"Those whom we may think do not deserve kindness, are sometimes those that may need to be shown it the most," Xichen muses as his throat still aches. It is an argument he has had before, but this is not the time and place for that train of thought. Not when he sees the weight momentarily slip from Jiang Wanyin's shoulders for the briefest of moments.

It returns, though he's not sure if it's still a weight or if the man has realised he's bared something he did not want to be seen. They are friends, of course, but there is still such a thing as too much vulnerability between even the closest of friends.

It's that similar softness, the dulling of Jiang Wanyin's edges that makes Xichen's heart ache again. Sandu Shengshou is not known for much except for his anger, though Xichen feels the whole of the cultivation world are fools for not seeing of the tenderness he is capable of showing his nephew. The pain rattling his ribcage is worth the sight before him, rare as the glimpse is. "There is strength in offering kindness when faced with an inevitable outcome. The fact she was able to do so, shows your sister lived true to your Sect's ideals. As do you."