The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 69 - Fear

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Wuxian tried to convince Wangji the next morning to tell him about what's happening in Cloud Recesses. He knows something is not normal from the amount of people surrounding their room and the way Wangji was trying too hard to come up with a plausible excuse as to why he's ignoring his duties to sit and guard him. Wangji frowned when he suggested that they take a stroll outside.

Wangji: "You are supposed to be resting."

Wuxian: "I'm fine. It's sunny outside, the weather is beautiful! I have one day left before the next healing session. Besides, winter is coming and we won't have a chance to walk outdoors with my weakened body by then. I'm not suggesting we leave Cloud Recesses. I don't understand what the problem is?"

Wangji purses his lips like he's struggling between fessing up and coming up with a plausible lie.

Wuxian frowns: "Are you hiding something from me? Did something happen in Cloud Recesses?"

Wangji avoids eye contact which makes Wuxian more suspicious.

Wuxian steps into Wangji's space and asks in a low voice: "Does this have anything to do with the person who visited Zewu Jun yesterday?"

Wangji's eyes widen, which confirms his assumption.

Wuxian: "We heard the disciples talking while searching for the bunnies. Are we in danger?"

Wangji places his hands at Wuxian's sides and smiles reassuringly at him: "It's nothing we cannot handle. All you need to do is stay here where it's safe."

Wuxian looks sadly at him: "Can we at least go outside, near the door for a bit? It feels stuffy in here."

Wangji was reminded of the comment Kai said yesterday and it struck a nerve. He couldn't keep Wuxian locked up, especially when he asks for something trivial as a walk just outside their room. He nods, which earned him a wide smile from Wuxian.

Wuxian seemed energetic this morning. Even Da Ziran was active to the point where it chose to slither next to them on the ground rather than around Wuxian's body. The smaller man was skipping around Wangji, talking a mile a minute about trivial things. Wangji was watching him, filled with content. His soul-bond was happy, he was happy.

They hear loud voices on the other side of their fence. Wuxian halts while Wangji unsheathes Bichen and Wen Ning summons his chains. They both cover Wuxian's front and back in a split second. A figure in green robes jumps over their fence, followed by a bleeding Zewu Jun, ragged Yuxio with her fire lit sword, a breathless Ran and an army of Lan clan disciples. Shenhua Kai lands in front of Wangji, who's blocking Wuxian, and kneels. A few more Shenhua followers fought their way in, only to kneel just like their leader. Kai places Feng on the ground as a sign of surrender and bows his head: "Divine Oracle, we meet at last."

Wuxian peeks at him from behind his soul-bond and asks: ".. and you are?"

Zewu Jun, who looks pissed and clutching an abdominal wound, says: "This is Shenhua Clan's first master: Shenhua Kai, and his disciples."

Wuxian's eyes widen when he sees the blood oozing out of his brother-in-bond: "Zewu Jun! What happened?"

Zewu Jun glares at the kneeling man and says with clenched teeth: "He stabbed me while I was pouring him tea. Apparently he was done talking and wouldn't take no for an answer."

Lan Ran grabbed Yuxio when she launched to attack the kneeling man: "THIS JERK THINKS HE CAN WALTZ IN HERE.." Ran covers her mouth to stop the yelling.