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If given a choice, Lan Wangji would not stay within a thousand li radius of Jiang Wanyin. Alas, they both cared for their juniors, and hence Lan Wangji had to endure the oppresive silence of sitting with the Sect Leader.
The tension was so suffocating that nobody dared to speak. One customer had fled within five minutes of the former classmates occupying the stall.
Other Sects occasionally passed the area in lieu of night-hunting. Right now, a group of teenagers travelled the road, conversing lightly among themselves.
"I hope nothing big comes in our way. I'm too tired."
"Didi, you're no fun. What's the point of this if we don't hunt something worthwhile?"
"Shh, look, is that a rooster?"
"First one to catch it will get to keep the kill!"
"Hey, not fair! Wait for me."
Their antics reminded Lan Wangji of the past, and if the excess force with which Jiang Wanyin put down his cup meant anything, he remembered it too.
Lan Wangji decided that he could supervise just as well by being in the surrounding area, and left the resting place. He did not need any telepathy to know Jiang Wanyin felt as relieved as Lan Wangji did.
Almost subconciously, Lan Wangji's feet carried him towards the Wens' burial place. Each step reminded him of sixteen years ago, when one stubborn heart didn't leave him alone.
As he reached the stone monument, Lan Wangji let out a sigh, barely perceptable to others.
"The Dancing Fairy statue tried to attack only Lan Zhan. It was clear she was aiming for the Yin iron. Unless...she likes Lan Zhan!"
A bittersweet fondness rose in Lan Wangji at the memory. No matter how disgruntled he was at the time, the moment was still preserved in the very heart of Lan Wangji's mind, to be recalled in his happiest and saddest days.
Lan Wangji stared at the overgrown mess, reflecting how different it was from the last time Lan Wangji visited here. It almost mirrored how different they had grown from the last time they were here.
A loud voice brought Lan Wangji out of his thoughts.
"Young man, young man, you left before I could tell you the most important thing!" An old man trotted up to him, holding a broom.
Lan Wangji did not recall seeing this person, but the man continued "Where are your friends? Tell them to be careful! I forgot to tell you that, curse this old man's memory. I forgot to tell you the most important thing!"
"Sir, what did you forget?" Lan Wangji asked, an instinct telling him that the juniors had visited here.
"I forgot! The Dancing Statue, it moves!"
Lan Wangji frowned. He was about to tell the old man that the statue was sealed long ago, when it suddenly clicked.
The soul-snatching in this area. It wasn't a beast after all.
Lan Wangji turned to thank the man only to be met with empty air. He was tempted to search for the old man, but that wasn't his priority.
Briskly, he made his way over to the temple. There was a Jiang disciple on the way, after a moment of indecision he informed the disciple to bring Sect Leader Jiang, telling him that the danger was in the temple.
Lan Wangji hoped Jiang Wanyin remembered well enough to know that junior disciples would not be able to win this hunt.
He was getting closer now, the goddess' head visible over the tall trees. Questions rang through Lan Wangji's mind, making him almost miss the figure jumping from the trees.
It looked like a person bound in chains.
Even more confused, Lan Wangji continued. As he approached the road leading to the temple, he could hear the shrill notes of a flute cutting through the air.
Who would play flute at a time like this? Lan Wangji thought, though the tune seemed familiar, like an old acquaintance he had not seen in years.
And who else to appear before him but an old acquaintance as soon as he reached the clearing?
There, in the midst of chaos, standing as the picture of death was none other than the Ghost General.
What was Wen Ning doing here? Didn't Jin Guangshan-?
Lan Wangji's grip tightened on his sword. He could not believe that they had taken the former Chief Cultivator at his word that he had destroyed the most important weapon formed from the Stygian Tiger Amulet.
But why was he here? Unless someone summoned him?
It was then Lan Wangji's eyes landed the figure playing the flute. His entire being stopped for a moment.
Stupid, his heart whispered. You stupid, silly man. Lan Wangji had recognised the talismans at Mo Manor, but many people had copied the Yiling Patriach's work. Earlier that day, he only caught a glimpse of a mask, and did not wish to suspect a poor soul.
But now, his face half hidden, Lan Wangji saw him. The choice of robes, the red ribboned ponytail, with mannerisms that haunted Lan Wangji every day and night.
Wei Ying, his heart whispered, certain.
Lan Wangji felt a drop on his hand, and realised he's been crying. When he reached to wipe his tears away, he found that he was smiling too.
What a mess his heart was, disbelief and shock and joy; pure unadulterated joy that he had not felt in a long time.
Of course, the Dancing Fairy couldn't hold against Wei Ying with Wen Ning. But now that the danger had receded, the cultivators now deemed the very person who had saved their lives as a threat.
Lan Wangji searched, and caught Sizhui's face. There was no flicker of recognition (not that Lan Wangji had expected it), yet he still seemed hesitant to attack the Ghost General.
However, the crowd won, and the two dozen cultivators surrounded the Ghost General in an instant. Wei Ying played his flute to counter the attacks. Lan Wangji had half a mind to drag him away and buy a new instrument because the makeshift bamboo flute didn't show even half of Wei Ying's talent.
Just then, the Ghost General, in a series of strong moves, had half the people on ground and his hand around Lan Jingyi's throat. Lan Wangji finally remembered to move, but Wei Ying managed to stop him again.
If he had any doubts that this was Wei Ying, every and all traces of it vanished as soon as he heard the melody. How could he not recognise his own composition, a piece which had taken form from the then unknown feelings stirring in Lan Wangji's heart?
You remember, Lan Wangji thought, recalling the time he had sung this to Wei Ying. It was the last time he had seen Wei Ying whole and unmarred by the resentful energy.
How fitting that the same song now marked a new beginning.
With slow steps, Lan Wangji walked towards Wei Ying, and Wei Ying met him in the middle, just like always, from that first clash of their swords on that moonlit night to the way they unexpectedly found each other in Yiling.
They clashed halfway, as equals, as each other's zhiji, as two heartbeats that were separated for too long.
Lan Wangji gripped his hand. Wei Ying's eyes fell on it, recognition shooting through him as he finally looked at Lan Wangji.
Wei Ying, Lan Wangji said, not with his words but through his eyes, his face, his hold.
Lan Zhan, Wei Ying said just as wordlessly, with a different tone, a different infliction, but with the same intensity.
They stared at each other, Lan Wangji's heart singing home. Wei Ying was the one who averted his eyes first, guilt creeping on his face. He played a few more notes.
Lan Wangji caught sight of Wen Ning hurrying away, but then Wei Ying gripped his hand.
Lan Zhan, don't, his eyes seemed to beg.
Don't what? Lan Wangji thought.
Whatever it was, he'll figure it out. They will figure it out together.
Just like Wei Ying followed him to the face of danger last time, Lan Wangji would follow him this time, even to the ends of the world.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Lan Wangji watched as the junior disciples carefully lay Wei Ying on the bed. To say that they were shocked that Hanguang-jun asked a stranger to be brought into the Jingshi was an understatement.
The disciples bowed to leave, having completed their task.
"Send Sizhui" Lan Wangji asked them. Sizhui and Jingyi had gone with the donkey, which Lan Wangji had insisted on bringing despite it being loud.
The disciples nodded and left, leaving Lan Wangji alone with Wei Ying.
Lan Wangji's movements were slow as he made his way over to the bed and sat on it. With trembling hands, he removed the mask, as delicately as if the person beneath would break if Lan Wangji made one wrong move.
Lan Wangji had been certain that it was Wei Ying since Dafan Mountain, yet he couldn't help a sharp intake of breath when he saw his face.
He's still so beautiful, Lan Wangji thought. He let himself be selfish for one moment and brushed Wei Ying's cheek.
He still couldn't believe this was real.
Lan Wangji traced his features, and found a mole missing beneath the other's lower lip. It wasn't a huge difference, yet Lan Wangji noted it all the same.
Lan Wangji heard a familiar "Hanguang-jun".
"Enter" he said, rising from his seat.
Sizhui entered and bowed to Lan Wangji. "I heard Hanguang-jun asked for this disciple."
"Mn" Lan Wangji said, looking at Wei Ying. "Do you know him?"
Sizhui was surprised when he saw Wei Ying, but he quickly smoothened his features. "Yes, I do. I met him at the Mo Manor, he is the Mo-gongzi who helped us. He even helped us during the Dafan mountain hunt."
So Sizhui didn't recognise Wei Ying either. It was a weak effort, yet Lan Wangji hoped Sizhui found him atleast familiar.
"What do you think of him?" Gossiping was forbidden, but this wasn't gossip. Lan Wangji was curious what impression Sizhui had of Wei Ying.
Sizhui blinked a couple of times before answering. "Mo-gongzi may appear loud and a little...unorthodox, but he has a good heart and is very knowledgable. He doesn't miss any oppurtunities. He genuinely wants to help others. He reminded me a little of Hanguang-jun."
Sizhui turned red when he realised what he said, bracing himself for Lan Wangji's reprimand, but Lan Wangji only smiled.
"Sizhui, why did you attack the Ghost General?" Lan Wangji asked instead.
Sizhui's sheepish expression didn't fade as he answered in a dejected voice. "Because everyone else did the same."
"Donot follow others blindly" Lan Wangji quoted the rule.
Sizhui nodded. "This disciple will accept his punishment."
Lan Wangji thought for a moment. "This man's donkey is your responsibility" he said, having a feeling that Wei Ying would appreciate it once he woke.
"Yes, Hanguang-jun" Sizhui bowed. "Anything else you require of this disciple?"
"Take care". It was something Lan Wangji said to him everytime they parted. While Lan Wangji wanted many things for him in life, the most important thing he wanted was Sizhui to take care of himself, something that had roots in the fact that nearly everyone he knew when he was a child was self-sacrificial.
Sizhui smiled. "Yes, Father." This was private, only shared between an orphan and his father in all but blood.
Sizhui bowed and left, leaving Lan Wangji alone with Wei Ying once more. There were so many things to do, so many things to say, so many questions to be answered.
All of that could wait. For now, Lan Wangji let himself have this moment, and sat behind his guqin, plucking out the notes of their song.