return from lanling

[shangba]

A full moon, unblinking.

You did not sleep, to see?

Comments

[emperorssmile]

Yeah, it all depends on his mood when he reads the letter.

[shangba]

Wei Ying. He will agree.

[emperorssmile]

I used to know him well enough to agree with you.

[shangba]

You knew his reaction on the telling. Warned me.

[emperorssmile]

If he has any affection left for me, he’ll agree.

[shangba]

Once, we raided the world to find you. Together.

[emperorssmile]

Maybe someday you and he can work alongside each other again. I’ll be with you next time.

[shangba]

He and I, never.

But I believe his affinity for Wei Ying mah return.

[emperorssmile]

Not even if it’s all three of us?

I hope you’re right.

[shangba]

You did not bear his hate thirteen years.

[emperorssmile]

Only because I wasn’t around to witness it.

I won’t push it.

I’m just glad you’re encouraging me to keep him in my life.

[shangba]

I would not heed, if you asked me to renounce Xichen.

Will not ask such a thing of Wei Ying.

[emperorssmile]

I’d have no reason to. Zewu-Jun would never do the things Jiang Cheng did.

I was ready to give up on Jiang Cheng yesterday. I don’t know if I would have reached out to him again if it weren’t for you.

[shangba]

I desire your peace. Your success.

[emperorssmile]

You’re always such a good husband, Lan Zhan.

I have you and the kids and that’s all I need. It would be nice to have my brother again.

[shangba]

And your cultivation.

Wei Ying. I do not jest. We must further it.

[emperorssmile]

Haven’t I been making good progress?

Is it because you want me to be able to hold my own against Jiang Cheng in case his temper gets the best of him?

[shangba]

If the next water gui is successful.

[emperorssmile]

It won’t be.

[shangba]

If.

It does not please me to know you dependent.

[emperorssmile]

But I’m already doing forms and meditating. It’s going to take some time to get this core into reasonable shape.

And I can rely on demonic cultivation, too. I’m not powerless.

My heart won’t ever be prepared for something like that.

[shangba]

I only wish to safeguard you.

[emperorssmile]

I won’t let anything take me away from you.

I’ll work hard, Lan Zhan. Until I have the qi and stamina to ease your mind and then some.

[shangba]

I pray we are swift.

[emperorssmile]

Give me another year and I’ll give you another miracle.