Hello everyone.

How is everyone doing? I'm sorry I haven't posted anything but I don't think many people have been reading this story anyway but I still feel it's necessary to write it so thanks for reading if you do.

Enjoy the chapter.


Wei Ying couldn't believe how many people Xichen talked to while Xichen couldn't believe how well Wei Ying could impersonate his brother and how exasperated he was by Wei Ying when they were alone. It was like Wei Ying was starved for human contact. He never thought Wei Ying was like this previously. He didn't know why but his sympathy came out the more the two traveled with each other.

"Master Wei, why don't you use your sword anymore? You seem to really love wielding Bichen," Xichen had to ask as they got closer to Yiling.

"Xichen do I really have to answer that?" Wei Ying asked suddenly really sad and Xichen knew it was serious.

Xichen allowed Wei Ying to call him by his courtesy name. He didn't want him to keep calling him Zewu-jun since they were spending so much time together.

"I just want to understand considering how much you really love to use Wangji's sword," Xichen said.

Wei Ying looked down and he felt sad by it. He really wanted to let the topic die but he was sure Lan Zhan already knew and would tell his brother anyway.

"I don't have a golden core anymore," Wei Ying said getting a shocked reaction.

Xichen stopped his pace and couldn't help but look at Wei Ying with a purely horrified expression.

"What happened?" Xichen asked.

"When I was thrown into the burial mounds by the Wen Clan, I got my golden core burned out first," Wei Ying lied.

He didn't want what really happened to get out for any reason. He loved his brother and he wouldn't let it get to him or he would be sad.

"Does anyone know of this?" Xichen asked still horrified as they started walking again.

"Not a soul," Wei Ying said.

"Does the remaining Wen Clan know?" Xichen asked.

"Yes, they do, they know because they helped me," Wei Ying said.

"Oh, so you saved them because they saved you?" Xichen asked.

"No, I saved them because they weren't involved in the war and were innocent. I would have protected them, either way, it was just an added bonus that two of them saved my life. Not only that but almost all of them don't even cultivate and the rest our extremely old. I think the only one that will be able to cultivate when he gets older would be Ah-Yuan and I will try to teach him everything I know," Wei Ying said.

As they started walking into the burial mounds Wei Ying realized he could feel everyone even better now that he has a golden core again but he still didn't wish to be in this position especially with Lan Zhan.

"Do you think Lan Zhan knows that we're here already?" Wei Ying asked.

"Well you have good senses even in your coreless body so I wouldn't be shocked if he does," Xichen said.

"Your here Wei Wuxian," Wen Qing said smacking him in the head.

"HEY! Don't hit," Wei Ying said pouting.

"Brother, Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan said as he looked at both of them.

"Hey again?" Wei Ying said.

"I need to talk to you," Wen Qing said as she dragged Wei Ying away leaving the brothers alone with Ah-Yuan hanging onto Wei Ying's legs.

"Wangji," Xichen said softly as he went toward his brother. "What's your name?" Xichen said softly looking down at the young toddler that attached himself to his brother.

"Ah-Yuan comes to grandma," Granny said softly as she watched cautiously scared of the new stranger.

"Go," Lan Zhan said softly to the little boy who shockingly listened to him making Xichen wonder what he did the last two days.

"Is that the boy that called you dad the last time?" Xichen asked.

Wei Ying's body reacted blushing brightly making Xichen chuckle at his younger brother.

"How are you?" Xichen asked.

"Fine, brother Wei Ying doesn't have a golden core," Lan Zhan said.

"I know he told me," Xichen said sadly.

"What?" Lan Zhan upset over Wei Ying telling his brother but not him he thought they were close was he wrong?

"Don't worry brother, he didn't want to tell me he just assumed you were going to tell me anyway is my guess," Xichen placated he wasn't really sure why Wei Ying told him but he still felt like what he was told wasn't the full truth.

If it was why wouldn't he say anything to anyone about it? He would have told Jiang Cheng about it but not a soul knows about it aside from the people he is protecting and them now.

"Did he say how?" Lan Zhan asked.

"He said when they threw him in the burial mounds before it was burned out," Xichen said.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said softly his hand going over Wei Ying's heart and scars.

"What the hell is going on?" Wen Qing asked appalled.

"I don't know," Wei Ying said.

"What the hell happened? How did this happen? We need to find a way to fix it," Wen Qing said.

"I agree with you on that one," Wei Ying said.

"Do you think he knows about... you know?" Wen Qing asked.

"He didn't ask about it?" Wei Ying asked.

"No, he hasn't said anything for two whole days. The only time he talked was in the beginning when we first found out about the switch," Wen Qing explained.

"Figures he's not much of a talker. Okay, so I told them half of the truth I just need you to go along with it if they ask," Wei Ying said.

"What is it?" Wen Qing asked.

"I told them that when I got thrown in the burial mounds the first time was when I lost my golden core but I didn't say anything about... you know," Wei Ying said.

"You didn't tell him the real reason you don't have one?" Wen Qing said shocked.

"No, I don't want it to get back to Jiang Cheng," Wei Ying expressed.

"But..." Wen Qing started.

"Please," Wei Ying said softly.

"Fine we need to get some books to solve this issue quickly," Wen Qing said nodding her head in submission knowing she owed Wei Ying a lot for everything he has done for her and her people.

"Yeah we do, I think I have an idea on how I can do it," Wei Ying said.

"What are you talking about?" Wen Qing asked confused.

"I can leave the burial mounds now since I am in Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said.

"You're going to get books on this?" Wen Qing asked for understanding.

"Yes, it's perfect and I can take Zewu-jun with me," Wei Ying said.

"I don't think Hanguang-jun is going to like that very much," Wen Qing said.

"Well we can't all go together, now can we?" Wei Ying stated a matter of factly.

"No, we can't but he can always go with you to get books," Wen Qing said.

"No, he can't someone needs to protect the burial mounds and who better than the person in my body," Wei Ying explained.

"You know it's wrong to keep him confined here right?" Wen Qing said feeling a bit sorry for the other man.

"Yes, but we are going to have to go back to Cloud Recess at some point so he needs to stay here while I try to find the books to solve this," Wei Ying explained.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said softly.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying said shocked by his arrival.

"I will leave you two alone for a bit," Wen Qing said.

"Wei Ying, I want to help," Lan Zhan said.

"Good then you stay here while I go look for material, with your brother," Wei Ying said.

"Wei Ying, I want to help you," Lan Zhan said stubbornly making an annoyed face that shocked Wei Ying.

"That will help me. You remember what I told you when we met last time, I need to stay near here so the barrier won't be broke and you being here is the safest bet for my people," Wei Ying said.

"I will," Lan Zhan said.

"Thanks, Lan Zhan I knew you would help," Wei Ying said finding it hard to be around Lan Zhan at the moment.

"You don't have a golden core anymore," Lan Zhan said.

"Yeah," Wei Ying said his hand going to the back of his neck.

"Sorry," Lan Zhan said.

"What for?" Wei Ying asked concerned.

"I should have understood there was a reason you don't use your sword anymore. My brother even noticed while I didn't," Lan Zhan said that made Wei Ying look down and away from Lan Zhan embarrassed.

"You didn't have to know because I never told anyone before. Hell, my own brother didn't even notice and I got kicked out of my clan so it's fine if no one understands my reasons for what I do. If I do them and understand them is all that matters," Wei Ying explained still looking away.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said about to put an arm out to touch Wei Ying but stopped himself.

"It's fine but you will do what I asked right?" Wei Ying asked and got a nod from Lan Zhan. "Thanks, I will be back in at least a week," Wei Ying explained.

"My brother stays with you," Lan Zhan said.

"He will but I could always go on my own Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said.

"No," Lan Zhan said resolutely making Wei Ying want to disagree with him immediately but something on his own face made him agree with him.

"Where should we start though?" Wei Ying asked.

"Cloud Recess and so on," Lan Zhan said.

"But we just came from Cloud Recess would if your uncle sees me?" Wei Ying asked.

"Don't talk," Lan Zhan said.

"Thanks, I didn't know that," Wei Ying said with sarcasm.

Lan Zhan was smiling on the inside from that comment especially with what his brother said about Wei Ying knowing how to move and talk like him. That meant Wei Ying paid close attention to him to mimic him. It made him oddly happy and he couldn't forget about it.

"Let's go to our brother now," Wei Ying said playfully but Lan Zhan loved the sound of that and imagined it in a different way. "Xichen we're heading out," Wei Ying said as Xichen talked to Wen Qing.

"Where are we going?" Xichen asked confused.

"We're going to find material on how to solve this issue," Wei Ying explained pointing to himself and Lan Zhan.

"Oh okay," Xichen said and started to follow Wei Ying as he walked away.

"Wei Wuxian you better come back safely," Wen Qing said.

"Not to worry I'm in a strong body with an amazing golden core so I will come back fine," Wei Ying said complimenting Lan Zhan as he walked holding up Bichen.

"Can... did you give my brother back his Wangji?" Xichen asked as they walked away.

"No why would I? Wouldn't people question where it went?" Wei Ying asked.

"Good point," Xichen said.

"Now where should we go first?" Wei Ying asked with a smirk.

"Yunmeng," Xichen said immediately getting a sour face from Wei Ying but got a nod nonetheless.

They were going to be on a mission together so they should get more acquainted to say the least right?


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