lonelydream | INBOX (for eastbound)

[ He startles when Lan Xichen's device starts bleeping, and then narrows his eyes at it for a moment when it doesn't stop--and then his expression clears. That's almost certainly Lao Wen, making himself very known, even in his absence. Silly man. Zishu does adore him. Lan Xichen's comments startle him, then, and he raises his cup to hide the way his expression flickers before he can school it properly. ]

Master Lan flatters me. Lao Wen is prone to exaggeration; you musn't take his word at face value, not when it comes to me.

[ He sips, and then sighs. ]

Though you may as well ask anything you'd like. I'll answer what I can, but if it's about Lao Wen-- You may very well know more than I do.

I doubt that. Three months does not a zhiji make.

[ His eyes sparkle with humour as he says as much. Close as they are, Wen Kexing and Xichen still have a lot to learn about each other ... or at least, he senses they do. For a while, Wen Kexing wasn't forthright about his own misery at all.

He refills Zhou Zishu's cup, lending him his full attention with patient dark eyes and a soft, curious smile. ]

I would like to hear more about you, if you don't mind.

[ Or so he says, but Wen Kexing recognized Zishu as his within weeks. It took Zishu a little longer, but not too much so. ]

About me? I'm not that interested a person, though.

It's quite rude to imply I have bad taste by wishing to get to know you, after I've said so.

[ That twinkle remains in his eyes as he sips his tea, otherwise serene as he lightly teases him. ]

[ He huff, then, a soft, amused breath. ]

You would get along very well with an old friend of mine, I think.

[ And it would be absolutely terrible for anyone they set their sights on. But Lan Xichen and the Nanning Wang are both beautiful and terrifying in their gentle intensity. ]

What does Master Lan wish to know? My story is really rather simple.

[ Success! ]

What you like, what you dislike ... Master Zhou is very private, I know that much, but it only makes me more invested in finding out these things.

I don't mean to make this difficult for Master Lan. It's simply that I don't think I've ever really stopped to consider such things before.

[ He simply didn't care, much of the time, and erred on the side of efficiency. ]

I like wine. I don't particularly like blood.

[ He knows how ironic that is, thank you. ]

That's a sharp dichotomy of areas to cover in two short sentences.

[ He straightens his smile before it can broaden too much, amused even as he relates. ]

I could say the same, although my little trick of using my golden core to burn up alcohol and prevent any drunkenness once made Wen Kexing very mad, so I suppose if he had his way I wouldn't drink at all.

[ "A waste". ]

Begging Master Lan's forgiveness for my ignorance, but... What exactly is a golden core?

Ah, forgive me.

[ It's so strange and foreign a concept, to think of someone not even knowing about these things. ]

Every cultivator has a golden core, in my world, and it improves over time. It strengthens your spiritual energy and physical body; the qi you saw emanating from Liebing was evidence of mine.

[ Being so carefree with it for a demo like that, Xichen has plenty of qi to spare. ]

On a more commonplace basis, I use my golden core to prevent inebriation during audiences, meetings ... that sort of thing.

Lao Wen and I are [ were ] two of the strongest martial artists of the jianghu, but I don't think that is something we are able to develop. Or--not that I'm aware or.

Though now it does make me wonder...

[ is that how Ye Baiyi achieved his immortality? ]

I will tell you all about this subject, if you like. I'm at your service.

[ Sounding happy about it, too! Also, knowing what he does from Wen Kexing about Zhou Zishu's health ... ]

Some become great warriors, others become artisans ... or healers.

Ah.

How much has Lao Wen told you?

[ After a moment, simply says, ]

He has been extremely worried about you.

[ Xichen knows, he says with a tactful look, that Zhou Zishu's prospects of living a long life back home are in flux. ]

[ His expression twists briefly, and he looks down at the teacup, wishing it were wine. ]

IMaster Lan, may I confide in you, with the confidence that you will not tell Wen Kexing?

Yes.

[ Zhou Zishu has been nothing but polite and respectful of Xichen, he can treat him the same way. That includes keeping a secret he thinks will upset Wen Kexing. ]

My condition is far worse than Lao Wen is aware of.

Circumstances at home--those that haven't yet happened for him--tipped my hand. If I were home, I would have days. Perhaps a week or two.

Not long.

Not the months or years he thinks I do.

[ Terrible. How terrible, he thinks, feeling the awfulness of it in the way he knows Wen Kexing couldn't handle the news. Zhou Zishu does not deserve this. ]

You are so young, how can nothing be done?

It isn't an illness, exactly. It's essentially a form of torture--one that I devised and inflicted upon myself.

And Wen Kexing knows this?

Yes.

Why did ... ? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ask that, it's none of my business.

[ He starts again, reorganising his curiosity into something more helpful and less self-indulgent. ]

My brother and I can ease some damage with a transference of spiritual energy, he tends to use up his reserves on his husband who gets into ... trouble. Wangji would not want to be left without reserves in case of an emergency with Wei Wuxian.

But, I can at least see if your meridians work the same way as ours. Without a golden core, your qi would be stagnant without any way of travelling your body and mending it, as I understand these things. I am interested to know whether that is really true for you.

[ Like blood unable to pump without a heart. Xichen tilts his head, pensive and willing to help. ]

I am no professional healer but I have some knowledge of these things owing to my cultivation.

[ Mainly from helping his people after battle during the Sunshot Campaign, aiding those injured. At best, he supposes, he is an accomplished field medic in qi deviation, but there is no one stronger (to his knowledge) on the same path as him, back home. ]

Ask, if you'd like. It's the least I can do to thank you for whatever help you might be able to provide, though you may not like the answer you get. I am not a good person.

[ With a graceful motion, he draws his sleeves back a bit to lay his bare wrist on the table for Lan Xichen. ]

If Master Lan is willing.

After this, you should ask Lady Wen for her expertise: she will have more to add.

[ He lays two fingers on Zhou Zishu's wrist, warm skin-on-skin, and hesitates with a nod to the man's front. ]

Our golden cores are in our midriff, near the stomach. May I lay a hand on you there? [ His lips twitch. ] You may remain dressed, of course.

[ Scandalous behaviour in this tea-room!! ]

Yes, of course.

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