Chapter 6

Lan XIchen had recently left his seclusion. He had heard Wei Wuxian had returned to Cloud Recesses, but despite making rounds of his home he could never see or hear the young man. Slowly he started to hear little details about him, how he helped in a night hunt, how he taught the disciples on the correct ways of hunting different creatures. How he held impromptu classes, debates and discussions, the students called them, and how within a span of just two months, their disciples had improved exponentially in their knowledge of wide variety of topics. How they eagerly researched and stated to think outside the box for solutions but still staying in the designated path of cultivation. On his last visit with his brother, he had brought up the idea of Wei Wuxian teaching. His brother had been happy to hear his idea and promised to ask.

This is why when he took the first patrol after dinner and found both Wei Wuxian and Wangji at the back hills, he didn't want to disturb them and turned to go back when he heard Wei Wuxian asking if he was still hated by Xichen. He could not imagine why he would think so, but the more he heard him give reasons, the more he realized that he had never really hid his emotions from Wei Wuxian, neither in his first life nor in his second one. Wei Wuxian had surmised correctly that the only reason Lan Xichen had allowed him in his home was for brothers happiness and nothing else.

Lan Xichen that thought a lot about his actions and about all the revelations and the incidents that he was inadvertently part of, he had little else to do than reflect on past actions, and he had come to one conclusion. Despite what others believed or said, the Gusu Lan Sect was not completely righteous and that they were equally responsible for what happened after the Sunshot Campaign. They like everyone else were relived and drunk on their success and wilfully blind to the atrocities that happened to the war victims. And when one single voice was raised, they too were part of the group that tried and then successfully crushed it.

After a lot of contemplation, he realized Wei Wuxian was just as much a victim of war as the innocent Wens were and more so the victim of manipulations because of the sole reason that he was an untamed wild card with power and he refused to bend to anyone's will. These realizations also made him realise that his brother had really chosen a very good and righteous man for a life partner. He also knew the reason they stayed separately was out of respect for him, because Wei Ying had not yet asked the Lan Sect Leader for his brother's hand in marriage. He had seen the new music score that Wei Wuxian had composed as a gift for Lan Xichen.

All he ever wnted was for his little brother to be happy. He never realized that Wei Wuxian would try to heal him too, even when he himself had just started healing from all that had happened to him. He didn't think he would be given the same respect and love from his brother's soulmate that was reserved only for his siblings. He was humbled to think that this young man thought so much about him too, and even if he didn't put it into words, his actions showed that his gifts and the thoughts behind them were genuine. So with that in mind, Lan Xichen finally did what he should have done long ago. He accepted Wei Wuxian as part of family with his whole heart and now even if it was rude to interrupt, he would make it a point to clearly welcome the young man into the family. He slowly walked towards them and lightly coughed to get their attention.

"Do you mind if I join you two?"

"Xiongzhang" and "Zewu Jun" were heard simultaneously from both of them and they stood and bowed to him.

"Can we speak for a few minutes if its alright with you?" at their accent, he sat down on Wei Wuxian's other side and said, "I saw the the score you composed for me Master Wei, I thank you for your gift. And I would like to apologise to you…" At this he was suddenly interrupted. Wei Wuxian didn't raise his head while he spoke,

"Zewu Jun, if there is anyone who should be apologisimg for any thing, it should be me. Lan Zhan says there is no place for 'thank-you' and 'sorry' in our relationship, yet he is the one person who has suffered the most because of me. You were hurt because your little brother was hurting, and just like everyone else, even you were indirectly hurt by me. I don't know if there is anything I can actually do that will absolve me of pain I put all the people in but I think I will spend rest of my life repenting for it."

"Master wei, I would still like to apologise for my harsh words when you were already in so much pain. Due to the recent revelations, lots of your actions are only now making sense to me and I have realized that just like everyone else I've hurt you too. I saw my brother's suffering but I could not see that you were suffering too from too many losses to count. Whatever happened last year at the temple and seven months of complete seclusion has made me realize many things about people and about me. I've realized my brother's love for me, despite the pain I caused him, is infinite. He doesn't hold me responsible even for the things I was responsible for, and seeing what you are doing here, with teaching and night hunts and still making a completely new score just so that I could heal from my heart break, when you yourself are still healing, tells me that you are a kind, compassionate and courageous young man who is for intents and purpose, is perfect for my brother. Your selfless love even for those of us who have repeatedly hurt you, your respect you show, for me as Wangji elder brother, all this tells me that I was wrong in judging you. So please Wei Wuxian, accept my apologies and gratitude for making my little brother happy. And believe me when I say this with my whole heart, welcome to the family, A-xian."

By the end of Xichen's speech, Wei Ying had tears in his eyes and he was speechlessand Lan Wangji eyes conveyed his love and gratitude for his brother even if he could not put his feelings into words. Seeing them too overcome with emotions, lan Xichen tried to stand to go, when the sleeve of his robes were lightly pulled. By this time all three were standing, and as soon as Xichen turned he found himself in an embrace. He was surprised at first then wrapped his arms around young man and once again sai, "Welcome home, little brother" and as if that was the last straw, both the Lan brothers could only hear Wei Wuxian softly crying and for the first time they realized that the young man just like everyone of them just craved for acceptance. Being shunned by the entire world even when he knew what he did was right and being separated from his family and friends for so long had really hurt him as much if not more than his own brother. At that moment Lan Xichen promised himself and both his little brothers, "from today onwards you need not ever apologise for anything you do. You are part of my family, Wangji's soulmate, Lan Shizui's other father and my little brother. This is your home and just like Wangji, I too promise to protect you."

Overwhelmed, Wei Wuxian, first time in his grown-up life, cried himself to sleep and was carried by his new elder brother to his rooms. That night both Lan brothers spend their time talking for the first time in a long while right there sitting at the table in Wei Wuxian's room. The next day Wei Wuxian woke to both brothers asleep, sitting on the floor at his bedside. He remembered last night's conversation and couldn't help but feel his heart fill with warmth that he hadn't felt since the removal of his golden core. Gently, without touching their forehead ribbons, Wei Wuxian ran his fingers through Lan Zhan's and Lan Xiche n's hair and woke them up. The drowsy look on their faces was so adorable that he couldn't help but smile at them.

Being woken up with a smile that could rival the sun, both the brothers couldn't take their eyes of the young man's face. Even Lan Wangji hadn't realized how much Xichen's acceptance would mean to Wei Ying. And Xichen was just happy to see the same smile on Wei Ying's face that he had not seen since he himself was a student here.

After a few words all three of them separated for their daily duties with the promise to meet again in the evening, after dinner, in rabbit field and this time they would play the new score that Wei Wuxian had composed especially for his elder brother. Before leaving both his bothers Lan Xichen's, "I'm happy to have you in the family, dearest didi, now we just have to make everything official. I think both of you have waited long enough." Earned the Lan Sect Leader a happy laugh and a crushing hug that lasted several minutes.

That evening when everyone was set to retire for the day, the summer winds carried the combined tunes of Chenqing and Liebing in harmony, a duet which sounded though out the Cloud Recesses started the healing of many hearts.