Wei Wuxian was walking out of Lotus Pier having enjoyed the day but there was a gnawing feeling at his heart. He had never expected that Jiang Cheng was also trying very hard to protect him. Actually, all the time that Jiang Cheng had cared for him, he had taken it for granted. Right now, with him really he did not deserve anything that the Jiang's had provided him. He was mindlessly walking around. He really wanted to run into Lan Zhan's arms but he was so far away.

"WEI WUXIAN! Can't you stay one night away from your beloved? I prepared your old quarters for you." Jiang Cheng disrupted his thoughts.

"I will be back. Just let me walk around to burn the food."

"Are you alright? You don't look well. Come back! If you go missing or disappear, i don't want to answer HanGuang-Jun"

At HanGuangJun's name Wei WuXian turned around "I never asked about this. How do you feel about me and HanGuang-Jun? Do you still feel disgusted?"

"What's there to feel? If you are feeling mutual, I do not have any concerns. He is probably the only one that can keep you on reins. So many people have tried and failed. I will send you off with the proper in-law gifts, please come back in." Jiang Cheng tried to joke around. However, his words were laced with worry that Wei WuXian would run away.

"Sorry. I never realised so many people have lost so much trying to protect me." He said thinking about ShiJie and Jin Zixuan.

"Leave it. Like you said it's your past life and I am happy to have my shi-shiong back. Though he is married to Lan Sect. Tell me who is the husband?" Jiang Cheng attempted to crack a joke noticing Wei Wuxian's worry lines.

Wei Wuxian did not say any words and just walked away. "Don't follow me. I will be back I promise"

Jiang Cheng felt uneasy but he let it go.

Next morning, he visited Wei Wuxian's quarters and it was undisturbed. He asked the maids and servants if they had seen Wei Wuxian they all replied no. He was burning with fury. I told him to come back and he ran away again. Am I that awful of a brother? Or was he bothered by my treatments? Was unhappy with something? He did know unhappy. Maybe I will wait around today. Maybe I should have given an even more stern warning. Why do I feel uneasy? Why do i feel like he has thrown me away just like during the day in the Burial Mound.

Everytime, the door opened. Jiang Cheng eagerly waited for that maniacal laughter but it never came.

On the third day, Jiang Cheng could not hold back at all. He sent an angsty message to Jingshi.

" AT LEAST SAY A PROPER GOODBYE BASTARD! HOW CAN YOU LEAVE WITHOUT A WORD?"

He was expecting some kind of reply. But maybe like WuXian said it takes time to heal. He just revealed the truth of why he lost his golden core. He needs time to get used to the fact. However, sadness still crept up his heart. The loneliness that he had felt for the past 15 years is back. The emptiness in lotus pier is back. He could only go back to his imagination of his younger days.

He cursed Wei Wuxian in his heart. Why did you give me hope that our brotherhood could be mended if you are going to leave anyway.

At nightfall, servant ran in to inform Jiang Cheng of the arrival of HanGuang-Jun.

Immediately, he assumed Wei WuXian returned with him and asked the servant to let him enter. However, he only saw HanGuang-jun enter.

"What's wrong?" HanGuang-Jun questioned calmly.

"What's what's wrong? What is the context of your arrival? Was my brother bawling that you came here to find out if I bullied him? I should have bullied him further when he was here. Should not have let him leave so easily" Jiang Cheng spat his words.

HanGuang-Jun's face darkened. Clearly, something is not right.

"I came because of your letter. Wei Wuxian is not in gusu. Where is he? What did he say before he left? He has not gained much cultivation powers. How could you let him leave?" HanGuang-jun tried his best to maintain his emotions but annoyance seeped out.

Jiang Cheng was in utter shock too. WHERE DID THAT BASTARD GO?

This faintly brought back his childhood memories where Wei Wuxian constantly sneaking out and doing pranks. He laughed a miserable laugh. "This person has not really changed over all these years has he?" Jiang Cheng said through laughs.

"You lei? You have not changed much with either. Ratted me out the instant i went out! You even summoned my husband here!" Wei WuXian walked in casually with a bunch of wine bottle and joss sticks.

Looking at that face that casually walked in, he fumed. The angst of being waiting in the unknown for three days, the relief that he is back all hit together. He walked towards Wei Wuxian and landed one large slap on his back.

"THREE DAYS? IT TOOK THREE DAYS FOR YOU TO FIND YOUR WAY BACK HERE? ASSHOLE!" Jiang Cheng shouted.

"Eh Jiang Cheng! Why did you hit me? Lan ZHAN! Help me!" Wei WuXian looked at Lan Zhan then at Jiang Cheng and back at Lan Zhan.

"You deserve this." Lan Zhan said as he took his seat. He deserves it for making people worried over his disappearance. I need to start training him when he gets back to gusu. He should be able to golden core with our dual cultivation and with a bit of practice. He sat down knitting his eyebrows.

Wei WuXian saw the frown and looked at Jiang Cheng.

"Eh, I said I will come back. Jiang Cheng why you made other people worry? By telling them I went missing? Last time, I went missing for one week, you did not seem to care!" When the last sentence came out. He realised what he had said. Both brothers faced away from each other, awkwardness filling in between them again. The past was what bound them and broke them. Lan WangJi saw the awkwardness and tired to help Wei WuXian.

"Are you going to pray to your uncle and aunt again?" Lan Zhan asked, pointing at the bag of joss sticks and offering.

"Oh yeah. I wanted to do something after thinking for the past three days. It's a good thing you are here actually. Andddd i need one person. Where is A-ling?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Jin Ling walked in at this exact moment looking all shabby and dirty. The three of them looked at his disheveled form questioningly.

"What? I just returned from a night hunt with Ooyang! I did not do anything bad." Jin Jing replied with shock under all the accusatory and questioning looks.

"Jin Ling, how are you still so bad at reading people? It's not about you doing bad. It's about other people being bad to you" Wei Wuxian said in his tone.

"Hmmph. Who dares to mess with us? We have Yiling Patriarch, HanGuang-Jun, Ghost General and YunMeng Sect leader backing us? It's rare that not one of four of you is following us behind. " Jin Ling replied with a smirk.

Wei WuXian winced at being called YiLing Patriarch. Both HanGuang-Jun and YunMeng Sect Leader looked away.

"Nevermind. Jin Ling, clean yourself up and meet us at the ancestral hall." Wei WuXian said seriously.

Jin Ling raised his eyebrow. Jiang Cheng walked away with an undecipherable face.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi laid their food offerings neatly on the table. Jiang Cheng looked at him from behind. It reminded him of the time JieJie came to give offerings to their parents with Jin ZiXuan.

*The Past*

"Mother. Father. We are well. We are safe. A-Xian is far away from us but please help us protect him." YanLi prayed at her parents tablets.

"It's really very quiet without A-Xian." Yan Li commented while sitting down and staring into the blank space.

"A-Li, may in the future if he stays as quiet as now then we all can pardon him. Afterall, he is just protecting the weaker people" Jin ZiXuan said . He had hopes in his heart to see YanLi return to her brothers and to finally have a meal as a complete family. He may have differences with Wei WuXian but after all he is an in-law and he hopes to make amends to him.

"Hmph. Even if the dude stays out of trouble. Trouble floats towards him."

"Jiang Cheng, you need to stop saying the words you don't mean." Yan Li scolded him

*The Present*

Tears dropped silently.

"JieJie, are you seeing this? A-xian is back. You do not have to worry about him creating trouble again. HanGuang-Jun is always protecting him. JieJie, our a-xian is back. We all have gathered here together. Hope you are sleeping in peace now" Jiang Cheng told these words to his sister in heart.

Jin Ling walked in. Noticing the presence of everyone. Wei WuXian called both them to sit beside him.

Both Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian paid their respects to Madam Yu and Uncle Jiang First.

"Uncle Jiang, Madam Yu. Sorry for hitting Jiang Cheng when i was here the last time. Thank you for reserving the person beside me. Hope YunMeng will be at peace and will flourish further. Oh oh oh! Remember to show Jiang Cheng his future wife too. This place needs more colour" Wei Wuxian said out loud.

"WEI WUXIAN" Jiang gritted under his teeth.

Jin Ling was trying very hard to hide his laughter.

Wei Wuxian just shrugged his shoulders.

"ShiJie….. Jin ZiXuan….." Wei WuXian started. Jin Ling froze. Jiang Cheng froze.