Blood River

13. Their Children: Part Four

"A'xian!" Jin Zixiàn turned to look back with a smile having recognised the voice, he saw the approaching yellow clad figure.

He smiled, letting himself free from his xiăo shū's* lock, the green and white figures whom walked with him stopped to look back too, as he basically threw himself at his oldest brother, who gladly hugged him back tightly.

This was the sect leader of the Lanling Jin Sect, Jin Hàn, Courtesy Zixuan. Zixiàn was the third master of the sect, and along with his younger sister, MeiHuá, they'd always been extremely protected by the older two, one of which was their da-ge, Zixuan, hence this closeness and fondness the first four siblings shared.

His friends had already approached and greeted the sect leader by now, as well as said leader's wife and son. After the hug, Zixiàn bowed to the to the first maiden Jin, Jin Yanli, originally from the Jiang Sect.

"SaoZi*" he greeted, bowing in perfect posture, before standing straight and ruffling the young master's hair. "How are you A'ling? How's your brother?" He asked kindly.

Despite their children having never met, the brothers had met each other's children, along with MeiHuá's girls, all the kids were extremly fond of Zixiàn. The kid simply smiled, feeling shy as the pathways of the Lan sect were littered with cultivators who watched the interaction, some of which were his age and potential friends.

"Are you guys also leaving today?" Zixuan asked, breaking the silence as the group walked back to the Splendor Hall* where most clan leaders were already preparing for departure as well.

"Hnh.. Chifengzun has work to get done back home, so we're leaving soon, he just wanted to talk to sect leader Lan" Zixiàn responded, at this point the two brothers, one in light greens, one in bright yellows, walked side to side behind the rest of the group. Jin Ling had gone off somewhere, and Huaisang was trying to create conversation with Yanli and Wangji, both of which wre extremely uncooperative.

"ZeWu-Jun?" Zixuan asked which the younger promptly nodded to. "I guess it makes sense, the two are also a-yao's sworn brothers.. such the wierd group they are.." he commented nonchantly to which his brother chuckled, the smile elegantly hidden behind the fan he carried.

"Truly.. but can it get any wierder than Qing-jie, Wanyin and I?" Zixian commented jokingly to which his brother made a face, before sighing.

"The three of you at least make more sense than whatever friendship you and your XiăoShū formed with the second jade back when we were studying" to this his brother again giggled, his laughed was controlled and low, a practiced action.

"You've changed a lot..." Zixuan suddenly commented as they neared the Splendor hall, "He's treating you fine, right?" He asked sounding worried to which Zixian simply sighed, offering no response, this only made him more worried.

"A'xiàn." He demanded facing his brother, who'd now closed his fan and fiddled with it lightly in his hands, staring down at them.

"He's fine.. we've been married for 17 years, what's the point of worrying now?" Zixiàn asked annoyed, his brother always questioned him about his marriage whenever the two met, whichever protectiveness he developed the day he was born was still present today.. he'd found it cute at first, but overally excessive later on, almost like he didn't trust him with his own safety, he hated that more and more the older they got.

"I know.. it's just, you seem so different whenever we meet, I guess you're really from the Nie clan now, huh..?" The conversation got awkward, Zixian didn't or perhaps couldn't respond as the two walked into the HuáShi.

"SaoFu, da-ge isn't here, he should be waiting outside" Huaisang spoke approaching the brothers, the two had been so entralled in their talk, they'd yet to realize the trio ahead had long left them.