The guilt is inescapable for both of them. His reassurance had been a poor attempt to lift that emotion from Jin Ling's shoulders. He sees where he erred too far immediately and he presses a swift kiss to his nephew's temple.

He flinches at the second part, however, bowing his head tiredly. There were people - lives - that were so good, so pure that he had no business touching them or speaking of them. Jin Ling's parents fell into that category with ease.

"Were you able to retrieve your sword?" that seems like a safer topic, but his eyes dart up to the television, taking in what he sees on the news, "I asked Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen about it and they said Lan Wangji had it."