The Tainted Jade of Gusu

Chapter 24: Debts Repaid, Twice Over

"I had no idea Zewu Jun had a son! " Wei Wuxian was practically bubbling with excitement, "Lan Zhan, does that mean you are an uncle too? Wait, does Zewu Jun have a wife? Lan Zhan, do you have a  Saozi? "

"Lan Jingyi is simply rumoured to be Xiongzhang's son” Lan Wangji replied patiently, "however, I do have a Saozi. "

"Must be a lucky lady, " Wei Wuxian grinned, "to have the most attractive male cultivator as her husband."

"I think Xiongzhang is the luckier one."

"Okay, " Wei Wuxian grinned, "I'm intrigued. Lan Zhan, how come I never ran into this Saozi of yours?"

"She stays in seclusion." Lan Wangji replied, "She interferes only when there is a medical emergency on hand."

"No way! Your Saozi is a physician too? " Wei Wuxian grinned, "physician older sister figures are awesome! Remember back when you used to visit the Burial Mounds, Wen Qing would greet you? Ah, she was the one who single handedly held the place together."

"Mn." The expression on Lan Wangji's face was a little nostalgic. 

Wei Wuxian walked side by side with him, wondering how, even while walking the streets with Lan Wangji , his heart felt right at home. 

As the two of them traversed further and entered the little  town of Yiling, they passed by ghosts of memories left long back. Lan Wangji could feel his heart try to beat it's way out of his ribcage, while Wei Wuxian did not mention them in fear of earning Lan Wangji's ire.

When the two of them passed a toy vendor, Wei Wuxian sighed and stared at the toys. He fondly remembered a child running to Lan Wangji and hugging his legs. 

"If that kid lived, "  Wei Wuxian mumbled, "he'd have been the same age as those Lan ducklings."

"Wei Ying, " Lan Wangji carefully took Wei Wuxian's hand and held it in his own hand, "let's go.  The kids might be in need of assistance . "

"I can't believe that evil Yiling Laozu left us to die here!" Jin Chan struggled against his restraints.

"Stop struggling," Lan Jingyi hissed, "the rope is chafing my wrists!"

"Are you okay?" Lan Sizhui tried to croon his neck to ensure his little brother was okay. This put a strain on the rope, which cut against Jin Ling's wrists. Unlike Jingyi, Jin Ling didn't give an ultimatum, instead, he bent his head slightly backwards and bit Sizhui on the elbow.

"Hey!" Sizhui wailed, "what is wrong with you?"

"You're straining the rope!" Jin Ling snapped, "It was hurting!"

"Hey! My wrist hurts too!"Jingyi aimed a backward kick towards Jin Chan, "I'm not biting people like this spoiled Jin brat!"  

"What did I do?" Ouyang Zizhen, the son of the clan leader of the Ouyang clan of Balin, who was the accidental recipient of Jingyi's white cloth boots wailed.

"We're bound to die here!" Jingyi clapped back, "What's in a kick?"

"Hold up, we're allowed to kick each other?"

"Fuck it, we're all going to die! We'll kick and scream!"

"Yesss, boot fight!"

Amidst all the kicking and screaming and pulling at the ropes, Lan Sizhui lost his temper. He too started yelling and throwing haphazard kicks.

"Look at you bunches!" A familiar voice sounded through the stone caves, "You're all tied up, and you still have to pick fights with each other."

The commotion raging  inside the cave came to a grinding halt, as two figures, one clad in pristine white and the other in black and red, appeared at the entrance of the cave.