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The harsh sound of breaking glass penetrated the quiet murmuring of the inn’s guests, splitters flying everywhere, wine dirtying the clean wooden floor.
Wei Wuxian sighed as he watched the liquid get soaked into the sitting pillows of cursing patrons. This was the third time he had broken a dish this week alone, still not used to the height difference and the shorter limbs of Mo Xuanyu’s body compared to his.
It resulted in an uncharacteristic clumsiness, making him look like a child that hadn’t gained full control over its appendages yet.
It was maddening.
Wei Wuxian had been ranked forth on the list of eligible bachelors, fierce and strong, an accomplished fighter with the mind of a scholar. He had had perfect control over every single muscle in his body and it was in moments like this that he missed that feeling the most.
It was embarrassing that he couldn’t even perform the most basic of tasks without it resulting in a mess. Every move had to be planned meticulously and executed with the utmost caution to avoid making a fool of himself.
It was one of the reasons Wei Wuxian avoided Gusu and Lan Wangji in particular. Being in the presence of the epitome of grace made him feel even more inadequate and undeserving of Lan Zhan’s affection.
Contrary to popular belief, Wei Wuxian was capable of seeing the fondness in his friend’s eyes, he just felt like Lan Wangji deserved someone who was better than him or at least the best version of himself he could possibly be.
During his travels, Wei Wuxian tried to hone his skills and train his Golden Core as well as he could in a body that wouldn’t obey him properly.
But in the past few weeks he had realized that he wasn’t making any progress. How could he possibly, with mind and body fighting each other every step of the way?
Wei Wuxian’s eyes were still trained onto the spilled wine when he suddenly caught sight of his own reflection. It was not entirely accurate, pulling his face into a longer shape, making appear more mature, earnest, and familiar, if a bit more unsightly.
Then, an idea struck him. Wei Wuxian got up, threw a few coins onto the table, and left the inn, not hearing the owner’s complaints following him into the streets.
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The yelling of merchants, the smell of exotic spices, the colorful mix of languages and cultures, it all filled Wei Wuxian with a sense of nostalgia. In his mind he could see young Jiang Cheng and himself running through the crowded streets, on their way to wrestle some water ghouls, followed by their fellow disciples.
He stepped onto the pier and made his way to the doors of the sect compounds. The disciples in guard duty recognized him and opened the gate immediately.
Wei Wuxian followed the sound of screaming and clashing of swords to the training grounds. There, Jiang Cheng stood, looking regal with his expensive robes and commanding aura. He was yelling instructions to the disciples, occasionally even complimenting them.
Wei Wuxian smiled. “You sure have grown into your position as Sect leader, A-Cheng”, he murmured to himself.
Jiang Cheng whirled around. As soon as he saw his martial brother he scoffed: “Someone had to lead the survivors, Wei Wuxian.” Then his features softened. “Welcome home, Xian-ge.”
Wei Wuxian’s and Jiang Cheng’s relationship had changed a lot after the revelations at the Guanyin temple. They had talked a lot about the past and Wei Wuxian had visited Lotus Pier frequently, even though he didn’t feel ready to reclaim his post as the First Disciple just yet.
They claimed to make the effort for Jin Ling but secretly they were both happy to be able to rekindle their relationship.
“You’re here earlier than usual”, Jiang Cheng said, “so I’m assuming this is not a social visit. Let’s transfer this to my office.”
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They were sitting at the table, facing each other, a cup of gently steaming tea in their hands. Wei Wuxian had just finished explaining his situation to his brother and was anxiously awaiting his response.
Finally, Jiang Cheng broke the silence: “So you’re planning on inventing an array that can restore your original body, I understood that much. But why are you telling me all this? You know I am not good at inventing stuff.”
Wei Wuxian sighed and started massaging his temple. “I need resources and a space to create and test my inventions. You will benefit from this as well. With my own body I will hopefully be able to formally join the Jiang Sect and take care of my responsibilities as the First Disciple again. With my physical and mental state of right now I am not capable of doing much of anything, really.”
Jiang Cheng mulled everything over and couldn’t help but take notice of how pale his brother was, how big and dark the circles under his eyes had gotten and Jiang Cheng was pretty sure that Wei Wuxian had lost quite a bit of weight. When really searching for signs, it was obvious how much the Yiling Patriarch had suffered under his mental health.
The decision was an easy one.
“Fine. I’ll let the servants prepare your old room for you, it’s been empty for years. You can use one of the training grounds for your experiments, I don’t want any damage on buildings or furniture. I’ll make sure to get you another Jiang Bell. Don’t lose it, you will have to pay for the next one yourself.”
Jiang Cheng got up to look for a servant, leaving a stunned Wei Wuxian sitting at the table in his wake.
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Frankly, Jiang Cheng was starting to get worried. He hadn’t seen hair nor hide of Wei Wuxian for the past days which was weird.
They had established a routine of going out together to talk and enjoy each other’s company every so often, either drinking or night hunting or just swimming with the disciples.
On one memorable occasion Wei Wuxian had surprised Jiang Cheng with their sister’s Lotus Pork Rib Soup, leaving him in tears. They had spent the rest of the day in each other’s arms, reminiscing about their youth.
But Wei Wuxian had gone unseen by anyone for the last week or so and Jiang Cheng was worried about his big brother. He had spent the past few hours looking for him everywhere he could think of. The only place he hadn’t checked yet was Wei Wuxian’s training ground because he had promised to keep out of the danger zone.
Now wasn’t the time to worry about that though and Jiang Cheng was pretty confident that he would be able to protect himself, should the need arise.
He was determinedly speed walking towards afore mentioned place when he felt a sudden influx of spiritual energy from the same direction. He broke into a run, reaching the ground in minutes.
In the middle of the field there was a man, kneeling in the center of the biggest array Jiang Cheng had ever seen. He was facing away from him, clad in too small garments with his hair cascading down his broad back. The sound of harsh breathing was prominent in the otherwise quiet clearing.
As the man started to move slowly Jiang Cheng could hear the soft jingle of a Jiang bell. He got to his feet unsteadily, seemingly not having felt the presence of another person.
Jiang Cheng’s muscles were frozen, he couldn’t move a single finger. The way this man moved was more familiar than anything he had seen from him in the time after his rebirth. The Sect Leader cleared his throat. “Xian-ge?”, he asked tentatively.
The man turned around. He was unmistakably Wei Wuxian, even if he didn’t look like any version of him Jiang Cheng had ever seen.
He was older, taller, broader and a lot healthier than the Patriarch had been, even at his best. His face was more mature and regal, his open robes revealed a toned chest with the Wen brand burned into his right pec.
Wei Wuxian smiled, making him look even more handsome. “A-Cheng! It finally worked! I even managed to transfer my Golden Core! It absorbed all the spiritual energy the ritual set free, so it’s stronger than it was before.”
Jiang Cheng couldn’t help himself. Seeing his older brother this energetic and genuinely happy reminded him of their childhood, when Wei Wuxian was still his best friend and confidant. He ran across the field and threw himself at his Xian-ge. Reliable as always, Wei Wuxian caught him and hugged him tightly. He buried his face in the younger’s hair, relishing in the closeness and familiarity of the action.
They remained like this for a long time. The sun was already going down when Jiang Cheng finally pulled away and tried to dry his tears with his sleeve, ruining the expensive silk in the process. “We should go back; I want to be back for dinner.”
Wei Wuxian chuckled and put his arm around the shorter’s shoulders. “Then let’s go, brother of mine.”
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Over the span of the next few weeks Wei Wuxian settled comfortably in his new position as First Disciple. He was a hardworking, sociable person and a brilliant teacher so he won over the entire Sect in no time.
Getting used to his own body was surprisingly easy but Wei Wuxian guessed that years of practice couldn’t be nullified by just a few months in another body. He had built a grave for Mo Xuanyu, grateful for the second chance.
He had also met up with Nie Huaisang and cleared the air between them. He was still a bit pissed, but his friend made it impossible for him to stay mad for long.
Wen Ning had visited as well and then decided to stay at Lotus Pier for a longer time, seeing as the people were a lot more openminded here as they were in Gusu where he had resided before. He had been surprised and happy with the change, having confessed to finding his master in another body very strange.
With the help of his family Wei Wuxian also painstakingly relearned everything he knew about swordsmanship, his body not used to the strain anymore. He worked on his Golden Core as well and finally reunited with Suibian.
Wei Wuxian regularly visited the Ancestral Hall to pray for Jiang Fengmian, Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Yanli. After many heartfelt talks with Jiang Cheng, he managed to forgive himself and let go of his past mistakes.
All in all, he was happier than he had ever been. There was just something missing, and Wei Wuxian knew exactly where to find it.
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Lan Sizhui was one of the only ones to realize that something was wrong with his father. The man was a master at covering up any emotion, but Lan Sizhui had known him for his entire life and was not easily fooled.
It was obvious in the way he walked, as if the weight of the whole world were resting on his shoulders, in the way his eyes were drooping in nearly invisible sadness, the way he would sometimes gaze at Lan Sizhui, looking melancholic.
He also knew why. Lan Wangji had not received a letter from Wei Wuxian for months, which was unusual and worrying. When even Lan Jingyi made a remark about Hanguang-jun’s behavior, Sizhui decided that he had enough.
He drafted up a letter to his baba, urging him to come visit as soon as possible with a few subtle threats.
As he didn’t know where exactly Wei Wuxian was right now, he just planned on sending it to Sect Leader Jiang, having heard from Jin Ling that his father was a frequent guest there.
He was on the way to the post office when he spotted a man in remarkably dark garments wandering the bright compound of the Lan Sect. Jingyi beside him immediately exclaimed: “Wei-qianbei! You have the audacity to show up here after letting Hanguang-jun suffer such a long time!”
The man turned around, revealing a much more handsome face than Wei Wuxian’s. Jingyi’s blood rushed to his face, and he was starting to apologize when Sizhui whispered incredulously: “Xian-baba?”
The man, Wei Wuxian, smiled brightly. “A-yuan! Come and give your baba a hug. How is my favorite radish doing?”
Lan Sizhui broke into a run, throwing himself at his father. Strong arms wrapped around him, making him feel like a little kid again. The familiar scent of spices and soil was what destroyed any hold he had on his emotions. He started sobbing softly, his father’s soft chuckle in his ear.
Jingyi was shocked. He had, of course, known that Wei-qianbei must have been an incredibly good-looking man to capture Hanguang-jun’s attention. But nothing could have possibly prepared him for this, this hunk of a man, broad-shouldered, tall with the most gorgeous smile. Jingyi felt his heart beat a little bit faster.
Sizhui was so happy. His A-die would be delighted with the return of his love. He tensed. His A-die! He had completely forgotten his mission. He jerked out of the embrace. “Baba! You need to go see A-die. He has been very worried about you.”
Wei Wuxian tousled his son’s neatly styled hair. “Don’t worry, I was on my way there when I stumbled upon you. I’ll go now. Nice to see you too again, Jingyi”, he said in passing.
Jingyi just stood there with his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
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Lan Wangji was sad. He missed Wei Ying, hadn’t even received a single word from him in month. He knew that he was visibly pouting but couldn’t stop himself.
He was worried that Wei Ying had found someone more interesting and forgotten about him. He was aware that his love hated coming to the Cloud Recesses because he felt stifled by all the rules and the open hostility of the Elders.
He often thought about visiting Lotus Pier in hopes if meeting Wei Ying there. Perhaps he would be more open to seeing Lan Wangji when in a more pleasant environment.
Lan Wangji himself didn’t really feel at home in Gusu anymore these days. Whenever he saw disciples trying not to show emotions or tense when they spotted him, he was reminded of how little Wei Ying fit in here. It was no wonder he never came if he was so unhappy here.
Lan Wangji sighed inaudibly. He truly did miss Wei Ying.
His gloomy musings were disturbed by a gentle knock on the door of his office. Confused, he softly allowed the unknown person to enter.
It’s Wei Ying.
It’s Wei Ying like he was before, with his silver eyes, the sharp cheekbones, the shapely lips, the broad shoulders packed with muscles, his big, long-fingered hands, rough from working all the time, the lovely smile that made his heartbeat faster and the blood rush to his ears.
It was Wei Ying with is deep voice saying his name in a fond tone, his strong, reliable arms open for a hug, looking at him with adoration obvious in his face.
Lan Wangji’s self-control crumbled faster against this man than the Wen forces.
Wei Ying felt like home, warm and familiar and so, so gentle. He slowly rocked them back and forth, whispering soothing words into Lan Wangji’s ear, making the blush expand to his cheeks. His emotions were running rampant, overwhelming him in their intensity, making his vision go black.
When he regained his awareness, he was sat in Wei Ying’s lap, his face buried in the crook of his neck. Embarrassed, Lan Wangji got up, instantly regretting the action. “What is Wei Ying doing here?”, he asked softly.
Wei Ying got to his feet as well. “I missed you”, he said simply, “and I wanted to show you the results of my new experiment. Do you like it, Lan Zhan?”, he asked with a teasing smile.
Lan Wangji didn’t know how to respond. He did, in fact, like it a lot, but wasn’t shameless enough to say it aloud. He settled for a noncommittal “Mh.”
Wei Ying broke into bouts of laughter. “Ah, Lan Zhan, it truly is wonderful to see you again. Let’s catch up over a meal, yes?”
Lan Wangji nodded his consent. As they walked out of the office, he for the first time registered the soft jingle of the Jiang Bell on Wei Ying’s belt. Clearly, he had decided to officially join his former Sect again, discouraging the Lan even more.
Outside of the office, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were waiting anxiously, startling when they heard their seniors come out.
“Did the two of you make up again?”, Jingyi asked bluntly. His friend covered his mouth quickly. “Is everything alright between Hanguang-jun and Wei-qianbei?”, he asked, looking faintly worried. Sizhui always was upset when his parents had an argument or a misunderstanding. He then felt like he had to choose a side, which was impossible.
Luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case this time. Wei Wuxian was gently leading a blushing Lan Wangji by the hand. He grabbed Lan Sizhui’s arm as well, marching towards the gates of the compound.
“Lan Zhan and I are going out to eat in Caiyi to catch up. I haven’t seen my favorite radish and my mouthy baby Lan for quite some time either so how about you join us.” It wasn’t phrased as a question.
Jingyi started grumbling under his breath but followed, looking rather pleased with the situation.
Lan Wangji wasn’t sure if he was more disappointed or grateful for the company. He did crave some alone time with Wei Ying, but he was not ready for his beloved’s focus to be on him and only on him for a longer amount of time. Those silver eyes would have him on his knees faster than he could ask Wei Ying to just put him out of his misery and reject him already.
They decided to walk to town to appreciate the beauty of the wild nature of the mountain.
It was a relaxing walk, the soft noises of the animals and the rustling of the leaves in the wind eliminated any and all awkwardness and Wei Ying entertained them with the story of his regained body and all of the failed attempts which usually resulted in amusing consequences such as Wei Ying being invisible for several hours. He assured them that he had used the time wisely and written down how the talisman was made.
In Caiyi they found a nice little establishment that provided them with sufficiently spicy food and Emperor’s Smile for Wei Ying and bland vegetarian dishes for the Lans.
Wei Ying and Lan Wangji sat next to each other, the boys facing them. The Lan was very grateful that the no speaking during meals rule existed because he couldn’t seem to focus enough to understand what was being said.
After the initial shock had worn off, seeing Wei Ying in his own body was even more distracting. Whenever he moved Lan Wangji’s eyes would immediately follow him, catching every twitch of fingers and every change of expression. He was breathtaking.
“Lan Zhan? Are you still with me?”
He was torn out of his thoughts by Wei Ying. He blinked a few times, the boys had left the table, he wasn’t sure when, and Wei Ying had changed his seat, so he was sitting in front of Lan Wangji.
He gave a tiny nod. “Mh.”
Wei Ying laughed quietly. “You didn’t hear a single word I said, did you? You were looking quite spaced out there.”
Lan Wangji’s ear reddened. He wasn’t used to people other than Xiongzhang being able to read him so easily.
Apparently, this was confirmation enough for Wei Ying, as he snickered again. “What’s got you so distracted?”, he asked, this time looking a bit concerned.
“You”, the Lan blurted out. He cleared his throat awkwardly and desperately tried to avoid eye contact.
Against his expectations Wei Ying didn’t look confused or disgusted. He didn’t even look like he was pitying him. Instead, his expression was filled with unholy glee. “What about me exactly, my dear Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji felt like he was being stared at by a predator. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before he made a vague movement with his hand at Wei Ying’s everything.
The man visibly softened. He placed a hand onto Lan Wangji’s. He smiled: “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I get it. I’m stunning.” He chuckled at the deadpan on his love’s face. “I’m just kidding. But I really get it.”
He reached and took the Lan’s forehead ribbon and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss.
Lan Wangji’s gasped quietly. This time, the blush didn’t just cover his ears but his entire face. The intimate act made his heart pound and he just wanted to jump over the table and kiss Wei Ying.
His beloved held out a hand, palm up. “Come home with me, Lan Zhan?”
There was not a single doubt that Lan Wangji would follow Wei Wuxian wherever he went. He nodded. “Mh.”
Suddenly, Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui were running towards them, shouting joyfully, and asking them to take them to Lotus Pier as well.
Wei Ying threw his head back and laughed. “Come along then, we need to go if we want to reach Yunmeng before sundown!”