Ch 58

As was to to be expected the news of the new Sect didn't do across well with a lot of the other Sects. Despite it being years since the Wen had held any power and the fact that it had long since become obvious that the only Sect members Wei Ying had actually saved were the very old, very young and infirm, people still couldn't come to terms with the fact that any Wen's would be holding any power once more. Those ideas coupled with the name given to the new Sect, which to many peoples ears was simply digging up a past of when they had been fooled and manipulated that they would rather forget, and it was bound to get off to a bumpy start. However with both the Jin and YunMeng Sects standing firmly alongside the Lan most of the other Sects quickly fell into line without too many arguments. The fact that the Lan had already thought enough about the running of the new Sect to appoint someone to oversee both did a lot to help, and of course no one could argue with or come with a better candidate than Zewu Jun. Of course this left many people in the Cultivation community scratching there heads or whispering behind their hands at exactly how strange things had become that the once infamous YiLing Patriarch was soon going to be sworn in as the GusuLan Leaders spouse.

Wei Ying himself didn't miss the whole irony of what was happening as he fiddled with his collar for about the fourteenth time, and strode around the room for a few minutes before checking it once again. SiZhui, who had been assigned to watch over his baba while Lan Zhan was meeting all the dignitaries, looked up from the table where he currently sat wearing a set of robes only slightly less detailed than Wei Ying's own.

'Baba you are going to wear a hole in the floor…..or your collar…..or both' SiZhui said with a laugh, not even trying to hide the smile on his face.

Wei Ying of course had started having tantrums when SiZhui had become old enough to call him 'Senior Wei' like everyone else did instead of 'Baba' so they had come to the agreement that in private SiZhui would drop the honorifics and call his fathers like he always had.

'I have been stuck in this room for hours while Lan Zhan is out meeting the Sects….I'm going nuts' Wei Ying groaned as he once again walked a circle round the room. SiZhui just watched him as if trying to work out what to say to get his Baba to sit down. 'I'm like a maiden on her wedding night, just waiting to be ravished by her husband when he decides to turn up'

SiZhui chocked on his tea and tried to cover it up with some out of control coughing.

'BABA!' He managed to exclaim horrified around his fits of coughing and wheezing.

At last Wei Ying sat down at the table without fidgeting, looking at his son with an unreadable stare in his eyes. It was now SiZhui's turn to fidget.

'Don't worry A-Yuan' Wei Ying said, using the name he only used when they were alone. 'You will never know what that feels like. When you get married you will be the one doing the ravishing.'

'BABA!' Came the horrified tone again but Wei Ying carried on as if he hadn't heard his son speak.

'I am surprised Lan Zhan hasn't spoken to you about that part of marriage yet. I know it's not exactly within the rules but considering how inexperienced he was when we got married I would have thought…..'

'Please stop!' SiZhui almost squeaked.

It was only then Wei Ying realised what nonsense he had been rambling on about to his own son! His head fell into his hands and he let out a sound somewhere between a huff and laugh before speaking again, sound somewhat muffled by his fingers.

'Sorry A-Yuan. I'm talking nonsense just ignore me. The truth is I wasn't this nervous before I actually got married. I'm going to be married to a Sect Leader! And not just that but the Gusu Sect Leader! What do I know about any of this. The only experience I have is not letting a group of Elders and farmers die for a few years, while at the same time becoming the most hated man in existence.' He sighed again not daring to lift up his head. 'Somehow I don't think that's the kind of help the Lan will need or expect from me.'

Wei Ying felt the gentle pressure from a palm on his shoulder, he knew it could only be SiZhui or Lan Zhan so lifted up his head slightly to see his son looking back at him with a warm smile on his face. No matter how much he loved his husband he was glad their son hadn't inherited his lack of facial expressions. SiZhui crouched next to his father until they were face to face and spoke with a strong authoritative tone. He defiantly got that from Lan Zhan, Wei Ying mused.

'This is what your worried about Baba?' SiZhui's voice wasn't a question. 'You kept us all alive in YiLing when everyone thought it was impossible. You survived attacks on your life and your name and proved you were innocent. You have saved more cultivators than probably even know it. Baba what you are capable of and what you have to give is special and so are you. Father and I know that, so does Uncle XiChen and the rest of Gusu. It's not like you to doubt yourself either so stop doing it.'

Wei Ying lowered his hands and looked his son right in the eye before laughing.

'You get your tone of voice from your father and your gift of the gab from me…...that's a dangerous combination'

SiZhui just lowered his head blushing but Wei Ying laughed once again before standing up and turning around in a silent 'how do I look?'…...SiZhui looked up and nodded. Wei Ying reached down to help his son to his feet and then shoulder to shoulder they both walked out the JingShi towards the main hall.

Even the ceremonies in Gusu were short which Wei Ying was thankful for, however the celebrations afterwards were long which…...well he wasn't. He had been sat at his little table next to Lan Zhan for hours and the only positive thing he could think up is that the other Sects had not been invited so maybe it would end a little sooner. Lan XiChen and SiZHui sat at the top tables on either side of the hall, flanked by a long line of senior disciples and Elders. He was bored and just wanted to go home and sleep, the fact that he wanted to go to bed and sleep instead of do anything more fun with his husband showed just how bored he actually was. It was well into the morning though when the celebrations, a term he used loosely, actually wound down and the two men actually found there way home.

Lying in bed though Wei Ying found that he couldn't doze off despite how tired he was. Lan Zhan's normal slow breathing and gentle hand round his waist, as he rested his head on that strong muscled chest, seemed notably absent. As the minutes ticked by with no movement from the man next to him Wei Ying eventually gave up and rolled over onto his side only to see what he expected, Lan Zhan staring straight up at the ceiling. Wei Ying used one of his fingers to draw small circles on the other man's chest, sliding down to his navel…...but got no response. Sighing he eventually spoke into the silence and darkness.

'Are you worried about tomorrow?' He asked quietly

'mmm' came the only reply as Lan Zhan continued to stare at the ceiling.

'Why?' Wei Ying asked.

'I am worried he will not accept it' Lan Zhan replied.

His eyes had still not moved from the ceiling but the emotion was obvious in his voice. The concern and fear that was always hidden behind the jade mask. Wei Ying couldn't conjure up a joke but did manage a smile as he reached up and pulled Lan Zhan's face down to his, speaking gently to the man only inches away.

'We will find out tomorrow Er-ge. For now sleep.'

Lan Zhan simply nodded and Wei Ying once again rested his head on his husbands chest, but this time he felt the heartbeat slow as Lan Zhan fell into a much needed sleep.

The next day they were once again in the main hall, but thankfully for a much shorter ceremony than the day before. This time the whole Sect was packed in, all stood in ranks depending on their rank in the Sect or Clan. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan stood alone on the dais with Lan XiChen and the Elders stood to one side as they would take no part in todays ceremony and were simply there to observe. SiZhui was stood alongside his good friend JingYi and was trying very hard not to fidget. Normally he had no problem standing still, after all he been taught it since he was a child….but today. He couldn't help but to think back to a few days ago when he had paid his aunt and uncle Wen a visit at Wen village.

He had been walking through the village as he had done thousands of times before. However since he became an adult and an official member of the Lan Clan it had felt different somehow. Uncle XiChen had told him his aunt needed to speak to him today despite all the rushing around going on in Gusu for his parents ascension ceremony, so here he was. He thought he knew why he had been asked to come now of all times. What he didn't know is what answer he would give if they asked him the question.

The door had been left open for him and as soon as he walked into the house and saw both his aunt and uncle Wen he couldn't help but feel the overwhelming urge to fidget. Just what it was about the adults in his life that exuded that power he didn't know but he wished he could learn it. At a motion from his aunt SiZhui walked to the middle of the small room and sat down at the table. Technically he should have been the one to serve the drinks but his uncle had already begun to pour the tea so he waited patiently until the adults sat back. Wen Qing looked over at him, slowly sipping at her tea. The glance made him once again want to fidget where he sat.

'You don't need to look so nervous' She had said smiling, while as usual his uncle had said nothing. 'We called you here to try and take a bit of the stress off you that you must be feeling right now.'

SiZhui had just looked confused at both of them as she continued.

'We know about Lan Zhan and Wei Ying being sworn in as Sect Leaders in a few days. It doesn't take a genius to know you will also get the title of heir apparent of the Lan Sect'

SiZhui had nodded but felt he needed to at least speak the words they were all dancing around. He took in a deep breath and spoke with more stability than he felt.

'But I am also a member of the Wen Sect…...and now you have your own Sect again I…'

Wen Qing cut him off with a wave of her hand before speaking with that tone of authority the adults in his family seemed to have.

'True you were born a Wen, SiZhui. But you have been raised a Lan, for family and your Sect are the Lan's. They are the ones who took you in and trained you, your parents are the ones who raised you not us. Could you really turn your back on Gusu?'

SiZhui had known it wasn't a real question but had found himself shaking his head anyway, before looking down at his hands unwilling to see the disappointment in the faces of those he still shared a blood connection with. After a few seconds of silence Wen Qing's hand had rested on his chin, forcing him to look up at her, but rather than disappointment he saw a smile. He had just about been going to speak when she spoke first.

'Do you know how I know you could never turn your back on Gusu?' she asked, and this time it was a question. When he just shook his head dumbly she continued. 'Because you have never asked me, or any of the other villagers who your blood parents are!.'

The statement had been said nicely but it hit him like a ton of bricks…...he had asked hadn't he?….he had wanted to know who his parents were and where he had come from….hadn't he? He must have been just staring into space because Wen Qing spoke again, this time with an almost soothing tone.

'That's not a bad thing. You have a family who loves you, parent's who adore you and friends to get into trouble with. You are Lan SiZhui…...that's who you are!'

His Uncle Ning had not said anything while his aunt was talking but upon hearing that last sentence he reached out took SiZhui's hand in his own. The older man simply smiled and nodded, agreeing with his sister before repeating.

'Lan SiZhui!'

'Lan SiZhui!'

SiZhui was snapped back into the here and now when he heard his name being spoken by his father and looked up. The look on his Baba's face showed him it wasn't the first time his name had been called and he tried very hard not to blush. Straightening his shoulders SiZhui walked to just in front of his parents dais and knelt gracefully before bowing his head.

'Lan SiZhui will be proud to take on the responsibilities required and honoured by the trust given to him.' He said in a voice loud enough to not only fill the whole hall but also echo in his own ears.