Hua Xianle

Chapter 92:

"I'll do it."

Those were the first words uttered by Lan Wangji after he was told why he was abruptly summoned to Hua Manor. There was no hesitation and not even a hint of fear. His gaze was calm, collected, and determined to see this through.

The same could not be said for his brother, who had accompanied the Second Jade of Lan after the summoning.

"Wangji, do you hear yourself?" Lan Xichen asked as he gripped his brother's arms in worry. "You have to think this through first."

"Yes, there is no need for such rash actions," Xie Lian informed him with a kind smile. "While you are the best suited, we are trying to find other possible candidates. You worked hard to get to the level of cultivation you are at and we know what we're asking is... absurd to say the least."

"No. I will do it," Wangji insisted once again. "No need to find anyone else."

"Wangji..." Lan Xichen looked hopeless at his brother before turning to Wei Qing. "Wei-guniang, you are a doctor. Surely you cannot condone this."

"Believe me, if there was another way to save Hua Xianle, I would never have brought this topic up." She looked him in the eye, a hint of shame in her usually proud gaze. "I derive no pleasure from this, but out of all the potential Cauldrons we could find, Lan-er-gongzi has the best chance of surviving with his cultivation intact."

Xichen was visibly torn, gripping his robes tightly while looking down. While he saw Hua Ying as a little brother (and one day hoped to call him brother-in-law), Wangji was his flesh and blood. As much as he wanted to help Hua Ying, the thought of his brother being used as a Cauldron made him feel sick to his stomach.

"Xiongzhang." Wangji's voice pierced through the haze of worry clouding Xichen's mind. He looked up as his little brother took his hand, squeezing it like he used to when they were young. "Please listen to me."

Xichen furrowed his brow, but nodded once. Wangji opened his mouth, and said more words than he had in his entire lifetime.

"Know that this decision is not made out of obligation or because I was pressured. Had this been any other person, I would never agree to this. Not Mingjue or Huaisang, Zixuan or Qingyang. The love I hold for my family and friends is unconditional, but I am far too selfish to give up all that I am in such a manner."

Wangji took a breath, a slight tremble to his voice as he swallowed. Speaking as much as he was in this moment was difficult, but he was determined to speak his mind.

"But Hua Ying is different, Xiongzhang. He is my zhiji, my fated one, the other half of my soul. The day we met, the day our gazes met in Huaisang's garden, I knew that I would give all of myself to him. He would have all of my firsts and, should the Gods be willing, I his. That is why I am willing to do this. Why I will not hesitate."

"Wangji..." Xichen let out. "Hua-gongzi... he is not in his right mind right now. He could hurt you..."

Wangji didn't waver in the slightest. "I trust Hua Ying. No matter how lost he is or the afflictions on his soul, I know he feels the same as I. He will never intentionally bring harm to me."

"Maybe so, but there has to be another way."

Even as he argued this, Xichen knew his words were hollow. While the Heavenly Emperor said they were looking for other candidates, that was simply so Wangji would not feel pressured. He was their only hope, no matter how anyone else felt about it.

"Xiongzhang..." Wangji pulled his hand back, meeting his brother's gaze with unwavering determination. "I thought him lost for three months and felt broken beyond repair. I cannot bear the thought of forever without him in it."