Dust & Gold

49

~*Lan Wangji's POV*~

It's been a little over a week since the fire. Wei Ying was still healing, and he currently had a fever. Baoshan said some of the burns on his body was fighting off some infection. Wei Ying was asleep and didn't have his robes on. His torso was bandaged up and all he had on was trousers. I changed his bandages every few hours as Baoshan instructed.

Wei Ying also takes a medical bath every morning and every night to help try to soothe the pain. I could help him so much more but I don't want to risk hurting him more even though it will help him afterwards. I just hoped that he would be well enough soon for me to help him how I wanted.

At the moment, I was using a cool cloth to cool him down. Wei Ying has only been sick around me a couple times, and I know how much he hates it. He really puts his trust in me when he is sick, even in Baoshan now. His mind is so complex and filled with so much energy, he gets so muddled and weak. He hates that feeling.

I know this because I can feel it through our bond. Even if he doesn't say it, I can feel it. I've known that for us Lan's, this bond is different for us compared to our partner. They may react to it differently. Lans tend to love stronger, love more, and love eternally. It's very strong. Once that bond forms, it's like a knots ties over your heart and keeps you attached to that person forever.

As for the partner, they may not feel as strong. The bond will eventually balance out, but it could take years to do that. With how Wei Ying was treated and raised, I knew it was going to take time. What I love most though, is that he leaves the bond open even when it confuses him. He leaves it open because he knows that it's a way to not only connect with me, buts it's also a type of communication. It's like I can feel his every emotion, and understand his needs immediately.

During some of this time while Wei Ying was sick, I sat with Baoshan to explain how our bond works. How it first started. The bond within the bloodline started with Lan An. It was not a genetic thing at first, but a descendent of his wanted a way to be more connected to the person they loved most. Lan An created the bond. All he did was take a red string, tie it to the two people, and had them infuse their spiritual energy and blood into the string. It then became a bond. Since then, any one of the main bloodline of the Lan family, has this connection.

It is a bit strange how the bond knows who to connect with. It's as if Lan An managed to create this connection using a connection with fate itself too.

Baoshan found the bond between Wei Ying and me very strong. I told her the bond usually takes time to develop, but it only took a few days for it to take effect enough for me to know something was wrong with him.

"It seems that the bond knew something was wrong with your partner," Baoshan said, "it made sure that it connected faster so you can help them if they needed you. A curse can cause a bond to act out."

"To get to the level he and I did when we first met, it would usually take at least three to six months for the bond to develop enough for us to feel each other's pain. It only took a day or two," I explained.

"Like I said, it helped you," she said, "though you two still have some misunderstandings, you are learning to get through it together."

I nodded, "have you had a chance to check out the house?" I asked. I decided to talk about something else.

"Whoever did it made sure they didn't leave any evidence behind," she said, "but spiritual energy can be detected. I have talismans that can collect samples of that energy to analyze it. Doing so, it can lead to who was involved."

"Even though we want them caught, we want to make sure it's thorough. I want to make sure we get everyone who was involved," I told her.

"We will, but I do have some suspicions on who might have been involved," she said.

"I do to, but I want proof before I make any final judgments," I said.

"You Lans are always so wise beyond your years," she said.

"Not intentional," I said.

"It's just how you were raised," she said. She seemed to be intrigued by me tending to Wei Ying, "you are good with him."

"I was not always," I said, "in the beginning, he didn't want to trust me."

"No offense, but I can imagine," she said, "he went through hell with that Jiang family. They were dealt with, but I still feel like more needs to be done."

"The Madam cannot cultivate anymore so she has been dealt with. As for the rest, I do agree they need to repent more," I said, "Sect Leader Jiang did not want to believe Wei Ying even when we had evidence. He even told Wei Ying that he was never going to be like his parents."

"He went that low?!" Baoshan asked, "he dared to say such things?"

I nodded, "Wei Ying cried for a few days. He was really hurt by it...he...always wanted to live by his parent's legacy."

"He already is," she said, "you both are...Jiang Fengmian will pay for those words."

"If he was involved with the fire, we have more than enough to go make a scene now," I told her.

"Even if they didn't, I am still going to see the bastard. He dares insult my grandson and thinks he can get away with that?!" Baoshan asked. She was very angry. She then told me she needed a moment to cool off.

I gave her the time to cool down. She left the room for a while. I can only imagine the turmoil going through her head right now. Wei Ying was just as she was. I still think he thinks back on that occasionally. I want to make sure I spend my time keeping him safe and happy. Even if some of that safety is tampered with occasionally. As long as he is alright in the end.

We are dealing with the aftermath of a fire but it will get better over time. When we are ready, we will fight back.