Backlash Part 2

Chapter 244: Lanling - Wei Wuxian

They held the ceremony in the dining room. Tables had been rearranged and covered with red table clothes. Red lanterns and hastily made double happiness decorations made of red paper had been put up. Wei Wuxian briefly wondered if the decorations might have been left over from hosting a wedding banquet in the past. Then he saw Lan Zhan waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and Wei Wuxian promptly stopped thinking about anything at all.

Lan Zhan was always beautiful. Wei Wuxian had never wondered about finding a man attractive when he spend his youth flirting with pretty ladies. After all, Wei Wuxian had eyes. Lan Zhan's beauty was an objective fact. Water was wet, chilis were delicious, and Lan Zhan was beautiful. Fundamental truths of the universe. The fact that he also fell in love with Lan Zhan was separate from the fact that Lan Zhan was the most beautiful man in the world. It always confused him that Lan Zhan had somehow been rated as second most desirable bachelor of their generation. He had guessed that it was Lan Xichen's status as heir that gave him first place, but now he was kind of wondering if the fact that Lan Zhan usually dressed relatively simply might have played a role.

Of course, Lan Zhan didn't dress poorly. Lan Zhan was as meticulous with his appearance as he was with everything else. He was the second in line to inherit leadership of the sect and was now the heir until Lan Xichen married and had children of his own. Lan Zhan wore high quality silk and tasteful ornaments, usually made of jade or silver. All perfectly proper for his station. However, Lan Zhan had followed his clans rules of dress to the absolute letter. He limited accessories, colours, and material displays of wealth despite the political pressure that forced the GusuLan sect to stretch their rigid rules under the necessity of demonstrating their prosperity.

Lan Zhan stood in the hastily decorated inn like a god walking the mortal plain. Layers of blue silk in shades Wei Wuxian had never seen him wear. Decorative layers of translucent silk draped over them like mist. Who could be expected to pay attention to anything else with Lan Zhan walking around like a celestial fairy? Not Wei Wuxian.

Then Lan Zhan's burning gaze travelled up slowly up Wei Wuxian until their eyes met. Wei Wuxian resisted the urge to loosen his collar. It was much to warm to be wearing so many layers. He fidgeted a bit in place, suddenly restless. Lan Zhan stepped forward and extended his hand to him. Wei Wuxian felt his face heat.

"So forward! Lan Zhan, are you so eager to take custody of your bride?" Wei Wuxian's anxiety bubbled out in shameless teasing on reflex.

"I will face any challenge to prove myself worthy to be your husband." Lan Zhan's words made the next teasing remark die on the tip of Wei Wuxian's tongue. His face burned.

"Lan Zhan! Have a care with your words. My heart is delicate." Wei Wuxian resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands and ruin the cosmetics Qing-jie and Dajie had carefully applied. Lan Zhan's gaze softened, a smile ghosting across his lips. "Ah, Lan Zhan. I think you've faced more than enough challenges for me, hm?" Wei Wuxian said with a small smile. The words came out soft. Everything Lan Zhan had endured. Every difficulty he'd faced to stand at Wei Wuxian's side.

"There is no challenge I would not meet. Above all, I wish that in the future we can face them together." Lan Zhan said quietly.

Wei Wuxian didn't bother with taking his hand. The emotions bubbling up inside him demanded action. Wei Wuxian threw himself down the last steps and directly into Lan Zhan's arms. Strong arms wrapped around him, never letting him fall. Really, this man. This ridiculous man! Who taught him how to say such things?! Wei Wuxian loved him so much.

Wei Wuxian's laughter filled the room as Lan Zhan began carrying him to the front. His feet never touched the ground until they were standing side by side before their families and completing their bows. They presented tea to Lan Xichen and his jiejies. His Dajie had tears in her eyes as she accepted her tea, smiling with joy.

Once their small tea ceremony was concluded she held him close to congratulate him and whisper her goodbyes. Neither of them said it, but they both knew why she had to leave. She was a sect leader now. She would need to make the arrangements for Jiang Cheng and enter mourning for her brother.

"Take care of yourself didi. Lotus Pier will always be open to you when you're ready. Whether that's next week, or next year, or in a hundred years. Even if you are never ready, I can always come to you." Dajie whispered to him as she hugged him tightly.

"I will Dajie. I'll see you soon." Wei Wuxian whispered back before releasing the hug. She held onto his hands for a few more seconds, squeezing them gently before turning him over to his husband. Husband!

As Lan Zhan guided him upstairs to their room to the smiling and quiet congratulations of their family and the disciples. Wei Wuxian felt something settle inside of him.

Later, when they were laying together skin to skin, sweaty and exhausted, Wei Wuxian made a decision. He couldn't accompany Jiang Cheng to Lotus Pier and attend to him as a brother. Whether or not it would be considered appropriate. The messy question of what their relationship really was, the fact he was married out, made it all a confusing tangle. Wei Wuxian isn't certain what others might expect him to do, what might be considered too little or too much. Ultimately the question is irrelevant. He's not ready. Whether or not mourning Jiang Cheng publicly, either as a blood brother or a sect brother, would be deemed appropriate. He wasn't ready. Whether or not Jiang Cheng would want him there... Wei Wuxian truly didn't have an answer to that question.

Part of him immediately says that of course Jiang Cheng would want him there. Jiang Cheng would be devastated if Wei Wuxian did anything less than... And then the thought cuts off because he doesn't know what Jiang Cheng would have wanted. No matter what Wei Wuxian did Jiang Cheng always seemed to be unhappy. He was angry when Wei Wuxian was close and angry when Wei Wuxian created space. Wei Wuxian loves him, but everything is still too fresh and he's not ready to return to Lotus Pier.

Jiang Yanli will take care to ensure all the rites are performed. He knows she'll ensure everything is done properly. That's not a role Wei Wuxian can take right now, and she won't hold it against him.  On the other hand, there is something Wei Wuxian can do for Jiang Cheng that his Dajie cannot.

Jin Guangyao escaped. Wei Wuxian can find him and bring him to justice. Or at least he can seek vengeance on Jiang Cheng's behalf. And maybe a for himself to. He can ensure that Jin Guangyao doesn't get away with it. Not for his role in Jiang Cheng's death. Not for hurting Nuan-er. Not for hurting Wei Wuxian either. He can make sure Jin Guangyao never hurts anyone ever again.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian whispered into the quiet of their room.

"Mn." The quiet hum of acknowledgement vibrated through Wei Wuxian where he was sprawled across Lan Zhan's bare chest.

"I'm going to find Jin Guangyao." Wei Wuxian said simply. Lan Zhan was quiet at first, but Wei Wuxian could wait. He knew Lan Zhan might have some concerns, and Wei Wuxian was prepared to discuss it. He couldn't leave immediately. While he could fight in his current condition, he has made promises to try and take better care of himself. He might not be patient enough to wait to be fully healed, but Nuan-er was still sick. Her life was more important than Jin Guangyao's death. So they'd return to Cloud Recesses for now. Wei Wuxian could probably find some ghosts Jin Guangyao had wronged and send them to keep track of the man until he was ready. As long as Jin Guangyao didn't try anything, his death could wait until Nuan-er was healthy again. Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to explain only for Lan Zhan's words to bring him up short.

"Mn. I will accompany you."

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian breathed, struck dumb by the simple agreement.

"Mn."

"I'm going to kill him." Wei Wuxian said quietly. Not angrily, just a fact.

"Mn." There was no shift in tone.

"You haven't asked me any questions about when or how I will do it." Wei Wuxian continued in the same breathless whisper.

"Mn."

"Why not?" Wei Wuxian asked, lifting up enough so he could clearly see Lan Zhan's face.

"There is no need." Lan Zhan gazed softly at him. "My wish, is that we face all of our challenges together."

The End

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