Chapter Text
Mornings in Cloud Recesses had always been quiet, at least until Wei Wuxian´s arrival.
You could be meditating in silence, and you would suddenly hear the commotion breaking the peace in Cloud Recesses.
Be it the eternal complaints of Lan Qiren, Little Apple asking for food, or the disciples chasing the rabbits that belonged to the Second Jade of Gusu Lan.
The days in Gusu Lan were becoming more and livelier each time.
But in the background, in an isolated hut away from Cloud Recesses, the Sect Leader of that prestigious sect could be found, submerging himself in his melancholic memories.
6 months had already passed.
6 months since he met the real face of the person in who he had trusted in.
6 months since he had lost his sworn brothers forever.
The aura of warm and tranquillity that had once surrounded Lan Xichen had now been replaced by a sad and depressed air.
He thought that isolating himself of everything would help him find the light that he needed. That he would be able to put his thoughts in order and meditate about his actions.
But the only thing he had gotten was for the guiltiness to oppress him.
He couldn’t sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, painful images immediately appeared, filling him with nightmares that made him wake up disturbed.
The food was insipid for him. He no longer even could remember the flavour of what he was tasting, so he ultimately had preferred to stay away from any kind of food.
Both his uncle and his brother would go to visit him often. Always looking at him with concealed sadness.
He could understand that. His pale and haggard image only made those around him worry.
No matter how much they tried to engage into the correct conversation, it never actually managed to work out, and they ended up leaving after only a few minutes.
He knew they saw him with pity, that quite possible before the eyes of everyone else he looked like a victim of Jin Guangyao´s traps.
But he felt like the greatest culprit.
He had always felt a little bit proud of his capacity to read other people.
He could do it perfectly with his brother, even his uncle and some of the juniors.
And yet that which he really should have seen, he overlooked.
He had been blinded by his "talent".
The days passed by slowly in that room.
And every day, he couldn't help but think if staying alive was actually worth it.
For him, the only way to atone for his sins was to leave that world and that the gods punished his soul.
He had tried, but he had always been stopped somehow. Provoking that sad and desperate gaze in his dear brother again.
Then he thought that perhaps his punishment was to live suffering for the rest of his days.
Lan Qiren had put some disciples to monitor and care for the area around where he was.
Both to prevent that certain irreverent person disrupted that place, as well as to prevent that he himself tried to take his life once more.
The only advantage of those “guards”, if he could call them so, was hearing them talk.
At least in that way, he could stay up to date with the happenings of the exterior world.
—Have you heard about the hidden temple of Xi village? — Like every day, the young disciples started talking between themselves. Thinking that their voices wouldn´t reach the Young Master Lan´s ears.
—Are you talking about the Temple of The Great Sage? — questioned the second young man with interest
—What? What are you talking about? Where is Xi village? — asked the third one, feeling left out from the conversation.
—How can you not know about it? — complained the second.
—Xi village is a small town near Lotus Pier. If I´m not mistaken, it is also part of the Jiang Sect´s territory. — The one that had started the conversation began explaining. — Anyway, in that town it is said that there is a temple that was built in honour to an ancient sage, to which all went looking for a solution to their problems. They say that if you enter that temple and expose your doubts or concerns before the statue that is at the back of the temple, it will call The Great Sage from the heavens and will put the answer before you.
—Doesn´t that sound too fanciful??— said the third boy in an incredulous tone after hearing the story.
— That´s true, I heard the shopkeepers while I was walking around Caiyi city, and apparently that was where the rumour originated from. — defended the second.
—I seriously doubt it is something that easy. Besides, if it where true, why is it only becoming famous now?— the third one kept on being skepical.
— I don´t know, but for it to be mention then it means that someone has gone there, right?— finished the first one.
— It could be...
—Should we go?
—Eh? I don't have any problem that needs a solution.
—Only to investigate.
—It could be a trap…
—Just a Little look.
—Here you are— said a fourth voice, arriving to the scene and interrupting the conversation —Master Qiren is waiting for you, come with me.
After hearing that, the three young men left their positions quickly and followed the newly arrived one, leaving behind a pensive Lan XiChen.
He was in agreement in that in a story like that it was something exaggerated and fantastic, but he was desperate and needed answers.
If that place could really give him a solution, it would be good to go. And if it were to be a trap…
At least he would finally put an end to his torture for once and for all.
He didn´t have anything to loose.
So taking advantage of that brief moment alone, he left his room silently.
He stealthily advanced across the Cloud Recesses.
Apparently, all the disciples were in a reunion with his uncle.
And his brother and brother-in-law had gone out a few days ago to visit another village.
Which made his “escape” all the more easier.
When he managed to leave at last, he took a deep breath of air and look once more at his home.
As if it were the last time that he would be able to see it.
Finally, he took his sword, Shouyue, and flew to Xi village.
Near the famous Lotus Pier.
The night arrived with him at the so rumoured town.
There were really few houses with their lights on.
The rest were surrounded by darkness.
For a moment you would think that it could be considered a ghost town, but after hearing the voices that came from the illuminated houses you would erase those thoughts from your mind.
Lan XiChen walked along the streets with and got near to the first person he saw to ask for information.
—Good night— He cordially saluted an old woman that was sitting outside her door.
—Good night, Young Master— answered the kind woman with a smile— What brings a young cultivator as yourself to our little and boring town?— asked the woman curiously, after all that place usually wasn´t such a touristic one.
—Certain rumours have reached my ears, about a temple that is near this place. I was hoping that you could give me any type of information of how to go there— Lan XiChen answered honestly, showing the friendly smile for which he was so well known for.
—You are surely talking about the Temple of The Great Sage. These days a lot of people have come looking for the same thing. I have no problem in giving you the information, but I would like to warn you. They are misunderstanding that temple. It´s no miracle maker, nor will it magically solve your problems either, it can even be the opposite.
—Have you been there? — Lan XiChen looked at her with curiosity because of her words.
— I? Not at all, I´m not interested in those things. But I have heard some comments that have come and go around here, from the same persons that came back from the temple. Some of them didn´t even come back.
—I understand. Even so, I do not have another option other than to go. I would be eternally grateful if you could point me in the right direction.
—The street is later divided in two.— she pointed with her hand to where the path continued on— Follow the stone path until you come across the mountain, and hidden between the rocks, you´ll find the temple´s doors.
The older jade listened to her words attentively, memorizing the directions that were given and thanking her before he continued on his way.
—Do not forget my warning—the woman reminded him while watching him leave— Your problems won't solve themselves. Be careful.
Lan XiChen thanked her again with a smile and continued advancing until he came across the path´s division.
He walked down the stone path, deeper and deeper into the forest that surrounded the mountain.
The night had fallen completely and yet he still continued advancing in the dark without fear.
What he might find ahead could be his last hope. And he didn´t want to waste it.
He arrived at the mountain and began searching randomly between the rocks for the aforementioned temple´s doors.
His hands collided with a smooth structure and he immediately knew he had found it.
Without needing much force, he pushed both doors, causing them to squeak, while making his way into the temple.
After putting one foot inside, several lamps were lit, guiding him to the statue that was in the background.
According to the words he had heard from the cultivators of his clan, he would have to expose his problems to the statue in order for it to give him a solution.
On the dais, standing in front of that statue, which was actually smaller than him and had the figure of a smiling old man, he couldn't help but think that he was actually wasting his time.
But he had already reached that place, and so he had to finish what he had started.
He got down on his knees before him and spoke.
—I need your help. I´m desperate and empty. I want to put an end to the guilt I feel. I want to live for something that is worth living for. Please, help me. — He earnestly implored to the statue, bowing on the floor.
But nothing happened.
Lan XiChen lifted his head, watching the statue closely and waiting for something to happen.
Had he been tricked?
He couldn´t help thinking that he had fallen in a trap, and he sighed in disappointment.
Suddenly, the statue´s eyes opened, and they started to shine. A strong wind came, blowing out the lamps that had guided him there.
He felt the place start to shake and the ground below him split open, taking him into its depths and causing him to lose his consciousness.
When he opened his eyes the first thing he noticed was the sound of the water surrounding him.
He could feel himself floating in the water calmly.
Although he didn´t know how he had ended up there.
Once fully awake he managed to make out some voices in the distance. And the sound of boats sailing also reached his ears.
If he remembered correctly, the Xi village was near the area of Lotus Pier.
Which meant that he was probably floating like a dead man around that place.
What would the people say when they saw him, a Sect Leader, floating adrift on Lotus Pier while so far from his home?
—Master, there is something here— he could hear a voice from afar speaking, just like the noise of another voice coming closer to him.
He felt how he was lifted and taken to the inside of the boat. Something he thought extremely weird, since he didn´t consider himself as light as to be carried so easily.
Had he lost so much weight?
—What is that? — a familiar voice reached his ears and an "intimidating" figure wearing purple robes stopped before him. Strangely, that figure looked a lot bigger than it should be. — What is a dog floating around doing here? — The man known as the Sandu ZhengZhou looked at him confused.
Wait, did he say “DOG”?
He tried to speak to explain his situation to the Sect Leader Jiang, but the only thing that came out of his vocal cords was a bark.
He quickly tried to look at himself, and was met with white fur covering his “body” as well as feeling something strange moving behind himself.
A tail.
In short, he had become a dog.