Chapter Text
"All right, Wen Ning, sit down here."
Wen Qionglin nodded without complaint and made his wrist available for Wei Wuxian before he was even told to do so.
The examination went by quickly, but the results were unfortunately not the best.
"If we were just at the foot of the Burial Mounds now, you would have already been overtaken by resentful energy. You're reacting to it way differently than others do. Have you noticed any changes since we left? And if yes, when did it start?"
"I, I think a few days after we left the Burial Mounds. It was such a little change I didn't really notice. It has been getting worse and worse as time went on. I was about to tell you I swear! It was just that all of you are so stressed out I didn't want to add anything else."
"Wen Ning, you know that you need to tell us even the tiniest changes. It is important for your health."
"Yes, I know."
"Alright, alright. Don't look so sad. You made a mistake and nothing happened as a result. I will now give some spiritual energy to you, then you will do some meditation while I play a calming song for you. We will repeat this in the upcoming week daily. Then, you will continue meditating daily until Lan Zhan doesn't heal entirely. When he does, we will start the process of cleaning you of as much resentful energy as we need to have you get full control over your body once again. To the point not even I will be able to control you against your will."
Wen Qionglin nodded.
"Let's begin, then. I have a nice song from Gusu that Lan Zhan and I used to play. Just focus on your qi and clearing your mind of negative thoughts."
Wen Qionglin sat with his legs crossed, hands on his knees ready for meditation. He closed his eyes and breathed deep, calming himself down. The song Wei Wuxian played on his dizi sounded beautiful, calming and made his mind clear. It sounded like the feeling of the calm summer breeze against your skin, or sitting in soft, lush grass in the shade. He could tell the difference almost immediately.
Wei Wuxian let the music flow through him, and he was sure that Lan Wangji could hear it from over next door. It was a song they liked to play together, after all. He noticed the change in the air after a short time of playing. It definitely improved his qi as well, making him a lot more stable than he was before, breathing clearer and easier. Once he finished the song the fourth time, he gently lowered Suibian from his dried lips and drank some tea as he waited for Wen Qionglin to open his eyes. He saw the relief in them once the other did so, and they smiled at each other.
"Much better, isn't it?"
"Yes, Wei gongzi."
"Hm, your qi is much better too. Incredible how much a little meditation and calm music can affect us, isn't it?"
"Mhm! Yes, I am still amazed by it."
"Great, and now that we will be like a big family, what do you say about finally dropping the formal speech? I'm not much older than you, and you definitely feel like a little brother to me. Would you be comfortable with calling me Wei ge? I could call you a-Ning, like Wen Qing does as well."
"It sounds good Wei go-..um Wei ge."
"See, it isn't that hard! What took you so long! Ah nevermind that. I'm glad I got to know you and your sister, I hope you realize that."
"I was always hoping you were considering us good friends of yours."
"Of course I do! But that doesn't mean Wen Qing cannot be a little too harsh sometimes. I bet she's talking about something super embarrassing to Lan Zhan right now. We should go before he explodes because what will I do then?"
"Yes, Wei ge, you are right."
"Come on, then."
When they entered the other room, it seemed the atmosphere was relaxed and calm. Wei Yuan was playing with one of his grass butterflies beside Lan Wangji, while the man himself was drinking tea and nodding along to what Wen Qing was talking about.
"Huh, it seems like nothing is amiss here."
"What would be amiss, Wei Wuxian?"
"I don't know, I just thought that you would say something weird to Lan Zhan."
Wen Qing raised an eyebrow, "I was telling him about certain herbal medicines that are only taught in our clan after he asked about wound healing."
"Right…"
"How is Wen Ning? Did you find something?"
"His qi was disturbed, we will need to keep doing daily meditation and playing songs for him for the week, then the rest of the time adapt to however he is doing. We will have to keep training until he has enough control over himself that not even I could influence his behavior with resentful energy if he doesn't want to be."
"Is that possible?"
"I don't see why it shouldn't be. And after what I have done to him, the least he deserves is to get his consciousness back as much as possible."
"Right. You will also need to keep training and meditating yourself though. You might not have lost your consciousness, but resentful energy does affect you. We don't want anyone to figure that out and use it against us."
"Yes, I hope it won't happen."
"It's still early now, why don't the two of you go and take a look around town? You could take a-Yuan too, he deserves to have a little time off."
"Sure, why not. Lan Zhan, are you up to a little shopping around?"
"Of course."
"Let's get going then. Are you two not coming?"
"I will need to check up on my herbs and get ready in case I would be needed as a healer around here. As for a-Ning, it would be best if he rested a little."
"Right. We will be back before dinner time then."
"Be careful, and don't spend all our money."
"Don't need to worry, Wen Qing, Lan Zhan will be keeping an eye on me for that! Send a warning signal if we are needed!"
"Yes, yes, now go!"
Wei Wuxian laughed as they were basically thrown out of the room, and Wei Yuan giggled at him.
"What's so funny, little radish?"
"You're funny a-die!"
"I'm funny? Why?"
"I don't know, you just are!"
"You know what is funny?"
"No."
"The way you are hanging onto your baba! You look like a panda hanging off its mother."
Wei Yuan giggled again.
"About that, don't you think it's time you used your legs? You're big enough and don't have to be carried all the time."
"Nooo, a-die, I don't want to!"
"It's fine Wei Ying, let him be."
"You're going to spoil him rotten by letting him do anything and everything he asks to do."
"Mn, like with you."
"Hey!"
"Don't shout, and look where you are going. There might not be a lot of people around but you wouldn't want to bump into someone."
"So bossy, Lan Zhan."
"Mn."
The small family walked towards where vendors were still shouting their prices at anyone passing by, trying to sell as much as possible, though in such a small town, most of that seemed pointless.
A vendor caught Wei Yuan's eyes though, and he pointed towards it with big stars in his eyes. Of course, it was a toy vendor. They walked up to it and Lan Wangji let Wei Yuan down so he could look at the small assortment of toys from his eye level.
"Hello there! You must be the new people that just came to town. How are you feeling here for now?" asked the lady who was selling the toys.
"Good afternoon! Yes, we're the new ones here. For now, we just settled in an inn, but the town looks peaceful."
"It definitely is! A perfect place for those who are done with the politics of the capitals or just want to live a peaceful life. I hope you will like it here!"
"Thank you!"
"And who is this little one? I heard there was a child but I didn't know he was this young."
Wei Yuan hid behind Lan Wangji's skirt. He was very timid and careful with unfamiliar people.
"He's a-Yuan! Our precious baby radish."
"Oh he's your son?"
"Yes, we're his fathers!"
"Quite young parents you are. I'm guessing he is your first?"
"Yes, he is."
"I wish the best of luck then, I have three children myself, and it won't be easy at first, but it will be worth it."
"Oh we know, but we have experience."
"That is definitely going to help. Now, little a-Yuan, who don't you come out from behind your father's skirt? You wanted something, didn't you? Take a look around, what do you like?"
"Hmm. Bunnies!"
"Excellent choice! These were carved by my husband himself! Take them, see if you like them!"
Wei Yuan giggled again and took the two wooden bunnies in his hands, he immediately started playing with them on the table, laughing to himself.
"How much will they be?"
"Nonsense! You just got here, I will give them to you for free."
"No, no, no, one thing we do is pay when it is earned. These bunnies are beautifully carved, I'm sure a lot of work went into making them."
"It would be five coins each, but for you, I will agree to take just six coins. In turn, may I ask your names?"
"Where are our manners? My name is Wei Ying, courtesy Wuxian."
"I'm Lan Zhan, courtesy Wangji."
"It is nice getting to know you master Wei and master Lan. I'm Li Meng, but everyone here calls me auntie Li."
"I'm Wei Yuan!"
"Yes, hello, Wei Yuan."
Lan Wangji handed over the coins while Wei Wuxian kept chatting with Li Meng.
"Do you perhaps know of any house here that is available? And jobs? If we would stay for longer we need some sort of income."
"Well, I'm not sure about any houses, you should ask at the inn later, the owner is more knowledgeable about it. But for jobs I know that we are in grave need of, a couple healers and our plant farming hasn't been going well the past two or so years, so more hands are needed in that too. Anything particular you can do?"
"That's perfect! The woman who came with us and the other boy, they are siblings. The woman is Wen Qing and where we are from, she is known as the best healer around. She and Wen Ning will definitely be able to help out. I can help farming too, though first we would need to keep the house. Lan Zhan has an injury that he needs to heal from before he is allowed to do any heavy work. But we can teach, build, farm, hunt and fish well, so really, anything we can help out with, we will."
"That's wonderful news! I didn't know that cultivators are so handsy!"
"Well, most aren't. We are from a sect where most of these things are taught as life lessons."
"Great! I'll spread the word that we have new hands in town then! The people here will appreciate any help, considering most are elderly."
"We are glad to help around."
"Well, I don't want to keep you up, go and have a look around."
"We will, thank you, auntie Li!"
"Well, that was relatively easy."
"Don't you think it was a little too easy?"
"Maybe? I don't know, Lan Zhan. It could simply be that she's just a nice woman. I hope so, at least."
"I hope so too. Let's not get too friendly while we don't know the people around here."
"But also not too cold. If we push people away, they will have a harder time trusting us, and vice versa."
Lan Wangji sighed but didn't say anything against this statement.
"Look, the man there is selling tanghulu. Lan Zhan, we can get some, right?"
"If you'd like to."
"Can we really get some, baba?"
"Yes, but a smaller one so you can eat proper food later."
"Yeayy!"
The small family went to get two tanghulus, making sure the one for Wei Yuan would be smaller. The man who sold them was also very nice, and told them there was a bigger house that just got empty after the owners moved out of town, but they had to talk to the inn owner, as he and the magistrate are relatives.
They walked for a while, and just outside the town was a nice little field. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sat down under a tree and let Wei Yuan play around a little. The boy had a lot of energy despite his size, so letting him run around and have fun for a little wouldn't hurt.
"Ah, how is he so energetic? I feel like I'm dead on my feet just after breakfast, and I'm not even 20 years old yet!"
"Aren't you exaggerating a little, Wei Ying?"
"Well…maybe but that's not the point. We are all exhausted, and he is running around like he was sleeping for a week."
"Need I remind you that you were exactly the same as a child?"
"But that's different. We were in Cloud Recesses and not fleeing."
"Mn."
"On another note, we at least know why auntie Li told us to ask the innkeeper about a house. I hope that we can get it, even if only until we maybe build a house for ourselves or something."
"Let's hope so."
"Though, maybe things are going a little too easy?"
"We could just be lucky, Wei Ying."
"Yeah…"
"Baba! A-die!"
"What's wrong, a-Yuan?"
"Look! I found this bug. Mr. Bunny thinks we should bring it home!"
"That is indeed a pretty bug, but we can't bring it home."
"Why not?"
"Well, this bug probably has a family out here. If it gets taken away, don't you think it will be sad?"
"Oh."
"What do you say you play with it for a while longer, then put it back where you found it? That way it can get back to its own home."
"Can I play with it tomorrow too?"
"Well, we will have to wait how tomorrow will turn out. But if we have time then sure! As long as you can find it."
"Thank you, a-die!"
Wei Yuan kept playing and after a while even got chased by Wei Wuxian. Thankfully, by the time they had to head back to the inn, he already said that he was hungry, so his dads didn't have much of a problem trying to drag him away.
The sun was already starting to set when they arrived there and walked upstairs to get the Wen siblings. They decided to eat downstairs, after which Wen Qionglin would bring Wei Yuan to bed while the others decided to try and talk to the innkeeper, in hopes that they could find a home in the small town.