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Lan Xichen gently blew on the steam that was wafting from the cup of lotus tea in his hands. The rustling of the falling leaves from the nearby trees made Lan Xichen close his eyes as he sat in front of the Hanshi.
After five long years of hiding himself from the cultivation world, Lan Xichen was now in partial seclusion. It had been a long period of self-flagellation and mourning and a string of what-ifs. Those blackened days when Lan Xichen had grieved and blamed himself for the deaths and suffering caused by his naivety and unwillingness to listen to those that had tried to warn him about.. him.
Lan Xichen opened his eyes and took a deep breath and tried to center himself. To focus on moving forward, on the future. On the good in his life, the brightness that surrounded him.
Wanyin..
Lan Xichen pouted a little when he remembered that Jiang Wanyin had not been able to come to Cloud Recesses for his birthday yesterday. There was a butterfly with the news that there was an emergency in Lotus Pier that needed Jiang Wanyin's immediate attention. Lan Xichen wanted to be that responsible adult with the understanding from one sect leader to another.. but he really just missed Wanyin too much.
Wanyin had been there for him, holding him tightly during those moments deafened by his sobs and screams, when he just wanted to give in to the darkness. Wanyin had held on to him as he tried to understand the events of the past, what was his fault, and what was never his sin.
My heart, it has been a long journey, hasn't it.. If you hadn't been there for me, I would have.. not been here breathing in this beautiful air right now. Not being able to run my hands through your ribbon. Wanyin, I..
"Huan-ge, you're alright there? Huan-ge?"
Jiang Wanyin's voice jolted Lan Xichen to attention, as he suddenly realized Jiang Wanyin must have been standing there in front of him for quite some time. "Wanyin, you're here," Jiang Wanyin smiled as Lan Xichen voiced the obvious to him.
Jiang Wanyin pulled his right hand from behind his back, and Lan Xichen could see clutched within Wanyin's hand a few pink-hued blossoms which he then fixed into Lan Xichen's ribbon near his ear.
"Happy Birthday, Huan-ge," Jiang Wanyin said as his hands caressed Lan Xichen's blushing cheeks.
Lan Xichen cupped his hands over Jiang Wanyin's, and he could feel his heart fluttering from seeing that soft smile on his beloved's face that he knew was only for him. He then coughed a little to rid his throat of that lump that he knew would only lead to tears.
"Come sit with me, Wanyin, please. Have some tea. You must be exhausted from yesterday and the travel from Lotus Pier. All is well back home?"
Jiang Wanyin sat down next to Lan Xichen and took the offered warm cup of tea. He sat there and stared at his cup for a few seconds in silence.
"Huan-ge, there is something I have to tell you," as he put down the not-even-sipped cup of tea next to him. Lan Xichen mirrored Jiang Wanyin's movement as he himself set aside his cup, and he could feel as if his heart was about to deviate from his body. "Everything.. alright?"
"Mn. Huan-ge, I'm sorry about yesterday. I had this crucial meeting with my disciples, and then another one with my entire sect."
"Huan-ge, I have announced to my sect my resignation as Yunmeng Jiang's sect leader. Effective next year."
Lan Xichen could hear a little gasp somewhere near him before realizing that it had come from himself. He looked closely into Jiang Wanyin's eyes and he saw nothing but steel certainty and determination in those striking purple eyes. Truly nothing less could be expected from Sandu Shengshou.
Jiang Wanyin took Lan Xichen's slightly trembling hands in his.
"I have prepared for this for quite some time now," Jiang Wanyin said as he gazed at the far-off snow-capped mountains. He then looked into Lan Xichen's divine amber eyes.
"Back then when I had first thought about this, I had just wanted to see the world, to find out who I could have been, or what I could do beyond what fate had planned for me as a sect heir and leader. But then," Jiang Wanyin brought Lan Xichen's hands to his heart, "you came into my life, Huan-ge."
That unwanted lump in Lan Xichen's throat came back furiously and Lan Xichen could feel hot tears slowly streaming down his face.
"Wanyin.."
"It is quite peaceful out there now. As you know, I have trained Jiang Zihua to be my heir for many years. He has the solid foundation to lead the sect, and my people will fully support him when the time comes," Jiang Wanyin brought Lan Xichen's still-trembling hands to his lips, gently kissing them.
"As for A-Ling, he has known of my plan since he was old enough to understand the burden of leadership. I did tell him I will only leave once I know he has the skills and knowledge and definitely when he could put those Jin elders in their places. Those bastards," Jiang Wanyin smirked. "Besides, that little brat had insisted he would allow me to leave only if I agree to keep in touch with him regularly." Jiang Wanyin huffed fondly, but then he frowned a little when he saw Lan Xichen's tears.
"Huan-ge. I know we have discussed before about the possibility of the two of us traveling to cultivate together, but if you are not ready or if this is something that you no longer want to do, then I won't.."
"NO!!"
"No.. what, Huan-ge?"
"No, I mean.. I want.." Lan Xichen could feel his face blushing fiercely. He took a deep breath and tried to steady his voice.
"I want to be with you, my heart. To see the world, walk this life together and to.. to cultivate to immortality with you."
"Then, Huan-ge," as Jiang Wanyin wiped the tears from Lan Xichen's face with his hands, "when the lotus flowers next bloom in Lotus Pier, we shall leave then. What do you think?" Jiang Wanyin gently kissed the corner of each of Lan Xichen's moistened eyes, then took Lan Xichen's lips into a fiery kiss.
"I will protect you, Huan-ge. My life and my heart are yours. It's time for us to find that peace and happiness for ourselves."
Lan Xichen could feel a smile blossoming on his face, a laughter bubbling from deep within as his heart soared in happiness.
"Yes, my heart..."