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Day 1: Chances & Family
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“Wei Ying. Come back to Gusu with me.”
Want to be wherever Wei Ying is.
Want to be close to Wei Ying.
Want to keep Wei Ying safe.
Forever.
These thoughts run amok within Lan Wangji’s self-consciousness. He can only hope Wei Wuxian doesn’t take the words in the wrong way. He knows his way with words is not as good as anyone’s but Lan Wangji knows within himself that he speaks with actions not with words.
What are the chances that Wei Wuxian would actually listen to him? Lan Wangji evaluates. He’s been cold to Wei Wuxian ever since he appeared right before Lan Wangji’s eyes during their first encounter on the roof of the Cloud Recesses. He’s done nothing but look at the other with cold eyes, telling the other to get lost and just stop being himself in general. Really, what right does he have to tell the other to come back to the place that’s far too strict, too restrained for the once free-spirited Wei Wuxian?
ˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘ
It’s another quiet peaceful day in Cloud Recesses as the guest disciples all bustle about their own duties to their respective sects. As the future leaders of their sects, everyone takes their education and cultivation with utmost seriousness and importance. This does not exclude Lan Wangji from the group. In fact, Lan Wangji is said to be the model student everyone in the Gusu Lan Sect should try to become: perfect, infallible, and impeccable. His white robes as pure as snow and his forehead ribbon in perfect pristineness, as it should be. It is as if a speck of dust would defile the virtuous visage of the Second Jade of Lan.
Lan Wangji berates himself as he focuses on the tasks at hand: serving punishment to a certain someone sitting just parallel to him in the Library Pavilion. The other wears colors contrasting to his very own; while Lan Wangji wears blue and white, the other wears the dark colors of red and black. A mismatched pair of disciples, indeed. As he diligently writes down the rules on the paper, he doesn't need to look up from his work to know what the other is contriving. It seemed that annoying Lan Wangji was this man's only goal.
It's probably because of his always monotone expression. He remembers the time when he last smiled was when A-Niang—
No.
He promised himself that whenever he thinks of A-Niang, it would be nothing but the good and loving memories they shared. Mother deserves that, so does Lan Wangji. He will make A-Niang, Shufu and Xiong-zhang proud. He promised himself he'd serve his duties wholeheartedly and without fault. He promised himself he would put the Gusu Lan Sect first and above all else.
He shakes his head momentarily to focus back at the task at hand. The prankster—Wei Ying, courtesy name Wei Wuxian—never noticed the break in character of Lan Wangji as the other is still engrossed in his… paper. Lan Wangji still doesn't believe that Wei Wuxian could even stand being silent for more than a few seconds. Shufu had put him in charge of making sure everything is in place as Wei Wuxian takes his punishment in the Library Pavilion.
"Lan Wangji!" Wei Wuxian is always late when it comes to waking up for breakfasts or classes, even their scheduled time spent together for punishment is not spared by his laziness. The only time he's on time for is when it comes to pestering Lan Wangji about anything.
"Lan Er-gongzi! Wangji-xiong~"
Lan Wangji steels himself as the other continues to call out his name.
"Lan Zhan!"
Lan Wangji finally looks up to face Wei Wuxian. How could a man be so shameless? He's never seen someone so bold and so audacious, like the colors he wears. Is it possible for someone to always wear such a thick face? Throughout his whole existence, he has always favored order—until this brilliant and cunning young man entered his life a moon ago. It's a breath of fresh air, he tells himself. It's refreshing to know that not everyone is as restricted and regulated as the Lan disciples that he's so familiar with. It’s uplifting, it’s refreshing, but above it all, it’s terrifying for the ever disciplined Lan Wangji.
Wei Wuxian makes an odd startled noise, confusing Lan Wangji. He knows he's not good with the social cues or human interaction in general, but he knows that Wei Wuxian shouldn't be surprised when he is calling out another person's name. Is it because Lan Wangji is the so-called Second Jade of Lan?
"Yo, Lan Er-gongzi, I only called you Lan Zhan because you were not responding to me. We're already so close, why don’t I call you Lan Zhan and you can call me Wei Ying?" Wei Wuxian leans closer to the man, now with one of his legs propped against the table.
Too close—Lan Wangji hopes his hitched breath cannot be heard.
"Not close." Instead of sounding offended (like everyone else would when someone turns you down so bluntly), Wei Wuxian just lets out his good-natured laugh. It's as if he expected to be turned down (Hint: He did). Well at least he succeeded in getting Lan Zhan say a few words. One day at a time, Wei Ying is confident.
“Put your leg down.”
“Aiyo, Lan Zhan... if you keep acting like such a fuddy duddy, how do you expect girls to come chasing after you when you're so uptight! Would you like some advice? I’m known in Yunmeng to have a skill or two—”
"Shameless."
“Hmpf, don’t say I didn’t offer you, Lan Zhan!” he pouts before he goes back to his seat and resumes copying the rules, rather lazily.
Lan Wangji’s eyes follow the man’s back until he turns around to face him once more. He finds it endearing, oddly enough. The way Wei Wuxian would make those little gestures that doesn't make much of a difference. He always has a soft spot for cute things. (He doesn't find Wei Wuxian cute at all...maybe. He finds him annoying—annoyingly cute, or cutely annoying. Does it even matter anymore?)
Do not sit in a disgraceful pose, he thinks. He doesn’t look up to see the man, but instead, his golden eyes gaze forward. Wei Wuxian's hair is blown by the gentle breeze that comes through the window behind him. The beautiful magnolia tree behind the man in red and black creates a beautiful and ethereal scene. No, the man is the only one that is beautiful. The flower cannot come close. The way the fallen leaves give the illusion of an immortal who has been sent down to the mortal realm to complete menial tasks.
Two shichen pass as quickly as they come, and Lan Wangji knows that Wei Wuxian can't ever stay that quiet for too long.
“Lan Zhan, here, a parting gift from me to you.” Wei Ying places a paper next to his hand. “It’s not the most beautiful drawing. Wait, that came out wrongly! I mean you are beautiful, but what I’m trying to say is—I may not have drawn it the way I wanted it to look like because you're just too good-looking that my skills can't even compare!"
Beautiful?
“Pathetic,” is what Lan Zhan says but deep within his own subconsciousness—an entirely different story.
“Hahahaha just like I imagined your response to be. Look at how much I know you already from the time we had here together! Well anyway, I’m done with all the copying so I won’t be coming back.”
No time is ever enough.
“Oh, and if you ever change your mind about learning a trick or two from me about the ladies, you know where to find me”
“Get lost.”
Don’t go.
"Alright, alright! Getting lost is my specialty, no need to see me out…" The other mumbles to himself as he leaves the doors of the Library Pavilion.
Lan Wangji thought that he would breathe a little better, without the man clouding his senses with just his mere presence. But he was wrong. The entire room became suffocating—unbearable. It's as if the solitude that he found so peaceful became a raging torrent of emotions. He's never felt this in all his life, not once had his emotions had gotten the best of him.
He looks at the piece of paper he was given and he traces along the lines, where Wei Wuxian's brush has touched. The art was rusty and it needed more improvement by how unsure and how Wei Wuxian traced his line over and over again. The work is not beautiful, but the artist is. These are words he can never say out loud, for he himself is afraid to admit. Saying it out loud will make it real, won't it? He carefully folds the paper and tucks it in his robes, right where his heart lies.
ˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘ
A bloodied Wei Wuxian lies in his arms in the barely lit Demon Slaughtering Cave.
“Get lost,” is the only thing Wei Wuxian—no, the Yiling Laozu—says before turning his back to Hanguang-jun. Those two words sound so familiar, because that was what Lan Wangji said to him before.
If only Lan Wangji was more persistent with his pestering just as Wei Wuxian once was back when they were only innocent teens in the Cloud Recesses; if only this entire war didn’t happen, would things have ended differently? Would Lan Wangji be able to talk to Wei Wuxian like he always wanted to? What were the chances that could happen?
It’s all just hopeful thinking at this point. They’re all teenagers who grew up too fast; Lan Wangji isn’t an exception to that. They’ve been dragged into a war that was caused by a power hungry man who couldn’t help but have a superiority complex over the other sects who could be just as powerful as he is. Even after all that ended with the Sunshot Campaign, people still sought after the Yiling Laozu and his heretic acts. Lan Wangji stands at the sidelines unable to do anything about that. His beloved is being accused of using demonic cultivation (which is a fact) against the rest of the cultivation world (which is a lie Lan Zhan almost laughed at).
“Lan Zhan, I...” Wei Wuxian closes his eyes.
“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji calls out.
A crowd of Lan cultivators storm into the cave. Lan Wangji lies Wei Wuxian on the floor.
He stands before the crowd of cultivators. Bichen glimmers brightly under the light as he holds the hilt in his right hand, ready to be drawn at any second. His guqin Wangji is held on his left, strings locked and ready. Lan Wangji’s posture and demeanor does not change as he approaches the swarm of people, armed.
“Wangji, what is the meaning of this!? Come here this instant,” Shufu demands, disappointment shown in his face. His proudest and most diligent disciple backing the most wanted and most undisciplined person in the entire cultivation world is simply outrageous. “Hand over the Yiling Laozu and we’ll look over your heinous acts.”
“Wei Wuxian! Release Hanguang-jun from this evil curse you put upon him!” a Lan elder shouts.
“I will not let anyone hurt Wei Ying,” is what Lan Wangji says before he draws Bichen on those around him. He doesn’t care if the blows from the 33 elders are deadly or not. All he knows is he can’t let anyone get close to Wei Wuxian, even if it means putting his own life in danger.
“Wangji!” Lan Xichen runs over to his only brother. “Listen to me,” he begs.
“Xiong-zhang, I...I will not leave Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji falls to the ground, only supported by an uprooted Bichen.
“I know,” the older Lan breathes.
Of course Lan Xichen knows, he knows everything.
“Are you sure about this, Wangji? Do you believe Wei-gongzi?”
Lan Wangji has always believed in Wei Wuxian. The only regret he has is to not have stood by the man sooner. This time, he will make it right for Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji’s whole lifeline, depends on it.
“I do,” he mutters these two words and nods with all the strength he has left.
“Very well,” Lan Xichen unsheathes his Shuoyue.
“ Xiong-zha —”
“Xichen, what are you doing!?”
“Shufu, I will not let anyone touch Wangji,” Lan Xichen calmly says as he looks straight into the eyes of Lan Qiren. His strong but gentle words are directed not to him, but to the rest of the thirty-three Lan elders that stand between him, his beloved brother, and Wei Wuxian.
“I believe, too, that there is more to this than meets the eye,” a firm Lan Xichen with an even firmer clutch on his Shuoyue establishes.
“You—!” Lan Qiren looks as if bile has risen up his throat.
“Wangji, take Wei-gongzi and leave,” the older nephew establishes.
“ Xiong —”
“Now, Wangji!” Lan Xichen has never raised his voice before at anyone, no less to his brother.
“Thank you, Xiong-zhang, ” Lan Wangji manages to say as he carries Wei Wuxian up.
“Come back to the Cloud Recesses.” Lan Wangji knows that it’s what he must do. It’s the only safe place for Wei Wuxian now. Lan Xichen, in his own way, is giving his brother the chance that he’s always wanted to take.
“I will,” Lan Wangji concludes and that’s all Lan Xichen needs to hear.
The older Lan stands in front of his brother and the injured man until the two step out of the cave.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says softly, carrying Wei Wuxian in his arms.
The man’s eyes flutter open slightly, “A-A Yuan…”
The child. Where is he?
“Where is A-Yuan, Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji’s breath quickens.
“I-in the...ho-hollow tree...” Wei Wuxian tries to get off Lan Wangji’s hold and to walk towards the tree.
Lan Wangji supports him by the waist as the two walk to the tree.
Though Lan Wangji has only met Wen Yuan, A-Yuan, once, the child will always have a special place in his heart. He remembers the day when things were relatively simpler, when the three of them had dined in one of the teahouses in Yiling.
“A-A Yuan,” Wei Wuxian calls out. The child doesn’t respond. Lan Wangji thinks that Wei Wuxian must’ve asked him to hide in there.
Luckily.
Lan Wangji supports the frail weight of Wei Wuxian with the arm that grips Bichen . With his other free one, he carefully removes A-Yuan from where he lies unconscious.
“A-Yuan is all right, he is just having a fever,” Lan Wangji says in a low tone.
“T-Take us out of here, Lan Zhan, a-anywhere,” Wei Wuxian pleads with a low voice. Lan Wangji cannot do anything but comply with the man’s wishes. Even if the man hadn’t said anything, Lan Wangji would take him to safety.
Of course, Lan Wangji thinks of bringing Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan back to the Cloud Recesses as soon as possible, but the situation they’re in right now doesn’t seem to be the most appropriate one. Shufu and the Lan elders...
It is not the right time. Yet.
He carries the two of them in his arms, raising his spiritual energy from his jindan in his middle dantian to control Bichen as he lays it down on the ground.
Lan Wangji doesn’t know how many shichen ’s have passed since they left Luanzang Gang . All he knows is that he needs to find them a place to seek shelter but also somewhere close to his home—at the rural corner of Caiyi Town is where he ultimately decided.
It’s been a while since he’s gone to that part of the town. The last time he stepped foot into his quaint hut was when his Shufu’s lessons for the major sects had been concluded. He hadn’t seen Wei Wuxian since the man had been kicked out of the Cloud Recesses for a brawl with Jin Zixuan. A part of Lan Wangji didn’t agree on the way Wei Wuxian had expressed his frustration. But another part (the bigger part) understood why. The man could never let anyone ridicule or look down his Shijie , not even the man she was betrothed to.
The man that Lan Wangji lies carefully on the bed looked as if he aged far more than the time had already passed. His once bright eyes that showed life and his happy smiles that never failed to bring joy to those around him have now become sunken and sad—as if the happiness in them had been ripped out of his body agonizingly, slowly.
The last remaining Wen descendant of the now-extinct Qishan Wen lays unconscious in a different room—his brother’s room when the other comes for his own space. His body feels hot, almost like he was sick, Lan Wangji concludes. This isn’t a good sign; Lan Wangji barely has anything in the hut as it is.
Food.
Herbs .
Lan Wangji knows he has no choice but to leave the two injured ones in his hut. He sets up a magical, protective array before he leaves. It’s a quick journey to Caiyi Town as he travels alone. If anyone ever recognised him, they never bothered to greet Hanguang-jun. He wastes no time and goes back to the hut as quickly as he arrives in town.
He has to go back to his Wei Ying and A-Yuan as soon as he can. He makes sure no one trails after him along his way back home, always keeping an eye on every direction.
The array has not been broken, he notices in relief.
Once Lan Wangji gets back into the hut, he sets down the herbs and food that he had bought on the table. He does it silently so as to not wake up the exhausted people lying on the bed.
Wei Wuxian looks almost deathly pale, with so little life in him. Yiling Laozu has spent so much time in Luanzang Gang where it reeks of resentful energy. Lan Wangji thinks that not much sunlight must be able to pass through the thick fog. But somehow he remembers Wei Wuxian telling him that the soil there was capable of growing potatoes, radishes, and even lotus seed pods. Wei Wuxian never failed to amaze Lan Wangji with the numerous ideas that pop into his head. They sound impossible, but it has always been Yunmeng Jiang’s motto to achieve the impossible. Wei Wuxian had undoubtedly done that.
Lan Wangji fills the tub with water and soaks a piece of cloth in it.
Squeezing the excess water from the cloth, he pats it lightly against Wei Wuxian’s face. He starts off with his forehead, then moves to his hollowed eyes, making sure that his touches are soft and delicate, then continues to his cheeks, his jaws and his lips. Lan Wangji allows himself to trace over the man’s beautiful features with his other hand.
“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji finally cries out softly. He had held his tears in for so long, he felt they were going to turn to ice just as his heart had. The world, once again, is against Wei Wuxian.
No, this time the world is against both of them. And Lan Wangji will bear the weight of the world on his own shoulders for Wei Wuxian. This time, he does not cry to the plain walls of his Jingshi —those cries had always remained unanswered. He cries to this man and only for this man. Wei Wuxian’s breathing answers his cries. For the first time in forever, both are not alone. A-Yuan will also not be alone.
Lan Wangji continues to clean Wei Wuxian. He is thin, too thin. Lan Wangji feels his heart breaking into thousands and millions of pieces. He could almost pass for a sickly person if he were thinner than he is now. He also vaguely remembered the fact that Wei Wuxian disappeared for three months pre-Sunshot Campaign when the major sects joined forces to take down Wen Ruohan and his armies.
During those three months when Lan Wangji and Jiang Wanyin were searching high and low for Wei Wuxian, was Wei Wuxian in Luanzang Gang ? Deep down, Lan Wangji knew. If that were so, what did Wei Wuxian eat? What did he do to survive in such a place? Was there any food to begin with? He was all alone, wasn’t he? The thought of that makes Lan Wangji’s broken heart sinks even further down into his stomach. He feels his throat constrict, and his palms grow sweaty at the thought.
He can never understand the pain, agony, and suffering that Wei Wuxian had to go through. Neither can he imagine. But what he knows he can do now is be there for the man, no matter the cost or the punishment that will entail.
Wei Wuxian mutters something under his breath and his eyelids flutter softly. “A-A-Yuan…”
“He is safe, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji comforts.
“And S-Shijie …?”
“Jiang Wanyin and Xiong-zhang took her to safety.”
Wei Wuxian has always been one to put others first, even in such a situation. He breathes a sigh of relief hearing that.
Lan Wangji readies himself to pass on spiritual energy to him.
“S-stop, Lan Z-Zhan,” Wei Wuxian mutters.
“Wei Ying, your jindan ...”
Wei Wuxian struggles to get up on his elbows and Lan Wangji supports his back and lies it against the bed headboard slat.
He lets out a weak laugh, “F-funny how you h-had to find out this...this way, Lan Zhan.”
Memories long past fill Lan Wangji’s head—the many times he had probed Wei Wuxian on why he didn't wield Suibian. He should’ve figured it out then. He knew things weren’t simple but he still saw them at face value which was convenient, just like everyone else did. He should’ve trusted Wei Wuxian.
“Suibian,” Lan Wangji starts and ends.
Wei Wuxian’s laughs are weak and soft.
“Noth… nothing could ever escape the great H-Hanguang-jun.”
“ Wei Ying , do not joke,” Lan Wangji says in a serious tone. But he knows that the man will always try to make things as light as they can so others won’t worry.
Wei Ying is always Wei Ying.
“Lan Z-Zhan, w-what are people going to say a-about you… defending the notorious Yiling Laozu?”
“Do not care.”
“W-Why?”
Why? Because I love you. Because I have loved you for what seems to be a million years.
Lan Wangji stays silent.
Lan Wangji knows he doesn’t have to—he isn’t even supposed to. Being polar opposites in the cultivation world already makes them a million worlds apart. However, that doesn’t stop Lan Wangji from loving Wei Wuxian with his whole heart and his whole being.
Wei Wuxian was the first one to stand up against Wen Chao when the latter caused a ruckus in the Cloud Recesses during their orientation. Wei Wuxian swore in front of Lan Yi that he would do whatever it took to help gain order for the cultivation world. Wei Wuxian was the only one who fought for the weak and innocent Wen remnants when everyone else despised them and wanted them dead. Wei Wuxian was the only one willing to sacrifice himself, despite any cost or punishment.
“I, Wei Wuxian, wish I can stand with justice and live with no regrets.”
Lan Wangji knew there and then that their hearts looked in the right direction. Lan Wangj knew there and then that his heart was not his to hold and had already belonged to the man. Despite having to walk on the single-plank bridge till dark, Wei Wuxian’s views the world the same way Lan Wangji does.
People say Lans only ever love once. Some call them romantics, others call them fools for holding onto their founder’s belief. And though it is as stupid as it seems, Lan Wangji knows he can love no other person than the man before him.
“Just want to protect Wei Ying. Keep Wei Ying safe.”
“Lan Zhan… you do…do not have to,” Wei Wuxian lifts his weak arm and cups the Lan’s face.
Lan Wangji closes his eyes at the touch, leaning towards the warm hand, “Need to. Want to.”
“L-Lan Zhan...”
Lan Wangji knows he can’t hide it any longer. Why hadn’t he done this earlier?
“Wei Ying, I—”
Wei Wuxian shushes the interrupted man with a finger on his trembling lips.
“W-What you said in Demon Slaughtering Cave, d-did you mean everything you… you said?”
“Lans do not lie.” The implication is as clear as day, and it’s all that is required to answer Wei Wuxian’s question.
“Lan Zhan, I—”
“I love you, Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji says what is true for the longest time.
“Have loved you ever since you decided to break three rules in one night,” he pulls Wei Wuxian into a longing embrace.
“You still won’t let that go, huh, Lan Er-gongzi?”
“Mn. Will never let Wei Ying go,”
“T-That’s not what I meant! You always say I’m shameless and now look who’s the shameless one!” Wei Wuxian parts from their short embrace and punches Lan Wangji ever so softly in his chest.
“But it was what you wanted to hear,” Lan Wangji answers honestly, a hint of a smirk graces the tone of his voice.
“You’re right. There’s more I want to hear from your mouth, Lan Wang—”
“Xian- gege !” Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian hear a little scream that jolts them apart.
“A-Yuan!” Wei Wuxian calls out as he tries to get off the bed but stumbles on his numb and weak legs.
“Will go get him,” Lan Wangji finalizes and helps Wei Wuxian up.
With larger footsteps, Lan Wangji walks to the separate room where A-Yuan rests in. The little kid looks terrified under all the blankets he managed to cover himself up with. He must’ve had a nightmare. Lan Wangji places his palm on the child’s forehead.
Good .
The fever that A-Yuan has had subsided. It seems that the herbal medicine that Lan Wangji brewed for him helped with his recovery.
“Rich- gege … A-Yuan had bad, scary dreams!” the child snuggles into Lan Wangji’s chest as he cries.
“Do not be afraid. A-Yuan is safe,” Lan Wangji pats the child’s head.
“Mhmm. Now A-Yuan is not scared anymore! Is Xian- gege safe too?”
“Mn. Do you want to go see your Xian-gege?
“Yes! Yes yes!” A-Yuan wipes away his tears.
“Let us go,” Lan Wangji smiles and he takes A-Yuan into his arms. The boy wraps his arms around the man’s neck and snuggles close. The moment they enter the other room, A-Yuan wiggles out of Lan Wangji’s hold and onto the floor.
“Xian -gege! !!” A-Yuan runs towards Wei Wuxian.
“A-Yuan!” he catches the child in his arms and hugs him tight. “Were you a good boy?”
“Mhmm! I stayed in the tree like Xian -gege told me to!”
“Come, let me have a good look on you,” Wei Wuxian releases his hold on the child as he distances himself away.
Wei Wuxian looks relieved that A-Yuan didn’t get major injuries, only small scratches for being stuck in the tree.
“Oh, A-Yuan,” he wraps his arms around the child.
“Xian- gege , don’t cry! Let A-Yuan wipe your tears away!” the child innocently says.
“You silly,” Wei Wuxian bops his tiny nose before turning to Lan Wangji.
“L-Lan Zhan, thank you for keeping him safe—for keeping the both of us safe.”
“I would do it all over again,” Lan Wangji reinforces.
“I know you would,” Wei Wuxian smiles. “And Lan Zhan, I will go back to Gusu with you.”
“We will go back to Gusu together.”
And with that, everything seems perfect despite the circumstances they are in. As long as they are together, nothing can come in between them. Second chances don’t come around often and to say that Lan Wangji is blessed to even have his is an understatement. He has made the right decision. Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan are his right decision.
ˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘˑ༄ؘ
“Shufu,” Lan Wangi kneels in front of Songfeng Shuiyue Pavilion.
“Wangji, you disappointed me,” Lan Qiren says to his younger nephew who already knows fully. “It is I who have failed. I tried so hard to make you see so that you do not follow your A-Die ’s path.”
Lan Wangji doesn’t say anything but hangs his head low. For all his life, he has done everything in an order he thought was right, to make his Shufu proud. The elder’s disappointment in him hurts him even more than he shows. He thought that following every single rule carved on the Cloud Recesses Wall Of Discipline would lead to a happy life, until he met Wei Wuxian.
“Perhaps it was my fault that I had asked you to monitor his punishment in the Library Pavilion last time,” Lan Qiren sighs.
“It would not have made any difference,” Lan Wangji finally says, for his heart had already belonged to Wei Wuxian earlier on.
“So it seems.”
“Shufu, I will bear all the consequences,” Lan Wangji clasps his hands together and bows deeply. He knows that going against the Lan elders in Luanzang Gang is an heinous act.
“As will I,” Wei Wuxian falls on his knees beside him.
“Grandmaster Lan, it’s not Lan Zhan’s fault at all. If you want to hand me over as an explanation to the rest of the sects, I will go with you willingl—”
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji stops him.
“No, Lan Zhan. I’ve been living on borrowed time and you’ve done so much for me. These past few weeks...were the best ones that I’ve had in a long, long time. I’ve been blessed enough,” Wei Wuxian cups his face.
“Do not say such a thing,” Lan Wangji says, almost begging.
“You fuddy-duddy,” Wei Wuxian smiles at him before facing Lan Qiren again.
“Grandmaster Lan, I know that I’m in no position to ask you of anything, to ask anyone of anything. But please, let A-Yuan stay here and keep him safe. He’s but a child and will have no one left if I were to go with yo—”
“No one is going anywhere,” Lan Xichen says as he strides gracefully and stands next to Lan Qiren. He motions the two to get up from their kneeling position.
“Xiong-zhang,” Lan Wangji bows.
“Zewu-jun,” Wei Wuxian does the same.
“Wangji, Wei-gongzi,” Lan Xichen reciprocates.
It seems that after Lan Wangji took the then-injured Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan to seek shelter, Lan Xichen came back to the Cloud Recesses immediately to first convince Lan Qiren who had been devastated that his younger nephew had rebelled against his own sect.
It didn’t help that Lan Xichen also stood alongside Lan Wangji. However, that didn’t come as a surprise to Lan Qiren. Both brothers are bound by blood, and they love each other with everything they have. Had Lan Qiren been the one who was wrong? Wrong to be clouded by his own judgement because of his history with Cangse Sanren and his knowledge of Qingheng-jun, his own brother, who ultimately met his fate?
To say that Lan Qiren is not the least scared that Lan Wangji would meet that same end is a lie. He raised Lan Wangji like his own son and has tried to protect him his entire life. Lan Wangji is happy. Lan Qiren saw it with his own eyes. He could never doubt it. But it just never occurred to him how deep Lan Wangji loves Wei Wuxian. Would it be wrong to give them a chance, a chance which Qingheng-jun and Madam Lan didn’t have? Lan Xichen doesn’t think so.
There are certain things that remain to be seen. In Bu Ye Tian, the second dizi sound and the sudden inability of the Yiling Laozu to not be able to control the resentful energy that he aroused were two of them. Lan Wangji heard it; so did Lan Xichen. They are Lans, after all, and music is second nature to them. With all the chaos around, it hadn’t occurred to them just yet. But having seen Wei Wuxian’s state with an injured Jiang Yanli in the arms of Jiang Wanyin, the Lans know, they very much know, that things are not as simple as they seem to be. Then again, are things in the cultivation world ever that simple? No. The only thing that was easy was to pin everything at the Yiling Laozu.
Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin have also remained concrete on things that have to be looked into more. Wei Wuxian’s shijie trusts him with all her heart and has remained firm in front of her parents-in-law that nobody is to hurt her shidi until things have been made clear. Madam Jin has always loved Jiang Yanli deeply and knows that the latter loved her son. Despite Jin Guangshan expressing his reluctance, he still gave in to his wife.
Jiang Wanyin has also strongly established that he will protect Wei Wuxian and that any other sects that dared come after him before relevant investigations have been carried out is tantamount to going against the whole of Yunmeng Jiang Sect.
“Wei-gongzi, I am sure Wangji brought you here because he thinks that the Cloud Recesses is the safest place for you and I cannot agree more,” Lan Xichen smiles.
“Zewu-jun, there is no place I’d rather be than here, beside Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian holds on to Lan Wangji’s arms tightly.
“I… I understand how I have made things difficult for everyone and if there’s something that I can do to—”
It isn’t Lan Xichen or Lan Wangji that speaks next, but Lan Qiren.
“What you will do now is to make things right.”
“I plan to do that, Grandmaster Lan,” Wei Wuxian bows in gratitude.
Lan Qiren scoffs and looks away, “Start by never leaving Wangji’s side.”
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are surprised. Lan Xichen? Not so.
“I will stay by his side forever, if Lan Zhan will have me,” Wei Wuxian says softly.
“Will always want Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji takes his hand and holds it in his own, gripping it tightly, as if he was afraid that if he let go, the wind would blow Wei Wuxian away.
Lan Xichen chuckles softly as he sees their Shufu annoyed, flustered but glad at the same time.
Lan Qiren changes the topic and sternly shoots, “I expect you to follow every single rule on the Wall of Discipline, Wei Ying.”
“W-wha—?” Wei Wuxian’s mouth agapes.
“No excuses!” Lan Qiren finalises in a huff before he storms off, still walking, of course.
“Welcome to the family, Wei-gongzi,” Lan Xichen smiles.
“Thank you for everything, Xiong-zhang,” Lan Wangji walks up to Lan Xichen and hugs him. They don’t remember the last time they held each other that way. Was it when A-Niang had left the world?
“You would have done the same for me, Wangji.”
“In a heartbeat,” Lan Wangji supports and Lan Xichen tightens their hug.
“I best go,” Lan Xichen states and the Gusu Twin Jades part from their brotherly embrace.
“Thank you, Zewu-jun, for everything,” Wei Wuxian mirrors what was said earlier to him.
He smiles warmly, “I will leave the two of you to catch up. See you at dinner.”
Lan Xichen turns away from the two of them, only to stop after a few steps to turn back around, “Oh and Wei-gongzi, I hope congratulations will be in order.”
“L-Lan Zhan, why does it feel that I’m missing something here?”
Lan Wangji doesn’t say anything but grabs Wei Wuxian by his wrist, pulling him into the direction that seems to lead to his Jingshi.
The other inner Lan disciples stare at the display between two. Most bear questioning looks that easily translate to: what is our Hanguang-jun doing with the Yiling Laozu?
It seems that not only the disciples have that look, even Wei Wuxian wears it too.
“Lan Zhan, what’s going on?” Wei Wuxian asks curiously.
Lan Wangji ignores, keeping his eyes forward and his hand still holding onto the man’s wrist. Once he reaches the entrance of the Jingshi, he gracefully opens the door and leads Wei Wuxian in.
“Lan Er-gongzi, would you care to spare me a glanc—” Wei Wuxian’s words are interrupted by Lan Wangji’s full, moist lips with his hands caressing the assaulted person’s face.
Wei Wuxian doesn’t fight it, for this is the moment he’s always waited for since...since they were sixteen. He deepens their kiss. It’s heated and quite messy, not something Lan Wangji would ever be associated with. But there they stand—without a care in the world—as they should.
As their tongues danced in synchronized harmony, Lan Wangji finds that his hand fits perfectly on the other’s neck, as he caresses the tender skin with such love and care. It sends shivers down Wei Wuxian’s spine. As one hand is still on said neck, his other hand takes the liberty of trailing down Wei Wuxian’s back.
As the Second Jade of Lan displays his longing affection, Wei Wuxian hums rather loudly in approval. His hands are now in the Lan’s hair as reciprocation. It doesn’t seem long until Wei Wuxian begins to pull his mischievous acts, as his hands slide their way up to his hair—up to his forehead ribbon. He does everything he could do with it; he tugs it playfully, twirls it around his wrists, and pulls it. It's as if he's built a habit to do anything that he probably shouldn't. But as soon as Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon starts to loosen, Wei Wuxian comes back to his senses and backs off slightly, causing Lan Wangji to gasp lowly under his breath.
“Aaah, L-Lan Zhan, sorry! I know I-I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t mean to!” Wei Wuxian holds up his arms.
“But in all honesty, whenever I see it, I just want to… touch it,” he confesses in a guilty tone, suddenly remembering that Lan Wangji was always either upset or angry, whenever his forehead ribbon was concerned.
“Wei Ying can do whatever he pleases.”
“No, Lan Zhan! I want to get this right—do right by you. Last time, whenever my hands came near your forehead ribbon—” Wei Wuxian reasons but he gets interrupted, yet again.
“The Cold Spring. Wen Sect’s Archery competition. Xuanwu Cave,” Lan Wangji lists down what seem like the instances when the shameless man had touched his forehead ribbon. It feels like a lifetime ago. It was indeed a lifetime ago for Wei Wuxian.
Lan Wangji takes his index finger and places it on the cloud motif sewn on his forehead ribbon.
“Personal. Scared. Special. No one is allowed to touch, unless—”
“Unless it’s the one you love. Am I right, Lan Zhan?”
“Mn.”
“Do you… love me?”
“Always and forever.”
“HANGUANG-JUN! For Heaven's sake! You ought to be careful with such words that you spew. One day, I really won’t be able to take it!!” Wei Ying seems to be slightly mad? It makes Lan Zhan want to laugh.
“Wei Ying doesn’t want me to be honest?”
“Of course I do. I like it when you’re honest but at the same time, my weak self isn’t used to hearing you say such sweet things. So…” Wei Wuxian taps his nose and creates a distance between them, with his back facing Lan Wangji.
“...So I’d like you to tell them to me everyday,” he finally says softly.
Why did he say this with his back facing away? Is Wei Wuxian shy? No, that’s impossible. Could it be that he’s worried about being rejected?
Lan Wangji doesn’t reply but walks towards Wei Ying. As the chest of the man in white robes touches the man in black and red ones, Lan Wangji hugs him from behind and mutters lowly, “Everyday means everyday.”
Words of truth, words of love,
Words from the deepest chamber,
Of my heart.
My heart that ceased
To beat when you left,
Now beats for you once more,
And only you.
For you will hear nothing,
But only those from said heart.
For you will have nothing,
To fear from this day onwards.
As the future,
Warm and bright like you,
Is ours to hold.
“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian melts into his hold.
Lan Wangji places his hands on Wei Wuxian’s shoulders and turns him slowly to face him. He closes his eyes and draws a breath, preparing himself for something that will change his life, their lives, forever.
“Marry me, Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian cries tears that look like they’ve been held in for a very long time.
“Marry me, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says again.
This time, Wei Wuxian answers him not with words, but with a kiss.
“I love you, Lan Zhan,” he breathes these words onto Lan Wangji’s lips.
Lan Wangji takes Wei Wuxian’s hand and puts it on his. With his other free hand, he pulls his own headband ribbon loose.
“Love you, forever,” he says as his delicate and dexterous fingers bind the ribbon around their hands.
“Lan Zhan, d-does this mean we were already married… in the Cold Spring?”
“Mn. Even bowed to Lan Yi-qianbei,” Lan Wangji reminds.
“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian pulls Lan Wangji’s lapels with his other free hand and crushes his lips onto the man’s.
It doesn’t change the fact that the whole cultivation world is still going to be against Wei Wuxian. But this time, Lan Wangji will make sure that he stands in front of him, like a wall between the love of his life, and that so-called morally black-and-white world. Nothing, no one, can ever come in between them now. They’ve been denied their time—their time together.
Wei Wuxian pulls apart from their kiss, “Jiang Cheng is going to have the last laugh. I remember I told him that I was never going to marry into your Gusu Lan Sect.”
“For once, I am glad he is laughing,” Lan Wangji says, his eyes never leaving Wei Wuxian’s.
“Lan Zhan, who would’ve thought that Hanguang-jun would say such a thing?”
Lan Wangji looks away.
Of course Wei Wuxian expected Lan Wangji to react like that when it comes to Jiang Wanyin. Lan Wangji knows the truth about his jindan , but has promised Wei Wuxian that the secret is safe with him. If there’s one person that will not break any promise, it’s Lan Wangji.
“Lan Er-gege , he’s going to be your brother-in-law, you know that right?” Wei Wuxian asks softly as he tips Lan Wangji’s chin to face him.
“I don’t regret my decision; I never regretted it.”
Lan Wangji knows that if the situation was reversed and Lan Xichen was Jiang Wanyin, Lan Wangji would’ve done exactly what Wei Wuxian had done. He decides that if this is what Wei Wuxian wants to live with, he will live it with him, happily.
“I know,” Lan Wangji finally says.
Lan Wangji knows that his husband-to-be will give up his own jindan a million times just so his shidi can live his life the way he’s always had. Lan Wangji knows that Jiang Wanyin would not be the type to handle the grief of losing his jindan lightly; he knows that Wei Wuxian knows that.
Survival of the fittest is the policy the cultivation world follows, yet Wei Wuxian gives his jindan away. He gives it to his shidi, then walks the evil path where everyone despises and blames him for everything they did simply because he practices something that they all fear. Something they fear that could be more powerful than they are. It’s unfair, it really is.
It doesn’t matter whether or not Wei Wuxian had a golden core, for it’s his golden heart that Lan Wangji loves.
“And I know, that you know. Thank you for keeping this between us, Lan Zhan.”
“No need for thank you’s and sorry’s between us.”
“Then what about this?” Wei Wuxian leans in closer, and mischievously presses a kiss on Lan Wangji’s agape lips.
“Is this okay?” He murmurs.
“Wei Ying.” Yes .
“How about this?” Wei Wuxian parts his lips, asking for permission to explore the cavern of the other’s. It's probing and seductive, and Lan Wangji feels his self-restraint falling apart ever so slowly.
“Wei Ying.” Good .
“Lan Zhan...” Wei Wuxian moans as he traces his tongue along Lan Wangji’s lip outline.
“I’m here.”
“You will always be,” Wei Wuxian smiles. “Always be there for us.”
“Will protect you. Will protect you and A-Yuan,” Lan Wangji breathes words of promises into the ear of the man his heart belongs to. He doesn't want to be strapped down by obligations anymore, but he wants to be with the people he wants to cherish and be close to for the rest of his life. He came back to Cloud Recesses because he knows he doesn't want to leave his Xiong-zhang and Shufu because he loves them too.
"Hanguang-jun?" a knock interrupts.
“Mn. What is it?”
“Sorry for the interruption, but Grandmaster Lan is requesting for the presence of you and Yili—Wei-qianbei,” the Lan disciple corrects, “in the Hanshi.”
“Is everything alright?” Lan Wangji asks as he loosens his hold on Wei Wuxian, who also looks worried.
“It is A-Yuan.”
“What!?” Wei Wuxian immediately opens the door.
“W-Wei-qianbei, Grandmaster Lan said that the child’s crying non-stop and is asking for his Xian-gege and…” the Lan disciple pauses. “...his Rich-gege .”
“Hahahahaha! Lan Zhan, you really left your mark on our sweet little A-Yuan!”
Our sweet little A-Yuan.
“It seems like it,” Lan Wangji cannot help but smile.
“We will be right there,” he continues and the Lan disciple bows his farewell.
“Before you know it, A-Yuan will be more attached to you than me!” Wei Wuxian says, pouting at the thought.
“A-Yuan will always love you more.”
“Hmm...that remains to be seen. I feel betrayed by the son I gave birth to!” Wei Wuxian stomps his feet jokingly.
“Wei Ying.”
“Lan Zhan, stop calling my name like that. Otherwise I will drag you back inside the Jingshi , and A-Yuan will be breaking the noise rule in the Cloud Recesses with his crying!”
“Wei Ying.”
“Heaven forbid I really do that, Lan Zhan. But Yiling Laozu has just merely gotten in your Shufu’s good graces and I don’t want to mess it up when we’re not even officially married yet! I don’t want to get thrown out of the Cloud Recesses!”
“Will never allow that,” Lan Zhan seriously says.
“I know, I know! That was just a figure of speech. I swear you’re too sweet for my own good.”
“Wei Ying is sweeter.”
“That’s it, Lan Wangji. I can’t stand here listening to your being such a romantic anymore.”
Before Lan Wangji can even reply (most likely words even sweeter once more), Wei Wuxian is the one that pulls him away now only to stop after a few seconds.
“Umm, Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian scratches his head. “Which way is Hanshi ?”
“This way,” Lan Wangji points.
“Let’s go get our son before your Shufu qi deviates.”
“Our son,” Lan Wangji breathes.
“Yes, our son.”
People know Lan Wangji as the great Hanguang-jun, the Light Bearing Lord. But little do they know that without certain people in his life, his life bears no light at all. It’s a cold day in the Cloud Recesses but he feels nothing of the sort. What he feels though is warmth joy, and love.
People say Lans only love once; others call them fools for holding up that belief. But Lan Wangji would rather be a fool than not have his light in his life.
Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian don’t know what tomorrow will hold but it doesn’t matter as long as they are together. For as long as the sea is bound to wash up on the sand, and stars are above them, they will fight for their future.
WangXian Married And They Have A Son by See Hang