The Tainted Jade of Gusu

Chapter 25: Secrets Uncovered, All But One

Rows of boats sailed from Yiling towards Yunmeng. One by one, the cultivators got down on the jetty. It turned out, Wen Ning had swam with them all along. 

"Jin Rulan Gongzi" he bowed before Jin Ling.

"Go away." Jin Ling nursed an age-old grievance against Wen Ning.

"It's alright," Wen Ning 's voice was soft, "if you want to hit me, I won't defend."

"Jin Ling," Sizhui tried to convince him to calm down, "the Ghost General has done nothing but help us. You can't go ahead and hit him. Lower the sword."

"I won't!" Jin Ling burst into tears, "I won't lower it! It's my father's sword. I won't lower it for anything!" 

Wen Ning slowly backed away , and ended up almost running into someone. He felt a pair of firm, but youthful hands catch him.

"Are you okay?" The voice said.

Wen Ning turned around to find a pair of stormcloud eyes staring at him with slight concern.

"I'm okay," Wen Ning lowered his head bashfully, "I'm sorry, Lan Gongzi."

"Lan Gongzi," Jingyi snickered, "please, just call me Jingyi. And what are you sorry for? That Jin brat bullies everyone."

Wen Ning blinked. 

The way Jingyi talked with a smirk, the way his greyish blue eyes twinkled, the way the little mole rested on the bottom left corner of his lips, seemed extremely familiar to Wen Ning.

"Young master Jingyi," Wen Ning scratched his head, "you are a spitting image of Wei Gongzi when he was your age."

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian rubbed his eyes as he sat up inside the boat,  "where's your forehead ribbon?"

The twilight sun lent a rose gold tinge to the jade statue-like face of Lan Wangji. His gaze softened as he pointed towards Wei Wuxian's hands, where his forehead ribbon was intertwined against Wei Wuxian's fingers.

"Oh!" Wei Wuxian's eyes slightly widened, "Oh no! Lan Zhan, I'm so sorry!" Wei Wuxian sat up and took Lan Wangji's hands in his own.

"I tend to fidget around a lot when I sleep, I must have accidentally tugged off your forehead ribbon. I didn't mean disrespect, Lan Zhan."

"I know," Lan Wangji's lips were curved upwards in the slightest hint of a smile, "it's alright."

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian sidled closer to Lan Wangji, "where are the kids?"

"They're at the docks," Lan Wangji put an arm around Wei Wuxian to support him better, "do you feel better?"

"A little bit," Wei Wuxian smiled, "shall we head to the Lotus Pier now?"

"Of course."

The two of them walked through the docks, with Jingyi, Sizhui, and the Lan disciples accompanying them like, as Wei Wuxian liked to call them, a brood of ducklings. Wen Ning also joined the crew.

"Do not let me catch you setting foot in my home." Jiang Wanyin's warning carried a hint of danger as he shot a murderous glare towards Wen Ning.

"I don't think I want to go into the hall with those cultivators," Wei Wuxian plopped down on the steps leading up to the Purple Lotus Hall, where the Jiang Sect Leader, Jiang Wanyin had arranged  for the banquet.

"It's alright," Lan Wangji stood with his back resting against the pillar, "I will accompany you."

Once, Wei Wuxian had been close with Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli, these two siblings had incorporated Wei Wuxian into their own family. But then, things have gone severely downhill. Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian both died, but Wei Wuxian was the only one who returned to life. After resurrection, the interactions Wei Wuxian had with Jiang Wanyin had been extremely awkward. Maybe Jiang Wanyin resented the fact that Wei Wuxian got the second chance and Yanli didn't. Or maybe he had carried over the resentment of the broken promise, the promise to become the Twin Heroes of Yunmeng together, comparable to the Twin Jades of Gusu.