Chapter Text
Ever since Uncle Jiang adopted him and brought him into his home, Wei Wuxian has tried hard not to cause problems.
Wei Wuxian found out early in life that his eyes and his hair were unnatural to most people. Any time he tried to go out in the winter to go into the town he would get rocks thrown at him and was called a demon. He learned quickly that if he was to be seen as normal, he would have to wear a black see through blind fold to cover his eyes and rub dirt and mud into his hair.
He hated that he had to hide part of himself just to fit in with the society around him.
He was also never cold. When the season turned into winter he felt right at home. One winter he was alone in the woods near Yiling, the town right outside of the Lotus Pier, he found he could create things out of ice and snow with the magic that flowed through his veins. The young child had been delighted by the ice sculptures being created in the palm of his hand. He was even more happy when he released a breath and flurries of snow flew from his mouth. His eyes had never shone brighter.
Though when he tried to show his aunt, she slapped him across the face and made him kneel as she whipped him with her Zidian. She told him afterwards that he was forbidden from using his 'demonic' cultivation. The next day she had a cultivator instruct him on learning to cultivate his own golden core and master a sword. Her children, Jiang Wanyin, courtesy name Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, played with him whenever they could. Though they were only allowed when winter was over or when his hair and eye color was hidden.
Over the years his siblings tried to spend time with him when they could, but only now they were able to spend every day with him. Why? Because they were sent an invitation to attend the Gusu Lan lectures to learn about the Lan Sect and their ways.
Jiang Cheng and Yanli were walking on either side of him talking about the possibilities of what they could learn at the lectures when suddenly Yanli tripped. Wei Wuxian's eyes widened and turned to catch her. As she fell into his arms he heard a popping sound coming from her ankle. His little sister by a year cried out in pain and slumped into his hold.
He carefully lifted her into a bridal carry and motioned for their younger brother to go ahead of them to find a healer.
"A-yin, go find a healer for A-li. She might have hurt her ankle." He commanded in a serious tone. Their brother nodded and ran ahead.
Wei Wuxian glided gracefully in the direction the youngest Jiang ran. A few minutes later A-yin came running back and pointed at a building a little ways away.
"Brother, there's a healer a few buildings down." He panted.
Wei Wuxian nodded at his baby brother with a kind smile.
"Good job A-yin. Go tell the healer we will be there in a moment. I don't want to run with sister or her ankle might get injured more." He explained gently. Jiang Cheng nodded in understanding before running off again.
"A-yin is a very good little brother Wei Ying. And you are a very good older brother." Yanli said softly, an angelic smile gracing her face.
Wei Wuxian smiled and hummed at that.
Soon they arrived at the healers and he set her down on the hospital bed. The two brothers stepped out of the room to give her some privacy as the doctor looked her over. A little while later the doctor came back and told them that she dislocated her ankle from the joint and that she would need to stay off her foot so it could heal for the next few weeks.
They thanked the healer and Wei Wuxian picked her up again to take her to Gusu.
The next two days were long but Wei Wuxian carried her all the way to the top of the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain the day before he had only set her down so the Jiang servant girls could help her change in a tent he had built for their privacy.
They reached the gates of the Lan Sect by 3:00 where a man in the white robes of the Lan clan. There were no blue clouds on his robes so Wei Ying figured he must be a servant or a guard.
"Good afternoon sir. I am Wei Wuxian from the Jiang Sect. This is my younger sister and our younger brother, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli." He introduced, "A-yin, could hold A-li so I can get our invitation." He asked kindly.
"Yes big brother." He said with a delighted smile, eager to relieve their older sibling of the weight so he could rest.
Wei Ying reached into his left breast pocket of his robes and grabbed the paper invitation before handing it to the guard.
"I apologize for being late if we are. Our sister tripped over something and dislocated her ankle on the way here. We had to take her to the healers on our way." He explained.
The man just nodded and let him through.
As they went in Wei Wuxian could feel the chilling breeze. Winter was a month away. He would need to ask the leader of the Lan clan if he could go into solitary for the winter. After all the Jiang's sent him with a requirement scroll for the Lan clan to read if he was to stay there through the winter.
Once his siblings were settled in their rooms he went to find Lan Qiren. He asked a servant who was passing by where he could find the man. They said he would be in the lecture hall and pointed to a building across the courtyard. He thanked them and glided gracefully to the hall.
The older Lan was giving a lecture to his own disciples. Wei Wuxian decided to wait patiently outside for the lecture to be over.
One hour later.
Lan Qiren dismissed the disciples. They all got up and left with books and pencils as Wei Ying strode in.
"Lan Qiren sir, may I have a word with you?" He asked with a bow.
The older man nodded. Wei Wuxian smiled politely at him and handed him the scroll that was sent with him. The man opened it and read quickly before looking back at him.
"I apologize if it is any inconvenience Sir." He bowed again.
"Very well, we invited you to our lectures and you came. If you get ill in the winter then we have to take care of you. Your parents have asked us to give you solitude during that time. Seeing as there is only a month until the season changes you have much to learn in very little time. I will have Lan Wangji teach you more after lectures are over before you go to bed." The man told him, stroking his goatee.
"Thank you Lan Qiren." He smiled kindly with a bow. After their discussion he left to check on his siblings. On the way back to their rooms he passed one of the Lan heirs on the other side of the courtyard.
Lan Wangji...
Wei Wuxian stopped to stare for a moment to admire the beautiful man. He had gorgeous golden eyes that matched his pale complexion perfectly. His pure jet black hair made him look ethereal as he walked with such grace that it flowed behind him like silk fabric.
He felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he realized that he would be studying with this man every afternoon for a month. He quickly walked away and back to the room he shared with his brother.
Jiang Cheng was sitting on his bed reading a book he had brought with him when Wei Wuxian strode into the room and shut the doors quietly but quickly.
He turned to see his little brother staring at him for a few moments before rolling his eyes and going back to his book. Wei Wuxian smiled and sighed softly at his younger brother's antics before going over to his own bed and laying down to rest before dinner.