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Lan Xichen watched on the side as Lan Wangji played the Empathy, Wei Wuxian held the YunmengJiang sect's bell while Jiang Cheng sat on the floor, his face showed pain and discomfort. It has been an incense time they had started but the Empathy showed no signs of stopping. This depends on Jiang Cheng's mental and spiritual state. "Brother." Lan Wangji called, his fingers gracefully playing the strings.

Lan Xichen started, and only then did he notice he's anxious. He's gripping his robes tight to the point it crinkled. He knows how dangerous Empathy is. You use your body as a medium for the ghost to possess. Earlier, they finally found the ghost of the corpse. However, they saw that the ghost is mute. They were surprised, because the ghost's corpse they found was mutilated, they didn't dare assume the ghost must be mute. And thus, they started Empathy.

Their eyes went wide when Jiang Cheng's body moved, then began to twitch. They saw his hands are tightly balled and is gripping his robes. His lips are tight and, when they saw blood trickled on the corner of his lips, Wei Wuxian started to ring the bell. Jiang Cheng's body swaggered and almost fell on the floor, his head first, had not Lan Xichen – who has been waiting since earlier, immediately caught him. a few seconds later, with eyes still closed, Jiang Cheng coughed up blood. "Sect leader Jiang!" Lan Xichen called as he held Jiang Cheng in his arms tight.

Wei Wuxian rang the bell faster and, a few moments Jiang Cheng gasped loudly. For the last time, he spat out blood, then his eyes slowly opened. The first thing he saw is snow white robe that was painted red – blood. What a pity... he thought as he closed his eyes again. "Jiang Cheng!" he heard Wei Wuxian called. Wei Wuxian...? He thought, noticed that Wei Wuxian's voice is far. Also... Wei Wuxian's robe is black. ... who's holding me...? He thought. Though the body is warm... he closed his eyes contentedly.

As an answer, a warm and low voice rang above his head. "Sect leader Jiang." Lan Xichen called as he shook Jiang Cheng's left shoulder. Jiang Cheng's right shoulder is leaning on him for him to hold him steadily. "Sect leader Jiang...?" he called. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji ran towards them. Jiang Cheng didn't answer. "... he's asleep." He said when he noticed Jiang Cheng's steady breathing.

Wei Wuxian sighed, relieved. "Thanks, Zewu-jun." he said and bowed, referring to catching Jiang Cheng earlier.

Lan Xichen just hummed a response as he carried Jiang Cheng. The two saw the blood on his clothes. "Brother." Lan Wangji called.

Lan Xichen shook his head. "Let's settle sect leader Jiang first." He said and looked at the sleeping Jiang Cheng in his arms. He saw the blood on Jiang Cheng's lips. He raised his hand and wiped the blood off Jiang Cheng's lips with his sleeve. The two were surprised, but didn't speak. Lan Xichen turned, didn't notice the two's reaction. "Let's go." He told them, then walked first while carrying Jiang Cheng.

"Mn." Lan Wangji nodded as he held Wei Wuxian's hand.

"... Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian called.

"Hm?"

"... I don't like where this is going." Wei Wuxian said, his face serious. Lan Wangji stopped and so he stopped. Lan Wangji looked at him as he looked back at Lan Wangji. "I don't want Zewu-jun for Jiang Cheng." He told him.

Lan Wangji understood. Wei Wuxian meant that Lan Xichen is overly caring for Jiang Cheng today. Recently, Lan Xichen has been acting strange ever since he went out of his seclusion. Also, even if their clan would owe Jiang Cheng for lending them a hand in this case, Lan Xichen is way overboard of his actions towards Jiang Cheng. ".. Wei Ying." He called.

Wei Wuxian raised his hand, then shook his head. "Zewu-jun... he seemed to hold romantic feelings towards Lianfang-zun." He said. Lan Wangji didn't answer, since he himself, too, noticed his brother's actions. "... I don't want Jiang Cheng to be hurt. Lan Zhan." He called. Lan Wangji looked at him. "After this case, I'll keep Jiang Cheng away from Zewu-jun." he told him.

Lan Wangji didn't speak anymore and just nodded. "Mn." He said.

The two of them confirmed their thoughts when they saw Lan Xichen brought Jiang Cheng to his room. Lan Xichen wiped Jiang Cheng's face with moist towel before he went to his walk-in closet and changed his clothes. "Wangji. Young master Wei." He said when he saw his brother and brother-in-law silently sitting on the bedside, watching Jiang Cheng fall asleep.

"Brother." Lan Wangji nodded.

"Zewu-jun." Wei Wuxian bowed and sat straight up. His face is deadly serious as he looked around Lan Xichen's room. He trusts Lan Xichen wouldn't do anything suspicious to Jiang Cheng while Jiang Cheng is asleep in Lan Xichen's room. Lan Xichen isn't that type of person. However, he's itching to take Jiang Cheng now and go back to Lotus Pier as soon as possible. Now every second he felt Jiang Cheng being near Lan Xichen he felt suffocated. This must be my overprotectiveness towards my brother – brother's instinct. He thought. I'll never let Jiang Cheng be hurt. He balled his fists.

"Young master Wei. Is something wrong?" Lan Xichen asked when he saw Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian stopped when he felt Lan Wangji's hand on his. He turned and looked at his husband. He felt his heart melted and became calm when he saw his husband's smile. Nothing is more reassuring than Lan Zhan's smile. He thought and smiled back.

Lan Xichen saw the two. He felt his heart itch, a pang of envy on his heart. The three of them was cut off when Jiang Cheng woke up. "Gr." Jiang Cheng groaned as he raised his hand to touch his head that's hurting. But, before he could he felt something warm held his wrist and another warm hand gently touched his forehead. Who...? He thought as he slowly opened his eyes. Again, the first thing he saw was snow white robes. But, this time the robes is impeccably clean.

Wei Wuxian's eyes narrowed as he looked at Lan Xichen intimately touching Jiang Cheng. He knows Lan Xichen's feelings are unstable. Jin Guangyao just died recently, and so he'll be confused. Jiang Cheng is his object of affection right now. He was about to stand when Lan Wangji held his hand tight. He looked at him, and saw even Lan Wangji's face is serious. "Brother." Lan Wangji called.

Lan Xichen turned to them as he slowly let go of Jiang Cheng's hand and forehead. Wei Wuxian calmed down. "Jiang Cheng." He called as he stood up. He walked past Lan Xichen and slightly bumped him 'discreetly' so that he'd move slightly away from Jiang Cheng. "How're you feeling?" he asked.

Jiang Cheng blinked as his vision clear. The white robes he saw earlier is now changed with black robes. ... black robes? He thought, his forehead knotted as his eyes narrowed. His hand instinctively rose and smacked Wei Wuxian's forehead. "Bastard!" he hissed as he sat up.

Lan Xichen was about to help when he saw Wei Wuxian is nearer Jiang Cheng. "What?" Wei Wuxian said, obviously ignoring Lan Xichen's actions. He helped Jiang Cheng sit. "So, what did you see earlier?" he asked, referring to the Empathy. Business first – not because it's the right thing to do, but because he wants Jiang Cheng to leave here.

Jiang Cheng frowned as he held his head that's slightly dizzy. "The man is poor but owns a fair amount of land." He started. "A wealthy family is eyeing it, and used their own daughter to get close to the man. The man is an orphan and he's alone in life. Not later and he fell to the girl and married her. What he owns will be owned by his wife. The wealthy family was thrilled. However, their thrill disappeared when they realized their daughter will be marrying a nameless man." he said, his face went serious. "And so, they plotted for the man's death." He said. "They killed him, then scraped his face off so that no one would recognize him." he held his face as if he's experiencing it. Well, he 'did', since he did the Empathy. "Then, they cut off his tongue." He said and lowered his head. He felt his throat went dry. This time, Lan Wangji gave him a glass of water, earning a glance from Lan Xichen. After a few seconds and Jiang Cheng's eyes closed again. He fell asleep.

A long silence fell. "Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian called. "You now know where the resentment of the man came." He said, then turned to Lan Xichen. "We'll be taking our leave." He told him, then bowed.

"Huh?" Lan Xichen said, then glanced at Jiang Cheng who looked tired.

Wei Wuxian blocked his sight of Jiang Cheng. "You should go and inform senior Lan Qiren first, then deal with the corpse." He told him. "I'll watch over Jiang Cheng." He said, then stopped. "I'm the one who asked him and brought him here, so the responsibility fell on me. I'm also a Lan now, and so I'll properly show Jiang Cheng my thanks." He explained.

Lan Xichen opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Lan Wangji. "Brother." He called. Lan Xichen turned to his brother. "Uncle must have finished resting." He told him.

Lan Xichen stared at him, then Wei Wuxian. He was about to look at Jiang Cheng, but is blocked by Wei Wuxian. He took a deep breath, then nodded. "Let's do that, then." He said as he walked out of the room first.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian looked at each other. "Thanks, Lan Zhan." He said and smiled.

Lan Wangji nodded and kissed his wife on the forehead. "Mn." He said and kissed him on the lips. "Be careful." He told him.

Wei Wuxian smiled and blew a kiss to him, then laughed when he saw his husband hurriedly left. His ears are red. "Haaa..." he sighed, his smile disappeared as he turned to Jiang Cheng. "Time to go back to Lotus Pier." He said as he carried Jiang Cheng over his shoulders like a sack.

He went outside and left.

Yunmeng – Lotus Pier.

Jiang Cheng slowly opened his eyes and saw the familiar ceiling of his room. "Oww..." he cried when he felt his head hurt. He heard some movements and felt a hand touched his forehead. This... felt different. He thought, referring to the soft hand touching his forehead. It's not warm enough. He thought as he raised his hand and removed the hand touching his forehead.

"You're awake." Wei Wuxian said. "How're you feeling?" he asked.

"Worst." Jiang Cheng answered, his voice hoarse.

"Yes, ah. You have a fever." Wei Wuxian told him and took the bowl of congee on the bedside table. He saw Jiang Cheng looked at him and so he said, "This has no poison." He told him. "Ah Ling dropped by here earlier and cooked this for you. That child... I told him not to loiter here or he'll catch your fever." He explained and fed Jiang Cheng. "He said he'll catch a worthy corpse for you." He added.

Jiang Cheng just nodded and ate the congee. The taste is really just right. "How long was I asleep?" he asked and took the water.

"A week – " Wei Wuxian answered and immediately dodged when Jiang Cheng spit out the water. "I'm kidding. Only half a day." He told him and fed him again.

Jiang Cheng gulped down the food before he spat. "Even if I am delirious, but I'd remember the time you put me on the back of a donkey." He said, frowning. He frowned, thinking how embarrassing it is – a sect leader unconscious on the back of a donkey. Only Wei Wuxian could do that stunt. He glared at him.

Wei Wuxian raised his hands. I am hurrying, taking you away from that place. From that man. He thought, but didn't voice out his thoughts. "Don't you have works to finish, anyway?" he asked as he fed him again. "That's why I hurriedly took you back here." He told him.

Jiang Cheng frowned. "Who was it that took me here in the first place?" he asked.

"That's why I immediately returned you." Wei Wuxian said as he kept the bowl. Jiang Cheng just finished eating. "Feel better now?" he asked.

Jiang Cheng nodded and sat up. "How's the corpse now?" he asked as he combed his hair.

Wei Wuxian's face is serious, but he didn't show it. "Of course it's already been dealt with." He said. "They said they want to compensate you." He added.

Jiang Cheng scoffed. "When did my sect ran out of money?" he asked.

Before Wei Wuxian could answer, a voice spoke from outside. "Even so, it's just right to compensate sect leader Jiang." It was Lan Xichen. He's standing by the door, tall and pristine.

Wei Wuxian's face soured and he looked at Lan Wangji behind Lan Xichen. Lan Wangji shook his head, Wei Wuxian didn't speak anymore. He looked at Jiang Cheng. "It was my brother who asked for my help." Jiang Cheng calmly said as he went down his bed. His long, black hair that's untied slid down his shoulders and onto his back and chest. Wei Wuxian never missed that look Lan Xichen is giving Jiang Cheng, and his eyes narrowed.

"Young master Wei is a Lan now." Lan Xichen calmly said and removed his gaze on Jiang Cheng's chest when he saw Wei Wuxian's glare at him. His expression became solemn as he remembered what happened yesterday.

It's actually been two days that Jiang Cheng's sleeping – not half a day. It was the first time Jiang Cheng experienced Empathy. However, he's supposed to wake up after a day. But, Wei Wuxian knew something must've kept Jiang Cheng from waking and he was right when he heard Jiang Cheng crying the first night. Jiang Cheng has been missing his family. But, that's not only it. Jiang Cheng... he mentioned that nobody loves him. Wei Wuxian's heart broke, and Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen just arrived on time. Due to emotional breakdown, Wei Wuxian slipped and Lan Xichen was shocked when he found out that the two wanted to keep Jiang Cheng away from him. Then, it happened.

He confessed. He has fallen in love with Jiang Cheng. And, it happened. Wei Wuxian burst in anger – the resentful energy within him rose up. Lan Wangji had to knock him unconscious.

"Wangji." Lan Xichen called. "I truly love sect leader Jiang." He said. "I know you doubt me, since you helped young master Wei. However..."

Lan Wangji cut him off. "I understand, brother." He said. "Wei Ying... after this night, he will let you near Jiang Wanyin." He said. "I know Wei Ying wouldn't let his brother be alone. So..." he said, didn't continue.

Lan Xichen nodded. "Thank you, Wangji." He said. He knew the two wouldn't interfere again.

He looked at Jiang Cheng, his eyes serious but at the same time solemn. "Sect leader Jiang." He called. "May I speak with you?" he asked. "Privately." He added.

Wei Wuxian's eyes narrowed and Lan Wangji's face became serious. However, Jiang Cheng didn't notice the two. He was about to tie his hair when he heard Lan Xichen spoke. "What?" he said as he let his hair down. "Why?" he asked and turned to him. "It's only our brothers that are here." He told him, his forehead knotted. "What's there to be spoken in private?" he crossed his arms on his chest. His thin inner robes didn't hide his fair skin and well-maintained muscles underneath the fabric.

Lan Xichen had a hard time to remove his gaze on Jiang Cheng's body before he looked at Jiang Cheng's face. "Then – " he said as he took a deep breath. " – I'll say it here." He said and looked at Jiang Cheng in the eye.

Jiang Cheng just tilted his head, waiting. What could it be? He thought, curious, as he glanced at Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. To be hidden from those two... I wonder... he thought and looked at Lan Xichen.

"Sect leader Jiang – " Lan Xichen called. " – I love you." He told him, staring at his eyes to show his sincerity.

He knew, he is aware that he had changed after his seclusion. Even if Wei Wuxian hasn't told him that last time, he still would know – since he himself knows himself the best. Jin Guangyao's death has changed him – inside and outside. He was affected much by Jin Guangyao's death.

"You're after Jiang Cheng since Lianfang-zun is dead!" Wei Wuxian told him, mad. "You want Jiang Cheng to fill in the loneliness you are feeling. You are afraid you'd end up alone... afraid you can never love anyone, that's why you are trying to love Jiang Cheng!" he said as he glared at him, his eyes started to turn red. "Zewu-jun, all I want is for Jiang Cheng to be happy." He said and looked at Jiang Cheng who's now sleeping peacefully, tear stains still on his face. "If... you can make him happy... then, I – " he said as he lowered his head. His eyes slowly closed. Before he could collapse, Lan Wangji had caught him.

"Young master Wei..." Lan Xichen called and balled his fists. He doesn't know why, he wanted to refute Wei Wuxian's words. However... even he himself isn't sure what he would say. Am I... really unsure...? He thought as he lowered his head.

He balled his fists under his sleeve. He raised his head as he looked at Jiang Cheng who's looking at him, his face unreadable. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian is also looking at Jiang Cheng, anxious of what would Jiang Cheng say. After a while and Jiang Cheng finally spoke. "Really?" he said.

The two married couple, their forehead knotted. They were about to speak when Jiang Cheng spoke, clearly shocking them two.

"I love you, too." Jiang Cheng said.

(A/N: what a cliffie! But, it's fine. Hahahaha. I'm on the next chap now XD *whoosh)

See you next chap! ;)