Chapter Text
“Xian- Xian-jie, wait!” A delicate young lady, dressed in a drab ocean gray ruqun, called out as she picked up her skirts and ran stiffly after her older sister. She wore a long weimao, which she kept from showing her face with one hand.
Her cheap jade ornaments tinkled against each other, waving wildly among her skirts.
Her sister laughed, slowing down to let her catch up. She wore a deep black aoqun with a pale green trim, standing out quite a bit within the brightly colored streets, especially with the black and red dizi at her side. If it wasn’t for her feminine robes and weimao, she could’ve been confused with a Yiling Patriarch fraud.
“Guniangs!” A vendor called out, a well-built man in his late 60s, sitting with a cane at his side, “Would either of you fine young ladies be interested in any ornaments, ah, perhaps for your… Interesting dizi?”
The older woman bounced over to the stall, looking down at the carefully crafted pieces with a critical eye. Finally, she pointed to one with a bunny surrounded with auspicious clouds, the rabbit in profile view with a blood-red stone replacing its eye.
He chuckled nervously, “Ah, guniang, wouldn’t you prefer something a bit more… Suitable to a young lady’s tastes? With such a suspicious ornament, I don’t imagine you’ll find much luck with any alphas.”
She tilted her head, “Why ever would I desire an alpha?” She chuckled, “Are you really so bad at telling scents?”
He stammered, “Ah- guniang, I meant no disrespect,”
She placed two silver pieces on the table, “Would this cover it?”
He nodded frantically, taking the silver and pushing the ornament towards her.
She laughed, practically floating down the street while her sister bowed her head, following her.
“Ah, Linlin, why did he look at me so strange,” Wei Wuxian pouted, pocketing the ornament as he skipped to a ribbon seller, buying a bright red one and tying the ornament to his flute.
Wen Ning, for once, rolled his eyes, “I don’t know, Xianxian, I don’t know.” Stop bullying the poor vendors! He wanted to say, but he held his tongue.
They had made it to a bigger town, Xuefangta, which was particularly big due to the trading routes between Nie, Qin, and Jin. As a big town tends to have, it held a lot of gossip within its walls, specifically over the unrest with a spirit or demon haunting a corner of the town, near the brothel’s district.
They had paused in a teahouse, Wen Ning having reminded Wei Wuxian that he was not, in fact, dead and needed to eat. Yet, the tea house was abuzz with rumors- specifically about a certain big clan visiting their little town with official business.
“They’re speaking to Lord Song,” An older auntie whispered, dressed in fabulous colors with a beautiful fan, “Oh, how exciting! The last big-name cultivator who visited here was Lao Nie-zongzhu!”
“Who?” Her daughter wrinkled her nose.
Her mother laughed, patting her shoulder, “Nie-zongzhu’s father! Ten years before he died!”
“Mama,” She told her gravely, “You’re old.”
She barely grazed her fan against her daughter’s shoulder, an offended noise giving way to a laugh.
Wei Wuxian chugged his tea, putting the cup down none too delicately and watching as the harried server filled it back up, “So, Linlin, who do you think the cultivators are?”
Wen Ning shrugged a shoulder, “If it was the Nies or Jins there would have been more gossip, wouldn’t you think?”
Wei Wuxian hummed, nodding, “True, I’m putting my bets on Qin, Jiang, or Xing. Maybe even Wan- although there’s more hubbub than they’d warrant.”
Wen Ning sipped his tea at a more serene rate, ducking his head, “What if it’s the Lans?”
He tensed, taking a breath, “Well, then I’d have to leave- I can’t get caught by the Lans , Ni- Linlin, they’re too boring!” He forced cheer into his laugh.
The server gave him a weird look, although he seemed too well-trained to properly question it.
Wen Ning stirred his tea, tilting his head, “Will we still be continuing with our plans?”
Wei Wuxian hummed, Well, on one hand, there’s an official clan helping, but on the other hand… We really need the money, aiya, why am I so irresponsible with funds!
“I’m not sure,” He finally said, “They’d probably get whatever money the town would offer for it- although if they’re a particularly just clan, perhaps they wouldn’t take anything.”
“If we accepted it, Lao Diaolan would probably let us lodge with them for free,” Wen Ning offered.
Wei Wuxian fake sniffed, putting a hand to his chest, “But then us delicate young ladies will be spotted in a brothel! Our reputations would be ruined!”
The other patrons gave them strange looks, and finally, Wei Wuxian stood up, putting a few gold pieces on the table, “Perhaps we should get going, Linlin.”
Wen Ning nodded, following him out of the teahouse.
They walked through the streets at a sedate pace, making their way to where the most recent appearance of the spirit had been. Although the spirit hadn’t killed anyone yet, it was especially notable due to the spirit’s violent nature. The most recent attack had been against an eight-year-old boy, the youngest son of the brothel’s madam.
According to Lao Diaolan, the brothel’s keeper, her son had been on his way home from playing with his friends, it had been late at night and he had heard a noise in an alleyway. He had assumed it was an animal, a cat, or a dog- Wei Wuxian shivered at this -and had checked it out.
Instead of a pet, he had been clawed by something- left with three big gashes on his stomach. Unfortunately, he hadn’t recovered enough to tell of his experiences, but a neighbor had heard his screaming and checked out what was happening. The neighbor had found a skinny, spindly figure standing over the young boy, blood down their front.
The figure had been scared off when the neighbor started throwing rocks, and the neighbor had managed to bring the boy to a healer, where he was stitched back up and is currently healing.
According to the neighbor, a man called Wang Jianyan, the figure was taller than himself with long black hair in a tight ponytail, tied with a tight guan. Despite the ponytail, the hair had reached their midcalves, and the figure had dark, haunting eyes.
The spirit or demon had three other victims; two women and one young girl. All three were healing nicely, and all three had the same three gashes on their stomach.
Finally, they made it to the corner, which was a grim scene. They hadn’t cleaned the bloodstains, and there were a series of bloody footprints down the alleyway, where they eventually disappeared. Wei Wuxian closed his eyes, probing the space, and he almost gasped at what he felt.
Resentment. A whole lot of it. Enough that he wouldn’t be able to deal with it- not with the lack of talismans he had on him, nor with his empty core.
He snapped open his eyes, pacing up and down the alleyway. They couldn’t handle this alone. He was the Yiling Patriarch, yes, but this? This required things that their meager supplies couldn’t cover.
“Wuxian,” Wen Ning said, “I think we need to hide.”
“Why?”
“Well,” Wen Ning started, “I found out who the cultivators were.”
“And?”
“They’re Lans.”
Wei Wuxian cursed under his breath, “How close are they?”
“Guniangs!” A cheerful voice called, “Are you here to nighthunt?”
Quickly, Wei Wuxian stuffed the flute in his qiankun pouch, folding his hands in front of him as the Lans came into view. The leader of the Lan group was a man, perhaps 20 years old, his forehead ribbon signifying that he was an inner clan member. He wore a sky blue robe, trimmed with white, clouds embroidered on his shoulders.
“Yes, Lan-gongzi,” Wei Wuxian tilted his head down, making sure the weimao covered his face.
There were four other Lans in the group, all of whom he recognized. Lan Jingyi, Lan Liuli, one of the Lan girls that accompanied them at Dafan, and A-Yuan .
“Ah, and what may I call you honored ladies?” For a cousin of the Twin Jades, he’s very verbose and charming! Not that my Lan Zhan isn’t charming.
…
Shit. He’s asking our names.
Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian exchanged a panicked glance for a moment before Wei Wuxian stepped forward, “This one is A-Xian, and this is my sister, A-Lin. And you, honored cultivator?”
“Lan Shensi,” He gave a light bow, “I’m heading this nighthunt- under the watchful eye of Hanguang-Jun. Are you ladies cultivators?”
The Lan girl rolled her eyes, as if she had seen this display a million times. A-Yuan squinted slightly at the two, while Lan Jingyi muttered, “Not this again.”
Wen Ning inclined his head, “Mhm.”
“Rogue cultivators,” Wei Wuxian said, “It’s not much, but it gets us by!”
“Ai,” He laughed, “How just!”
“Tangshu,” A-Yuan interjected, “Baba is coming.”
“Ah!” He looked to the side, “So he is!”
Wei Wuxian held his breath as Lan Wangji walked into view, beautiful and radiant as always. His robes were less like mourning gear this time, he wore light blue edges rather than just pure white. Lan Wangji’s eyes widened ever so slightly seeing Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning.
“Tangge, this is A-Xian and A-Lin. They’re rogue cultivators.”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji inclined his head towards the two.
“Hanguang-jun,” Wei Wuxian quickly bowed, Wen Ning following.
“Have you found anything?” A-Yuan asked.
“We interviewed the mother of the most recent victim- he’s healing but hasn’t woken up yet. There’s a lot of resentment, but it doesn’t feel like a monster,” He paused, “We interviewed the neighbor who had spotted the thing- I’d suggest talking to him.”
Wei Wuxian shook his head, “I’m surprised it hasn’t taken more victims- actually, I’m surprised it didn’t kill anyone yet. It’s much more than us simple rogues could deal with,” He simpered.
“It seems like you have it handled,” Wei Wuxian bowed, “We’ll take our leave.”
“Thank you, guniangs,” Lan Shensi bowed back as the two left, although he seemed slightly confused by the quick departure.
Wei Wuxian hurried down the street, immediately heading to the brothel where Little Apple stayed.
He and Wen Ning didn’t speak as they untied Little Apple, steering her through the streets.
“What do we need to leave?” Wei Wuxian asked.
“Feed, some more provisions, and another map, I believe.” Wen Ning said, “I’ll wait at the edge of town while you buy?”
Wei Wuxian nodded, quickly walking to the marketplace. Unfortunately, it was the height of the day, and therefore it was busy , he could barely squeeze past to get to the cartographer’s small table. Quickly, he bought the map, shoving it in his pocket carefully as he walked.
Finally, after buying provisions, he made it to the feed stall, hesitating when he saw the prices. He took a glance at his money pouch, then back at the bag of feed. I shouldn’t have spent so frivolously.
He chuckled uneasily, “How much would five gold pieces buy?”
“We sell them by the bag,” The farmer told him, “If you can’t buy, move it, you’re taking up the space for customers.”
Aiya, so rude to this poor guniang.
He hesitated for a moment, before a white-clothed figure stepped next to him, “What about two silvers?”
The farmer nodded, looking at the Lan with a critical eye. Wei Wuxian turned his head and his heart dropped. A-Yuan…
“Guniang, may I help you carry it?” He asked earnestly, a light smile on his face.
“Ah,” He chuckled nervously, “No need, Lan-gongzi.”
“I insist, you helped us figure out the ghost.”
“Lan-gongzi-”
“Hey!” The farmer scowled, “If you aren’t going to buy more, leave.”
Before A-Yuan could, he stepped forward, grabbing the bag of feed. His arms strained, and he puffed out a breath when it fell onto his foot. Ah, he forgot that while now he had a golden core, it was weaker than a baby, and the malnutrition that Mo Xuanyu had didn’t do him much good.
Smugly, A-Yuan grabbed it, hauling it up. Aiya! Where did my Yuanyuan get this arm strength?! Where were the days when he couldn’t even hold a turnip?!
“Where do you need this?” A-Yuan asked.
Wei Wuxian shook his head, “A-Lin is waiting for me by the route to Longda. I suppose we’ll go back there.”
He nodded stubbornly, but before he could continue, a golden butterfly flitted towards him, and he closed his eyes to listen to it. He got a panicked look on his face and he dropped the feed, bowing quickly, “I’m sorry, Xian-gege, I have to- I got to go.”
Before Wei Wuxian could say or do anything, A-Yuan ran off in the direction of the Lan congregation.
He knows who I am. Wei Wuxian blinked, staring at his quickly retreating back.
—
As Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning were making their way to a new town, the Lans finally settled down in their rooms. Lan Wangji and his kids in one room, and Lan Shensi and the other two kids in another.
Lan Wangji, Lan Liuli, and Lan Sizhui sat around a low table, each covered in a varying degree of blood, mud, and grime. Lan Liuli had the most, and Lan Sizhui had the least.
“Chang-er,” Lan Wangji finally sighed, seeming truly tired, “You may take the first bath.”
Lan Liuli nodded several times in quick succession, “Alright, baba.”
She ducked behind the large folding screen, which was particularly fancy for such a low-cost inn.
Lan Wangji made up the two beds for his children, putting a few blankets from his bags on the floor with a pillow for his own sleeping arrangement. It had been a particularly tiring nighthunt, the ghost had been particularly strong and particularly resentful. She had been a prostitute from the town over, who had visited her nieces in Xuefangta and had been murdered by one of her previous patrons, who blamed his visit to her for his life crumbling around him.
It had truly been a horrible case, the resentment she felt had hung around them like a cloud, and by the time he had made it there, Lan Qingshi had a couple of scratches where the ghost had gotten to her, and Chang-er had a wound in her abdomen- he felt his heart stop when he saw the bleeding -but was thankfully alright, as it didn’t go far and it was easily healed with his surplus of spiritual energy.
Chang-er walked out with a white zhongyi on, her hair tied in a bun at the back of her neck.
“Bath is free,” She said, her subdued tone a far departure from her typical carefree tone. She walked over to Lan Wangji, picking at his sleeve until he stood, “Hug me.” She told him in a no-nonsense tone, wrapping her arms around him.
Lan Wangji exhaled through his nose, his lips turning up as he hugged her back, his chin resting on the top of her head. “A-Yuan,” He called, “Join us.”
Sizhui fidgeted with his hands before joining the hug, resting his head against Lan Wangji’s shoulder.
“Baba…” He hesitated, “Xian-gege was there. I was going to talk to him- I had been close, I paid for his feed, but then I had to go.”
He tensed slightly, before sighing and relaxing, “We’ll wait for him to come to us- if he truly does not wish for… This, then I won’t force him.” He added on, “We have to go to Lanling, too. Your jiujiu needs help, then we’ll nighthunt in that area until the discussion conference.”
Chang-er, who had gone silent on the topic of Wei Wuxian, lifted her head, an angry pout forming on her face, “But- Baba! He’s… He’s your zhiji! He’s your mate!”
Lan Wangji shook his head, “I didn’t claim him. If he wishes to be free, it is not up to me to cage him. I cannot- will not do that.”
“But… You’re his mate!”
He repeated, “If he wishes to be free, I will not cage him.”