partner, he founded the Gusu Lan Clan. At some point, Lan An and his spouse had or adopted children. After their death, he left the Cloud Recesses and returned to the temple."

"Living on mountain, does it get cold?" Yibo asked.

"Not if you are used to the environment," Xichen replied, "since we live on a mountain, a lot of our people use the natural environment as a source to cultivate. It's filled with tranquil and spiritual energy. The Lan Clan is actually well known for its success rate in producing good disciples."

"And beautiful ones," Wuxian mumbled.

"Huh?" Xichen asked.

"Ahh, I just thought it's known for having such good looking people. You and Lan Zhan are ranked first and second on beauty," Wuxian said, "why do you think I was interested in Lan Zhan so much?"

"I thought it was because of other reasons you liked me," Wangji said.

"Oh, I have a lot of reasons to like you," Wuxian said, "I found you interesting because of how easy it is for me to tease you. I can still tease you and you'd get worked up over it."

Lan Xichen chuckled. Lan Wangji glared at him, "Xiongzhang!?"

"What? I have never seen anyone other than Wuxian get under your skin so much," Xichen said.

"Jiang Cheng once asked me if I dislike how he's boring and how he's not fun? I said, 'No, It's exceptionally fun, precisely because of how a living person can be so not fun'," Wuxian explained.

Wangji furrowed his brow as he looked at Wuxian, "really?"

Wuxian suddenly felt like he just dug a grave, "ugh, I love you."

"Mnn, you find me interesting because I'm boring?" He asked.

Wuxian sighed and held Wangji's hands in his own, "You were all I could think about back then. Even when I was at my worst and basically on my death bed, you were on my mind. I never understood how you fascinated me so much, but you just do. It's like when I actually get you to smile or even get a little laugh out of you, I feel a warmth inside me that I never felt before. All I wanted was to be friends back then, but you kept pushing me away and telling me to get lost. When I was at my worst I did the same to you but you stuck with me anyway. I feel like that says something about us," Wuxian explained.

Lan Xichen never expected to hear such amazing words from Wei Wuxian towards Wangji. Xichen could see the spark in Wuxian's eyes, and how it brightens every time Wuxian looks at Wangji. For the longest time, it was all Xichen wanted for his brother, was to have a friend, but he never expected for Wangji to find his soulmate in the end.

Wangji didn't know what to think. He wasn't expecting for Wuxian to just tell him all of that. Wangji pulled Wuxian into a hug and held him tight, "I love you so much, I am not bothered about how you thought of me. I am just happy that I have you now," he said.

"Lan Zhan, I love you too, and that will never change," Wuxian said.

"Xian-Gege!" A'Yuan yelled and ran to him, "look what Fanxing and I found."

The two boys ran over and their hands were full of seashells. Fanxing brought his over to his father, "Baba look," he said.

"You found some pretty shells," Haikuan said.

"A'Yuan found a sand dollar," Fanxing said.

"That is really cool," Wuxian said, "are you two having fun?"

"Yeah, Fanxing and I are going to use these to make a sandcastle," A'Yuan said.

Wuxian smiled, "go have fun."

"Can you hold this though?" A'Yuan handed Wuxian the sand dollar, "I do not want to lose it."

"Of course," Wuxian said and kept the sand dollar close to him while A'Yuan went to go back to Fanxing to play, "To be a kid again."

"They seem to be getting along well," Zhan said.

"It is nice to see A'Yuan play with someone. When we were in the Burial Mounds, he was the only kid there. I would play with him to help entertain him and sometimes Wen Qing would scold me for letting him get dirty," Wuxian explained, "to see him like this now, free and happy, is all I wanted for him. Even for his family."

"Wei Ying, I am sorry about the Wens," Wangji said, "but you still have A'Yuan. He is the last Wen descendant. To keep him safe, we should hide his name."

"I told Shufu that his name was Lan Yuan...at least before he found out he was a Wen," Xichen said.

"Lan Yuan," Wuxian said and looked at Wangji, "would you be willing to adopt him with me?"

Wangji smiled and nodded, "he would need a courtesy name but he can be Lan Yuan from now on."

"We have some time for a courtesy name," Wuxian said.

"I already thought of one," Wangji said.

"What?" Wuxian asked.

"Lan Sizhui," Wangji replied.

"Lan Sizhui," Wuxian said, "it's nice."

"Mnn," Wangji nodded.

Lan Xichen was happy that his brother gained a little family for himself. The happiness that he could see was all Lan Xichen ever wanted for his brother and he was going to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.