Dust & Gold

45

~*Wei Wuxian's POV*~

I did not realize how overworked and exhausted I was until Lan Zhan came to me. He and I have been so busy lately with helping Cloud Recesses prepare for anything that could happen. Right now, the Wen Sect and the Jin Sect are having a conflict between each other and it is now starting to expand to other clans and sects.

It was a conflict of power. The Wen Sect has been ruling over the other sects for years. Wen Mao, an ancestor of the Wen Sect, was the one who made that happen. The Wen Sect has the largest territory, and they have wealth and resources to match. Sometimes their power oversteps but they mean well most of the time. As of now, The Jin Sect is challenging that power.

The Jin sect is known for its wealth and glamorous nature and they are now ashamed to show that off. The problem, they don't use that money for the people that often. I noticed that Lanling itself, where the sect is located, is already wealthy but villagers in towns nearby have a hard time keeping up with the revenue. All the money that the Jin Sect receives goes back to the sect and they have something new and shiny to show off.

The Nie Sect was more of a fighting sect. They did not use swords but sabers. They had their wealth but used it wisely. The Jiang Sect struggles from time to time to make money because they rely on imports and exports from the people that pass by in the river ways. They still had a decent amount of money but they don't spend it if they don't have to.

As for the Lan Sect, they are wealthy but they do not flaunt it. It is clear that the sect has money, it is known through the structures and the education. The Lan Sect is known for producing exemplary cultivators. They have a very good reputation too. The Lan Sect takes on jobs other sects may not take because it is either not worth their time or because they are too cheap. Smaller clans have a hard time with that sometimes. The Lan Sect doesn't mind the work, they get it done. A lot of the time, it is just helping a family with loved one who has passed and their soul has now been put to proper rest.

The Wen Sect doesn't usually take the small jobs because they have other things to do. The Jin Sect are just too selfish to help. The Nie Sect would help depending on the situation, and the Jiang Sect is more likely to help chase away ghouls and monsters than put a spirit to rest.

That being said, the sects are all different but they have common goals. As of right now, the Jin Sect is threatening that peace. They believe they should rule because they hold the most wealth, but they don't necessarily know how much the Wen Sect have, or the other Sects for that matter.

Being that Lan Zhan and I have been so busy, we seemed to have lost sight in our own goals and wants. We did say we didn't want to be apart of this mess unless we were really needed. I don't mind being here at the sect but being back here reminded me why I don't like it in the first place. It's not this sect specifically, it is just being in a sect period, has been something I don't particularly like anymore.

I was sitting with Lan Zhan within the Jingshi relaxing. It was the following day after I was so exhausted yesterday, that I could barely walk. He needed to know what I was feeling right now.

"Lan Zhan," I said.

"Mnn?" He hummed as he held me close.

I was sitting on his lap as we snuggled on the bed, "how much longer are we going to be here?" I asked.

"I do not know," he answered, "why?"

"Remember why I left before?" I asked, "after what happened yesterday, it had me thinking. I don't mind helping out but I'm getting tired. I don't see you anymore unless it's early in the morning or late in the evening. I do not want to go back to that routine. That is not me."

"I know," he said, "you and I will sit with Xiongzhang tomorrow and talk to him about this. It is time we head back to our place."

I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder, "I do not mean to be this way. It's just hard for me to be here. I don't have anyone else other than you, Lan Zhan. I don't want to keep living this way."

"We will do better," he assured me, "and we will be back home soon. No need to be sorry for how you feel. I appreciate you telling me. It is important to me."

"We promised each other to be more open and honest," I reminded him.

His arms tightened around me, "we did," he said. I felt him place a kiss on my forehead. I smiled as I felt warmth in my chest.

"I missed this," I whispered as I tilted my head up.

Lan Zhan tilted his head down so his nose brushed against mine, "I am here," he said, "you and I can have today for ourselves."

"I'd love that," I told him, "and I love you."

"I love Wei Ying more," he said.

"I think you are going to have to prove it," I challenged.

I felt him grab my face as his lip dropped down onto mine. A soft moan left my throat as I melted into him. The sweetest nectar cannot be compared to how much I love the way he tastes, and they felt just as amazing, so warm and soft. He didn't have to fight hard for dominating my lips, battling my tongue with his as I did not fight back, I let him in. How could I fight back when all I want is to be so close to him like this.

After a small nip on my bottom lip, he began to move his lips down to my jaw, then to my neck. I tilted my head further back to give him access, and he immediately found my sweet spot. As soon as he found it, I was a moaning mess. I don't know when our robes came off but the did eventually, and I gave myself to him like I always did. The love he gives back to me always feels so warm and intoxicating. It's the best feeling I've ever felt.

***

~*Lan Wangji's POV*~

Through our bond, I could feel Wei Ying's exhaustion, his loneliness, his desire to leave this place. I've long since known that being within the boundaries of a sect after his curse was lifted, still makes him feel caged. Living outside the walls of Cloud Recesses, I got a taste of that feeling too. I miss it, and I think it's time Wei Ying and I head back to our place in Yiling. We will be helping when needed but everything we've done so far, has been enough.

We have helped train the disciples and they have been doing better. We already had good fighters so I did not have much to correct them on. The structures have been secured thanks to Wei Ying's efforts. He has worked himself dry, and it's not done on purpose, he just forgets his needs when he gets engrossed into his work. He enhanced our wards, he made a protective barrier for the library and treasury as they were the sect's most valuable buildings, and he even helped map out a quicker and safer route to get everyone evacuated to the cold caves.

He did all of that for the Lan Sect and he feels his efforts are not enough. He feels undervalued by the elders here. The elders have mixed feelings about Wei Ying, but they shouldn't. Wei Ying has done more for this sect than a lot of the disciples themselves. I had to sit down with my brother to tell him this.

My bond with Wei Ying is set and no one can challenge it. Everyone who is a member knows this. The bond is law, and being within the main bloodline, it really cannot be challenged. The elders know that if they lost me and Wei Ying as members of this sect permanently, they would lose a lot of respect and their reputation would fall. Uncle and Brother know this, and they are making sure the elders are reminded of this daily.

We do not live within the sect anymore but we are still considered members. We live outside the sect because it is for Wei Ying's sake. He feels untrusted here and he should not feel this way.

After a few days of rest, Wei Ying and I sat down with my Brother and Uncle to let them know our situation. They were glad we spoke up. They were okay with us heading back to Yiling, so Wei Ying and I left after a couple more days. We told them since we can teleport, we are a call away if we are needed for an emergency. Until then, Wei Ying and I are back in our Yiling home.

It was worth the return too, I could already feel Wei Ying relax and feel at ease. We were away long enough that it was almost the end of the season, so spring was on its way. We were able to start planning soon for the season, for now, we are just going to enjoy our alone time and wait for news.