Chapter Text
Kyojuro Rengoku was declared dead.
After sustaining grave injuries from battling Upper moon three or Akaza and lack of immediate medical attention, the flame pillar had passed away. It was a big loss for the corps, the flame pillar was a formidable ally, never again will they hear his loud and booming voice, never again will they witness how bright and burning his breath of flame was and never again will they see his bright smiles that even rivaled the flames that he represented.
Kyojuro Rengoku was gone.
Literally, his body snatched away by Akaza before Tanjiro could even make a move.
It had been ten years of self-isolation, ten years of hoarding emperor’s smile in the jingshi, ten years of raising Sizhui, ten years of no Wei Ying.
Ten years of him wishing death was a better escape.
It broke one of the countless rules in Gusu but he didn’t care, he’d broke several already. Rules were supposed to ensure you had a good life, a guide of some sort. He’d broke them countlessly, gone was the ‘jade’ that everyone expected him to be, he was no longer perfect.
His everyday life could be described as dull, stagnant, monotonous. Sizhui added a bit of color but it was not enough.
His uncle had been disappointed at him, the elders had considered disowning him while his brother pitied him.
But despite all of that he was still ‘Hanguang-Jun’ he was still ‘Second-master Lan’, people still looked at him with respect and awe ever since he’d been known in the cultivation world. No one brought up the things he did, no one seemed to care anymore. After all he was ‘good’, why would they associate him with the fearsome, evil bloodthirsty Yiling patriarch.
Once again he found himself outside of the jingshi, it was already nearing curfew the disciples hurrying to go back to their rooms lest they be caught. He had his guqin strapped to his back as he silently made his way to the forests surrounding cloud recesses. No one paid him any attention, some probably thought he was on patrol today while some who secretly knew of his nightly routine looked at him with pity.
Sizhui had spotted him as he was dragging a troublesome Jingyi, he looked like he wanted to say something but he hurried along with Jingyi instead. He knew that his son had been drifting away from him lately, even in the privacy of his own room Sizhui still treated him too politely, as if he was his teacher rather than his father.
Lan Wangji despite his many feats and achievements had no idea how to raise a child, let alone be a parent. Wei Ying had teased him about it once if he recalled, but that’s what he’s just been doing lately hasn’t he? For the past ten years all he could do is live on with the memories of Wei Ying.
He silently padded on his usual spot, cloud recesses were known for its natural falls and forests, a heavy mist clung in the air but that was normal weather in Gusu. He sat down on the damp rocks placing his guqin in front of him as he plucked the strings going into a familiar tune he’d been playing for ten years.
Inquiry’s melody had once again attracted the lingering spirits left in the overworld. He asked the same questions, he got the same answers.
Wei Ying was gone.
Pain and disappointment settled once again within him, it was not a foreign feeling. Every time he played inquiry and every time he got the same answer it always took him back to the last time he saw Wei Ying, he was nothing more than blood and miasma on the ground.
Every time he thought he’d healed, that he’d move on, Inquiry would stab at him, making him cling to a hope that one day he’d get his answers, that he’d get Wei Ying back.
Xichen had been patient with him, Xichen had stayed on his side. But Lan Wangji knew he was holding back, just like always. He’d speak in a kind and soothing voice but Lan Wangji knew Lan Xichen blamed Wei Ying on his current state.
But Lan Wangji never hated him for that, Lan Xichen had a lot of responsibilities, as sect leader and as an older brother, and at the end of the day Lan Wangji knew that his older brother would actually blame himself over everything that Lan Wangji went through.
The quqin strings shimmered under the moonlight, they were smooth to touch and a memory of the Xuanwu cave made him think that they could cut against flesh too.
It wasn’t the first time he’d thought of suicide.
He’d had thoughts but he never really acted upon it.
He’d consider it every time, if it was what Wei Ying would have wanted.
Get lost Get lost Get lost Get lost
Wei Ying’s last words would always echo in his mind.
and he didn’t want to get lost, he wanted to be by Wei Ying’s side but Wei Ying was gone and again he’d think about what Wei Ying could have wanted to which he’ll never know, Inquiry didn’t give him answers.
But Sizhui needed him and Sizhui was something Wei Ying left behind, it was a part of him that Lan Wangji desperately needed. Because Sizhui- no A-Yuan was Wei Ying’s son and he’d adopted him which technically makes Wei Ying family. It was a sick delusion but it was the closest association that Lan Wangji could have from Wei Ying.
That usually concluded his thoughts and he would push them away where they would wait until he’d think of it again.
A loud splash stopped his train of thought.
Were the disciples causing trouble again? Jingyi was the only one who had the guts to be troublesome if he remembered, maybe Sizhui had checked up on him and Jingyi tagged along, it wasn’t the first time but it wasn’t a normal occurrence either.
He looked at the direction of the sound, it wasn’t that far from him. He was expecting the staple white robes of his sect but the minute he saw the rapid spread of something dark on the clear waters made him stand up.
The lantern he brought with him wasn’t a strong light source but thankfully it was a full moon. Immediately he grabbed his sword stepping on it as he hovered above the natural pool.
That was not the body of a child either.
The bright color of red and yellow caught his eye as he drew closer, alarm bells ringing on his head. No one could get inside cloud recesses without a jade token unless they were a really formidable individual, he found out it was the body of a man a white cape covered him entirely, flames decorated the edge of it.
For a moment his eyes widened, could it be a Wen? No, that was impossible, the only surviving Wen around was Sizhui and maybe Wen Ning, but this couldn’t be the ghost general, there were no chains on the body.
But as he looked closer, while the Wen’s had the standard flame as their symbol they never used the color yellow to symbolize it, yellow was the Jin sect’s color.
He dropped down, the pool wasn’t that deep, the water only reaching his waist. Blood curled around the water like mist as Lan Wangji reached out he turned the body over just to be greeted by the most peculiar hair color he’d ever saw. It wasn’t that long, maybe mid length, it had the color of yellow but it’s tips were red.
It puzzled him but what alarmed him was the grave injuries on the man’s body, thanks to the water most of the blood was washed off but that didn’t stop it from bleeding. The body was male possibly younger than him, he immediately checked for a pulse, it was there but it was faint.
The man was already close to death. Realizing that, he lifted the body his hands wrapping around it’s back and legs and immediately stepped on his sword. He didn’t have time to retrieve his guqin, if he managed to get into the jingshi in time then this man could be saved.
The cloud recesses were quiet, it was now past curfew and while the people on patrol were surprised at his appearance, no one stopped him as he swooped into the jingshi.
To his surprise Lan Xichen was there, he seemed to be in the middle of preparing tea.
“Wangji! What is that?!” Lan Xichen wasn’t known for raising his voice and both Lan brothers were surprised at his outburst.
“Doctor…” Lan Xichen took one look at the bleeding body in his arms and crossed the room in a swift manner, immediately calling the attention of a nearby disciple as they hurried along.
He on the other hand went straight to his bed, he placed the man on the mattress and went on with the procedure of cleaning him. Lan Wangji removed his cape, noticing it’s condition it seemed like it went through something rough. Underneath the cape, the man wore some strange clothing all in black. It wasn’t the wide sleeved robes he was used to. Instead the man’s top hugged his figure nicely, he observed some muscle on the man’s body and a sword caught his eye.
He removed it immediately noticing it’s missing scabbard.
His brows furrowed.
“Wangji.” Xichen’s voice made him look up, beside Xichen was the doctor of Gusu Lan that he’d come to know ever since birth. The doctor immediately took over as Xichen led him out into the living room.
“Wangji what’s going on?” he didn’t miss the tone of his brother.
“I found him by the pools as I was playing Inquiry.” He informed and Xichen frowned at the last part.
“He looks peculiar, my eyes aren’t fooling me aren’t they but is his hair really like that?” he nodded as they sat down.
“He seems to have recently been fighting, he had grave wounds all over his body and his clothes were bloody and torn.”
“Yes I noticed the sword on his hip.” His older brother let out a sigh. “While he definitely is suspicious, he can’t be a threat with those injuries, we’ll have to discuss what to do with him with uncle.”
It had been a long time since he’d had a decent conversation with his uncle. It was his fault really, he’d been shutting everyone out and his uncle couldn’t keep up with his stubbornness, the only one who could was Xichen.
“We also have to investigate how he ended up passing through our borders, the last time that happened was….”
The last time it happened was when Wen clan invaded was the unsaid statement.
Lan Wangji nodded to his brother, he felt tired it was already past curfew, despite him able to stay up late his body protested.
“Go change your clothes Wangji, you’re soaking wet! Aren’t you cold?”
No he wasn’t.
But he followed his brother somehow another disciple was beside the doctor, he slipped into his room as quietly as he could grabbing a pair of robes and going behind a screen to change. His mind strayed to the large amount of blood he witnessed on his bed as a surgery seemed to be conducted, more people filed into his room bringing the doctor’s equipment.
Looks like he wouldn’t be able to sleep after all.
Kyojuro thought he was dead.
He said his goodbyes to the three, his mother had appeared looking like she would pick him up, he even asked if he did a good job to which she responded as yes.
But as she held his hand, leading him to the land of Yomi they stopped. His mother’s face wasn’t the type to show emotion, but one look at her eyes and Kyojuro recognized something.
She felt sad, lonely.
“It’s not your time yet.”
“Mother-“ he desperately reached for her hand, he was here right? He wouldn’t leave his mother alone! Tears threatened to spill from his eyes, he could finally be with his mother, the weight of being a demon slayer was gone, he could live out his afterlife by her side. She stepped forward, putting both of her hands to cup his face, it had been a long time since he was held like this, like a child.
“And for that I’m glad Kyojuro.”
Then she smiled resting both of their foreheads together.
“What’s happening?” Kyojuro could feel his mother’s presence slowly slipping away, something was stopping him from moving forward, the gates of the underworld were so close, just a couple of steps!
“Stay strong my boy.” She planted a kiss on her forehead and he was getting terribly confused and-
Then in an instant he was falling. He let out a strangled shout, his injuries seemed to reappear out of nowhere, he briefly remembered ice cold water enveloping his whole body before passing out.
The next time he opened his eyes he was hit by the smell of sandalwood and a cold room. Pain suddenly hit his head, as if a demon had hit his head. He sucked in a breath, it wasn’t the first time he’d experienced such pain, trying to even his breathing he kept his mind calm not noticing the other man in the room.
He closed his eyes, he could feel bandages around him and he was not wearing his uniform, his sword was missing but he didn’t feel any danger around him. The smell of sandalwood was strong and his ears perked up from the sound of footsteps approaching him.
He immediately opened his eyes to be greeted by eyes of gold. Kyojuro stuttered, his head sinking further into the pillow. There was a man right in front of him with robes of white and blue, the demon slayer did not miss the sword on his hip.
Kyojuro tried to speak but his throat was too parched, the man noticed this and hurried out of the room just to come back with a cup in hand. Kyojuro tried moving his hand but all he got was a twitch from his fingers.
Slowly the golden eyed man propped him up to be in a sitting position, he hissed from the pain in his ribs, he wondered just how many had he broke this time.
The man then proceeded to press the cup on his lips forcing the flame haired man to drink from it and honestly it was one of Kyojuro’s weirdest experiences. He finished quickly to the point of almost coughing but he held it down, he could feel his torso had the worst damage and he didn’t want to irritate it now.
Now that he was more awake him and the man stared at each other, Kyojuro admits that the man before him was what one could describe as beautiful but his facial expression seemed cold, just like Tomioka, half of his hair was in a bun while the other flowed freely down his back, two long strands of hair however hung just in front of his face and on his forehead was a headband with the motif of a cloud, the same design decorated his white robes. He seemed older than him by a few years, with considerable build and Kyojuro could tell that he shouldn’t be fooled by the mourning like robes, this man looked capable.
“Where am I?” is the first thing he asks, he still wasn’t sure if this man was his savior or if he could trust him. He just survived a battle from Upper Moon three but he didn’t manage to off lop his head so the demon could be running free wrecking havoc to who knows where. And he didn’t seem to be in the butterfly estate nor a wisteria house, did headquarters even know where he is right now?
“Gusu, cloud recesses.” The flame pillar furrowed his brows at the unfamiliar name, his job as a pillar meant he covered more ground so he had already travelled a great deal in Japan. However he was sure that he would remember a name like ‘cloud recesses’.
“What happened to me?”
“You landed on one of our pools, I brought you into the sect to be treated.” Kyojuri felt relief that the man seemed to cooperate easily. But the words ‘sect’ caught his attention.
“Sect?” he asked, there had been a great deal of unofficial of organizations or ‘sects’ in Japan, the corps being one of them. Unpleasant memories of Obanai’s circumstance made him rigid, he wasn’t in a cult was he?
“You are at the Gusu Lan sect.”
Again another unfamiliar name but definitely something that left an impression.
The flame pillar let out a breath, his hand twitched for his sword, it was morbid but the blade had been his sense of comfort over the years.
He had to calm down, he didn’t know how he ended up somewhere far from the train, he had the three boys with him when he breathed his last assuming they took his body back to headquarters or the butterfly estate so how did he end up here?
A commotion startled him out of his thoughts, it seemed like a door was violently slid open and two voices could be heard beyond the room. The other man glanced at the source as he silently padded towards to the door.
He slid the door open just to reveal two men who were dressed similarly to the golden eyed man, they looked identical too.
“Brother, Uncle.”
So that why they all looked identical.
The two men stepped into the room and a sense of foreboding came over him, it was the kind of feeling he would get whenever the pillars gathered for a meeting, it was the sense of strong people gathered in an area.
The ‘brother’ which Kyojuro assumed was more expressive than the others, he had a polite smile on his face as he walked over him. It didn’t look fake at least.
“Hello, how are you doing?”
Kyojuro contemplated at his answer, was he feeling alright? No he wasn’t.
“I’ve never been better.” He let his cheery behavior seep into his words, they’ve fooled a lot so it was worth a shot.
“I see, then introductions are necessary yes? My name is Lan Huan courtesy name Lan Xichen and the one that saved you is my brother Lan Zhan courtesy name Lan Wangji and this is my uncle Lan Qiren.”
For moment he had to process just how many names were mentioned, why did they have two names? How should he address them? Silence filled the room and Kyojuro realized that they were waiting for his introduction.
“ Rengoku Kyojuro.” He supplied as Huan ( Xichen?) smiled even wider. The other didn’t seem to want to talk as the oldest man among the three just stroked his goatee eyeing him critically.
“Alright then, ah……what should I call you?” The flame pillar raised a brow a this, shouldn’t it be obvious?
“Rengoku would be fine.” Not that a first name basis bothered him but of course people automatically called him by his last name out of respect.
“I assume that Wangji told you what happened?” Kyojuro nodded.
“Do you have any memories of what happened to you before Wangji found you?”
He felt hesitant, his memories were as clear as day, the train, fighting with Kamado, fighting against Akaza accepting his death just for his mother to tell him that it wasn’t his time yet.
Demons weren’t common knowledge, unlike Yokai who were natural forces of nature which were popular in many of Japan’s folktales. Yokai for the city folk were now treated as fiction as Japan was slowly making its way to modernization. But Demons were said to be present from the very beginning.
As much at the corps wanted to spread awareness for demons, most of their attempts were futile, the government threatened to shut them down, if it weren’t for Oyokata-sama’s wealth and influence then the demon slayers would be gone for good.
But these people could clearly be seen as fighters, however the possibility of them being a cult still tugged at the back of his mind. They wore similar outfits, had eerily similar features as well.
Kyojuro stared at Huan, he really looked similar to Wangji (Zhan?) except his eyes were more of a darker color and his face presented more emotion than the stoic Wangji.
“I was battling with a demon.” The flame pillar closely watched their reactions, the three of them seemed to flinch at his words. So were they aware of demons?
Huan was the first to recover, his brows were furrowed levelling Kyojuro with a stare that screamed confusion.
So maybe they weren’t.
“What do you mean by demon?”
Kyojuro had to suppress a sigh, how many times had he done this explain thing before? It was usually said after he introduced himself and his job.
“ A demon is a creature who feasts on humans as it’s source of strength, it’s my job to kill demons.” These Lans didn’t show any semblance of emotion but the Flame pillar knew their gears were turning.
“Demons? Don’t you mean fierce corpse?” Wangji spoke up and Kyojuro tilted his head.
“Fierce corpse? Believe me, demons are very much alive.”
Qiren pressed a hand on his forehead, visible lines of stress was present on his face. Now that he thought about it, Qiren looked to be always on the verge of blowing a fuse. He motioned for Wangji to get closer to him as he spoke.
“Wangji bring in some tea, this is going to be a long discussion.”
Rengoku Kyojuro (which was a mouthful really and a hassle to pronounce) was a man who would prove to be livelier than Jingyi. Lan Qiren watched as the peculiar haired man (it was hard not to get distracted by his hair) explained to them what Lan Qiren would only describe as a whole new other world separate from them.
This Japan place was simply too detailed. He explained what ‘Demons’ were, their abilities and their origins, he also explained the organization he was part of the ‘Demon Slayer Corps’ which was basically a place where swordsmen trained to kill demons.
He tried looking at faults in the man’s demeanor, trying to find any semblance that he was lying, but the man completely believed in his words.
After his explanation the four of them sat in silence not really knowing what to do, Lan Qiren had fired his own questions but every time Rengoku Kyojuro had an answer.
Questions such as :
“What guarantees that you aren’t a demon as well?” to which the man responded that demons were completely vulnerable to sunlight, though the cloud recesses often had misty weather today was one of those days where the mist had cleared and sunlight was already streaming through the jingshi.
“How do we know that you aren’t lying?” to which the man reminded him off the clothes and sword he had explaining in great detail how it helped him during missions.
“I have no reason to lie, especially to the people who saved my life. Us demon slayers had tried raising awareness of demons for centuries.”
Lan Qiren could not interrogate the man any further, it seemed like he had already shared all that he knew. He tried wrapping his head around the place Rengoku Kyojuro came from, and he considered having a meeting with elders regarding this matter.
“Uncle, Brother he is tired, we should let him rest.”
Lan Qiren looked at his youngest nephew, as stoic as his face is Lan Qiren may not be able to read Wangji as an open book like Xichen did but the oldest Lan could still understand him.
Wangji was once again avoiding him.
It had been ten years since the incident but Wangji wasn’t showing any signs of moving on, he thought that maybe Sizhui could fill the gap that Wei Wuxian had left behind but it seems like even he was not enough.
But Lan Qiren deemed his actions as necessary, he didn’t want Wangji ending up like his father. Lan Qiren loved his brother of course but his brother was too blinded by love to even appreciate his sons.
It angered Lan Qiren to a point that he vowed to raise the two in such a manner that they wouldn’t repeat their father’s mistakes.
But somewhere along the way Wangji strayed and now Lan Qiren didn’t know how to handle him anymore.
Despite how disciplined and dignified the Lans were Lan Qiren knew that all of them were stubborn to a degree.
Xichen stood up just as Lan Qiren was about to protest, he still didn’t trust the man as he had just went through their barriers, something that they made sure to be stronger than before, the Wen clan left a lot scars after all.
But Xichen gave him a look to just follow, after all out of all of them Wangji was the most stubborn.
“Alright but this matter shall reach the elders.”
The Lan sect’s food unfortunately was bland and its portions too small.
Kyojuro tried very hard to suppress his disappointment, after all he didn’t want to look ungrateful to the people who saved his life.
When the older brother and uncle left the room was once again silent, Wangji didn’t seem to be the type to hold a casual conversation. Just a few minutes after being interrogated a ‘disciple’ as Xichen called it delivered his and Wangji’s lunch.
Wangji must have noticed his displeasure over the food but the man thankfully didn’t point it out. They both ate in silence as he tried to move as little as possible.
His injuries were grave he knew that but he was impressed on how he was treated, he could still see from his eye which was struck by Akaza and the only damage left was a scar. He found himself staring at Wangji (or was Zhan easier?), the man moved in such a graceful manner that Kyojuro didn’t think a human could have.
His mind went back to the train incident, Akaza might still be running around and who knows if he managed to save everyone on the train. Senjuro, his father, technically he would be classified as Missing in Action how would they take it? Then there was the three boys and Nezuko, how were they faring?
He had to go back immediately, the upper moons were now making their move, Muzan might not be far behind.
Wangji meticulously cleaned up their dishes, piling them in a separate tray and setting it aside. He faced the flame pillar, his face as stoic as ever.
“You need to rest.” His voice was soft but Kjojuro could tell Wangji rarely spoke, lesser than Tomioka or Obanai.
Out of all the Lan’s that he met he found that Wangji was the one he could trust the most, sure the man rarely displayed any emotion and he might be a little bias since it was Wangji who found him, but there was something about the stone faced man that made you feel at ease, yes he was cold, just like the morning frost but it was the cold that Kyojuro could welcome.
A bit ironic really since he’s supposed to be the flame pillar.
Wangji then turned to leave but Kyojuro found the words slipping out of his mouth.
“Wait.” Wangju stopped turning a bit to face him, one of his brows raising.
“Where’s my sword?”
“Sizhui, just go talk to him!”
Sizhui looked at his bestfriend he had his whole life. Lan Jingyi despite being a Lan was the most un-Lan Lan you could ever meet. He was loud, rowdy and full of mischief, but he would never switch Jingyi for anyone else.
“Hanguang-Jun is a busy man, he doesn’t need to worry about insignificant matters.”
They were getting ready for the day, Jingyi had once again snuck into his room for a sleepover. The other Lan paused from brushing his hair and looked ready to toss the comb at his face.
“And did you forget that Hanguang-Jun is your father?!”
Sizhui immediately shushed him, covering Jingyi’s mouth. While the older disciples knew him to be Hanguang-Jun’s adoptive son, the junior disciples didn’t. And he preferred it that way, he didn’t want to be treated like some higher figure, he didn’t deserve it…..yet.
If Sizhui was going to prove himself as a Lan then he would do it with his own efforts, he didn’t want his father, uncle and grand-uncle backing him up.
Jingyi pouted at him as he let go as they proceeded to go through their regular routine every day. They arrived at the banquet hall just to find that his father was not present. That can’t be right, his father always showed up during meals, did something happen?
Jingyi who must’ve noticed it too as he asked around the other disciples, despite Lan Qiren glaring daggers at them. They didn’t answer Jingyi but they motioned a sign ‘later’.
After breakfast were lessons with either Lan Qiren or another senior disciple, as he and Jingyi packed up their papers and brushes a fellow disciple approached them.
“I heard that Hanguang-Jun brought someone injured last night, apparently they’re being treated in the jingshi.” A collective gasp was heard as several disciples who happen to overhear the statement looked to be in shock.
The jingshi was Hanguang-Jun’s personal quarters, even he Sizhui didn’t dare enter it the second he became a disciple, no one was permitted inside other than Lan Xichen, Lan Qiren or an elder.
“Oi, oi and where did you get this information?” Jingyi asked while the disciple let out a sigh.
“My older brother was on patrol last night and he saw Hanguang-Jun just swoop down on his sword with somebody on his hands.” Ah now he remembered this particular disciple, his brother was a senior and did teach them from time to time.
“Maybe Hanguang-Jun just happened to stumble upon a disciple injured from a night hunt, its Hanguang-Jun you know.” Now that was also a possibility to consider.
“Oh come on! You’re telling me that Hanguang-Jun brought a random disciple in his own room rather than the infirmary?” Jingyi countered.
The other disciple was about to shot back with a line of his own but Sizhui interrupted before any had a say in the matter.
“Brothers, should I remind you that talking about someone behind their back is prohibited?” that shut everyone up, gathering his things he motioned for all of them to follow.
“Class is starting, let’s hurry before our teacher scolds us.”
Class proceeded as normal, he did his best in every subject as he was once again praised by his grand-uncle, he felt honored of course but his traitorous mind made him think of his father once again.
When was the last time his father had praised him?
After classes, they had to train their swordsmanship and their control when flying on them. Not only were they required to keep their minds sharp but their bodies as well. Jingyi might not be bright when it came academically but Jingyi’s mind worked better when it came to sparring.
Sparring mid-air was one of the things he enjoyed the most, he liked the feeling of the wind going through him, making his hair and robes flap wildly behind him. He and Jingyi struck talismans against each other, doing their best to strike each other down. There was no mentor this time, no one to monitor them. This period was often given to them to do whatever they wanted as long as they didn’t violate any rules and they all agreed to make it their sparring session.
A few minutes passed with no victor between the two, they both agreed for a break.
“Hey.” Jingyi called out to him.
“Why are you looking at me like that? What are you planning?” Jingyi had a smile on his face, a smile that spelled trouble.
He yanked Sizhui’s sleeves eventually grabbing his elbow as he was forced to follow.
“Jingyi!” he couldn’t help but hiss, the others were looking at them curiously.
“Oh come on Sizhui, a little bath wouldn’t hurt, aren’t you all sweaty from earlier?” the way that Jingyi said it was little too loudly as if he was making sure everyone heard him.
Sizhui knew from that tone that they were going anywhere but the baths.
Away from their peers Jingyi released his hold, motioning for him to follow when Sizhui recognized the path they were taking.
“Jingyi, I don’t know what you’re planning bu-“
“Sizhui this is your chance to speak with him, as much as important Hanguang-Jun is to the sect he’s still your father and you’re still his son!”
Sizhui was touched at his friend’s concern, his friend had been upset at Sizhui bottling up his feelings towards his father.
Hanguang-jun was an amazing parent don’t get him wrong, but there was something about his father’s actions that really was unsettling. He didn’t know how his father suffered during the Sunshot campaign but whatever it was, it was clear he was still hurting. Every time Sizhui spent time with him, his father was there but at the same time not. Sizhui knew that his father wasn’t very open to his emotions but Sizhui just wished that he could talk to Sizhui about it, as his son didn’t he deserve more closure to him?
But Sizhui knew it just wasn’t him, his father had been shutting everyone out including his uncle and grand-uncle.
Jingyi always suggested for him to have a talk with his father, but Hanguang-Jun wasn’t known to be talkative and he remembered a remark from a guest disciple that talking to Hanguang-Jun was just like talking to a wall.
“You just want to confirm the mysterious disciple he brought over don’t you?” Sizhui teased his friend just for Jingyi to let out a laugh.
“You caught me!” Jingyi then held his hand as he led them to the jingshi, Jingyi’s hand was really soft.
As they arrived, Sizhui can’t help but be nervous, communication with the Hanguang-Jun wasn’t really the easiest.
But he didn’t have to worry about that as the Hanguang-Jun was suddenly sailing out of the jingshi.
“Ah! Wangji-san I think I went too far!”