[it has been a long time since anyone has looked at xichen with the sort of certainty in his authority that he sees in wei wuxian's eyes. it's jarring, as xichen still looks at this man and thinks of who he'd grown to know during the events leading up to guanyin temple. at the same time, he is also the yiling patriarch and the young student who defended wangji against punishment.

in all those versions, he does not picture wei wuxian kowtow-ing before him. wei wuxian's downfall was his pride, wasn't it?

xichen feels more bone tired then, worn by the reality of all the things he hadn't known and still does not know.] You made a deal, Master Wei, and it was not with me. I am not the one who decides if you stay or not. [he offers a sad smile which does not reach his eyes, even if it cannot be seen.]

What I can say is that you are here and you'll find that in its own ways this place is punishment enough. [for what they'll have to do, the choices that they make to achieve their goal.]