[Nie Mingjue is the pillar that the others had looked up to and feared. His rage had always been great, yes, but so were his standards and his heart. Lan Xichen had always admired how the man fearlessly took on the threats of the world even when it really seemed like they would be no match for them. He was truly the destroyer of evil.

And then... Now he understands more about how complicated things really were for his two sworn brothers. When Mingjue mentions the qi deviation, Lan Xichen can't hide his pained look. It was devastating. And he hadn't known at the time how terrible it really was.]

I... Honestly, I do not know. I was not when I first came here, but it does not seem to abide by the rules of nature. The world that it leads us to is magical. I thought I would not see you again.

[It's confirming the worst, he knows, but he can't lie to this man. Especially when being this close, almost like he's sheltered by him, brings back such a nostalgic ache.]