An hour later, Cheng hurried over to YanLi and walked to the meeting room and asked to have a private word with XiChen who now sat reading some scrolls.

They both bowed deeply before greeting the man. 'Sect Leader Lan.'

'Please sit.' XiChen waited until they were settled and watched as looks of uncertainty passed form one to the other. 'If you are worried about being over heard, I can place a silence shield?'

'We would be grateful.' Cheng waited until the shield was in place.

'Now, would you tell me what has you both so worried?'

'It's about Wei WuXian ... It is a long story. He was brought into our family when he was very young and after he settled in he was ... um ...'

'I think I know what you are worried about. Even though we are strict with our rules, we do understand that some have bigger personalities.'

'Sect Leader Lan, we do not worry about A-Xian being loud, or the amount of times he may end up being punished for breaking the rules. In fact, that would have us settled.'

'A short while ago your concerns about his character would not have been wrong in the least, but now ... Wei WuXian seemed to change almost totally, though he has tried to hide it. He used to go to bed in the early morning, not waking before midday. Drinking only liquor and that was before thirteen. He was always loud; never really listening to or followed rules, hardly ever came to training ... he always did things his own way.'

'How has he changed?'

'He is asleep by nine, wakes around five in the morning, does hours of cultivation meditation every morning and evening. He has almost stopped drinking liquor altogether other than when it is traditional to drink a cup, and then there are the times we will find him looking into the distance so deep in thought he almost needs to be shaken back to reality. He goes out without taken Suibian, his spirit sword, like it doesn't occur to him that he may get into a situation that would be deadly without it.' Jiang Cheng looked to his sister so she could add some.

'Wei WuXian named his spirit sword Suibian?' XiChen asked in surprise.

'Yes. At first I was so angry he dared to be so disrespectful, then a few months ago I asked him why he would disrespect his spirit sword by name it like that and he said it was not that he named it to mean 'whatever' but he named it to be 'whatever it needed to be in a moment of crisis' he said as that was too long, he shortened it.'

'Really? That is very interesting.' XiChen pondered the two ways that name could actually be taken and liked that it could mean something so solemn but also be classed as frivolous at the same time.

'We have noticed there are times he seemingly chats about nothing in particular with people before we have meetings or guests and with his almost invisible hints, the meetings go better than we thought they would. If things look like they are about to fall apart, he only needs to say a few, apparently insignificant, and light-hearted words and the next thing, people come up with an idea that settles everything. Even though the solution is nothing to do with what Wei WuXian said, it now feels like it did.' Jiang YanLi frowned as she tried to work it out. 'He somehow .... Our parents are no longer separate because of something he said ... or so I heard mother say. Then I hear them whispering about something to do with him and my fiancé and even that has been sorted out.'

'There are people he has gone out of his way to befriend. The first was a small healing off shoot of the Wen Sect, not one of them has ever fought any battle but will heal anyone and protect those in need.' He didn't know anyone from the GusuLan Sect well enough to mention Wen Ning so kept him hidden.

'Why has no one said anything to him?' He looked to Jiang Cheng who sighed heavily.

'I have tried many times, but he seems to have gained this ability to completely turn the conversation and only later when he is long gone, do I remember what I was going to talk to him about.'

'Are you sure he is the same boy, not possessed or someone who just looks like him?'

'Father had him drugged one night about two months ago and had someone come in and preform Empathy on him. It was one of you sect members, Lan JinLi ... he is Wei WuXian, he is not possessed or a stand in as I would have noted a change in the scars when we swim, it is just an utter change in his personality that he fights to hide.' He looked at the good looking GusuLan sect leader. 'It's kind of like Wei WuXian had suddenly had a personality change to that of a Lan sect member. Lan JinLi was sworn to secrecy as we do not want Wei WuXian to think we do not trust him, however, as we are here now, it might be best to you to ask him about it.'

'Will you leave this with me and I will watch over him as much as I can. I also have asked my brother to sit in on the classes.'

'Umm.' Jiang Cheng looked at his sister. 'Besides that, my family wishes to extend an apology.'

'Okay, would you tell me why you feel the need to do that?' XiChen smiled happily at the cute young man as he blushed.

'I am sure you heard the title ..... Jade Beauty in reference to your brother?' he seriously wanted to roll his eyes but for some reason he felt his face heat up a little.

'Yes.'

'It was Wei WuXian who started it. We were on the docks early one morning and he came running in making whispers of HanGuang Jun being called by Jade Beauty and it seems to have spread.' To his surprise Lan XiChen looked at his hands and gave a soft chuckle.

'There is no need to worry about it; my brother gives it no mind.'

After settling into his room, Wei WuXian walked around the boundaries that visitors could get too. No matter how much he wanted to, he didn't use his knowledge and power to enter the restricted area ... even if he really wanted too. Since he woke up back here, his cultivation power had skyrocketed to the point he no longer needed to try when practicing swordsmanship; in fact, he needed to keep most of it hidden. He could actually tell the difference in the Demonic Cultivation that was open to him now was totally within his power with no wavering even if he felt sad, upset, and overjoyed or under attack. It just lay there waiting for his command ... but until now, he has only used his golden core.

He drew his sword and ran through his personal swordsmanship drills that he had not shown to anyone yet. He really didn't want to loose any of it as it made him feel peaceful. Instead of finishing on the last move, he flawlessly flowed back into the first. His eyes stayed closed the whole time.

Little did he know that Lan XiChen and Master Lan had just arrived close enough to see him do his drills without being seen. They stood there silently watching the fluid movements as he moved from one to the next without opening his eyes once or even needing to readjust his stance between movements. They watched in wonder and tried to work out where the young man had learnt them. Now and then they would swear that there was a resemblance to GusuLan Sect moves but they were smoother and even more refined.

As Wei Ying let his body flow on its own, he realised he really felt like a dip in the cold pool with Lan Zhan right by his side.

He felt his heart tighten.

He missed the cold pool.

He missed the bamboo forest.

He missed the cherry blossoms petals that float into the pool and landing on Lan Zhan's head so he could pluck them off.

He missed his husband spoiling and pampering him daily.

He missed everything about Lan Zhan.

There were two titles he was most proud of and cherished his whole life after obtaining them.

The first was Lan.

The second, which he prayed he would again obtain was .... Wife. He knew most men didn't like the idea of a man being called wife but adored that title .... Even being called Mother Ying or Mother Lan by SiZhui made his heart swell with joy.

And so, Wei Ying decided while he was in the Cloud Recesses, to try to do what he remembered he had done the last time, but with less outwardly carelessness, maybe a little bit more flirting to see Lan Zhan's reaction, to see the tinge of pink on his ears, that all consuming look in his eyes. To him it was almost staged to place him where he needed to be ... by his Lan Zhan's side.

He finished the last of the drill for the fifth time then he stood at the edge of the forest with his eyes closed trying to stop the pain of being without Lan Zhan by his side holding his hand as he walked, arms wrapped around him when he stepped into his arms. His kiss waking him up just after five ... yes, in the end he had gotten use to waking up at five and sleeping at nine, that even came back with him ... in the end they would turn in long before everyone else for their nightly plays.

Wei Ying took a deep breath and slowly released it.

'Just meditate for a while and it will be easier to handle. Clear your mind.' So he jumped over to the flat boulder in the middle of the stream and began to meditate.