Chapter Text
The many waterways of Caiyi Town were a welcome sight after trudging through forests and mountain sides for the last few days. In fact, the dense net of rivers combined with its - very much uncommon to Gusu standards - spicy cuisine were the region’s best features. This was Wei Wuxian’s first observation after settling in at their last overnight stop before reaching the Cloud Recesses.
Just like the days prior, the group of Yunmeng disciples and servants had walked for another almost 16 hours and were happy to see the outlines of Caiyi Town from a few miles away. It definitely made the last part of the distance far easier to finish.
Thankfully, the guest house they had planned to reside in for the night still had a few free rooms despite groups of other clans resting their feet for the night at the same place. Many clans took huge pride in being invited to the lectures at the Cloud Recesses for the Lan clan procured some of the most elegant and mighty cultivators to ever walk the earth and an opportunity like this was no small deal. Apparently, Lan Qiren was known for his strict and at times boring lectures. Something Wei Wuxian was not looking forward to.
Jiang Cheng, heir of the Yunmeng Jiang clan and only son of Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan, saw his upcoming stay in Gusu as a way to prove his worth to his mother and make his father proud. He felt like he’d been running on the spot for ages, not really progressing his skills yet not being able to overcome this hurdle. A different clan’s look on the earth, their lectures and martial skills might just be what he needs to find his breakthrough.
His sister, Jiang Yanli, while old enough to join the lectures, was unfortunately not invited due to Gusu Lan’s traditional means of teaching male cultivators only. A huge flaw as some would say. Some of the greatest cultivators were big female names such as Baoshan Sanren or Gusu Lan’s very own Lan Yi, the third clan leader of the Lan clan.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t really sure why he was invited. He was ecstatic when he found out about his invitation of course, however, he hasn’t really made a big name of himself yet. Sure, he was a prodigy, a master with his bow and genius sword fighter but due to his… unfortunate health conditions he hasn’t yet slayed any big and ravenous monsters or drew any other clan’s attention to himself. And yet-
At some point one has read every interesting book about the clan’s cultivation means and fighting techniques and mastered every aspect written or mouthed down. Wei Wuxian was smart, remarkably so and though unassuming in appearance, he more than compensated with a mind that dazzled. Maybe that’s what spiked the Lan clan’s interest in him and provoked them to extend the invitation to him as well.
He imagined all the tricks he’d be able to play on the stuck-up Lan disciples with their pristine cloaks and white head ribbons and had to stifle a laugh. ‘They won’t know what hit them.
A knock at his door cut off his string of mischievous thoughts. With a sigh, Wei Wuxian jumped off the window sill where he sat until now to gaze at the stars above and the streets below where merchants and villagers slowly found their ways home to end the day, the moon lighting their way and reflecting on the river’s surface.
Within four steps, he reached the wooden door and, knowing who’d be on the other side, threw it open to surprise Jiang Cheng who had his hand raised as if about to knock once more. How impatient. “Who might disturb my beauty sleep at this hour?” Wei Wuxian leaned lazily against the doorframe, then slid down dramatically, hand resting against his forehead as though he might faint.
Jiang Cheng had opened his eyes in surprise upon Wei Wuxians sudden appearance, however, his expression quickly changed from shocked to annoyed in a second. Rolling his eyes, he pushed past his brother and fell on the bed at the opposite side of the room, right below the window. “Shut up, asshole. Don’t make fun of that stuff. You know Jiejiie hates it when you act like this.”
Wei Wuxian hummed. “Well, but I don’t see Shijie anywhere, so I can do whatever I want.” He cracked an especially annoying smile, causing Jiang Cheng to pick up the pillow he had just rested his head on and launched it at Wei Wuxian. “Ahhh, how rude! You’re mean, Jiang Cheng! You’re always fighting the weak ones. What kind of sect leader would treat their best disciple like that?!” While shouting about the unfairness of the world, Wei Wuxian danced out of the pillow’s way and wallowed in self pity. The whole commotion and the day’s exertion left him almost out of breath and his hand nearly reached for his chest before he caught himself and risked a glance at his brother.
Jiang Cheng only snorted, seemingly missing the gesture but still patting the space next to him on the bed. “Future sect leader. Now sit down or I’ll make you, ugly face.” The change in atmosphere was too obvious to believe he hadn’t noticed Wei Wuxians discomfort.
“Funny for you to say that.” After picking up the discarded pillow, Wei Wuxian joined his brother on the bed, heavily sighing. It’s been a long and exhausting day.
After a moment of heavy silence, Jiang Cheng asked “you okay?” because despite being the most annoying person on earth, he still cared for his brother and was aware of his limits. Today, indeed, was very taxing - even for him and he had a perfectly healthy heart. He side-eyed Wei Wuxian, noticing his faster than normal breathing and slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. He hoped these last days of traveling to Gusu wouldn’t end up in a fever.
Their group of attending disciples could’ve flown all the way of course but it would’ve been too far for Wei Wuxian to fly on his own on Suibian and he never would’ve agreed flying with Jiang Cheng. Proud idiot that he was. Thus, after an extensive and unnecessary argument, it was decided that Wei Wuxian wouldn’t walk all the way on his own (“What the hell are you even thinking? What if you got attacked by a Yao and nobody would find out you died until days later?!”) but the group would travel together and leave a few days earlier to make it in time (“Okay, don’t say it’s my fault then if Lan Qiren makes all of you copy the rules a hundred times while doing a handstand because we’re too late. I’ve heard they’ve got three thousand rules, Jiang Cheng! What the hell?!”). In the end, all ten of the invited (Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian) and picked (the most ambitious and promising) disciples left with enough time to rest for long enough each day.
(Jiang Yanli had packed enough food to last them several weeks—or feed an entire village for a month. “Make sure you don’t forget to eat and have snacks on you all the time. A-Cheng, you’ll take care of A-Xian, won’t you?” -“Jiejie, he’s old enough to take care of himself. I’m not his maid.” -”I bet you’d look great, wearing- OUCH!”)
Needless to say both of them were looking forward to reaching their destination tomorrow.
Wei Wuxian laughed softly and smirked at Jiang Cheng. “Yeah, I’m good. Bit tired but nothing a good night’s rest couldn’t fix.” Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. “Really. Stop worrying all the time. It’s been weeks since I last fell sick.”
Jiang Cheng snorted disapprovingly and turned away. “You make it sound like all you had was a harmless cold.”
The problem with a weak heart wasn’t only that Wei Wuxian had to be careful with everything he did but also the unpredictableness the condition brought with it. Something as simple as picking lotus seeds in the river in autumn makes you catch a cold or practicing sword fighting for an incense time leaves you rendered for hours on end.
Wei Wuxian’s smirk didn’t waver, but he knew exactly what Jiang Cheng was referring to. A few weeks ago, he'd done something reckless, as usual. “Oh come on, that wasn’t anything serious.”
Jiang Cheng crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. “Not serious? You collapsed in broad daylight, Wei Wuxian.”
Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes and leaned back. “I got a little lightheaded, that’s all.”
“You collapsed while picking herbs in the middle of a storm! All because you insisted on going back to that mountainside instead of waiting until the weather cleared.”
He remembered it well, even if he tried to downplay it now. They had been out on a routine supply run for their sect, collecting herbs near a misty mountain valley. Wei Wuxian had insisted on going a little further up the mountainside to find a rare plant that he thought might be useful. When the storm clouds had rolled in, Jiang Cheng had urged him to turn back, but Wei Wuxian, as stubborn as ever, waved him off, saying it would be fine.
It wasn’t.
The rain had come down fast, the cold wind biting through his clothes, and before long, the chill had set in deeper than he’d expected. By the time they got back to the Yunmeng camp, Wei Wuxian was soaked to the bone, shivering, and dangerously pale. That night, he developed a fever that lingered for days, leaving him bedridden and weak. The fever had passed eventually, but the aftermath—days of chest pain and exhaustion—had reminded them both that his condition was not something to be taken lightly.
Still, he couldn’t resist teasing Jiang Cheng now. “That storm wasn’t even that bad. And besides, I found the herbs, didn’t I?”
“You’re impossible,” Jiang Cheng muttered, turning away. “If you keep pushing yourself like that, one day it won’t just be a fever you’re recovering from.” He tried to hide his fear, pushing away the nightmares he had experienced after that day, imagining Wei Wuxian slipping down the wet stony edge of the mountain and cracking open his head or dying because of hypothermia and his high fever. He wouldn't ever admit this, especially to Wei Wuxian, but he did care - a lot.
Wei Wuxian hummed. “You know me. It takes a lot more than some water to take me out.” To underline his joke, he elbowed his brother in the side and held his other hand up in a peace sign while grinning.
Jiang Cheng pushed his face away and grumbled something about stupid idiots not taking care of themselves and making others worry unnecessarily. Wei Wuxian laughed out loud this time and let himself fall sideways on the bed, head at the back and feet resting on Jiang Cheng’s lap. He put his arms behind his head and stared at the artfully painted ceiling. “What do you think the next three months will be like? Will we go back as changed men?”
“I don’t think anyone is capable of changing you. You’re insufferably.” Jiang Cheng hefted up Wei Wuxians legs to get up on the bed all the way and put them back where they were after getting into cross-legged sitting. He ignored Wei Wuxian’s grumbling to think about the question and picture their stay in the Cloud Recesses as if he hasn’t spent every night since receiving the letter doing just that. For Jiang Cheng, this felt like his chance to prove himself as Yunmeng’s future sect leader and put himself out there as a powerful and capable cultivator. “Hmm, hard to tell. I know Lan Qiren is known for being all strict but I’m kinda here for it. I guess I’m excited to meet other disciples and form new bonds.”
“Wow, so well-spoken for a sect leader!” (“Wei Wuxian, I swear to god!”) Wei Wuxian laughed and defended himself from the pillow flying his way once again. “Okay, okay, sorry. I’m sorry! I won’t disrespect the future sect leader of YunmengJiang anymore.” To prove his innocence, he shut his eyes tight and raised his hands in a pleading gesture, lifting his head slightly off the bed. Jiang Cheng grumbled once again but seemed consoled until Wei Wuxian added a “for now” for which he earned himself another attack with the pillow.
After their fight ended and both calmed down again, Jiang Cheng asked: “What about you? Any expectations?”
Wei Wuxian thought about it. He did have expectations but mostly, he just wanted to have fun, get out of Yunmeng without everyone worrying about him constantly and make new friends. Instead, he said “Kinda, not really. I’m just happy I was invited, I guess. Don’t know how that happened. I’ll just see what happens.” He has never met anyone from the Lan clan before and was wondering how his invitation was decided. In fact, usually whenever other clans came to Lotus Pier because of important meetings and gatherings, he either stayed in his room to not get in anyone’s way (or because Yu Ziyuan ordered him to) or he went out and conversed with the villagers or picked lotus roots with the other Jiang disciples. He’s pretty sure no member of any clan has ever seen him. Well, except for Nie Husiang who he met on one of those strolls through the pier while the former was hiding from his big brother and inspected the traditionally painted fans a merchant sold. It was friendship at first conversation.
“Why did I expect something like that?” Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, sighed and pushed Wei Wuxians legs off his lap. “You’re so easy to read, Wei Wuxian.”
Wei Wuxian watched Jiang Cheng get off the bed while asking “Is that a compliment?”
Jiang Cheng shrugged. “Not sure. You tell me.” He made his way towards the door before stopping and turning around to look at Wei Wuxian once more. “You should sleep soon. We’ll have to leave early tomorrow.” The invitation for the lectures at the Cloud Recesses was clear in telling them they were expected to arrive early to have enough time to settle into the disciple quarters before attending the opening ceremony where each clan would present the GusuLan clan with a present as a means of thanks and appreciation for being invited. Due to Wei Wuxian’s impairment, they’d need to be mindful of the additional time it’d take to get up the mountain.
Wei Wuxian groaned. “Yeah, sure, whatever. Now leave me alone. I need to plan which tricks will rile up Lan Qiren the most.”
“You better not or mother will have your head” warned Jiang Cheng. “Also, Lan Wangji might be even worse than Lan Qiren. He’s as rigid as ever. Be careful when you’re near him.”
Lan Wangji, huh? Wei Wuxian has heard of the second Jade of Lan before but he’s never met him in person. He can’t be that bad now, can he? “Sounds interesting. I’m looking forward to meeting him.” He glued on his best angelic grin, got off the bed as well and shoved Jiang Cheng out of the room. “Alright, you said it. I need my beauty sleep. That won’t work while you’re here so please leave now. You must be just as tired, right?”
“Wei Wuxian, I swear to god, you’ll be the death of me one day. Get up on time tomorrow or I’ll bring a cold bucket of water to wake you up.”
Wei Wuxian laughed out loud and closed the door in front of Jiang Cheng’s face. “Love you, too. Good night and sleep well” he sang and smirked when he heard his brother making his way down the hallway while cursing his name.
Quiet.
Wei Wuxian was loud. Those who knew him would describe him as lively, humorous and caring. Yet, he also liked silence. Not all the time - he needed people around him, loved to spend time with others, however, some times called for a quiet minute to put his thoughts in order. Right now, he liked the room to be silent.
He went over to the window, still open from before. He watched the stars, their soft glow above so distant, as below the last few merchants and villagers shuffled home, their footsteps echoing in the quiet streets. The river shimmered like a long, silver thread under the moon’s watchful eye, reflecting the stillness that had finally settled over Caiyi Town.
Wei Wuxian was lost in his thoughts. ‘Will I see the stars from the top of the mountain tomorrow? It’d be nice if that’d be the case. They’re… pretty. Or maybe the moon will be too bright to see the stars. If that’s even possible.’ He smiled contentedly.
He was excited.
~~~
Lan Wangji would attend this year’s lectures.
He was familiar with the material, has studied the books his clan owns and displays in the library pavilion since his earliest childhood. He didn’t understand why his Shufu wanted him to attend the lectures this time, however, he wouldn’t question him. There must be a reason. His Shufu always had a reason for everything. His brother said it’s because he’s the same age as most of the disciples and he might make some friends.
Lan Wangji wasn’t sure if that was entirely true. He’s not good at making friends - be they his age or not.
He was in the cold springs right now, meditating one last time before the other clans would arrive. It was still early, and the clans were not expected for a few more incense times. And it wouldn’t matter if they did anyways. Their quarters were not within the proximity of the higher clan members’ homes and the opening ceremony would take place at midday - enough time for Lan Wangji to prepare to meet new people.
He didn’t dislike getting to know new people. He didn’t quite enjoy it either. It was just something he had to endure. He just had to prepare for it.
Meditating in the cold springs helped him calm his mind and gather the energy needed for the day. He wouldn’t have to do anything important, just sit prim and proper like he’s so used to and watch the clans bear their presents to his brother and uncle. Afterwards, they’d eat together for lunch before the new disciples would be allowed to further settle into their temporary home.
Sitting in the water, he felt numb, as if he were no longer bound to his body but part of the natural world around him. He existed - nothing more, nothing less. His breathing was even and filled his lungs to the fullest, then left them smoothly. Strings of hair, those short enough to not get wet, moved slightly in the wind and brushed his face.
He stayed like that for a while before standing up smoothly and walking over to the rock he laid his robes upon. He felt settled for now.
His brother awaited him at the top of the path connecting the cold springs to the rest of the Cloud Recesses. “Xiongzhang” Lan Wangji inclined his head slightly.
“Wangji” Lan Xichen wore a gentle smile and turned around slightly to invite Lan Wangji to walk back together. Lan Wangji accepted. His brother continued. “How was your mediation?”
“Mn” It went well.
There were trees lining the path. They’d disperse the closer they got to the houses but right now, sunlight painted pretty forms on the earth and made the leaves on the ground glow. It was pretty. Birds were chirping high up and a bunny crossed their path. Adorable.
“Good to hear” Lan Xichen walked slowly. He almost appeared to be floating, Lan Wangji thought but would never say so aloud. The ends of their head ribbons were flowing in the breeze. “The students will arrive soon. I hear Nie-gongzi will attend this year as well. You’ll have someone you know already then.”
Lan Wangji didn’t care much about this information. Nie Husiang had attended the lectures the last two years and failed to pass his final examination. Apparently, he didn’t like to spend his time studying, instead indulging in arts and leisure. “He needs to care more about his studies. He’s the brother of the sect leader of one of the major clans. Him failing his examinations two years in a row is shameless.”
Lan Xichen’s smile widened, his laughter soft behind the wide sleeve of his robe. “Ah Wangji, don’t be this harsh. He will try his best, I am sure.”
“Mn.”
They reached the outskirts of the Cloud Recesses. Lower ranked clan members were still walking around, finishing the last preparations for the incoming guest disciples. Usually, there wasn’t this much commotion going on in the GusuLan sect. It was always quiet, the members well put together and collected. Today was an exception. An exception Lan Wangji wasn’t sure he liked. He preferred his home the way it always was.
Lan Xichen apparently read his thoughts and laid his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I know you are not too fond of this commotion, Wangji, but it will be over tomorrow. As soon as the lectures start, the guest disciples will be busy studying and you will not even notice their presence.”
Lan Wangji hoped his brother was right. This year’s guest disciples better be worth it. He was interested in finding out if his personally picked guest disciple would attend as well. He only saw him out of the corner of his eye that one time in Yunmeng. Would he be able to recognize him?