Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)
Beta: JeanGirlMY
- Chapter Start -
Morning sunlight filtered through the painted blind, silhouetting two figures on the bed. One was lying down while the other sat beside him.
Jin GuangYao was still sleeping, but the deep slumber of the past eight or so hours had given way to a more restless one. Every so often, his delicate features tightened in discomfort, indicating the anesthetic was wearing off.
When they returned to Cloud Recesses yesterday evening, he was already in pain. He had held out for a few more hours until it got too much and then he had started pleading for relief. Wen Qing had no choice but to give him another dose of the same anesthetic to allow him, ZeWu Jun and herself to get some rest.
ZeWu Jun stared down at the smaller hand resting in his palm. With his bed occupied, he had spent most of last night sitting beside it and meditating. His arms were still a bit sore from carrying A-Yao for three hours straight, but that was nothing compared to what A-Yao would continue to suffer for the next few days.
No more, he vowed to himself. A-Yao would never suffer again after this, he would make sure of that.
The fluttering of long eyelashes and a soft sigh drew his attention.
"Er-ge?"
"A-Yao, how do you feel?"
"Don't mind me. What about you?"
"How can you say that?" ZeWuJun chided gently. "I promised to take care of you and I will."
A-Yao's cheeks flushed pink.
"You already carried me all the way here. You didn't have to do that much."
Neither of them heard the door of the Hanshi slide open nor saw the three persons standing there.
"Er-ge, I was the one who harboured Xue Yang at my father's command so that he could work on the Stygian Tiger Seal. I was the one who told him to find a slow acting poison for Wei WuXian."
"I know how much you wanted his approval. I blame him, not you," ZeWu Jun said, his voice hard.
"Ow."
"Ah, sorry!" He loosened his grip on A-Yao's hand.
"Er-ge, you have nothing to be sorry for."
"Neither have you, so stop apologising," ZeWu Jun told him.
"You apologised last, not me."
ZeWu Jun felt his brief exasperation, and heart, melting at a flash of those dimples.
"Anyway, your place from now on is here with me."
"With... you?"
A-Yao's flush deepened and ZeWu Jun felt his own face grow hot.
"A-Yao, we have known each-"
A careful cough made them both blink and turn to the side, Jin GuangYao wincing at the movement.
"Forgive our interruption, xiongzhang." WangJi bowed, the other two copying him.
The deadpan look on his face reminded ZeWu Jun of the numerous times he, uncle and even Chen-yishi had barged into the Jingshi earlier this week and caught WangJi and WuXian in the midst of some tender interaction.
"It's fine. Consider it poetic justice," he replied with a wry smile which made WangJi's lips twitch a bit before he bowed again.
"Please excuse me. Wei Ying and I will drop by later."
"And I would like to examine my patient if we're done with the mutual apologies." Wen Qing looked just as deadpan.
"Healer Wen, I'm so sorry," A-Yao said at once. "If there's anything-"
"My question was rhetorical," Wen Qing grumbled and made shooing motions at ZeWu Jun to get him to move away. Sitting down in his place, she pressed two fingertips to A-Yao's wrist.
- o -
Wei Ying drifted up from a deep sleep, opening his eyes only to squeeze them shut again. It was morning, mid-morning, judging by how brightly lit the blind beside the bed was. Thanks to Master Lan's vigilance in whisking Lan Zhan back to his own quarters last night, Wei Ying had slept in the Jingshi alone. Again.
"Wei Ying."
Wei Ying's pout morphed into a surprised smile as he twisted around to see Lan Zhan sitting beside him, fully dressed, with a tiny smile on his lips. He bolted upright, feeling both eager and shy, one hand sweeping back his messy hair.
"Lan Zhan! How long were you sitting here?"
"A few minutes."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"Wei Ying needed sleep."
"Well, why didn't you join me?"
"Already awake."
"So?"
"Uncle is awake too."
Wei Ying's gaze darted around the Jingshi before he realised that Lan Zhan just meant Master Lan could walk in on them anytime. Looking at Lan Zhan, he smiled.
"But he's not here now."
"Mn. Can kiss Wei Ying."
"You read my mind." Rising onto his knees, Wei Ying laughed when two strong hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close, his laughter cut off by the press of warm lips against his own.
- o -
By the time Lan Zhan remembered their breakfast, the rice congee and soft boiled eggs had cooled somewhat. He earned Wei Ying's undying devotion and another smacking kiss when he produced a small bottle of spiced chilli powder from his sleeve.
On their way to the Hanshi, they saw Master Lan and Chen-yishi in the distance, also heading in the same direction. Wei Ying thought of pulling his hand free, but Lan Zhan tightened his hold at once.
"Chen-yishi heard what happened last night," Lan Zhan said in a low voice as they approached the two older men.
After exchanging greetings, Chen-yishi nodded at Wei Ying.
"I'm glad to hear you weren't the one injured," he said. "I should've known that WangJi wouldn't be at QiRen's place if you were."
Wei Ying smiled.
"It's thanks to that injured person that I'm not at death's door now," he said.
"In that case, I insist on being his Healer," Chen-yishi replied.
Wei Ying glanced at Lan Zhan, wondering what would Wen Qing have to say about that.
- o -
When they reached the Hanshi, Wen Qing was inserting several needles into GuangYao. She explained that she would use acupuncture during the daytime to make him more comfortable and administer painkillers only at night.
GuangYao thanked her, looking a bit overwhelmed by so many people crowding around him. Master Lan had gone to sit at the low table, but Chen-yishi hovered near the bed.
"That's it for now," Wen Qing told Wen Ning who nodded and carefully pulled tight the strings on her needle pouch.
"That pouch!" Chen-yishi's voice caught everyone's attention especially when he grabbed it from Wen Ning who was too surprised to do anything. He stared at the tiny red flowers embroidered on the black silk before his gaze snapped up to Wen Ning.
"Where did you get this?" He demanded.
Wen Qing's eyebrows drew together in a frown.
"I know this pouch. Where did you get it?" Chen-yishi demanded again.
Wen Ning darted a nervous glance at Wen Qing.
"It was our mother's," he replied at last.
"Your mother's," Chen-yishi repeated and shook his head as if he couldn't believe it. "Her name, was it Wen Yin?"
"Yes." Wen Qing's voice was clipped. "Did you know her?"
Chen-yishi nodded, his eyes growing moist.
"She was my niece and the best acupuncturist in our family. I was the one who bought that pouch for her. She always kept her needles in it."
He handed the pouch to Wen Qing, his hand trembling a bit.
"The two of you must resemble your father, but you, girl, you have your mother's eyes."
Wen Qing swallowed, her eyes filling with tears.
"Then you must be our grand uncle Chen."
- o -
Everyone gathered around the low table except for ZeWu Jun who was helping GuangYao with his breakfast. Wei Ying grinned at how Master Lan was monitoring them out of the corner of his eye with a very familiar expression on his face.
It turned out that Chen-yishi had a falling out with his family when he married into the Gusu Lan clan.
"Why a falling out?" Wei Ying asked curiously. "It should be an honour."
Master Lan stroked his goatee and preened.
Chen-yishi glanced at him, eyes twinkling.
"My cultivation partner was a male."
Surprised, Wei Ying glanced at a serene Lan Zhan and then at Master Lan who was now staring into his teacup as if it held the secrets of the universe.
"I see." Wei Ying smiled at Chen-yishi. "I would be honoured to be introduced to your partner."
The twinkle in Chen-yishi's eyes dimmed.
"He was twenty years my senior and passed away eight years ago. I... was unable to heal him."
Wei Ying's smile disappeared.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, bowing his head. "In that case, I would like to say a prayer for him."
Chen-yishi nodded.
"WangJi can bring you to our Ancestral Hall. Lan Zhong, my partner, would've liked you."
"Of course," Master Lan muttered. "He was loud and broke at least three rules a day."
Suppressing a snicker, Wei Ying gave a regretful sigh instead.
"I'm sure I would have liked him too," he said gravely and ignored Master Lan's snort which he hurriedly turned into a cough.
Chen-yishi turned to Wen Qing and Wen Ning.
"Speaking of meeting, I would like to meet the rest of your family," he requested.
Wen Qing nodded, her eyes still shiny.
"We can go see them now," she said.
"They're your family too, grand uncle," Wen Ning added.
Nodding, Chen-yishi turned back to Wei Ying.
"I owe my thanks to the notorious Yiling Patriarch for reuniting me with my family."
Wei Ying smiled, but his eyes widened in alarm when Chen-yishi placed his hands together.
"Please don't embarrass me, Chen-yishi. I don't want your grand niece to use me as a pincushion!"
Chen-yishi lowered his hands but bowed his head.
"I apologise for my blunt words the other day," he said in a low voice. "I never imagined that anyone would be so selfless as to donate their golden core."
Wei Ying just smiled.
"There's nothing to apologise for. Since I'm already getting another uncle soon," he flashed a bright grin at Master Lan who ignored him, "I'd love to have a grand uncle too!"
"Grand uncle to the Yiling Patriarch." Chen-yishi stroked his long beard and raised an eyebrow at Master Lan. "Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Only you would think so," Master Lan grumbled at him.
Wei Ying chuckled, an imp of mischief rising in him again.
"In that case, I'll go to Chen-yishi whenever Master Lan scolds me in future."
"That is what the older generation is for," Chen-yishi agreed, "although I can tell QiRen already dotes on you."
Master Lan snorted and inched his cushion further away from him.
"I do not! Besides, why does he need to go to you for sympathy when he already has WangJi? That boy adores him!"
"Love Wei Ying. Adore Wei Ying," Lan Zhan agreed without hesitation.
"Love and adore Lan Zhan too!" Wei Ying beamed at him.
"Shameless!" Wen Qing and Master Lan hissed at the same time.
"My family is growing everyday," Wei Ying said happily. "Brothers and sisters and uncles, a grandma and now a great uncle!"
"Mn. Don't forget our son."
"And A-Yuan, of course!"
"That little boy is yours?" Master Lan looked as bewildered as Chen-yishi.
Lan Zhan reached for Wei Ying's hand.
"Ours," he confirmed.
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Couldn't fit JGS into this chapter so we'll find out his fate in the next one. Please leave a review if you enjoyed it and stay safe :)