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Wei Wuxian's second time around Gusulan is much more pleasanter than his first, for all that it comes three years later and with the spectre of a war hanging over their heads.
Lan Qiren's upgraded class for older cultivators is less of a formal education and more of a war effort, an attempt to demonstrate unity to the encroaching Wen clan. Things are less strict this time around, a focus on sharpening battle skills over more theoretical approaches.
The Gusulan library has a wide range of books and scrolls. Wei Wuxian usually spends his mornings poring over them or refining talisman making or writing a letter to Jiang Yanli who's over at Lotus Pier with her parents. The threat of Qishan Wen has proven to be an unexpected impetus to his inventive capacities, keeping him awake late into the night most days. Sometimes Jiang Cheng would come along too and fall asleep like a particularly grumpy angel on Wei Wuxian's shoulder.
There's a lecture being held today, Lan Xichen and a couple of Lan elders demonstrating how music can be like a flowing river, bending to the ministrations of infused spiritual energy. Wei Wuxian finds it fascinating, figures he can modify the theory and use his own flute to the same effect.
Lan Zhan has offered to teach him some of the Lan songs as well, and Wei Wuxian is still flush with pleasure at the offer. The Second Jade of Lan has finally succumbed to the fate of their inevitable friendship amidst Wei Wuxian's constant harangue-ing.
Wei Wuxian can even read his expressions these days, the tiny frowns, the upturns and downturns of his plush mouth, the way his eyes widen when Wei Wuxian does something particularly shameless or narrow in focus when they're sparring. It is a language of their own and Wei Wuxian is so fond of the silent, stoic man that he would willingly write a dictionary if these insights were less precious, less something meant to be held close to his chest.
He's exiting the hallway, on his way to the Jingshi to bother Hanguang-jun for a sparring session when he hears them, two disciples of a minor clan whispering to each other beneath the canopy of a wide branch.
Their words float by Wei Wuxian's ears as he walks by. "It's the Second Jade, for sure, there's no doubt about it."
Wei Wuxian stills, straining to hear more at the mention of Lan Zhan's name.
The gossiping disciples do not disappoint, one of them perfunctorily placing a hand over his mouth but the words are clear. "It's a close relation of the major Jin family, the lady is a peerless beauty it is said and not bad at cultivation as well."
"It's something of a diplomatic coup, the Jin clan has been hesitant to commit fully but this marriage would tie their hands down."
"After all, Hanguang-jun is not someone to scoff at."
Wei Wuxian's stomach sinks for some reason; there hasn't been any talk about marriage but he keeps himself apart from the politics of it all. It grates on his nerves and Jiang Cheng is much better at holding his tongue and making nice than anyone could've expected so Wei Wuxian leaves him to it.
It's a cause of regret now but surely even he couldn't be so out of the loop so as to miss the news of Lan Zhan's wedding.
Only this morning, Lan Zhan had sat next to him at breakfast, picking at his peas before Wei Wuxian had swapped them with carrots from his own plate. Win-win.
Lan Zhan would have said something if he was getting married, right?
The more Wei Wuxian thinks about it, the more sense it makes that Lan Zhan, in fact, would absolutely keep mum about anything personal. Wei Wuxian doesn't even know if Lan Zhan likes someone.
Something in his stomach is curdling the longer he trudges towards the Jingshi, Wei Wuxian's never sympathises when kids throw tantrums or when Jiang Cheng gets into one of his hissy fits but that is exactly the feeling that bubbles towards the surface when he sees Lan Zhan already standing in front of the Jingshi, placid face as infuriatingly beautiful as ever. He's tall and regal, something that would take anyone's breath away and so it's completely rational that Wei Wuxian loses his disastrous train of thought.
He regains his higher brain functions after a moment and with that there's an irrational urge to stomp his foot, throw something to the ground, throw Lan Zhan to the ground and- and something. Maybe tickle him until he breaks and smiles or elicit a whispered confession. Of what, Wei Wuxian isn't sure of.
One thing is for certain: today Lan Zhan is going to lose.
Wei Wuxian is quiet as they walk towards the open field behind the jingshi where they usually spar. There are gentians all around, encircling them like a bubble of flowery making, as private and beautiful as their owner.
He is conspicuously silent when Lan Zhan stands opposite him, his body straight as an arrow. All of Wei Wuxian's attention focuses down on the thrill that is matching his might to Lan Zhan's, giving his best until one of them emerges as the winner.
Lan Zhan's style of fighting embodies Gusulan, he is like the high ocean wave, straightforward and powerful, carrying away everything in his sweep. Wei Wuxian is the wind in comparison, darts in and out, spins to freedom every time he's within Lan Zhan's reach.
They are well-matched, Wei Wuxian thinks, a bit melancholic. The place that the sadness comes from feels like an open wound, demands a sacrifice or a balm, whichever is more forthcoming.
In a blink of an eye, Lan Zhan is thrusting his sword to Wei Wuxian's right side and Wei Wuxian is cornered, the only way out is to spin beyond their drawn circle and admit defeat.
Today Lan Zhan would lose, and so Wei Wuxian, unthinking, spins towards him, crashing into the Second Jade of Lan.
Wei Wuxian almost expects to fall down, bounce back like a throw penny but Lan Zhan catches him, hands firm on his upper arms as he pulls Wei Wuxian closer, grip tight as he peers right into Wei Wuxian's face.
"Wei Ying is behaving oddly today."
Wei Wuxian disentangles himself with a laugh that sounds strained to his own ears. "Wei Ying behaves oddly everyday. You win this round. Another one?"
Lan Zhan nods, his gaze sharp on Wei Wuxian and a tiny little crease appears on his forehead. The attention always feels heady, a little bit like breathing after a long time underwater. Wei Wuxian is ashamed of how much he actually revels in it.
The second round does not go any better, Wei Wuxian is distracted throughout, the rules of battle muddled up in his head until all he wants is to move towards Lan Zhan instead of away. He ends out of the circle in twenty seconds flat, breathing heavily as he gazes at the sharp end of Bichen and Lan Zhan's perturbed face beyond it.
They go for yet another one right after, Lan Zhan visibly holding back this time and Wei Wuxian is furious suddenly, takes an in that allows him to dart behind Lan Zhan's body. The ends of his forehead ribbon flutters right in front of his face and, as if in a trance, Wei Wuxian curls a hand around it and pulls.
Lan Zhan's eyes are blazing when he turns back, his forehead bare and one second later, Wei Wuxian is on the ground with Hanguang-jun upon him, pinning him down.
"Wei Ying."
Breathing is difficult when the esteemed Hanguang-jun is on top of you, but even if it wasn't, Wei Wuxian is at a loss for how to respond, what to say. He folds the precious ribbon that's still in his hand and thrusts it towards Lan Zhan's chest.
"I am sorry, Lan Zhan. I don't know what's wrong with me today," he says carefully.
For a moment it seems like Lan Zhan will neither take the proffered ribbon nor will he let up, but then he moves off and stands up shakily. His hands tremble where they're clutched around his ribbon and Wei Wuxian is suddenly deeply ashamed at the sight.
He casts his eyes down. In for a penny, in for a pound. "I heard some interesting news today. Something about an arranged marriage."
Lan Zhan blinks at him. He still hasn't put his ribbon on and it's making Wei Wuxian squirm with discomfort. "Marriage?"
Wei Wuxian barrels ahead. "Lan Zhan, if you liked someone you would tell me right? Especially if you'd want to marry them as well?"
Lan Zhan looks down at the ribbon still in his hand and then back at Wei Ying's face. He seems to have come to a decision. "Would Wei Ying like to tie this for me?"
Wei Wuxian's mouth drops open before he flushes. Is this Lan Zhan's way of telling him that Wei Wuxian is like family and so, of course, he would tell Wei Wuxian of any upcoming nuptials?
Wei Wuxian goes forward hesitantly and Lan Zhan seems to pick up on that. "Wei Ying doesn't have to if he doesn't want to."
Wei Wuxian, for the second time that night, darts forward to snatch Lan Zhan's forehead ribbon up. "Don't be silly. Of course, I want to."
Wei Wuxian carefully smooths Lan Zhan's hair down and then ties the ribbon to its rightful place, Lan Zhan turns for him so he can do it properly and it's so unbelievably intimate that Wei Wuxian is jealous of any random Jin girl who might get to do it for the rest of her life.
"Lan Zhan, you still haven't answered my question. Are you getting married or not?"
In response Lan Wangji is still for a long time, long enough that Wei Wuxian hastens to explain, "The news in question was about you and a Jin girl getting married to strengthen sect relationships."
Lan Zhan finally stirs. He looks sad suddenly. "It is untrue. Arranged marriages are forbidden in the cloud recesses."
"What? Really?"
Lan Zhan nods shortly. "Lans marry for love or not at all."
Wei Wuxian's own heart has never been lighter, he feels giddy suddenly. "That's excellent, Lan Zhan. And as your best friend, you would tell me if you ever liked someone right?"
Lan Zhan doesn't meet his eyes.
"I would."