Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji's voice called from the door of the Jingshi. Wei Ying looked up from his work, his face splitting into a wide smile. He dropped the brush he held in his hand in favour of getting to his feet and running into the open arms of his husband. 

"Welcome back!" he greeted, tightening his hold around Lan Wangji.

"How was the night hunt with the kids?" Wei Wuxian asked as he pulled away from the hug but not from his husband's hold around his waist. "You were gone for a week. I missed you so much."

Lan Wangji gave him a peck on the forehead to return the sentiments.

"No issues," was Lan Wangji's terse and taciturn reply. Despite the apathetic tone, the pinkness on the tips of Lan Wangji's ears told a different story. Wei Wuxian chuckled and then leaned closer to kiss Lan Wangji on the cheek. 

"That's good," he said. Lan Wangji tightened his hold around Wei Wuxian as he pulled him closer. 

"What are you working on?" Lan Wangji suddenly asked after they finally pulled apart. Wei Wuxian had settled back on the floor by the low desk. 

"Oh, just something of an experimental talisman," Wei Wuxian replied. Lan Wangji joined him by the floor, sitting across the low desk from him. The normally pristine desk was full of drafts and drawings scattered haphazardly about. He recognizes a few of the characters that were prolific on his notes and drawings. 

"You're experimenting with time manipulation?" Lan Wangji asked. Wei Wuxian grinned and nodded. 

"I can't believe no one ever thought of trying to manipulate time before. It's such an interesting concept to pass up! I hardly found any notes on it in the Forbidden Library so I had to start my research from scratch," he explained. 

It was quite amazing how much progress he had made in the week that Lan Wangji was away, thought Wei Wuxian idly. From the slight surprise in the golden irises of his husband, Lan Wangji thought the same too. 

"It is late, however," Lan Wangji pointed out. 

"It's not even nine yet!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed. 

"Continue tomorrow," Lan Wangji said as he gets to his feet. "I will prepare a bath for you." 

"What? You just got back! I'll prepare it for you," Wei Wuxian quickly got to his feet, setting the brush back down and then hurrying to catch up with Lan Wangji. 

Later that night, after a round of heated touches and equally heated kisses (and another bath), they settle back into their bed in each other's arms, Wei Wuxian's work quickly forgotten. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When Wei Wuxian opened his eyes again, he finds himself staring not at the familiar ceiling of the Jingshi. Instead, his eyes met the sight of a familiar secluded courtyard of Cloud Recesses late in the night. He looked down and saw that he was on the roof; a roof he was quite acquainted with seeing as how he used this very wall to escape to Caiyi and get-

He quickly realizes that he was holding two jars of Emperor's Smile in one hand. 

Hold on, he thought. Didn't he do this already? 

"Wei Ying?" he heard a familiar voice call out to him. Wei Wuxian whipped his head to the direction of where the voice was coming from and was greeted by the strange but familiar sight of Lan Wangji, a few decades younger and dressed in the robes of a junior disciple of the Gusu Lan Sect. Wei Wuxian stood there in disbelief for a few moments before his eyes narrow at Lan Wangji's hand on the hilt of his sword. 

"Lan Zhan, my er-gege, you would draw your sword at your own husband?" he asked, feigning a look of utter hurt and betrayal. 

Lan Wangji seemed to have realized this and quickly let go of his sword, a look of horror briefly etched across his face before he realized his husband's theatrics. Wei Wuxian's face broke into a wide grin and he quickly made his way to his husband. Lan Wangji met him halfway. 

"This feels too real to be a dream cooked up by the incense burner," Wei Wuxian said. Lan Wangji agreed with a quiet "En."

Wei Wuxian set down the jars of Emperor's Smile and reached out to cup his husband's (wait, is he still my husband at this point in time, he thought) young face. Lan Wangji's arms found their way around his waist and pulled him close. Lan Wangji seemed to be drinking in the sight of him, memorizing every detail of him down to a single strand of his hair. Wei Wuxian recognized a muted look of pain in those golden irises that he loved so much. 

"What's with that look, Lan Zhan? Am I pretty?" Wei Wuxian asked to lighten the mood. 

"The prettiest," Lan Wangji answered easily. Wei Wuxian let out a hearty laugh. 

"Oh my god, Lan Zhan! What did I say about you declaring stuff like that with a straight face?" 

"No excessive noise in Cloud Recesses."

"You sure didn't say that when I was being loud last night," Wei Wuxian said shamelessly. Well, if it can still even be counted as "last night" seeing as how they were several decades into the past. Lan Wangji's eyes narrowed as the tips of his ears turned a bright shade of red. He can hear Lan Wangji's voice say 'shameless', even if it was left unspoken.

They did not linger for too long outside. Wei Wuxian followed Lan Wangji to the Jingshi, a slight bounce in his steps as they held hands on their way there. It was sort of an odd feeling to be like this with a younger Lan Wangji, thought Wei Wuxian. It wasn't unpleasant - like he'd pass the chance to be affectionate with his one and only husband! - but his memories of them as teenagers were of Lan Wangji pushing him away every time Wei Wuxian tried to befriend him. 

He understands that his husband just didn't really understand the feelings borne from love at first sight, but still. 

So forgive him a little bit for being disoriented at the fact that a young Lan Wangji was leading him back to the Jingshi with their fingers intertwined and him refusing to even let go even as they entered through the threshold. 

The jars of Emperor's smile were kept in the hidden compartment, Wei Wuxian forgoing the chance to consume them in favour of talking with his husband about what had just happened to them. They had stripped down to their thin inner robes and had settled on the bed, with Wei Wuxian settling between Lan Wangji's legs and had his back pressed against his chest. Lan Wangji's arms were wrapped around his torso, his head comfortably resting on Wei Wuxian's shoulder. 

A few hours ago, they were forty-five years old, in partial seclusion from the cultivation world with their own home in the mountains. They had gone to Cloud Recesses to visit the others and Lan Wangji followed through with some of his sect duties and took the juniors out to a night hunt. Wei Wuxian was tinkering with a talisman that was working with an impossible concept of time manipulation when Lan Wangji returned. 

Now, they were fifteen and junior disciples of their respective sects. Wei Wuxian could still feel the warmth of his powerful golden core in his abdomen; something that Lan Wangji definitely found to be reassuring. They just had their first meeting (though this time, it didn't end with Lan Wangji drawing out his blade to discipline him).

They were in a time before the Wens had tried to destroy everything they hold near and dear to them.

They were in a time when everyone they cared for was still safe and alive. 

"I want to make sure nothing happens this time around," Wei Wuxian declared quietly. 

"En," Lan Wangji replied easily. 

"Will you help me?"

"En." It should go without saying, thought Wei Wuxian. He was sure that Lan Wangji thought the same but it didn't hurt to ask. 

"I don't want to go stay at the guest disciples' quarters," Wei Wuxian said with a pout. 

"Stay here," Lan Wangji said firmly. 

Wei Wuxian laughed. "I was only saying it. I don't mean to make it sound like it was a complaint but they'll find it suspicious if I'm not there. Jiang Cheng would throw a fit if I cause trouble since I'm carrying the sect name after all." 

In the other time, while Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng have repaired their relationship to the point that they could be civil with one another, the strain of their friendship not being the same as before still lingered. Wei Wuxian vowed that this time around, he'd want to stay as Jiang Cheng's brother and not give the man any reason for him to think otherwise.

Wei Wuxian turned his head slightly to see the slight frown on Lan Wangji's face. He couldn't help but kiss him on the cheek. He turned his body slightly so that he was facing Lan Wangji and cupped his face in his hands gently. 

"It's not that I don't want to stay with you," he explained. "I could barely sleep with you away for the entire week so you can imagine how hard it would be for me to not be by your side but I want to do things right." 

"...Stay with me here," Lan Wangji said quietly. 

"... You're breaking my resolve quick, Lan er-gege," Wei Wuxian muttered. 

A few moments of still silence later and Wei Wuxian made his final decision, letting out a defeated sigh. "Okay, okay. You're lucky I love you so much, Lan Zhan. I just hope Jiang Cheng doesn't-"

"Don't talk about him here," Lan Wangji said, his tone ever so slightly petulant. 

Wei Wuxian snorted and then let out a laugh, pressing his forehead against Lan Wangji's. "Yes, yes. I won't talk about him anymore." 

He really ought not to worry, now that Wei Wuxian thinks about it. Jiang Cheng may be insecure but he still sees Wei Wuxian as his brother, his confidant. So what if he's not in his room? It isn't that big of a deal since Jiang Cheng didn't make a big deal out of his sneaking out in the other time (though it will be if they find out that he's really at the Jingshi with Lan Wangji... but he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it). 

"I wonder if they'll let us get married properly this time around..." Wei Wuxian muttered all of a sudden. Lan Wangji's eyes widened slightly. 

They did their three kneelings and it was only with great, great reluctance did the elders of Gusu Lan allow for a proper ceremony in red to register Wei Wuxian as Lan Wangji's lawful husband into the family records but maybe this time around, they won't be as stiff about a union between them since for one; Wei Wuxian was not the Yiling Patriarch or the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. He was but the prodigious head disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. 

Yes, there was the glaring problem of them being both men but Lan Wangji's position as the second son gave him a bit of leeway with his choice of partner... at least, to Wei Wuxian's understanding. 

"Wait, maybe my status as a servant's son might-" Wei Wuxian began. 

"They will accept," Lan Wangji interrupted him, his hold around Wei Wuxian suddenly tightening. Lan Wangji never cared about Wei Wuxian's status in the social hierarchy. It didn't matter to Wei Wuxian that he was the second son of a prominent family; he never made a fuss about it.

To him, Wei Wuxian was Wei Wuxian, his place in the social hierarchy based on his parentage be damned. 

"And if they don't?" Wei Wuxian challenged. 

Instead of a verbal reply, Wei Wuxian found Lan Wangji pressing a bruising kiss against his lips. Smiling into the kiss, Wei Wuxian wrapped his arms around his husband's shoulders and leans into the kiss.

'We will elope' is left unsaid. 

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian woke up earlier than Lan Wangji did some time before five the next morning. There was a slight throb of pain on his lower back that he easily ignored, his golden core already working its magic. It was still a bit dark but he could see clearly as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Wei Wuxian half expected yesterday night to all be a dream but when he looked to his side and saw a young Lan Wangji sleeping next to him, he knew right then that this was no dream at all. Wei Wuxian tried going back to sleep but no matter how much he wills himself to go back to sleep, he could only sigh quietly in defeat. He sat up on the bed and quietly looked at the sleeping face of his husband. 

Back then, Wei Wuxian found himself inexplicably drawn to Lan Wangji. He thought the boy was beautiful, like an exquisite piece of jade. But he was so strict and emotionless that Wei Wuxian became relentless in trying to get a reaction from him. He had hoped that he'd be able to see a shift in his stoic expression (that wasn't a scowl for once) and he had wanted to be the only cause for it. Teasing the perfect, stoic second child of the Gusu Lan Sect was a hilarious endeavor but in hindsight, he really ought to have clued in on his growing feelings by then.

Wei Wuxian chuckled at the thought. He tucked a lock of his husband's hair behind his ear with a fond smile on his face. It was no wonder Jiang Cheng was annoyed at how much he brought up Lan Wangji, despite the conversation. He was sure his shijie also realized what Wei Wuxian was completely oblivious to. 

A dull throb of pain emerged in his chest at the thought of Jiang Yanli, his smile wavering. His shijie. His precious older sister. Wei Wuxian he looked at his hands, feeling the phantom warmth of her blood soaking them from that dreaded night. 

Wei Wuxian closes his eyes and wills himself to not think about it. She is alive, happy, and healthy here and he wants to keep it that way. He wants to make sure that the tragedies of the other time do not repeat themselves here.

He will make sure of that. 

Wei Wuxian wasn't without company for too long as he feels the slight shift in Lan Wangji's movements beside him. His husband sits up on the bed and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but kiss him on the cheek as he greeted him good morning. Lan Wangji greeted him back with a peck on the side of his head and Wei Wuxian uses the opportunity to embrace him, nuzzling his face on the crook of Lan Wangji's neck. 

"You are awake early," Lan Wangji said softly. 

"I have times like this," Wei Wuxian admits with a shrug. Then he adds with a cheeky lilt, "Don't tell anyone though. I plan to keep my reputation as someone who wakes up at nine."

Lan Wangji huffs quietly in fond exasperation, wrapping his arms around Wei Wuxian and buries his face into his hair. Wei Wuxian eagerly pressed himself closer into his embrace. 

"Are you alright?" Lan Wangji quietly murmur.

"Hm? Never better. Why are you asking?" 

Lan Wangji pulls away slightly to meet the other's gaze. Wei Wuxian sees the concern reflected in his eyes. "You looked troubled earlier." 

"Oh," was Wei Wuxian's ever eloquent reply. Wei Wuxian did not want to lie to his husband (yes, even if they're fifteen, they're still husbands!) so he admitted his thoughts from earlier. Lan Wangji tightened his hold around him. 

"Things will be different," he promised. 

"...I know. We'll make sure of it, right?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice unusually timid. 

"En."

Wei Wuxian straightened up and met Lan Wangji's intense gaze. "Do you think we can do it?"

"Can and will," Lan Wangji replied easily, tone firm and full of resolve. Wei Wuxian stared at him for a few moments before his face broke into a wide grin that could rival the sun.

Lan Wangji drank in the sight of that smile, his hand moving of its own accord to cup the side of that handsome face he grew up knowing. Though Lan Wangji never cared for how Wei Wuxian looked, there was a disconcerting feeling that lingered in the back of his mind when he remembered Wei Wuxian with a stranger's face in the previous time.

Memories of this face losing this smile flooded his mind for a brief moment and only when Wei Wuxian pressed forward to kiss him softly on the lips did he lose his train of thought. Something about his expression must have warranted this, thought Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian was getting better at reading him before they were sent back here.

When they pulled away, Wei Wuxian's smile was soft and radiant, and Lan Wangji's chest ached as it was filled with all the love in the world.

If Wei Wuxian promised to make sure the Wen's tyranny doesn't destroy everything they hold dear, then Lan Wangji's was to help him see through that and to make sure that Wei Wuxian never loses his smiles ever again. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Jiang Cheng did not know what to make of his (idiot) brother not being in his room when he came by the next morning. He expected him to still be sprawled on the bed since he sleeps like the dead until eleven in the morning (ten, if he can be persuaded). The bed did not even look used so it was safe to assume that Wei Wuxian did not even bother coming back to his room from wherever he fucked off to late last night.

Jiang Cheng let out a tired sigh. It was only five in the morning but he already felt an impending headache about to form. 

He steps out of the guest disciples' dormitory and makes his way towards the main building. He passes by a few Lan disciples and greets them politely as he does. They return the gesture before they continue on their way. He doesn't spot any familiar faces until he reaches the stone staircase leading to the main building up the hill. There, he finds Nie Huaisang, talking to one of the other guest disciples as he fans himself softly. 

"Oh, good morning, Jiang-xiong," Nie Huaisang says, with all the airs of a princely young man but none of Jin Zixuan's cocky pretentiousness. Jiang Cheng greets him back before he asks him,

"Have any of you seen Wei Wuxian?" 

Nie Huaisang tilts his head in confusion. "He isn't at the dorms?" 

Jiang Cheng shook his head then crossed his arms against his chest. "That's why I'm asking. I don't think that idiot even went back after he sneaked out last night." 

Nie Huaisang pursed his lips and nervously fanned himself. "...You don't think he got caught, did you? The disciplinarian here is Lan Wangji and I can assure you, he lives up to the horror stories about him." 

Jiang Cheng doesn't personally know Lan Wangji but he does know his reputation for being incredibly strict and relentless in giving punishments to those who dare defy even one of the three-thousand rules carved on the side of the mountain.

Knowing his brother, Jiang Cheng was sure that he broke at least five rules last night when he sneaked out. His fate as of late was just up in the air since he doesn't even know where the fuck he is. 

Not wanting to linger and be late for breakfast at the mess hall, they headed up the staircase, exchanging brief idle chatter as they walked. The mess hall was rather quiet. Jiang Cheng might think that he had gone deaf, had he not heard the low, low buzz of chatter from a few people and the tinkling sounds of ceramic spoons touching ceramic soup bowls. There were a few other guest disciples from other sects dotted here and there, making them pops of colour in the sea of white-clad cultivators. They scan the area and find no trace of Wei Wuxian in the crowd. 

After breakfast, Jiang Cheng was now getting close to being angry and worried, but mostly angry. Nie Huaisang tried to assure him that he might have just gone to an inn to stay the night and will be back later but that did very little to assure him.

Jiang Cheng rubbed his temples and let out a deep sigh. They had just arrived yesterday and Wei Wuxian was already giving him a headache. Couldn't he wait until maybe like, a week? Or maybe just never? 

Classes don't start for another hour but Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang make their way to the main building, intending to wait for Wei Wuxian at the Orchid Room. They passed by a few other guest disciples hanging about in the main hall but doesn't spot a familiar head of messy black hair anywhere in the crowd. Jiang Cheng scowls at the sight of Jin Zixuan and when their eyes briefly met, they turned away from each other with a displeased huff. 

The Orchid Room was quiet and empty when they arrive. Of course, he can never trust his (idiot) brother to go to the classroom immediately but Jiang Cheng had hoped that he was there, mostly so he can stop getting worked up in knowing where the actual goddamn fuck his brother was! 

"Jiang-xiong," Nie Huaisang called out to him, tapping him on the shoulder. Jiang Cheng took what felt like the nth deep breath he had for the day and turned to Nie Huaisang, who had a look of concern on his face. 

"If anything bad had happened to him within Cloud Recesses then you would have been informed about what happened," Nie Huaisang said reassuringly. Jiang Cheng hated the fact that he made sense but still! Let him be worried, damn it! Wei Wuxian may be an idiot but he's still his brother! 

"Jiang Cheng! Huaisang-xiong!" As if the heavens themselves opened up to answer him (or maybe the gates of Diyu), he hears the familiar voice of his brother coming from the doorway. Wei Wuxian strides in, dressed immaculately in the purple robes of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, and then greets them with a cheeky, "Good morning!"

"Where the hell have you been?" Jiang Cheng says through gritted teeth. He refuses to appear visibly relieved at the sight of him.

Wei Wuxian fixed his hair differently today, he noted. It wasn't the usual messy ponytail but it was a tidy half-updo, tied with a long red ribbon. It felt off to see him style his hair that way, somehow. There seemed to be nothing visibly wrong with him like physical injuries or the like so he can rule out having been punished by Lan Wangji for misconduct last night. 

"Hm, just out and about. I woke up early," Wei Wuxian replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "Stretched my legs a little bit, you know?"

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. "...and you made the bed? Neatly?" he retorted, tone disbelieving. 

"Hey! I can do it! I just choose not to!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, feigning indignance.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "I would have believed you more if you just said that you snuck out and stayed at an inn for the night," he sneered. 

"Aw, Jiang Cheng, are you worried about me?" 

He bristles at the teasing tone. "Who would worry about you?!" Jiang Cheng roared. 

"Excessive noise is prohibited in Cloud Recesses," came another voice from just behind Wei Wuxian. Nie Huaisang, who had been silently staring at the brothers bicker, flinched and stuttered out a greeting to Lan Wangji. 

Jiang Cheng straightened up and apologized to Lan Wangji. The other boy's apathetic gaze did not shift whatsoever but Jiang Cheng could have sworn he heard a very, very quiet "En" as his response. 

"Oh, Lan Zhan! Good morning to you too~" Wei Wuxian exclaimed in what they could have sworn was a flirtatious lilt to his voice. Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang choked on their spit at the other boy's blatant shamelessness. Who the hell calls the disciplinarian and embodiment of all that is Gusu Lan, the Lan Wangji, by his name to his face?!

Jiang Cheng was about to apologize for his (idiot) brother's behalf but Lan Wangji merely nodded and greeted him back (did they hear him say Wei Ying or were they just imagining it?) but said nothing else as he walked past Wei Wuxian and sat behind his desk. 

Jiang Cheng resisted the urge to take Wei Wuxian out of the room and demand an explanation but he was once against distracted by something he caught a very, very tiny glimpse of just peeking out from underneath Wei Wuxian's collar.

It looked like discolouration of the skin, somewhat akin to being hit... or... or-

"Jiang Cheng? You okay?" Jiang Cheng snapped his gaze back up to find Wei Wuxian waving his hand in front of his face. "You're spacing out. Do we need to take you to the infirmary?" 

"No need!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed. Then, he remembered that Lan Wangji was still in the room with them. From the corner of his eye, the disciplinarian was giving him a stony look. He apologized again. 

Sometime later, the other disciples arrived in the classroom. Wei Wuxian settled on the only seat right next to Lan Wangji. Jiang Cheng (and many others) prayed for him but the former did not seem all that bothered by it. Hell, he seemed perfectly at ease. 

Lan Qiren stepped inside, his narrowed eyes sweeping the room. His gaze lingered on Wei Wuxian for a little bit before he stepped up to the front and began to recite all three thousand rules to them. Everyone was quiet. Literally everyone. All eyes seemed to go to Wei Wuxian, the resident troublemaker, who did not do anything but sit there, quiet and unmoving. He wasn't even doodling to pass the time!

An hour or two later, Lan Qiren finally finished his whole tirade and asked the class if they had any questions. He pointedly told everyone that any rule breaking will not be tolerated. His gaze was fixed on Wei Wuxian as he said this, dark eyes narrowed suspiciously at the teenager. Wei Wuxian did not even flinch when their gaze met.

No one spoke a word. Lan Qiren hummed under his breath and then began his lesson on fierce corpses.

The rest of class was calm and orderly. Too calm, thought Jiang Cheng.

Something was going on with Wei Wuxian.

The fact that nothing went wrong with their first lesson with Lan Qiren was enough to disturb Jiang Cheng. He was sure that Lan Qiren knows who Wei Wuxian was, what his reputation was like. Teacher Lan most likely anticipated Wei Wuxian to cause trouble but nothing happened.

During the entire lesson, which even Jiang Cheng admits to being about as interesting as watching clothes dry in the sun, Wei Wuxian never did or said anything out of line. He even answered Teacher Lan's questions, with nary a complaint or a cheeky quip. Lan Wangji even spared him a glance!

When they were finally dismissed for free period that was supposed to be for self-study, everyone else headed off to go roam the grounds. Lan Wangji was the first to leave the room, probably to brood somewhere within a five-mile radius from other people. Jiang Cheng and the rest were the last ones to go out. He followed Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang from behind. He and Nie Huaisang seem to be talking animatedly about something but Jiang Cheng was lost from the conversation, trapped in his thoughts of what happened to his brother overnight. 

Jiang Cheng's eyes zeroed in on Wei Wuxian's nape again but he did not find any other... discolouration around his neck. 

His brother was a flirt but he had never acted on his flirtations before. Heck, even he's privy to the fact that Wei Wuxian flirts for flirting's sake. He was never interested in courting anyone. Jiang Cheng recalls him saying that he would find it a bother to be in a relationship when he's so busy. Back in Yunmeng, there were throngs of girls vying for his attention but aside from a few flirtatious words or a cheeky wink at their direction, he never made a move. 

But now, Wei Wuxian was sporting a hickey (who even knows how many he has underneath his robes, but Jiang Cheng wasn't keen to find out) after he didn't return to the dorms last night.

The biggest question here is: who the hell gave him that? If he went to town, did he sleep with some random girl for the night? That was hard to believe. 

"Anyway!" Wei Wuxian's voice cut through Jiang Cheng's train of thoughts. He walked ahead of Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng then spun at his heel to face them. "I'm going to the Library. I'll see you two later at sword practice!" 

"Wait, what?" Wei Wuxian? Willingly going to the library? 

Jiang Cheng did not get an answer as Wei Wuxian, against the rules of Gusu Lan, turned his back to them ran to the direction of where the Library Pavillion was. Then, they watched him correct himself and just walked at a brisk pace. Nie Huaisang's gaze was somewhat disbelieving as he and Jiang Cheng stared at Wei Wuxian's retreating figure. Jiang Cheng finally found his voice after they watch him disappear around the corner. 

"...Does Gusu Lan have any female disciples?" he asked. 

"They do but they're a rare sight and very few in numbers," Huaisang replied after a moment of thought. "And they don't talk to the male disciples. I think they have a separate wing from them so they aren't harassed by anyone." 

So that leaves them out, thought Jiang Cheng. 

"Why do you ask?" Nie Huaisang asked. "You aren't thinking of forging relations with the Lan Clan through marriage, are you?" 

Jiang Cheng gave him a pointed look. "Fuck off, I'm not thinking about that!" If he's going to marry anyone, he isn't marrying a Lan, of all the people in the world! 

"Then what's the problem?" 

"Wei Wuxian is the problem!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed. "He's acting... I don't know, off! He answered all Lan Qiren's questions with a straight face and correctly! Not once did he even try to annoy Lan Qiren, even when the opportunity is right there!" 

"Alright, alright, calm down," Nie Huaisang said, almost pleadingly. Jiang Cheng forgot that they were still in the corridors of the main building. They were just glad that Lan Wangji was nowhere in sight to discipline Jiang Cheng for his loud behaviour.

"You could just ask Wei-xiong, you know? I'm sure he'll answer you if you ask him," Nie Huaisang remarked. Jiang Cheng let out a sigh. 

"Anyways," Nie Huaisang said, closing his fan. "I'm going to the gardens. Want to come with me? Get some fresh air, maybe?" 

Jiang Cheng thought about it and then nodded. He needs to calm down. The day isn't over yet.

He cannot blow a gasket before sundown. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji busied themselves with studying on how best to deal with the Wens in the quiet Library Pavilion. They figured, if time was linear and the events that happened before will happen accordingly (regardless of their actions), then they will need all the help they can get, starting with themselves. 

For Lan Wangji, he intended to master the Chord Assassination technique. It was one of the most infamous techniques of their clan - a particular brand of shame that the elders choose to turn a blind eye to - but it will be useful if push comes to shove. The Wens were vicious in their attacks; Lan Wangji cannot afford to hold back, especially if he has to fight in a war. 

But he and Wei Wuxian don't want things to escalate into a war. In the previous time, they and other juniors like them had no other choice but to become soldiers when they were barely even twenty. Lan Wangji just hoped that they can find a way to give them the choice this time around. 

Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, had no intentions of becoming the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation for the second time. It never a path he envisioned for himself in the first place but he had to live with it, seeing as he had no other choice. He may have had pride in it then - even thought of himself as a prodigy for harnessing resentful energy in ways that no other cultivator could ever do - but right now, he had absolutely no reason to and wants it to stay that way.

Jiang Cheng, his shijie and the whole of Lotus Pier; he wants to protect them with everything he has.

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji's soft voice cut through his thoughts. He felt warm hands envelop his own. Wei Wuxian opens his eyes and sees that Lan Wangji has moved closer to him, his hands cupping over his own. Wei Wuxian didn't realize that he was gripping the book too hard, the pressure from his fingers crinkling the paper. 

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian began but he did not know what to follow that with. Lan Zhan took the book away and held his now empty hands in his, his grip was reassuring. Wei Wuxian tightened his hold and leaned close. Lan Zhan met him halfway, their foreheads bumping gently. 

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian repeated, taking a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts.

"If... if I have to resort to demonic cultivation-" he began. 

"You don't have to," Lan Wangji cut him off immediately. He made no disguise for the worry laced in his tone. 

"I know, I know but I'm talking about the worst-case scenario here," Wei Wuxian told him. 

Lan Wangji shook his head. He let go of Wei Wuxian's hands in favour of enveloping him in a nearly bone-crushing hug. Wei Wuxian's arms wrapped themselves around Lan Wangji's back on instinct, his fingers gripping the soft material of Lan Wangji's robes. He buries his face in his husband's chest and breathes in the calming scent of sandalwood. 

"I will not let anything happen to you," Lan Wangji said firmly. "There will be no reason for you to resort to it." 

"But what if I have no other choice?" 

"...Then I will help you," came a firm reply. "In any way that I can, I will help you."

But I cannot lose you again to that darkness for a second time, thought Lan Wangji desperately. 

Wei Wuxian seemed to have understood his feelings. He doesn't want to hurt Lan Wangji again either. He doesn't want to hurt anyone ever, but Lan Wangji especially.

The experiences and the pain from the other time were still with them, regardless of the young bodies they have now. He knows just how much his husband had been hurting from when Wei Wuxian had become the Yiling Patriarch; how callous he was at pushing him away. He did not see past Lan Wangji's cold facade; was blind to this beautiful man's devotion and selfless love for him and him alone. 

"I know you don't want me to say thank you... so I love you," Wei Wuxian couldn't help but say, his chest practically near bursting with the sheer magnitude of love he felt for his husband. His tone was quiet but it held all the reverence in the world. 

"...En. Me too," came Lan Wangji's quiet reply that was equally adoring. "I love you too." 

They stayed in each other's embrace who knows how long. Wei Wuxian was content to stay in his husband's embrace. He could listen to Lan Wangji's steady heartbeat and smell the sandalwood scent that made him feel at home. When they finally pulled away, Wei Wuxian's bright smile was back on his face. Lan Wangji couldn't resist but kiss him on the forehead. The heavy tension from earlier had dissipated almost instantaneously and instead, it was replaced with the air of playfulness. 

But that would soon change as Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to speak again. Lan Wangji can always trust Wei Wuxian to change the atmosphere at the drop of a hat.  

"Come to think of it, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian drawled, his index finger drawing nonsensical circles on Lan Wangji's chest in a coquettish manner.

Lan Wangji has a vague idea of what's to come next and he feels the tips of his ears burning red at the flood of memories. The reaction does not escape Wei Wuxian's keen eyes and his grin turned salacious.

Wei Wuxian pulled himself up and straddled Lan Wangji's thighs and wrapped his arms around his head. Lan Wangji's arms tightened around his waist. Wei Wuxian squirmed slightly until he sat just right on Lan Wangji's groin. The titillating grin seemed to intensify as there was no doubt in Lan Wangji's mind that he can feel him getting hard.

"You're thinking of what I'm thinking, aren't you, Lan er-gege?" Wei Wuxian drawled amusedly right in his ear, his breath fiery hot against his skin. "My Lan Zhan is so naughty! I can't even imagine what Old Man Lan would think if he knew! And you call me shameless when all you want is to pound me into the floor, just like your dream-" 

"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji whispered heatedly, brows furrowed as his eyes narrowed. They were beginning to become bloodshot, much to Wei Wuxian's pleasure. 

"Don't you want to, er-gege? Didn't you fantasize about taking me right here on the floor?" Wei Wuxian said in heated murmurs, his finger twirled at the ends of Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon which was close to loosening from Wei Wuxian's incessant tugging. Should it unravel, then Lan Wangji doesn't know if he can hold back. 

Wei Wuxian then added, "I can even act unwillingly if that turns you on. This body was only a virgin up until last night so I'm sure I'm still tight enough to serve you~" 

Lan Wangji tightened his jaw, turning his head to avoid Wei Wuxian's gaze. His ears were adorably red that Wei Wuxian couldn't help but nip at them playfully. Lan Wangji flinches and then shivers when Wei Wuxian purposefully grins down on his lap. The bulge underneath him hardened, Wei Wuxian was sure of it. 

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji attempted to keep his voice steady and calm but it came across as strained. "We have sword practice later." 

"Hm, that's true... but what about this, er-gege?" he shifts his weight again, grinding on his husband's erection. "Do you want me to help you... calm down?" 

"...Shameless!" Lan Wangji says through gritted teeth. 

"That's not a no," Wei Wuxian drawls as he licks his lips. In a low, breathless tone, Wei Wuxian adds, "Even after all this time... my husband is still so shy..."

Wei Wuxian's hands moved from the top of his shoulders then slid slowly down the length of his arms as he lowered himself and knelt between Lan Wangji's legs. When their eyes met, he can see the haze of lust in Wei Wuxian's half-lidded eyes, watching as he darts his tongue out and licks his lips in anticipation. Wei Wuxian's hands make quick work of opening Lan Wangji's clothes, but deliberately shed his own slow and sensually. 

"Do you want to do it here or would you rather at the Jingshi?"

Needless to say, they did not make it to the Jingshi. 

Chapter Text

The thing with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji was, they have been married for quite a while in the other timeline. They had ten years of happy, blissful marriage under their belt and all the intricacies that came with it. 

And they were used to it.

They had a routine and it revolved around each other. Ever since they got married, one was hardly without the other. They never liked being apart. Wherever they go, no matter what they do, people can always count on seeing Wei Wuxian with Lan Wangji and vice versa. In instances where they weren't together, they would always seek each other out and could not wait to go home to be with each other again. It would drive others crazy sometimes, especially if the longing was too much, but they pulled through to see through their responsibilities well enough. 

Before they were transported into the past, Wei Wuxian barely slept at night in the week that his Lan Wangji was gone for his night hunt with the junior disciples. His arms were always seeking the warmth of his husband, so used to reaching for it and finding it just on the other side of the bed. When he realized that he had another few days to go without his husband, Wei Wuxian curled into the sheets in a fitful sort of sleep. He had even resorted to sleeping in his husband's robes just to be comforted by the sandalwood scent that lingered in the fabric just to get a modicum of sleep. 

It was not easy for Lan Wangji either. Despite his distaste for physical contact with others, he craved to touch Wei Wuxian in any way. In public, it was lingering, innocuous touches or simple hand-holding that would be generally easy in the eyes of the public. What happens in their private quarters was a whole different story entirely. Wei Wuxian had told him, amused smiles and all, that Lan Wangji had a habit of wrapping his arm around his waist and pull him close if someone was particularly... friendly to Wei Wuxian and stare intensely at whoever was the poor sap who had the gall to do so. 

Touching Wei Wuxian constantly was a reassurance that he was there. It was the best way to reassure him that Lan Wangji was not living in a dream that seemed too real; something he wouldn't want to wake up from. 

There were lots of other nuances that came with them being so undeniably attached that it was hard to shake the habits off now that they were back to being fifteen and supposedly acquaintances. It was incredibly difficult to suddenly have to hold back in acting on their habits in the presence of other people. 

For Lan Wangji, maybe he has more self-restraint but it was practically hell for Wei Wuxian. 

So close.

Wei Wuxian had been so close to letting out a yawn or start doodling in his seat out of sheer boredom during his first lesson with Lan Qiren. The only thing that kept holding him back was the image of him and Lan Wangji in the finest red robes, surrounded by the smiling faces everyone in Cloud Recesses and Lotus Pier in celebration for their union. 

That was the goal: to see to it that everyone blessed their union. 

So if Wei Wuxian had to act wildly different from how he was usually, then so be it.  

Lan Wangji, on the other hand, had his apprehensions about his plans and expressed them as they got ready in the Jingshi just before the second day of class.

Unlike yesterday, they woke up precisely at five. Lan Wangji was already wide awake but Wei Wuxian was still groggy. Lan Wangji watched as Wei Wuxian fluttered his eyes as if trying to blink the sleep away from them. His movements as they get ready for the day were slow and stiff. Lan Wangji was used to dressing his husband so he helped him wash his face, put on his robes properly, and combed his hair for him while Wei Wuxian sat in front of the vanity. 

"Wei Ying, you don't need to change," Lan Wangji said to him. His voice was reassuring and firm. Wei Wuxian held back a yawn. 

"But I don't want them to think that I'm not a good match for you, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian reasoned. He looked at his reflection on the silver-framed mirror. The half-updo was reminiscent of his days as the Yiling Patriarch but it was neater and more proper to look at than his usual messy ponytail. He briefly wondered if he should style his hair with braids next time. 

His husband had stared at him in this half-updo, no doubt remembering what Wei Wuxian had thought of too, and then closed his eyes as he sighed softly.

"Wei Ying is Wei Ying," Lan Wangji murmured gently. Him being himself is more than enough for him to be "a good match" for Lan Wangji. "You don't need to change. You just have to be yourself. They will accept you, regardless of how you act," he added. He runs his fingers in Wei Wuxian's inky black hair and pressed a soft kiss on the top of his head when he finally finished tying the ribbon. Wei Wuxian leaned his back against Lan Wangji's chest and allowed himself to be embraced. 

It wasn't that Wei Wuxian was bothered by the Lan Sect elders with their disapproval of his whole existence. Okay, maybe he was a little, tiny, minuscule bit but he never cared much for his reputation in the first place. This was coming from the guy who laughed at all the horror stories people cooked up about him when he became the Yiling Patriarch. If he lets the words of a bunch old, boring men with sticks up their asses get to him, he's not going to live long. 

But... he did care for Lan Wangji's reputation. Immensely so. He would never hesitate to shoot down any attempts at sullying Lan Wangji's name, in the other life or even in this. God forbid anyone talks bad about him, especially in Wei Wuxian's presence. Wei Wuxian just wants to be a husband that people would be proud to associate with Lan Wangji.

He did not want to give anyone a reason to say that Lan Wangji - his perfect, amazing husband - made a mistake in marrying him. 

As if reading his thoughts, Lan Wangji, with his voice veering on the side of stern this time, said, "Wei Ying, I do not care what people say about me or what they think about me. I care about you. I do not want you to force yourself. I do not want you to be unhappy." 

"...I'm not forcing myself," Wei Wuxian grumbled, sounding like a petulant child. From the pout on his face, he looked the part of a petulant child too. 

"En," Lan Wangji hummed in assent. There was a small tug on the corner of his lips that was reminiscent of a smile. He didn't seem like he believed Wei Wuxian and he can't even blame him. 

"But don't you want the blessings of everyone in Cloud Recesses?" Wei Wuxian tried to reason. "Your uncle only begrudgingly allowed us to have a proper ceremony but he didn't even attend!" Except for the Gusu Lan junior disciples and Lan Xichen, none of the other elders of the Sect attended the ceremony and the reception that followed in the previous timeline when they got married. 

At that time, Wei Wuxian reasoned with himself that Lan Qiren allowing them to have a proper wedding ceremony was a blessing of its own but Wei Wuxian could tell that it hurt Lan Wangji, however small it was, to see that his uncle; the one who raised him since he was a child, was not there to celebrate his marriage. 

There was a slight pause before Lan Wangji opened his mouth to reply. "If I can be with you for the rest of my life, lawfully or not, then I am content with that," he said. "All I ever want is to be with you." 

Wei Wuxian's cheeks coloured red almost instantly. He tried to sputter out a reply but could not find a good quip to follow up with that. Instead, he managed to say, "Lan Zhan! What did I say about you saying those kinds of things?" 

Lan Wangji did not reply but the ghost of a smile had graced his lips. Lan Wangji simply kissed him on the side of the head before he let go of Wei Wuxian and got back to his feet. He helps Wei Wuxian off the floor.

Wei Wuxian dusts himself off while Lan Wangji busies himself with tying his forehead ribbon. Wei Wuxian lingered for a bit by the mirror in the vanity before he finally deemed himself ready to head out. 

Since the plan involved them not appearing close yet, Wei Wuxian cannot be seen by anyone exiting the Jingshi. Though disapproving, Lan Wangji bade Wei Wuxian goodbye as he left the Jingshi from the back since he intended to go around the premises; somewhere as far from the Jingshi as possible. He decided to head back to the dorm just to make it seem to his brother that he did intend to go for a stroll around the premises. 

Wei Wuxian managed to find a secluded place to exit from and then walked casually as if he's just strolling about. Then he remembered how he must act and quickly composed himself. He can behave himself. It was going to be a breeze! 

He headed to the direction of the dorms where the other guest cultivators were starting to emerge. They seem to be surprised to find him out and about so early in the morning. Still, he greets them with a grin and heads inside the building to head towards his floor and to his room. He entered through the threshold and saw that his brother was already inside.

He seemed to be looking for things amiss in the room but aside from the fact that Wei Wuxian was not there when he arrived, he couldn't find anything strange. Yesterday night, Wei Wuxian even made a show of going back to the dorms and rumpling the sheets a bit as if had been occupying it before retreating to the Jingshi. Even now, the bed still looked like a mess. 

Jiang Cheng seemed to have finally noticed Wei Wuxian's presence. He turned around and gave him a complete once-over before he demanded, "Where the hell have you been?!" 

"Out for a walk, of course. I came back to make the bed," Wei Wuxian answered with a shrug, passing by his brother and plopped down on the edge of the bed. 

"You didn't make the bed before you left?" Jiang Cheng pressed on, crossing his arms and eyed Wei Wuxian suspiciously. 

"No? What's with the interrogation, Jiang Cheng?" Wei Wuxian whined. "I haven't done anything wrong, have I?" 

At that, Jiang Cheng couldn't answer. He opened his mouth to try but he couldn't seem to find the words to say. After a while of awkward, slightly tense silence, Jiang Cheng finally said, "You've been acting strange, that's all." 

"How so? I think I'm acting quite perfectly well behaved," Wei Wuxian replied. 

"That's the thing," Jiang Cheng exclaimed. Then, he seemed to remember where he was. He took a deep breath and then said, trying to keep his tone even, "You're not acting like your... usual self." 

"Wait," Wei Wuxian began. "Do you want me to cause trouble or something, Jiang Cheng? We're in Gusu Lan's territory. There are like, three thousand rules carved on the side of a mountain that's very, very hard to miss and I'm not eager to be beaten into obedience-"

Jiang Cheng clenched his fists tight. "I don't want you to cause trouble!" You're just not acting how you usually are, damn it! 

"Then I seriously don't see what's the point of this whole conversation!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, finally getting to his feet. Jiang Cheng tried to speak again. He opened his mouth, paused for a bit before he closed it when he changed his mind. They stood there in awkward silence for a half an incense stick before Wei Wuxian finally broke the ice. 

"I'm okay. Nothing's wrong with me," Wei Wuxian said reassuringly. "I'll be on my best behaviour here in Gusu. I don't want to give Madame Yu even more of a headache if I get sent back here for misbehaviour. Plus, I don't want to disappoint Uncle Jiang and shijie." 

Jiang Cheng stared at him with a disbelieving look for a bit before he let out a sigh. "You sure you're okay? No one... no one's been pressuring you or anything like that?" 

"Pfft, like anyone can pressure me," Wei Wuxian said, rolling his eyes. Even Lan Wangji told him he did not need to change. If someone is pressuring Wei Wuxian to do something, it was himself. Only he can convince himself to do anything he wanted to do. 

That seemed to placate Jiang Cheng... slightly. Once all that was settled, they headed out of the guest disciples' dorms and headed to the mess hall. Wei Wuxian grumbled something about the food in Cloud Recesses was about as good as stir-fried watermelon skins. That seemed to placate Jiang Cheng even further, seeing as how Wei Wuxian was acting cheeky again, and soon, he was back to his usual self.

Wei Wuxian had forgotten to take into consideration everyone else' reaction to his sudden... behavioural change. They would have seen the drastic change so strange to witness, especially Jiang Cheng. 

"What are you up to today? Off to the library again for self-study period?" Jiang Cheng asked. 

Wei Wuxian looked genuinely thoughtful for a moment but then shook his head. "Nah, I'm good for now. I can go back another day." 

He and Lan Wangji were going to meet in the Jingshi today for self-study period. Considering their actions in the Library Pavilion yesterday (in broad daylight, no less!), his husband might have taken into consideration their... escapades and where to properly conduct them. Wei Wuxian found that just so hilarious when Lan Wangji informed him last night that he couldn't stop laughing until Lan Wangji kissed him quiet. 

"What's so interesting there anyway? Are the books really that good?" Jiang Cheng asked, sounding doubtful. 

"You could say that. Music cultivation is pretty neat if you think about it," Wei Wuxian reasoned with a shrug of his shoulders. "I was thinking of trying my hand at it." 

"You can't play the guqin or the guzheng for shit," Jiang Cheng sneered.

Wei Wuxian snorted. "I never said I was going to play those! I'm no Lan Zh-Lan Wangji, after all," he said. "If I'm going to practice music cultivation, I'll play the dizi!" 

If Jiang Cheng noticed his obvious slip-up, he chose not to comment on it. "I didn't think they'd let guest cultivators read those kinds of books," Jiang Cheng said thoughtfully. "I thought they were their sect's secrets and all that."

"They don't lend them out so we can take them out of the library but there are a few interesting songbooks there. I hear they have a forbidden section too!" Wei Wuxian says, despite the fact that he definitely knows there is a forbidden section and has been there countless times in the past. He knows the contents of those things (well, some of the interesting ones) like the back of his hand. 

"You'd either have to suddenly be reborn into the Lan Sect or you marry one of them," Jiang Cheng remarked blandly. 

"Who knows? I might do just that~" Wei Wuxian said, his tone playful.

Jiang Cheng merely rolled his eyes, definitely not taking him seriously. "Idiot. Who would marry you?"

"Lots of people do, Jiang Cheng. If only you weren't so prickly, you'd know the feeling too-" 

"Fuck off," Jiang Cheng spat out with a scowl, shoving Wei Wuxian to the side. The latter retaliated by shoving him back, albeit playfully. 

"Wei-xiong! Jiang-xiong!" They heard Nie Huaisang call out to them in the distance. The two siblings looked up to find him standing just a few feet away. After one last shove, albeit now with an equally playful grin, Jiang Cheng walked ahead of Wei Wuxian. 

Oh Jiang Cheng, thought Wei Wuxian as he followed after him. If only you really knew...

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Over the course of the next few weeks, classes have been going smoothly, as Lan Qiren observed. Correction: classes have been going smoothly with Wei Wuxian in the same room as they are happening. There were no odd questions, no doodling, no sleeping in class, no unnecessary quips... no nothing. Wei Wuxian was even showing exemplary work since the start of classes.

Lan Qiren was highly suspicious of this.

After he dismissed class for self-study period, Lan Qiren stared at Wei Wuxian's retreating back as he and the rest of his companions left the Orchid Room. His nephew, Lan Wangji, stayed behind, busying himself with organizing his notes on his desk. 

"Wangji," Lan Qiren called out to him.

Lan Wangji looked up and greeted him politely. "Yes, uncle?" he said.

"Have you observed anything unusual as of late?" Lan Qiren asked, his hand busy stroking the length of his beard. 

Lan Wangji must be talking about Wei Wuxian's oddly obedient disposition.

But, he chooses not to bring this up and instead asked, "May I ask for some clarification, Uncle?" 

Lan Qiren sighed. "That Wei Wuxian. I do not know if you know his reputation but he is a troublemaker. An incredibly notorious one, from what I've been heard. His mother was like that too. Absolutely unruly..." 

Lan Qiren's voice trailed away, no doubt lost in a sea of memories of his time with Cangse Sanren. Lan Wangji chooses not to tell his uncle that he was disobeying one of the rules of their sect of never talking behind other people's back.

"Have you noticed anything strange with him as of late?" Lan Qiren finally prompted. 

"I have not interacted with him much," Lan Wangji admits. It wasn't a complete lie. His moments with his husband have been short and fleeting since they have gone back to this time. Apart from secret meetings in the library, incredibly brief meetings in secluded corners of Cloud Recesses, and them staying at the Jingshi at night, Wei Wuxian was usually with Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang.

Lan Qiren hummed in assent but his brows remained resolutely furrowed. He then let out a sigh and said firmly, "Keep an eye on him, Wangji. I do not know that that boy is planning but his obedient behaviour is out of character for him. Punish him as you see fit if he does anything out of line." 

Lan Wangji nodded. "...Yes, Uncle." 

Lan Qiren excused himself shortly afterward, leaving the classroom with a sweep of his billowing white robes. Lan Wangji lingered for a bit where he stood before he finally left the Orchid Room to head to the Jingshi for self-study period. 

Lan Wangji had deliberated to hold their meetings in the Jingshi rather than in any of the facilities of Cloud Recesses after he heard a few disciples mention something about hearing odd noises from the Library Pavilion a few weeks ago but were too scared to go in since they knew that Lan Wangji was there.

Had it been an elder who heard their tryst in the library... 

The thought makes Lan Wangji frown. The image of Wei Wuxian in the throes of passion is for his eyes alone. 

When finally Lan Wangji arrived in the Jingshi, Wei Wuxian was already there. He arrived rather quickly, Lan Wangji noted. He must have left his friends as soon as he was able to. Wei Wuxian sitting on the floor, sitting behind the desk with his eyes glued to the parchment he had in his hands. From the looks of it, they looked like drawings of arrays. 

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian says as he looked up, his face breaking into a wide grin. Lan Wangji closes the door behind him and felt a strange sense of déjà vu when he instinctively opened his arms and Wei Wuxian jumped into his arms for a tight hug. Wei Wuxian giggles as he presses a kiss on Lan Wangji's cheek. 

"Welcome home, Lan Zhan. How was the night hunt with the juniors?" Wei Wuxian asked cheekily. He no doubt remembers this exact scene happening not too long ago. Lan Wangji merely sighs softly and presses a kiss on his forehead instead of answering. 

"What were you looking at earlier?" he instead said. 

"Just those arrays I drew yesterday," Wei Wuxian explained. "I'm going to need more paper too. I've already finished documenting the arrays and talisman designs I made in the previous time but now I just came up with a few more to experiment with! Don't worry, though. I'll be careful in documenting the time manipulation array." 

"Mn," Lan Wangji said as he led the two of them back to the table. "I'll prepare them." 

"You're the best," Wei Wuxian cooed, kissing Lan Wangji on the cheek with an exaggerated "mwah" to punctuate it. 

Wei Wuxian had always fancied himself a genius. An insufferable one but a genius nevertheless. His marriage to Lan Wangji was seen by many in the cultivation world as him finally being put on a leash since the one he's married to could easily reign him in if he goes wild with his intelligence again.

Like, for example, founding demonic cultivation. 

Lan Wangji absolutely detested that analogy but Wei Wuxian found it quite funny. 

In the ten years he's been married to his Lan Wangji, with him being "kept on a leash" and all, Wei Wuxian spent quite a lot of his time involving himself in various research endeavors and experiments in developing new arrays, talismans, spells, and devices (if he was not busy with other responsibilities, that is) to aid him and his husband and the junior disciples. 

You know, instead of terrorizing children or having fun grave digging at night like what many people think he does in his spare time. 

The benefits of these innovations were enjoyed by the Gusu Lan Sect (however reluctant they were at first to use them) until Yunmeng Jiang caught wind of their existence (i.e. Jiang Cheng came storming in ready to eviscerate Wei Wuxian for keeping these to himself and had only learned about them because of Jin Ling) and soon enough, every cultivator under the sun was using the new methods. 

How ironic that cultivators sing praises about his innovations but as soon as Wei Wuxian turned his back, they were back to thinking he was the scum of the earth. 

"I thought it also might endear the Lan Clan elders to me if they think I'm actually a beneficial marriage partner for the clan. You know, bring all these inventions and stuff for them to use." Wei Wuxian said as he began to draw up the designs for what looked to be the Compass of Evil. He had tweaked the mechanics considerably prior to being sent back in this time so that it was more efficient at detecting resentful energies, even down to its level of severity. He seemed to be tweaking the mechanics even more as he was drawing more details into the design than from what it looked before. 

"I will need materials, though... Hm, how can I get them, though if we're not allowed out of the grounds..." Wei Wuxian muttered to himself. Lan Wangji never thought he would ever hear his husband consider those things before he did anything. 

"We will conduct our first night hunt as a class in groups next week. We will be allowed to go to Caiyi to procure supplies in the afternoon before we depart." 

"Oh right! I forgot about that," Wei Wuxian exclaimed. "Hm, I guess I can show off the compass next time. It's not like I need any help detecting resentful energy anyways." 

Lan Wangji smiled softly at Wei Wuxian's sudden gusto and watched him begin to draw with vigour. Lan Wangji decided to be busy as well, picking up a book and studied the contents diligently. The two of them worked for quite some time, occasionally taking breaks in between their work to relax a bit. When Wei Wuxian had exhausted Lan Wangji's supply of papers from his many, many writings, they decided to have tea as they wait for the time for sword practice.

It was during this time that Wei Wuxian told him about Jiang Cheng finding his recent actions suspicious.

"I forgot to tell you but a few weeks ago, he interrogated me when I arrived at the dorms about my sudden obedience. I think it was like... the second day of class," Wei Wuxian muttered. "Honestly, He and Madame Yu always wanted me to act all prim and proper and when I actually do it, Jiang Cheng thinks that the balance of the universe had shifted and everything's coming to an end. I can't imagine what Madame Yu would think if she hears about it..."

"Uncle finds your behaviour suspicious as well," Lan Wangji informed him.

"Really?" Wei Wuxian asked, his lips forming a playful grin. "What did he say? Did he tell you to keep an eye on me? Is he thinking I'm about to pull the biggest prank in history after weeks of absolute obedience?" 

"Mn," Lan Wangji answered with a nod. 

Wei Wuxian laughed out loud. "I trust your uncle to always think the worst of me, regardless of how I act. Woe is me, Lan Zhan. I'm cursed to be unliked by your uncle forever, in whatever timeline!" Wei Wuxian laments, pretending to swoon dramatically as he spoke.

Lan Wangji, ever the dutiful husband, caught him easily in his arms and merely sighed at his theatrics. Wei Wuxian's arms wrapped around Lan Wangji's neck to better balance himself in his husband's hold. 

"I have to wonder how he'll react if we show up to sword practice later like this," Wei Wuxian said, his grin positively cheeky. 

"Do you want to?" Lan Wangji asked seriously. 

Something about Lan Wangji's tone suggested that Wei Wuxian should carefully word his answer. Knowing his husband, who can be as stubborn as him, Wei Wuxian might just find himself be carried off in Lan Wangji's arms in this afternoon's sword practice.

As hilarious as everyone else's reactions would be, they were still supposed to be acquaintances who barely knew each other. 

"Lan Zhan! That would beat the whole point of being 'subtle'!" Wei Wuxian chides him playfully. 

"You slipped up on the first day," Lan Wangji suddenly pointed out. 

"Hm? When?" 

"When you greeted me as I came in for the first lesson. You called me by name." 

Now that Wei Wuxian thinks about it, he definitely did do that. But it was just instinctual, okay? He's used to calling him Lan Zhan! It would have been a bigger slip up if Wei Wuxian actually called him 'Lan er-gege' with Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng in the same room. 

"...That was one time. I've been calling you Lan Wangji in front of others since then, right? Or do you prefer Hanguang-Jun? Lan-er-gongzi? Wangji-xiong?" 

If Lan Wangji had his way and this farce did not exist, he would want Wei Wuxian to call him by his birth name. 

"I know! We'll officially establish ourself to be on speaking terms later during sword practice!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed. "We can go together and I'll just say we met halfway on our way to the practice field then I'll ask you to spar with me!" 

Lan Wangji merely hums in assent. 

"You know, I don't think we ever got to spar properly in this old body of mine, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian says, an eager glint reflected in his eyes. "We've definitely crossed blades before and I spared with you in Mo Xuanyu's body but it was definitely not as adept as this one at fighting. Do you want to give it a try?" 

"Is that really what you want?" Lan Wangji asked. 

"Of course! I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't being serious," Wei Wuxian reasoned. "But, you can't hold back, okay Lan Zhan? I know you don't want to hurt me but I won't hold back if you don't either."  

Lan Wangji hesitated before he answered with a small nod of his head. Wei Wuxian grinned excitedly and got to his feet, heading over to the sword rack where Suibian and Bichen have been perched. 

"You better keep your word, Lan Zhan. No holding back, okay?" 

"Mn." 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Everyone seemed to nearly trip over themselves when Wei Wuxian arrived with Lan Wangji at the practice field. Their distance wasn't intimate but it wasn't social either. Wei Wuxian seemed to be talking Lan Wangji's ear off but the latter did not seem bothered by it. The normal reaction to Wei Wuxian's endless babbling was usually annoyance or forcibly making him shut up. 

Then again, there was no other outward reaction coming from Lan Wangji since his face was as apathetic as ever. As per usual, they suppose. 

Wei Wuxian parts from Lan Wangji to go towards Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang while the latter goes to stand off to the side, a few ways away from everyone else. Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang looked at Wei Wuxian as he approached like he just grew another head. 

"What the hell was that? Why were you with Lan Wangji, of all people?!" Nie Huaisang asked, his voice kept low but incredibly frantic. 

"We met halfway and decided to walk together," Wei Wuxian said cheerfully. "What's wrong with that? You make it seem like I did something wrong." 

"It's Lan Wangji!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed under his breath. Jiang Cheng makes it seem like Wei Wuxian was courting the devil for how much he's freaking out about this. 

"I have eyes, you know. I know that's Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng," Wei Wuxian said cheekily. He folds his arms across his chest and raises an eyebrow at his two friends, smirking at his friends. "What is going on with you two? Can't I befriend other people without you two freaking out about it?" 

The two did not seem to find the words to say. It would seem that they were definitely questioning Wei Wuxian's sanity for wanting to befriend one of the strictest and most disciplined junior cultivators of their generation, considering their personalities differed so much. Wei Wuxian sighed dramatically before he said, "And you all accuse me of being dramatic when you two are no better. Look, I'll show you he isn't that bad." 

Wei Wuxian then spun at his heel and walked purposefully towards where Lan Wangji was standing before Jiang Cheng or Nie Huaisang could even begin to comprehend what was happening. 

"Lan Wangji," Wei Wuxian greeted him, clasping his hands together in a show of politeness. Lan Wangji turned to him and greeted him back, tone ever cold and leveled. A lot of them couldn't quite comprehend what was happening. They were used to Lan Wangji never paying attention to anyone else, let alone reply to anyone who greeted him. 

"I was wondering if you'd be open to spar with me," Wei Wuxian said easily. "I've always been curious as to what the Gusu Lan's swordsmanship style is like." 

There was an awful lot of noise that followed soon after he spoke. Wei Wuxian could have sworn someone dropped their sword somewhere and someone else tripped over themselves and landed in a great big thud on the ground. There might have been a scandalized gasp or two as well. From the corner of his eye, he can see Jiang Cheng looking like he just swallowed something nasty. Nie Huaisang was fanning himself a bit too much from sheer nervousness. 

"Very well," Lan Wangji finally answered, his golden eyes narrowed in scrutiny.

His answer seemed to have garnered even more reactions. They could have sworn someone was praying for Wei Wuxian's safety.

Wei Wuxian fought every urge to laugh out loud.

Everyone quickly made space for the two of them at the centre of the practice field. People's reactions to this whole ordeal seemed to be divided between excitement and worry. Jiang Cheng looked like he was halfway into thoughts of murdering Wei Wuxian for his stupidity or worrying about his stupidity. 

Everyone was still and quiet as the two drew their blades out from their scabbards. Once the two had taken their stances, Wei Wuxian was the first one to attack. Lan Wangji blocked the downward swing expertly and pushed Wei Wuxian away to deliver a swing of his own. Wei Wuxian dodged the attack but only managed to dodge the second swing by the width of his hair. 

Sparks flew with each clash of their blades and the practice field, still and silent as it was, was filled with nothing but the sounds of clashing metal. The two's movements were quite fast, making them mere blurs of white and purple. 

Wei Wuxian was the head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang and his sword fighting technique was reflective of his intense training befitting his position but Jiang Cheng does know that Wei Wuxian has slight variations of his family's technique. He was fast, adaptable but also somewhat flashy and wild. In comparison to the Gusu Lan style, his movements seemed a little frenetic but paradoxically precise and sharp.  

Lan Wangji was no slouch, of course. The attacks and defenses he demonstrated was a good indication of his rigorous training of the Gusu Lan style of swordsmanship. His movements were graceful and elegant but were also as sharp and accurate as a marksman. 

Wei Wuxian dodged yet another powerful swing, the grin on his face never faltering. He was definitely enjoying this. Wei Wuxian can tell, however, that his husband was holding himself back. Their gazes never strayed away from one another; silver eyes locked unto gold ones. His gaze seemed almost taunting... at least to the untrained eye. 

It was surreal to see someone hold eye contact with Lan Wangji for so long and never faltering. 

The longer it went on, the more bothered the others start to become. The intensity of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's gazes towards each other just didn't seem like they were enjoying a good match. It felt like... something else but no one was quite sure what that something was. 

But, it felt was as if they were witnessing something they shouldn't.

The sparring match finally drew to a close when Bichen flew out of Lan Wangji's hand and clattered to the floor. The match was Wei Wuxian's win but he did not seem enthused by it, even as people cheered for his win. 

"Lan Wangji," Wei Wuxian called out as Lan Wangji picked up his sword. 

"Lan Zhan." 

Wei Wuxian tilted his head. Oh, they were going to call each other by name immediately? 

"Okay then, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said. "You were holding back, weren't you?" Didn't I tell you not to hold back!?

Lan Wangji did not reply to his question. Instead, he looked away and said conversationally, "Your technique is quite good." 

Wei Wuxian fought every urge in his entire body to pout and be unbelievably spoiled towards his husband but he managed to hold himself back and instead merely let out a sigh. He pulled an easy-going grin on his face and said, "Next time, don't hold back, okay? I don't think I lived up to my position as the head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang if you did not give me everything you've got." 

"Mn," Lan Wangji said. "I look forward to next time." 

They bowed to each other in a show of good camaraderie. When they straightened up, Wei Wuxian said cheerfully, "Since you're letting me call you Lan Zhan, you can call me Wei Ying!" 

Lan Wangji nodded. "Mn. Wei Ying." 

Wei Wuxian's grin seemed to shine a bit brighter as he responded, "Yep, that's me, Lan Zhan~"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Everything seemed to change after that day.

It was now hard to see Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian without the other. If Wei Wuxian was not with his brother or his other friend, he would be seen with Lan Wangji. They would be spotted quite frequently walking around the grounds while Wei Wuxian runs his mouth and Lan Wangji diligently listens to him. They have spotted them in the library, doing what looked to be studying or reading books together. They frequently went for strolls in the lush gardens and people knew to turn their backs and skedaddle as soon as they heared Lan Wangji's name being called from that direction. They were even practicing music cultivation together!

A guest cultivator once walked by them while they were sitting underneath the great magnolia tree in a more secluded part of Cloud Recesses, with Lan Wangji playing his guqin while Wei Wuxian joined him in a duet with a dizi. The music was entrancing and captivating that the young man wanted to listen further but the intimate and serene atmosphere between the two of them, coupled with a delicate shower of magnolia blossom petals raining down softly on them made that poor young man turn back around and run off to go elsewhere. 

For whatever reason, he just felt like he walked in on something... intimate between the two of them. 

What's more was... how handsy Wei Wuxian was towards Lan Wangji. They seem innocuous enough since Wei Wuxian would sometimes hold Lan Wangji by the wrist if he was leading him somewhere and Lan Wangji let himself be led around by the former without question. 

But it was a whole different story when people would occasionally spot him hug Lan Wangji from behind or jump into his arms if he got particularly excited. Someone even swore to have seen them on their way to the cold springs together but it was only witnessed by one person that no one could actually believe it. 

To think that the unmovable, cold Jade statue that was Lan Wangji actually allowed himself to be befriended by the vivacious and reckless Wei Wuxian was just absurd to think about, even more so when he would let Wei Wuxian touch him so casually without any regard for propriety. 

Wasn't excessive affection supposedly disallowed in Cloud Recesses? 

Lan Qiren certainly did not expect the direction his nephew took to "keep an eye" on Wei Wuxian. He knew that Lan Wangji was righteous and honest so Lan Qiren believed him when he said that Wei Wuxian was on his best behaviour and did not seem to be planning anything. He reported that apart from his vivacious and playful nature, there was nothing that would indicate that Wei Wuxian was doing misdeeds that go against the rules of their Sect.

"I hear that he's particularly affectionate towards you," Lan Qiren mentioned.

Lan Wangji stayed composed and answered, "I am not bothered by it." 

Lan Qiren had nothing to say to that. If his nephew wasn't bothered, then he cannot exactly reprimand Wei Wuxian of anything. Regardless of this, Lan Qiren's guard around Wei Wuxian had yet to let up but Lan Wangji never expected it to happen soon. 

Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, seemed to have begrudgingly accepted the fact that Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji was Wei Wuxian's friend. Jiang Cheng had no idea how his brother had done it but he supposed his brother always strived to live by their sect's motto of attempting the impossible. He was very neutral towards Lan Wangji. He respects his place as one of the best cultivators of their generation but there was just something about him; more specifically the way he treats his (idiot) brother that makes him feel... 

Uneasy? That did not seem like a good word to use. Too intense. 

Uncomfortable? He supposes that would be more apropos. The way he acts towards Wei Wuxian just felt slightly... uncomfortable to Jiang Cheng. 

He couldn't quite place it into words yet. Heck, Jiang Cheng didn't even understand what was off about this whole ordeal. 

On the day of their first night hunt assignment with senior disciples of Gusu Lan, they were given the full day off from classes. A lot of them did not bother to hide their excitement. The guest cultivators were permitted to go to Caiyi Town to get their supplies for later tonight. Wei Wuxian wasted no time in inviting Lan Wangji out to go with them. Jiang Cheng was kind of miffed about that and his annoyance intensified with how easily Lan Wangji accepted the offer. 

Nie Huaisang was not allowed to join them in the night hunt since his poor performance during lessons made him ineligible for it. They were in one of the courtyards, waiting for Lan Wangji to arrive. Wei Wuxian pats Nie Huaisang on the back good-naturedly, even as he had a playful grin on his face when Nie Huaisang wailed that he had to deal with remedial classes alone with Lan Qiren to make up for his poor performance! 

"We'll bring you back something really nice to cheer you up when we get back!" Wei Wuxian said cheekily. "You know, in case you aren't dead by the time we get back."

Nie Huaisang groaned into his hands. "You're not helping!" 

"What can we even do to help you, idiot? Do you actually want to join the night hunt?" Jiang Cheng asked, eyeing him skeptically. 

Nie Huaisang seemed to turn pale at the mention of that. "Oh, heavens no!" Nie Huaisang exclaimed. "I just don't want either option!" 

"Well, your brother might have a thing or two to say about that..." Jiang Cheng muttered, a slight grin playing across his lips.

The mention of his brother sent Nie Huaisang into tears. Wei Wuxian could only snort and half-heartedly comfort his friend. 

"Wei Ying," they heard a now-familiar voice call out from nearby. Nie Huaisang immediately clamped up, opening his fan to hide the embarrassing look on his face. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes heavenward. Here we go again, he thinks. 

Wei Wuxian turned to where the voice was coming from. Lan Wangji was approaching them, looking like an ethereal immortal being that descended from the earth as a slight breeze rolled by, allowing his pristine white robes to sway in the wind.

"Jiang Wanyin, Nie Huaisang," Lan Wangji greets them both coolly. They return the sentiments just as stiffly. 

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian greeted him enthusiastically, quickly making his way towards him and then jumped into his arms for a hug. Lan Wangji sighed and allowed the hug before they pulled away. Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang looked at them from where they were, their expression indiscernible and complicated. 

"Are you ready to go to town?" Wei Wuxian asked. 

"Mn," Lan Wangji answered. 

"Great!" Wei Wuxian turned to the other two. "Huaisang-xiong, we'll be off then. Jiang Cheng, let's go!" 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Jiang Cheng wonders if he did something wrong in the past life. He wonders if he was such an awful, awful person with zero redeeming qualities whatsoever to have been subjected to the kind of hell he's witnessing right now. 

Wei Wuxian was sticking to Lan Wangji as if they were joined at the hip. They were walking ahead of Jiang Cheng as they passed through the marketplace as they bought their supplies. The night-hunt was going to take a few days, near the borders of Moling so they were going to need a few things, just in case they might have to camp out. His (idiot) brother seemed to have completely forgotten about his existence (and no he's not bitter about it!) while he whisked Lan Wangji to various kinds of stalls when he spotted something he found interesting. Lan Wangji, on the other hand, did not seem bothered by this.

Of course he's not. He seemed to be enjoying himself, however much his blank face refuses to show it. 

They've been out in Caiyi for about an hour now and Jiang Cheng has been dragged to multiple stores. At the moment, Jiang Cheng was waiting for Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian outside of a metalwork shop. He has no clue what the hell they were buying there and he doesn't care to find out. 

Why was he here? Jiang Cheng lamented inwardly. Why was he subjected to this? Why does he feel like he's intruding on someone else's date? Does his (idiot) brother even realize what he's doing? He gets that his brother is flirtatious but does that flirtation actually extend to men or was he just being himself? 

Even that peacock bastard would be better company than these two assholes! 

No wait, nevermind. That was just a different version of hell. 

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji finally made their way out of the shop and returned to the task. "Jiang Cheng, did you buy anything yet? What do you need to get?" 

Oh, so now he exists, thought Jiang Cheng irritably. "I don't need anything else," he said tersely. Whatever he needed was already prepared back at the dorms. 

"Are you sure?" Wei Wuxian asked. 

"Yes, I'm sure," Jiang Cheng said with a tone of finality. 

Wei Wuxian paused for a bit before he said, "Alright then. We might as well get something to eat before we go back. Can we go eat, Lan Zhan?" 

"Mn," the latter answered. 

Wei Wuxian's smile turned playful. "Can we get Emperor's smile?"

...Was Jiang Cheng seeing things or did his (idiot) brother actually flutter his eyelashes at Lan Wangji? 

After a slight pause, Lan Wangji finally replied, "Do not drink excessively. You cannot join the night hunt drunk." 

Wei Wuxian cheered and latched unto Lan Wangji's arm without the slightest bit of hesitation and rubbed his cheek on his shoulder. He did not let go even as they continued walking, his head resting on Lan Wangji's shoulder. "You're the best, Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed happily.

Jiang Cheng (and a couple of other people nearby) could only gawk in disbelief. He thinks someone might have dropped a crate in the background. 

...Wei Wuxian, what the actual fuck do you think you are doing?! 

Chapter Text

Moling was a few hours away from Gusu so the junior disciples who were allowed to join the night hunt landed in the capital city at around eight later that evening. There were ten junior disciples in total who joined the night hunt assignment, with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian included.

The ten of them had met up with the two senior disciples who were tasked on supervising them. They were already waiting for them at the entrance of the forest at the edge of Moling’s capital city, dressed in the impeccable white and light blue robes of the Gusu Lan Sect.

The group of ten were divided into two groups. Wei Wuxian’s group consisted of himself, Lan Wangji, two juniors from smaller sects, and unfortunately enough, Jin Zixuan, who made no attempt at disguising his distaste to be in Wei Wuxian’s presence. Wei Wuxian fought every urge to start doing the same and it was only through Lan Wangji’s reassuring grasp of his hand, hidden under the folds of their billowy sleeves that he held himself back.  

Jiang Cheng was initially relieved to be assigned into a different group but then he realized that Wei Wuxian would be with the stupid peacock. He shot the peacock a glare before giving Wei Wuxian an almost pitying look before he turned his back to him and followed after his own group.

Wei Wuxian turned his attention back to their supervisor. The senior disciple who was overseeing their group was a young man named Lan Qing Yang, who was in his mid-twenties, had handsome good looks and a strict but well-meaning teacher-like aura about him.

“Once we set foot in the forest, your observation will begin,” Lan Qing Yang explained. “I will be taking note of everything that you do and will be reporting everything back to Lan-laoshi. Do I make myself clear?”

Everyone nodded in assent. Lan Qing Yang narrowed his gaze briefly before he continued with his explanation, this time about the night hunt assignment itself.

About a month ago, about fourteen people perished inside the forest after bandits raided their camp and killed them. Their violent, untimely deaths and lack of proper burial made them full of resentful energies and thus, have started to haunt and kill anyone they come across. Small time cultivators have tried their hand at exorcising them but their numbers overwhelm them and they had only now reached out to Gusu Lan clan to aid them.

“That is where you will come in,” Lan Qing Yang explained. “You have been taught by Lan-laoshi on how to deal with fierce corpses. What is the Gusu Lan method?”

“First, liberate; second, suppress; third, eliminate,” Wei Wuxian answered easily, his gaze flitting over to meet Lan Wangji’s with the silent expectation that he will continue.

Lan Wangji did not disappoint. “The initial approach is to utilise the gratitude of his relatives and grant his dying wish, set free what he could not let go of. If it fails, suppress it. If the crimes were extremely wrongful, and its energy of resentment does not dissipate, exterminate it completely,” he explained. “The cultivation world should precisely keep to this order of measures. No errors should be allowed.”

“Very good, you two,” Lan Qing Yang said, a small smile dancing across his lips. “Now that you are all briefed, let us begin.”

The six of them traversed into the forest, following the narrow dirt path as they did. The forest was dense; the air indicates the coming of autumn. The moonlight streaming through the gaps in the trees were weak. Lan Wangji, who was at the front, held a lantern in one hand.

Lan Qing Yang stayed behind, his narrowed eyes already observing everyone’s movements.  

His gaze in particular was fixed on the back of Wei Wuxian’s head. He was walking ahead of the others with Lan Wangji, the distance between them practically nonexistent. He kept on turning his head this way and there, gaze seemingly distracted.

He was so distracted that he did not realize a thick tree root in the way. Lan Wangji put an arm around his waist and steered him away gently. His hold around Wei Wuxian’s waist stayed for much longer than was necessary before the latter finally pulled away. Wei Wuxian caught Lan Wangji’s gaze, his eyes soft and practically twinkling under the soft moonlight that shone through the gap of the leaves.  

“You’re so sweet, Lan Zhan. You’ll catch me if I fall, right?” he asked, his tone a teasing lilt.

“Mn,” Lan Wangji did not hesitate to answer. His expression barely faltered, still as stoic as ever, but his eyes were unimaginably soft as he gazed at the young man beside him.

The others could hear the unspoken ‘always’ hanging in the air.

Suddenly, the other four walking behind them felt like taking a different direction from the other two. Lan Qing Yang almost choked on his own spit. He has heard of the rumours between the two but he never thought he’d witness it for himself just how shamelessly these two flirt at one another. How aware they were of their own actions remains to be unseen.

Jin Zixuan scowled at the back of Wei Wuxian’s head. “Do you ever take these things seriously, Wei Wuxian?” he grumbled.

Wei Wuxian stopped at his tracks almost immediately, as did Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian spared the other teenager a glance from over his shoulder. “Of course I do, Jin-gongzi.” There was a tone of forced politeness in the way he called the Jin Sect heir.

Wei Wuxian then put on a forced smile on his face and said, “If you got off your high horse every once in a while, you’d be able to sense resentful energies too.”

Before Jin Zixuan could retort to that undisguised jab, Lan Qing Yang inquired, “What do you mean, Wei-gongzi? Can you feel the resentful energy already?” He himself could not feel any resentful energies anywhere close by so he could not help but sound skeptical.

“Of course,” Wei Wuxian replied. “Lan Zhan, you can feel it too, right?”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji answered promptly. His answer seemed to assure them that Wei Wuxian was telling the truth, as Lan Wangji was never one to lie.

“I can’t feel anything,” One of the two from the smaller sects muttered.

Wei Wuxian sighed. “You’re not trying to sense the energy far enough. I’m not talking about the immediate area. You can sense the difference in energy from the atmosphere alone.”

“Enlighten us, then,” Jin Zixuan said derisively, which sounded more like a challenge. He missed the way Lan Wangji shot an icy look at him.

“Close your eyes,” he said promptly. Jin Zixuan seemed to want to protest but Wei Wuxian insisted. Reluctantly, he followed the rest as they did as Wei Wuxian told them.

“Focus on the energies around you,” Wei Wuxian instructed. “Feel the yang energy in the air around us. Now, focus on other energies beyond that.”

“It’s not working,” Jin Zixuan grumbled.

“Concentrate,” Wei Wuxian replied. “You can feel a sudden shift of a different kind of energy outside of the yang energy concentrated around us. Just concentrate on finding it.”

The rest were still and silent as they did as they were told. Several moments passed by before anyone had any outward reactions. Lan Qing Yang let out a soft gasp as he opened his eyes and turned his head to the direction where he felt the huge surge of yin energy to his left.

The others soon followed, flinching back as they suddenly were more aware of the presence of resentful energies in all directions. They were some distance away but from what they could feel, they were drawing closer as each second passes.

“I suggest we get a move on,” Wei Wuxian said, maybe unnecessarily as the rest quickly marched forwards, walking past them. The closed space of the narrow forest pathway they were stuck in was not an ideal place to be at if they were going to be ambushed.  

“I would have suggested we scattered because what’s drawing the fierce corpses towards us in the first place is the huge concentration of yang energy coming from us but I doubt they’d want to do that,” Wei Wuxian told Lan Wangji. “They might be thinking that there’s strength in numbers but in this case, more of us concentrated on one spot just attracts the fierce corpses instead.”

“Do you want us to scatter?” Lan Wangji asked.

“Hm? Considering our experiences with fierce corpses, I find being ambushed pretty effective to deal with them all at once,” Wei Wuxian remarked with a smirk.

“… Do not use yourself as a spirit attraction flag again,” Lan Wangji said.

Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but laugh. “Why would I?” he asked. He points to the qiankun pouch he had strapped over his shoulder. “I have ready-made ones waiting to be activated right here.”

Wei Wuxian’s group eventually arrived at a small but spacious clearing in the middle of the forest. All of them could feel the presence of fierce corpses near their vicinity, almost overpowering the others with how heavy the atmosphere suddenly became with resentful energy. Only Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian did not show any outward discomfort.

Wei Wuxian bent down and set his qiankun pouch on the ground and rummage the contents inside. He took out four pieces of black cloth but they did not seem like ordinary cloth. There were red markings that looked like they were made from cinnabar. The inscriptions were absolutely unfamiliar to the others but Lan Wangji seemed like he knew what they were.

“Wei-gongzi?” Lan Qing Yang stepped towards him, eyeing the cloth with suspicious eyes. “What… what are those?”

“Something to aid us,” Wei Wuxian said cryptically. That just confused the others even further.

Instead of explaining himself, Wei Wuxian took a few steps back. Lan Wangji also took a few steps aside and looked at Lan Qing Yang, expecting him to follow suit. The young man did as was expected, his gaze still confused and wary, leaving Wei Wuxian to stand at the centre of the clearing. The others took that as their cue to clear the space as well, making themselves scarce on the side. They looked at Wei Wuxian intently, curious to see where this was going. 

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and moved his mouth in a silent incantation. The piles of black cloth on his palm were enveloped in a soft red glow and flew out of his hand, flying towards four different directions and stayed hovering above. The red cinnabar markings on the flags suddenly glowed a menacing shade of red as a large array formed beneath Wei Wuxian, glowing in the same intense shade of red.

When he opened his eyes, they weren’t sure if it was from the light of the array but Wei Wuxian’s eyes seemed to glow a vivid shade of red.

“Come,” his voice seemed to echo in the silence of the whole forest.

Lan Wangji seemed to take this as his cue to step into the array. No one could stop him but the array did not break in his presence. He took out his guqin, placing his hands on the strings, ready to strum. Wei Wuxian took out a bamboo flute from his qiankun pouch that he had bought while they were in Caiyi Town a few hours ago.

In this lifetime, he did not have Chenqing, after all, and he has no intentions of making the ghost flute either.

“They’re getting closer,” Wei Wuxian remarked idly, twirling the flute in his hand as he waited. He can feel it in the sudden shift in the air. The spirit attraction flags were doing their work properly, drawing the fierce corpses towards them. From what he can tell, it seemed like the whole cavalry was headed towards them.

“Mn,” Lan Wangji answered taciturnly. His eyes were drawn to the flute in Wei Wuxian’s hand. He makes a mental note to purchase Wei Wuxian a better flute, as he seemed to have neglected to procure one for him earlier. Perhaps a white jade one would suit him best…

The first fierce corpse broke through the gaps in the trees, its roar echoing throughout the otherwise silent forest and eliciting a surprised yelp from the others who stayed in the sidelines. Soon, more had broken through, filling the entire meadow with sounds of the groans of the undead. The three junior cultivators had huddled closer to Lan Qing Yang, swords unsheathed and ready for a fight. Lan Qing Yang had brandished his exorcism talismans and was also gearing up for a fight but no harm will come to them.

It would seem like the fierce corpses did not even see them as they made no move towards them. Their target seemed to be the two who were within the still glowing array.

Then, once all fourteen had broken through inside the array, Lan Wangji’s hand moved across the guqin strings. The effect was made clear at once as the fierce corpses collapsed to the ground, an invisible force brought them down to their knees and was driving them into the ground. Another string drove them further into the ground, creating small craters from the impact.

Then, Wei Wuxian picked up his flute and began to play. The beginning notes of the song was familiar to Lan Qing Yang and only vaguely familiar to the rest and it was only when Lan Wangji joined him in a duet did they realize what they were playing: Rest.

Almost at once, black, wispy resentful energies materialized and were being expelled out from the fierce corpses’ mouths and shot up into the air, slowly dissipating into tiny particles. The groans coming out of the fierce corpses subsided slowly but surely until the forest became as still and silent as it was before. The undead bodies lay on the ground, limp and unmoving, their souls finally free of the bounds of their resentment.

With a flick of Wei Wuxian’s wrist, the spirit attraction flags fell from the sky and flew back into his waiting palm, the glowing inscriptions subsiding. Wei Wuxian might have overdone it too much when he adjusted the range of the spirit attraction flags to reach all the way to the edges of the forest. He realizes this when he feels himself swaying every so slightly at his feet.

Everyone and everything was deathly silent until they heard a twig snap under someone’s weight.

“What the hell was that?” A voice broke through the silence of the forest. It was not coming from the four who were in Wei Wuxian’s group but instead someone all too familiar to him.

Wei Wuxian turned to his left and saw Jiang Cheng and his group emerging from behind the trees they hid from. Everyone else seemed to have taken that as their cue to approach Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Their faces were a mix of disbelief and awe, mostly disbelief, as they could not process how fast everything had happened. 

Questions came from all different directions: What just happened? What was that thing you activated earlier? What array did he just use? How on earth was he proficient at music cultivation?

It was only Lan Wangji’s icy glare that silenced them all. Well, almost all of them, as Jiang Cheng and the two senior disciples weren’t backing down without an explanation.

“Can we at least go back to the city before I explain things? Maybe take care of these bodies?” He addresses the corpses surrounding them like they were missing the bleeding obvious here. The three seemed to back down after that and the two senior disciples began instructing the others in taking care of the bodies.

“Lan er-gongzi,” Lan Lian, the second senior disciple who supervised Jiang Cheng’s group called his attention. “Might I trouble Lan er-gongzi in calling for reinforcements in the capital?”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji replied. “Wei Ying and I will go.”

No one could really protest his words.

And no one could really say anything when Lan Wangji, without even saying a word, lifted Wei Wuxian into his arms, his one arm supporting his back while the other was tucked under his knees. Wei Wuxian let out an undignified yelp of surprise as he was being lifted. 

"Lan Zhan! I'm fine! I'm not going to pass out!" He exclaimed, even as he put his arms around Lan Wangji's neck to keep himself from falling over. 

"You were swaying," Lan Wangji replied sternly. 

"I can walk! I'm fine, really!" Wei Wuxian kept on insisting, kicking his legs in an attempt to struggle but it seemed to fall on deaf ears as Lan Wangji nodded to the rest and walked towards the pathway they came from. Wei Wuxian's protests eventually died down when they finally broke through the tree line. 

No one was exempted from being red in the face from vicarious embarrassment.

"Why you blushing?" One asked, pointing to the others. 

"You're blushing too!" Another one exclaimed defensively. 

The person next to Jiang Cheng could have sworn that he just let out the biggest, most defeated sigh they have ever heard. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

After all the bodies have been taken care of by the townsfolk, the night hunt party decided on stayed in Moling for the night, with all of them staying at a large inn near the town square. 

Lan Qing Yang and Lan Lian tried to have Wei Wuxian sit with the others during dinner at the inn’s mess hall so they could interrogate him but Lan Wangji reminded them coldly and very pointedly that there should be no talking during meals. As senior disciples, they should have known better and they silently acquiesced.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian settled at a different table, though they were still in eyeshot of everyone else. No one objected to this arrangement as no one wanted to be the subject of Lan Wangji’s icy glare if they were unfortunate enough to be sitting next to Wei Wuxian on the bench of the long table the rest had gathered around.

Finally, after dinner, they all retired to their rooms but Lan Qing Yang, Lan Lian, and Jiang Cheng followed Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji into their shared room. Wei Wuxian sat next to Lan Wangji on one of the two beds while Lan Lian and Lan Ying Yang settled on the other bed. Jiang Cheng remained standing, leaning up against the wall and his eyes scrutinizing Wei Wuxian.

“Okay, what would you like to know?” He asked, folding his arms over his chest. His look was anticipatory.

The interrogation that followed lasted for maybe an hour. Lan Wangji chimed in every now and then, making small noises of confirmation whenever the senior disciples seemed to doubt Wei Wuxian's word. Wei Wuxian answered everything as best as he could, omitting, of course, the obvious details he should not disclose, like how everything about these spirit-attraction flags was borne from months of research in demonic cultivation from a previous timeline.

That isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to casually spring up on people.

When they finally wrung him out of all the answers they could possibly need, the two senior disciples seemed to have one conclusion: Wei Wuxian was reckless to have called for an ambush towards himself but also a genius for having invented something that would surely benefit the whole cultivation world. No one had ever thought of attracting spirits and the like towards them. They had always sought them out or had run into them by chance. It would certainly make night hunts a lot easier if they don't have to spend hours looking for their target. 

“You attempted the impossible,” Lan Lian muttered, his boyishly handsome face full of awe and wonder. 

“This is Wei Wuxian you’re talking to,” Jiang Cheng reminded them. “He’s always attempting the impossible.” There was a hint of pride in his voice. Wei Wuxian grinned at his brother. He had done Yunmeng Jiang proud with this event.

Lan Lian and Lan Qing Yang seemed to agree on that matter. They excused themselves, not wishing to impose on them any further, shutting the door gently behind them as they left.

“Mom is going to want to kill you for hiding this from her,” Jiang Cheng told Wei Wuxian, his teasing grin spreading wide. “To think you’ve got so many ideas tinkering in your head and you didn’t dare act on them until she was finally out of earshot…”

Lan Wangji flinched at the sound of that. His expression clearly stated he did not want that to happen. Wei Wuxian merely laughed at his response.

“I’m not going to die, Lan Zhan!" He assured him. "Trust me, Madame Yu is just going to want to train me so bad that I wish I was dead,” he added blithely.

He then turned to Jiang Cheng. “But, it’s not like I could act on my research there, Jiang Cheng. Madame Yu would probably think I’m just skipping her training.”

“You always skip out on training,” Jiang Cheng pointed out.

“How you are even head disciple is beyond me.” He added, rolling his eyes.

Wei Wuxian shrugged his shoulders. Lan Wangji muttered something about it being past curfew already. It was probably closer to eleven at night, Wei Wuxian guessed.

Jiang Cheng finally excused himself from the room, leaving the two alone to their own devices. Lan Wangji got up from the bed and decided to get ready for bed, but not before attending to Wei Wuxian first. The latter enjoyed being spoilt before bed and quickly dressed himself down to his inner robes before lying down on the bed.

They went through the farce of getting a room with two beds but they both knew that they won’t be able to sleep well at all without the other next to them.

When Lan Wangji finally settled into bed as well, he turned off the lantern lights and plunged the room in near-complete darkness, save for the pale moonlight shining through the gap in the windows. Wei Wuxian tucked his head under Lan Wangji’s chin, nuzzling his cheek on his chest as he got comfortable while Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian, pressing a soft kiss into his hair before he closed his eyes.

Sleep came easily to them, as they had each other in their arms.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When the junior disciples arrived back from Moling, word had gotten around about the events that took place during the night hunt. Two names, in particular, kept on coming up but Wei Wuxian's name was more prominent in the gossip between students. Lan Wangji was involved in some way and it was mostly in aid to Wei Wuxian. The story gets more outrageous with each retelling, wild embellishments making the whole event seem so outrageous that it might as well be a story ripped out of the pages of a book.

Lan Qiren would never admit to listening to rumours and idle teen gossip, preferring to see fact and logic.  As such, Lan Qiren looked at the reports made by the senior disciples that oversaw the operation, heard their thorough verbal explanation; as well as from his own nephew, and definitely noticed one key factor that contributed to the success and it was the name that was prominent in these stories.

The two senior disciples sat across from him on the low table, waiting for Lan Qiren to say something. His face was mostly impassive, though his brows were furrowed as he stared at one of the reports that lay on top of his desk. He lifted a palm and tapped his finger on a particular set of words on the page.

"What is this 'black cloth with cinnabar markings' that you wrote of?" Lan Qiren asked, setting down the scroll on the table gently before he brought up a hand to stroke his beard.

Lan Qing Yang straightened up as he explained, "Wei Wuxian had called it a 'spirit-attraction flag' when he was asked. Apparently, he had designed it himself with the purpose of luring spirits and other creatures of malicious intent. According to him, the array he had set up had a radius of about thirty Li."

That was about as big as Moling Forest, thought Lan Qiren as he hummed in assent, his brows furrowing further. He did not look like he believed what Lan Qing Yang had just said. It was quite hard to believe that such a device would exist.

"Did you inspect these... spirit-attraction flags?" he inquired.

The other senior disciple named Lan Lian answered with a firm nod. "We inspected them thoroughly. They were not malicious in intent. Admittedly, they were designs that we have never seen before. I do not believe a concept has existed before either but Wei Wuxian had explained the mechanics of how they work. He was also not averse to the idea of showing the full designs of the array or the incantations if needed."

"Lan er-gongzi had also vouched for him and confirmed that they were Wei Wuxian's handiwork because he saw him make them himself," Lan Qing Yang added.

"What else have you observed about him?" Lan Qiren prompted. The Lan disciples looked at him confusedly for clarification. "Wei Wuxian. What else did he do during the night hunt?"

"I had thought he was distracted because he kept looking around the forest while we were walking further into it," Lan Qing Yang answered. "He had apparently sensed the resentful energy as soon as he entered the forest and where they were coming from. He had taught the others the technique to sense it, including me." There was the barest hint of shame marred in his voice as it was rather embarrassing for a senior disciple to be taught by their junior.

"He also showed great talents in music cultivation. He played the song of Rest in a duet with Lan er-gongzi. Their combined efforts had resulted in all fourteen fierce corpses to collapse and had all the resentful energy expelled from the bodies," Lan Lian said. "They did such quick work that the assignment was over before the other disciples had a chance to do anything."

They could have sworn they saw Lan Qiren's eye twitch at the mention of 'duet' and Lan Wangji in the same sentence as Wei Wuxian's name. They exchanged brief glances with each other, each wearing a knowing look. If Lan Qiren were the one observing the night hunt, he would no doubt find Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian's blatant display of affections absolutely shameless.

It still remains to be a question on whether or not the two are even aware of their actions at all. 

After a long stretch of silence, Lan Qiren let out a sigh. He gets to his feet and turns his back to them, his gaze resolutely fixated on the calm scenery displayed out the window. "Both of you are dismissed. You will be given a day of rest for supervising their assignment. Reflect on your own actions, as well." 

"Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Lan-laoshi." the two said in unison. The two cupped their hands in a show of respect before excusing themselves from the room, shutting the door gently behind them.

Lan Qiren pinched the bridge of his nose, the beginning stages of a headache forming. Just as he thought he was going to be left alone to mull with his thoughts, a soft knock came from the door. He allowed whoever it was entrance, looking over his shoulder to see who was coming in and saw Lan Xichen slide the door open and step inside.

"Uncle, I have returned," Lan Xichen said as he clasped his hands in greeting, his face soft and lips forming a gentle smile. 

"Xichen," Lan Qiren felt a little bit better upon seeing the smiling face of his oldest nephew. He turned around fully to face him.

"Welcome back. Sit down, please. You must have had a tiring journey."

Xichen did as he was told, settling down on the spot in front of Lan Qiren's desk. Lan Qiren gets to work in preparing tea and served his nephew a cup. Lan Xichen produces a roll of parchment from the sleeve of his billowy robes and presents it to his uncle. Lan Qiren takes it and sets it down on the desk with the other paperwork.

"You look uneasy, Uncle. May I ask what is bothering you?" Xichen asked as he picked up his tea cup and took a quiet sip.

Lan Qiren sighed. "It is Wei Wuxian that I am troubled by," he says with a complicated expression of his face.

Lan Xichen has heard of the name before. Wei Wuxian, from his knowledge, was a prodigy and the head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang Sect. He does not know the teenager personally but he has heard of his rambunctious nature. Lan Xichen can understand if his uncle was under stress from having such a high-spirited student. He would no doubt be a challenge to have as a student.

"What about him, Uncle?" Lan Xichen asked.

Lan Qiren opened his mouth, as if ready to go into a tirade, but was unable to say anything. He closed his mouth and stroked his beard, clearly a bit agitated. After a while, he finally explained. Lan Xichen listened to him patiently and when Lan Qiren finally finished, his nephew said softly, "Uncle, I do not mean to be pertinent but in our rules, is it not written that the sins of our parents should not be shouldered by the child?"

Lan Qiren huffed but could not retort to that. Lan Xichen continued, "Although he is Cangse Sanren's son, from what you said, Wei-gongzi seems to be well-behaved, if maybe a bit vivacious, and an exceptional student. It could be that he was being mischievous in Lotus Pier but chooses to behave well here."

The elder Lan couldn't exactly find any holes in that logic but he can't shake off the feeling that Wei Wuxian was up to something. He didn't know what but he felt that something was definitely off and the boy was hiding something. His sudden obedience can't just be for the sake of being in a different location. Something was afoot; he just doesn't know what it could be. But, seeing as how Lan Wangji did not find any faults in his actions, Lan Qiren cannot do anything but just accept things as they were.

"You mentioned Wangji, uncle. Is he friends with Wei-gongzi?" Lan Xichen asked.

Lan Qiren sighed. "I suppose you could say that." The elder Lan explained the goings-on that Lan Xichen had missed while he was away from his own night hunt assignment for the past few weeks.

Lan Xichen, ever the doting older brother, feels his heart soften at the thought of his little brother finally having a friend who was willing to look past his taciturn nature. He must see for himself what kind of person Wei Wuxian was.

Lan Xichen departs for the Jingshi as soon as his uncle allowed for his dismissal. The junior disciples who took part in the night hunt were given the free day off, supposedly for self-reflection and self-study, so they were no classes being held. Lan Xichen can usually count on seeing his brother at his quarters if he is not at the library pavilion. He checks the latter first but finds it devoid of Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian. There were a few guest cultivators in there however, which was rather surprising. When he entered, they quickly scrambled around to greet him. He politely greets them back and inquires if they have seen Wangji.

"He and Wei-xiong left quite a while ago," A guest from Lanling Jin answered. He nods and excuses himself to head to the Jingshi.

He passes by a few guest disciples who greet him on his way to the Jingshi. He returns the sentiments with a soft smile on his face and continues on his way. When he arrived at the courtyard of the Jingshi, he finds it unusual to hear someone else's voice coming from inside the building. It was unfamiliar and lively.

Wangji never let anyone outside of him and his uncle in the Jingshi. This was monumental, thought Lan Xichen as his smile brightened.

Lan Xichen heard what seemed to be a giggle from none other than Wei Wuxian and then a delighted, unrestrained shriek. "I'm trying to work, Lan Zhan! Behave!" He heard Wei Wuxian exclaim between his giggling. Lan Xichen faltered in his steps when he heard that. There was no real conviction in his tone. It held more of a, dare he say, flirtatious lilt if nothing else. Lan Xichen suddenly feels like backtracking his steps.

Lan Xichen shook his head and steeled himself, stepping in front of the door and knocked on it twice. The playful laughter ceased almost immediately. He can hear movement from behind the door that sounded like clothes being russled. Perhaps from getting up from the floor, thought Xichen.

Lan Xichen knocked again before he called out, "Wangji? I am back."

"Brother?" Lan Wangji answered from the other side. Lan Xichen could hear footsteps approaching the door. He can hear more movement from the other side and when the door finally cracked open, Lan Xichen could see an unfamiliar figure dressed in the purple robes of Yunmeng Jiang lurking behind Lan Wangji, seemingly trying to straighten up his clothes.

Lan Xichen's gaze flitted back to meet his brother's impassive stare. "Hello, Wangji. I trust that you have been well," he said, his smile never faltering.

"Mn," Lan Wangji replied, ever so taciturn.

"I have just returned from my night hunt assignment and I wished to greet you after I saw Uncle. I apologize if I am disturbing your time with Wei-gongzi," Lan Xichen said, sounding genuinely apologetic, however soft his tone was.

"...Not disturbing."

"I see."

Lan Wangji took a step back to allow his brother entrance and Lan Xichen finally got a good look at Wei Wuxian.

The young man was as handsome as he was perceived to be, with boyish good looks and a bright, cheerful smile spread across his face that he wore so well. He greets Lan Xichen with bright enthusiasm.

From what Lan Xichen could tell, there was nothing about the boy that would suggest that he was rambunctious and unruly, as his uncle seemed to think he was.

Now that Lan Xichen has gotten a good look of Wei Wuxian, he also takes in the surroundings. The boy was standing in front of Wangji's low table, which was currently strewn with so much paperwork that it was odd to look at. Lan Xichen saw what looked like designs for arrays and talismans on several of the pages but he was not quite sure.

Wei Wuxian glances down at the mess on the table, and as if realizing the mess just now, he quickly got to work in arranging the mess of papers. Lan Wangji moves from the doorway to help Wei Wuxian with the clutter, taking most of the papers in his hands and excuses himself to lead Wei Wuxian to another part of the Jingshi, presumably to store them away. Wei Wuxian excuses himself as he follows after Lan Wangji.

Lan Xichen was not without company for too long as they returned rather quickly. Already, Lan Xichen can tell that Wangji seemed nervous. Wei Wuxian seemed more like an open book, his nervousness showing, however subtle it was. The three of them sat around the low table with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sitting across from Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen can tell that something was going on between his brother and Wei Wuxian.

He noticed it as soon as he saw Lan Wangji's expression earlier. To the naked, untrained eye, Lan Wangji's expression rarely faltered from its general stoicism but Lan Xichen knew his brother like the back of his hand. He knows a slightly annoyed expression when he sees it. He must have intruded upon them, Lan Xichen guessed. He was clued in further when Wei Wuxian was arranging his clothes earlier.

Lan Xichen was inwardly relieved that he knocked on the door before entering. He felt the tips of his ears growing hot as he imagined a scenario where he didn't knock and may have witnessed something he doesn't necessarily want to see.

Needless to say, however, this was definitely not what their uncle would be expecting that Wei Wuxian was hiding from him. He would have expected a prank so elaborate that it might warrant Wei Wuxian to be banned from coming back here again. Being lovers with his nephew was most likely outside of his spectrum of thought.

Lan Wangji set down a tray of freshly brewed tea on the table and poured a cup for Xichen and Wei Wuxian before he poured a cup for himself. Lan Xichen took a sip of his tea and quietly observed the two from across the table.

He observes Wei Wuxian first, eyes briefly flitting to scan the young man. His eyes zero in on a mark just peeking under the folds of his robes; a reddish-purple discolouration of the skin on the juncture between his neck and shoulders.

Yes, it was most definitely a good thing that he knocked. It was also no wonder his brother was slightly annoyed with him.

Wei Wuxian seemed a bit restless under his gaze and he looked at the table instead, taking his cup and taking tiny sips of it. After several moments of awkward silence filling the Jingshi, Lan Xichen finally broke the silence. "Congratulations, Wangji," Lan Xichen said.

Upon hearing Lan Xichen's words, Wei Wuxian coughed and choked as he was in the middle of drinking his tea. Lan Wangji was immediately concerned, his one hand reaching to take the cup from Wei Wuxian's hand and the other soothed his back. His expression faltered ever so slightly, worry evident in those pale eyes.

When Wei Wuxian finally got his bearings again, he looked warily at Lan Xichen and his nervousness seemed more palpable. Was he that scary? Lan Xichen thought. Ah, maybe his concerns lie were more towards he view on their relationship, he concluded.

"Brother... how..." Lan Wangji's voice trailed away. His hand had found Wei Wuxian's and he was holding it tightly as if to give Wei Wuxian some comfort. Wei Wuxian, however consciously or unconsciously, seemed to draw himself closer to Wangji at the gesture.

Lan Xichen chuckled. "You may want to work on subtlety if you would like to keep things a secret," he told the two of them. "Had it been someone else who arrived at the Jingshi, they might not have been polite enough to knock if they heard Wei-gongzi's voice from the other side of the door.

Wei Wuxian turned bright cherry red and while Lan Wangji's face did not falter, the tips of his ears turned as red as Wei Wuxian's face. Their reactions were adorable, thought Xichen. It makes him want to tease them a bit more.

But, more important things need to be said. There is a reason for Wangji to hide his relationship, after all. He can tease them all he wants later.

Lan Xichen took another sip of his tea before he said softly, "Do not fret, Wangji. You have my full, unconditional support. If Wei-gongzi makes you happy, then that is all that matters to me."

Xichen notices a slight shift in the air in the room when he said those words; as if some growing tension that formed had dissipated. Wangji did not reply immediately but lowered his head and uttered out a barely audible noise of assent. Wei Wuxian expression also changed. His smile was soft and there was genuine relief reflected in those silvery grey eyes of his.

Quietly, he said, "Thank you. I want to make Lan Zhan happy for the rest of my life."

"Wei Ying deserves all the happiness in the world too," Lan Wangji added, taking hold of Wei Wuxian's free hand.

Lan Xichen chuckled softly. "I'm happy for you, Wangji. If the elders give you trouble, I will be there to support you."

Though there was no evident smile on his face like Wei Wuxian's, Wangji's happiness was obvious as he replied, "Mn, thank you, brother."

Lan Xichen finished his tea and then straightened his back, eager for this talk to continue. "So, tell me how you first met."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"I'm glad your brother supports us this time around," Wei Wuxian said after Lan Xichen left the Jingshi.

Wangji pauses before he spoke again.

"Brother has always supported us," Lan Wangji replied. "In the other time, as well."

Wei Wuxian laughed but held none of the usual gaiety. "But he despised me, then. For inadvertently or intentionally hurting you so many times. I admit, I sometimes hate myself too for all the pain I've caused you."

Lan Wangji stared at him intensely before he closed his eyes, sighed and took both of Wei Wuxian's hand in his. When he opened them again, his gaze was soft and Wei Wuxian's heart skipped a beat when he met his gaze.

"You are not accountable for my actions. My decisions are my own. I chose to save you, I chose to bear those scars and I'll do it all again in a heartbeat if I must," he said softly. 

His words alarmed Wei Wuxian, tightening his grip around Lan Wangji's hands. "Please don't," he pleaded. "I... I don't know what I'll do if I witness you in pain myself."

"Hm," Lan Wangji answered. "Nothing will happen to you this time around."

"And nothing will happen to you either, or to everyone else for that matter but especially you," Wei Wuxian responded, voice now determined.

Lan Wangji pressed a soft kiss on Wei Wuxian's forehead and whispered against his skin, "Mn."

Wei Wuxian pulled away from Lan Wangji's grip on his hands but instead of moving away, he moved closer, settling on his lap and wrapping his arms around him. He pressed a kiss on his chest and snuggled into his warmth.

They stayed like this for an indefinite period of time, enjoying each other's warmth until Wei Wuxian broke the silence.

"I am not looking forward to a discussion like this with Lan Qiren," Wei Wuxian blurted out. "I don't think he's going to be as supportive as Xichen-ge. I can't even imagine him telling me congratulations, even begrudgingly!"

"They will accept you," was Lan Wangji's simple answer.

Wei Wuxian merely sighed and muttered, "Hah, a man can dream..."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

But times of peace would not always last, as they would soon learn a few days later. Sometime after the end of their first written exams, the first events that displayed the Wen's insolence had finally happened. News had gotten to Gusu Lan that Caiyi Town has been plagued by water ghouls. Lan Qiren was away for Sect duties, as the acting head in light of his brother's secluded cultivation.

Lan Xichen and a few select others have been dispatched to survey the situation and hopefully rectify them, but when they returned a few hours later, it was not to announce to the others that the issue had been solved but to enlist more help. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were already in the know of these events but it was only when Lan Xichen had come back for more help did they decide to step in and offer help. They cannot flaunt their knowledge on future events - events that they were trying to avoid from happening again, specifically.

"Wangji, Wuxian," Lan Xichen greeted them when the two came up to him in the corridor. A small group of other cultivators stood behind Lan Xichen. They were no doubt the group he took to Caiyi town earlier. They all seemed exhausted. One of them stood out in particular, mostly because Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian knew that he was going to be a problem if they did not interfere.

Su She. The Gusu Lan defector.

He was going to be a thorn in their side if they did not do something about him soon. 

"Xichen-ge," Wei Wuxian greeted. "What's the situation in Caiyi Town?" 

Xichen sighed. "It is strange. The bodies that we have recovered do not belong to anyone in town. Not a single person could claim them but they are to be given a proper burial regardless," he explained. 

"Brother, we will help," Lan Wangji said.

"Ah, thank you, Wangji, Wuxian," Lan Xichen seemed grateful. "We will depart in thirty minutes. We will be meeting at the entrance."

"Xichen-ge, is it okay if I bring Jiang Cheng with us? He and I are experienced with handling water ghouls in Yunmeng."

"I don't see why I would refuse more help," Xichen replied. "Thank you, Wuxian. I will see you all at the gate."

After Lan Xichen and the others had left, Wei Wuxian left to go get Jiang Cheng, who was most likely with Nie Huaisang at the dorms. Sure enough, they were in the latter's bedroom. The two did not expect his arrival but they greeted Wei Wuxian as he entered the threshold.

"What are you doing here?" Jiang Cheng asked though not unkindly. Wei Wuxian had been gone from his bedroom since this morning and he assumed he would be with Lan Wangji all day since there were still no classes.

"I came to get you," Wei Wuxian replied. "Xichen-ge needs help with some water ghouls in Caiyi Town. Want to come along?"

Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng exchanged funny looks at the mention of Wei Wuxian's way of addressing the Lan Sect heir.

"...Lan Wangji is going to be there too, isn't he?" Jiang Cheng asked hesitantly. 

"Of course he is," Wei Wuxian replied, laughing as if Jiang Cheng just asked the bleeding obvious. "Well, do you want to tag along or not? Huaisang-xiong?"

"You've seen me with a sword," Nie Huaisang replied flatly. "What use would I be there?"

"Bait, duh," Wei Wuxian answered seriously. The latter promptly struck him on the arm with his fan, earning another laugh.

"Alright, alright, I'll go with you," Jiang Cheng said resignedly. "Someone has to stop you from doing anything stupid."

"I wish you all the luck in your endeavours, Jiang-xiong," Nie Huaisang said primly as he fanned himself.

When he looked up at Wei Wuxian's expression, he felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of that mischievous grin. 

Chapter Text

Nie Huaisang let out a tired, defeated sigh. “Tell me again why am I here?” Nie Huaisang asked listlessly. His slumped shoulders and wary expression just added to the effect. Jiang Cheng patted Nie Huaisang half-heartedly on the shoulder, all the while trying not to laugh at his friend.

The perpetrator for Nie Huaisang’s plight, Wei Wuxian, was nowhere to be seen. Wei Wuxian had left with Lan Wangji as soon as they arrived in town, clinging to his arm and heading off to who knows where with the Second Jade of Lan. Lan Wangji’s expression barely faltered but Lan Xichen’s observant gaze zeroed in on the red tips of his ears, which made him smile behind his sleeve.

Everyone had looked to Lan Xichen, wondering what his reaction would be to see his brother being treated like that by Wei Wuxian but Lan Xichen merely told the others that they ought to go procure boats for them to use. Someone sputtered indignantly at how blasé he was but no one paid him any mind. After all, if Lan Xichen didn’t mind, why should they?

Jiang Cheng found himself in Nie Huaisang’s reluctant company since the latter wasn’t exactly expecting to be dragged on a trip to the town. “Is he actually going to use me for bait?” Nie Huaisong asked, looking a bit panicked.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “Wei Wuxian is a lot of things but he’s not sadistic. He’s just pulling your leg,” Jiang Cheng replied.

Nie Huaisang sighed in absolute relief, seemingly placated. He opened his fan and fanned himself a light breeze. “And here I thought you were going to prevent Wei-xiong from doing anything stupid,” Huaisang reminded him, giving Jiang Cheng a flat look.

“I’ll prevent him from doing stupid things while we’re here,” Jiang Cheng replied with a snort. Nie Huaisang gave him a flat look and grumbled under his breath.

“Why didn’t you stop him from going with Lan Wangji, then?” Nie Huaisang asked, flicking his fan open and started fanning himself a light breeze. At that question, Jiang Cheng scowled.

“As if I’m going to get in between him and Lan Wangji on their date,” He said scathingly, crossing his arms over his chest.

He stayed silent for a bit before he muttered, his voice clearly irritated, “I swear, those two are going at it behind my back. I just know it. Even at home, he’s never acts like this with the others! What makes Lan Wangji so different? God, what does he see in the guy? He’s about as emotional as a rock!”

Nie Huaisang hides half his face behind his fan. He peers at Jiang Cheng with a questioning look. “Would... You approve?” he asked tentatively. At Jiang Cheng’s slightly confused look, he elaborated, “If they were in a relationship, I mean. Would you approve it that was the case?”

Jiang Cheng paused at his tracks. Nie Huaisang did the same. Jiang Cheng looked thoughtful for a moment and his expression was replaced with a scowl. “I can’t approve anything that isn’t confirmed. If that idiot just tells me what’s going on, then I’ll tell him what I think.” he says through clenched jaw.

“That’s fair,” the latter replied with a shrug.

They continued walking along the riverside walkway, stopping by a few stalls. Jiang Cheng managed to buy two hairpins; one made of gold with an intricate lotus-shaped end and elaborate gold tassels that Jiang Cheng hoped to give to his mother while the other was an exquisite silver one with purple quartz flowers for his sister.

Jiang Cheng wondered what else he could buy while was in town. Perhaps, he ought to get something for his father. But even as he thinks that, he did not exactly know what to get him. His lips turn down into a small frown at the bitter reminder that he was not exactly close to his father well enough to know what he’d like. Jiang Cheng knows that despite his mother’s cold façade, she likes trinkets like these. His sister will appreciate his gift too but his father was a whole different story.

Nie Huaisang peered at Jiang Cheng from the corner of his eye, noticing the storm brewing in those dark eyes. Nie Huaisang could guess what was bothering Jiang Cheng right away. He can put two and two together.

It was no secret to the cultivation world how Jiang Cheng was treated by his own father and how Jiang Fengmian treated Wei Wuxian. The disparity in how the actual heir and the adopted child were treated was the subject of many nasty gossip and even nastier rumours. No doubt that Jiang Cheng was lamenting over his relationship with his father.

Nie Huaisang looked around, trying to look for something to distract him. His actions were so obvious, he looked ridiculous. Jiang Cheng looked up and watched Nie Huaisang fumble around for a bit, trying to look for a distraction but there was no distracting Jiang Cheng from the bleeding obvious.

“You don’t have to act all considerate, you know,” Jiang Cheng remarked, his tone remarkably listless. Nie Huaisang turned to look at him, giving him a skeptical look.

“I’m used to it,” Jiang Cheng said, trying to ignore the painful sting that shot through his chest at the reminder. “I don’t need to get him anything.”

The air between them was awkward after that but they continued walking down the pathway. Jiang Cheng wanted to apologize but he couldn’t get the words out of his mouth. But Nie Huaisang seemed very, very eager to just put the awkwardness behind them since he seemed to have shrugged everything off.

Jiang Cheng sighed. “Where the fuck is that idiot?” he grumbled. “We really ought to head back with the others. There’s no point in just walking aimlessly.”

Nie Huaisang sighed quietly in relief. His eyes scan the area and then he spots a familiar figure in the distance. “Speaking of little lover boy, I think that’s him over there,” he tells Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng turns to where Nie Huaisong was looking at. It was indeed Wei Wuxian, who has finally managed to let go of Lan Wangji and was currently perusing the fruits at a stall. Wei Wuxian picked up a loquat and presented it to Lan Wangji, who took it without question. As Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng was headed towards them, they managed to hear the tail end of Wei Wuxian’s words.

“You didn’t accept it last time I asked, though” he said, pouting at Lan Wangji. “I think I have lost count how many times I’ve lost face to you rejecting me, Lan Zhan.”

“Try asking me again and see if I will deny you anything,” came Lan Wangji’s simple reply. Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisong froze on the spot. The poor sister selling the fruits seemed to have choked and turned bright cherry red at such a bold declaration, right in front of her fruit stand.

Wei Wuxian was also frozen on the spot, his cheeks turning gradually pink and his mouth hanging open like a fish out of water. When he realized what an undignified expression he was making, he hastily covered his face, groaning Lan Wangji’s name in fond exasperation.

“Please, have mercy on my poor heart, Lan Zhan. You can’t just say things like that so casually! And with a straight face too!” He peeked through the gaps he made with his fingers, his smile so wide and fond.

Someone tripped over themselves when they witnessed the small smile on Lan Wangji’s face, however briefly it came and went. Wei Wuxian was even struck speechless yet again

Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng looked at each other, turned around, intending to head back from where they came from. As Jiang Cheng turned, his shoulder bumps into a passerby, the collision almost sending them falling backwards had it not been for Jiang Cheng catching their arm to steady their fall.

“I’m sorry, are you alright?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“Y-Yes,” The stranger stuttered, stepping away. He apologized profusely before he scurried away, his travelling cloak billowing behind him.

“What was that all about?” Nie Huaisang asked.

Jiang Cheng shrugged his shoulders. At the sound of Wei Wuxian’s voice, however, they were quickly reminded as to why they were in a hurry to leave in the first place. They walked briskly back from where they came from, effectively dodging the two who seemed to be absolutely oblivious to everyone else’s plight at their antics.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Sometime later, everyone got on separate boats as they make their way to the heart of Biling Lake, where Wei Wuxian sensed most of the resentful energies had congregated. Everything was calm and the waters were relatively still as they continued forward. After a while however, Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Xichen’s boat, his eyes narrowing at how strangely low it had sunk down down. Lan Wangji caught Wei Wuxian’s stare.

“Xichen-ge,” he called his attention, keeping his tone light and cheerful. Lan Xichen turned to their direction and met his brother’s gaze. He had sensed something was wrong immediately at the intensity of his gaze. Wei Wuxian mouthed for him to jump to the other boat as he took the bamboo oar from Lan Wangji’s hands.

Hesitant at first, Lan Xichen eventually dropped his own oar, just as Wei Wuxian hit the bottom of his boat. Lan Xichen leaped from his boat, landing on the deck of Jin Zixuan’s. Everyone cried out in surprise as Wei Wuxian tipped the boat over, revealing three water ghouls clinging to the bottom of the boat.

Lan Wangji was fast on his feet and made quick work of exorcising them. The other Gusu Lan disciples moved forward and hurriedly caught the bodies to bring them back to shore. Everyone else was just slack-jawed with awe. Everything happened so fast, after all.

“How did you figure out they were under my boat?” Lan Xichen asked, looking somewhat amazed.

“Your boat was too low. It can’t be because of your weight so I figured something was clinging underneath,” Wei Wuxian explained. “And maybe I could sense the resentful energy coming from them.”

That was even more surprising. “How?”

“You feel the yin energy outside of the yang energy around you,” Wei Wuxian explained. “I’ll teach you how to do it later, if you—”

“There are more coming!” Someone exclaimed in a panic. Nie Huaisang’s panicked cries filled the air as his and Jiang Cheng’s boat begins to get attacked. Nie Huaisang was literally unarmed and he got to his feet while Jiang Cheng was quick to draw his sword out and sliced through those that tried to clamber into their vessel.

Someone else’s panicked shriek shoots through the air and the two junior disciples on the one small boat barely have time to unsheath their swords had it not been for Lan Wangji taking out Bichen and aiding them. Wei Wuxian draws Suibian out and makes quick work of the remaining ghouls.

After Wei Wuxian cuts down what seemed to be the last one, the waters returned to their stillness. Lan Xichen turns to everyone else, asking if they were okay. Apart from a few whose boots and parts of their robes getting soaked, no one was injured. Lan Wangji sheathes Bichen back to its hilt and approaches Wei Wuxian when someone suddenly calls out his name.

“Lan Zhan! Beside you!” he says hurriedly. Lan Wangji turned to his side and sees the dark figure looming underneath the water. With a tiny flick of his thumb, Bichen flies out of the scabbard and flies through the air, the blade diving into the water before resurfacing and returning to Bichen’s scabbard.

“It came again!” Su She exclaimed. His sword, which was strapped to his back, had flown out of its scabbard and had dove into the water as well. His face gradually pales when he realizes that he couldn’t summon it back. His expression worsens when a fellow junior disciple reprimands him for his impulsiveness.

Su She had turned his head to look at Lan Wangji but instead met with Wei Wuxian’s gaze instead. Su She quickly turned his head away.

Wei Wuxian stared at Su She for a bit before he turned his gaze away, looking instead at Lan Wangji. This must be the time Su She had mistakenly thought Lan Wangji was arrogant. Su She seemed to refuse to see the reality that he was not Lan Wangji and could never be him or reach his level.

After that whole ordeal, the rest of them continued forward but it was clear that something was amiss. Those who learnt Wei Wuxian’s technique in sensing resentful energy could feel it hanging in the air; as if the strong resentful energy was a thick blanket enveloping everything around the lake.

Wei Wuxian flinched, feeling the pull of resentful energy calling out to him. Lan Wangji decided it was time to speak.

“Brother, the water ghouls are leading us towards something,” he said. Before Xichen could ask why he thought that way, the still waters began to ripple as the water suddenly shifts from its clear blue colour into something dark. The ripples soon turned to waves and rocked their boats uncontrollably. Their boats were propelled forwards as if the current was pulling them towards something.

Lan Xichen quickly realized what was happening and turned to the others. “Everyone, mount their swords. Stay in the air!”

Everyone unsheathed their swords and shot up to the air. Nie Huaisong was with Jiang Cheng, the two of  them mounted on Sandu. Only one person was stayed on below and that was simply because they had lost their sword earlier. Su She cried for help towards the others.

Wei Wuxian grit his teeth, hesitant to move forwards. It doesn’t sit well with him if he chose to let this boy die. Clenching his jaw, Wei Wuxian dove towards him.

Don’t make me regret saving you twice in two different lifetimes, Su She, he said inwardly as he caught the boy’s hand and pulled him up.

Wei Wuxian instantly regrets his decision.

He felt a hand push him, knocking him off balance from his sword and sending him straight towards the mouth of the waterborne abyss. Wei Wuxian saw Su She’s expression flicker from dark satisfaction—so briefly it could have only lasted a split second—to a face likened to something surprised and concerned.

“Wei Ying!” He heard Lan Wangji exclaim in time with Jiang Cheng calling him “Wei Wuxian!”

Su She did not seem to calculate however that knocking the owner of the sword would cause the spiritual energy powering its flight would cease as well. He started falling but not before another cultivator caught him and another caught Suibian.

Wei Wuxian braced himself for the impact but instead of hitting water, he felt himself land into a pair of strong arms and was whisked back into the air. He opened his eyes and saw, not Lan Wangji as he expected, but Lan Xichen.

“Xichen-ge!” he exclaimed.

“I can’t have Wangji’s future spouse be harmed,” he said as he flew his sword back towards the others. Lan Wangji flew towards them, his expression barely hiding his panic. Lan Wangji opened his arms and Lan Xichen dutifully placed Wei Wuxian into those awaiting arms.

“Brother, that disciple—“ Lan Wangji began but Lan Xichen cut him off.

“I know, Wangji. I will take care of it,” he said simply. There was a hard edge laced in his tone, barely noticeable but still there.

Lan Wangji did not let go of Wei Wuxian until the disciple that caught Suibian had risen to their level and handed the sword back to Wei Wuxian.

“Lan Zhan, we have to take care of that waterborne abyss,” he said. It was his way of saying to put him down. Though reluctant, he let Wei Wuxian go and watched him through wary eyes as Wei Wuxian mounts Suibian once again.

“We cannot deal with a waterborne abyss on our own, Wuxian,” Lan Xichen said, brows furrowing. Even as he says that, all of them know that there was no way to deal with a waterborne abyss other than moving it elsewhere to let it fester somewhere isolated. There was a huge risk factor that came with that method, as unknowing people could come across it. There was simply no other way for them to expel the resentful energy of something of that magnitude.

“We can’t let it stay here either. We don’t have the luxury of waiting for years for the resentful energies to dissipate on its own,” Wei Wuxian replied firmly. “Don’t worry. Please, trust me on this. Lan Zhan and I can handle it. Just... stay as far away as possible. You might be blown back by the shockwave.”

Lan Xichen did not understand what he meant by that but at his brother’s silent request, Lan Xichen went to the other disciples and told them to stay back. Others quickly fled back to shore, with the now unconscious Su She in tow. Jiang Cheng, Jin Zixuan, Lan Xichen (and Nie Huaisang, who was still standing on Sandu) stayed behind to watch what Wei Wuxian was about to do this time.

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He raised one palm to his side. When he opened his eyes, he uttered the word, “Rise.”

The outstretched palm was enveloped in a glaring vibrant red surge of spiritual energy. The body of water had turned into a dark lake of blood as the water was enveloped in the vibrant glow of the large array forming around the radius of the whirlpool. The smoky tendrils of resentful energy shot through the air. The waterborne abyss seemed to be thrashing, the water splashing about like   resisting whatever spell Wei Wuxian was attempting.

Wei Wuxian’s mouth moved ever so slightly as he uttered quietly, “Close.” He brings both his hands together and the surge of spiritual energy intensified.

Everyone else went slack-jawed as the waterborne abyss seemed to slowly rise off of the water, creating huge waves down below as the body of water that made up the creature’s “body” was enveloped in a sphere of red spiritual energy.

“Expel,” Wei Wuxian said breathlessly. The red sphere shrunk back before it expanded again as an explosion erupted from the destroyed waterborne abyss. Everyone else braced themselves the shockwave from the explosion nearly sent them off flying.

“Wei Ying!” The others heard Lan Wangji exclaim. Opening their eyes, they saw Wei Wuxian already falling and was caught midair by Lan Wangji in the nick of time. Lan Xichen shot forwards and managed to catch Suibian in his hands by the skin of his teeth.

Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian’s limp figure, his body expelled of most of his spiritual energy. Lan Wangji’s heart was racing in his chest. The technique Wei Wuxian had executed had only been tested at a smaller scale. It had not been meant for destroying something as great as a waterborne abyss. He wants to berate his husband so much but he was more worried for his well-being.

Without waiting for his brother or the others hovering nearby, he quickly rushed towards the shore where the others were waiting. Lan Wangji landed on the ground and hurriedly set Wei Wuxian down to check his pulse. It was steady but his spiritual energy has been drained considerably. He will need days to rest, at the very least. Lan Wangji will make sure of that.

“Wangji,” Lan Xichen called out.

“How is he?” Jiang Cheng asked, his face a mix of anger and worry. Will this reckless idiot ever stop being so... fucking reckless and stupid?!

“He will be fine. He will need many days of rest,” Lan Wangji answered tersely. Without warning, he picked Wei Wuxian back up into his arms, pulling him close to his chest, and mounted Bichen once again. He flew off ahead of everyone else, excusing himself very briefly, before he took off.

Everyone else took that as their cue to head back to Cloud Recesses.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

As soon as Lan Wangji and the others arrived back to the gates of Cloud Recesses, Lan Xichen gave orders to the other disciples to bring Wei Wuxian to the infirmary. Lan Wangji wanted to take Wei Wuxian to the Jingshi but he knew it would raise many eyebrows if he did that so he did not protest as he watched Wei Wuxian being carried off by Gusu Lan disciples to the direction of the infirmary, followed after by Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang.

Lan Wangji wanted to follow after Wei Wuxian but his brother held him back, telling him that they needed to take care of something else first. Lan Wangji knew what he was talking about immediately and his gaze hardened as he remembered what had happened earlier. Lan Wangji turned to where Su She was being looked over by another disciple. Su She seemed unaware of the Lan Wangji's livid glare directed right at him.

"He pushed him off," Lan Wangji said quietly but every word was dripping with barely contained indignation. He knew that Wei Wuxian could never just stand aside when someone was in need of help.

"I know," Lan Xichen said, his serene and handsome face devoid of its usual smile. "I witnessed it as well."

"Brother," Lan Wangji began but Lan Xichen gave him a knowing look.

"Do not fret, Wangji," Lan Xichen assured him. "This will not go unpunished. But you cannot act out here, as much as you want to."

Lan Wangji took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Lan Xichen put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Go to Wuxian, Wangji. I will take care of everything."

Lan Wangji nodded, clasping his hands at his brother before he turned and walked towards the direction of the infirmary. Lan Xichen watched him go and then sighed. He turned to where Su She was.

Lan Wangji quickly settled on a stool by Wei Wuxian’s beside. He did not seem to care for Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang’s presence, who had come to visit. Lan Wangji boldly taking hold of Wei Wuxian’s limp hand and holding unto it like it was the most precious thing he ever held.

Yeah, there was nothing subtle about his feelings for Wei Wuxian at all.

Jiang Cheng could only pinch the bridge of his nose and then push Nie Huaisang, along with himself, out of the room. They walked along the quiet corridor, intending to head to the mess hall where dinner would be served. Neither of them really felt like eating, knowing that their friend was still unconscious in the medical ward but they headed there anyway.

“I’m really sorry, Jiang-xiong. If I wasn’t there, you could have done something...” Nie Huaisong muttered, genuinely feeling apologetic. He had been absolutely useless in that situation. Jiang Cheng looked at him from the corner of his eye and sighed. He raised his hand and clapped Nie Huaisong hard on the back, nearly toppling him over and earning an undignified yelp of surprise from the gesture.

“If there’s anyone to blame for you being there in the first place, blame Wei Wuxian,” he said tersely. “It’s fine. That idiot’s being taken care of by his husband.” he says that sardonically but both of them can silently agree that those two acted like them most obnoxious pair of husband and wife; like a newly wedded couple who was still in the love-struck phase of the relationship.

“You’re not hurt, are you?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“What? No, I’m fine, thank you for asking.”

“Mn,” Jiang Cheng muttered. He then let out yet another sigh. “I really need to send a letter to shijie. I need to tell someone about Wei Wuxian’s idiocy; someone who can actually get him to stop being so reckless.”

“Miss Jiang must be able to do other wonders if she can manage that,” Nie Huaisang muttered.

“Trust me. If there is one person who can really keep Wei Wuxian grounded, it’s her,” Jiang Cheng assured him. Nie Huaisang can’t help but really believe that.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── 

Wei Wuxian knew he was in big trouble as soon as he opened his eyes. He was not looking at the familiar ceiling of the Jingshi. Instead, he was in a room somewhat unfamiliar to him but judging from the strong herbal scent that lingered in the air, he can guess that he was in the infirmary.

He realizes that his hand was being held by warm, gentle hands. Wei Wuxian turned his head to the side and caught his husband’s gaze on him.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji’s voice was incredibly gentle, a hint of worry bleeding over into his tone. Wei Wuxian tightened his hold around Lan Wangji’s hand, trying to comfort him.

“There, there, Lan Zhan. I’m fine. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” Wei Wuxian said. His voice was hoarse, throat feeling incredibly dry. Lan Wangji let go of Wei Wuxian’s hand to reach over to the bedside table where a water jug was available. He poured Wei Wuxian a cup before helping him drink it.

“...Do not be that reckless again,” His anger was evident, despite the softness of how he spoke. Wei Wuxian smiled sheepishly at his angry husband.

“I won’t, I really won’t, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said, almost pleadingly. When his husband did not look convinced, he added quickly, “Don’t be angry at me, please. I don’t like it when you’re angry at me. I really didn’t mean to expend that much energy. I swear! I really won’t do it again. I promise. Lan Zhan, Lan er-gege, please believe me—“

Lan Wangji pressed his lips against Wei Wuxian’s harshly, effectively shutting him up from his rambling. Wei Wuxian quickly kissed him back then pulled away when he realized where they were. He reluctantly parted from Lan Wangji’s kiss.

Wei Wuxian gazed at Lan Wangji’s eyes and saw the worry in his gaze. Wei Wuxian pressed his forehead against his husband’s and cupped his face with both hands.

“I got carried away,” he admitted. “I worried you. I know you don’t want me to say it but I’m sorry.”

“…There is no need for you to apologize,” Lan Wangji answered after a beat. Wei Wuxian smiled sheepishly and pressed a soft kiss against Lan Wangji’s lips. The kiss was brief but sweet and Wei Wuxian closed his eyes as he let out a deep sigh.

“What is it about this body that makes me feel like this? I don’t know why but after returning to this time and to this body, I suddenly…” Wei Wuxian paused, trying to phrase this how best to describe what he was feeling. Lan Wangji patiently waited for him.

When Wei Wuxian finally found his voice, his tone was soft, almost vulnerable. “I suddenly feel like I’m fifteen again. The young, reckless fifteen year old who did not know the hardships he was about to face in the future. Back then, I felt like I could take on the whole world on my own, without ever needing to rely on anyone. I thought I didn’t need to. I had pride in my skills and my arrogance was limitless. I thought that could carry me forward.”

Wei Wuxian feels the thrum of his golden core, powerful and burning bright inside him, and he closes his eyes. Back then, he hated having to rely on others. He thought it made him weak but he knows what that mindset had led him before. He’s not about to repeat the same mistakes he had then. “But I should not have forgotten what my arrogance and pride led to,” he said, mostly as a reminder to himself.

Wei Wuxian lost so many things. His second home, his adoptive parents, his precious sister… everything had been yanked away from him and it had only led him to his own demise.

“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji muttered. Wei Wuxian felt a comforting hand running down his back, soothing him; placating him.

Wei Wuxian smiled at the gesture. “I seem to have forgotten that I have a wonderful husband who has stood by me from the very beginning and who I could rely on when needed. I don’t need to do everything by myself because I have you. I could always count on you, right?”

“Always,” Lan Wangji answered. 

Wei Wuxian opened his eyes and met Lan Wangji’s gaze again. “I won’t do it again, Lan Zhan. I promise you,” Wei Wuxian said, his words sincere and truthful. Lan Wangji nodded, muttering a quiet ‘en’ in assent.

“You’ll help me next time, right?”

“En,” Lan Wangji replied promptly.

“Are you still angry?”

“I was never angry.”

Wei Wuxian let out a snort. “Lying is against the rules, my love. You, of all people, should know that.”

“I was never angry,” Lan Wangji insisted, his tone still even. “I was only worried.”

“Okay, okay, I believe you,” Wei Wuxian said with a grin.

Lan Wangji let out a quiet sigh and pulled Wei Wuxian closer, propping him on his lap. Wei Wuxian’s arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders. Lan Wangji’s strong arms wrapped themselves around Wei Wuxian’s slender waist, his face hidden in the crook of his neck.

Wei Wuxian let out a giggle when he felt Lan Wangji press a delicate kiss on his neck and then those soft kisses trailed downward. He felt a hand tugging at his robes, exposing his collarbone and flinched a bit when he felt that kiss turn into a bite.

“Wait, wait—“ Wei Wuxian began but Lan Wangji did not seem to be interested in hearing him out. His robes were parted open and Wei Wuxian shivered as he felt Lan Wangji’s calloused fingers running up and down his sides, his touch almost ticklish.

“Lan Zhan, we can’t do it here. We don’t want to be found out yet, right?” he reasoned. It was odd, even for him, to actually hold back from doing anything. Wei Wuxian would not have normally cared if spread his legs for his husband while they were out in the open air of Cloud Recesses but right now, there was a chance that the healer would return to check on him.

The fact that it was Wei Wuxian who actually was holding back was so startling that even he felt a bit confused by his own actions.

Lan Wangji gave him what could only be described as a disbelieving look (even he’s confused by Wei Wuxian holding back). He then scowls and pushes himself forward, capturing Wei Wuxian in a heated kiss. Wei Wuxian only halfheartedly pushed him away for a bit before he gave up and wrapped his arms around Lan Wangji’s shoulders, deciding to deepen the kiss further. He opened his mouth and let Lan Wangji’s tongue explore inside.

Lan Wangji’s hand moved to yank at Wei Wuxian’s clothes again, tugging the front open so that his chest was exposed and Lan Wangji ran his calloused fingers slowly and tantalizingly across his skin, making him shiver. He broke away from the kiss to let out a groan.

Wei Wuxian felt all tingly inside, excitement coursing through him right down to his veins. It was not the library (which was still on the list) but he can settle for the Gusu Lan infirmary.

Wei Wuxian asked himself again if they were really about to do this. At the hungry look Lan Wangji was giving him, he threw caution to the wind and said fuck it, he was really ready to spread his legs open right then and there

Just as Lan Wangji had settled between his parted legs and was trailing kisses down the expanse of his pale neck, someone cleared their throat from the doorway. The two of them froze and sprung away from each other quickly. The two of them were relieved to find that it was Lan Xichen, whose cheeks were slightly flushed; having just witnessed the two nearly in the throes of passion.

Lan Xichen quickly closed the door behind him as he entered the infirmary. Wei Wuxian pulled the covers up over himself, his face red and hot to the touch. Lan Wangji merely cleared his throat, straightening himself up as if he had not been caught in an inappropriate position by his own brother. Lan Xichen took in how his brother avoided his gaze and how red the tips of his ears were to know how he really was feeling right then and there.

Lan Xichen sighed and cleared his throat again. “How are you, Wuxian?” he asked, placing a gentle smile on his face.

“I’m fine,” Wei Wuxian answered with a sheepish grin. Lan Wangji shot him a skeptical look. Wei Wuxian quickly backtracked and rectified it.

“I’m a bit tired still but otherwise, I’m okay.”

“That is good,” Lan Xichen said. “Wangji, are you alright, as well? You have not eaten dinner yet and you have been by Wuxian’s bedside for a while now.”

“... I will bring Wei Ying his dinner first.” Lan Wangji said.

Lan Xichen smiled. “I had the cooks prepare dinner for the both of you. Wuxian will have to stay here in the infirmary, however.”

“I will stay here with Wei Ying,” Wangji said resolutely. Lan Xichen knows there was no point in arguing with him when he was determined.

“I knew you were going to say that. Dinner will be brought here and will probably arrive shortly. I just came to check on you and to inform Wuxian that Uncle called for a meeting with you tomorrow.”

Wei Wuxian tilted his head. “...About what?”

“The events earlier today,” Lan Xichen answered. “I have already submitted a report about the incident but he would like to hear your side, since... well, you destroyed the waterborne abyss.”

Lan Xichen still finds it very hard to believe that Wei Wuxian had destroyed something thought to be impossible. It had its setbacks, such as such a colossal amount of spiritual energy it expended but other than that, it was an incredibly powerful and absolutely useful spell.

“Oh, okay,” Wei Wuxian replied. “I was thinking I was going to get punished for sure.”

Lan Xichen gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Wuxian. Uncle won’t give you any trouble. He just wants you to explain what happened. He might ask for you to provide evidence of you making the spell that you did earlier.”

“That’s okay. It’s not like I intend to keep them as secrets. If he wants to see my research, I’ll let him see them. I keep all my things in the Jingshi, anyways.” Wei Wuxian explained with a bright smile.

“I will prepare them tomorrow,” Lan Wangji said simply. There was another knock on the door and Lan Xichen goes to open it. A servant had brought with them the tray of food and asked if it was alright for them to enter.

Lan Wangji got to his feet and headed towards the door while Wei Wuxian quickly lied back down on the bed, bringing the blanket all the way up to his chin. Lan Wangji took the tray of food from the servant before dismissing them. His eyes narrow as he scrutinizes the assortment. He seemed slightly surprised to a find a few spicy dishes had been prepared.

“The cooks learnt to prepare spicy foods for Wuxian since they apparently have seen you prepare food for him for months now,” Lan Xichen said, a teasing lilt evident in his voice. Lan Wangji merely hummed in assent as a response but the tips of his ears turned pink once again.

He had told the cooks to keep his presence in the kitchen a secret, as they were still under the pretense of secrecy but seeing as how it was Lan Xichen, they must have decided to trust him with this secret.

Lan Xichen thought to tease him further but the whole room was sudden filled with the sounds of a growling stomach and Wei Wuxian let out an undignified and embarrassed yelp.

Lan Xichen laughed. “I will leave the two of you then. And Wangji,” he paused as he opened the door. “At least lock the door next time?”

“…Wangji understands.”

Lan Xichen excuses himself and closes the door behind him. Lan Wangji sighed and returned to Wei Wuxian’s bedside. Wei Wuxian peeked from under the overs.

“This is so embarrassing. How many times am I going to lose face today?” He muttered petulantly. “No matter how thick my face is, there is only so much I can take!”

He was only exaggerating, though and Lan Wangji knows he’s only fibbing. As if there was a limit to Wei Wuxian’s shamelessness. He would not be Wei Wuxian if he would actually be affected by something so little. Lan Wangji looked at him with mild exasperation, but the tiny smile ghosting his face expressed his fondness.

“Eat then,” Lan Wangji said as he set down the tray on a nearby table. He helps Wei Wuxian off the bed and adjusts his open robes, allowing him to be decent, before leading him over to the table. They ate their dinner quietly, the atmosphere around them rather pleasant despite the setting.

“I don’t know how I’m going to be able to sleep without you tonight,” Wei Wuxian laments with a sigh. Lan Wangji pauses in the middle of his task of clearing the plates from the table.

“…I will stay here if want me to,” Lan Wangji told him as he made his way to the door and set the tray down on the floor before closing it. He walks back towards Wei Wuxian’s bedside and sits down on the edge of the bed.

Wei Wuxian crawls towards him and settles himself on Lan Wangji’s lap. Lan Wangji wraps his arms around his waist and pulls him close.

“I’ll always want to be with my er-gege,” Wei Wuxian tells him, tracing his index finger along Lan Wangji’s jaw. His smile turns teasing as he asked, “But how will we explain things to the healer if he comes by, hm? What would he say if he found their precious second young master with me in his arms?”

“He will not,” Lan Wangji assures him simply. “It is late already.”

Wei Wuxian’s smirk seemed to intensify. Lan Wangji knew where this was going and he could feel his heart racing already. Wei Wuxian pressed their foreheads together, his lips ghosting over Lan Wangji’s that they were barely apart. Wei Wuxian’s hands snaked their way up Lan Wangji’s hair. Wei Wuxian gripped on the pin and tugged it off while the other hand took the crown away, unraveling the bun and letting the rest of Lan Wangji’s hair to cascade down his back.

“Really? He really won’t come by to check on his patient?” Wei Wuxian asked, his voice now low and breathy. His hands move back down, the crown and pin falling unto the bed with a soft thump and one of his hands caught hold of the tails of Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon.

“Not even in the middle of the night to see if I’m still alive?”

Lan Wangji narrows his eyes at him, no doubt feeling the incessant tugging of his forehead ribbon. “Gusu Lan disciples sleep at nine,” Lan Wangji reminds him. “There are no exceptions.”

Lan Wangji hears Wei Wuxian chuckle. “But Lan er-gege,” Wei Wuxian presses his lips against his ear as he spoke. Lan Wangji holds back the shiver that threatened to run down his spine. “You’re not going to bed yet. Does this mean you’re the exception?”

Before Wei Wuxian got an answer, he finds himself flying backwards, his back landing on the bed, his head colliding with the pillow. He could not speak, as his mouth was occupied by Lan Wangji’s in a hot, searing kiss. Wei Wuxian smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around his husband’s neck, tilting his head and opening his mouth to deepen the kiss.

When they finally pulled away, Lan Wangji bit the inside of his cheek to hold himself back after seeing the state of the man he adored so much beneath him. Flushed cheeks, bruised lips, and half-lidded eyes full of lust and love were staring back at him. He was waiting, anticipating Lan Wangji’s next move.

Wei Wuxian let out a breathy chuckle when he saw Lan Wangji set a silencing ward in the entire infirmary to ensure that no noise would be heard from this building. Unlike the Jingshi, which was isolated from most of the other buildings, the infirmary was close to many other buildings of Cloud Recesses.

Lan Wangji turns his attention back to him and lowers down to bring their faces together again for another deep kiss. Wei Wuxian felt something hard poking at his taut stomach and pulls away, giving his husband an impatient look.

“Get me out of these clothes already, Lan Zhan,” he demanded, tugging at Lan Wangji’s robes impatiently. “I want you in me now.”

Lan Wangji did not need to be told twice.

They were in for a long, long night in the best way possible.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When Wei Wuxian awoke the next day, feeling pleasantly sore, Lan Wangji was not there anymore. He can’t help but feel a bit disoriented by this as he has been spending the past few months trying to mimic his husband’s schedule so that they awoke at the same time (a task that was not an easy feat at all) so he always saw him by the time he was awake.

Wei Wuxian has no idea what time it was but he could tell it was later than five as the sun was already up high, its bright light pouring in through the open window. He sits up on the bed and looks down to see that he had been redressed in a fresh set of robes; not at all the one he wore from yesterday.

That was most likely Lan Wangji’s doing, Wei Wuxian guessed. He had also been thoroughly cleaned, as he did not feel any stickiness on his backside. Even the bed sheets were fresh as the other one was soiled beyond belief.

Wei Wuxian looked up when he heard a knock on the door and saw Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang entering the threshold. He grins at them and greets them good morning.

“It’s so weird to find you actually waking up at nine for once since we got here,” Jiang Cheng remarked blandly as he crossed the room. Oh well, that answers Wei Wuxian’s question on what time it was.

“Well, I was pretty tired from yesterday,” Wei Wuxian reasoned with a shrug. He stretched his limbs over his head and pulled the covers away from him to sit on the edge of the bed and search for his boots.

“Who’s fucking fault was that, you idiot?” Jiang Cheng sneered as he settled on the edge of the bed, crossing his leg and glaring at Wei Wuxian.

“Why did you bring me there in the first place?” Nie Huaisang demanded. “I was seriously useless! I only held Jiang-xiong from doing anything to help you since he had to help me!”

“Aw, but wasn’t that a learning experience for you, Huaisang-xiong?” Wei Wuxian said while he pulled on his boots. Nie Huaisang can only look at him in disbelief. Learning experience? His brother’s lessons seem tamer in comparison to what ‘learning experiences’ Wei Wuxian puts him through! 

“Now you know how to deal with water ghouls and waterborne abyss!” Wei Wuxian reasoned. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

Before Huaisang can even retort, Jiang Cheng cut in. “Like hell we’re doing that same spell you did!” Jiang Cheng exclaimed. “You barely had any spiritual energy left after you dealt with that waterborne abyss! That was really reckless, even for you!”

It was definitely impressive, no one can deny that, but it was such a large scale spell that really seemed that it ought to have been attempted by more than one person. Wei Wuxian and his unbelievable hero complex was just absurd!

“But I’m fine now, though,” Wei Wuxian answered. Indeed, his spiritual energy had been restored rather quickly and he can thank his and Lan Wangji’s hours-long dual cultivation last night for that. Speaking of Lan Wangji...

“Have any of you seen Lan Zhan?” he asked them.

Jiang Cheng scowled. “Can you not ask about him for once in your life?” he demanded. “We’re literally right here and you’re asking for him instead!”

Wei Wuxian laughed. “Aw, are you jealous, Jiang Cheng?” he says teasingly. Like an irate cat, Jiang Cheng bristles away from him.

Nie Huaisang sighed and unfolded his fan. “We saw him on his way to Lan-laoshi’s office with Xichen-ge.”  He explained. “Classes have been canceled since all the Gusu Lan elders are in a tizzy over what happened yesterday.”

“It’s not like anyone died,” Wei Wuxian pointed out.

“We know that, genius, but what do you think the elders would think if they found out that a fifteen year old junior disciple literally destroyed something thought to be indestructible?” Jiang Cheng pointed out, looking at Wei Wuxian as if he were an idiot. Because he was.

“Hm, good point,” Wei Wuxian replied with a shrug. He gets to his feet and stretches his limbs again. There was a slight throb of pain on his lower back as he did so. Wei Wuxian had to hold back a grin as he remembered the events last night. They were at it for quite a while and Lan Wangji managed to wring him out four times! That was a whole other record, thought Wei Wuxian. He wonders how far they can go next time...

“Oh yeah, I need to go to Old Man Lan too,” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, as he remembered what Lan Xichen told him last night. “I need to report what happened.” He answered the unsaid question the others might have been thinking of. He looked for his hair ribbon and found it neatly folded on the side table by his infirmary bed.

He wants to look his best (well, he always does but he needs to look even better) so he decides on an elaborate hairstyle would make him look neat and presentable. He tries to find a mirror and manages to find a small one nearby and quickly busies himself with the task, his back turned to the other two in the room.

Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang watched him as he worked, wondering why he was fussy over how he looked so suddenly but were immediately distracted as their gaze quickly zeroed in on the unmistakable sight of a large bite mark on Wei Wuxian’s nape when the latter had pulled his hair up to test if it looked good or not. The two of them felt their whole faces heat up and they averted their gaze immediately.

There was no questioning what his and Lan Wangji’s relationship was now, thought Jiang Cheng. It was pretty fucking clear what they’ve been up to!

And unless they moved to do their... thing where Lan Wangji lived and then moved back here (which was unlikely) they could have only done it where Jiang Cheng was currently sitting on.

Feeling his face draining of its colour, Jiang Cheng got up from the bed and retreated from it like it was on fucking fire. Don’t think about it, he said to himself in a mantra. Don’t even think about it.

Wei Wuxian was completely ignorant on what was going on behind him as he busied himself with taming his hair, sans comb. He managed to do a fairly neat braided half-updo look and tied it carefully with his red hair ribbon. He kept on looking at himself in the mirror, wondering if there was something else he should do.

“God, you’re even vainer than usual,” Jiang Cheng said through gritted teeth. “Who are you trying to look good for?”

“I don’t have to try looking good, Jiang Cheng. I’m plenty handsome,” Wei Wuxian answered from over his shoulder. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes heavenwards. Wei Wuxian straightened himself up and fixed his robes, making sure there was not a crease in sight.

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. Everyone turned to look at the door and saw a servant opening the door, bowing to the three young masters as greeting. They kept their gaze low as they asked for Wei Wuxian to follow them, as he’s been called by the Gusu Lan elders.

“Not just Lan-laoshi?” Wei Wuxian asked as he approached the door.

“No, Wei-gongzi,” the servant answered. “All of the clan elders request your presence. Please follow me.”

Wei Wuxian turned to the other two. “I’ll see you two later.”

“Don’t die,” Jiang Cheng said flatly as he waves him off. “But if you do, I’ll leave a bowl of A-jie’s soup on your memorial tablet every day.”

“I’ll gift you a fan on your death anniversary,” Nie Huaisang joins in, wiping a fake tear from the corner of his eye. Wei Wuxian gives them both a flat, unamused look before he turns around and follows the servant from behind.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It was not Wei Wuxian’s first time meeting the Elders of Gusu Lan. That much was obvious.

In the previous life, he had the unfortunate pleasure of being in their presence during clan meetings that he, as Lan Wangji’s husband, had to attend. In the previous time, they absolutely detested him—the grandmaster of the demonic arts, the Yiling Patriarch; the absolute and ultimate pariah of the cultivation world—and could barely hide their hatred for him behind their thinly veiled insults and willful ignorance of his presence.

For the most part, Wei Wuxian ignored it. He was more than happy to appear like a blithe spirit, as if he was never affected by anything they do and would never allow himself to be. It pisses them off even more. But at the end of the day, it was an attempt; a facade that he could barely hide sometimes when he’s feeling vulnerable in the presence of his husband.

But now, he was in a different situation. There was no hatred in the eyes of these people. There were no scathing remarks under their breath or a livid glare. A few skeptical looks, maybe but nothing malicious.

Instead, Wei Wuxian was faced with a room full of intrigued and curious people (and Lan Qiren) who looked at him like a marvel that needed to be examined.

Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were absent from this little interrogation committee but Lan Wangji helpfully retrieved all of Wei Wuxian’s research and had them sent to the room. His research amounted to a rather sizable pile, comprised of books, scrolls, and stacks upon stacks of paper. A few had already taken a few books in hand, scanning the pages with curious looks.

The interrogation soon started and lasted for hours. Wei Wuxian could barely keep up his well-mannered facade throughout the entire ordeal. He explained things as best as he could. When asked about the abnormal speed of his research, Wei Wuxian merely stared that he had only found the time to take his notes down while he was in Gusu as he had responsibilities as head disciple that kept him busy in Yunmeng.

He also cited Lan Wangji as his research partner, even though Lan Wangji would deny that he had any actual help in coming up with Wei Wuxian’s inventions since he was mostly playing an assisting role or someone to bounce off ideas at.

When it was finally done and they had finally dismissed him, it was already past lunch hour and he had explained himself hoarse. Wei Wuxian got up from his seat and let out a tired sigh.

“Wei Ying,” Wei Wuxian perked up at the familiar sound of Lan Wangji speaking to him. He turned around and saw him approaching. A few servants picked up the research materials and Lan Wangji gives them explicit orders to return them to the Jingshi. The servants bowed and did as they were told, moving quickly but meticulously.

“Wangji,” Lan Qiren greets him. “Why did you not mention that you were researching with Wei Wuxian?”

“Wangji only provides assistance in Wei Ying’s research,” Lan Wangji explained. “Wangji does not have any input in his research other than a few suggestions.”

“But, Lan Zhan, you’re plenty help to me! You suggested quite a few useful ideas to me, like a spell that allows you to see through illusions. You have plenty of ideas. I just act on them. You can’t give me all the credit when you had a hand on their creations too.“

“Wei Ying executes them at the end of the day, not I,” Lan Wangji reasoned.

Lan Qiren’s expression as he watched them interact turned slightly sour. He has heard of all the rumours of their closeness (considering how Lan Wangji did not even bat an eyelash at Wei Wuxian’s casual use of his name) but this was his nephew he was talking about. Wangji hardly cared about other people; what made Wei Wuxian so different?

“The two of you are dismissed,” he told them. The two stopped their little back-and-forth and bowed to Lan Qiren before they left the meeting hall. His gaze was locked unto their retreating figures until they disappeared around the corner. Lan Qiren let out a sigh and left the meeting hall as well.

“Uncle,” Lan Qiren looked up and saw Xichen approaching him.

“What is it, Xichen?” Lan Qiren asked. Xichen’s expression was rather serious so it must be something important.

“I need to tell you about something that happened yesterday. It involved one of our disciples...”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── 

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian headed towards the direction of the Jingshi but they kept their pace purposefully slow. They took the long way there, using a rarely used pathway that would allow them a bit of privacy from the others. They did not encounter anyone at all in that barely-used pathway, allowing for Lan Wangji to take Wei Wuxian’s hand in his, intertwining their fingers together.

Wei Wuxian looked up at Lan Wangji with a wide grin stretched across his face. Lan Wangji allowed himself a small smile as he gazed back at him and let his gaze linger as they continued forward.

There was something in the way Wei Wuxian looked today that made Lan Wangji’s heart stutter a bit more than usual when in the presence of his husband. Wei Ying was beautiful, no matter what he looked like but today was just different. Perhaps it was the hair, which was somewhat reminiscent of how he had styled his hair for their wedding in the previous timeline. All that was missing was the intricate hairpins Jiang Wanyin had supplied as part of Wei Wuxian’s dowry and the red veil that should be draped over his head.

Wei Wuxian peered at Lan Wangji from the corner of his eye, noticing that his husband has not looked away from him at all. He paused at his tracks and Lan Wangji stopped walking as well.

“You know it’s rude to stare, Lan Zhan,” he says airily, flipping his hair over his shoulder with his free hand. He peered at Lan Wangji through half lidded eyes, purposefully batting his lashes flirtatiously and curving his lips in a smirk. “Am I so pretty you can’t look away from me?”

“Always. Wei Ying is always beautiful,” Lan Wangji replied promptly. Wei Wuxian barely kept his composure at such words directed at him.

Instead, Wei Wuxian huffed and turned away. “Hmph, flattery won’t get you anywhere,” Wei Wuxian said, pulling his hand away to cross his arms over his chest. He can feel Lan Wangji’s confused stare and Wei Wuxian almost broke character.

“You should know what you did,” he said petulantly. “You left me to wake up alone today. It was so disheartening when I got used to seeing you by my side. It really hurt, you know?”

Lan Wangji must know that he’s only kidding; that Wei Wuxian was just messing with him but Lan Wangji still enveloped Wei Wuxian in a tight hug, wrapping his arms around Wei Wuxian’s waist and holding unto him tight. Wei Wuxian couldn’t but be surprised.

“I apologize,” Wangji murmurs directly into his ear. Wei Wuxian jolted on the spot and suppressed a shiver. “I did not want to wake you early. I know you have been pushing yourself.”

“What?” Wei Wuxian turned his head. “What do you mean?”

“Waking up early,” Lan Wangji said. “You have been forcing yourself to wake up in time with me.”

“No I’m not,” Wei Wuxian lied but said it too hastily that it was pretty obvious he was lying. Indeed, rising consistently at five in the morning was still a pretty tiring feat; one that was next to impossible for Lan Wangji to correct in the previous timeline.

Lan Wangji merely gave him a level gaze. “You would not wake up this early in the other time,” he pointed out. “Even when I tried to wake you up, you never would.”

Wei Wuxian pouted and for once did not have a good retort to say. After a while of staying in Lan Wangji’s embrace, he let out a sigh.

“I was expecting you to just play along,” he remarked idly. “I missed you all morning and I wanted to be spoiled. I was not expecting you to actually have a reason for leaving me to wake up early.”

“En,” Lan Wangji responded. “Rest for today. You have not fully recovered from yesterday.”

“Mhm,” Wei Wuxian hummed in assent. Wei Wuxian pulled away and Lan Wangji gave him another soft kiss on the forehead before they continued on their way to the Jingshi.

Then, thinking it was time to tease his husband, Wei Wuxian then lamented dramatically, “I haven’t recovered from last night either, Lan er-gege! You used me so thoroughly that if it weren’t for this golden core of mine, I’d be bedridden all day! I think my legs are still shaky. You were so rough last night, I would have thought you were actually trying to get me pregn—”

Wei Wuxian’s words were cut off halfway as he yelped in surprise from being suddenly lifted up, with one arm supporting his back and the other under his legs. Wei Wuxian’s cheek was pressed against Lan Wangji’s chest, where he could hear Lan Wangji’s frantic heartbeat.

“Wei Ying, don’t talk nonsense,” Lan Wangji hissed quietly through gritted teeth. The tips of his ears were so red and his eyes were beginning to turn bloodshot.

Wei Wuxian let out a delighted laugh. “Lan Zhan! I can walk!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed through his delighted hysterics, having gotten the effect he desired. If he pushes Lan Wangji even further, they might not make it into the Jingshi at all.

Somehow, Wei Wuxian seemed a bit too excited at the prospect of being fucked in broad daylight in a pathway...

Lan Wangji ignored his admittedly weak protests and seemed pretty resolute to keep him in his arms. Wei Wuxian, in turn, wrapped his arms around Lan Wangji’s neck and pressed his ear to his chest, listening to the frantic beating of his heart.

“If I tell you that I want to be carried around all day, will you actually do it?” Wei Wuxian suddenly asked, just as they arrived at the courtyard of the Jingshi. “I can’t even imagine how everyone would react but I know your uncle is going to have a stroke. I can already hear him screaming!”

“...If you want me to,” Lan Wangji answered. Then, he gave Wei Wuxian a look that silently told Wei Wuxian to definitely phrase his next words correctly. “Would you like me to?”

Half of Wei Wuxian wants to say yes, just to see what would happen. But then, he thought against it. “As fun as that would be, I did say I want everyone to be at our wedding. We can’t have your uncle indisposed for that to happen.”

“En,” Lan Wangji agreed.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Later that night, Wei Wuxian waited for Lan Wangji to return, sitting outside the Jingshi, his feet dangling off the platform. In his husband’s absence, Wei Wuxian thought idly that he definitely missed their rabbits from the other timeline. Wei Wuxian felt that his lap was empty and he sorely wished he had a plump rabbit to settle there and he could pet it to his hearts’ content.

Wei Wuxian perked up at the sounds of footsteps approaching the courtyard but his brows furrowed in confusion at the sound of two or more footsteps coming their way.

Wei Wuxian did not have a chance to hide as he heard “Wei-gongzi?!” yelled out in a surprised voice. He saw three Gusu Lan disciples by the entrance. From the look of it, they seemed like senior disciples who were on patrol. Why they were passing by the Jingshi was definitely a mystery.

“I told you we could find him here…” Wei Wuxian heard the disciple at the back say to his fellow disciple next to him. The latter elbowed him back and grumbled something unintelligible in response but it seemed to make the former happy. Who knows what those two were conversing about…

“Wei-gongzi,” the disciple at the front greeted him politely. “We’re sorry to um… disturb you. We tried looking for you at the mess hall or the dormitory but—”

“That’s fine, that’s fine!” Wei Wuxian said, waving his hand offhandedly. “I’m just waiting on Lan Zhan so we can continue our research.” That was about the flimsiest excuse Wei Wuxian could have come up with but if he smiles through it, they’ll believe him.

No one seems to bother wanting to question him why they’re about to do research when it’s around dinner time or why they have to do their research in Lan Wangji’s private questers or they were just too scared to bring it up.

“Did you need me for something?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“Ah, yes. Um, someone is looking for you and they’re waiting by the entrance,” the disciple at the front said.

Wei Wuxian’s brows were furrowed in confusion. A guest? At this hour? And who would he be expecting as a guest that can only be referred to as “someone”? Surely, they would know Jiang Fengmian or Jiang Yanli (he doubts Madame Yu would pay a visit to him).

“Did they say who they were?”

The disciple hesitated for a bit before he said, “He said he’s… the Ghost General.”

Chapter Text

As soon as Wei Wuxian had heard that name, he jumped to his feet, startling the disciples. In the back of his mind, he thought it was a good idea that there wasn’t a rabbit on his lap after all. His mind was reeling as his head was filled with questions.

There were supposed to be only two people who knew that name in this timeline and that was himself and Lan Wangji.

Unless the time manipulation talisman had brought someone else with them when they traveled through time?

“W-Wei-gongzi?” someone called out to him, snapping Wei Wuxian out of his reverie.

Wei Wuxian quickly plastered on a smile and faced the three disciples. “Ahaha, I’m just lost in memories. Uh, Ghost General was a name of a childhood friend I have for when we played pretend, you know?” he let out a laugh he hoped didn’t sound forced.

“He’s at the entrance, right?” he asked, already walking past them towards the courtyard’s moon gate.

“Yes, Wei-gongzi. He said that he needed to see you right away but did not want to come in.”

Wei Wuxian smiles at the three of them and thanks them. “Now, now, hurry along you three. Don’t you know, the Jingshi doesn’t allow for many visitors without Lan Zhan’s permission?”

The chattier disciple looked confused and opened up to say, “But, you’re here—“ his words were abruptly cut off by a hand slapping over his mouth.

“A-Heng!” the one who covered his mouth whispered hastily. The one they called “A-Heng” looked a bit peeved at being forcibly quieted down but the one who still had a hand on his mouth glared at him before shooting Wei Wuxian a forced and awkward smile. The three of them hurriedly excused themselves and hurried out of the Jingshi’s courtyard. Wei Wuxian lingered for a bit before he hurried out of the Jingshi. Under the shroud of the night’s darkness, Wei Wuxian ignored all pretenses of following the rules to run towards the entrance.

A few minutes later, he found himself at the top of the staircase leading down the mountain. Wei Wuxian squints his eyes. Already, in the distance, he could see a cloaked figure standing by the large, ornate gate of Cloud Recesses. Wei Wuxian hurries down the steps, the figure getting clearer and clear as he draws closer.

It was rather odd to see Wen Ning the way that he does. How long has it been since he saw this young man with healthy fair skin and a head of neat hair? How long has it been since he saw his friend without the torn ragged clothes of the “Ghost General”?

Wei Wuxian felt his steps growing heavy with each step he descends. When he was finally close enough, Wen Ning met Wei Wuxian’s gaze. It was so strange to see those eyes staring back at him with so much life in them. Wei Wuxian finally reached the landing of the entrance gate and approached Wen Ning, who turned fully to face him.

“Wei-gongzi,” Wen Ning greeted, cupping his hands politely. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Wei Wuxian could hear the relief in his tone. 

“Wen Ning,” Wei Wuxian uttered quietly, his voice in disbelief. “…Why would you still bow to me? I’m not your master in this timeline and I have no wish to be.” His face broke into a smile, wary and unsure but a smile regardless.

“But… But the only reason I am able to be here was that you were able to return me from the dead before,” Wen Ning answered.

“What do you mean, Wen Ning? How… How did you come to this timeline? That talisman, I don’t think it even had a far enough reach.”

Wen Ning was about to open his mouth, to explain what had happened, but another voice cut through the quiet. The two of them turned around to see Lan Wangji approaching them, looking like a very visage of a God descending to meet mortals.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian hurried towards him. “How did you know I was here?”

“Disciples told me. You were called by someone who called themselves “Ghost General”,” Lan Wangji explained.

“Wen Qionglin.” Lan Wangji greeted politely.

Wen Ning scrambled to greet back. “Hanguang-Jun,” he said, cupping his hands and bowing to him.

“He’s not Hanguang-Jun yet,” Wei Wuxian pointed out. If they were trying to prevent the war, then the title will never come to fruition but maybe Wei Wuxian can help with that. But that would be for later.

“Wen Ning, please explain how you got back here,”

“Not here,” Lan Wangji said. “Let us have this conversation elsewhere. More private.”

Neither disagreed with Lan Wangji’s suggestion. The three of them ascended back up the mountain, with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian taking the lead and Wen Ning following closely from behind.

Lan Wangji led them, not towards the Jingshi but instead, they headed towards the direction of the Gentian house. Wei Wuxian had only been there a handful of times, even in the previous timeline. It had served as his bridal chamber for when he was being prepared for the wedding and he and Lan Zhan had visited the place once a month without fail to pay respects to Madame Lan.

The Gentian house was isolated from the other buildings, even more so than the Jingshi, so it would be the perfect place for them to speak. It was a small enough building, fit for one person, surrounded by gentian flowers. It was a place that no one would go to unless they had a reason to. Lan Wangji pushed the door open, pausing for a bit to mutter something neither could hear before opening the door further to usher them inside. He lights one of the lamps inside to give the room a soft orange glow. 

Wen Ning settled on a nearby chair while Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sat down on the neatly made bed. Wei Wuxian was the first one to break the silence.

“I'll just say this first: it would have been impossible if everyone had been brought back from the previous timeline,” Wei Wuxian pointed out. “If it were the case, then I’d be dead twice over before I could even get a word out.”

“No, not everyone was brought back here,” Wen Ning agreed. “I knew it as soon as I saw my sister."

"Wen Qionglin," Lan Wangji called out his attention. “How did you come back here?” 

Wen Ning paused for a bit, seemingly trying to piece together his thoughts. When he finally did, he took a deep breath before he started to explain. “It started when I realized that the morning did not come.”

“What?” Wei Wuxian asked, his brows furrowing.

“In the previous timeline, I wondered why it was still nighttime. The night lasted for several hours and it had no signs of changing. I kept on waiting but nothing happened. It was then that I realized that there was no wind, either. The whole forest seemed to be still. Not even a single animal made a sound… or made a move. When I saw a deer, it did not run away, even as I approached it. It was only then that I realized that it was not moving. It wasn’t dead because it was upright but it still wasn’t moving. One of its fawns was even stuck in midair, the other mid-walk.

I left the forest, wondering if this… the strange phenomenon was happening everywhere but it was. Falling leaves left in midair, the sound of the rushing river was gone. It seemed like everything was frozen in time except for myself.”

That was… a lot to take in.

Was this the effect of the time travel? The previous timeline was now… basically stuck frozen in time? Forever remaining unchanged and unmoving?

Wen Ning continued on. “I hurried to the nearby town and I saw that anyone who was outside was frozen too. It was deathly quiet. I didn’t what else to do so I hurried to Cloud Recesses.”

“Did you manage to cross the barrier?” Lan Wangji asked. Wen Ning nodded hastily to his question.

So even their protective barriers were done, possibly as an effect of the time manipulation. 

“I looked around for anyone but everyone in Cloud Recesses was asleep. I didn’t know who else to look for but Hanguang-Jun and Wei-gongzi so I did but the two of you were frozen too.”

“Our bodies… they never left that realm?” Wei Wuxian said, his voice full of awe and slight wonder. Then what traveled through time was not their bodies but their souls. Wei Wuxian can piece together now how Wen Ning might have ended up in this timeline too.

“The talisman,” he said, the other two’s attention now unto him. “Wen Ning, you touched the talisman on the table, didn’t you?”

Wen Ning nodded. “I looked at your notes and saw that they seemed awfully familiar and saw the talisman on the table. I picked it up but nothing happened. I took the talisman with me. I did not know how else to activate it. I tried everything but then, I just… decided to try and lie down and see what happened.”

Wei Wuxian furrowed his brows in confusion. “Why?” he asked.

Wen Ning hastily answered, “I didn’t know how to trigger it but since the two of you were lying down…”

“Ah,” Wei Wuxian nodded. Even he wasn’t privy to how it could be activated. He obviously made it so he had to touch it and Lan Wangji made contact with it when he arrived back from his night hunt. They were the first two that were sent back to this time. They did not do much else that night, save for their nightly routine. So, perhaps sleep is the activation key? He really ought to have inspected the talisman better. 

Wen Ning continued to explain. “I tried to sleep so I just… lied down and forced myself to close my eyes. When I did so, I felt myself being pulled... down by some kind of unseen force. I felt like I was falling and then I landed but it was painless. When I opened my eyes again, I was… here.” He gestures to his body.

Wei Wuxian nodded as he followed along with his explanation. But, something he said earlier came back up in Wei Wuxian's head. “Wen Ning, what did you mean by awfully familiar? Did you come across research on time manipulation before?” Wei Wuxian asked, his eyes brightening with curiosity.

Wen Ning looked at him for a brief moment before he let out a small sigh. “Wei-gongzi… you’re being forgetful again. You have researched time manipulation before. In the Burial Mounds. You researched it endlessly for many weeks.”

Wei Wuxian blinked and then said with an easy smile, “Did I, now? Huh, no wonder it felt too easy for me to come up with those things after a week. Might have just repressed the memories.”

But Wei Wuxian dropped the smile, his expression turning serious again.

“But more important matters need to be discussed. Wen Ning, what happened after you arrived here in this timeline?” Wei Wuxian asked.

Wen Ning quickly explained as much as he could. At first, he panicked and tried to search for his sister immediately. He ran around their courtyard looking for her, alarming everyone. His place of residence in Nightless City was still intact; he took note of that too, which meant that the Sunshot Campaign had yet to begin. When he finally found her, Wen Ning could barely form coherent sentences. Wen Qing was quite alarmed by this, worried about what spooked Wen Ning so much that he was in such a state, and escorted him back to his room.

“She has no memory of the past timeline,” Wen Ning confirmed. When Wen Ning brought up any events, she just looked at him funny and told him that he must have just had a bad nightmare. She gave him an odd look every time he brought anything about the Sunshot campaign and the aftermath that happened. As an ultimatum, Wen Qing had him stay in bed, no matter how much Wen Ning insisted he was fine because for her, in her expertise as a doctor, her brother was clearly anything but fine. 

Wei Wuxian nodded sagely. From what he can tell, no one else but the three of them who had touched the talisman knows about the events of the future. Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji, who had a contemplative look for the entire time Wen Ning was explaining things.

“Wen Qionglin,” Lan Wangji finally piped up. “What are the Wens doing as of late? Do you happen to know?”

Wen Ning thought about it for a few moments. “I’m… not exactly privy to most of the goings-on. I’m from the branch family, after all,” he explained. At the disappointed look Wei Wuxian had on his expression, Wen Ning quickly added, “B-But, I heard a few things from the others. It… It would seem like the discussion conference would still take place in Nightless City.”

The discussion conference. That event leaves a bad taste in Wei Wuxian’s mouth. It was the start of when everything had gone to hell and just kept getting worse from there on out. Wei Wuxian looks to his husband. There was a hint of pain reflected in those gold eyes of his, however impassive most of his expression remained.

Lan Wangji must have remembered how in the previous timeline, Cloud Recesses was razed to the ground after the discussion conference, his brother had to flee, and his father was gravely injured from the fires, eventually succumbing to those injuries. Even Lan Wangji sustained an injury from the attacks.

Wei Wuxian took Lan Wangji’s hand, causing the latter to look up at him. Wei Wuxian did not say anything, but simply squeezed his hand reassuringly. It goes without saying that neither of them was going to let anything happen to each of their homes. Lan Wangji squeezed his hand back, a small, almost indiscernible smile appearing on his lips.

“Wen Ning,” Wei Wuxian called out again. Wen Ning actually looked away for the entire time such an intimate interaction was happening in front of him, his cheeks and the tips of his ears burning red. Wei Wuxian chuckled but paid his bashfulness no mind.

“Wen Ning, I’d like to establish a connection with Wen Qing, as research partners,” he said. Wen Ning looked at him confusedly but Wei Wuxian answered his unasked question of why he would want to do that. “I need to get her trust and… she’ll be a powerful ally if needed. Can you do it, Wen Ning?”

“I-I can try?” Wen Ning answered, seemingly at a loss on how could he even tackle such a request. Wei Wuxian noticed his plight and then remembered something. His face broke into a confident smile.

“Lan Zhan, can Wen Ning stay here for the night?” he asked as he turned to his husband. Lan Wangji nodded. Then, Wei Wuxian turned back to Wen Ning. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll give you something to convince her. I’m sure she’ll say yes after that. A doctor like her wouldn’t turn it down.”

Wen Ning looked a bit skeptical but nodded in response. As for Lan Wangji, he allowed to let Wen Ning stay for the night but not in the Gentian house.

“You are a guest of Gusu Lan,” Lan Wangji explained. “I will have someone escort you to one of the guest rooms.”

Wen Ning thanks him. Together, they leave the Gentian house. As Lan Wangji closes the door behind him, Wei Wuxian remembered something again.

“Wen Ning, why would you call yourself the Ghost General?” It alarmed Wei Wuxian as soon as he heard that name from the disciples. No one but him and Lan Wangji (and he supposes Wen Ning too) know the connotations and the infamy that marred the name.

Wen Ning shuffled his feet awkwardly, a faint blush tinting at his cheeks. “I-I did not know how else to introduce myself. I could not exactly say my name…” he muttered awkwardly. “And I doubt that you would see anyone who just had a random name attached to them.”

“That’s true but still,” Wei Wuxian said with a sigh. “I hope they believed me and just thought that you were my childhood friend who I used to play make-believe with.”

Wen Ning seemed to want to sink into the ground for just doing something so embarrassing. Wei Wuxian simply patted him on the back, laughing at his old friend. Together, they make their way back to the main area of Cloud Recesses. There, Lan Wangji found some servants and had them escort Wen Ning to one of the guest rooms and treat him like a guest of the sect. Wen Ning bade the two of them good night before Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian headed towards the Jingshi.

The dinner that proceeded that night was silent but not uncomfortable. The two of them were wrapped around in their own thoughts, wondering what they should do, what their plans should be from here on out knowing the events that would unfold in a matter of time. When they finally finished and Lan Wangji set the dishes outside for the servants to collect, the two of them sat down on the low table and looked at each other.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian began but then stopped when he couldn’t exactly find the right words to say. But, for both of them, they knew what they had to do anyways.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji answered, reaching for his hand. Wei Wuxian met him halfway, intertwining their fingers together.

“Lan Zhan, we’ll do our best, okay? I can’t give you empty promises but I will promise you this—I’ll be there with you every step of the way. Okay?”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji answered. “I will be with Wei Ying too. No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you.”

So many things could happen from here on out. If the timeline was linear, then they had to do everything they can to minimize the damage. Wei Wuxian would not let Lotus Pier fall without fighting tooth and nail to protect it. Lan Wangji will not stand by and see his home razed to the ground a second time without a fight either. The difference between then and now was that they knew what was going to or might happen and they have the knowledge and tools to better prepare themselves for it.

Wei Wuxian shifted a bit close to Lan Wangji and the latter accepted him into his embrace.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said. “There is something… that I would like to do.”

“Hm? What is it? If it’s within my power, I can help you—“ Wei Wuxian began but Lan Wangji shook his head. The tips of his ears seemed to be tinted red. Wei Wuxian’s first instinct was to tease but something about Lan Wangji’s expression seemed to warrant for him to be serious too.

After a while of waiting, Lan Wangji took a deep breath and said softly, “…I want to make a formal announcement of our relationship.”

Oh, a formal announcement, thought Wei Wuxian.

Then, he shot up from Lan Wangji’s embrace when realized what that meant.

Wait, a formal announcement?

“Lan… Lan Zhan, you know what that means, right?” Wei Wuxian asked tentatively. Lan Wangji gives him a wry look that all but verbally said that he perfectly understood what it meant.

Wei Wuxian felt a bit… is the right word here nervous? It didn’t feel like it. Or maybe he was just in denial. He had plenty of things to be nervous about. To formally announce his relationship with Lan Wangji could change a lot of things drastically.

“Wei Ying, you do not have to be nervous. No one will say a word against it,” Lan Wangji said, his tone placating and reassuring.

“But, what if they do?” Wei Wuxian reasoned, his brows furrowing. His mind was left reeling with questions. What would happen to them if the whole cultivation world found out? What would happen to Lan Wangji and his relationship with his family? Wei Wuxian did not want a repeat of what happened last time. He didn’t want to be the reason to put a strain on his husband’s relationship with his family.

“That will not happen,” Lan Wangji said firmly, snapping Wei Wuxian out of his thoughts. The very idea was appalling Lan Wangji. He secured his hold on Wei Wuxian’s other hand and held them onto his hand tight.

“Wei Ying, not even my sect can come in between us. You never have to change; you don’t have to do anything but be yourself and I’ll still be with you.”

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian said. He hesitated before he said anything else. “Are you really sure about this?”

“If it’s Wei Ying, then yes. I am sure,” Lan Wangji replied simply.

“I’m just… I don’t want to make you unhappy. If we do get married and your family didn’t approve, just like what happened last time—“

Lan Wangji’s brows furrowed slightly. Seeing the distressed expression on his husband’s face made Lan Wangji’s chest ache. He let out a sigh and let go of Wei Wuxian’s hands, bringing up his hands to cup his beloved’s face instead. “If I could be with you, regardless of what people think, just like before; then I am content.”

There was never a time in the other time that he was ever unhappy. There was never any room for unhappiness when the love of his life was by his side; smiling, being happy, being safe. Where was there room to think of unhappiness when he had the honour of Wei Ying as his happiness, his personal sun? 

“Even your sect?” Your whole family? The people you’ve known for most of your life?” Such ridiculous words were coming out of him again, thought Lan Wangji. Then again, he fell in love with such a ridiculous person anyway.

“En,” Lan Wangji answered promptly. He presses their foreheads together and lets out a sigh. It didn’t come off as annoyed or anything but more like fond exasperation. “Wei Ying, you never had to change for my sake and you never have to, unless you want to. What my sect says about us doesn’t matter to me. They cannot dictate who I choose to love; just like they couldn’t force me to in the other life.” 

Wei Wuxian was silent for a long time but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He just mulled everything over and basking in Lan Wangji's devotion, his love. Wei Wuxian's heart thundered in his chest. Wei Wuxian never thought he'd experience a love so strong, so devoted. He feels tears prickling at his eyes but he manages to stop them from flowing, pressing his face on Lan Wangji's shoulder. There, he heard his husband's racing heart, matching the speed of his own. 

Then, Wei Wuxian let out a big sigh, straightened up and smiled wryly at his husband.

“Whatever happens, we’ll be together, right? No matter what?” he asked for what felt like the umpteenth time, even when he knew the answer already. 

“Always,” Lan Wangji answered promptly.

And forever, if we can have that too.

Wei Wuxian’s smile turned into a full-force grin, whose brightness can rival the sun’s. Lan Wangji couldn’t help but lean closer and press a soft kiss on his forehead.

“Then, how do you want to make the announcement?”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

By five in the morning, Lan Wangji awoke to see that Wei Wuxian was still fast asleep. He smiled upon seeing him and pressed a delicate kiss on his forehead before getting out from the bed. Wei Wuxian squirmed at the lack of warmth but Lan Wangji adjusted the sheets to better accommodate him while he busies himself with looking presentable for the day. It took no time and all and when he returned, his husband was still asleep.

Lan Wangji sort of missed the routine they had in the previous timeline, where Lan Wangji can extensively take care of his husband whom he had tuckered out the night before. So, he was rather happy to return to the routine, bathing Wei Wuxian who sleepily kissed his cheeks, mumbling something about getting more sleep. Lan Wangji kept his husband’s head above the water as he bathed him thoroughly. After patting him dry with utmost care and drying his hair, Lan Wangji put him in purple robes before setting him back down in bed.

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian drawled sleepily, refusing to open his eyes. “Er-gege, let me sleep for a bit longer…”

“En,” Lan Wangji replied softly. “I will return for a short while. For now, you may continue resting.”

Wei Wuxian cracked his eyes open to give Lan Wangji a fond but sleepy look. “Good er-gege, let me sleep for now. I’m so tired from last night…”

“En,” Lan Wangji replied, the tips of his ears reddening at the sudden burst of memory.

Wei Ying was about to sleep but then groggily muttered something about a vial. Lan Wangji understood what he meant and told him that he’ll bring it to Wen Ning to give to Wen Qing. Wei Wuxian quickly fell back asleep after that. With one last kiss on his forehead, Lan Wangji grabbed the vial Wei Wuxian spoke of and headed out of the Jingshi, intending to head to the guest house where Wen Ning was still at.

It was still early in the morning but there were already a few disciples walking about. They greeted him politely and he nodded their way as he continued on his way.

When Lan Wangji arrived at the guest house, Wen Ning was already preparing to leave. He had his hair tied up in a ponytail and was fastening his traveling cloak so that he could put the hood over his head. When Wen Ning finally noticed Lan Wangji’s presence, he hastily greeted him.

“Is Wei-gongzi still asleep?” Wen Ning asked. Lan Wangji nodded.

“Did they serve you breakfast yet?” Lan Wangji asked.

“O-Oh, yes, thank you very much for your hospitality, Hanguang-Jun,” Wen Ning said. “I should go back home today. A-Jie must be worried about me being gone for so long.”

Lan Wangji nodded. “I will escort you to the gates.”

The two’s walk to the gates was silent but not at all that awkward. On their way there, Wen Ning asked about the vial that Wei Wuxian talked about last night. Lan Wangji pulled it out from his sleeves and handed it to Wen Ning, just as they arrived at the staircase down to the gates.

“It’s a cure for corpse poisoning,” Lan Wangji mentions, earning a surprised look from Wen Ning. “Wei Ying has been researching and developing a better, more effective cure than home remedies since we arrived. I trust that Wen Qing, however, would know to hide where she got it from.”

Wen Ning nodded, pocketing the vial and then bowing once again to say his goodbye, mentioning something about not needing company from here on out. “I will send a letter as soon as possible. Goodbye, Hanguang-Jun.”

Lan Wangji nodded. He watched as Wen Ning went down the stairs and past the gates before turning around and headed for the kitchens to get breakfast started for his husband.

He returns to the Jingshi sometime later to find Wei Wuxian now finally awake. It was still rather early (though it was a bit late in the day for Lan Wangji, who woke up at five) but Wei Wuxian beams at Lan Wangji as he sets down plate after plate of frighteningly red dishes, and a few that were just mild and bland for himself.

“My husband spoils me so much,” Wei Wuxian remarks with a fond smile. Lan Wangji smiles back, although it was faint, and approaches Wei Wuxian to kiss his the side of his head before helping him out of bed and straightening out his robes.

They ate their breakfast in comfortable silence and after that was cleared, Wei Wuxian made his way to the vanity table. Lan Wangji, ever diligent, sat behind him and brushed his hair for him. Wei Wuxian hums a tune while he does it and watches from their reflection as Lan Wangji ties his hair up in his usual ponytail. When he finishes, he presses a fond kiss on the nape of his neck before he helps his husband to his feet.

“Two weeks from now, right?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“En,” Lan Wangji replies. “I wish to prepare a few things first.”

“Really? What are you giving me?”

“You will see then,” Lan Wangji replies cryptically. Wei Wuxian pouts, ready to be childish and whine out of him but Lan Wangji’s decision seemed resolute. Lan Wangji presses a fond kiss on his temple before Wei Wuxian decided to give up (for now) and kiss him back, on the lips this time.

For the next few days, Wei Wuxian tries to tease the answers out of Lan Wangji but, for once, his love does not cave in so easily. Whatever he plans to give him, he’s keeping it a tightly guarded secret. There were a few times Lan Wangji was about to cave but he quickly distracted Wei Wuxian quite thoroughly that the latter would forget it the next day.

At the end of the first week, Wei Wuxian resolves to give up on knowing and just anticipate on what’s to come.

It seemed like a lot was happening for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji that week. Soon after it was found out that Wei Wuxian was actually so close to Lan Wangji that he seemed to have carved a space for himself in the Second Young Master’s actual place of residence, the rumours about their relationship seemed to intensify.

The rumours seemed to be a bit more contained than before, as judging from Lan Qiren’s normal disposition during class and no calls for their attention have been made, it was safe to say that only the disciples knew about Wei Wuxian staying with Lan Wangji at the Jingshi.

But Wei Wuxian did not seem to care about this rumour circulating about; not when his attention was solely on Lan Wangji’s public proposal that was to take place soon. His anticipation was practically palpable as even Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang helpfully pointed it out to him at the start of the second week, with Nie Huaisang noting that Wei Wuxian seemed to be ready to jump out of his own skin.

“What’s with you lately?” Jiang Cheng demanded after class. Lan Wangji was called by Lan Qiren to do something, meaning Wei Wuxian was with his brother and Nie Huaisang until their next lesson this afternoon.

“What do you mean?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“For one, you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin,” Nie Huaisang helpfully points out. “It’s like you’re waiting for something to happen.”

“Maybe I am,” Wei Wuxian replies cheerfully.

Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “You’ve been really weird since we got here,” he says, scrutinizing him through narrowed eyes. “For one, you suddenly got close to Lan Wangji. You don’t seem to be sleeping in your room—don’t lie to me, that place has been collecting dust for months—and now you haven’t even sent a single letter to A-Jie that she’s asking about you through her letters to me.”

Wei Wuxian’s cheerful smile faltered slightly at the mention of her. In truth, he hasn’t thought of her as much as he would have liked to. Maybe the reality of her actually being alive in this timeline hasn’t fully set in yet.

Or maybe, Wei Wuxian was just scared to even talk to her. After everything he had made her go through in the previous timeline; after inadvertently being the cause for her demise, he knew in his heart that he was still afraid to face her, knowing what he done to her. It may be in another time, it may not have happened here but the fact remains the same that he lived through another time where he did all those.

“Ah, I really forgot!” He exclaimed after a few moments of silence. “I need to write to her quick! I’ve been so busy with researching that I forgot to write to her,” he says. It wasn’t exactly a lie so his reasoning came off as natural.

Jiang Cheng sneered at him. “You don’t need you, you ass. She’s coming here.”

“What?” Wei Wuxian whipped his head to look at Jiang Cheng, caught off-guard with the announcement. “Why?”

His brother let out a sigh. “Father is coming here to check on our progress. A-Jie will be coming with him. She says she's worried about us, mostly you.” Jiang Cheng tried his best to not let his tone sound so scathing. 

Oh wow, Wei Wuxian thought idly. Uncle Jiang is coming here and it was not to take him back home.

“I see, I see. When will they get here?”

“A-Jie’s letter says they’ll be arriving in a few days from now,” Jiang Cheng says. “You better make up for not sending her any letters!”

“I will, I will!” Wei Wuxian replies.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Now that Wei Wuxian thinks about it, that… inciting incident hasn’t taken place yet. It was the reason that got him expelled from Cloud Recesses. It has already been nearly half a year since they arrived here and Jin Zixuan has not been an obnoxious ass for most of it. Granted, he hardly ever interacts with him in favour of being with Lan Wangji for most of the day.

But it was strange that it hasn’t happened yet.

But, apparently, Wei Wuxian spoke too soon. The news of Jiang Fengmian and his daughter’s arrival in a few days spread throughout Cloud Recesses and eventually reached the ears of their fellow junior cultivators. It wasn’t news to anyone that Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli were engaged to be married; the engagement had been established since they were young.

But it was also a well-known fact that Jin Zixuan was not pleased to be engaged to someone he thinks was as “plain” as Jiang Yanli.

Wei Wuxian sometimes has to remember that in another lifetime, these two were as happy as can be. He had to remember that sister loved Jin Zixuan regardless of how he saw her and that love only intensified when Jin Zixuan somehow got his head out of his ass and saw Jiang Yanli for the wonderful woman that she was. That love came with hardships, heartache, and tears; much like his own love story. 

But this was his shijie, his precious sister. Wei Wuxian couldn't stand to see her insulted, even when he knew that a happy ending was waiting for the two of them in the end. 

It happened much like the last time it did. The junior guest disciples had gathered in the hallway where the murals of Lan An’s story and the subsequent establishment of the Gusu Lan clan were depicted. Someone commented on how romantic the Lan clan’s history was but another pointed out how stoic and unfeeling the current generation was entirely. It would have been Wei Wuxian who spoke that before but not now when he knows how passionate his husband could be.

And then, it happened; those fateful words that could change his fate were spoken then.

“Jin-gongzi, do you have someone you like?” someone piped in. 

The junior cultivator right next to him elbowed him hard. “Don’t bother asking him. He’s got a fiancée, doesn’t he? I hear they’re even coming here.”  

Jin Zixuan’s expression seemed to harden at the reminder. Wei Wuxian, and even Jiang Cheng who was privy to this asshole’s unfiltered mouth, were preparing themselves for what he was about to say against their sister. He could also feel Lan Wangji’s presence nearby and when Wei Wuxian looked at him from the corner of his eye, he was already approaching him.

But, he did not say anything. He merely rolled his eyes and told them to stop being so childish before walking away with a huff.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian glanced at each other confusedly. They were expecting her to bad mouth their sister—Wei Wuxian, especially—but there was nothing from him.

Lan Wangji finally reached Wei Wuxian, who turned towards him with the same perplexed look. Lan Wangji’s expression didn’t falter but he must have taken notice at how different this situation turned out. Wei Wuxian excuses himself and leaves with Lan Wangji, heading down a secluded corridor to talk.

“If time flows linearly, then why didn’t he insult shijie this time?” Wei Wuxian asked. It wasn’t as if he wanted his sister to be insulted. But things have been playing out in a linear manner like the waterborne abyss incident still took place and the reasoning for it was still the same, but what changed with Jin Zixuan?

“Circumstances might have changed his mind,” Lan Wangji responds.

“If that is the case then I will not get expelled, nor will I be sent back to Lotus Pier,” Wei Wuxian muttered. Lan Wangji looked at him from the corner of his eye and asked,

“Do you want to return?”

“What? Of course not. Well, at least not in those circumstances. Once our year here in Gusu is done, I will have to return,” Wei Wuxian informs him but Lan Wangji’s shoulders tense at the mention of that. Wei Wuxian gave him a fond smile and linked his arm with his husband’s, pressing close to him as they walked.

“My dear, darling husband, we won’t apart forever,” Wei Wuxian coos, causing Lan Wangji to avert his gaze as the tips of his ears turned red. Wei Wuxian laughs but continues on. “If all goes well after your proposal, then I might just be willingly sent back here. I think Madame Yu will love the excuse to finally have me out of her hair and marrying me off to the second son of the Gusu Lan seems like the best option she has for me.”

Lan Wangji said nothing in response but Wei Wuxian knows he’s definitely happy after hearing ‘proposal’ and ‘marrying’.

Using his chance, Wei Wuxian tried to ask yet again, “So now, will you tell me what you’re going to give me? I won’t know what they look like so I can still be surprised!”

“No,” came Lan Wangji’s prompt reply. Wei Wuxian sighed in defeat. It was worth a shot. 

They continued walking, with Wei Wuxian still hanging off Lan Wangji’s arm. People have already seen them be like this for months now so many were immune to the sight.

Then, after a while, something came to Wei Wuxian’s mind. “What have you been up to for the past few days?”

“Helping copy the books in the Library Pavilion,” Lan Wangji answers. In the other life, his brother barely escaped with their most important documents after Cloud Recesses was razed to the ground. Although they were trying to prevent it from actually happening, they can never be too careful. Lan Wangji had brought the idea to Lan Qiren, who did understand his nephew’s reasoning as to why they should make back-up copies of their books and other documents.

“Why didn’t you ask me? I could have helped,” Wei Wuxian pointed out.

“You were busy with other matters, as I recall,” Lan Wangji answers. “You were making a new talisman yesterday night when I saw you asleep on the desk.”

He had a point. But still, any time Wei Wuxian could spend more with Lan Wangji, he’d want to take it. But, he had other priorities too. "Next time, let me know. I get lonely so easily," he says shamelessly. Lan Wangji agreed, kissing him on the side of the head. 

Neither of them was aware that there was an unexpected audience of disciples who witnessed the sweet gesture. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Not even two days later, it would seem like the rumours and gossip have finally reached Lan Qiren and the elders of Gusu. Word spread out of the intimate moment a few disciples saw them in two days ago. People weren't exactly surprised to hear of their closeness but the very idea of kissing brought into the mix was a whole other level. It was beyond friendship. Wei Wuxian should have been clued in since yesterday when he had a few people congratulate him, giving him pats on the back, and then a few others telling him that they wish to be invited for the celebrations. 

Wei Wuxian could only wonder what celebrations they were talking about, having no idea that it was because of him and Lan Wangji. 

Lan Xichen arrives at the moon gate of the Jingshi in the early morning, just as Lan Wangji was heading out to fix breakfast for him and Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji sees his older brother cross the moon gate. 

“Good morning, brother,” Lan Wangji greets. He sees Lan Xichen's slightly troubled expression.

“What troubles you?” Lan Wangji asked. 

“Wangji,” Lan Xichen said. “The elders… they…”

Lan Wangji stiffens slightly. “What of the elders, brother? Did something happen?”

Lan Xichen hastily tells them that maybe Wei Wuxian should be involved in this conversation too because it concerns him too. Lan Wangji immediately knew why his brother came in such a hurry, regardless of the rules. The brothers make it back inside. Lan Wangji excuses himself to go behind the screen divider to wake Wei Wuxian. It took a few tries but soon, Wei Wuxian came stumbling from behind the screen divider with Lan Wangji keeping him steady. Wei Wuxian tried to hide his yawn and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Upon realizing who was their early morning guest, Wei Wuxian put on a sleepy smile as he greeted him good morning. 

“Xichen-ge, is something the matter?” Wei Wuxian asked sleepily.

Lan Xichen quickly composed himself. “Good morning, Wuxian. I’m sorry to have arrived so early this way but I needed to inform you as soon as possible."

At that, Wei Wuxian's brows furrowed slightly.

Lan Xichen elaborates, "It would seem like Uncle and the elders have found out that Wuxian has been staying here.”

“How?” Wei Wuxian asked, suddenly feeling more awake.

Lan Xichen looks at Wei Wuxian in a smiling but definitely somewhat exasperated manner. “I don’t suppose you forgot that you were seen by three disciples staying in the Jingshi? I believe you had a guest calling for you and they managed to find you in the Jingshi, rather than at the guest dorms where all the other guest disciples are staying.”

Wei Wuxian shuffled his feet awkwardly, laughing sheepishly. “Ah, that one.”

Lan Xichen sighed. “The elders only just found out but they would want answers soon, Wangji. It is not exactly forbidden for you to have a guest in the Jingshi but they will still question you as to why he's been staying here in the first place when he has a perfectly serviceable room at the guest disciples hall."

“Of course,” Lan Wangji said simply.

Lan Xichen smiled at his resolute tone. “Then, what will you do, Wangji, Wuxian? Do you have any plans from here on out?”

“Well, we kind of do?” Wei Wuxian says, looking to Lan Wangji. “You haven’t told him yet, have you?”

“…I have not had the time. I apologize for the delay, brother,” Lan Wangji responds, bowing his head in apology. Lan Xichen looks confusedly at the two.

“Brother, I plan to propose to Wei Ying in two days’ time,” Lan Wangji informs him. “I am still preparing a few things before then.”

Lan Xichen’s eyes widen but after he seemingly gets over the initial shock of the news, he puts on a wide smile. He seems genuinely happy. But, that smile falters a bit as he puts on a more serious expression.

“Are you prepared for what could happen after, Wangji? This union will be unorthodox.” Lan Xichen asks, but not unkindly. He seems genuinely concerned.

“It does not matter to me,” Lan Wangji replies in a firm tone as he met his brother's gaze. “Wei Ying is the one I choose and will choose regardless of any other options.”

Lan Xichen looks to the two of them before he finally smiles again. He sighs in what Wei Wuxian interprets as relief. That, or resignation. “Very well. Then, I shall give you my support, Wangji. Wuxian.”

“Thank you, brother,” Lan Wangji says. Lan Xichen shook his head.

“Do not thank me, Wangji. It is natural for me to support you. As I said before, if Wei Wuxian makes you happy, then that’s all that matters to me,” Lan Xichen says pleasantly, his smile positively radiant. It was hard not to feel excited (and nervous) under all that excitement of what’s to come, Wei Wuxian thought.

Lan Xichen left shortly after that, as he had his own duties to perform. Lan Wangji kissed Wei Wuxian on the forehead before making his way to the kitchen to fix breakfast, leaving Wei Wuxian in the Jingshi.

Wei Wuxian made his way to the vanity, deciding he might as well get ready since he was fully awake. Looking at his reflection, he wonders what this face would look like as Lan Wangji’s “bride”. Mo Xuanyu’s face, however beautiful and delicate it looked, was still not Wei Wuxian. His face was more boyishly handsome than pretty and delicate. Even this body was different, as he was lean and healthy. Perhaps the original design of his robes of the previous time won’t suit him in this body...

Looking at his hair, Wei Wuxian wonders inwardly: should he do his hair the same? Perhaps a different style would be nice too.

Wei Wuxian felt his entire face heat up. Oh God, he’s really a bride now. If his old, younger self would see him now, he’d probably be unable to believe that Wei Wuxian was going to dive in head first into marriage. He wonders how Jiang Cheng will react. No doubt, badly but he can deal with that later. What about his shijie, though? No doubt she’d be happy for him—

“Wait,” Wei Wuxian paused for a bit, realizing that he was forgetting something that Jiang Cheng told him not even two days ago.

“When did he say shijie is arriving?”