Chapter Text
“My beautiful husband,” Wei Ying says, climbing onto the porch and dropping down beside him like the effort was exhausting. He further demonstrates his need for support by collapsing against Lan Zhan’s side and holding out his hand. “Energy, please?”
Lan Zhan takes his hand, their meridians overlapping with the twining of their fingers. He spins out gold and Wei Ying’s darkness flashes silver in the shadow of the sun. It’s an invigorating flare of energy that makes Wei Ying sigh happily, and Lan Zhan squeezes his fingers in case he thinks of pulling away.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, I’m not going anywhere,” Wei Ying promises, resting his head on Lan Zhan’s shoulder. “The children have worn me out! I wouldn’t even make it to town like this!”
Lan Zhan thinks that’s no reason not to hold on, and Wei Ying doesn't protest again. Here at the edge of what used to be the Burial Mounds, they’re on territory ceded to them by Wen clan. In return for their work liberating souls and cleansing the land, Wen Qing promised their fledgling sect both recognition and sovereignty.
The brand new headquarters of Yiling Wei look out over the Twilight Valley in one direction, and all the way to Yiling in the other. It seemed only right to establish guardianship of the land they reclaimed, to prevent it from reverting and to ensure the spirits they haven’t been able to free remain undisturbed. Between the two of them, they’ve helped raise every active residence and a couple that aren’t yet.
Wei Ying’s parents have one of them. Xiao Xingchen and A-Yang have another. Wen Ning has his own, of course, and Meng Yao. A-Ming too: she’s an adult now simply because she’s too old to be a child. There’s also a building for Lan Zhan’s mother, and a place for Wei Ying’s sister when she stays with them.
The houses aren’t fancy, but they’re sturdy and safe. They offer physical shelter from the elements and heavy warding for energetic balance. Wei Ying wanted to call them palaces, but Lan Zhan pointed out that they’ll need a unique name for sect business.
He didn’t veto “palace,” as such.
“When do we need to retrieve the babies,” Lan Zhan murmurs, and Wei Ying twitches a little. Dozing, then. He’s as tired as he claims and should set a good example by resting.
“Before they get hungry,” Wei Ying mumbles into his shoulder.
“Mm,” Lan Zhan says. He transfers Wei Ying’s grasp from one hand to the other and slides an arm around behind his back, urging him up. “Nap.”
“Am napping,” Wei Ying protests, but he lets himself be encouraged up and steered inside. The bed is warm and welcoming, and never more so than when they’re in it together. Lan Zhan is happy to set aside other plans if it means spending time here.
The rest of the sect is very accustomed to running itself.
Theirs is a residential compound that serves to protect and educate, providing the legitimacy of a permanent location and promoting community among their small membership. It represents a sect founded on the balance between heaven and earth, the connection between sun and shadow. Wei Ying is deeply and fiercely amused by the name they agreed on.
Lan Zhan is very proud that Yiling Wei operates out of the Moon Rabbit Palace.