Chapter Text
Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren were both known rogue cultivators across the land. They were a married couple who often went out at night, hunting together and helping the poor. One day, Cangse Sanren gave birth to a son, named Wei Ying.
When he was young, he couldn't always travel with his parents, because it would have become too dangerous. During these times, he would stay with the Yunmeng Jiang sect - because Wei Changze was the right hand to Sect Leader Jiang, or with the Lan Sect, where Cangse Sanren studied and got to know Lan Qiren, who had two nephews the age of Wei Ying. Despite this he often traveled with them still, but occasionally still had to stay elsewhere, which was a good way for him to make friends as well.
That time he was staying at Cloud Recesses with Lan Qiren’s two nephews, also known as the twin Jades of Lan, the older Lan Huan, and the younger boy Lan Zhan, who was just a few months older than Wei Ying.
It wasn’t unusual for him to stay over for one or even two nights, since sometimes his parents encountered difficult cases during night hunts. That was the case back then as well, and Wei Ying had to stay for the night there. He just recently managed to befriend Lan Zhan, as the boy was usually quiet and expressionless, but something about him made Wei Ying want to befriend him, so he did. They were playing in Lan Zhan’s room with his toys, Lan Huan watching over them from the side, smiling softly at the two younger boys, despite being only eight years old himself. Then there was a soft knock on the door.
Lan Huan walked to the door and opened it.
“Shufu,” he bowed, when he saw Lan Qiren.
The older man nodded at him, holding a tray in his hand, “I brought some food for you three. Eat your dinner,
then it is time to go to sleep. It’s nearing 9 pm.”
Lan Huan smiled and took the tray from his uncle. He then closed the door and walked over to the table, setting the tray down, and called to the two younger boys, who were still focused on playing quietly.
“A-Zhan, A-Ying, come over here, let’s eat.”
Wei Ying jumped up at the mention of food, leaving Lan Zhan staring at the space before him where his friend had just been a second ago. He then also stood up soundlessly and walked over to the table and sat down.
Lan Huan poured some soup for the younger ones, both eating enthusiastically before he also dove in. After they all finished, he packed everything together again, ready to bring it to the kitchen and go to his room to sleep. But their little guest didn’t want to go to sleep.
“Huan ge, do we have to go to sleep yet?”
Lan Huan sighed. Every time Wei Ying stayed over, he didn’t want to sleep at 9pm. He had a lot of energy.
“Yes, a-Ying. If you don’t go to sleep now, you will be very tired in the morning and won’t be able to wake up,” he then led him to the bed, where Lan Zhan was already laying down and about to fall asleep. Wei Ying snuggled up to him and despite what he said earlier, the second he closed his eyes he fell asleep, clutching onto his friend.
Lan Huan smiled softly and waited a few moments until he was sure both of the boys were asleep. He then picked up the tray from the table, blew out the candle and walked out of the room. He brought the tray to the kitchen and as he was about to go to his own room to sleep, his uncle came up behind him.
“A-Huan.”
“Yes, shufu?”
“We've got some bad news.”
The next morning, no one woke up the two young boys at 5 am, but they let them sleep for a while more. At around 7 am, Lan Qiren walked in the room to wake them up. As he got inside, he saw that they were still holding each other, sleeping soundly. He smiled sadly at them. He walked over to wake them up softly. After a few minutes they both got up, got dressed and were escorted to the dining hall. After they ate breakfast, Lan Qiren pulled Wei Ying to the side to talk to him about what happened.
“A-Ying, how would you like it if you stayed here in Cloud Recesses?”
“I wouldn’t mind as long as A-Zhan is here. Why are you asking, Uncle Lan?”
“You know how your parents were night hunting right?”
Wei Ying nodded, confused.
“They won’t be able to come back again so you have to stay here. Your mother asked me to take care of you.”
“Won’t come back? Why?” Wei Ying didn’t know what that meant, since he was too young to understand yet. Still, he felt a little panicked about these news.
Lan Qiren smiled apologetically at the boy before him and crouched down in front of him. He put his hands on his shoulders and squeezed lightly. “You will be able to understand it once you are older. I just wanted to let you know that you will be staying here from now on.”
Wei Ying nodded, watching with big eyes. He was then sent back to Lan Zhan, the two starting their studies soon.
Lan Qiren knew that this wouldn't be easy for the boy when he finally understood why his parents were gone or why they couldn't come back.
But for now, he let the two boys play, enjoying being kids.
That night, just as they were about to fall asleep, Wei Ying whispered his question to Lan Zhan.
"A-Zhan, Uncle Lan said that my parents won't be able to come back. Why? They don't love me anymore?"
Having gotten this explained earlier, Lan Zhan sighed and held Wei Ying tighter, "They love you, very, very much. They will be looking out for you from the heavens, that's what my uncle said. But I will stay here with you forever."
"Do you promise?"
"Yes."
Wei Ying gulped and buried himself closer to his best friend. He fell asleep with tears flowing out of his eyes, covered by white all around him.