Ch 53 – Brothers

Despite saying they were going to return to Gusu as soon as possible in reality only Lan Zhan returned straight home. Wei Ying wanted to pay a visit to Lotus Pier, after all he hadn't been for a few years while they were exploring, hadn't received any messages from either his brother or nephew and he wanted to have a look at what was going on. Any argument that Lan Zhan would have had about Wei Ying either going on his own or going at this moment in time, when they were going to explain something so radical to the Gusu Elders, was cut off before he even formed the words when Wei Ying reminded him that it was actually YanLi's birthday in a few days time.

Wei Ying had never spoken about his sisters birthday to his husband before, and as far as Lan Zhan knew he neither mourned or celebrated it. But then again there were many times that, as chief cultivator, Lan Zhan was indeed busy or needed to go on work trips. It was indeed possible that Wei Ying mourned his sister in private when he was alone. Lan Zhan also had to acknowledge, albeit internally, that this would be the first birthday the brothers could be in Lotus Pier together since the reconciliation. With this in mind Lan Zhan had not said anything against Wei Ying's wish to go to Lotus Pier for an unknown amount of time, and had even dropped him off at the gateway on his own way home to Gusu.

As Lan Zhan landed at the JingShi, swinging his arm automatically to sheath Bichen, he looked around for a moment. Deciding not to bother unpacking, as all his luggage was safely in his quinkin ouches anyway, he instead strode out the small gate that separated his and Wei Ying's home and out into the main area of the Cloud Reccess. As expected when someone of Lan Zhan's status returned home without warning, everyone who saw him either stopped what they were doing and stared or seemed to have something really important to do all of a sudden that involved moving at just short of a run. In fact one disciple moved past him as he was entering the main square and the disciple had his head at such a strange angle that Lan Zhan was sure the noise he heard seconds later was the man walking into the wall. However having the manners he did he didn't look around, but in the back of his head he could imagine Wei Ying laughing so hard he wouldn't be able to breathe, at the whole absurdity of the situation.

Eventually he got to his brothers office, where he was met with yet two more stares from the disciples on duty before the two finally managed to remember their training and bow to him while greeting.

'Greeting HanGuang Jun. The Sect leader did not inform us you were returning today or we would have prepared for you.'

Lan Zhan waved a hand in dismissal. He liked rules and formality but they could go over the top at times. He had simply been away for a few years with his husband, everyone knew he was coming back. It was not like everyone thought he had...he shuddered inwardly not even able to think the rest of the sentence.

'Is my brother in?' he asked simply.

The disciples nodded simply and one stepped up to open the door to the office. As Lan Zhan stepped in he felt he was almost walking back into a world he had partly forgotten. The bare walls with only candles adorning them, the pale colours and sparse furniture. He had forgotten how much life the outside world seemed to have compared to his home. Lan XiChen was sat at his desk immersed in work but upon hearing the door open he lifted his head. Upon seeing who had entered the features on his face, which had seemed a little stressed a second ago, suddenly burst into joy as a wide smile appeared in both his eyes and mouth.

'Wanji!' He exclaimed happily as he got up from the desk and walked up to greet his younger brother. 'I did not know you were returning today. How was your journey? I don't see Wei Ying with you, is he ill? Is that why you returned?'

Lan Zhan fought back the urge to shake his head but instead spoke in the same voice his brother was used to, calm and emotionless.

'It has been a long trip brother, why do we not sit and I will explain everything.'

Lan XiChen nodded and immediately ordered a disciple to bring tea as the two headed for the comfortable chairs in the corner of the office, the one indulgence the Lan leader allowed himself, and sat down.

'You really did all that!' Jiang Cheng exclaimed.

'Yep' Wei Ying replied with a large grin on his face which could safely be translated as jealous of me now aren't you.

'Why?'

'Why What?'

'Why did you do it'

'Because it annoyed Lan Zhan and I like annoying Lan Zhan'

'You like annoying me too'

'You're the annoying one!'

'Am not!'

'Are!'

'Am Not'

'See you are being annnnoyinling now!'

Jiang Cheng grunted and took another swig of the wine jar he held in his hand. The two were currently in the main hall of Lotus Pier, sat on the steps just in front of the Lotus throne itself. This was the place where all the large decisions got made concerning the Sect, where Jiang Cheng entertained dignitaries from other Sects. And this was the place many years ago where not only their parents had died but Jiang Cheng had ridiculed and scolded Wei Ying for not helping him rebuilt the Sect. The hall held many memories for the two men but right now they didn't seem interested in past memories as much as they did the six or seven wine bottle scattered on the floor at their feet.

Wei Ying had arrived unannounced at Lotus Pier and as a member of the Lan Sect he had been taken to the hall to wait until the Sect Leader was available to speak to him. However unlike most visitors the people of Lotus Pier had grown up with Wei Ying and knew exactly how to deal with him until Jiang Cheng had time for his errant older brother. So Wei Ying bough wine to drink as long as he agreed to stay in the hall and not cause a fuss. It had actually not been long before Jiang Cheng had heard of his brothers arrival and wondered why he had appeared with no warning. After all it wasn't really Wei Ying's style to do things with no fanfare unless he was in trouble, and even then it was kind of hit and miss. So Jiang Cheng had walked into his hall to find a half drunk Wei Ying sat on the steps in front of the throne.

Rather than scold him or drag him off to bed and sober up, Jiang Cheng had decided to join him. Which of course had led to the two most powerful me in Lotus Cove currently sitting on the floor, surrounded by empty wine bottles and talking complete rubbish. Jiang Cheng eventually managed to stand up after four attempts. Wei Ying, not to be out done by his brother, only took three attempts to get himself upright.

Jiang Cheng resorted back to his childish behaviour and tried to push over his brother which resulted in him nearly falling over, staggering and landing on Wei Ying who tripped and sent them both down to the floor anyway. All the noise in the hall eventually drew the two servants stationed outside who took on the distasteful task of taking the two drunkards themselves back to their rooms to sleep off the wine.

Lan XiChen and Lan Zhan had been sat in the Sect Leaders office ever since Lan Zhan's return. The disciples had been in and out to bring any papers either of the two required, or even just basics like food and drink, but mostly the two had been left alone. The sun had long gone and the 9pm curfew was also a thing of memory as the two hovered over the small desk between the seats speaking softly. There was one disciple outside who was on duty, he could hear the two leaders speaking inside but had no idea what it was that was keeping them both up so late into the night. The candles lighting the office had already been replaced once already and by the look of the light inside would soon need to be replaced once again.

Lan Zhan had explained everything about his and Wei Ying's explorations, except of course the more private parts which he didn't want to share with his brother and he was certain his brother didn't want to hear about either. Eventually he had gotten to the part that had bought them home, the part about the strange villagers of cultivators who didn't even know they had golden cores. Lan XiChen had listened throughout the tale and nodded in places to show he was still actively paying attention. When Lan Zhan had finished informing him about the village he began speaking of the idea himself and Wei Ying had come up with to try and combat the problem in future. Of course as a Sect Leader, with many more years experience in the politics of the Sects than Lan Zhan did as the Chief Cultivator, Lan XIChen had had some questions and even worries about the idea.

The two brothers had spoken about the strengths and weaknesses of such a plan, how it could be implemented and even potential pitfalls of introducing such a thing to the Sects at an assembly. Neither of them had realised the work had gone on so long, both had just fallen back into the natural rhythm of working alongside his own brother and the ease with which ideas flowed when family was involved. When eventually Lan XiChen looked up from the table, stretching his sore neck from where he had been facing downwards for the past few hours, he finally realised what time it was and tapped Lan Zhan on the shoulder. His younger brother looked up at him, his eyelids drooping ever so slightly, and Lan XiChen couldn't help smile slightly. Wanji had been like this since they were children. When he found something that caught his attention he would work and focus on it at the detriment of anything else until his worked it out, however XiChen had to admit that this was the first time in a long time he had been equally as interested in a project.

The two brothers decided to resume their meeting the next day and with a nod to the disciple on night patrol they both walked back to their respective homes for some well needed sleep. This was easier said than done for Lan Zhan who thanks to his habit of waking up whenever he lost contact with Wei Ying, found it hard to drift off to sleep alone in the JingShi.

Wei Ying had gotten used to getting up earlier than he would have liked, but later than Lan Zhan would have liked, so he automatically arose around nine o'clock in the morning. His head throbbed from the night before but otherwise he had no hangover affects. He had always been good with alcohol and knew that some fresh air outside the room would soon clear his headache. However it seemed that he had no sooner walked out of the room than a servant walked up to him informing him that Sect Leader Jiang was waiting for him in the hall. Grumbling that he hadn't eaten anything yet and didn't feel like arguing with his brother so early in the morning Wei Ying, semi obediently, followed the instructions and made his way to the hall.

On arrival he was hit with smells he never thought he would smell again. All his favourite food from childhood where piled on a table at the side of the room. There had to be more food than he could eat alone but his mouth had involuntary begun to water as he smelled all the spices and strong scents that he had missed over the years in Gusu. Amazingly servants were still bringing in small dishes and placing them on the table which already looked like it would groan from the load.

'I wasn't expecting you this early'

Came Jiang Cheng's normal sarcastic voice from one side, only not quite as strong as usual. Wei Ying somehow managed to turn his head away from the food to look at his brother. Jiang Cheng looked like he had enough of a hangover for both of them. He had bags under his eyes, he was holding is forehead in one palm and his face was pale as if ill. It was all Wei Ying could do not to laugh. Instead he nodded back to the ever increasing pile of food on the table.

'Is this all for me?' he asked.

'No!' Jiang Cheng tried a glare but it didn't quite work. 'This is for both of us to eat, after all we didn't get to eat anything last night as you started drinking as soon as you arrived. By the way what made you think you could drink all my wine!'

Wei Ying didn't respond straight away as the two men positioned themselves either side of the table and began serving themselves small portions of breakfast.

'I don't know'….. He said in his normal relaxed but playful tone. 'What made you think you could keep up with me in a drinking contest?'

Jiang Cheng grumbled something into his food that Wei Ying was sure he wasn't supposed to hear, and both men went about eating. Eventually Jiang Cheng spoke up once more, although it was a little slurred as he was speaking round a mouth full of chopsticks.

'I can't remember the last time I got drunk'

'No I guess it looks bad for Sect Leaders to get blackout drunk' Wei Ying mused.

Jiang Cheng didn't respond he just concentrated on his food until Wei Ying spoke once again.

'But I guess that's what big brothers are for isn't it! You growl at me and I get you drunk!'

Jiang Cheng growled, again around his chopsticks, before both men paused…looked at each other...and burst out laughing. The rest of the meal was spent laughing about stupid thing they had made each other do, and blaming each other for, when they were children growing up in Lotus Pier. For a few hours the relationship between the two brothers was nothing more than the fun bickering it had been in their youth.