Chapter 20
Lan Zhan was the first to react to the woman in front of them.
"Elder Lan Yi, I am a descendant of the Lan Clan" Lan Zhan said, quickly bowing before the woman before him, and Wei Wuxian quickly followed suit. She was sitting in front of what most likely was her guqin, and Wei Wuxian did not want to disrespect another Lan member so shortly after getting Lan Zhan into trouble.
He recognized the name; she was the first female leader of the Lan Clan.
"Elder Lan Yi," he bowed as well; his wrist still tied to Lan Zhan's making the movement rather difficult, but he did his best, "I am of the Nie Clan."
She picked up a rabbit then, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but feel awe.
"So these rabbits here with the headbands are yours," Wei Wuxian said in understanding. Of course she would put headbands on the rabbits to keep her company.
"They have been my solace over the last few centuries, but my energy has been fading over the last few years. They are very fond of playing so they come out," she said, as she gently stroked one.
"Elder, there was a rumour that you had passed away years ago," Lan Zhan asked, a bit surprised. "How come you're here?"
"Does it have to do with the Yin Iron?" Wei Ying deduced.
"It was my biggest mistake in this lifetime," she said, "And I paid the price with all my power to keep it in confinement."
She moved her hand, and a broken piece of stone appeared in front of them.
"Elder Lan, what is the Yin Iron? And what was that scene with the gentry yelling?" he couldn't help but ask.
"The seal is beginning to crack, and its power grows stronger while mine grows weaker. And then you appeared. It has to be fate," she mused without answering his questions.
"Elder?" he prompted her in confusion.
"Hundreds of years ago, the Yin Iron was in one piece, and the Yiling Burial Mountains had been a celestial land," she started, "Xue Chonghai was a powerful grandmaster back then. Even after all this time, no one knows why he, who had everything, used the Yin Iron to absorb grievance and resentment and sacrifice living people. He controlled an ancient monster, the Xuanwu tortoise and used it to slaughter people mercilessly. It was a great tragedy."
"So the five clans united to kill him," Wei Wuxian said in understanding.
"Wei gongzi, you as brilliant as I thought," she said in confirmation, "Xue Chonghai was killed and the Xuanwu tortoise was put down. And the celestial land of Yiling became a massive burial grounds to all those lost."
"Elder Lan Yi, what happened to the Yin Iron after that?" Lan Zhan questioned her.
"It had absorbed too many spirits and their souls could not be sated. It was a rare treasure meant to absorb energy from the world, but Xue Chonghai abused it and fed it resentful energy, forever corrupting it."
She paused before continuing.
"By time the gentry went to take it, he had gone mad. He told Wen Mao that he would end up like him one day, corrupted by the power of the Yin Iron. So the five sects decided to suppress it and broke it into different pieces, hid them, and decided to never speak of it ever again."
"But if it can be used to absorb any energy, then perhaps we can use it for good," Wei Wuxian said, thinking of his brother. Could they draw out the resentful energy from him with it?"
"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan quickly cut him off.
"I am surprised that you said that, as it was exactly what I thought. When I became leader, as a woman I was criticized endlessly, so for years I tried to break the old rules and show new ways to innovate, but I faced may impediments and obstacles. Then one day I was chatting to my friend, Baoshan Sanren. And she mentioned it by accident."
"Baoshan Sanren?" he couldn't help but ask, and Lan Zhan glanced at him, "Master, do you know her?"
"She was very dear to my heart," Lan Yi said fondly. "But I failed her. After I learned of the Yin Iron I couldn't stop thinking about it. I read everything in the Lan library and I put the pieces together. I found where the Lan Clan hid the Iron. The Cold Sprints has natural energy, with cold streams of air from all directions, condensing in a pool that never freezes. It was the best place to seal the Yin Iron."
"So this is where you found it," Wei Ying said.
"If it cannot be neutralized, then why did you want to find it?" Lan Zhan couldn't help but ask.
"Because I was young and naïve. I ignored the warnings and teachings of my elders," she said sadly.
"The fear that it couldn't be controlled and would instead control you," Lan Zhan surmised.
"Baoshan said the same thing to me, but I always did things my way and thought I had a clear conscious. I wanted to promote the heirloom and the level of the Lan Sect's ability. So I ignored her warning and entered the sacred grounds. But I was wrong," she paused, looking down.
"What happened?" Wei Ying prompted her, "Did Master Baoshan know about this?"
"She came to find me, drawing her sword at me, telling me to stop. She said it was malicious and that I wouldn't be able to control it. She wanted to know what I would do then. But I was sure I knew better. I fought my friend and went off. I'm sure you can figure out the rest. I was not successful. And I made a terrible mistake, as once the seal is broken, it can no longer be resealed. I fled to the cave, and I sealed it in here with myself, using my remaining power to do so. I used all my energy to do so and I can never leave here. I have been guarding it for so long, and no one has been able to step foot in here until the two of you."
"Not even my grand master?" Wei Wuxian asked in confusing.
"Your Grand master?" Lan Yi asked in confusion.
"I may be of the Nie sect, but my mother was Cangse Sanren," he told her, "Baoshan Sanren adopted her when she was a child."
"So it's been that long that A-Shan was able to adopt her child and her child had a child," Lan Yi smiled for the first time. "What a pity that I was never able to see her again. And I was too shameful to go find her. There was too much left unsaid."
"Master, are you the one who lead us here?" Lan Zhan couldn't help but ask her curiously.
"No," she said, worriedly, and they exchanged looks. "For the past few hundred I used my power to suppress the Iron and hide these caves. But in the recent decade, it shows there have been traces of activation, and my power grows weaker. I believe the resentful energy has been seeping out into the water around us."
"What could have changed in the last few years?" Wei Wuxian questioned.
"I believe the other shards have appeared as well and someone has started using them," Lan Yi said, and he turned to Lan Zhan.
"The cultivator on the day I arrived, who's spirit was snatched," Wei Wuxian said, "That was like what Xue Chonghai did."
"The shards can sense each other," Lan Yi told them. "I'm lucky to have lived this long without the others seeking out this piece."
"Is there anything we can do to stop it?" he asked, worriedly.
"It cannot be destroyed. It's spirit is that of the earth and the heavens. Wherever these shards go, evil will follow. The only thing to be done is to find all the pieces and repress them here. But I don't think I can do it by myself. I don't have enough power to do so. But now that you're here, you both can help me."
"As a descendant of the Lan Sect I will do whatever is necessary," Lan Zhan said, bowing to her.
"As a disciple of the Nie who stood with the Lan all those years ago, I will do the same," Wei Wuxian followed suit.
"It is for the Lan Sect to do," Lan Zhan glanced at him, "Do not endanger yourself."
"How can I let you go into danger by yourself!" he exclaimed, "And just sit back while you take this on without me. I'm not letting you do this without help."
"It is clear that the two of you care about each other very much," she mused, "I wish you both all the luck in this endeavour. And in your future together."
She gestured at their hands, bound together, and Lan Zhan's ears turned red. What was she talking about?
She vanished in front of them then, leaving the Iron behind.
"We must go," Lan Zhan said, picking it up carefully and putting it into a qiankun bag. He followed Lan Zhan through the cave, as they stayed tied together. He wasn't too sure where they were heading, but Lan Zhan seemed to have an idea, so he followed behind him, not saying a word.
He wasn't really sure what to say; there were too many thoughts racing around his mind about what had just happened.
Lan Zhan moved through the hidden entrance in a rock without warning, and Wei Wuxian was tugged through it. For a second time in so many days, he found himself on top of Lan Zhan again.
"Hi," he said, as he looked at his friend, but before he could do anything further, he heard the sound of people approach them.
"Wei Ying!" he heard Nie Huaisang cry out, and he looked up in surprise to see Nie Huaisang running towards him.
He struggled to stand, and Lan Zhan steadied him carefully.
His brother hit him on the chest lightly, "Where have you been? You just promised me that you'd be careful after what happened in BIling Lake, and now this? Now you go and vanish for more than a day?"
"It's been more than a day?" he asked in surprise.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?" Nie Huaisang wailed at him, "I went to Xichen-ge and he got together all the disciples to look for you both! The Lan and the Nie were looking for you, and Jiang Cheng asked the Jiang disciples to as well! We've been searching for hours! I haven't even slept because I was so worried!"
Jiang Cheng looked at him in annoyance from beside Huaisang.
"Wei Wuxian!" he heard his Da-ge shout, and he winced as he saw Nie Mingjue move towards him from afar quickly making up the distance. "Where have you been?"
"You wrote to Da-ge?" Wei Wuxian hissed at his er-ge in surprise. He hadn't expected his eldest brother to show up. How worried had they made everyone that Da-ge came all the way from Qinghe? And how long had they been gone that Da-ge had the time to fly to Gusu?
"He won't tell me!" Nie Huaisang crossed his arms, ignoring him all together, as Da-ge, Xichen-ge, and Lan Qiren approached them. Lan Xichen gestured to the other disciples that they could go rest, and he looked at the group in confusion.
"I didn't even have a chance to tell you! You started yelling at me from the moment you saw me!" Wei Wuxian raised his hands, and Lan Zhan's tied to his, raised as well.
Lan Qiren let out a sharp sound, Nie Mingjue's eyes widened, and Lan Xichen covered his mouth quickly.
"Did the two of you run away together?" Nie Mingjue demanded suddenly, "Is that where you've been?"
"What?" Wei Wuxian asked in confusion.
"He does not know," Lan Zhan told his brother and uncle, "There were dire circumstances, and I did what was necessary. But he does not know."
"Know what?" Wei Wuxian asked in confusion, "What happened?"
"Only you, Wei Ying," Nie Huaisang sighed, as he pulled his brother in tightly, finally stopping his tears, "I'm glad you are safe."
"It's only been a few hours at most," Wei Wuxian said in confusion.
"A-Xian, it's been well over a day since you went to the Cold Springs," Lan Xichen told him gently.
"Perhaps we should talk about what happened in private," Lan Qiren closed his eyes, "Let us go to my chambers. This discussion should not happen where anyone can hear. Nie Zongzhu, you and your family may join us, as I believe this concerns you both. Jiang gongzi, please take some rest. Thank you for your efforts in finding my nephew."
"Yes, Grand Master," Jiang Cheng nodded, giving Nie Huaisang a nod, before turning to go.
Lan Zhan carefully untied their wrists, as he held onto Wei Wuxian's while he did so. He glanced at his friend, who did so without even a word.
They followed after Grand Master Lan in silence, though Nie Huaisang fused over him the entire walk over, checking him for any injuries.
"What happened?" Nie Mingjue asked finally when they were in the privacy of Lan Qiren's chambers.
"We were pulled under the water in the Cold Springs," Wei Wuxian told Da-ge. "We were just sitting there, healing, then the next thing I know, I'm in an underground cave with Lan Zhan! We went to see where we were, and there was a guqin that started attacking us – well attacking me. But I saw bunnies and realized they had forehead ribbons and Lan Zhan wasn't getting attacked cause he also had a forehead ribbon, so I asked him to share his with me, and he tied it around my wrist in the cave!"
Lan Xichen glanced at his brother who said nothing.
"Then we saw Lan Zhan's elder, Lan Yi!" Wei Ying said, and Lan Qiren looked incredulous.
"Preposterous!" he said, "She's been dead for years."
"She was in the cave," Lan Zhan said, "Guarding this."
He pulled out the Iron from the pouch he'd placed it in, and Nie Mingjue looked astonished.
"Is that?" he breathed out.
"The Yin Iron," Lan Qiren confirmed grimly, "Before we proceed, Xichen, can you put a seal around it to suppress it as best as you can?"
Xichen-ge bowed, as he pulled out his xiao and began to play. The music wrapped around the shard of the Yin Iron, binding it tightly, and already the air around the, felt fresher from the resentment of the piece.
"It was why the back hills were banned," Xichen-ge told him, Lan Zhan, and Nie Huaisang, the only ones who did not know what the shard was. "We were hoping that the resentful energy would be unable to affect the people if we kept them away. Us and the Nies are the only ones who truly know the story of the Yin Iron. Mingjue began to suspect after his father's demise, and he found materials proving it in his archives. And us after what happened with Lan Yi."
"Is that why things have been happening recently, like the spirit snatching, and the water borne abyss?" Wei Wuxian asked, catching on.
"Yes," Lan Xichen said grimly, "We suspect someone has been using it of late."
"You know who it is," Lan Zhan looked at his brother.
"Wen Ruohan?" Wei Wuxian asked his brother, "Was that what happened to your A-die?"
"Yes," Nie Mingjue confirmed, and Nie Huaisang gaped. "I cannot prove it, but I believe he somehow drove my father closer to a Qi deviation, as he was already prone to them. But he was fine, then he went on a night hunt with Wen Ruohan, and died shortly after."
"You never told me this," Nie Huaisang accused.
"What good is speculation without proof?" Nie Mingjue asked him, and his er-ge had no response.
"What happened after you saw Lan Yi?" Xichen-ge asked him.
"We bowed in respect to her, and she told us the story of the origins of the Yin Iron. Then she told us how she tried to cleanse it, but failed, and instead, trapped herself with it. She asked us to protect all the shards and gather them. We accepted, and bowed in agreement, and she said she wished us luck for our future together."
"Wei Wuxian," Nie Mingjue closed his eyes, "You bowed to her? And she gave you her blessings?"
"Yes?" Wei Wuxian asked, in confusion.
"While your wrists were bound together," Nie Mingjue exhaled, "He truly doesn't know?"
The last part was directed to Lan Zhan.
"He does not," Lan Zhan said, "I will not hold him to it."
"To what?" Wei Wuxian asked again, and Lan Zhan did not answer. "Lan Zhan!"
"If they change their mind in the future, we can honour it then," Xichen-ge soothed Nie Mingjue.
"You better ask me for permission first," Nie Mingjue warned Lan Zhan, "He is my didi. Treat him with respect."
"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed readily, and Lan Qiren rubbed his temples.
"Please stop throwing yourself into things like this," Nie Huaisang said, throwing his arms around Wei Wuxian tightly, "I was so worried, Didi. I thought something bad had happened to you."
Nie Mingjue pulled them both in tightly, and Xichen-ge touched Lan Zhan's shoulder lightly.
"I am glad you are both okay," Lan Xichen said, "But Wangji, you cannot hide the truth forever. Especially if it lies in your heart so prominently.
Lan Zhan simply stiffened, most likely due to the touch.
There was a bird sound outside then, and he ran out with the others to see a messenger bird from Qishan.
"It's from the Wen," Nie Mingjue growled.
"Do not chase after it," Lan Qiren advised them.
"So the Wens came here for the Yin Iron piece," Lan Zhan surmised.
"How did he know we had one?" Lan Zhan asked.
"It's been on earth for hundreds of years, and yet no one knows where the rest of the pieces are now. But Wen Ruohan was able to get one, so he must have help from someone," Lan Qiren told them.
"Elder Lan Yi said that the pieces can sense each other. So why don't we use it to find the rest?" he asked the group, and Nie Huaisang held onto him tighter.
"It's dangerous," Nie Mingjue said, "You cannot do it on your own."
"What should we do then?" Lan Zhan asked.
"When the Yin Iron appears, and falls into the hands of evil people, then disasters will happen. For now, we must seal this piece and put it back in the Cold Pond Cave," Lan Qiren told them. "And make it so no one can get near it."
"Wen Ruohan already has a piece, and they can sense each other. Even if we put it back, he'll know we have one. He wants it, and we won't be able to hide it from him," Lan Zhan said.
"We cannot mention it any longer," Lan Qiren said, "It must remain a secret."
Wei Wuxian nodded, as the discussion clearly had ended.
"Both of you go get some rest," Nie Mingjue said to his brothers, "Neither of you have slept in over a day."
"Yes, Da-ge," Nie Huaisang said dutifully, dragging off Wei Wuxian with him, "Come Didi. Let's get some sleep."
"Bye Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian called out, unable to say his goodbyes properly as he was dragged away to go to bed.
Nie Mingjue paced around Lan Xichen's quarters restlessly. Lan Xichen had stayed to chat with Uncle and Nie Mingjue about what had transpired after their brothers were all sent to sleep, and he couldn't help but feel powerless especially now that the two of them were alone in his chambers.
"My brothers were supposed to be kept safe from things like this. And yet they kept finding themselves in the middle of it. Particularly A-Ying. I promised San-di that he would be safe when he came to live with me. And yet, this was two incidents in such a short time," Nie Mingjue ranted.
"You're going to cause a hole to form in the floor," Lan Xichen told him gently, "Come, have a drink, A-Jue."
Nie Mingjue sighed, but went to stand beside him, as Lan Xichen poured him a drink.
"How am I supposed to keep them safe, A-Huan?" Nie Mingjue sighed again, as he downed the glass of wine, and Lan Xichen felt his heart go out to the man.
"We can't," Lan Xichen said gently, "They're growing into young men. Whether we like it or not, they're going to be adults before we can stop it. They're strong, A-Jue. We need to let them grow and be there to catch them if they fall. Your brothers are both so strong. You should see Sang-er play; he resonates energy. And his fan movements have gotten so much better. And A-Xian is so skilled for his age."
"I wish they'd remain my little Didi's forever," Nie Mingjue said, drinking another glass.
"You and I both," he laughed, "I've never seen Lan Wangji so alive and happy as he is when Wei Wuxian's near him."
"I can't believe those two went and got themselves engaged, and then their marriage blessed by a Lan Elder and Wei Ying doesn't even know what it means or that he cares for your brother! He would do something like that and not even know! He doesn't even realize how lucky he is to have a marital blessing from an elder, especially Lan Yi! No one could even dispute their engagement now if the two of them wanted it to hold," Nie Mingjue ranted.
"You're just jealous that we cannot be engaged as such," Lan Xichen teased without thought.
"Of course I am," Nie Mingjue grumbled, "I want nothing more than to get married, and yet we'll face far more difficulties than they ever will! We have to think about our sects; we cannot just leave one or the other to be together. And yet he doesn't even know!"
Lan Xichen felt a tidal wave of emotion as Nie Mingjue's words brushed over him. He hadn't expected such blatant confirmation of his feelings from the man, but Nie Mingjue rarely used coyness to hide his feelings. If he felt something, he usually said it.
And after their last meeting, it shouldn't surprise him that the man cared for him. Their confession may not have had so many words, but their meaning was clear.
But Mingjue loved him.
Mingjue wanted to marry him.
He was unable to stop himself, knowing that the man felt the same way for him. He reached forward, placing his hands on Nie Mingjue's chest, and he leaned upwards to press his lips chastely on the taller man, closing his eyes.
Nie Mingjue froze at the action, not immediately reacting, and Lan Xichen couldn't help but wonder if he'd squandered away years of friendship between the two of them over a misunderstanding.
Did he truly not mean the words he said? Maybe he was making a joke? Perhaps he misread it, and Nie Mingjue truly meant for them to be friends.
Or was there someone else that he wanted to be with? He had seen the looks between Meng Yao and Nie Mingjue. Had he misinterpreted the statement, and instead the man in front of him wanted to be with Meng Yao?
Nie Mingjue pulled away from him, and Lan Xichen felt his heart drop as the older man searched his eyes with his own, but before Lan Xichen could react, Nie Mingjue had snaked his hand around the back of Lan Xichen's head, caressing it gently, and another behind his back. He pushed Lan Xichen backwards, as they crashed into the walls of Hanshi, with the arm behind Lan Xichen taking the brunt of the force of the collision.
Lan Xichen let out a small gasp as Nie Mingjue captured Lan Xichen's lips with his own, moving against them with fervor. He couldn't help but place his own arms around Mingjue's waist, pulling the man in close to him as he kissed him back just as eagerly.
"A-Jue," Lan Xichen moaned as the pulled away for air, and Mingjue pulled him in tighter against his body.
"I love you, A-Huan," Nie Mingjue said breathlessly, "I've wanted to do that for years, and then you kissed me like that, and I lost all control. Did I hurt you?"
He looked at Lan Xichen carefully, as the hand behind his head moved to caress Lan Xichen's face gently.
Lan Xichen smiled up at Nie Mingjue, heart melting at his confession.
"I love you too, A-Jue. I always have. Since the first time we met as children, I knew then that I wanted you in my life forever. You could never hurt me," Lan Xichen said, "I know you will always keep me safe."
"Always," Nie Mingjue promised him gently, "I'll never let anything happen to you, I promise. I love you."
"I'll protect you too," Lan Xichen smiled up at the older man, as he leaned back in for another kiss. Nie Mingjue let out a groan, as he held himself back, acting more restrained with the kiss, and Lan Xichen tugged him in. "You can be rougher with me, A-Jue. I won't break."
Nie Mingjue let out a laugh, as he brushed his fingers over Lan Xichen's lips, "And yet, I find myself unable to do anything that could possibly hurt you. I see why A-Ying calls you Lan's Jade Statues, because you feel so delicate," Nie Mingjue kissed his cheek, "I know you won't break, but I do not want to hurt you either, A-Huan."
Lan Xichen rolled his eyes, as he pushed Nie Mingjue backwards through the room with force, as A-Jue's eyes widened in shock. He caught Lan Xichen in his arms as the two of them flew through the air, landing on the bed, Lan Xichen on top of Nie Mingjue.
Just as he'd intended.
"Isn't there a rule against promiscuity?" Nie Mingjue raised a brow at him, tugging Lan Xichen in closer as he moaned when he rubbed against A-Jue's growing hardness.
"Perhaps I feel like breaking the rules with you, A-Jue," Lan Xichen said, eyes darkening as he took off the ribbon from his forehead, "Now there is nothing to hold me back and cause me to restrain myself."
Mingjue looked up at him with desire, as Lan Xichen moved to tug off Nie Mingjue's robes.
"Disrobe," Nie Mingjue commanded him, and he felt heat pool between his legs, "I do not want to be the only naked one."
Lan Xichen swallowed, as he took off his robe as well, placing it carefully by the ribbon beside him, before pressing against the man he was straddling.
"I've wanted to do this for so long," Lan Xichen told him, palming Nie Mingjue's cock in his hands, "You are just as big as I thought you'd be."
"And you are just as perfect as I knew you'd be," Nie Mingjue's eyes moved over Lan Xichen's frame as he licked his lips. "Beautiful."
He tugged Mingjue's hardness, jerking it a few times, before he moved down to capture it in his mouth. Nie Mingjue let out a moan, as he sunk down on it, going straight to the base. He bobbed his head around it, sucking it carefully, before licking the underside of his cock.
"A-Huan," Nie Mingjue said, sounding pained, "Please. If you keep doing that, I'm going to cum."
"Maybe I want that," Lan Xichen said, as Nie Mingjue pulled him off, and gently placed him on the bed, before climbing onto him.
"The first time I orgasm with you, it'll be buried deep inside of you," Nie Mingjue told him with a promise, and Lan Xichen's breathing staggered.
"I have oil beside my bed," Lan Xichen said, flushing.
Nie Mingjue chuckled, as he reached over to grab it, "Were you hoping this would happen, A-Huan? Or maybe you use it at night, when you think of me taking you. Do you picture me often, taking you? Do I make love to you gently? Or am I rough with you?"
He licked Lan Xichen's nipple, sucking on it tenderly.
"Do you want me to mark you up? So that tomorrow everyone sees their precious pristine First Jade dirtied with my marks?" Nie Mingjue teased him, as he dipped his fingers in the oil, before gently bringing it to Lan Xichen's hole.
Nie Mingjue moved a finger inside of Lan Xichen carefully, waiting for him to adjust to the length.
"A-Jue," Lan Xichen moaned, as Nie Mingjue thrusted it in him, "A-Jue, please!"
"You're going to need to be patient," Nie Mingjue said, starting to work a second finger in, "You'll need to take several of my fingers before you're prepared for my cock, A-Huan."
"Please!" Lan Xichen cried again, "Please take me, A-Jue! I need you so badly."
Nie Mingjue moved a third finger in him, quickly followed by a fourth, as Lan Xichen moaned for him underneath his body, causing Nie Mingjue's own breathing to stagger.
"Do you want me, A-Huan? Do you want me to take you?" Nie Mingjue asked, pulling his hand out, as he covered his length in the oil.
"Yes, A-Jue! I want you! I need you," Lan Xichen pleaded him, "Please take me, Chifeng Zun!"
"Whatever you wish," Nie Mingjue promised him, eyes darkening at his title. He lined up his cock to Lan Xichen's hole and thrust inside of him.
Nie Mingjue moved with him, taking him gently at first so he could adjust to his girth and length, and as Lan Xichen arched his back up at him, Nie Mingjue covered the man's body with his own.
Nie Mingjue moved fervently, one hand on Lan Xichen's hip the other capturing his right hand with Lan Xichen's.
"I love you," Lan Xichen gasped as Nie Mingjue thrust into him, "I love you, A-Jue!"
"I love you too," Nie Mingjue grunted, as he bent down to capture Lan Xichen's lips with his once more, moving against him in both ways.
He let out a moan, as Nie Mingjue moved to his neck, sucking there as he thrust against him with a hard movement.
Lan Xichen wrapped his arms around him, and Nie Mingjue reached down between Lan Xichen's legs, grabbing Lan Xichen's cock, as he palmed it tenderly. He gave it several jerks, and Lan Xichen cried out.
"I'm close, A-Jue! Please, I'm so close. Please, right there!" Lan Xichen begged him. "Please!"
He gave a few more thrusts, as Lan Xichen let out a sob, before releasing all over Nie Mingjue's stomach. He felt his own release occur then, burying it deep inside of Lan Xichen.
He didn't move for a few moments, the only sound in the room the heavy breathing of them both.
"I love you," Nie Mingjue said, finally rolling off Lan Xichen.
He stood, moving to grab a damp towel to clean Lan Xichen up with, and Nie Mingjue tenderly wiped up the mess they'd made, before climbing back into the bed with him.
"I love you too," Lan Xichen said, sitting up. He grabbed his ribbon from beside him and tied it around Nie Mingjue's wrist before the man had realized, "I know we cannot be properly engaged now. But I love you. And I will marry you one day in the future, when I am also a Sect Leader and we can get married without fear of what it will mean for our sects."
He kissed Nie Mingjue, before cuddling against his chest, Nie Mingjue smiling softly at him.
"One day," Nie Mingjue promised him. He felt his eyes close, and wrapped up in Nie Mingjue's arms, he fell asleep, feeling the comfort of having his love by his side.
