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Baoshan Sanren was always known to be an elusive immortal that lived in her Celestial Mountain. The only time they heard anything about her was when her disciples left the mountain.
Yanling Daoren was the first to leave but said nothing about his teacher and disappeared one day. No one knew what happened as the man simply vanished from public eye. Rumours said that he stole a bride from her wedding day and eloped with her. Others said that he wiped out a village and died by his own hands at the end of the massacre.
But rumours remained rumours. No one knew the truth.
The next time the topic came up, Cangse Sanren created a name for herself. Unlike her calm shixiong, Cangse Sanren was a force to reckon with. She shared insignificant details about life on the celestial mountain, sometimes what she said to one person contradicted what she told another. Life on the Celestial Mountain remained a mystery.
There was not one person in the cultivation world that did not hear about the love story between Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze. It came with rumours involving a love-stricken Jiang Fengmian and jealous Yu Ziyuan.
Cangse Sanren left just as she arrived; in a canopy of laughter and a dramatic show of her skills.
It was a tough night hunt but they escaped with minor injuries. The last thing they knew was that Cangse Sanren was pregnant and then there was nothing.
Just like Yanling Daoren, she disappeared one day, taking her husband with her.
Wei Wuxian, more or less, was a miniature version his mother from the mischievous smiles to the excellent showmanship of his skills. His debut to the cultivation world was when he showed up at the steps of Lan sect and demanded to be taught along with the other young masters of prominent sects.
The cultivation world was turned upside down by this boy.
The son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren descended from the Celestial Mountain that his mother too once left. Some people wondered if Yanling Daoren was lying about never being able to return or Baoshan Sanren took pity on a pregnant woman.
Either way, everyone wanted to know more about and from this charismatic and cheery teen. Wei Wuxian spoke in riddles, never giving a direct answer if questions were not about him.
Lan Wangji always wondered why everyone seemingly prayed to him as if he was a god. Wei Wuxian was no different from them. But there was one thing Lan Wangji will admit: Wei Wuxian was persistent. Where others would falter under his impassive expression and cold stares (from all the punishments Wei Wuxian suffered), Wei Wuxian continued to speak as if they were long time friends.
Lan Wangji eventually warmed up to the brash teen, then fell in love before he knew it.
It wasn't difficult when Wei Wuxian smiled warmer than the sun and gravitated to him like they were met to be together. Lan Wangji savoured every moment they spent in each other’s company until Wei Wuxian had to leave.
"Stay," Lan Wangji asked and Wei Wuxian did.
Lan Qiren didn't seem keen on the idea but allowed for it because Lan Wangji, who never asked for anything as a child, requested for it.
Aside from mannerisms, his fighting technique, and the colours of his robes, Wei Wuxian was practically a Lan disciple. Lan Wangji wanted him to be a Lan member (standing next to him as his spouse).
Then one day, Lan Wangji found courage within himself to ask Wei Wuxian to stay by his side as his equal. Wei Wuxian graced him with a beautiful smile that rivaled the sun and kissed him. He said yes later, but there was a lot of kissing first.
Lan Wangji wished he asked earlier because he wanted this for so long ago. Apparently, Wei Wuxian felt the same.
Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen had long given their approval when they realized how deep Lan Wangji's affections ran. Lan Wangji finally talked to his father about it as well.
"Your parents?" Lan Wangji asked when Wei Wuxian started detailing their wedding. Wei Wuxian laughed and Lan Wangji furrowed his brows. Wei Wuxian kissed it away before elaborating.
"They're not the ones you need to worry about," Wei Wuxian said with a smile that promised nothing by trouble. "If waizumu doesn't like you, we'll have to elope. I guess living Gusu isn’t too bad. Though I want to go somewhere warmer during Winter. Maybe Yunmeng."
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji set off early one morning. Lan Qiren looked absolutely scandalized when Wei Wuxian explained that they were going to the Celestial Mountains for a visit.
Later, when Lan Wangji asked about how he can return to the mountains, Wei Wuxian laughed some more and promised to explain later.
Later turned out to be when they visit a village hidden away from the rest of the world. The trek had been long, forcing them to camp out for two nights before arriving. It was not on any maps Lan Wangji had come across and even had a complicated mechanism to enter.
"You can't tell anyone, okay?" Wei Wuxian winked at him and pulled him into the village. People all around greeted Wei Wuxian, cooed at Lan Wangji, and told them that they made a cute couple.
Upon meeting Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze, Lan Wangji started wondering if the rumours about a Celestial Mountain was true. Staying in front of Wei Wuxian's waizumu, Lan Wangji knew that the woman before him was no other than the great Baoshan Sanren.
"Is he the one A-Ying?" the woman asked affectionately despite her stern expression.
"Yes," Wei Wuxian said dreamily and gave Lan Wangji another besotted smile. Lan Wangji returned it with grace. "But Lan Zhan can't stay here."
"Is our humble village not enough for our free-spirited A-Ying?" Baoshan Sanren asked with a quirk of an eyebrow. Lan Wangji wondered how defiant Wei Wuxian was being. He always broke the same rules many times as if he didn't learn his lesson the first time.
"Lan Zhan is the second young master of his clan."
"You're our precious A-Ying." Baoshan Sanren sipped her tea calmy. "If I wanted to keep you here, no one can leave."
Lan Wangji panicked at the idea. His family was waiting for him.
"Aiya, don't joke about that!" Wei Wuxian complained as he squeezed Lan Wangji's hand. "I know you were trying to get rid of me!"
"I never did," Baoshan Sanren smiled for the first time since Lan Wangji stepped into her hut, "you were the one that tried to run away when you were 6."
"I wanted to see the outside world," Wei Wuxian pouted and threw himself into Lan Wangji’s arms. Feeling out of place, Lan Wangji simply held Wei Wuxian's weight.
"Lan-er-gongzi," Baoshan Sanren finally addressed him. Lan Wangji stood up straighter. "A-Ying is very precious to us. You will treat him well."
The threat was there, even when unspoken.
"I will," Lan Wangji said resolutely. "I will only give the best to Wei Ying."
"Make sure you visit," Baoshan Sanren dismissed them with a flick of a wrist. "A-Ying, come visit me when you properly rest. You look like you rolled around in dirt for two days."
"It was three!" Baoshan Sanren rolled her eyes in a way that Lan Wangji could only describe as affectionate.
Lan Wangji felt lighter after leaving the hut. Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze welcomed them into their home and Lan Wangji learned more than he ever needed to know about his uncle's teenage life.
He was grateful that Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze was going to leave with them for the wedding ceremony. Even if Cangse Sanren claimed the reason was because she wanted to annoy Lan Qiren. Wei Changze promised to hold her back at bit while Wei Wuxian whined about his own mother not carrying about his wedding.
Lan Wangji was not used to the rowdiness of the Wei family but with Wei Wuxian at his side, he felt at home.