The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 21 - Forever and Always

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Wen Ning walked behind Wuxian on the way back. He can see him silently protesting Wangji's attempts at taking his pulse and checking him over in public: "Lan Zhan! Stop it. I told you that I'm fine. I think this heart rate is the new normal for me."

Wangji didn't look convinced and grabbed his hand, pretending to hold it. Wen Ning smirked when he saw him stealthily take his pulse while Wuxian was distracted talking to the excited youth around him.

After eating dinner and retiring for the day, Wuxian is once again sitting in front of Wangji, forced to drink the bitter herbal potion before bed. He looks defiantly at Wangji and says: "If I drink this without complaining, what would I get in return?"

Wangji stares back: "What do you want?"

Wuxian smirks back and says: "You will not stop other people from finding joy in my scent for a whole month."

Wangji breaks the cup of water he's holding and closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath then nods. With a satisfied smile Wuxian chugs the potion and stops himself from gagging.

Next day, Leader Ouyang gathers all the clan leaders for a feast to announce the new second young master for their clan. They're all excited to hear the verdict. After formalities, Leader Ouyang faced Wangji and Wuxian and asked: "Your Excellency, Master Wei, I hope you have reached a decision pertaining to our Clan's second master?" Wangji nods and looks at his soul bond. Wuxian gets up and proceeds to tell the events that happened in the back hill, sparing no details. He looks at the five young cultivators: "Lijian, you have a keen sense of intellect when it comes to gathering and passing along key points of information. Your medical skills and compassion to help others will surely distinguish you as a cultivator. You have amazing ideas so don't let others brush them off so easily. Qiao, your curiosity is a weapon that should be used to sharpen your intelligence. Don't let the fear of others' opinions hinder your progress. Morui, you have great potential for empathy. To be a superior cultivator, one should open their hearts to understand people's hardship to soothe their sorrows. I look forward to hearing all the great things you will achieve once you pair that with knowledge and experience. Mingyi, just because you're older doesn't mean you're wiser. You have power and ability but you lack humility. Until you make progress in that front, people will find it hard to follow your lead."

Wuxian goes near Linao and holds her hand: "Linao, you were the fastest to react and the most successful in organizing the others into formation. You knew when to be harsh and when to manipulate. You listened to others opinions and had no issue asking for help. I know you're still young and have much to learn but we know that you have the potential to be a great leader one day. Congratulations, you're the new Ouyang Clan Second Young Master."

Linao bowed and looked back at her clan to see them all smiling with pride her way. Even Mingyi was happy for her and didn't protest the decision. Leader Ouyang raised his cup for the new young master and to thank his Excellency and Wuxian for the fair assessment.

While they were drinking and celebrating, Zizhen and Jingyi kept close to Wuxian. Wangji was speaking with Leader Ouyang when he saw Zizhen throw his arms around Wuxian and breathe in his scent. He was about to take out his sword when he saw Wuxian's warning glare: 'You promised.' Wangji tightened his grip on Bichen but kept his fury to himself. Thankfully, Jingyi was too scared to follow Zizhen's lead but kept stealing sniffs stealthily.

A few days later, the Gusu Lan members bid everyone farewell and on the way out the city gates, Zizhen kept clinging to Wuxian and crying: "I don't want you to leave! Can I come with you?" His father was so embarrassed: "YOU! Why are you acting like a child! Stop clinging to Master Wei like he's your mother!"

Zizhen refused to let go: "He does smell like my mother! I can't help it!"

Wuxian smiles warmly at Zizhen's antics and pats his back: "You can come visit later. Now let go before Lan Zhan loses his composure and kills us both."

At the mention of Wangji's name, Zizhen coughs and let's go. He bows with a few tears down his cheeks as they walk away.

On the way back, Wuxian noticed that Wangji was mad at him. Even though he asked him if he was mad and he said no. Wuxian knows that the promise must have angered Wangji. He looks at Jingyi, who's pulling Apple along, and smiles: "Jingyi, do you know what a soul bond is?"

Jingyi answers: "It's when you connect two souls who are compatible for eternity. They will strengthen each other and leave no room for deception between the minds."

Wuxian nods: "Can it be broken?"

Jingyi: "No. Not even in death."

Wuxian: "Can it be swayed?"

Jinagyi: "No. Not even with the threat of death."

Wuxian: "So, once promised and confirmed. It cannot be broken or swayed?"

Jingyi was starting to get irritated: "Why are you being weird? You know all this already."

Wuxian just smiles then goes closer to Wangji and places his hand in his. He feels him squeeze it then looks at him with a smile: "Always and forever."

Wuxian smiles back: "Forever and always."

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