Lan Zhan's grip on Jiang Cheng's hand was firm, his eyes glowing faintly as he concentrated. The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound being the shallow breathing of Jiang Cheng, who was visibly relaxing under the influence of Lan Zhan's celestial energy. Slowly, the pale green tint of his skin began to fade, replaced by a healthier tone, though his body still trembled slightly from the venom's lingering effects.
Lan Xichen watched anxiously, his hand gripping Jiang Cheng's arm. "Wanyin, it's going to be okay… just hold on." His voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of his love and worry.
Wei Ying, too exhausted to move but still aware of what was happening, tried to sit up in bed, but Lan Zhan's earlier warning glance kept him from attempting anything reckless. He sighed deeply, clutching the covers as he stared at Jiang Cheng.
Time passed slowly, each second feeling like an eternity, as Lan Zhan continued to channel his energy. His usually serene expression was now tight with concentration, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, the Healer approached cautiously and placed a hand on Jiang Cheng's wrist, checking his pulse. The room was still tense, every pair of eyes locked on the Healer as he examined Jiang Cheng's condition.
After a few moments, the Healer nodded. "The venom... it's no longer spreading. Hangung Jun's energy has stabilized him, but..." He hesitated, glancing toward Lan Xichen. "It will still take time for his body to recover completely. The venom was deeply embedded."
Lan Xichen let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his hand moving to brush the hair from Jiang Cheng's forehead. Tears glistened in his eyes, but they were no longer full of fear... they were of relief. "Thank you… Didi, thank you."
Lan Zhan stood up, his face expressionless as usual, but a subtle nod to his brother conveyed his quiet acceptance of the gratitude. His gaze then shifted to Wei Ying, who was now looking much calmer. Without a word, Lan Zhan moved to his husband's side, gently brushing his fingers over Wei Ying's hair.
"You did it, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying whispered softly, his eyes filled with warmth. "You saved him…"
Lan Zhan said nothing, but the small smile that played on his lips was enough of a response for Wei Ying. He leaned into Lan Zhan's touch, grateful for the quiet strength his husband always seemed to radiate.
Jiang Cheng, still groggy but conscious, muttered weakly, "I owe you one, Lan WangJi... but don't expect me to... be grateful for long."
Lan Zhan's eyes flickered with amusement, but he remained silent, simply offering Jiang Cheng a look that said I didn't do it for you.
Lan Xichen chuckled softly, his heart feeling lighter. He glanced at Wei Ying, his expression softening. "A-Xian, I can't thank you enough... You both risked so much."
Wei Ying grinned, albeit weakly he muted. "I told you... I may be angry with Jiang Cheng sometimes, but he's still my brother. I couldn't let him die."
The tension in the room began to dissipate, the heavy air now replaced with a quiet sense of relief. Lan Zhan, ever protective, turned to the Healer. "Wei Ying needs to rest. Ensure he does not overexert himself again."
The Healer nodded dutifully. "Yes, Second Young Master. Master Wei needs to avoid using his energy for the time being."
Wei Ying huffed but didn't argue. He knew he had pushed himself too far and that Lan Zhan wouldn't allow any more reckless behavior, at least for the next few days.
As the room settled into a more peaceful atmosphere, Lan Xichen gently kissed Jiang Cheng's forehead, whispering, "You're safe now, Wanyin."
Jiang Cheng, half-conscious but comforted by his husband's presence, mumbled something unintelligible before falling back into a deep, healing sleep.
Lan Zhan helped Wei Ying lie down properly, pulling the covers over him with care. "Rest, Wei Ying," he said softly, his voice full of affection.
Wei Ying smiled up at him, his heart full of gratitude and love. "I'll rest... but only if you stay with me."
Lan Zhan's lips curled into a soft smile as he sat beside him, holding his hand gently. "I'm not going anywhere, i will mediate to regaine my energy."
And with that, the room fell into a quiet, peaceful lull, as Wei Ying drifted off to sleep, Lan Zhan by his side, and Lan Xichen watching over his husband, grateful for the love and strength that had saved them all.
~~~~
Two hours had passed.
Lan Zhan returned to Wei Ying's side after an hour of meditating, gently taking his hand as Wei Ying stirred. "You should rest more. You've done enough today."
Wei Ying smiled weakly but with his usual defiance. "I couldn't just sit by while he suffered... You know, he saved me, and Lan Zhaaaan, I've rested enough," he pouted.
"I know," Lan Zhan said quietly, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "But you need to take care of yourself, too."
The healer approached, checking on Jiang Cheng once more before turning to them. "Sect Leader Jiang will need a few more days to fully recover, but the venom is gone, thanks to both of you."
Lan Xichen stood up, finally allowing himself to breathe fully now that Jiang Cheng was out of immediate danger. He glanced at Lan Zhan. "Didi, thank you... for everything."
Lan Zhan nodded. "He's your family, and Wei Ying's. That makes him... mine too."
Just then, the door creaked open, and small, curious faces peeked in cautiously—the children, all of them. "Mama?" Lan Li called softly. "We heard you weren't feeling well..."
Wei Ying's face brightened at the sight of his children. "A-Li!" He tried to sit up, but Lan Zhan gently held him down.
"We're alright," Lan Zhan reassured the children. "Your mother just needs to rest."
They rushed in, clambering onto the bed beside Wei Ying. "We were so worried," Lan Hua whispered, hugging Wei Ying tightly.
Wei Ying smiled, though a bit tired. "I'm alright. How could I ever leave you?"
At that moment, Lan Qiren entered the infirmary, his stern expression softening slightly when he saw Wei Ying lying down. "You should listen when you're told to rest, Wei Wuxian," he scolded gently.
Wei Ying chuckled, though it caused him to wince. "Shifu, you should know by now that I'm not very good at following orders."
Lan Qiren shook his head but didn't press further. He glanced at Jiang Cheng, then at Lan Xichen and Lan Zhan. "You've done well to save him."
Lan Zhan gave a small bow of acknowledgment.
Suddenly, the room erupted in giggles as Lan Li and Lan Yu started playfully poking Wei Ying's cheeks. "Mama, you're so squishy when you're tired," Lan Li teased.
Wei Ying laughed, though it was weak and soft. "Oh, you little troublemakers. Come here!" He pulled them both into a warm embrace.
Lan Zhan watched with a small, content smile, his hand resting protectively on Wei Ying's shoulder. Lan Xichen, smiling at the scene, gently shushed the children. "Your mother—your uncle—needs rest. Don't wake him up."
Despite the earlier danger, the family was whole. For now, that was all that mattered.
Lan Qiren observed, his usual stern demeanor softened. He cleared his throat. "You should all get some rest. Tomorrow will bring its own challenges."
Everyone nodded in agreement, the room settling into a peaceful quiet. The weight of the day's tension had fully lifted. Lan Sizhui gathered the children and led them outside, leaving the patients to rest, with Lan Qiren following close behind.
The next day dawned bright and calm in Cloud Recesses, with a gentle breeze sweeping through the courtyards. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh pine and morning dew.
In the Jingshi, Wei Ying slowly stirred, feeling much more rested than the previous day. His body was still a little sore, but his energy had returned, and he felt lighter.
Lan Zhan, as always, was already awake and sitting quietly by Wei Ying's side, reading through some documents. He noticed Wei Ying waking up and set the papers aside. "Good morning."
Wei Ying smiled up at him. "Good morning, Lan Zhan." He stretched slightly, his muscles still a little stiff. "Did you stay up watching over me all night again?"
Lan Zhan shook his head. "I rested. You needed the sleep more."
Wei Ying narrowed his eyes playfully. "Lan Zhan, you know I can tell when you're fibbing. You never sleep well when I'm recovering from something."
Lan Zhan's lips curved into a faint smile. "Perhaps."
Before Wei Ying could tease him more, the door opened quietly, and Lan Li and Lan Yu slipped into the room, carrying small bowls of breakfast. "Mama, we brought you food!" Lan Li exclaimed, hurrying over with her bowl.
"We helped Uncle Yang make porridge!" Lan Yu chimed in, carefully placing her bowl on the small table near the bed.
Wei Ying beamed at the children. "You two are the best! Look at this, already helping out in the kitchen."
Lan Zhan glanced at the bowls, then at the children. "Did you supervise them, or did Uncle Yang do all the work?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lan Li grinned sheepishly. "We might have spilled some rice..."
Wei Ying chuckled. "It's the effort that counts, right?"
Lan Yu nodded enthusiastically, climbing onto the bed to sit beside Wei Ying. "Mama, do you feel better today?" Lan Li asked.
Wei Ying ruffled her hair gently. "Much better, A-Li. I just needed a good rest. And now that I have this delicious porridge, I'm sure I'll feel even stronger."
As they settled in for breakfast, the door creaked open again, and Lan Qiren entered with his hands clasped behind his back. "I see you've started the morning without me." His gaze softened as he looked at the children.
"Shifu," Wei Ying greeted with a teasing smile. "We didn't want to disturb you, Shu Gong."
Lan Qiren gave him a pointed look but didn't comment on the teasing tone. Instead, he sat down across from them, watching the children carefully pour porridge for Wei Ying.
"How is Sect Leader Jiang this morning?" Lan Zhan asked after a moment.
"Recovering well," Lan Qiren answered. "Your energy has flushed out the remaining poison. The healer expects him to be up and moving by tomorrow."
Wei Ying let out a relieved sigh. "Thank heavens. I was so worried about him yesterday."
"Jiang Wanyin is strong," Lan Zhan said softly, his hand resting on Wei Ying's. "But you still need to take it easy. No more running off without telling me."
Wei Ying gave him an innocent smile. "Me? Run off? I would never!"
Lan Zhan's expression remained serious, but the twinkle in his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Wei Ying..."
"Fine, fine," Wei Ying relented, holding up his hands. "I promise to rest today."
Lan Li and Lan Yu exchanged a glance, clearly pleased that Wei Ying was back to his usual playful self. "Mama, after you rest, can we go explore the library pavilion again?" Lan Li asked.
Wei Ying perked up. "The library pavilion? Are you two finally interested in books?"
Lan Yu giggled. "No, we want to see if we can find the secret passages! Jingyi said there are hidden tunnels."
Lan Zhan's expression shifted slightly, clearly not fond of the idea of the children running around secret tunnels, but before he could object, Wei Ying spoke up. "Secret passages, huh? Well, if your Shu Gong allows it, then I suppose we can check it out... but only after I'm fully rested, okay?"
The children nodded eagerly, excited for the adventure to come.
Lan Qiren cleared his throat. "Wei Wuxian, I trust you will supervise them properly and not encourage any reckless behavior."
Wei Ying gave him a mock-serious nod. "I would never encourage reckless behavior, Shifu."
Lan Qiren sighed but didn't push further. "As long as they don't damage any of the scrolls or cause trouble, I see no harm in letting them explore."
Lan Zhan shot Wei Ying a warning look. "Supervision," he reminded him.
Wei Ying grinned. "Yes, yes, supervision. I promise!"
The morning passed peacefully, with the family spending time together, Wei Ying resting while the children excitedly chattered about their planned adventure. The lightness in the air felt like a welcome break from the events of the previous day.
Later that afternoon, once Wei Ying had rested more, the family headed out for a walk around the Cloud Recesses. As they strolled through the peaceful courtyards, Lan Qiren walked ahead with Lan Li and Lan Yu, pointing out various sect rules and historical facts. The children listened with rapt attention, though they occasionally cast mischievous glances at each other, clearly waiting for a chance to sneak off.
Lan Zhan walked beside Wei Ying, his hand lightly resting on the small of his back. "Are you sure you're feeling up to this?" Lan Zhan asked, his concern still evident.
Wei Ying smiled up at him. "I feel fine, Lan Zhan. Plus, spending time with you and the kids is the best medicine."
Lan Zhan's expression softened, his fingers brushing gently against Wei Ying's back. "Good. But if you feel tired, tell me immediately."
Wei Ying chuckled. "I will, don't worry."
As they walked further, Lan Li suddenly called out from ahead. "Look, Mama! Shu Gong says there's a secret courtyard that only a few people know about. Can we see it?"
Wei Ying's eyes sparkled with interest. "A secret courtyard? Sounds like a perfect place to explore."
Lan Zhan sighed softly, shaking his head. "As long as it doesn't lead to any trouble..."
Wei Ying grinned. "What's the fun without a little adventure, Lan Zhan?"
Together, the family followed Lan Qiren and the children, making their way to the hidden courtyard. It was tucked behind a row of tall bamboo trees, its entrance nearly concealed by vines and foliage. The moment they stepped inside, the air felt different—calmer, quieter, as if the space was untouched by time.
Lan Li and Lan Yu were wide-eyed, clearly captivated by the idea of being in a place not many had seen before. "It's like a secret hideout!" Lan Yu whispered excitedly.
Wei Ying chuckled. "It does feel like one, doesn't it?"
Lan Qiren stood back, watching them with his arms crossed but a softer expression on his face than usual. "This courtyard was once used for quiet meditation by the elders. It's rarely visited now, but it remains an important part of the sect's history."
Lan Zhan glanced around, taking in the serene beauty of the space. "It's peaceful here."
Wei Ying nodded in agreement. "I can see why the elders would come here. It's perfect for meditation... or for hiding from a stern Shifu."
Lan Qiren gave him a pointed look, but his expression softened further as the children giggled.
Lan Yu tugged on Wei Ying's sleeve. "Uncle Wei, can we explore a little more?"
Wei Ying smiled, crouching down to Lan Yu's level. "As long as you stay close and don't touch anything you shouldn't."
Lan Zhan added, "And no running off."
The children nodded eagerly before they dashed off, but only within sight. They inspected every nook and cranny of the courtyard, from the stone pathways to the small koi pond hidden in one corner. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying followed at a leisurely pace, Lan Zhan keeping a close eye on them.
As they walked, Wei Ying glanced up at Lan Zhan. "You know, this place reminds me of when we used to sneak around Cloud Recesses back then. Except now we have little ones doing the sneaking."
Lan Zhan's lips curved into a soft smile. "It feels like a lifetime ago."
Wei Ying sighed contentedly. "It was. And now look at us—parents, balancing missions and mischief. You've made me the happiest I could ever be, Lan Zhan."
Lan Zhan paused, pulling Wei Ying gently into an embrace. "You've done the same for me, Wei Ying."
For a moment, they stood there in the tranquil courtyard, simply enjoying the peace and the presence of each other and their family.
In the distance, Lan Qiren cleared his throat, bringing them back to reality. "The children are getting close to the scrolls."
Wei Ying and Lan Zhan looked up to see Lan Li and Lan Yu inching toward an old collection of scrolls stored neatly under a pavilion. With a smile, Wei Ying called out, "No touching those scrolls, little ones! You heard Shu Gong."
The children quickly backed away, giggling as they rejoined the family. Lan Zhan shook his head, a small, fond smile on his face. "They'll keep us on our toes, won't they?"
Wei Ying laughed, his heart full. "That's part of the fun, isn't it?"
As the day went on, the family continued to explore the hidden courtyard, their laughter and lighthearted banter filling the once-quiet space. For that moment, it was as if time stood still, and all that mattered was the joy of being together.
Eventually, Lan Qiren suggested they head back, reminding them that there was still much to do, and Wei Ying needed to rest more. The children reluctantly agreed, promising to return for more adventures another day.
As they made their way back to the main halls of Cloud Recesses, Lan Zhan's hand remained gently on Wei Ying's back, a silent but constant source of support.
Zhanxianyibo ❤️💚💛