A Brother's Blessing

Wei Ying

The next morning, Lan Zhan wake him up earlier, a bit before sunrise, so they could bathe in the Crystal Lake, for him to recover faster. Giving the fact that last night he was too tired to go to the lake, Lan Zhan had make sure to begin their day with what was missing the night before. To be honest, he didn't mind to begin their day surrounded by a paradise land, a warm shining lake and a half naked boyfriend that he could barely keep his hands away from.

Lan Zhan's body was perfect as far as he could see (only his chest and down to the border of his white pants), with white porcelain skin, wide chest, well-toned chest and arms, a beautiful sight no matter from which angle you admired him. So, obviously, no one could blame him for wanting to kiss him as soon as they surface, after jumping in the water, once again forgetting about his cultivation.

He pressed himself as closer as he cold to his lover, feeling his warm skin rub against his, as they moved inside the water. Been in his arms was the best sensation he had experience so far and Lan Zhan gently put his hands on his hips, to keep him in place while he passed his arms around Lan Zhan's neck.

The shining coming from the magic inside the lake only make the atmosphere more ethereal and romantic, especially when the sun was about to rise and above them, the sky was beginning to be painted with different colors and the gentle breeze, carried the scent of the flowers of the island, to make the place even more magical.

"Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan... is this one of your hot fantasies?" Wei asked when separating for air and Wangji smirked, gently caressing his cheek with his thumb.

"It is, but not today. You need the energy, you are still weak." Wangji told him with that serious expression he put on, when he was concern about his health.

"You worry too much Lan Zhan, I'm fine. You don't have to take care of me at all times. Really, don't worry about me." Wei whisper, slightly kissing his chin.

"I had reasons too, you almost die in my arms." Wangji said cuddling Wei's face and Wei Ying moved his head to a side to kiss his palm.

"I know... and I thank you and Xuanyu for saving me... but Lan Zhan... I'm not a fragile woman, but a strong man that have face darkness on his own. Besides, I don't want you to get tired of me..." Wei confessed and Wangji slightly smiled before moving his head to kiss his forehead.

"That will never happen. You have my word." Wangji whisper before he kissed him in the mouth, softly and caring first, then with a hint of passion, that make his blood boil.

They never went too far, as their relationship was just beginning, but it was fine to kiss all they wanted and lay in each other's arms at night. After sunrise, Wangji insisted for him to at least meditate for fifteen minutes, so he could go back to their room and get a spare robe for him. So, been left alone for a few minutes, Wei floated over the water and concentrate in harnessing the energy surrounding him.

Shortly after, Lan Zhan was back and used his zither to play calming tones for him, to help him meditate deeper for a while longer. When it was time to go back, Lan Zhan called him back, give him his Clan black robe to change into and even combed his wet hair, putting his favorite red ribbon in place quite neatly.

Lan Zhan was already changed, so as soon as his lover finish with his long hair, they went to the main island to meet with Xichen. Both of them bowed to him and sat, when Xichen offer them a place to seat. Then Xichen explained about the investigation, retrieving a few corpses to investigate them, finding traces of the curse in all of them, in different places.

He showed them a set of drawing that described in detail what he found on the bodies. All of them had their skin cracked were they were hit with the cursed talismans and black veins running up from their hearts to their necks and part of their faces. Apparently, there was no missing persons in the towns, at least not those who had families who will miss them, but there were rumors about beggars disappearing from the streets a few months ago.

"I see, there are quite clever. No one really cares about what happens to beggars no matter the town and corpses don't exactly bathe to keep themselves at their best, to distinguish one from the other. It will make identification harder for those who may suspect something is off." Wei said and Xichen assented.

"Yes, they had planned well how to make their move. I had sent Nie Mingue, Clan Leader of the south, a message asking for some information about how corpses had increased back at that time without their hunters noticing the bigger numbers and he had answer that there was not such increase under his watch, they simply came suddenly from somewhere toward their wards and Clans." Xichen explained and Wei Ying ponder about it for a few seconds, suddenly remembering something when he was a kid.

"Bigger numbers out of the sudden mean one of two things. Either they already gather several beggars form different towns and travel to the south, which is not impossible, but not likely, or they were secretly gathering the puppet corpses at somewhere in the south. My father once told me that one of our hunters patrolling the lands on an eagle was caught in a storm and was forced to fly south. The next day he said that during the night he saw a small city in between volcanic mountains, quite far from the main Clans that had corpses looming around." Wei said.

"But because it was out of our range, father was unable to hunt the corpses or confirm if the city the young hunter saw was a ruined one from before the world went into darkness or after. There are several ruins all around the world after all, but maybe..."

"Maybe it's where this people had been hiding." Xichen finish for him.

"Exactly, but that's not all. Like I said, there are several ruins around, that like the beggars, no one cares about them, because they are not warded and uninhabitable. Now, let me ask you Clan Leader Lan Xichen, are they all empty? Giving our hardships with so many corpses running around, our Clans in the east are very thorough in their hunting's, going even inside ruins that can hide corpses, but are yours the same? Just how far is the closer one from here?" Xichen widen his eyes in understanding.

"Quite far, but reachable. I will sent hunters to have a look at them." Xichen said.

"Pardon my intrusion, Lord Xichen, but if there are indeed hideouts, right now they will be in high alert, after that Xue Yang expose them so suddenly. You may not even find them there anymore or they may use the cursed talismans on them, to prevent them for coming back." Wei advised him.

"That's possible, but needed, anyways or had you thought of something else." Xichen asked.

"We had a way, the same we used to retrieve the talisman from the border. We don't even need to go out of the islands and no one will be exposed to the curse." Wei said.

"You mean send the sword spirits out?" Xichen asked, just to be sure he got it right.

"Yes. Sword spirits are not affected by curses as we humans are, because their energy works differently and even if they take human form, there are not. They can travel great distances without tiring, as long as their blades have the needed energy, which we provide, staying here, where the white energy is the strongest." Wei explained him and Xhichen smiled. He understood now why his brother was so enchanted with Wei Wuxian, he was smart, with a free fearless spirit, yet caring at the same time.

"In that case, I will offer my flute spirit, Liebing. I will make the arrangements for the group to gather in the training grounds, then Lord Zheng will take us to the purest white energy in the Lan Clan, a please not even I can reach on my own." Xichen offered and Wei Ying arched an eyebrow in surprise.

"Lord Xichen, pardon my rudeness, but aren't you trusting us way too much? I know, Lan Zhan is your brother and you naturally trust him, but the rest of us are outsiders. I can be the one passing the information to the rogue cultivators, or even someone else from our group." At that Xichen smiled.

"Young Master Wei, let me ask you something, are you Wangji's lover?" Xichen asked calmly and Wei sighed. His Lan Zhan had indeed confess to his brother everything. What a brotherly bound, he was jealous. The closet thing he had to siblings was Wen Qing and Ning, which were not bad, but Wen Qing was way too bossy and Wen Ning too passive. Although he had Jiang Yanli and Cheng now too...

"I am." Wei confessed, slightly looking at Lan Zhan, who blushed a little.

"Then we are family. My brother don't trust just anyone, nor put his eyes on someone who will betray him easily. He was told that he was going to find his other half in this gathering and so he did, so not even fate distrust you. About the others, I know them since they were kids, as our Clans had always stay in good terms with one another and I have travel to theirs as they had travel to ours. Only Su She was unknown to me, as our Clans had clashed against the other in the past, so we don't have much touch with them." Wei smiled.

"Lord Xichen, you are amazing indeed. I know it's a bit late, but I sincerely love your brother." Xichen smiled kindly.

"I know. I have never seen Wangji this happy, so I don't mind for him to have fall for another man, even if our uncle does. I just ask you to keep him as such for years to come, he had already suffer a great deal with our parent's death. Please be kind with his heart." Xichen told him so honestly that overwhelmed him. Wei Ying stood and bowed deeply to Xichen.

"I may take your brother from you at some point, but I assure you it will not be to make him sad and suffer. He will live well, he will experience true freedom, he will be loved each day and welcome home for the rest of his life no matter where we are and although he may face dangers, as we all have giving our world darkness, I will protect him with my life. That is my vow to you, Clan Leader Xichen." Wei said, going down to his knees and bow even deeper.

Lan Zhan stood as well and kneeled by Wei Ying, also bowing to his brother for his blessing. Xichen smiled, as the two looked like ready to marry. He had never seen Wangji so willing and in love, not to mention so devoted to someone else. Those two were indeed fated, so who was him to deny what was been set by the heavens?

"You have my blessing and for as long as you two are together, the Lan Clan will also become your home, Wei Wuxian. Now, go to the training area, I will join you shortly." Xichen said, as he stood.

"Thank you." Wei Ying said, standing and after giving Lan Zhan a wink, he head out, to wait for his pleased lover outside. Wangji simply hug his brother affectionately.

"It's okay, Wangji... I will always want your happiness before all else, dear brother." Xichen whisper, as Wangji hug him tightly.

"Thank you." Wangji simply said, unable to voice the deep bliss his brother had just give him to the point he was deeply overwhelmed.

"No need to thank me. I will be very glad to see you free from all the burdens of this Clan. You suffer the most from the way our parents lived, be happy, brother, you chose well. Now, go, he is waiting for you." Xichen said, as he slightly tapped Wangji's back. Then, they parted and as he watched Wangji join Wei Wuxian and they intertwine their hands together, he felt glad and sad at the same time.

His brother had grown into a man, now it was time to let him experience life away from rules that tied his kind spirit and chose his own path. He smiled as he saw them walk together, then he took a summoning talisman, to call Lord Zheng and tell him of their plan.

AN: Thanks for reading, this is more a Valentines chapter, with Wei Ying and Lan Zhan having an official blessing by the best brother ever. 😄😍 I hope you like it, it was heartwarming for me. Until next time, take care. Happy Valantine for those who celebrate it next week, my deepest love to you guys. Have fun. 😁❤❤❤⚘