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Chapter Text

“It is tomorrow.”

Wei Ying rubs a thumb over the fabric of Lan Wangji’s middle. He tries not to let the touch distract him. 

“So it is,” Wei Ying replies, voice hushed. 

“Will Wei Ying tell me what happened?” 

“Yes.”

His heart hammers loudly in his chest. Wei Ying takes a deep breath. They are in such close proximity that when he exhales his breath hits the back of Wangji’s neck. He barely manages to suppress a shiver. 

“You remember when I left Gusu, all those weeks ago?” As if Wangji wouldn’t take notice of his absence. 

“After I returned home, to Lotus Pier? It happened a little after that. I was in a situation more…severe than I initially thought. These things happen all the time, so I was certain I could handle it. As you can see, that wasn’t the case. It ended up damaging my back, bad enough that it messed with the meridians.” 

Lan Wangji is not well versed in the healing arts, but he knows that such an injury can’t be anything less than devastating . For Wei Ying, one of the strongest cultivators of their generation, to sustain such injuries even now, it must’ve been a horrific injury indeed. Wangji’s grip tightens on the reins. Just how close had Wei Ying come to death? And he hadn’t even known it. 

“The healers did their best to patch me up, but my golden core no longer has the ability to channel qi back there. Not much anyway. The rest of me is more or less fine, but my back heals as if I weren’t a cultivator, which left me with some scarring,” Wei Ying explains. He pauses. A moment later, Wangji feels a light pressure on his back: Wei Ying’s head. The physical contact is overwhelming but still pales in comparison to the ache he feels for Wei Ying. 

“Does it hurt?” He asks. Surely it must. 

“...Sometimes. I can’t move around like before. I need a cane, and I can’t move certain ways anymore. I was given leave from my duties, so I could recover. That’s why I wasn’t there at the archery competition. It’s a shame, I really wanted to see your archery skills, Er-gege. I never congratulated you on getting first.” Wei Ying lets out a soft sigh. 

The admission feels as though Wangji were the one who had gotten hurt. The sight of Wei Ying with a cane rather than a sword made him wish that were the case. Wei Ying did not deserve such an awful thing. How could this have happened? Wangji thinks. Jiang Wanyin had said it was a mere training accident. What kind of training had Wei Ying been doing that, upon being messed up, resulted in such damage? Wasn’t anyone else training with him? If the training in question were so risky, it seemed terribly negligent of Yunmeng-Jiang to allow any of their disciples, no matter how skilled, to do it alone. Had Wei Ying snuck off by himself to get in more training? It wasn’t impossible, but those in Yunmeng should be well acquainted with his character by now and should have taken precautions to keep their disciple safe. 

“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji begins, unsure how to best put his worries into words.

Wei Ying, who Wangji belatedly realizes was still talking, stops at once. 

“Yes?” His voice has a different quality than usual. It lacks all its usual cheer, sounding almost… unsure . 

“Are you properly cared for at Lotus Pier?” Lan Wangji asks clumsily. 

“Jiang Laoshi and the other healers do everything they can to help my back heal,” Wei Ying replies at once. 

“And the rest of your sect?” He probes. 

“They aren’t healers, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying lets out the tiniest of laughs. “There is only so much they can do. But you don’t need to worry, I get by just fine.”

Lan Wangji feels something akin to frustration. At Wei Ying for the evasiveness in his answers and at himself for not asking the proper questions. 

“Wei Ying.” It comes out almost as an admonishment - one of the last things Lan Wangji wants to do right now. He does not mean to scold Wei Ying. He wants to comfort him and, if he can, help him. 

Ahead, the others have come to a halt. Lan Wangji jerks on the reins, bringing their horse to a jerky stop. He is about to ask why they’ve ceased moving when Jin Zixuan turns back and says “Now that we are clear of Qishan, it might be best for us to split up.”

Lan Wangji recoils from the idea. He has no desire to leave Wei Ying just yet. 

“What?” Wei Ying asks, his grip tightening around Wangji’s waist. 

“We found tracks. Footprints of a large group of people,” Jin Zixuan points to the ground, where Lan Wangji can clearly see the tracks of numerous feet. 

“We can cover more ground than them. If we’re swift, we may be able to catch up with them,” Luo Qingyang adds. 

“How certain can we be that it is them?” He asks. While it could be from another group, Lan Wangji knew it is in all likelihood from the other indoctrinees. But he does not wish to part yet. 

The others dismantle his argument with ease, preventing him from using it as an excuse to stay and continue his conversation with Wei Ying. 

“If we wait much longer we lower our chances of finding the others, and I don’t need to remind you of our unfinished business, concerning the Lan disciple.”Jin Zixuan says the last words like a curse. 

The Jin heir, as loathe as Wangji is to acknowledge it, had a good point. And as much as Lan Wangji wishes to prolong his time with Wei Ying, he has duties to attend to. Starting with Su She. 

“I have no need of a reminder.” Lan Wangji always keeps his word. 

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying says. His attention instantly snaps back to Wei Ying. 

“You should go with them. Lan-er-gege did promise to help, hm? You can take this horse, and I can ride with Peng Hui, alright?” Wei Ying offers. He lets go of Wangji’s waist, and Lan Wangji is confronted with the distasteful mental image of Wei Ying with his arms wrapped around Peng Hui instead. Lan Wangji has no choice but to begrudgingly accept, but before he can offer Wei Ying assistance verbally, or dismount and physically offer a hand, Wei Ying has gotten off. 

Wangji hopes the movement didn’t hurt him. He scans his face for any signs of pain but finds none. Their eyes lock, silver meeting gold. Wei Ying smiles at him. How he can smile so beatifically when he is injured so, Lan Wangji does not know. 

“If Er-gege manages to find the time, he’ll write to me, right?” Wei Ying asks. 

Lan Wangji’s pulse quickens and his ears flush. It takes him a moment to find his voice. 

“Mn, if Wei Ying will do the same.”

He nods. 

“One more thing,” Lan Wangji adds, “Should Wei Ying need anything, he’ll write to me.”

Wei Ying gapes.

“I-”

“Promise me,” Lan Wangji pleads, fearful Wei Ying will somehow wriggle his way out of Wangji’s offer for help. 

“I…If there is anything Lan Zhan can help me with, then I’ll let him know,” Wei Ying promises. 

Although he is glad to have Wei Ying’s word, Lan Wangji can’t help but feel he’s lost since he has to leave him. Lan Wangji sends a silent prayer to the Heavens, wishing for Wei Ying to be safe. Aloud he says:

“Take care of yourself, Wei Ying.”

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They travel swiftly, only stopping to check for tracks and to allow the horses to take breaks. 

“The sun is beginning to set. I’m not sure if we should keep riding and attempt to catch up to the others or if we should focus on setting up camp while there’s still daylight.” Luo Qingyang says, looking up at the sky. 

“We can’t be too far off from them. Why don’t we keep going?” Jin Zixuan proposes. 

Lan Wangji does not contribute to the conversation. Staying, going, it makes no difference to him. His traveling companions argue for a bit before deciding to keep moving forward. They ride until the sky turns from blue to black and the sun is replaced by the moon and stars. They were just about to stop for the night when, in the distance, Lan Wangji spots the pinpricks of several campfires. 

“Fire up ahead.” It’s the first time he’s spoken since leaving Wei Ying. 

“Got it!” Jin Zixuan acknowledges, urging his horse to pick up its pace. 

“Not too fast! We haven’t identified them yet!” Luo Qingyang cautions, tugging on Jin Zixuan’s outer robe. The horse slows down once more. Lan Wangji trails behind, senses focused on the light source ahead. 

He can hear them before they come fully into view. They aren’t loud, but Lan Wangji’s senses are keen, and he recognizes the voice of one of his clansmen. 

So as not to startle them, Jin Zixuan announces their presence once they draw closer. Several disciples, mainly from the Jin sect, rush to meet them. 

“Zixuan!” 

“Jin-gongzi!” 

Several voices cry. The Jin disciples all crowd around the horse holding Jin Zixuan and Luo Qingyang. 

“What happened!? How did you get out!?”

“Where’d you get these horses?”

“How come we didn’t think of grabbing any!? My feet are killing me!” 

Lan Wangji stays at the periphery of the group. He scans the area. Several small fires were littered about the campsite, each with a handful of disciples huddled around it. It doesn’t take long for him to locate Su She. Lan Wangji, mindful of his recently splinted leg, dismounts his horse and hands its reins to a nearby disciple. He marches over to the campfire where Su She sits, holding his hands out to warm them by the fire. He does not notice Lan Wangji’s presence until he is upon him. 

None too gently, he grips Su She’s shoulder and turns him around, so that he and Wangji can look eye to eye. He tenses, letting out a squeak. 

“L-Lan Wangji-!”

“Do not fear the strong. Do not act impulsively. Make sure to act virtuously. Be loyal.” Lan Wangji states, citing rule after rule that Su She has failed to uphold. 

The other Lan sitting around the campfire have fallen silent, each of them staring at Lan Wangji. It was against the rules to cause unnecessary drama, but Lan Wangji believed it was warranted, given the circumstances. 

“By seizing Luo Qingyang and forcing her into the custody of the Wen, you have erred greatly,” Lan Wangji denounces. 

The other Lan make a show of pretending not to watch or abandon the campfire entirely. Lan Wangji pays them no mind, entirely focused on Su She. 

“You will face punishment back at the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Wangji commands. 

Su She looks as though he’ll be sick. For him, Lan Wangji’s heart holds no sympathy. As promised, he would see to it that Luo Qingyang received justice. 

“As Lan-er-gongzi says,” He grits out. 

Lan Wangji nods. He’ll keep an eye on Su She, but drop matters for now. 

Wei Ying’s medicine from earlier had worn off, leaving Wangji all too aware of the strain his body had yet to recover from. He needs rest. Walking over to a nearby tree, Wangji sinks to the ground. Without the proximity of the fire, there is a slight chill, but with his golden core and the blanket provided by Wei Ying, it is no bother. He sits in silence, gaze toward Su She even as his mind drifts elsewhere. 

Footsteps sound from behind him. It’s Luo Qingyang. 

“Is this space occupied?” She asks, pointing several feet away from him. 

Lan Wangji shakes his head. Luo Qingyang settled down, a blanket wrapped around her. 

“You did not camp with the Jin,” He points out. 

“It was crowded - I wanted to get away.” 

Lan Wangji nods in understanding. 

“Su She is over there.” 

Luo Qingyang’s eyes fall onto his form and the smile slips off her face. 

“I see….” 

“I’ve already informed him he will face punishment when we return to the Cloud Recesses. We can go to the elders, and they will see to it that he is punished accordingly.” Was it up to Lan Wangji, he’d have simply dispelled him from the sect at once, never to set foot in the Cloud Recesses again. But such a dismissal needed approval from Shufu, though Wangji is certain that, once he hears word of Su She’s wrongdoing, he’ll be dismissed without a second thought. 

Luo Qingyang nods but doesn’t seem heartened by the knowledge. Unconsciously, a hand drifts up to the bandage on her cheek, which stops just shy of her eye. She’s incredibly fortunate her eye was not harmed. Her lip curves downward and gives the slightest tremble. 

“You did well in the cave,” He blurts. 

Luo Qingyang lowers her hand, “Lan-er-gongzi is too humble. We would not have defeated the Xuanwu if not for your cord assassination technique.” 

“Before the Xuanwu - you were practical and level-headed when Jin Zixuan and I were not,” He adds. 

She waves her hand, “It was nothing.” 

Normally when this was said, people said it only to avoid being seen as arrogant, but Luo Qingyang’s modesty is genuine. Lan Wangji’s respect rises for her further. As does his concern when she lets out a shuddering sigh. 

“Thank you for the kind words. Goodnight, Lan-er-gongzi.” 

Lan Wangji pretends he doesn’t hear the quiver in her voice. 

“Goodnight.” 

Luo Qingyang is quick to drift off, breathes evening out as she falls into a deep slumber. Lan Wangji’s own eyes grow heavy, and he considers shutting them, when he hears rustling from Su She’s direction. 

Golden eyes flick over to the now extinguished campfire. It’s dark, but there’s enough moonlight for him to see Su She climbing to his feet. He looks around. Lan Wangji closes his eyes and waits. He listens for the sound of Su She’s footsteps trailing off into the distance. His eyes open. He gets up and follows. Su She sneaks through the camp, head twisting back and forth as he searches for the path that keeps him farthest from those still awake. Lan Wangji, even with his still-healing leg, tails him near effortlessly. 

He tries not to make assumptions. Su She could simply be going to relieve himself, but as they draw closer and closer to the horses, Lan Wangji knows what the other has intended. Still, he trails behind silently, not intervening until Su She has reached Wangji’s horse and starts untying their reins. 

“Stealing is forbidden.” Lan Wangji says dryly. 

Su She jumps, whirling around. 

“Lan Wangji! This isn’t what it looks like!” He drops the reins as if burned. 

“I couldn’t sleep, so I wanted to check on the horses. T-They’re my favorite animal you know!” He cries. It only serves to make Lan Wangji angrier. What an utter disgrace. 

“Lying is forbidden. Return back to camp at once.” 

Su She pauses, the gears in his head turning as he visibly considers his options. After a moment, his shoulders sag. 

“Very well…” He sighs, walking over to Lan Wangji, head hung low. The facade only lasts until he is within reach. Lan Wangji is quick to evade the kick aimed at his injured leg and quicker still to retaliate. He takes the slightest (and certainly most improper) satisfaction in how easy it is to subdue him. Do not bully the weak, he reminds himself. 

Their scuffle attracts the attention of a nearby disciple keeping watch. 

“I caught this one trying to run off with one of the horses.” He explains. 

The disciple, clothed in robes to a minor sect Lan Wangji doesn’t recognize, accepts the explanation readily enough. Spirit truly crushed this time, Su She offers little resistance when Wangji escorts him back to their portion of the camp. Having assaulted the Second Jade, a member of his own sect, Su She’s punishment would no doubt prove harsh. There was little question of whether or not he’d be kicked out of the sect. Judging from the horrified, faintly nauseous look on his face, Su She had thought the same. Pity he hadn’t thought about the consequences sooner.

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Traveling in such a large group with most on foot greatly reduces the amount of ground they can cover. But as they draw further north, chunks of the group break off as they make their way back to their own sects, until mainly Jin and Lan disciples are left. Throughout the trip, Lan Wangji keeps an eye on Su She, who has yet to attempt to escape again. By now, the other Lan are aware of (some) of his transgressions, and likewise, keep an eye on the soon-to-be-former disciple. It takes days, but eventually, they reach Lanling. 

Lan Wangji intends to part ways here - maybe request a couple of horses so that he and his companions can return home faster, but Jin Zixuan insists that they let the Jin host them. 

“Surely you and your companions are tired,” He says. 

Lan Wangji, having the benefit of a horse so that his broken leg could recover, is not, but he knows many of his other clansmen are. Despite this, they do not take up the offer, instead waiting for Wangji’s orders. It would be unfair to push them further just because he is impatient to get home. 

“We would be most grateful to Lanling-Jin,” He accepts. 

Jin Zixuan guides them to Carp Tower. The cultivators on guard duty are surprised to see them but step aside at once for the sect heir. 

“I need to speak to Fuqin at once about what’s happened. In the meantime, some servants will escort you to your rooms,” Jin Zixuan tells them. He dismounts his horse and offers a hand to Luo Qingyang to help her dismount as well before giving the reins to a servant. Lan Wangji does the same. 

The servants whisk them away at once, rooming them based on their gender and sect. The Jin is so affluent, that granting each of them their own room is no trouble at all. Lan Wangji speaks with one of the servants and has them place Su She in the room next to his, just in case he tries to flee again. Once that matter is taken care of, Lan Wangji seeks out a bath. 

Wei Ying had been thoughtful enough to provide them with new robes to replace their own, sullied ones, but while the clean clothes were appreciated, they were no substitute for a proper bath. And while Lan Wangji did his best to clean himself in the river, he held no illusions about how he must have smelt. He hoped he had not bothered Wei Ying too much with it. 

Lan Wangji summons a servant to request a bath and barely has to wait before one is ready for him. The baths in Carp Tower, much like everything else, ooze with ostentation. Wood is exotic and expertly carved with designs of birds and peonies and the soaps and oils come in a wide variety of scents. Not one of them is sandalwood, so Lan Wangji settles for one of the less fragrant ones. He takes his time, meticulously scrubbing the grime from his hair and removing any traces of dirt and blood from beneath his fingernails. His hands and wrists, which had borne long, deep slashes from the usage of his cord assassination technique, have mostly healed. All that's left are faint scabs surrounded by pale pink skin. It won’t scar. None of Lan Wangji’s wounds ever have. For Wei Ying, it must be different. 

Hidden under his robes, he must bear some mark of what happened. (It occurs to Lan Wangji that, even though Wei Ying told him what happened, he still doesn’t know how .) Lan Wangji wonders what he would see if he were ever given the chance to look upon Wei Ying without any garments. It’s a thought he’s had on more than one occasion, but this time it is fueled by worry rather than desire. Though, as he recalls the way Wei Ying’s arms circled him, fingers trailing along the fabric over his torso, and of the sensation of Wei Ying’s breath on the back of his neck, Wangji cannot say he is devoid of the latter. Far from it. 

Heat pools low in his belly. Perhaps he should’ve taken a bath with cold water. 

"If a star fell from the sky every time I thought of you, the sky would be empty." - Donna Ashworth 

Chapter Text

Carp Tower is far nicer than Luo Qingyang is used to. What is opulent to her is merely a given to the Jin cultivators. As she passes a pair of well-manicured women dressed in silks the color of gold (and the jewelry to match) Luo Qingyang can’t help but self consciously fiddle with the hem of her borrowed sleeve (also silk, just how many bolts of fabric did the Jin have, for it to be so freely given?) and avoid their gazes. She might be all washed up now, but a good scrubbing did nothing for the enormous bandage on her face, nor the brand beneath it. Luo Qingyang quickens her pace. She’s almost to the kitchens; she’ll just grab a quick morsel and head back to her quarters. She could eat with the others at one of the Jin’s many ornate tables, but she doesn’t have the energy for a crowd and their curious eyes. And she does not even want to think about Su She, who would be dining with the others. The less she sees of him, the better. 

Luo Qingyang steps into the kitchen - the least ostentatious place she’s seen so far (though much nicer than any of the kitchens she’s cooked in). It is enormous - it has to be, to feed so many people. The workers take note of her fine, pale yellow silks and give her as wide a berth as they are able to while going about their business. Luo Qingyang does her best to avoid getting in the way. Even if she won’t be bumped into or shoved out of the way by them if she dawdles, she doesn’t want to cause unnecessary troubles for any of the kitchen staff. She spots an elderly woman working on what appears to be soup. 

“Pardon me, Ayi,” Luo Qingyang greets. The woman, without even looking at her, reaches for a nearby bowl of soup and ladles her a generous portion before turning to offer it to her. 

“Do you need anything else, Xiaojie?” She asks. 

“No. Thank you.” Luo Qingyang accepts the bowl gratefully and makes her way out of the kitchen, but not before another cook stops her to give her a tray with tea and rice. Luo Qingyang tries to reject the additional food, but the woman is already slipping away to chop vegetables. Best not to bother her further. That, and the tea did smell lovely. 

She retreats back out into the halls of Carp Tower and heads back to her room. On her way she passes a group of cultivators (mostly Jin) she recognizes from the indoctrination. Su She is not among them, which bodes well for her temper. They nod to her politely and she does the same, but as soon as she’s passed them they begin to whisper. 

“ She helped to kill the Xuanwu?”

“Not only that, but Jin-gongzi says she even landed the killing blow! How amazing!” 

“Hmph. Shimei, it is likely our Jin-gongzi was just being humble. He and the Second Jade must’ve done all the work.”

Luo Qingyang ignores their words, opting to focus instead on not getting lost in the labyrinthine halls. Truly, the size of Carp Tower is something to behold. Did she turn here? She’d counted all the turns she’d made on the way over but must’ve made a miscount either on the way there or coming back because this was not the right place. 

Fortunately, a servant is just up ahead. Luo Qingyang goes to ask them for help when the door in front of them opens, revealing the Second Jade. The servant hands over the food and gives a respectful bow before retreating. 

“Ah, just a moment-“ She pleads but they are already vanishing around the corner. Her call failed to get the servant’s attention, but not Lan Wangji’s. 

“Luo-guniang,” He greets. 

“Hello, Lan-er-gongzi,” She gives a polite nod. “You’re not eating with the others?” 

“Mn.” 

“Well, I suppose that makes two of us.” A pause. “I don’t suppose Lan-er-gongzi knows where the females in our group are being housed? I seem to have lost my way….” Perhaps Lan Wangji had visited some of his female sect members and would be able to point her in the right direction. 

Lan Wangji shakes his head. 

“Of course.” She replies, feeling a tad silly. “Forget I ever asked. Enjoy your meal.” 

“You as well.” Lan Wangji starts sliding his door shut when, from the other side of the hall, Jin Zixuan calls for them. 

“Luo-guniang! Lan-er-gongzi!” He strides down the hallway towards them. “There you are. Why haven’t you joined the others for dinner?” 

“Jin-gongzi, how kind of you to come find us.” Luo Qingyang’s greets. “Forgive us for taking you away from your meal. I simply am not feeling up to dining with such a large group.” 

“I see,” He glances back and forth between the two of them, “Well, don’t let me interrupt you two…”

“Nonsense,” She says, “You’ve come all this way, so why don’t we all eat together? Better than eating alone in one’s room.” 

“If you’re certain…” He agrees. They both look over to Lan Wangji, who has made no move to get out of his room. 

“Lan-er-gongzi, are you coming?” She asks. 

A moment passes before Lan Wangji slides the door open fully and steps into the hall with them. 

“Wonderful. Why don’t we find someplace to sit?” 

Jin Zixuan leads them to a room with sliding doors that open to a magnificent view of a garden, complete with its own pond and fish. Luo Qingyang openly gapes at the beautiful scenery. Back at home, her family’s garden was solely for roots and vegetables, save for her mother’s strawflowers. Here, there was not a single plant grown for the purpose of anything other than looking nice. 

They gather around the table, Lan Wangji sitting on one side and she and Jin Zixuan sitting on the other. As soon as they are seated a servant hurries in with a tray of food, which they set before the Jin heir before leaving with a deep bow. 

The meal is silent at first. Lan Wangji doesn’t utter a word as he methodically works through the food on his tray. Jin Zixuan, likewise, is silent. Luo Qingyang, unused to silence during meals, decides to risk breaking it. 

“You have a very nice garden, Jin-gongzi,” She praises. 

“It’s rather small, but it is nice, isn’t it?” 

She glances at the garden. It could easily hold her family’s entire house twice over. 

“…” It comes as no surprise to me now that you did not know the first thing about starting a fire, Jin-gongzi. 

“It’s a good size.” She insists, “And has a lot of variety. Where do you get your flowers?” 

Lots of places, as it turns out. Not surprising, given the Jin’s wealth, but what is, is how knowledgeable Jin Zixuan is about the subject, and just flowers in general. 

“I sat in on a lot of meetings where A-Niang redesigned the gardens,” He says by way of explanation. 

“That sounds nice. Lan-er-gongzi, are there any particular plants that grow in the Cloud Recesses that you are fond of?” She asks, hoping to draw him into the conversation. 

Lan Wangji sets down his chopsticks beside his now-empty bowl. 

“Gentians.” 

How fitting that Lan-er-gongzi would favor a flower representing justice and victory. 

“If it is gentians Lan-er-gongzi prefers, the eastern garden is full of them. If Lan-er-gongzi and Luo-guniang wish, we can go see them,” Jin Zixuan offers. 

Luo Qingyang has the beginnings of a smile but the way the movement messes with her injury makes her quickly school her face into something more neutral. “If Jin-gongzi does not mind, I would be most grateful.” She answers.

Lan Wangji pauses for a moment, perhaps considering whether or not he wishes to just retreat back to his room, but eventually, he nods. Once they have all finished their meals, Jin Zixuan escorts them to the eastern garden. True to his word, it is filled with gentians of blue, purple, and white. They aren’t the only flowers though - far from it. This garden is even larger than the previous one and carefully arranged so that no matter where you walked, you had a pleasing view from all sides along with the faint aroma of flowers. 

They stayed there for a time. Luo Qingyang and Jin Zixuan did most of the talking whilst Lan Wangji preferred to listen, only very rarely adding his own comments. Eventually, the sun began to descend and the sky changed from clear blue to a multitude of reds, oranges, and yellows. 

“It’s getting late. Perhaps we should turn in,” Luo Qingyang suggests. It’s about time to change her bandage and reapply her burn medicine. 

“Oh - yes. I suppose we ought to turn in early. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover to get to Gusu.” Jin Zixuan agrees. He leads them back the way they’d come. 

Luo Qingyang follows behind, the tension that had been with her all morning beginning to be replaced by a cautious hope. “You mean to help with Su She?”

Both her companions give her looks of disbelief. 

“I…yes?” Jin Zixuan asks, confusion plain on his face. 

“We gave our word, Luo-guniang,” Lan Wangji replies. His voice is the same flat, measured cadence it always is, but it feels as if it holds a measure of offense. 

“I did not mean to imply otherwise!” She is hasty to correct. Luo Qingyang did not think either of her companions was untrustworthy - how could she, after being trapped in a cave alongside a legendary beast with them? But Luo Qingyang is logical (at least she flatters herself to think such) and knows that to the great sects, even their worst disciple is regarded as better than any minor sect’s best. While their offer of getting justice in the cave had warmed her, Luo Qingyang had been bracing herself for the very real possibility of them changing their minds. It heartened her to see that they were not so fickle. 

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They set out at dawn, pace swift now that everyone is mounted. Once again, she and Jin Zixuan share a horse, him at the reins and her in the back holding onto his waist. A good arrangement, as she didn’t have to worry about focusing on their path and could instead allow her mind to wander. Most of the trip was spent in silence, save for the occasional short bursts of conversation between them. Lan Wangji and the other Lan guard Su She, and it becomes clear to Luo Qingyang that those she’d seen with the disciple weren’t merely socializing, but watching him, unlike she’d previously thought. No doubt by orders of Lan Wangji. 

It takes them two days to reach the Cloud Recesses. Upon the mountain, it’s colder than she’s used to. Her golden core isn’t powerful enough to stave off the chill completely, but Luo Qingyang has borne worse things. 

Five cultivators guard the entrance, standing near the crumbled stone of what once must’ve been a fine gate. With the Second Jade at their head, the group is let in immediately. With the aid of Jin Zixuan, Luo Qingyang dismounts and offers the horse an affectionate pat on its rear in thanks. A Lan disciple takes the horse and heads off to where she presumes the stables are kept. Most of the others go with, but not Su She. 

Lan Wangji orders him to his side. He does not bother to even look in the other disciple’s direction, so he does not see the look of pure loathing Su She gives him. Luo Qingyang sees it though, and when Su She notices, he turns the nasty look to her instead. 

What audacity! As if you have the right to be angry with me! He’s lucky she keeps such a fine hold on her temper; otherwise, she’d throttle him, height and muscle difference be damned.  

Lan Wangji leads them up massive stone steps that wind through the Cloud Recesses. The natural mountain scenery should make for a beautiful sight, but it is marred by the signs of destruction. Numerous buildings have been destroyed, leaving only charred wood and collapsed roofs behind. In some places, there is nothing left but ash. How awful, to have such a majestic view ruined. The Lan are one of the five great sects, to see their residence be reduced to such a state… Such things did not bode well for the other sects. The Wen have always been a cause of concern for minor sects, but to see them damage a great sect so severely…is there hope for my own? 

Lan Wangji leads them into one of the few buildings that remain untouched. It is a grand structure, one constructed of the finest materials and with superior craftsmanship, yet still managing to look austere. Inside, an elder with a goatee looks over a scroll. Lan Wangji stops several feet away and gives a respectful bow. She and the others follow suit. 

“Shufu,” Lan Wangji addresses him. Luo Qingyang is not the most informed on prominent figures of the great sects, but she is able to recognize him as Lan Qiren. 

“Wangji,” He sets the scroll down at once, eyes scanning over his nephew before catching on his splint. 

“Has there been any news of Xiongzhang?” He asks. 

“I’m afraid not,” Lan Qiren informs him. His eyes dart over to Jin Zixuan and then back to his nephew, “I see you’ve brought the Jin heir with you.”

They exchange a brief greeting before Lan Qiren turns his focus back to his nephew. 

“Have the Jin sent you as a representative to discuss the Wen?” 

“No Shifu,” Jin Zixuan answers. 

Lan Qiren makes a sound of disapproval but says nothing. 

“Shufu, Jin-gongzi and I are here on behalf of Luo-guniang.” Lan Wangji explains. 

Lan Qiren assesses her with a quick glance.

“During the indoctrination Su She attempted to hand her over to be used as live bait,” Lan Wangji explains. 

Lan Qiren frowns, gaze landing on her bandage. “I see…Su She, would you care to explain?”

“I had no choice! The Wen threatened to kill us otherwise!” He cries, hoping to find pity from Lan Qiren. 

“The Wen intended to condemn us regardless of our compliance.” Lan Wangji counters, “I do not need to remind you of what they’ve done here.”

“That’s exactly why I had to comply! I don’t want to give them a reason to come back and finish the job!” Su She argues, “Shifu , surely you understand my logic!?” 

“Do not shout,” Lan Qiren scolds, “Wangji, as…unfavorable as Su She’s actions were, it appears he did not act purely out of cowardice. In times such as these, certain allowances must be made. That being said, Su She will still face punishment and offer Luo-guniang an apology.” 

Luo Qingyang had no interest in an apology that would, beyond doubt, be ingenuine. However Su She receiving any punishment - even if it is a mere slap on the wrist - is more than Luo Qingyang could have hoped to accomplish on her own, as grating as such a thought is. 

“Su She will copy conduct and virtue three hundred times and write Luo-guniang a formal apology,” Lan Qiren decides.

“Writing lines? That’s it?” Jin Zixuan demands, “Shifu , with all due respect, is this punishment fitting to the crime?” 

“And what would you have me do?” Lan Qiren snaps, glaring at him, “Whip him? Expel him from the sect? These are difficult times, and I cannot afford to have my cultivators not be in fighting condition.” 

Jin Zixuan fists clench and he grits his teeth, but he breaks eye contact with Lan Qiren first, face flushing slightly as he looks to the floor. 

“Shufu, Su She’s actions resulted in Luo-guniang being permanently injured. I believe a more serious punishment should be considered.” Lan Wangji states. 

Lan Qiren looks at her skeptically, “She’s got all her limbs and looks to be in good health. Where is the severe injury?”

Jin Zixuan and Lan Wangji look over at her. 

Her lips thin into a line. Wordlessly, she removes her bandage. It stings - some of the material must’ve gotten stuck to her wound. She’d have to give it a thorough cleaning later. As the brand comes into view the skeptical look slides off of Lan Qiren’s face, and he looks as if he’ll be sick. 

“This… is more severe than I first thought….” He admits, “It is most unfortunate Luo-guniang has to deal with such disfigurement. In addition to the previous punishment, Su She will write an additional 100 copies of the integrity of Gusu-Lan’s rules.”

Su She, while not enthused, looks willing to accept copying lines as punishment. Although mundane, it is still far preferable to a whipping or even expulsion from the sect. Given the threat of the Wen, Luo Qingyang knows nothing short of treason would likely get him expelled. Having to write lines is no serious punishment, but for Luo Qingyang, it will have to be enough. Her anger has not fully abated, but realistically, what else can she expect? And even if Lan Qiren were to expel him from the sect, did Luo Qingyang truly want that? 

Being a lone cultivator anywhere near Wen territory is practically a death sentence, and while Luo Qingyang is still very much furious, she does not wish to give him what essentially amounts to a death sentence. This is enough, she tells herself. 

“Shufu, I have not yet explained all of Su She’s transgressions. In addition to handing over Luo Qingyang, he assaulted a fellow Lan disciple.” Lan Wangji informs him. 

Su She pales. 

Lan Qiren’s face darkens, “Su She, is this true?” From the look on his face, he already believes it as such. 

He assaulted a martial brother? And the Second Jade, no less! No wonder the other Lan disciples were watching over him on the way here. 

“I…not exactly-”

“He attempted to strike me on my injured leg after I informed him he would face punishment for his actions at the indoctrination,” Lan Wangji declares. 

Lan Qiren shoots Su She his most scathing glare, “You dare assault him?” 

Lan Qiren may be able to overlook condemning a random cultivator to the whims of the Wen, but when it came to his family, it seemed he offered no such leniency. 

“You will be dealt with accordingly. Wangji, take him to his rooms and have him pack his things,” Lan Qiren orders, “Be sure to confiscate his jade token.”

Luo Qingyang fights the urge to gape. He is really going to kick him out. 

Su She thinks the same, for he rushes forward to bow at Lan Qiren’s feet, “Please! I beg you, don’t throw me out! Don’t we need all the cultivators we have to stand up against the Wen!? I will copy the rules hundreds - no - thousands of times. I should be whipped! Please reconsider!” 

Lan Qiren is unmoved by his groveling. His lip curls, “Show some dignity.” 

He steps back so that Su She is not so close and then turns to her and Jin Zixuan, “I’ll have a disciple escort you to what will serve as your quarters for the duration of your stay. Jin Zixuan, before you leave, I would most appreciate you delivering a message to Jin-Zhongzhu.”

Jin Zixuan nods, “Of course.”

“That will be all then, you are dismissed.” 

.

.

.

With males and females being segregated, Luo Qingyang doesn’t see either of her companions until the morning, when it is time to leave. Having gotten up in accordance with the Lan’s rules, the sun is only just starting to peek over the horizon as she, Jin Zixuan, and Lan Wangji head to the main entrance of the Cloud Recesses. 

“I guess this marks the end of our time together,” Luo Qingyang states. 

“Mn.” 

Luo Qingyang stops before the other two and drops into a formal bow, “Thank you. I am in your debt.” 

“Nothing is owed for doing the proper thing,” Lan Wangji states. 

Jin Zixuan nods his agreement and the matter is left at that. She and Jin Zixuan mount their horses. 

Lan Wangji hands a letter to Jin Zixuan, who tucks it away into his robes.

“From Shufu for Jin-Zongzhu,” he explains. 

Jin Zixuan tucks it away, “Thank you.” 

Lan Wangji nods, “Take care.” 

“You as well, Lan-er-gongzi,” Luo Qingyang replies. 

They don’t linger.

The ride back to Lanling is faster with just the two of them. It’s quieter too, with how the wind carries away any sound softer than a shout. When they stop for the day to make camp, Luo Qingyang goes to collect firewood whilst Jin Zixuan cares for the horses. Throughout their travels together, Jin Zixuan had only collected firewood once - not because he didn’t want to help, but because he wasn’t any good at it. He’d brought back exclusively greenwood - branches that had been freshly cut from the tree since he thought that’d work best. In addition to producing an excess of smoke (dangerous when they’d still been in Qishan), he hadn’t thought to bring any smaller kindling to actually start the fire. Luo Qingyang thought it easier to just gather it herself from then on. Fortunately, he proved more capable when it came to handling other chores. 

Luo Qingyang returns to see the horses happily munching on their hard-earned dinner whilst Jin Zixuan cleared a small area for the fire. 

“Luo-guniang, allow me to start it,” He offers, taking the materials from her. She hands it over without argument. 

Jin Zixuan starts the fire just as she taught him back when they were trapped in the cave, grinning wide when a tiny flame finally bursts to life. 

“A-ha! Look at that! Even faster than last time,” Jin Zixuan declares cheerfully. 

Her brother, only half Jin Zixuan’s age, could’ve started the fire twice as fast, but Luo Qingyang doesn’t tell him that. Instead, she smiles and nods and pulls out the rations for dinner. 

Once the fire has reached a good size, Jin Zixuan gets up, brushes the dirt from his robes, and comes to sit beside her. Luo Qingyang offers him his share of rations, which he accepts gratefully. 

“So what will you do once we make it back to Lanling?” Jin Zixuan asks. 

“I will need to return to my sect,” Luo Qingyang says, “To my family.”  

Jin Zixuan nods, “What’re they like?”

“My father is a cultivator - like me. He taught me how to wield a sword. My mother doesn’t fight. She never cultivated a golden core, so she takes care of the home and tends to our garden.

Binghe, my baby brother, helps her when he’s not studying cultivation. Though he is a bit clumsy, like the time he managed to fall down a well-” 

As Luo Qingyang tells him more about her family, she finds herself choking up a little; before Wei-gongzi and the others had come to save them, she didn’t think they’d actually make it out of the cave. She hadn’t expected to be sharing stories over a fire with the heir to Langling-Jin, she’d expected to either be devoured by the Xuanwu or expire due to a combination of infection and dehydration. Luo Qingyang swallows. 

“Your family sounds very close,” Jin Zixuan says.

“We are,” She agrees. 

There’s a wistful expression on his face. Perhaps he’s thinking of his own family?

“What about yours?” 

“My parents are good to me. As for siblings…” He trails off. 

Jin Guangshan is infamous for his indulgences in the fairer sex, so although Jin Zixuan doesn’t officially have any siblings, he has to have at least one or two illegitimate ones out there. 

“Do you have any cousins?” She asks, steering the conversation to a more comfortable topic for him. 

“Yes. Jin Zixun - we grew up together so he’s like a little brother to me.” He smiles at this last part. It’s very becoming. “We got into our fair share of mischief as kids, such as when we tried to keep a pony in Zixun’s room. We managed to last nearly two days before anyone found her-“ 

They talk well into the night, stopping only once the lingering embers of their fire begin to die. 

.

.

.

They part ways when they get to Lanling. Jin Zixuan offers to escort her home, but Luo Qingyang can’t bring herself to keep him away from his responsibilities any longer, even if she does enjoy his company. She’ll miss him, but any loneliness she would feel is overshadowed by the eagerness to see her family and fellow disciples. 

The remainder of her ride passes without incident and by the time the sun has set she’s finally made it back to the small farm she calls home. She leads her new horse to the pen where they keep their donkey. She could talk with her parents later and decide what to do with the horse later, but for now, she hoped Parsnip wouldn’t mind the extra company. However, Parsnip wasn’t in the pen. Her father must’ve been on a nighthunt then. 

Māmā will still be home. Hopefully, she hasn’t gone to sleep yet, I don’t want to wake her. 

Her sensitive hearing picks up the sound of footsteps, light and fast. Luo Qingyang turns in time to see her younger brother barreling towards her. 

“Jiejie!!!” He cries, throwing his arms around her torso. She bends down to better wrap her arms around his smaller frame. 

“I missed you,” He replies with a sniffle. He clings with all the might his eight-year-old body can muster. 

“I’ve missed you too,” She replies, “C’mon. Let’s go inside.” 

Binghe, being the sticky child he is, refuses to let go, so Luo Qingyang scoops him up. He’s big for his age, but she manages. When they get to the front of the house, their mother is already waiting for them at the doorway. 

“A-Qing?” Her mother calls. 

“Māmā!” With the arm not holding her brother, she embraces her. Binghe joins in on the hug as well. The position causes him to lean forward and rather than deal with the added strain, Luo Qingyang sets him down. 

“Alright, down you go.” 

“Aren’t you too old to be carried like that?” Their mother chides, but it lacks any firmness. “Off to bed with you. Growing cultivators need their sleep.” 

Binghe does as he is told and bids them goodnight. Once Binghe is back inside, her mother gently strokes her bandaged cheek. 

“What happened here?” She asks softly. 

“The indoctrination didn’t go as planned,” Luo Qingyang replies, “It’s kind of a long story.” 

“Then I’ll brew some tea,” Her mother says with a nod. 

Luo Qingyang is herded inside and told to sit at the kitchen table while her mother goes to boil some water. Luo Qingyang closes her eyes, letting out a deep breath as she listens to the familiar sounds of her mother at work. At long last, she’s home.