The Lanling Challange

The walk to the Jin clan was so uneventful that the clan kids were somewhat bored and had nothing to do but walk and argue with each other. Wei Ying found the arguments between Jin Ling and Lan Jingyi particularly amusing, as they always seemed to be trying to get Sizhui's attention in a sort of personal competition while Sizhui tried his best to keep them from facing each other under the noses of not only Lan Wangji and him, but also Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng. It was so entertained to watch that even Jiang Cheng let them keep it going as they were doing right now.

"Sizhui, don't waste your time trying to reason with a hothead like him. He wants to monopolize Wei Wuxian's time because he's behind in his studies, making everything a mess. What kind of leader will he be if all he's really capable of is bluff...?" Lan Jingyi said to his friend. Although he only meant for Sizhui to hear, it was obvious that Jin Ling was standing too close to miss the conversation, which only made him even more enraged.

"Me? Only capable of bluffing? You want to put it to the test, stupid Lan Jingyi? I dare you to try to defeat me! I can beat you anytime!" Shouted Jin Ling and Jingyi smiled broadly.

"You want a challenge? Fine! Bring it on, we Gusu Lan disciples are not afraid of challenges! We are skilled in many arts and train hard to be good at them. I can beat you in more ways than one whenever you want." Said Jingyi as he came face to face with the one who got on his nerves the most. Beside him, Lan Sizhui sighed, thinking that if Jin Ling was a hothead, so was his longtime friend, because he was just as easily provoked as the other one.

"Alright then! Once we arrive in Lanling, let's face all the challenges set in the training grounds." Jing Ling challenged him.

"Those are set up for you to win, let's have Wei Wuxian give us a new and fair one. He is the one training us now, so he should give us the appropriate challenge for everyone." Exclaimed Lan Jingyi, making Wei Ying rub his forehead, as he felt a strong headache coming on.

Even so, and unlike Wei Wuxian, Lan Xichen smiled openly. The boys were full of passion, and when they wanted to impress, it was hard to hold them back, and although he wasn't very pleased with a sudden challenge, he had to admit that it would do Jin Ling good. Maybe if other young men his age encouraged him enough, he would take things more seriously and study more, as he had been doing since Wei Wuxian returned and start to train them.

"Hey, you brats, Wei Wuxian will only stay there for two days! Are you planning to give him more trouble before he disappears again for who knows how long? Make the most of your limited time!" Interjected Jiang Cheng, but Wei Ying merely put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"I'm fine with a challenge. The kids are bored and competition is not unwelcome for training as long as it's friendly." Wei Ying said and to everyone's surprise, Lan Xichen nodded in agreement.

He had to admit that Lan Jingyi had real guts and he was beginning to consider giving him more training so that he could take good care of his son if the need arose, anyways. He had a feeling that someday Lan Xichen was going to hear another confession of love from two other male disciples. Maybe they were setting the young Lan kids a bad example and he could see Lan Qiren having a heart attack if anyone else in his clan ended up following in their footsteps.

Of course, he was not disturbed by the idea nor was Lan Zhan, but the blow to the old man was going to be quite hard. He still hadn't gotten over the fact that even Xichen had developed a deep feeling for the worst possible man and that it had taken its toll on him to forget the betrayal, lies and deceit of the former Clan leader. 

Yes, Jin Guangyao's despicable actions had caught everyone by surprise, but for Lan Xichen it was too personal and even when Lan Zhan had told him of the possibilities of his evil actions, he had doubted and tried his best to believe that the man he knew so well.... or rather the man he had fallen in love with, if you asked him, could be of the worst kind.

Fortunately, perhaps he could give Lan Xichen a different outcome if his teasing with Jiang Cheng ended up working in his favor. He was aware of Jiang Cheng trying to avoid Lan Xichen, which was kind of confusing him. Of course, Xichen had done nothing to deserve a cold shoulder from his brother, but even Jin Ling had pointed out at the beginning of their yourney to his uncle, that if he felt bad as his face has a constant red in his cheeks and ears.

To be honest, when he asked that, Jiang Cheng blushed even more and Wei Ying had to stand behind them to keep from laughing out loud, although he was sure Jiang Cheng knew he was trying to hold back as once again that wonderful, naughty kid called Lan Jingyi laughed for him. He felt a little sorry for Xichen as he seemed to be at a loss for what was going on behind his back, but he planned to give him something to cheer him up. 

If there was anyone in this world who deserved happiness, it was definitely Lan Xichen because it was thanks to him that he had the man he now shared his life with. He was the best brother, the best supporter, the best leader, and fairest. He deserved better than to suffer the death of the man who betrayed his kindness and trust, he didn't deserve to have his heart broken by someone who used him so despicably.

He had already planted the seed for Jiang Cheng, and while that was no guarantee that they would end up together, as it was his own decision to let things between them deepen or not, he hoped with all his heart that said seed would sprout and grow.

Thus, his new mission during his stay in the Jin Clan was to further press Jiang Cheng's weakness for Lan Xichen and what better plan than a challenge between brats that even Lan Xichen would approve of. Since Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen had worked together for a long time, planning a real challenge in Lanling grounds would keep the two close, killing two birds with one stone. Wei Ying smiled as he accepted the challenge and Lan Zhan just hoped that whatever he was planning would work.

As soon as they entered the Golden Carp Tower and settled in for the few remaining hours of the day, Wei Ying left Lan Zhan with his brother, so they could have their own heart-to-heart talk, if Lan Xichen was willing to open up to him, which he did from time to time when he was too overwhelmed, and went out to find Jiang Cheng and share a few drinks.

Finding him wasn't difficult at all, as Jiang Cheng had, in a way, expected his presence and had already opened the door for him to enter and bring them bottles of wine to share. Wei Ying smiled and accepted the generous offer. He sat down, poured wine from the first bottle into two glasses, and smiled at his brother, inviting him to sit.

"I know why you've come, but I'll have to disappoint you if you think I've fallen madly and unabashedly in love with someone I've admired for a while." Jiang Cheng said as he sat down opposite Wei Wuxian.

"It'll be useless for me to try to force something that's doomed to fail. I only have one suggestion, Jiang Chen, nothing to be taken seriously if there are no prior feelings..."

"You sly fox! You provoke me on purpose, and now you say it's all engraved in my mind? That the feelings are already in my heart?" Jiang Cheng drank.

"Isn't that so? Look, Lan Xichen is a great man, a kind gentleman who, despite the years, is still considered the most attractive young master in the cultivation world. Why? Because he's precisely what any woman or man would want by their side. I know how heartbroken he is right now, but that shouldn't stop him from finding happiness when the time is right."

"Well, it certainly won't be with me." Jiang Cheng insisted, though he honestly didn't sound very assuring.

"Then it's fine. He deserves someone who will be there for him at all times and won't back down if things get difficult." Wei Ying said without thinking, and seeing Jiang Chen's troubled expression, he sighed.

"I'm sorry, I went too far. My apologies, don't misunderstand..." Wei Ying said sadly as he took another drink.

"It was very difficult for me... to go against the current, but I guess that's why my father thought you understood our clan motto better." Jiang Cheng also took another drink.

"It was also difficult for me to become the most hated man in the world, so I don't blame you. To be honest, seeing Wen Qing in such a bad state and the mistreatment of good people was too much for me to let go, but there were many times when it was too much to handle and I wanted to be free again. Wen Qing also knew that the situation sometimes overwhelmed me, so she practically took care of everything for me, giving me the space to focus on creating things that would relieve me of the pressure. Sure, she was also demanding, but someone had to bring me back to reality, so I don't blame her." Wei Ying told his brother, who looked at him even more sadly.

"I don't think I could have handled her if we'd ended up together. She was too brave and daring, not to mention out of my league from the start." He offered his glass so Wei Wuxian could pour more wine, which he did.

"The world has lost a great healer and woman. Her death is one of my greatest regrets. When Wen Ning killed Jin Zixuan while I thought he was under my control it seriously broke me, but when she paralyzed me and told me what she had decided, to throw away her life along with her beloved brother to free me from the sin... that... that was.... I can't even give it a proper name that can sufficiently describe how killing it was. Only the death of our sister can top that..." Then there was a moment of silence in which both men simply drank.

"Because of my sister's death I hated you with more passion..." Jiang Cheng confessed, although Wei Ying already knew.

"I know..."

"But what you don't know is that even though that dark part of me hated you so much, deep down I wished things had ended differently. There were times, especially when I was drunk enough to let my feelings rise, when I would dream of the future we wanted, with you and me becoming the unstoppable Twin Prides of the Yunmeng Jiang... and when I woke up from those dreams, I only hated you and myself more..." He said and Wei Ying opened the second bottle.

"You were always single-minded..." Wei Ying teased him and Jiang Cheng let out a chuckle.

"Just like you, if you consider your nature for self-sacrifice as one." At that Wei Ying smiled.

"Fair enough... so..."

"So..."

"I'm just telling you to give yourself a chance to heal too...it doesn't have to be with Lan Xichen, just with whoever you are willing to open your heart to."

"It's too soon for that... his heart isn't ready for anything else right now." Jiang Cheng whispered and too late he caught Wei Wuxian's amused expression, as he had fallen right into his trap.

"You really are cunning, Wei Wuxian..." Jiang Cheng held out his glass for a toast.

"Like I said, there's nothing to find if there's nothing buried inside..." He said as their glasses clinked.

"Never mind that, what do you plan to do with this new challenge?" Jiang Cheng asked as he drank more.

"Something fun, for sure... I think it will be a good experience for the brats and it will be my true legacy. I believe one of the things that most helped Jin Guangyao bring about my downfall and take control of everything was the dark nature that dwells in our hearts, those feelings that constantly push us apart instead of uniting us. This new generation of cultivators should forge stronger bonds, ones that can prevent future disasters made with the same mistakes."

"Alright, then what's the plan?" Jiang Cheng asked quite curiously."

"Come closer and I'll tell you... but only the basic plan. I need to return to Lan Zhan soon, so the details will have to wait until tomorrow, so don't ask more than I can answer."

"I swear you two are like bunnies in heat..." Jiang Cheng complained and Wei Ying laughed.

"You can enjoy that too..." Wei Ying joked and Jiang Cheng was tempted to throw his cup at him, but he knew better than to give him what he wanted, so he resigned himself and listened attentively to the silly, but brilliant idea that had come to his mind.

A while later, Wei Ying returned to his room, where Lan Zhan was patiently waiting for him to return while playing their tune with his zither. By then, it was already nightfall, and despite his determination to return to the plan and discuss the details later in the morning, Jiang Cheng wasn't in the mood to be denied the limited time he had with him, so he insisted on being told every detail before finally letting him go.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan greet him with a soft smile he love so much.

"I swear Jiang Cheng is too demanding..."

"It's been a while since you share time."

"Yeah... but well, I'm here now, my Lan Zhan..." He said as he sat by his side and kiss him gently.

"What about your time with Xichen?" Wei Ying asked as Lan Zhan moved back to give his lover room to sit on his lap.

"He is still grieving. After Jin Ling's full training he may isolate himself."

"I hope he won't, your family has suffered from long seclusion in the past..." Wei Ying said as he held Lan Zhan closer.

"It's hard to forget tragedy..."

"I know, you are the proof of it, but hopefully, maybe things will change. We all suffered enough, so I'm sure someone, somewhere, will take pity on us and grant us a happier future." Wei Ying said as he kissed Lan Zhan this time passionately.

"I have my happier future right in my arms." Lan Zhan said after their heated kiss ended and went for another.

"Right..." Wei Ying murmured against Lan Wangji's lips and as usual, he gave himself to him so willingly that he could only make Lan Zhan count his blessings for not only having him back after losing and searching for him for so long, but also as a husband.

AN: Because so many years had pass before this chapter, it may have a different vibe now, so, sorry about that if it feels rushed. I think this is more like an extra because the previous one feels to me more like the real ending, but thanks for reading it.