Chapter Text
"Lan Zhan," He began, his head comfortably pillowed on a broad shoulder of white cloth, "You never asked me how I stay in control now but couldn't in my previous body,"
The figure beside him hummed questioningly. An arm draped in mourning white robes lifted a cup of tea to thin, slightly pink lips.
He laughed a bright, tinkling sound through the room as he wrapped his hands around the white arm, hard biceps flexing minutely under thin fingers. He looked up at the figure's side profile, a handsome, fair face with silky black hair laid flawlessly and a fancy cloud motif ribbon across his perfectly postured back.
"Ah, I should tell you, my husband, how your Wei Ying learned to stay sane while using Resentful Energy," He leaned up to peck the man's soft cheek, noticing a subtle flush redden the tips of the man's ears. He snickered happily but did not mention it. "The simple answer is I'm not controlling the Resentment anymore,"
The white-robed figure cocked an eyebrow while pouring another cup for himself and the one clinging to him. He felt himself smile at the reliably non-verbal question of his stoic husband.
"I learned before the siege of the Burial Mounds that the emotions and regrets held by a ghost, the Resentment, are not capable by themself but instead attach to Yin Energy. Yin, like Yang, has no cognitive ability to affect the world; it simply exists in the life cycle, changing from Yang into Yin through death before replenishing the land to become Yang again. Resentment is the driving force, and Yin is the power source.
"We've been taught that Resentful Energy is energy created by the dead, but that is incorrect. Yin energy is the energy of the dead, uncorrupted by regret and guilt. Fierce corpses and other aggressive creatures result from a large amount of Resentment-infused Yin energy.
"It is impossible to cultivate Yin energy alone due to its incompatibility with living beings; however, Resentment is compatible with Yin and attaches to it. This combination, Resentful or Malevolent Energy, is attracted and desires the consumption of Yang energy found naturally in all living things, and in abundance in cultivators, which is what infects them trying to destroy and absorb the Yang energy in their Golden Cores.
"So, to cultivate Yin energy, one must go through the painful and slow process of absorbing Resentful Energy into their bodies, which is a foolish and dangerous way to grow for any cultivator with a broad golden path like yourself.
"What I manipulated back then was contaminated Yin energy through a naive and frankly stupid control over the Resentment attached to it. Resentment is why so many cultivators lose their minds and devolve into madness in their path of Demonic Cultivation, as the Yin energy amplifies the Resentment, making it more powerful, yes, but also able to drive a person insane by corrupting and poisoning the mind and spiritual pathways.
"I'm honestly not sure how I stayed cognitive so long in my other body with how I contained and ignored the accumulation of Resentful Energy constantly whispering and shouting in equal measure without a core to protect me, nor my current method that is far, far safer than my previous one,"
He took a breath, breaking his rant momentarily. He watched the jade-like face in front of him as delicate eyebrows scrunched slightly into a concerned frown, unnoticeable to others who weren't as intimately familiar with his husband as he was. He smiled fondly, kissing the shoulder beneath his cheek sweetly before continuing.
"Once I realised the energy I needed to use was the Yin energy and not the Resentment, I tried to find a way to separate the two. It was a slow and challenging process until I realised that the methods I'd tried had all involved me using brute force to separate the two, copying the techniques we were taught when cultivating Yang energy and using strict control.
"After that, I tried accepting it, and for the first time, I actively listened to the Resentment, hearing it out as one might do for a child or scared commoner on a Night Hunt. I'd locked the Resentment up in such tight mental chains in my aim for control that I was constantly drained, but once I'd released my hold, I could feel a weight drop from my shoulders. In doing so, the Resentment was able to separate inside of me.
"However, separating the two is one of my most painful experiences. For so long, there was nothing but pain and agony as I walked on a fine line between ensuring the Resentment was heard and separated from the Yin and having enough willpower to prevent the Resentful Energy from completely devouring me.
"My body was already weak and injured, with no core to heal me internally as I had once taken for granted, so the only thing I could do in that dense Resentment environment was to slowly make my way through what was stored in my body before I continued to anything else, letting Qing-Jie take care of me to the best of her abilities with what little supplies we had. Slowly, I started noticing the Yin energy around me, the voices becoming clearer but also holding less sway over my actions, and I could more easily influence the ambient Resentful Energy. All I had to do was listen and ask instead of ignore and command,"
His husband nodded, his frown deepening as he spoke of his pain while experimenting, but accepted the information without aggression. He knew there wouldn't be any, but he still sighed with relief at the trust his husband had in him.
"Wei Ying is less likely to lose his temperament with this method?" He asked, head tilted slightly, a shadow cast across half the robed man's face, shielding his view from what was already the most handsome person he'd ever had the pleasure of gazing upon.
"Mm, yes, I'd like to say zero chance, but sometimes it is necessary to use a corpse's innate Resentment instead of purifying it in a fight if I'm low on Yin, as it's easier to control but more harmful. This method is sustainable as long as I don't take in too much Resentment at once and have ample strength to process it. It requires a strong will and mindset, as weakness will be consumed by Resentful Energy, causing swift but painful self-destruction. In these situations, Cleansing is needed before the body and mind are irreparably damaged.
"Saying that, though, too much willpower will negatively affect the process as it also requires the person to, in a way, submit to the Yin energy; the big limitation is you have to accept death. That's why other hopeful demonic cultivators couldn't succeed in controlling Resentful Energy; they were too greedy and arrogant, desiring immortality, authority and riches. You can't lie to Yin energy, much like how one can't lie to oneself, and Yin desires balance and peace, not greed and evil."
His husband nodded in understanding. An arm came to wrap securely around his back, and slim waist, and a large, strong hand gripped his hip as if he might disappear into nothing, as he'd done once already.
"Oh Husband," He lifted a hand to cup a soft cheek, smiling as the man tilted his head into it indulgently, eyes closed and frown impossibly troubled. "I would never choose to leave you now; I couldn't do that to you or our son. Not again, I promise,"
"Mm. Wei Ying, keep your promise," the man whispered, his other hand wrapping around his thigh in a vice grip as he was roughly and quickly hauled onto the man's lap. He settled as though by instinct, arms laid loosely on broad shoulders, chests pressed tightly, and crotches slid perfectly together.
"Lan Zhan!" He gasped in delight, knees trapping thick thighs beneath him as he grinned down at his husband from his slightly elevated position. "You brute! A-Yuan will return from his night hunt, and it's almost time for the evening meal. Do you truly intend to ravish your helpless husband when anyone could come to find us at any moment," He whined carelessly, but his every action contradicted his words.
He slid further into his husband's hold, feeling hands tighten where they gripped his thighs, leaving delicious bruises he could admire and feel later when they were apart.
"I am still sore from this morning; I won't be able to stand, let alone sit if you have your way with me again," he protested, his eyes glittering with glee as his smile grew on his face. He removed an arm to tug at the collar of his robes, exposing skin covered with bruises and teeth marks. He delighted at his husband's possessive look, entirely too pleased with himself.
"Wei Ying," his name rumbled on a growl, vibrating against him and sending shivers down his spine. His husband's head tilted as a hand tightened in the hair at the back of his head, playing with the sacred cloud motif ribbon of the clan. The one only worn when the owner had married, and their original headband they'd worn their entire lives had been given to their intended.
He felt his wrists tingle beneath the headband knotted intracetely, the material soft and not at all chafing where it rubbed against his skin.
"My Lan Zhan," he said reverently, tugging on the ends."What are you waiting for?" he asked with a level of mischief his husband knew all too well. The ribbon came undone, fluttering infront of that beautiful face, and hiding his golden eyes for a single moment. When they appeared back in his view, they blazed in a way that had his body set alight with desire. They rushed for one another, something clicking into place all over again as they connected..
~~~
Wei Wuxian startled awake, sweat beading down his forehead and an uncomfortable sticky substance painting his pants. His face went redder than any rouge could hope to copy, and his head reeled as a jade-like face with blazing golden eyes appeared in his mind. He could feel phantom handprints on his hips and waist, and his lips tingled in a foreign way he'd never experienced. The secret whispers and worked-up breaths quickly followed, echoing in his ears as he buried his face into his blanket, groaning quietly at the shivers racing up his spine.
Wei Wuxian couldn't say he'd never had a wet dream before, as so many young men his age had at least one by now. Still, the figures in them were mainly ambiguous, never appearing except for wandering hands or wet mouths, always touching him from a black void he couldn't penetrate, never finding pleasure with another specific person the way this dream had conjured. It had never been this realistic.
He hadn't thought he would have such a dream with another man or that he'd be the one taking it. Never in his wildest imagination had he thought he'd dream of himself with anyone he knew, let alone one of the esteemed Twin Jades of the Gusu Lan Clan's Main Line. But the mortifying thought that kept repeating in his head was how perfect the scene had been, how he wouldn't change anything, and he groaned.
"Lan Zhan is a fuddy-duddy, uptight, expressionless statue with zero attraction to anything, let alone someone like me," Wei Wuxian grumbled, the blanket still covering his face. "He would never act so ravenous and harsh! He's the epitome of what an upstanding member of the gentry should be!" He heard a rustle of blankets from across the room and looked up to see Jiang Cheng tossing in his bed, muttering what Wei Wuxian thought was 'breaking' and 'legs'.
He snorted audibly before quieting himself, hand over his mouth as he silently removed himself from his bed.
It was well before Maoshi, so he knew that not even other Lans would be awake yet, the sun still hidden on the horizon. Tiptoeing to the bathing room, Wei Wuxian stuck a heating and purifying talisman to the basin of water still in the room from earlier that night before stripping himself of his soiled pants, using a clean cloth and wiping himself as silently as possible. He repeated this with a new fabric for the sweat, which made his hair cling to his face. He felt slightly better after cleaning himself and in fresh clothes, but he was still shaking and flushed with heat.
He left the room as quietly as possible with Suibian in his loose grip, feeling the cool early morning air of the Cloud Recesses against his flush skin like a balm to his provocative dream. He made his way towards the outer disciple training fields, not a soul around to disturb him as he leaned his scabbard against a lone tree on the edge of the field. The sun hadn't even touched the horizon, still hidden but already turning the dark sky to shades of navy and cerulean. A peak of white and orange emerged, casting soft light on him and the mountain but not yet strong enough to contend with the chilled breeze.
He began by stretching his body to its limits, showing considerable flexibility as he twisted and bent at angles most cultivators couldn't hope to copy. He considered this as he sat on the ground, feet in front of him as he bent completely in half, chest touching the fabric covering his legs before moving fluidly into a splits formation.
He had discovered long ago that most young men of the gentry focused on strength, speed or spiritual power. Wei Wuxian agreed that the three were essential basics for training, but as a young child, he had admired his Shi-Jie for her grace and flexibility over the other disciples, swinging their swords and breaking the training dummies. She had been a sickly child, which had resulted in her weak cultivation, preventing her from matching her peers in many areas, but she had always been the best at evading attacks with slight and agile movements.
Wei Wuxian had worshipped Jiang Yanli since he'd climbed a tree that day after running away from Lotus Peer. However, seeing such a weak child try to bridge the gap between talent and hard work and become a kind, graceful young woman inspired the hurt, weak and malnourished Wei Wuxian taken off the streets who couldn't keep up with the other disciples.
The healers convinced Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian to let Wei Wuxian attend Jiang Yanli's tailored training for a year before he joined the other disciples. This way, Wei Wuxian could slowly and safely build his strength without overexerting himself. Their teacher had them focus on easier forms to keep strain from building in their fragile bodies and underdeveloped cores.
Wei Wuxian considered the results favourable, as his flexibility enabled him to perform many feats his martial brothers and sisters openly envied.
The sun had begun peeking out from where it hid beneath the horizon as he finished his stretches and started the routine he usually practised later in the day with his typical sleep schedule at Lotus Pier. It involved carefully replicating the Jiang sword stances one after another until he felt ready to practice in earnest.
His body shifted from one stance to the next in an effortless flow, moving and bending so gracefully it was as if he was dancing. His sword flashed through the air, an aerial backflip sent him kicking at invisible enemies, and an elegant spin evaded imaginary foes baring down on him. Distantly, he knew other presences had joined him on the field, but the thought of stopping made his body tense up unwillingly. The familiar movements had cleared his head, making what was once an embarrassed flush become one from determined exertion.
His breaths were controlled, and his heartbeat was a reassuring thrum under his skin. His golden core pulsed warmly, sending energy coursing through his meridians and into Suibian in a feedback loop as his head became pleasantly blank. Muscle memory and instinct effortlessly controlled his movements as he performed his pseudo-meditation.
Unknowingly, he was mesmerising to watch. The Jiang Sword Style was fast, fluid and constant, relying on quick movements and directing the opponent's strength instead of stopping it. However, Wei Wuxian's adapted style relied on minor changes he'd fit and perfected when others slept, making his style noticeably different from the typical Jiang Style the other disciples practised.
Nightmares and insomnia had often plagued him at Lotus Pier, so he'd had to find a way to clear his head and sleep until dawn broke. Traditional meditation had never been effective for him, unlike his sect members, who could sit for long periods uninterrupted. He'd never understood the purpose of silent, unmoving meditation, as he could not reach the state his peers could so effortlessly.
This caused him to fall behind when he joined the others even after his dedication in classes with Jiang Yanli, even though he was determined to improve and repay the Jiang Clan's kindness and generosity in taking him in from the streets.
That changed one night when he snuck away to the training hall after a dreadful nightmare filled with dogs and a woman's screams and needed to distract himself. The once-difficult movements of the Jiang style flowed seamlessly as the nights passed, his mind entering the sought-after meditative state he'd envied his peers so easily achieving. He felt his core pulse soothingly and his movements flowing like water as the basics became engraved into his bones.
Months later, when he next sparred against Jiang Cheng, whose skill when still using practice swords had been better than Wei Wuxian's, he used the basics of the style he'd perfected during the night and won. He had finally beat him for the first time since he'd started learning alongside his shidi.
Later, he was mocked for his movements, which were more akin to dancing than fighting; however, Wei Wuxian further embraced the insults and sought to incorporate them into his fighting style. He'd gone to tea houses and shows, observing the dancers closely and admiring their smooth, flawless movements. He was mesmerised by how light they were, gliding across the floor as though floating, and the movements delicate while contradictory in their strength.
He'd spent months incorporating the Jiang style with flexible movements that made him flow more quickly and efficiently than even the highest-ranking disciple could achieve, making the style entirely his own, much to the chagrin of his peers. To others, it did look like he was performing a sword dance, his movements sensual and deadly with unnatural accuracy.
Now, in the soft dawn light of the Cloud Recesses, he looked ethereal, with long black hair chasing after him and purple-accented robes fluttering softly. His face was impassive in its beauty and flushed cheeks, startlingly different from the easy-going smiles and cheerful disposition that lit up his face like the sun.
A gong interrupted his next strike, and he lowered his sword. The training field was filled with disciples; guests and Lan members dotted the area. He swept his gaze across the training fields, disciples looking away from him as his chest rose with his laboured breathing. He found Jiang Cheng leaning on the tree he'd leant his scabbard against, watching him with a worried frown, a crease furrowing between his brows.
"You woke up before me," He stated simply upon Wei Wuxian's approach, none of the emotions Wei Wuxian usually recognised displayed whenever his shidi spoke to him lately. "I can't remember the last time that happened since we were young,"
"Aw, Jiang Cheng, were you worried about me?" Wei Wuxian teased, taking the cloth his shidi offered him to wipe at the sweat he'd built up.
"Shut up, idiot," Jiang Cheng grouched, but his usual bite was absent. "How long have you been out here?"
"Before Maoshi," Wei Wuxian said offhandedly, turning away from the furrowed brows slowly forming on the young man's face. He sheathed Suibian, thinking he should polish her blade after breakfast. He'd not done the simple task in a while, not needing to in the Cloud Recesses, where they barely, if ever, had use of their swords during the lectures.
"What possessed you to wake up before even those insane Lan's?" The two started towards the eating hall, swords at their sides. Wei Wuxian shrugged in answer.
"Had a dream, couldn't get back to sleep," Which was mostly true. He knew he would never have gone back to sleep after that dream. Just the thought of it had his heart speeding up. He shook his head from the sound of his name being whispered by that deep voice, his breath brushing against his ear. He pinched his hand discreetly.
"What? Did dogs attack you again?"
Wei Wuxian blinked, thinking momentarily before grinning sardonically at the apt description. "Something like that,"
"I'm surprised I didn't hear you; you normally scream like a maiden when you have a nightmare," Jiang Cheng grinned at him as Wei Wuxian swiped at his shidi's arm.
"Jiang Cheng! I do not!" he cried indignantly. "You cry like a girl!" He argued childishly, "Cheng-Cheng is so mean to his Shi-Xiong; no respect!" He whined, but it quickly became a giggle as his Shi-Di lunged for him. Wei Wuxian dodged effortlessly, dashing towards the eating hall as he heard his sect brother curse, giving chase.
"So slow, Cheng-Cheng!" He laughed cheekily, a tinkling melody filling the cool morning and drawing attention to the two martial brothers, the younger futilely trying to grab the older, gracefully twisting and spinning just out of range. Wei Wuxian had always been more adept at agile movements and hand-to-hand combat than his Shi-Dis, consistently winning whenever they wrestled or fought bare-handed.
After all, he had done further training compared to them, asking the troupe performers who often visited Lotus Pier to teach him their dances whenever they were in the area. Some would indulge him happily, trying to recruit him by the time they were ready to leave. He'd been genuinely sad each time he'd had to turn their offers down, fantasising about the life of travel he'd secretly desired. He buried the dream deep in his heart where he wouldn't find it.
Wei Wuxian quickly stopped as a pointed cough interrupted their chase. He grunted slightly as his Shi-Di ran into his back, nearly toppling the two into the Lan Sect Heir standing before them. His light brown eyes twinkled, and a small, barely noticeable smile appeared on his thin lips. Lan Xichen was a similarly handsome but more expressive and friendly version of his younger brother, his voice a pleasant cadence as he spoke.
"Jiang-Gongzi, Wei-Gongzi, I'm sure I do not need to remind you of our rules," Lan Xichen said, his mouth curled slightly. Wei Wuxian picked up the chuckle that escaped the peerless man as the two bowed, their faces sheepish as they responded.
"Apologies, Lan-Gongzi," Jiang Cheng said as he stood from his bow, the mirror of his brother, before heading into the dining hall with Lan Xichen following. Wei Wuxian ignored the soft laugh behind them as he sat across from his brother at the table saved by Nie Huaisang.
"Wei-Xiong, Jiang-gongzi, good morning," Nie Huaisang greeted tiredly as Jiang Cheng shoved Wei Wuxian one final time before taking a seat.
"Nie-Xiong," Wei Wuxian greeted brightly, "Good Morning! What are your plans today?"
"Hm, I was going to head into Caiyi to procure some more materials for my painting... as well as a few other things," he said. He looked to the side slightly, avoiding eye contact with both cultivators.
Wei Wuxian grinned at Jiang Cheng, who only rolled his eyes but smirked slightly at the Nie Sect Heir, amusing his Shi-Xiong. "Oh?" Wei Wuxian prompted, "Tell us, Nie-Xiong, what other things are you hoping to collect from Caiyi today?" He raised a pointed eyebrow at his friend, who lifted a beautifully illustrated fan before his face, shielding all but widened eyes from the two Jiang Disciples.
"Wei-Xiong!" Nie Huaisang exclaimed quietly as Wei Wuxian began eating the Lan meal before him, distracted from whining about the bland taste in favour of teasing his friend. "I'll have you know I was looking to procure some fantasy literature while there, nothing more and nothing less,"
"Is that right, Nie-Xiong?" Wei Wuxian didn't lower his raised eyebrow as he chewed his food mechanically. "I'm sure you wouldn't bring contraband into the Cloud Recesses while Lan-Laoshi is at your Nie Sect's Discussion conference, especially without sharing with your dearest friends in the world." He grinned cheekily, watching Nie Huaisang's eyes grow wider at that.
"Ah, Wei-Xiong, I wouldn't dare hide something from my two dearest friends," His eyes shook as he fluttered his fan, "Of course, you are both more than welcome to peruse my collection... as long as it stays between the three of us," Wei Wuxian laughed joyfully, nodding his agreement but quieting quickly as a cough came from the head of the room where the main Lan family ate together, minus Acting Sect Leader Lan Qiren. Despite actively trying to ignore that corner of the room since entering and a specific golden-eyed Lan, Wei Wuxian automatically looks over to where Lan Xichen has gained their attention.
The first glimpse of Lan Wangji has Wei Wuxian's breath catching in his throat. Images flash across his mind of taught muscles under his fingers, large hands touching him in places he's never felt before, an unforgiving tongue dominating his mouth, and molten golden eyes devouring everything he is.
Cold gold eyes meet wide, shaking silver, and he blushes to his roots before averting eye contact too fast to be brushed off casually.
"Oi, you alright?" Jiang Cheng asks in that brusque, concerned way that shouldn't be as reassuring as Wei Wuxian finds it, knowing his Shi-Di cares for him. He doesn't think his voice will work, so he stays quiet, nodding before shovelling as much food into his mouth as he can without choking. "What's the matter?" Jiang Cheng asks again, placing his hand on Wei Wuxian's feverish forehead. "Are you sick? With your level of cultivation?" He asked dubiously, oblivious.
Wei Wuxian shook his head fervently and cleared his throat. "N-no, Jiang Cheng. I'm fine, just tired." He brushed off the hand as he quickly got up from the table, dishes spotless, and promptly fled the table, joining a group of others who'd finished early, mainly consisting of Lan disciples.
He felt a blazing gaze follow him. Not wanting to risk meeting golden eyes, he rushed as politely as possible from the dining hall. He didn't miss the amused voice of his friend. Nie Huaisang's voice drifted to him as he left through the door. "Ah, I see, I see,"
He could hear the shit-eating grin in his friend's voice as he barely heard his poor, oblivious Shi-Di respond, "See what?"
~~~
Wei Wuxian stared at the letter he had written again, wondering if he should send it. His Shi-Jie, kind and honest Shi-Jie, would be able to help the turmoil he had suddenly found himself drowning in. However, he couldn't help but feel mortified and embarrassed as he reread his letter; the calligraphy was much more legible than his usual efficient but unappealing and undecipherable chicken scratch penmanship.
Dear Shi-Jie,
I hope you are well and that all the Shi-Dis and Shi-Meis are improving under Yu-Furen's training. I understand it cannot be easy to live up to Yu-Furen's high expectations, so I hope you have been able to encourage them in my place. Have you made any new recipes lately? I want to eat your Lotus and Rib Soup Shi-Jie; the Lan food is so bland that I may lose my tolerance for Yunmeng fare when I return.
I apologise for the absence of letters over the past month. I have been preoccupied with copying the Three-Thougsand Rules of the Gusu Lan Sect. It's unfair, Shi-Jie! Lan-Laoshi kicked me out of class on the first day when I wanted to have an intellectual discussion. I was so disappointed! I had heard praise about the Gusu Lan Sect's pursuit of knowledge and furthering a scholar's mind, yet I was turned down when discussing something theoretical! I've been wronged, Shi-Jie! Truly!
The only good thing about this boring punishment is my supervisor.
If I am honest, Shi-Jie, I wanted your help with this. I need your advice. I have been teasing this person constantly since I first arrived in the Cloud Recesses, but I can't help it! Their reactions are the best, Shi-Jie! I hate it when they ignore me, and I want their attention so badly that I don't care if they look at me with anger or irritation as long as they look at me and no one else.
I had a weird dream last night, Shi-Jie. I was with this person, and we were married. It was so domestic, Shi-Jie; I was so happy. I can't help feeling jealous of this dream version of myself, married to this amazing person. But now, every time I look at them or think of them, I get so embarrassed and flustered. Have I liked this person this whole time? How could I like this person for a month without knowing it? What do I do, Shi-Jie? Is this what a crush is?
Xian-Xian misses you and hopes that you will write back soon, Shi-Jie.
P.S. This person is a man. Shi-Jie, am I a Cutsleeve?
He reread the last line before tearing off the bottom.
He couldn't ask his Shi-Jie. He wouldn't be able to bear it if she was against it like Yu-Furen, having grown up in the same household and listening to the same disdain shown by the Madam of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. He couldn't stand the thought that his Shi-Jie, his kind and loving sister, would look at him disgustedly.
She couldn't answer him anyway; he had to find out himself. Was he a Cutsleeve?
He'd found the men and women around him attractive, but he had never been attracted to another man before now; he'd also never been attracted to a maiden, if he was honest.
He'd flirted, but that was the way of mundane people and merchants. What the cultivation world saw as improper behaviour, the mediocre society saw as harmless flattery, even bargaining. He enjoyed the smiles he garnered whenever he complimented a woman or even a man, no matter what the topic, feeling himself shine with glee as they smiled and bantered with him.
He'd learned a compliment would loosen lips of knowledge faster than intimidation or domineering pressure ever could. He was often the one to find information from ordinary people while on night hunts. At the same time, Jiang Cheng would talk to the head of the village they were helping, taking the disciples with him and leaving Wei Wuxian to his own devices with one or two disciples to learn from him.
Still, he had never had the thoughts he was now having when he innocently flirted with others before. He wasn't as fascinated or obsessed with them as with Lan Wangji.
He shook his head, still staring at the letter. Leaning his back against the pillar of the bridge he sat on, his leg dangling over the edge, barely skimming the water of a bubbling stream, he lifted his head out of the daze he had been in, thoughts flying as he tried to focus back on the letter.
He didn't want his Shi-Jie to have a biased opinion depending on who this person he was freaking out over was. He wanted help with the torrent of emotions drowning him, wanted to tell his Shi-Jie everything plaguing him. He also feared Yu-Furen reading his correspondence, painfully aware of how she disapproved of their close relationship.
He heard purposeful steps approaching from behind, walking along the bridge's wooden planks with a calculated cadence he was all too familiar with. He quickly stuffed the letter into his robes; it would have to be good enough. He decided to travel to Caiyi to send it off to Lotus Pier as early as possible.
"Oi, are you okay?" He heard a familiar voice ask behind him. Wei Wuxian shrugged, looking up from the water to his brother, leaning on the rail beside his head. Hard purple eyes looked at him worriedly, "What's wrong with you? You've been weird since this morning,"
Wei Wuxian thought for a moment. 'Would Jiang Cheng think differently of me? He also listened to Yu-Furen at dinner, her comments about Cutsleeves.' He frowned, and there was a rare expression on Wei Wuxian's face. His Shi-Di noticed and scowled.
"What?! Did I do something? I haven't done anything! Unlike you!" He barely stopped himself from shouting at his Shi-Xiong, but his voice was still far too loud in the tranquil Cloud Recesses. Wei Wuxian winced slightly, turning away from his brother and his volume.
"No, no, Jiang Cheng, you haven't done anything. My thoughts are just loud today. I..." He paused again, deciding to tell his brother about the sudden revelation of his feelings later when he was sure he wouldn't react badly. "I miss Shi-Jie," he settled on.
It wasn't a lie. He had just written to her, desperate for any advice and wishing she was here. He looked back up to Jiang Cheng, understanding the sceptical eyebrow raised at him. "I'm serious! I miss her cooking and her patting my head whenever I achieve something. No one does that here. I'm homesick... You and Shi-Jie are my only family, and I miss her," He mumbled the last part glumly.
He wasn't homesick in the traditional sense. He didn't miss Lotus Pier nearly that much and did not miss the fine line he always had to walk, fearing the roof caving in on him. He didn't miss Yu-Furen's loathing and ridicule, Jinzhu and Yinzhu's skulking around the Pier waiting for him to mess up and report back to their master, Jiang-Zongzhu 's neutral impassivity to the inter-sect politics occurring around him, his mountain of unwanted responsibilities and the guilt that festered in his chest like a swarm of parasites every evening at dinner.
He slapped himself hard, shaking his head from the traitorous thoughts, letting them fly away to be replaced with gratitude for being alive. If he hadn't been taken in and hadn't endured the treatment and role he'd been cast in, he would have never met his Shi-Di and Shi-Jie, learned to wield a sword, and encountered Lan Wangji.
Jiang Cheng jumped in surprise at his sudden action, looking at his Shi-Xiong with poorly hidden apprehension and what Wei Wuxian thought concerned his sanity.
"Did something happen to Shi-Jie? In your nightmare?" Jiang Cheng asked, only slightly more delicate, but Wei Wuxian had rarely been the recipient of such care, more often than not, alighting fury in his Shi-Di.
"Huh?" His eyes focused again, noticing Jiang Cheng's scowl hiding the worried furrow in his brow. He chuckled, eyes shining as he smiled a slight but genuine smile, "No, no, Shi-Jie wasn't in the dream," Wei Wuxian reassured them both, feeling a shiver of horror at the thought of his sister being present in such a dream. "I just wish I could talk to her about it, like when we were little," He admitted. His brother's scowl deepened momentarily, obviously upset that Wei Wuxian did not want to confide in him. Then it softened slightly, understanding the warm surety their sister provided and the trust they had in her.
"Okay, I get that," he grumbled, his eyes losing the flint of irritated anger for more sombre emotion. "Have you written to her?" he asked.
Wei Wuxian hummed, nodding as he stood, stretching his stiffened limbs and deciding to exercise more after visiting Caiyi. The moving meditation would help him put his thoughts in order again. As he was about to ask his brother to accompany him, Jiang Cheng caught sight of something over his shoulder. He watched as his brother stepped to the side of him, arms out, saluting whoever was approaching from behind.
Wei Wuxian turned to join the greeting as he heard his brother speak, flinching slightly. "Greetings, Lan-Gongzi, Lan-er-gongzi." They waited as was societal manners, hearing a reciprocation from the two walking over the bridge. White robes swished in his peripheral vision as they stopped, bowing.
"Jiang-Gongzi, Wei-Gongzi, what are your plans for the day?" Lan Xichen's tranquil voice grounded Wei Wuxian, allowing him to focus, but he refused to acknowledge the molten golden eyes beside the Lan Sect Heir. He'd never thought himself capable of ignoring the Second Jade of Lan, his entire presence drawing the eyes of those in his vicinity. Still, he did not believe his face was thick enough to look Lan Wangji in the eyes without turning darker than rouge.
"Ah, Lan-Gongzi," Wei Wuxian began, a smile illuminating his face as his spine tingled, Lan Wangji's presence lighting a current through him as his heart throbbed within his chest, knocking against his lungs and making his breathing inconspicuously shaky unless one were to focus on it. "I was planning to ask Jiang Cheng to accompany me to Caiyi to send a letter back to Lotus Pier, then get in some training. We're used to training in the afternoon and exercising along the piers, so I've been getting stiff and fidgety with the pent-up energy," He lamented, a slight pout on his lips.
His brother gave him a sceptical look as he said, "You already spent hours this morning training at Maoshi, and you want to do more later? When have you ever willingly trained so much without A-Niang hunting you down?" He mumbled the last part to Wei Wuxian quietly, neither remembering the heightened senses of cultivators.
Wei Wuxian thought he saw golden eyes squint under slightly furrowed eyebrows in his periphery. He lamented that it was likely due to distaste for Wei Wuxian's presumed undisciplined schedule. He physically strained against the instinct to look at the beautiful boy as he jokingly shoved at his brother's shoulder.
"You make me sound like some slacker, Jiang Cheng!" He whined with a wildly exaggerated pout. Hearing a muffled chuckle, he looked back to the First Jade of Lan, whose sleeve covered the bottom part of his face, joy-filling squinted eyes. Wei Wuxian grinned as he stopped his act, "What are the esteemed Jades of Lan doing today?"
"Ah, we have just come to collect a few disciples to take into Caiyi. Numerous Water Ghouls have caused trouble and harmed civilians. The Magistrate's office has requested we dispatch them." His eyes twinkled at the eager expressions on both Jiang Disciples' faces.
"A Night Hunt!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, not bothering to keep his excitement smothered. He had not participated in a night hunt since before arriving at Gusu and visibly shook with anticipation. "Lan-Gongzi! Lan-Gongzi! The Jiang Sect is known for our expertise with Water Ghouls; any Jiang disciple that can't handle a group of Water Ghouls is a disgrace to the Sect! May we accompany you?" Wei Wuxian wasn't ashamed of the pleading tone in his voice, and his brother didn't scold him as he nodded with a slightly desperate look in his eyes. They had both been stuck on this mountain for far too long.
"Hm, that is true; we could certainly use the expertise of the Heir and Head Disciple of the Jiang Sect." He paused, observing their unrestrained energy a moment longer before smiling and nodding. "Very well, we will leave immediately. Meet us at the main gates, and we will depart."
Wei Wuxian understood the dismissal for what it was, already turning to rush to the Guest Disciples' rooms with a hastily performed bow when a flash of gold robes caught his eye. He grimaced.
"Lan-Gongzi!" The Jin Sect Heir bowed slightly as he approached, his golden hair ornaments clinking noisily. Jiang Cheng scowled at Jin Zixuan while Wei Wuxian waited with dread. "Please allow me to join," he requested, confirming Wei Wuxian's fears.
Wei Wuxian sighed in displeasure while Jiang Cheng's scowl only deepened. "Have you ever hunted a Water Ghoul?" Jiang Cheng challenged.
Jin Zixuan hesitated before puffing his chest, reminding Wei Wuxian of the Peacock that so avidly represented the Jin Sect Heir. He answered, "No, but how will I learn to deal with one if I never fight one?"
Lan Xichen raised a single hand, stopping what was undoubtedly the precursor to an argument as he answered, "You may come, Jin-Gongzi, but you must listen to instructions like any other night hunt; that goes for Jiang-Gongzi and Wei-Gongzi as well," They'd never seen Lan Xichen quite so authoritative, yet he was still amicable and polite. Wei Wuxian gulped, reminded acutely of Jiang Yanli.
The three bowed to him, answering as one, "Understood, Lan-Gongzi," before they parted to pack essentials, sending one another a final lingering glare of distaste.
Wei Wuxian quickly stuffed some talismans and emergency first-aid supplies into his sleeves before joining Jiang Cheng, Suibian in hand. As the two reached the gate, he excitedly bumped Jiang Cheng's shoulder. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes at him, but Wei Wuxian noticed the mirrored grin his shidi was attempting to hide with an annoyed scowl.
It wasn't long before they were joined by the white-robed figures of the Lan disciples and the pompous golden-robed Jin-Zixuan as they quickly departed from the gates, wasting no time with their departure from the Cloud Recesses. They walked a fair distance until the gate was out of sight before descending the rest of the mountain on their swords.
Wei Wuxian whooped excitedly as he flew his sword into a flip, hanging upside down for a moment and shooting butterflies into his stomach. He ignored the stifled gasps from the Lan disciples as Jiang Cheng reprimanded him. It did nothing to remove the excitement from his countenance as he bobbed side to side, staying loyally beside his Sect Heir, who huffed at his antics, a smile lifting one side of his mouth.
They arrived swiftly in Caiyi, descending in front of the northern gate to walk through town. As expected of a group of white-robed cultivators, they garnered attention, including the two Jiang and Jin Disciples in their white guest robes with sect embellishments on their shoulders.
His Shi-Di physically restrained Wei Wuxian, tightening his arm as his head swivelled to examine all the small stalls. Knowing he was already a nuisance, he didn't bother complaining like usual, but he couldn't help the adrenaline flooding his system at the happy chatter of the people around them. His steps bounced as he observed his surroundings. He didn't bother staying quiet as he chattered to Jiang Cheng amongst the sea of silent Lan Disciples and a solitary, brooding Jin Zixuan.
"Jiang Cheng! Jiang Cheng! Let's send Shi-Jie's letter now and get the Emperor's Smile after the night hunt! We can go find Nie-Xiong and drink together before curfew!" He happily planned, jumping a few times in his brother's grip. He didn't fail to notice how the Lan disciples looked warily from him to the two Main family members at the front of the party.
However, neither seemed upset by Wei Wuxian's apparent plans to get intoxicated, unbeknownst to the Head Jiang Disciple.
He was slightly surprised when Jin Zixuan spoke up instead, "You can't drink in the Cloud Recesses," He glared at Wei Wuxian, arms crossed, and his golden sword Suihua held tightly to his body.
Wei Wuxian glared right back at the Golden Peacock, "I won't be drinking in the Cloud Recesses, Jin-Gongzi," He began, voice deceptively polite, "We will stay in Caiyi to drink. There is no rule against guest disciples drinking in Caiyi before Curfew; only manners prohibit returning shit-faced," The last phrase slipped out as a grin grew on his face, amused at the scandalised response he earned from those around him. Jiang Cheng only rolled his eyes at the vulgar language, unsurprised.
Just as Jiang Cheng opened his mouth, most likely to reprimand him for shaming the Sect's reputation or something similar again, they heard the repressed chuckling resonating from the front of the party. They noticed Lan Xichen's shoulders shaking slightly with his laughter.
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, but Wei Wuxian could only shrug. He escaped his brother's restraining grip to jump towards the front of the party, approaching Lan Xichen with single-minded concentration.
"Lan-Gongzi," he said, "I wish to stop quickly at the postal office; I will catch up in a moment." He bowed slightly, grinning happily as the Lan Sect Heir nodded his assent, a small, amused smile decorating his face. "Thank you, " he grinned widely like the sun before he skipped merrily into the office just as they approached it. Ducking inside, he greeted the man behind the counter cheerily, who greeted back kindly.
"Welcome, Gongzi; what can this one do for you?" He was a plain man with a kind smile and bright eyes, making Wei Wuxian smile brightly back at the man.
"I wish to send a letter to Lotus Pier." He took the letter from his robes. "It's for my sister, but outside parties will likely read it if they know the sender. May I request it be sent by a pseudonym?" He watched as the man's eyebrows raised curiously, not hiding his amusement at the situation.
"That is doable," he agreed, tying the letter with a blue string once it was handed over. I will need a recipient name and the pseudo name you wish to use." Since he did not investigate the strange situation, Wei Wuxian assumed it was most likely an everyday occurrence used by young masters who regularly sent secret messages.
Wei Wuxian replied, "Jiang Yanli, Lotus Pier, Yunmeng, and you can address it from Cheng-Cheng. Return address to Gusu Lan, Cloud Recesses." He grinned at the pseudo name, knowing his Shijie would understand the true writer. Both had teased their younger brother with the hated nickname since childhood. She would also understand the use, as Yu-Furen made no secret of her distaste for close familiarity between the two siblings who did not share a drop of blood; she would, however, respect the privacy between Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli.
"Very well, Gongzi. That will be seven taels." Wei Wuxian deposited the coins from his purse, waving as he left the office with a skip in his step. He looked up the street, quickly finding the group of cultivators in mourning white among a sea of faded-coloured commoners and brightly-coloured merchants.
He chuckled, realising Gusu Lan Disciples weren't accustomed to blending in. "They'd be awful on stealth missions and hiding in plain sight," he mused aloud. He quickly caught up to them, noticing they were peering over the edge of a canal, gazing into the water where a few shadows were speeding down the stream.
"Wow," he mumbled, watching multiple shadows dash through the water, not coming up but seeming to search for a fool close enough to drag into the water. He whistled, briefly catching the disciple's attention as he muttered, "There shouldn't be this many ghouls in a port town." He heard a deep hum of agreement at his shoulder and flinched minutely.
"La—" He coughed slightly, not looking at the graceful figure beside him in favour of leaning further over the edge, the breeze changing to waft the Second Jade's enticing sandalwood scent to Wei Wuxian's nose. He had to take several breaths to stop the sudden dizziness that scent caused him and cleared his throat again, ignoring how dry his tongue suddenly felt.
"Are-are there any reports of missing people before this?" he asked, using all his focus and training to ensure he didn't lose his feet and become the first cultivator casualty to the strangely high number of ghouls in the canals.
He felt a gaze scorching into the side of his head, not at all shielded by his wildly tied high ponytail, red ribbon fluttering past him with the errant strands of his air. "No," Lan Wangji replied, his voice a deep timbre that sent shivers running down Wei Wuxian's spine and goose flesh pimpling his skin. "No missing before the sightings. Reports of missing after. Fisherman not coming home." his monotone voice curled in Wei Wuxian's stomach, the deep timbre sending shivers along his spine and goose pimples to rise on his flesh.
Wei Wuxian let out a barely audible breath, trying desperately to believe the reaction of his heart pulsing in his neck and ears was because of the adrenaline building at the proof of a long overdue night hunt. He did the only thing he could think of to distract his mind from the pinnacle of their generation beside him.
He opened his mouth.
"No one was missing before the Water Ghouls started appearing, but there are more than should be possible for a port town. The people here, especially fishermen, should also be strong swimmers. It's easy for the common people to escape a Water Ghoul alone, as long as the ghoul is mediocre. Either the ghouls are stronger than average, or there were too many to escape from," his eyes strained as he carefully observed the unusually disturbed waters, suppressing the urge to look at Lan Wangji, his presence like a brand along Wei Wuxian's side.
He instead turned to address Lan Xichen on Lan Wangji's other side: "Lan-Gongzi, we should head to Biling Lake. There should not be nearly this many ghouls in the waterways, especially with the lack of reported drownings and missing civilians. They must have come from the nearest connected water source." Warm brown eyes regarded him consideringly as he nodded.
"I believe you are correct, Wei-Gongzi; this many Water Ghouls can't have originated from the people of Caiyi without the magistrate having reported it sooner." He turned to the rest of the gathered disciples, watching the proceedings with widened eyes. They regarded Wei Wuxian with something he was not entirely comfortable analysing.
"We will depart for Biling Lake; half shall rent a boat with a partner while the rest will stay to observe the ghouls in town. If they begin attacking, defend the people; otherwise, do not engage," Lan Xichen addressed the Lan disciples, all of whom bowed at his commands and headed off, a disciplined group Wei Wuxian was quite impressed by.
It did not take long to rent the boats; the dock workers had multiple spares as they were unable to be used. The infestation had prevented the workers from going to the lake, halting one of the largest food sources for the markets.
Wei Wuxian bowed deeply to the workers, expressing his regret at their lost income and food and silently promising to fix the problem as quickly as possible. If something like this happened in Yunmeng, it would be devastating not only to the people's food source but also to the trade and livelihoods of the lotus pond farmers and fishermen.
His sympathy got strange looks from the other disciples, exasperation from Jiang Cheng, confusion from Jin Zixuan and poorly hidden approval from Lan Xichen. He felt Lan Wangji's gaze stay rooted to him as he spoke with and helped the men prepare their boats, finding the process soothing something in the back of his mind that had missed being able to wake up and jump in the lakes at Lotus Pier, to spend hours floating in a small boat munching on Lotus seeds.
The men appreciated his expertise, laughing with him and jokingly offering to take him on if he ever got sick of being a cultivator and wanted a mundane life. The rest of the gentry-raised disciples behind him watched in a strangely distant silence as Wei Wuxian laughed and joked along with the commoner men and saw how at ease he was with them.
Finally, their boats were ready, and they were able to set out. Wei Wuxian and the four highest-ranking cultivators in the group all had their boats to themselves, drifting onto the lake from a pier on the eastern edge of Caiyi Town.
The mist drifted toward them, gliding along the lake's surface, as murmurs arose from the disciples, who glanced at the water with paranoia. Wei Wuxian felt bad, speaking up as he noticed the always arrogant Jin Zixuan nervously looking at the water, waiting for a ghoul to emerge and attempt to pull him beneath it.
"Average Water Ghouls will not attack a large convoy like ours unless aggravated or if they have incredible strength. The ones in town seemed slightly better than the average ghoul but were not strong enough to take down our entire group, especially as you are all strong swimmers. They are skittish but intelligent, waiting patiently for a moment of weakness to strike. If you stay vigilant and confident, they won't attack until provoked," He spoke calmly, voice soft yet resounding around them in the fog.
He heard a few sighs, and the tension-filled atmosphere dissipated slightly. He thought how much easier it would be to hunt down these ghouls if he had a compass to direct them. It would be much easier than looking dumbly at a lake, waiting for something to appear.
Then he noticed the boat riding parallel to his own and blinked. Lan Wangji stood straight, not challenged by the boat's rocking. His boat sat heavily in the water while he stared into the fog. The other's straight posture entranced Wei Wuxian. He watched in fascination as his hair fluttered with the breeze beneath the long twin strips of the ribbon displayed proudly on his forehead, his arm clenched behind his back, and his sword poised at the ready for his command.
Wei Wuxian moved his eyes from one feature to the other, avoiding golden eyes. Lan Wangji was the epitome of the current beauty standards, with strong, broad shoulders even at their young age and a height nearly exceeding those far older than them in the hunting party. His silky black and perfectly straight hair were adorned with a simple white jade pin and his Clan's Forehead Band with delicate cloud motifs.
Wei Wuxian's silver eyes sparkled as he took in Lan Wangji.
He couldn't resist any longer, having held back all day because of the embarrassment that dream had clouded his mind. He grinned, ignoring the swooping feeling in his stomach and the clench of his chest as he called out, "Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji turned his head, slightly surprised to finally be called upon by the boy who had been trying to ignore his all-encompassing presence all day. Wei Wuxian lifted his paddle and swiped at the water beneath the other boy with as much strength as he could muster while precariously balanced, flipping the boat. The Second Jade leapt from his boat, landing behind Wei Wuxian with a displeased frown that thrilled and disappointed the silver-eyed boy.
"Boring," He heard from the one now sharing his boat. He squashed the dark feeling that surged inside him at the irritated word and grinned cheekily. He raised an arm at the flipped boat, pointing out the almost half-dozen Water Ghouls clinging to the bottom as they had tried to pull them further into the lake. Gasps rang out at the sight of the creatures, far rarer in Gusu than in Yunmeng.
Not many disciples from other sects had seen, let alone fought, a Water Ghoul, so their appearance disturbed them greatly: ashen, swollen faces opened on an eternal wail, bloated slimy skin peeling off in great gobets, tangled hair left perpetually limp and wet and intertwined with algae and seaweed. It was a disgustingly horrible sight.
Wei Wuxian, used to the gruesome sight, looked past it to anything identifying the ghouls to attribute them to the people within the Gusu area. They didn't resemble the people of Caiyi, with clothes a shade darker than the lighter colours he saw in the town. Their style was also different, with thinner cloth for warmer climates and different-shaped sleeves. He hadn't met any common people in the other three great sects, and so he couldn't identify the ghouls' origins.
"They aren't of Gusu or Yunmeng..." Wei Wuxain said to himself, leaning further over the side to look closer. He didn't notice the widening of golden eyes nor the aborted movements of the other boy as if he thought Wei Wuxian was about to fall overboard.
"Wei-Gongzi, how did you know they were below Wangji's boat?" Lan Xichen asked, drifting towards them after a disciple had dispatched the ghouls. Wei Wuxian turned his back from his careful examinations of the ghouls as he answered,
"Simple! The water displacement was wrong," he said, feeling the piercing gaze beside him but stubbornly choosing to ignore him again for his sanity. "Lan Zhan's boat should have been as heavy as mine, yet his boat was deeper in the water than the boats with two people on it. I removed anything left in the boats from the fishermen that could have weighed it down or been lost, so the obvious conclusion was that something was clinging to the bottom, increasing the weight."
Lan Xichen blinked at the answer, not expecting the boy to have one other than a lucky guess or coincidence while teasing Lan Wangji. To know the boy had a perfectly good reason was startling for the disciples, who had never seen the Jiang Head Disciple night hunt before. "It is a good thing we have the expertise of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect," Lan Xichen happily expressed his gratitude, making Wei Wuxian flush at the praise he was seldom used to.
"Ah, Lan-Gongzi is too kind. Any cultivator could deduce that. I was lucky enough to notice early," he bowed slightly.
The Lan disciples threw nets into the lake, their vigilance heightened by their hands on their swords as they gazed at their surroundings. One of the nets tugged, eliciting shouts throughout the group. The water bubbled, and black masses of hair and clawed hands emerged to scramble at the edges of the boats.
A pristine light blue sword glare shot past his face, cutting at wrists that latched onto their boat. With a flick of Wei Wuxian's fingers and wrist, Suibian joined Bichen in the air. Its superior speed made it streak out of sight with only a glance of brilliant red.
Where Suibian was fast and flexible, quickly and efficiently taking out Water Ghouls, Bichen was strong and resilient, domineering in its offence against the Ghouls and eliminating them in a single strike.
Bichen plunged into the water, Suibian following quickly after as the two cultivators focused on the ghouls they could sense below the boat. Their swords broke the water like birds, zipping through the air before returning to their waiting hands.
Wei Wuxian dismissed the sounds behind him, ignoring a Lan disciple being scolded for sending his sword in to follow the two more powerful but younger cultivators. Neither acknowledged the petulant sounds of complaints and blame thrown at them as they focused entirely on the ghouls and sent their swords back into the water with Lan Xichen's, Jin Zixuan's and Jiang Cheng's.
He ignored Lan Wangji's piercing gaze on the side of his face but was startled when the other boy suddenly spoke in the suppressing silence.
"Your sword. What is its name?" Lan Wangji asked in his deep voice.
Wei Wuxian repressed his surprise. This was the first time the other boy had initiated a conversation between them and turned to beam brightly at the placid boy.
"Suibian!" he announced, laughing that tinkling bright laugh as Lan Wangji furrowed his brows in dissatisfaction.
"What?"
"Suibian! Sui-bian!" he spelt out.
"Your sword has a spirit; it is disrespectful to call it whatever," Lan Wangji sternly reprimanded him. Wei Wuxian laughed brighter at the reaction.
"No, no, Lan-er-Gongzi, its name is Suibian. When Jiang-Zongzhu told me I would be getting my sword, he told me to think of a name for it. I thought of over a hundred names, but none seemed right, so I told Jiang-Zongzhu to call it whatever. We were all shocked when it came out of the forge with the character Suibian." He told the story jovially and earned himself a roll of the Second Jade's eyes.
"Ridiculous,"
Wei Wuxian was interrupted from responding when Bichen shot from the water, Suibian following with gobets of Ghoul clinging to both blades. Lan Wangji was quick to flick his blade to the floor, painting a disgusting line of Ghoul onto the boat's hull. Wei Wuxian followed his example just as the boat's gentle drifting slowed down, stopping at the centre of Biling Lake.
They were silent in the sudden tension that grew. The mist swirling around them obscured each other from view, and Wei Wuxian had to stop himself from calling for Jiang Cheng to know he was still there and safe.
"This doesn't make sense," Wei Wuxian whispered, perplexed by the situation, "Water Ghouls should not be in this great a number with so few local deaths. They hate moving far from their place of death, and so many at that. They put up no fight until they were discovered under the boat and completely gave up as we came to the lake's centre. Water Ghouls aren't this synchronised in their attacks; they hate working together, wishing to drown their victims personally, to feel the water filling their lungs and the life drain into the water. They wouldn't do this... unless... they shared a single conscious—"
Wei Wuxian's head shot up from where he gazed at the foggy water, noticing how the fog was thinning slightly, like in a vortex. His blood ran cold, and his face drained of colour in the dim light. "It's a Waterborne Abyss," He shouted, his voice echoing his fear.
Lan Xichen, on the boat in front of him, snapped his head in Wei Wuxian's direction, face paling in seconds as he called out with an authority and volume Wei Wuxian had never heard the Sect Heir use before.
"Into the sky! Now!" He yelled as the sudden horrible noise came into existence, a wooshing of an insurmountable force emerging from the water below.
Before Wei Wuxian could investigate the sound, he was stepping onto Suibian and rising into the air, quicker and more agile than any others. He began circling from above as Jiang Cheng, the first of the group, joined him at a similar speed, followed closely by Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen.
White figures and a single golden figure ascended into the air, watching the boats below slowly turn and circle one another on the lake's surface. With a significant drop in pressure, a whirlpool emerged from the lake, full of hundreds of Water Ghouls. Long black tendrils rose amongst the thrashing waters, pulling the boats into the dangerous waters and dispersing the fog.
The sharp snap of the boats rose to their ears, obscuring the sound of a panicked shout rising from below as the disappearance of fog revealed. Wei Wuxian saw the lone Lan Cultivator still on one of the boats, waving his arms in the air with an empty scabbard.
He heard from behind him, "That idiot! He lost his sword in the water earlier!"
Wei Wuxian didn't give himself time to think before plunging Suibian towards the Lan Member. He was so quick that no one could stop him.
"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Cheng shouted from above. Don't you dare die!" he bellowed as he made to dive after his brother, but he was held back by a firm hand on his arm, that of the Lan Sect Heir.
Wei Wuxian crouched lower on Suibian, piercing through the air like a comet as he levelled out and extended his hand for the Lan Cultivator.
"Take my hand!" he shouted, grasping the older disciple's hand as he passed. Pulling the white-robed cultivator behind him, he called, "Hold tight," over the whirlwind of noise and the snap of the boat they'd just escaped.
He turned skywards, but their pace was too slow. Suibian was a sword cultivated for speed and agility, not weight and brute strength. Wei Wuxian panted as he pushed his spiritual energy into his sword, his core straining at the exertion, and his muscles tensed and pulsed.
He shouted in pain as something cold and piercing latched onto his ankle, strangling the appendage and pulling him backwards. He slipped from Suibian, his hand latching onto the Lan Cultivator's robes as he infused his spiritual energy into the blade, begging it to rise and stay afloat even as sweat beaded at his forehead from the exertion.
"Pull me up!" he called desperately, his other hand reaching towards the Lan Cultivator, who stared back in panicked horror. Wei Wuxian looked below him at the long tendril of black hair snaking further up his calf and knee.
He heard distressed calls from those above and watched as a few descended to help them. He caught golden eyes for a moment before looking back at the disciple he'd saved.
"Quickly!" He pleaded, but when his gaze moved to the one standing on his sword, he saw a sneer on the disciple's face. Wei Wuxian froze, silver eyes wide in shock.
The man's black eyes glittered with disdain as he kicked his leg out, his heel slamming into the dangling boy's hand, and Wei Wuxian felt the fingers of his right hand snap. He cried out as the pain registering switched from his ankle to his delicate fingers.
The Lan Cultivator's white robe ripped under Wei Wuxian's faltering grip and the other's kick. The fabric clutched tightly as the tendril gave a final tug, and Wei Wuxian plummeted into the water.
"Wei Ying!"
~~~