Whatever the xianxia equivalent to a lightbulb goes off in Lan Xichen's head.

Ah.

So there was another dimension to this he wasn't seeing. The hard determination around his eyes softens to something gentle, something sympathetic. He has been where Shen Yuan is right now and it is an ugly, twisting feeling, the kind that you have to let yourself feel until it either fades or you grow used to it.

"No - I will not let anyone hurt or denigrate him again."

In truth, he'd never expected that kind of behaviour from Mingjue to begin with. He'd always been hot-headed, but had always seemed above such prejudices. Had he misjudged the man? Or had the sabre sunk itself too deep into him?

He'll probably never know now. The man he knew, the man he'd admired since he was a child was fading long before Jin Guangyao engineered his demise - Lan Xichen just couldn't bring himself to admit it.

"Even if da-ge appears on these shores, it would be wise to keep him well away from A-Yao. Likewise, if Luo Binghe comes here, I will gladly keep him away from you, if that's what Shen-gongzi wishes."