*Cloud Recesses*

As soon as the two clan leaders close their eyes, Elder physician Bao brings out his zither and starts playing calming music, mellow, gentle, almost seductive.

It tugs at Jiang Cheng's already compromised heart; he redoubles his efforts to remain focused on the task at hand: to let his core mingle with the older Jade seamlessly.

Zewu Jun, having heard a love confession from a very unexpected source just minutes before, finds it hard to understand what he feels for the younger clan leader, difficult to put into words.

As the notes start becoming complex, the magic grows stronger. The cores that lay hidden until then become visible. 

Surprised gasps break the quiet rhythm set by the zither's string, as a golden glow emits from within the clan leaders and distances itself from them.

The physician gives the clan members a stern look, and once again, the group falls silent. Gradually the glowing masses take the form of their masters. 

The shorter glowing silhouette drifts over to the taller one and embraces it. But instead of returning the embrace, the talker silhouette stills.

Elder physician shakes his head and sighs. "Zewu Jun, stop resisting and accept Clan leader Jiang's core." He commands, changing the cords once again; Zewu Jun's brows crease, and he purses his lips.

"Breathe and think about Lan Wangji, your brother, the one you love above all. He needs you, Zewu Jun. Without you, he will perish." The physician adds, driving his point home.

Lan XiChen sighs, "I will protect you, Wangji." He whispers resolutely, and his body relaxes. A feet away, his core wraps its arms around Jiang Cheng's, and soon, two become one. A second later, the two clan leaders fall unconscious. The disciples carry them to beds arranged beside their brothers.

In the meanwhile, the Elder changes the cords and gestures the volunteering clan members to do as instructed earlier.

The men move forward, forming a circle around the bright golden glow; they bring their thumbs to their temples and close their eyes. Their energy, taking the form of pale blue sparks, flows into the palm of their hands; they open their eyes and nod towards the physician.

Elder Bao smiles and stops playing the zither. He walks towards his clan members and joins them, repeating the motion before instructing, "On my cue, direct your spiritual energy towards the glow, please."

Everyone nods; With sparks emanating from his palms, the physician draws an intricate pattern in the air and pushes it towards the glow, which moves towards Lan Zhan and Wei Ying and transforms into a thick cord binding Lan Zhan's wrist to Wei Ying's.

"Now!" The physician commands, and instantly, eight thread like blue, glowing beams of vibrating energy strings connect with the cord joining the unconscious cultivators wrists.

*****

*The inbetween realm*

Wei Ying smiles, "Lan Zhan, you would do that for me?"

"Mn." The light bearer nods, "I can do anything for you." he adds, pulling the younger man into his arms. 

"Lan Zhan, what are you doing!?" Wei Ying smiles, playing coy, "I don't think we have enough time for you to do me right now." he teases, kissing his husband's cheek and caressing his forearms. 

Lan Zhan pulls his husband closer. By now, the light bearer knows what it is that his husband is doing. "Wei Ying, I am not apprehensive anymore. As long as we have each other, I can deal with anything life throws at me." The light bearer kisses his husband's forehead before tucking it under his chin, "What else did Jiang Cheng tell you about it?"

Wei Ying sighs, "Lan Zhaaaan!" he whines, why did you have to mention my brother... I had almost succeeded in creating a fuckable atmosphere for us."

"Language." Lan Zhan states in his trademark cold tone, and when the Yiling patriarch looks offended and pouts, the light bearer finally loses control and captures the younger man's lips in a soft kiss. But the kiss ends sooner than the cultivators would have liked, for the cave starts trembling. 

Their eyes follow the beam of light that had entered the cave through an opening that both of them were sure wasn't there moments ago. 

"Core energy." Lan Zhan informs, and the two cultivators walk towards it, "I don't recognize it, though." he adds, narrowing his eyes, suspecting foul play. 

"That's because it's not a single core. It's combined. I can recognize traces of my core in it." Wei Ying observes and walks closer; he smiles and squeezes Lan Zhan's shoulder, "It's two cores, see the purple outline, that's Jiang Cheng, and the pale blue must be Zewu Jun." he guesses. 

"Core mingling... " Lan Zhan whispers; Wei Ying smiles mischievously, "I didn't think my brother had it in him to confess, and I certainly didn't think Zewu Jun would accept, especially because I was sure he wasn't ready... You know, after the Meng Yao debacle."

"It's temporary, Wei Ying. I think they are doing it for us. To find and heal us quicker."

"I am so stupid." Wei Ying shakes his head when he realizes his error in judgment. "You are right." he adds, feeling like a fool and walks closer to the light, "It's trying to find us; form a connection." The Yiling patriarch reasons. 

"How should we proceed?" The light bearer enquires. But, before Wei Ying can answer, it transforms into a circular orb and drifts between the cultivators.

"It's waiting for us to accept it." Wei Ying replies confidently, "Lan Zhan, the choice is yours. Either of us can approach it. The result will be the same. But if it forms a link through me, my memories will be the ones more visible. But the downside will be that Zewu Jun's memories will be exposed to me, especially if I am to try and hide your memories. Lan Zhan, it's a two-way street."

Lan Zhan remains quiet. His silence is answer enough for the Yiling patriarch, "Lan Zhan, I can't promise that I will be able to hide everything...." Wei Ying trails off, and a mischievous grin plays on his lips. 

"Wei Ying?"

"Why didn't I think of this before!" Wei Ying exclaims, making the light bearer quirk his brows. "Think of what?"

"The lesser you know, the better." Wei Ying answers cryptically and pulls his husband closer. He plants a kiss on Lan Zhan's lips, "Husband, the things I can do for you are truly shameless, and you already know that I am a little reckless as well...Lan Zhan, promise me that you will not judge me for what I am about to do. And I promise that I will make it up to you if you let me. Every day." Wei Ying's fingers caress Lan Zhan's jaw and neck as he speaks the words, making the latter's heart race. 

"Every day?" 

"Yes, Hanguang Jun, every day."

 Wei Ying's words and actions make the light bearer dizzy with want. His eyes widen, and the tips of his ears turn red, "Thank you." The usually confident Jade's voice shakes; Wei Ying nods and directs an understanding smile towards the older man, "However, it might not be possible for me to recover fully from... "

"From what, Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan questions, but the younger man doges it and adds, "Lan Zhan, don't think I am giving you a free pass. I expect you to come clean with me once we are out of this mess." The Yiling patriarch pauses; he kisses his husband once again. "Hanguang Jun, our relationship can not remain strong unless we are completely open with each other," he adds, embracing Lan Zhan unexpectedly. "My Fuddy Duddy, I love you. See you on the other side." he presses on and makes an intricate pattern with his fingers. 

Lan Zhan misses it. 

When Wei Ying lets go and leans away, his clothes are drenched in blood once again. He tries to chuckle; he throws up blood. 

"Wei Ying! What's wrong!?" Lan Zhan panics; Wei Ying smiles through the pain, "It's nothing. I am fine." With that, he closes his eyes and touches his forefinger to his forehead. Red sparks emit from the center of his forehead and enter his finger, which he then points at the orb. The glowing orb stills as red sparks enter it, and a moment later, blue tentacles emerge from it and slither towards Wei Ying. 

"Lan Zhan, hold me." Wei Ying commands; Lan Zhan obliges, and the two cultivators get engulfed within the web of tentacles. "Relax, Lan Zhan. You are safe, and so are your memories." The Yiling patriarch whispers in the latter's ears, holding him tighter, he adds, "Now, whatever happens, don't let go. Don't worry. Just cooperate, alright!" 

******

*Cloud recesses*

The cord binding Lan Zhan's wrist to Wei Ying's, vibrates and stills; it turns red for a split second before going back to its original color. Though the incident is almost a blink and miss, every cultivator present in the room becomes aware of it.

Continuing to transfer energy, Qiren enquires, "What just happened!?" He had joined the rest of his peers after the transfer procedure had started. He had decided to help, for he felt a little indebted to him. Then there was the matter of keeping up appearances. However, try as he may, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with Wei Ying's carefree attitude and free spirit. So, when the red glow had interfered with the blue one, he had not been able to stop himself from doubting Wei Ying again.

After all, everyone knew that the red glow was associated first with the power-hungry Wens and then with Yiling patriarch's demonic cultivation. 

 The Wen's were dead, so that left him with only one option: demonic cultivation.

"I don't know, Qiren. But as far as I can tell, there is nothing to worry about." The physician replies. It doesn't satisfy the strict disciplinarian, "What if Wei WuXian is up to his old tricks again. Can you be sure he is a changed man?"

The physician's brows crease, and he narrows his eyes, shaking his head disapprovingly, "You still don't get it, do you, Qiren? Wei WuXian is not a changed man. He doesn't need to change, for he is a good man, a man who has only ever done everything in his power to protect the innocent and weak, who has valued others life over his own. Qiren, don't judge a pure heart harshly, just because it is untamed."

His friend's words shock Qiren, but instead of contemplating on why he had always judged the young man harshly, he feels offended.

The physician continues, "For all I know, he did whatever he did just now, to protect Lan Wangji; he cares for your nephew. They are- " The old man trails off.

"They are what?" Qiren demands.

"Wangji's core is helping Wei WuXian's core to heal." Elder Bao lies. He knows that Qiren, more than anyone else, will never approve of his nephew sharing a core with someone, least of all the Yiling patriarch.

He pauses and adds, "And I am sure you know what that means. Wangji trusts him, Qiren. Give the boys some credit. The reason you are walking with your head held high today is because of them."

'He is not wrong.' Lan Qiren reasons and looks at the rest of his peers, who are giving him a disappointed look and shaking their heads, 'Now is not the time to broach this subject. Wei WuXian may not be as bad as I thought, but he still doesn't fit in Cloud recesses and our lives. As soon as Wangji heals, I will talk him out of hanging around with Wei WuXian.' He decides and gives his friends a curt nod before once again paying attention to the transfer of spiritual energy.

{Note :- That's it for today's update. The next update will throw light on certain things that many of you are wondering about.

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