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The earth shook with a mighty rumble, heard and felt for miles.
Everyone looked to the direction of Yiling, of the Burial Mounds, where Wei Wuxian had sealed himself and the remnants of the Wen clan up so tight that not even the top 10 most talented cultivators combined could make a dent in the barrier that surrounded it.
The blood red pillar that shot to the endless sky, a pillar that for 13 years had become a beacon to the location of the lair of the Yiling Patriarch slowly dissolved into what resembled ash and fire, before ceasing to exist. Wei Wuxian had returned.
There were no calls for blood, no calls for the head of the Yiling Patriarch. Jin Guangshan had been dead for years now, and with him the golden voice that had stirred the cultivation world into a frenzy for his head and the heads of the Wen remnants.
Jin Guangshan had died disgraced, his plans and dark secrets laid out bare before everyone by the bastard son who had done all his dirty work for him. Realizing, with the help of his sworn brothers, that despite how hard he worked, his father would never see him as more than a tool, Jin Guangyao had decided enough was enough and shown the cultivation world who his father truly was; A lecher, a rapist, and a man hungry to be the next Wen Ruohan. A man who wanted the cultivation world under his thumb and had lied about armies under Wei Wuxian’s control, lied about the fate of innocent people unfortunate enough to have had the surname of Wen but had not so much as picked up a sword in their lives. Jin Guangshan had pulled the wool over their eyes, and tried leading them into a senseless massacre based on lies.
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The day of the siege had been a frenzy, armies from all the sects raised into a bloodthirsty mass, calling for the end of Wei Wuxian, of the Wen army he had supposedly amassed. They marched to the Burial Mounds, the air buzzing with the itch to kill. As they approached, the only living being they saw was the Yiling Patriarch himself, standing at the edge of his territory. He stood without sword, but with Chenqing in his hand, ready to play at a moments notice. The mob condensed, screaming for blood, hundreds of men against the lone demonic cultivator.
Wei Wuxian raised Chenqing to his lips, eyes flashing red as he opened his mouth to play, but no sound ever came.
“Xian-gege!!!!!”
Wei Wuxian immediately stopped, eyes wide. Those close enough to hear it stopped in their tracks. It was the voice of a child. What was a child doing here?
The mob ground to a halt as Wei Wuxian quickly turned to scoop a child, skinny and streaked with dirt, into his arms in a protective manner. The boy couldn’t have been more than 3 years old. Whatever the age, a place like the Burial Mounds was no place for a child. What was he doing there? How did he get there?
“What’s the meaning of this?!” someone clad in yellow roared, sword pointed at the man in black and red. “Have you no shame?! using a child as a shield?”
“A shield?!” Wei Wuxian guffawed, holding the child even closer. Those closest could hear the whimper as he did. “Xian-gege… who are all these scary men? are they going to hurt you? are they here for us? they’re wearing yellow...”
Stunned silence. Scary? He was being held by the Yiling Patriarch himself and they were what he was scared of?
“Child… what is your name?” a soft voice called from the crowd. Lan Xichen walked forward as the crowd parted, sword sheathed. The child pressed closer to Wei Wuxian, as if trying to disappear against him. “Wen… Wen Yuan...” he murmured, muffled by the clothing he pressed his teary face into.
So he was a Wen child… that explained why he’s here but not how .
“How did you get here?” Xichen asked, carefully reaching a hand out. The boy now known as Wen Yuan pressed impossibly closer to Wei Wuxian. “You’re not Rich-gege… You look like him but you’re not him...” Rich-gege? does he mean Wangji? Xichen thought as his hand stopped. Did Wangji know about this child? About the reality of the Burial Mounds? “How did you get here?” he repeated, a sinking feeling in his stomach beginning to form. If Wangji had known about this child but didn’t tell anyone, not even him… what did Wangji fear would happen?
“Xian-gege saved us...the bad men in yellow were going to hurt us and Xian-gege took us with him..” Silence. Men in yellow? Xichen turned to the men in Jin sect robes at the front of the mob. “What do you know about this?”
One man frantically shook his head. “I don’t know anything! I would never hurt a child, much less one so young!” The other cultivators from Lanling nodded in agreement. Murmurs began to spread through the mob. Just what had the Jin sect done? Why was a child so young scared of Lanling robes when he should have, in theory, never seen a battlefield? Or even Lanling Jin robes? Just where did Wei Wuxian supposedly rescue him from? He had said “us”, did that mean that there were more children in the Burial Mounds?
“I think someone here can answer these questions for us” a gruff voice spoke from the crowd.
It was Nie Mingjue, saber in one hand and Jin Guangyao’s arm in the other. Walking forward and pulling Jin Guangyao with him, he looked angry as ever, if not more so. Jin Guangyao on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here. “A-Yao? what do you know of this?” Xichen spoke softly, making room for his two sworn brothers to stand beside him.
Jin Guangyao looked around. He seemed to be assessing the situation. “da-ge-” he started, wincing when the grip on his arm tightened, white knuckled and firm. “da-ge please… I’m not going to run. I’ve already told you everything”
“Told him what?” Xichen pressed. “A-Yao, what do you know?”
Jin Guangyao took a deep breath. He gave the crowd a once over and then looked Xichen in the eye. “I have… done a lot of terrible things for my father, er-ge.” hesitation marred his face for a second before continuing to speak.
“ I have lied, I have killed, sent people to their deaths. All for a crumb of his approval. After… Jin Zixuan was grievously injured at Qiongqi Pass, father lost it. He said it should have been me who was on the verge of death. After all, a bastard has no right to anything Lanling Jin. It was at that moment that I realized no matter what I did, I would never be able to gain his approval. So...I went to da-ge and told him everything. Everything my father has done.”
Nie Mingjue nods in agreement, hand loosening its grip but still refusing to let go of Jin Guangyao’s arm. “Go on, tell him what you told me.” his voice was uncharacteristically gentle, as if something had changed between them. The mob and Wei Wuxian were eerily quiet, wanting to hear what he had to say.
Another breath.
“My father… covets the stygian tiger seal. He believes that with demonic cultivation under his control, he can become greater than Wen Ruohan ever was. To that extent… he has… imprisoned anyone with the surname Wen into labor camps.”
Jin Guangyao pauses to look at Wen Yuan in Wei Wuxian’s arms.
“Women, children, the elderly and the crippled. Everyone goes. People who have never so much as read a cultivation text. None of them have golden cores. Anyone who does is either killed outright, used for demonic cultivation experiments, or as live target practice. The guards he has at these camps are loyal to him alone and sworn to secrecy. Not even Jin Zixuan knows. He… he wants to recreate the seal. A few months ago, there was a disturbance and a group of people managed to escape the camp with the help of...someone. All the guards were dead so we never confirmed who did it but... It was all common people. A few elderly. And...one child.”
The mob begins to murmur. The stygian tiger seal? Jin Guangshan wants to recreate it? and he’s using average citizens to do it? They seem unbelieving, eyeing Jin Guangyao suspiciously as they whisper amongst themselves.
“As for… the aftermath of Qiongqi Pass...Wen Qionglin and Wen Qing are alive.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes widen. “What?! how?? they were both reduced to ash!””
“They were Wen corpses alright, but not those of Wen Qing and her brother. My father has them both imprisoned. He’s experimenting on Wen Qionglin, trying to make his own sentient fierce corpses and to bring him under the Jin’s command. As for Wen Qing… last I heard she was being interrogated.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes flash red. The crowd steps back cautiously.
Jin Guangyao eyed them all cautiously before swallowing. Looking down at the floor, he takes a deep breath before speaking once more.
“There… is one more thing my father has asked of me. I cannot bring myself to do it, which is why I’m here. Why I’m telling you all this.”
Nie Mingjue looks surprised. He looks down at Jin Guangyao before meeting eyes with Lan Xichen. Jin Guangyao continues to speak after hesitating.
“Father has… he asked me to kill you, da-ge.”
The murmurs grow louder. Why would Jin Guangshan want Nie Mingjue dead?
“He...never asked outright but-” he stands straighter. “That da-ge of yours is becoming a real nuisance isn’t he?” Jin Guangyao says in a perfect imitation of his father’s voice. “You should advise him to...learn his place. By whatever means necessary.”
He looks Nie Mingjue in the eye. “This was before you… you kicked me down the stairs.” he takes a moment to take a deep breath. “When I was at the base of those steps, I truly considered my father’s words for a moment. I truly thought about killing you. It would have been so easy..I knew some forbidden songs that would have made it seem like an accident.” He swallows. “But i couldn’t do that to you or er-ge. I couldn’t do that to the two people who have seen me for something else other than a bastard and...”
he closes his eyes and grits his teeth.
“The son of a whore.”
Nie Mingjue seemed to wince ever so slightly at the words.
“If you hadn’t come to me and apologized after our argument, I surely would have gone through with it. I know you don’t fully trust me ever since you caught me killing a man from the Jin sect for Wen Ruohan, but please believe me when I tell you I did what I had to do to keep you and er-ge safe! It was either them or you! I… I know a life is a life, but in times of war some lives really are more important! If we would have lost you, I really don’t think many of us including myself and er-ge would be standing here right now. You are a man of justice and honor, but in times of war and even in the world it is never just so black and white as good or bad.” Jin Guangyao was clinging to Nie Mingjue’s robes now, eyes desperate.
“Please, da-ge. I need you to trust me. I need you to believe me that I would never hurt you or er-ge!”
Nie Mingjue was quiet. After what seemed like an eternity he sighed and let go of Jin Guangyao’s arm. “We’ll need you to prove these accusations.”
“Yes!”
Wei Wuxian cleared his throat. Everyone looked in his direction, suddenly remembering the reason why they were here in the first place.
“See, this is nice and all… making up like this… but this doesn’t change the fact that you all came to kill me based on a lie and that you probably would have- no, you absolutely would have killed all the people under my protection once I died. You would have gone home to your sects and your families, confident that you were in the right, that you were righteous cultivators who had done the right thing simply because I’m a threat and the people up there have the surname of Wen.”
Silver eyes flash red. People fall back. Wei Wuxian hikes Wen Yuan up on his hip, who clings onto him and once again buried his face into his shoulder.
“Jin Guangyao. You better be telling the truth about Wen Ning and Wen Qing.”
He carefully sets down Wen Yuan, stroking his hair gently. Wei Wuxian’s entire expression softens, holding chubby hands as he kneels and speaks softly. It feels intimate, a father and child. A complete opposite to the heartless monster they believed him to be.
“A-Yuan, listen to me. I need you to run back to granny. I’m going to go fetch auntie Qing and uncle Ning, ok? Xian-gege will be right back.”
A-Yuan looked hesitant, but nodded nonetheless and ran back into the Burial Mounds as fast as his little legs could carry him after giving his Xian-gege a big hug.
Wei Wuxian stands. He looks at the mob and smiles.
“So. Lead the way to Lanling. I’ll uh… need to ride on someone’s sword though. Suibian is back at the cave.” He laughs sheepishly as he scratches his cheek.
So Jin Guangyao does. He leads the mob back to Lanling, shows them the camps. The mass graves. Another Burial Mounds in the making. Leads them back to Koi Tower, shows them evidence of his father’s carefully hidden crimes. Brings them to where Wen Ning and Wen Qing are being held. Wen Ning is unresponsive, strange nails sticking out of his head. Wei Wuxian removes them promptly, resentful energy swirling around him as the tink tink tink of metal hitting stone fills the silence.
He speaks softly to the corpse, milky eyes seeming to refocus as he does so. Recognition flashes on the Corpse General’s face as stiff joints move to reach out to Wei Wuxian. “Master Wei...” He says, voice rough from disuse and the stiffness of death.
Wei Wuxian laughs, though there’s not much humor in it. “Hey Wen Ning… it’s me. Come on. Let’s get Wen Qing and go home.”
They find Wen Qing strapped to a wall looking pale and roughed up, clearly having undergone torture. But when she looks up at Wei Wuxian, she smiles despite her split lip, smiles despite her circumstances. The steely determination in her eyes unwavering. She had not broken. Lanling Jin could not and would never break Wen Qing.
“Took you long enough.” is all she says as Wen Ning breaks her chains and picks her up. Wei Wuxian snorts and pushes her playfully, more of a press of his hand against her arm.
“Let’s go home.”
After it had become clear that Jin Guangyao was indeed telling the truth, several sect leaders were invited by Wei Wuxian to see the Burial Mounds and Demon Slaughtering Cave for themselves to prove he had no army and was not planning anything. All they found on arrival were makeshift huts and several people bordering on malnourished. But they looked happy to be there despite their circumstances and regarded Wei Wuxian highly. Wen Yuan had immediately ran to his Xian-gege and clung to his leg, refusing to let go until Wei Wuxian picked him up. Realizing Wei Wuxian was also telling the truth, all sect leaders beside Yunmeng Jiang’s left. When asked about it later, Jiang Cheng had simply snorted and asked if it was a crime to talk to his brother.
The next morning, the red pillar had shot up in a flash of light. Cultivators gone to investigate the source found a barrier in place, unable to be cracked no matter what they did. The Burial Mounds had sealed itself, Wei Wuxian and all the Wen remnants inside.
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Lan Wangji sped to the Burial Mounds as fast as Bichen would take him. Wei Ying , his mind raced.
Wei Ying , his heart thundered.
Wei Ying! His body and soul cried out, aching to see the man he hadn’t seen in thirteen years, the man that made his heart sing, who’s bright smile lit up his world. It had been so long since the wind against his face felt so fresh, the colors of the world around him looked so vibrant. Lan Wangji felt himself come alive again, heart pounding to a start in a steady rhythm so heavy it felt like his chest would burst from sheer want, pounding to the beat of his name. The closer he got to the Burial Mounds, the more he noticed the changes that had taken place over this once cursed place. For one, he no longer felt the overwhelmingly choking grasp of resentful energy leaking from the earth itself, nor did he smell the stench of death that used to permeate the air. The grass was green, the earth a rich dark brown. The trees, while they still held an otherworldly black color to their trunks, had lush green leaves; some even had blossoms. The Burial Mounds was no longer a place of death, but one of rebirth.
Stopping at the edge, Lan Wangji hopped off of Bichen and sheathed it, needing a moment to truly take it all in. Of course Wei Ying would manage to cleanse such a place, he thought, the silence in the air almost reverent. Only someone like Wei Ying would be able to. After a moment to gather himself, he took the first step into what was once called the Burial Mounds (could he still call it that?) and felt the soft earth give beneath his feet slightly. Lan Wangji walked in silence, letting the new atmosphere take root in his heart, to override some of his most painful memories of the place. The scars on his back cried out in phantom pain at the thought, so he willed the worst of his thoughts away as he made his way up the mountain. Would Wei Wuxian be happy to see him? Their final conversation hadn’t been much of one in the first place, just Lan Wangji begging Wei Wuxian to return to Gusu with him as Wei Wuxian chanted get lost over and over again like a mantra, as if it was all he knew how to say.
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Let me protect you he had all but begged, pouring spiritual energy into what felt like a broken sieve as he realized with mounting horror that Wei Wuxian no longer held a golden core within him. Many of Wei Wuxian’s actions now clicked into place for Lan Wangji, a new perspective as to why he had done the things he did.
Let me take care of you, let me help you shoulder this burden you have put upon yourself his heart had cried desperately, even as it felt like it was shattering as the other continued to tell him to get lost, eyes glazed over. His Wei Ying, the one with the sunny smile who had seized his heart that moonlit night in Gusu all those years ago and never let go no longer existed. In his place was an empty shell of a broken man who had been forced to experience horror after horror, tragedy after tragedy and had reached his breaking point. Jiang Yanli lay grievously injured on a battlefield somewhere, having taken a near fatal blow for her brother. Did Wei Wuxian know Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan still lived? At this point it was hard to tell whether he even knew reality from hallucinations. Perhaps with time, that smile would return to his face, but at the current moment Wangji would give anything to have him even look at him. He didn’t care anymore if it was with disgust or distrust or hatred, he just wanted Wei Wuxian to look. To see that Lan Wangji would stand by his side no matter what.
To that extent he had taken on 33 elders of his sect to protect the man he loved, to protect the promise of a smile, even if it would never be directed at him. Lan Wangji had fought like a demon had overtaken him that day, refusing to go down even as his fingers bled from strumming Wangji over and over, even as his arms ached from swinging Bichen with such ferocity. Lan Wangji would become a demon to keep Wei Wuxian safe, he decided. He would fight whoever he had to, whether it be the elders of his clan or the gods themselves as long as he could protect the man who held his heart, even if he hated him.
He took the discipline whip with grace and acceptance, steeling his gaze as his uncle brought it down over and over. Even as his back buzzed with pain, even as blood poured down it, he could not bring himself to regret his actions. Coming to in the Jingshi later that week after having been out for days because of the searingly overwhelming pain, Lan Wangji felt the bone deep satisfaction of having done what he knew was right, despite his back feeling like it was on fire and the condemnation of his clan.
It was in this position that he learned of the sealing of the Burial Mounds and the fall of Jin Guangshan, listening to Xichen speak of how he forced into exile by the sects after learning of the atrocities he had committed and enabled in his quest for power, then subsequently murdered by a group of jilted women in a brothel as he slept. As soon as he was well enough to, Lan Wangji had hauled himself to the burial mounds and attempted in vain to contact Wei Wuxian before he was found by Lan Xichen and brought back home. He willingly went into a pseudo exile as his back healed, and prayed that Wei Wuxian’s smile returned inside that barrier.
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Looking around what was now a much sturdier and permanent village bustling with people both from nearby Yiling and the now much healthier looking Wen remnants, Lan Wangji became painfully aware he was not the only one who would probably be looking to catch a glimpse of the Yiling Patriarch for the first time in 13 years. People were buzzing, talking about Wei Wuxian in hushed, excited whispers. He could practically see the stars in a group of teenagers’ eyes as they talked about the Yiling Patriarch and how he had put his honor on the line to save innocent people. Lan Wangji couldn’t help the quirk at the corner of his mouth as he listened; the years had definitely been kind to Wei Wuxian’s reputation once his deeds had been revealed, though he was still spoken of in a tone of fear due to the sheer amount of people he had killed.
As he traversed, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander to Wen Yuan. Was the boy doing ok? He should be about 16 by now, had he been able to grow up well? Was he happy? Lan Wangji hoped so. The last time he had seen the boy was when he had spent the day in Yiling with Wei Wuxian; It was probably his most treasured memory in years, the final time he saw Wei Wuxian smile with the intensity of the sun before everything had gone to shit. He had held Wen Yuan in his lap and watched him play with the toys he bought him, Wei Wuxian across the table watching with a smile on his face as they ate. It had been so painfully domestic and Wangji’s heart ached from warmth and from sheer want .
It was a scenario from something he dared not dream of; him and his Wei Ying raising a family together, spending their days spoiling their child and wandering the world. But Wei Ying was not his. He was not Lan Wangji’s to keep, and did not feel the same way Wangji felt about him.
Lan Wangji loved him so much, his entire being had called out to the man across the table, but he promised himself he would never cage Wei Wuxian or tie him down to one place. He had seen how that had affected his parents, would rather carve out his core than do that to the man he loved. Wei Ying was Wangji’s sun, his wind. He was wild and free and deserved to go wherever his heart desired, even if that meant far away from Lan Wangji. As long as Wei Ying was happy, that was enough. Even as his heart had cried out for more, even if Wei Ying’s Happiness did not include Lan Wangji in it.
“Ah, Lan Zhan is that you??”
Lan Wangji feels his heart stop, then start again in a rush of warmth radiating from his chest that makes his whole body shiver and his face positively burn. Wei Ying! His being cries out as he whips around so fast he nearly makes himself dizzy. The grin that meets him, the same radiant one he has not seen in 13 years blindsides him. He almost feels like he needs a moment to process the fact that Wei Wuxian is indeed standing in front of him and he isn’t dreaming. No, the fingernails cutting painfully into the skin of his palm definitely prove that he’s not.
“Wei Ying.” He chokes out, and mentally pats himself on the back for saying it without stuttering or his voice cracking.
Now that Wei Wuxian is in front of him, he definitely needs time to process his new… appearance. Lan Wangji feels his breath catch in his throat at the loose robes, feels himself staring at the sun from the Wen brand on Wei Wuxian’s chest. It’s… nearly completely exposed. Wei Wuxian’s red inner robe is open to a point that it’s almost scandalous, baring almost the entirety of his broad chest. The muscles are well defined, and the sprinkling of scars along them only accentuate what’s there. It makes his chest look rugged, Lan Wangji finds himself thinking as he continues to scan Wei Wuxian’s appearance and ever so slowly proceeds to lose his entire shit internally.
Mind going a mile a minute, like there’s too much information to process, Lan Wangji’s eyes continue to scan. He sees Chenqing tucked neatly into the equally red sash holding Wei Wuxian’s inner robe together. His waist is still as small as Lan Wangji remembers it being (not like he ever daydreamed about getting his hands around it, no sir!), Though it looks even smaller now that Wei Wuxian’s shoulders have broadened more he notes, quickly averting his eyes as he feels his ears begin to burn. Keep it appropriate Wangji, you haven’t seen this man in years. He admonishes himself, trying oh so hard to keep his mind from wandering places it should not be. Over his red robe is a black one draped loosely over his shoulders; he opts to wear it almost like a blanket, not even bothering to put his hands through the sleeves. It doesn’t seem to be the same one as the one he wore as the Yiling Patriarch, red accents gone in favor of a solid black color.
Long dark hair drapes over the black robe, falling in wild curls down his shoulders and back. Wei Wuxian’s hair is now tied in a loose, low ponytail, Lan Wangji notes, though it seems Wei Wuxian still uses the same ribbon.
“Hi, Lan Zhan.”
Hearing Wei Wuxian speak, Lan Wangji’s eyes dart to his face and he feels his brain short circuit. All thoughts immediately cease, coming to a screeching halt as he takes in Wei Wuxian’s face. His silver eyes shine in mirth, the wide grin Lan Wangji loves so much still plastered on his face. Loose locks of hair frame it, one in particular falling between his eyes and Lan Wangji has to muster all his self control to not reach out and tuck it behind his ear.
And then.
And then,
Lan Wangji sees the stubble. It’s not horribly overwhelming or patchy, but just looks like Wei Wuxian has been procrastinating shaving for a few days. Maybe a week or two. It makes… Wei Wuxian look positively rugged, Lan Wangji thinks, feeling his ears burn white hot as the heat spreads to his cheeks and nose. The whole picture, this new Wei Wuxian looks so carefree almost to the point of looking disheveled, but much to Lan Wangji’s annoyance, he makes it look so so good. Maybe Lan Wangji is a fool in love, but arguably speaking he has never seen anyone look this good with facial hair. He can feel his fist begin to tremble as he has to wrestle the overwhelming urge to touch down. His previously empty brain is now awash once more with thousands of thoughts, all of them about Wei Ying. It feels like steam is coming out of his ears he’s so overwhelmed, swallowing a thick lump in his throat. Is he staring? he hopes he isn’t making it too obvious at least.
“Hanguang-jun?”
The teasing lilt in Wei Wuxian’s voice does not go unnoticed by Lan Wangji, blinking once, twice, as he snaps out of his haze. He straightens his back and nods politely. Wei Wuxian’s laughter graces his ears once more and Lan Wangji feels like a starved man receiving his first meal after ages. He can feel the smile quirking against his own lip, doesn’t even try to hide it as he addresses Wei Wuxian once more.
“Wei Ying.”
If possible, Wei Wuxian’s smile grows in its intensity and Lan Wangji feels the urge to cover his eyes. It feels like staring straight into the sun, but Lan Wangji would gladly go blind if it meant he could look at this smile forever. “Ahhhh Lan Zhan you’re smiling! are you so happy to see me? you’re the first cultivator to make it! did you miss me that much~?”
“Mn. I did.” he readily agrees. No use fighting it.
Wei Wuxian’s cheeks become dusted with a light shade of pink and oh, Wangji could look at that forever. “Lan Zhan! warn me next time before you say things like that!” Wei Wuxian whines as he holds a hand over his chest, looking absolutely scandalized. “Oh my poor heart, I can’t take it when you do things like this, Lan-er-gege”
“I will warn you next time then.”
Wei Wuxian guffaws. “Was that a joke? Lan Zhan, you crack jokes now?” he teases, sauntering closer and linking his arm with Lan Wangji’s. Lan Wangji prays the other can’t feel their pounding heart against him.
“Come, I’ll give you the official tour! There’s so much to see! A-Yuan is going to be so happy to see you. He’s turned into such a fine young man, Lan Zhan. Almost like a mini you! He’s so kind and well-behaved, ah truly a golden child.” Wei Wuxian wipes an invisible tear as he begins to tug Lan Wangji’s arm. He lets himself be pulled, falling into step next to Wei Wuxian as they begin to walk.
There’s a lot of things for them to catch up on, but those will come in due time. For now, Lan Wangji is content to just be by Wei Wuxian’s side, allowing himself to be led just like how they used to do. Maybe there will be a time when he lets Wei Wuxian know is feelings clearly, but for now, just linking arms with him as they walk Wei Wuxian’s home is enough. Lan Wangji allows himself to bask in Wei Wuxian’s presence once more, feeling lighter and happier than he has in years.
“Hey, Lan Zhan?”
“Hm?” Lan Wangji looks to Wei Wuxian and meets his eyes. Wei Wuxian smiles.
“Thanks for coming.”
Lan Wangji feels the smile on his face before he can stop it. He finds himself not wanting to stop it. It’s worth it to see Wei Wuxian’s eyes widen and sparkle.
“Mn. No place else I would rather be.”