Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 8

                       The next day was a literal hell for Lan Wangji. He discovered firsthand what made his love so fast and adaptable. First, he was forced to do more exercises than he had ever done without the ability to complain. (Not that his stoicism would allow him to) Wei Wuxian was doing the same exercises but faster and under the pressure of the waterfall.

                      Then, he had to dodge or parry Madam Yu's whip for two hours without stopping while sparring with Wei Wuxian. A light lunch and a thirty-minute break before two hours of sword forms while they got quizzed and lectured on different political and night hunt situations. After two hours of Madam Yu throwing talismans at them, while they could only use talismans, they could write on the spot to fight back or defend. The last hour was a summary of the day for each of us, detailing what needs improvement. 

                     He understood now why Wei Wuxian couldn't sit still for class if Madam Yu gave his lectures in the middle of training. They are taught to move on instinct while they plan and strategize. It was eye-opening. He started to move towards the Jingshi. His sore muscles were making him stiff when Madam Yu stopped him. She handed him a talisman he had never seen before. " Apply that talisman to your under robes and swim for half an hour with Wei Ying then meditate the other half under the falls. I will ensure dinner is waiting for both of you at your house when you are done." Madam Yu walked away gracefully, not waiting for Lan Wangji to reply.

                    Looking around, he saw Wei Wuxian patiently waiting for him by the water. They swam back and forth in the river for a bit but ended up in a Qi-infused water fight after Wei Ying had dunked him, laughing maniacally. It was nice to be the one to make Wei Wuxian laugh, even if he covered it with a dry "shameless" as a retort. Meditating under a waterfall was different, but not in a bad way. He could feel the natural Qi of the water pressing and coaxing his own. To his surprise, when he expanded his qi, it brushed and intertwined with Wei Wuxian's in a calming hold. 

                     He felt the young man's qi startle away and brush against his tentatively like he was shy. His core sparked, and he felt Wei Wuxian's answer in kind. The feeling was exhilarating. He was almost sad when their time for meditation came to an end—except he couldn't be when We Ying's hand was extended to help him stand.

                   They ate dinner in silence again. Wei Wuxian knew Lan Wangji was worried about his prolonged silence. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk quite the opposite. There were just too many things in his mind to put into words. His mind kept replaying the way Lan Wangji's qi caressed his lovingly and how the rule-abiding teen had stood up against his elder to defend him. 

                     This entire time, no matter what anyone said, he had been working with the assumption that Lan Wangji was trying to make the best of getting stuck with him. Now, he believed there was more. No one had ever stood up for him like that before. It felt nice to have someone step in to protect him. Oh, the way he gently cared for him afterward also indicated that he cared. So maybe Wei Wuxian could try harder to make this relationship work romantically.

                      "Lan Zhan," Lan Wangji put his chopsticks down, giving Wei Wuxian his undivided attention. The boy squirmed and preened under his betrothed's intense stare. "I just wanted to thank you for standing up for me against your elders. It means a lot to me that I can count on you."With no warning, he leaned forward and gave Lan Wangji a chaste kiss on the lips. Red-faced Wei Wuxian went back to eating his food, keeping his gaze low.

                           Lan Wangji was frozen. He could feel his ears burning, and his vision stopped working. Oh... no, wait. He just had his eyes closed. His lips tingled as he tried to figure out what he had done so he could do it again. He looked at the red-faced boy shoveling food into his mouth at an alarming pace. "Marry me?" Had he really just asked that to his betrothed? That was dumb. Wei Wuxian choked on his food before swallowing harshly. 

                          He seemed to notice Lan Wangji's embarrassment and burst out laughing. When he got his sunny laughter under control, he grabbed Lawanji's hand and squeezed. His eyes were full of sparkling mischiefmaking Lan Wangji breathless. "Lan Zhan, isn't that why I am already here? Though I am glad to know you actually want to marry me and are not just forced by the curse. Giggling, he scooted by LanWanji, laying his head on his shoulder before going back to eating slower. He left Lan Wangji to collect himself enough to continue eating while Wei Wuxian sat snuggled at his side.

                      Madam Yu was livid with the elders of the Lan sect, so much so that while the boys did their morning exercises, she was meeting with the actual Sect Leader Qingheng-Jun. She sat proudly at his table while he served her tea with curious yet empty eyes. "Violet Spider, to what do I owe this visit?" She looked into his eyes judgingly, making him squirm. "I know what it's like to lose a soulmate, but you have failed her in all accounts. Get off your ass and protect your son on her behalf. Do you even know that Wangji has been cursed to die?"

                      The man paled hauntingly from shock. " What happened to Wangji?" Madam Yu let out a sigh, shaking her head in exasperation. "What would my sworn sister think of you now? Your son was cursed with a soulmate curse. He has two and a half months to consummate the bond, or he dies. Changze's son is his soulmate. I know your wife would have celebrated. White Scorpion always wanted all our children to be together. The Golden Hornet, Violet Spider, and White Scorpion were always meant to be family.

                         However, your brother and elders already summoned him to get the marriage contract I made abolished. They were trying to guilt him into just sleeping with your son to cure the curse so they could toss him aside." Qingheng-Jun looked at her, horrified. Weren't their children only seventeen years old? They were barely of marriageable age. 

                       To ask a child to allow himself to be dishonored, losing his marriage candidacy so young for greed, was abominable. "So I say Sect leader Lan get off your ass and protect my sworn sister's son. He has no knowledge to deal with the political greed now looking at him." She finished her tea, stood up, and left without looking back.