First Encounter

Wei Ying

After their heated love making, they went out to dress again and pick up their swords, then went back to their original room to change into more decent and dry robes to pick up Ah Yuan. Then they headed to Xichen's room. When they arrived, the sliding door was open and they could hear Xichen talking with someone else. Ah Yuan hear them coming and hastily went out to greet his two fathers.

"Father Xian!" Ah Yuan yelled as he ran toward him and Wei Ying took him in his arms, at the entrance of the room. He was glad to see his father Zhan too, but since he didn't see his father Xian in the morning, he missed him more.

"You little brat, I hope you behave with Lord Xichen." Wei Ying said and his son assented.

"I did. Lord Xichen played the zither for me. Can you teach me play it? It was so beautiful..." Wei Ying sighed. It really looks like he will become a full Lan.

"Father Zhan will sure teach you, if you behave in the coming days." Wei Ying told him and the kid beamed, as he looked at his father Zhan.

"Will you?" Wangji slightly smiled.

"Yes." He said and Ah Yuan giggled with happiness, while Xichen went out with a smile. However this time he was not alone, as there was someone else by his side, carefully observing their interactions.

"Brother, Meng Yao." Lan Zhan bowed respectfully and Wei Ying directed his attention to the man standing by Lord Xichen. He smiled at him quite charmingly and bowed back, greeting them both, but as he look at him, there was something he didn't quite like it.

He was pretty average in high and appearance, so was his robes, not too fancy, yet not too plain either. He gave an air of been ordinary, someone that didn't stand in a crowd, yet his smile was alluring, but his eyes were different, they were the eyes that resemble eagles, sharp and cunnings, seen it all. No matter what, he thought of him as someone who hides his true self.

"There is something odd about that one, Wei Ying, be wary of him." Xuanyu warned him internally, as he sensed a hint of something dark on him, despite the bright face and friendly approach.

"I know, I got the same feeling." Wei told Xuanyu back, making him relax.

"Young Master Wei, this is Lord Meng Yao, second in command of the Nie Clan and my sworn brother. He just came to visit me a minute ago." Xichen introduce them and as for courtesy, Wei slightly bowed to him, with Ah Yuan still on his arms.

"Ah, I had hear a lot about you, young Master Wei. You seems to be quite talented." The man said in a friendly manner.

"Not really, I'm just a bit above average." Wei said back and Wangji arched an eyebrow. That he diminish himself was quite unlike him, as he usually thought highly of himself.

"That's quite modest. I most thank you for taking good care of Nie Huaisang. He said you had help him a lot." The man said with a kind smile in his lips that gives Wei Ying goosebumps.

"I do my best for all." He reply back.

"That's good to hear, now, please excuse me. I had somewhere else to go." He said with a bright smile and Wei Ying moved away to let him pass.

Meng Yao keep the smile until he was halfway to the exit of the pavilion, then the smile die on his lips and his expression became serious. However, there was a brightness in his eyes as he went out. Just by one casual encounter and he had gained a huge insight. One, there was a kid bond to Wei Wuxian as well, second, Lan Wangji had openly declared his feelings for Wuxian, taking off his ribbon and offering to him.

Ah, such was the way of deep young lovers, already having a family to care for. He smiled widely once out of the area. They were just making it too easy for him. How lucky of him, he thought, as he disappeared in the solitude of the outer garden.

Back with Xichen, Wangji told his brother about his compromise with Wei Wuxian, thus asking for another ribbon, as the one he had gifted to Wei Ying, was the proof of his choosing and seriousness of his feelings. Xichen was already expecting it after what he had told him yesterday, so he simply moved close to a table that had a jade box on top and open it, revealing a pure white long ribbon.

"Young Master Wei... since you had stolen my brother's heart so fully, remember to take good care of that ribbon. It's not something that is given easily and the meaning behind it it's great in our Clan." Wei Ying smiled.

"I know. All things related to Lan Zhan, I take them seriously, you don't need to worry." Xichen smiled.

"Good, your father, as well as some others from the Wen Clan had gone out to investigate a few things in town. They may stay down for a few days, but will be back for the gathering of the Leaders." Wei sighed, knowing that the 'investigation' matter, provably was only excuse to not stay for longer in the island, as his father hated the Lan Clan food.

Damn it father, at least you could have sent some to us. He sighed again and perhaps because of that, his little Yuan knew his father well too, he also thought about the same. Thus...

"Father Xian, I'm hungry. Can I go down with grandpa Lao?" Ah Yuan pouted and Wei Ying laughed.

"No, you can't go down. I'm sure Lord Xichen offer you a feast." Wei said, taking in consideration that despite the taste, Xichen will still offer him the best.

"But it tasted bitter, just like yesterday..." Ah Yuan whisper to his ear, which was of course, quite true. The Lan Clan was not the best at offering food. They were vegetarians, so there was nothing else he could do, as his father had opted for running away and let them with the Lan's diet. Well, there was still one thing.

"Alright, off we go... We will be leaving now, Lord Xichen. Come on, Lan Zhan." Wei said and after Wangji bowed to his brother they headed out.

"Wei Ying, I will bring food from the town for you both." Wangji offer.

"No need. We are still forbidden to go down. Suibian, however..." The sword spirit was immediately out.

"Yeah, I know, I will go down and bring you your favorites." He resigned himself.

"Damn right, you owe me. Make sure to give father a kick for me. He should at least bring some for Ah Yuan." Subian sighed.

"It wasn't his fault that the brat cling to you all night." Well, that was true.

"Never mind... bring a lot, I bet the others will like something with flavor too. We will head for the island after picking up some things." He put Ah Yuan in the floor and give Suibian his money pouch.

"Also, remember to bring some wine..." He added, but...

"Wei Ying, alcohol is forbidden. I'm still a Lan." Wangji remaind him.

"Yeah, yeah... forget the wine, just go and bring something good." Then, Bichen went out.

"Master Zhan, I would like to go with him, to help him with the food." She asked for permission.

"You can go." And so, the both of them disappeared, after taking a few teleporting talismans that Lan Zhan offered. Seen that he was going to eat better, Ah Yuan was quite happy.

"Father Zhan, can you play the zither for me?" He asked, as they walked back to their room.

"Yes." Wangji said and Yuan took his hand and try to pull him, so they could go faster. Wei laughed.

"You brat, if you want to be a Lan, you will have to get used to the bitter food and stop running, it's also forbidden, along with a thousand more strict rules." Ah Yuan stopped his advance completely, almost wanting to cry.

"Still want to become a Lan?" Wei teased and Wangji sighed.

"Ah Yuan, I will personally teach you to play the zither and train you to become a Lan king." Ah Yuan look at his father Zhan with admiration, so imposing and powerful. Can he really become like him? Wei Ying immediately saw his defeat.

"Lan Zhan, you are too much." Wangji smirked and resume the walking with the very happy future Lan Sizhui.

Suibian

They went down to town and after walking for a few minutes, Bichen guide him toward the best place that sold food, which was also an Inn. It was a crowded place at that hour, so close to nightfall, but the food was excellent and the service quite fast. Just as they got the food, Lord Wei enter the Inn and after seen them, he walked ahead of his group to greet him.

"Ah, Subian, my boy, it's so good to see you again..." Lord Wei exclaimed and patted his back vigorously, almost making him fall forward, if Lord Wei himself didn't grab him by the collar. However, as he recovered his balance, Lord Wei took the chance to whisper something close to his ear.

"Keep your guard up, Wei Ying is still a target. Sanren said, the mastermind is still inside the islands and that the expelled brat from the Su Clan was not the one." Suibian assented in understanding.

"I will look what I can find from here, you make sure Ying is safe at all times." Lord Wei added again in a very low tone he almost didn't hear it.

"Understood." Suibian assured him and after exchanging a greeting, he left the Inn with Bichen.

As soon as he was out, Suibian was in contact with Sandu and ask him to keep up with their secret surveillance, as the danger was still far from over and the roughs still had their eyes set on Wuxian and Sandu hastily passed the news to his Jiang Cheng.

"I knew it. Those bastards are not giving up on him so easily." Cheng said.

"Apparently not, although why they want him is still unclear." Sandu told him.

"Wuxian is smart, with him gone, their plans will had less chances to be discover or succeed. Also, he would be a very frightening fierce corpse, especially if he becomes a puppet." Cheng said.

"I guess." Sandu conceded.

"Tell Suibian that bring Wuxian here as soon as he comes back to the island. It will be better if we all stay together, just in case they try to make a move on him." Cheng added.

"Of course, Master." Sandu said, disappearing right after and Jiang Cheng sighed. Apparently, things will only keep escalating from there on and his only hope was that they could become strong enough to face them all.

AN: Thanks for reading my darlings.