The morning saw a change to the usual activities of the inhabitants of the Jingshi. While the men followed their usual routine on rising, once the morning meal was cleared away and it was time to begin their daily duties, Wei WuXian did not leave alongside Lan WangJi. Instead, the men indulged in a long, slow kiss – nothing passionate, just a thoroughly delightful sharing of affection to their mutual satisfaction – then Wei WuXian waved Lan WangJi off to his teaching and retuned to his desk. No research beckoned from the Library now, so he had determined to start work on illustrations of the tainted pellets and a draft of the document that would be distributed to the other Sects and from them to their constituents.
Seated at his desk, Wei WuXian allowed his mind to drift through memories of events even as his hands worked on perfecting a series of illustrations. One of a single pellet, life-sized. Another of a group of pellets nestled together on top of a paper envelope of the sort that had accompanied the two examples discovered thus far. A third, much larger illustration showed the very nearly perfect shape of a single pellet, exposing the slight flattening where the pellet might once have rested on a flat, hard surface and scratching marks that indicated the very minor markings visible on the surface when held to the right light. By the time a full shichen had passed, Wei WuXian had made a compilation of these sketches onto a single page, to his full satisfaction, complete with annotations as to actual size, shape, finish, speculation as to manufacture, and such.
Taking a clean paper, Wei WuXian quickly wrote out a copy charm. He shuffled ten fresh sheets of paper and lined them up on top of the illustration. Finally, he placed the copy charm on top of the stack and allowed a flick of his Qi to energize the charm. Before his waiting eyes the lines of the bottom-most sketch gradually appeared on the top sheet, deepening by the moment, until the lines were as dark as if freshly inked. The charm flared and vanished and when the trace of smoke cleared, he had a stack of eleven illustrations, including the original. Removing the original to a shelf behind him for safekeeping, Wei WuXian then turned to adding the colour to the illustrations. Setting several small bowls along the edge of his desk, he mixed the watercolours he had been working with the previous evening with fresh water to reconstitute the pigments. With a clean brush he then added various subtle variations of hue as he tested slightly different arrangements on each page. When done he left the pages to dry.
Wei WuXian made tea and selected a couple of plums for his morning snack, then stepped out onto the decking outside the Jingshi. He made his way over to the edge of the garden where he sat in the shade and made good on his promise to Lan WangJi that he would heed the Healers' instructions. A slight breeze lifted his bangs across his eyes and Wei WuXian closed them a moment, as he enjoyed the sense of peace he felt as the passage of his hair mimicked his husband's light caress. Life was good. His beloved Lan Zhan loved him in return, they were married and lived openly together in Cloud Recesses, their son was growing to be a respected young man, he had a golden Core to work on once more.... maybe I should message Wen Ning to bring back Suibian now, he mused. I might not be strong enough to use him for long, but my stamina is getting better and even the Training Master has noticed I can last all afternoon on the Training Grounds with a practise sword. He sent a thread of Qi through his Meridians, checking the pathways, looking for anything impeding free flow of his energies and was reassured that the only discordance was the resentful energy of which he was already only too very well aware. My Core is growing stronger, and I'm sure if I worked with Suibian again it would grow faster... I should ask SiZhui where Wen Ning is now... Opening his eyes once more, Wei WuXian returned his tea things to the tray, and pitched the plum pits as far out into the garden as he could.
The gardens surrounding the Jingshi were beautiful and lush with growth, if rather merging one bed into another. Wei WuXian had gradually begun to tidy the grounds to the sides and back as only the front had been well maintained in the neglected years before a young Lan WangJi took up residence within. Lan WangJi had not had sufficient free time nor, truthfully, the heart to begin renovating the gardens he'd spent so much time in with his mother, curled at her knee as she told him about this plant and that, whilst she worked her slim fingers in the soil. It was a cherished memory he'd not shared with Wei WuXian yet. Looking about the large, yet overgrown expanses to the rear of the Jingshi, Wei WuXian couldn't help but start musing on possibilities. I wonder if Lan Zhan would mind a pond back here? His thoughts roamed freely while he looked carefully at the lie of the ground. A small pond, perhaps... I could feed it from the brook further into the woods behind the gardens, perhaps a low pier for swimming – or dunking at any rate... would Lan Zhan let me try to grow lotuses? Hmmm....
When Wei WuXian felt himself becoming drowsy from the warm day the recalled himself to duty. Picking up the tea tray he brought it indoors and attended to the mess before returning to his desk. Looking over the various copies of the pellet illustrations, he selected a few and considered them more carefully. One by one each was rejected until only a single copy remained in hand.
Perfect, he thought to himself. This is almost precisely the right colour. Surely anyone seeing these pictures will recognize if they've seen one of the pellets before; the colour really is most unusual.
Setting his choice carefully aside, Wei WuXian gathered the rejects for burning in his brazier, leaving them handy in his workshop for the next time he had an experiment that called for heat. Once more he returned to his desk, and placed the chosen pigments carefully on a shelf where they would not be spilled and yet remain available for making further copies. Drawing out his calligraphy supplies and blank paper, he settled himself once more to his task. This time Wei WuXian began working on what information should be communicated throughout the lands. He began with a list of the matters to be imparted – the pellets, how they were being presented to the unwary recipient as a gift from a former acquaintance, their horrific purpose and effect...
Putting down his brush, Wei WuXian leaned back on his hands. These missives would be distributed throughout the Cultivation world... perhaps this rare occurrence should also be used to clarify the role of Cultivators in serving the civilian population? It would be a perfect opportunity to pass along the word of the services available to the populace as well as note the lack of expense attached to their work. Would clarifying expectations help or hinder? Was the misunderstanding more pervasive than the village where Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi had recently guided the juniors to lay three ghosts to rest? Or was that inaccurate assumption more a factor of the villagers' relative isolation than any misinformation or ill intent? Sitting over his desk, Wei WuXian gradually began to order his chaos of notations, drawing comprehensible sentences from his chicken scratchings and refining the presentation of information to bring the most clarity from the fewest words. Lan Zhan would be much better at this, Wei WuXian quietly laughed to himself. Ah, well. It's easier to edit than write and XiChen-Ge and Lan Zhan will work the faster for having a skeleton sketched out for their consideration.
Wei WuXian faithfully kept to his self-imposed task until he felt his mind babbling with words losing meaning by the moment, when he set his work aside. This was as much as he could manage on his own; the others could have a look at the evening meeting in the Hanshi and probably do much better for the head start.
Taking a fresh sheet of paper, and forming his characters with care, Wei WuXian wrote a personal note to Wen QiongLin.
Wen Ning, brother, it has been too long. Good news - Lan Zhan and I have married. If you are free to make your way to Cloud Recesses, I would like to see you again. And more good news – my golden Core is growing once more and I hope to use Suibian again soon, if you would be so kind as to bring him along. I know you've seen SiZhui regularly, but I'd love to talk with you of our precious duckling and how well he is doing. If you are uncomfortable with Cloud Recesses, I would be happy to meet you anywhere you please. I miss you.
Wei Ying
With a sigh, Wei Ying put away his brush and tidied his desk. It was nearly time for the noon meal, and he'd promised Lan Zhan to meet him in the Dining Hall. SiZhui should be there and could tell him how best to reach Wen QiongLin, too. At the doorway Wei WuXian paused and looked back. The Jingshi was a humble abode, but the simple, quality furniture and finishes spoke of Lan Zhan's heritage, the slashes and slices of Wei WuXian's red and black almost emphasizing the tranquility it disturbed. It looked like home. It felt like home. Just one thing – the most important – lacked. With a glad smile, Wei WuXian turned and made his way to meet his husband, his one true home.
YOU ARE READING
WangXian Untamed Together
FanficSequel to WangXian Untamed. Two souls bonded beyond death into a second life. They will do whatever it takes to protect their world, their loved ones and each other. Anything - as long as they're together.
