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Chapter Text

All was well within the jurisdiction of the Five Greater Sects, each with its own domain of expertise. Qishan Wen, the greatest medical sect known to the cultivation world; Qinghe Nie, the military sect known for producing the greatest warlords in history; Lanling Jin, the most extravagant as it is the richest sect in existence; Yunmeng Jiang, the greatest and most resourceful sect; and Gusu Lan, the greatest disciplinary and musical sect.

Other than each of the Five Sects' renowned families, there were a lot of individuals that over time became household names due to their accomplishments or creditable invention, or simply because of how influential or affluent they were. An example of the latter was Jin Guangshan, the Sect Leader of Lanling Jin, a good-for-nothing manwhore. But he's rich.

Back to the former, these respectable cultivators were namely: the longest surviving ex-student of Baoshan Sanren, Cangse Sanren; the brutish warlord, Sect Leader Nie Huifan of Qinghe Nie; the "Violet Spider", Yu Ziyuan infamous for striking fear just at the mention of her name; the rogue cultivator, Huang Ju, "The Poisonous Beauty" of Gusu; Wen Rou, a miracle medic known for bringing back those near death, thus her nickname, "The Ghost Doctor"; the distant Sect Leader of Gusu Lan, praised to be a heavenly immortal descended on earth, Lan Juanru; the Sect Leader of Yiling Wei (a small yet significant sect in the Yunmeng Region), Wei Changze, known for his innovation; and other such incredible characters that may take the whole day to list.

Now the Cultivation World watch the next generation of these notable Lords and Ladies, as they slowly take shape and become their own fame.

Then it was that time of the year for the gathering of the five great sects, the Annual Night-Hunt Competition which was hosted by one of the Great Sects every year for five days.

On the first and second days, the youths from every sect and clan between the ages of fifteen to twenty were required to participate in the Night-Hunt while the others looked on and waited for their juniors' or seniors' winnings.

On the last three days, all Cultivators above the age of fifteen were to join and have as much fun with the event.

However, for the seven-year-old Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, this was simply unfair, how long were they supposed to wait until they could join the night-hunts?

"It was like this last year too!" Wei Ying whined.

"And the other year." Jiang Cheng agreed.

"It's alright, A'Cheng, A'Ying, you only have eight years left." Jiang Yanli soothed them, but this seemed to make it worse.

"What a bunch of babies! You're all so impatient, you should watch and learn to prepare for the future instead of crying about it!" The First Young Master of Lanling Jin, Jin Zixuan piped up.

"Shut up!" The two friends barked at him.

"Jin-gongzi." Yanli was simply a contrast to her little brothers.

The Young Master Jin could do nothing but harrumph and avert his eyes from Jiang Yanli's friendly greeting.

The fact they were engaged even before they were born was well known to all of the Greater Five Sects, while Jiang Yanli was the sweetest soul, the Young Master Jin was certainly not pleased knowing his life was already promised to another before he even knew how to decide for himself.

And despite being three years apart, their mothers didn't seem to think it was that much of a big deal.

"What are you looking at, old lady?" The young master barked harmlessly.

The recently turned ten-year-old, Jiang Yanli only giggled at his childish comment, however, her younger brother and sworn brother didn't share the same sentiments.

"Take that back, tiny peacock!" Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng yelled.

Having been scared off, the boy scoffed and scurried off elsewhere.

"Look A'Cheng, A'Ying." Yanli beckoned the two, trying to distract them. "It's Young Master Nie, he's famous for his progress in his saber and is only eleven, he's also yet to participate in the game. I'm sure just like you, he also wants to join."

"Really?" Jiang Cheng looked on, the said young master stood tall for his age, he had a fresh face and sleek hair, donning robes and trousers in the colours of the Qinghe Nie Sect.

He appeared ready to join the hunt, but as Yanli said, he was still under the age of requirement thus he was here "playing" with kids his age.

Beside the young master was another slightly tall individual, wearing pure white robes covered in the insignia of flowing clouds from the Lan Sect, his hair was swept out of his face in a high ponytail, as a thin white ribbon tied around his forehead. His long lashes lay softly on his pale cheeks as he smiled so youthfully that it made even the most mature of adults envy him.

"He's pretty." Wei Ying voiced out the thought Jiang Cheng had ever since he laid eyes on the angelic youth.

"Don't point, A'Ying," Yanli gently place his arm down. "Haven't you met him before? That's Young Master Lan, we must address him properly."

"Yes, shijie. But Lan Zhan is prettier." Wei Ying said as Jiang Cheng looked down.

Yanli giggled.

Suddenly the younger boy ran.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Wei Ying yelled after him.

"A'Cheng?" Yanli called out in alarm.

But the boy was gone before anyone could stop him, when news reached his parents, there was only one thing Yu Ziyuan could say.

"That troublesome boy! If he gets devoured by a stray beast, whose fault would it be? So reckless, Fengmian, send out a search party!"

Albeit her harsh words, she was genuinely concerned about her son's wellbeing.

However, the very boy they were looking for, thought he had only hidden around the outskirts of the forest clearing, clueless to the fact that he was lost from the trail itself.

He sobbed and slowly came to a stop by a tree trunk, sitting on one of its protruding roots.

As a string of hiccups and wails died down, he finally realized how far he'd gotten into the forest.

"Jiejie? Ying-ge?" Jiang Cheng called out hesitantly, scared of acknowledging that he had actually gone and got himself lost. "Jiejie! 'Niang… waaah!"

He cried again.

Then he heard a gentle rustle of leaves on the ground, causing him to flinch and grab a loose bark on the base of the tree.

He cried even louder when he saw the outline of a shadow approaching, he squeezed his eyes shut out of fear.

However, the big scary monster he'd been expecting never came as he heard a kind voice speak, "Sorry… did I scare you?"

He looked up and saw a handsome boy a little older than him, then he realized that he had seen this person before.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you. You were crying so much, I thought it was better if you let it all out." He gave the teary boy an angelic smile.

It was Young Master Lan. Jiang Cheng couldn't understand why Wei Ying always compared the two brothers and end up deciding the other Lan brother was more beautiful, he thought that when he'd finally meet them both, then he'd understand.

But the one present before him was pretty as well.

"Lan-gongzi…" The snotty little boy attempted to greet him politely.

"No, it's okay," He knelt by Jiang Cheng's side, noticing how shaky he was. "Here, sit back down. Can you tell me your name?"

Of course, he knew the child's name, but he was trying to make small talk to calm him down.

"My name is Jiang Cheng." The younger pouted. "I'm from the Jiang Family of Yunmeng, the Cheng is of chengyuan (clear, deep water)."

Young Master Lan grinned at him, he could only think of how adorable the child was. "Ah, I see. What a nice name, mine is Lan Huan."

"What does it mean?" Jiang Cheng sniffed.

Lan Huan chuckled again, "It's not as interesting as yours."

"Why not?"

"The character of his Huan means 'to dissipate'." Another voice interjects, startling Jiang Cheng.

It was the Young Master Nie that was beside Lan Huan just earlier, they seemed to have followed him into the forest together.

"Sorry, if you didn't notice but I've been here the whole time too." Young Master Nie said flatly.

Lan Huan only smiled.

"Um…"

"Yes?" Lan Huan turned to the Jiang boy who was slowly calming down.

"…your name, is interesting too." Jiang Cheng mustered.

Lan Huan paused, before beaming at the boy, "Why thank you.

Now tell me, why would such a nice young master cry all alone in a forest like this?"

Jiang Cheng sniffed.

"I, um… wanted to join the competition."

"Oh? Well, I'm sure you will soon enough." Lan Huan comforted him.

"I'm seven!" Jiang Cheng held up exactly four and three fingers with both hands, "My jiejie said I still need to wait for eight more years."

"How about this? If you're patient, wait for eight years and you'll receive a gift from gege, alright?" Lan Huan bargained softly.

After a moment, the younger seemed to be considering this, then he nodded.

"Gege won't forget?" Jiang Cheng had already gotten fond of the eldest young master of the Lan Sect.

"Mn, gege won't forget." Lan Huan promised.

"A'Huan, we're not alone." Young Master Nie suddenly warned.

Lan Huan stood up, keeping a protective hand on the Jiang boy while he surveyed the area.

"You did bring your talismans, right?" Young Master Nie asked.

"Yes," Lan Huan responded dutifully. "I'll set the flare off now."

Just as he cast a flare talisman into the sky, something jumped to attack him, however, Young Master Nie was fast enough that there was only a thin cut on his sleeve, it ripped the white fabric to reveal a red line on his forearm.

"Huan-gege!" Jiang Cheng gripped his uninjured arm.

"It's okay." Lan Huan reassured, "Jun-ge, are you okay?"

"I snuck a sword with us, don't tell on me, it saved our lives." Young Master Nie blocked the ghost with the flat of the blade as it tried to claw its way toward the nearest flesh.

As sunset approached, the sounds of footsteps coming close compelled Young Master Nie to drop his sword and kick it away from sight.

"Gongzi!"

"Jiang-gongzi!"

A group of Lan and Jiang Sect disciples rushed toward them, and a few others from the other sects followed.

The Jiang disciples were quick toward their young master as the rest dealt with the ghost.

A Wen Disciple went to help Young Master Lan with his cut while Jiang Cheng was being dragged away to return to his parents, always looking back at Lan Huan worriedly.

"Lan-gongzi will be fine, it's just a small cut." They reassured him.

However, when they returned to the main tent set up for the Jiang Sect, Yu Ziyuan was already berating the boy.

"What? The Lan's Young Master was injured?" She was now even more displeased, "Hear that? If you hadn't gone off and ran away, Lan-gongzi wouldn't have gotten hurt! If not for the Young Masters, no one would've found you and who knew what would happen? If it wasn't dust left of you, it'd be a mangled body or a loose mind!"

The little Young Master of Yunmeng Jiang could only keep looking down at his feet as he truly felt guilty about the incident, and soon into the evening, he asked his sister to accompany him to see how the Lan's Young Master was doing.

"Alright, A'Ying already went to Auntie Wei so it'll just be the two of us."

As they neared Lan Huan's tent, Jiang Cheng hesitated, then they heard a voice.

"Xiongzhang, are you sure you aren't in pain?" The child sounded somehow soft yet indifferent.

But the voice that responded to him was not at all offended, "Of course so do not worry, it's too small of a thing to worry about." He said as he waved his wounded arm dismissively.

"Why did he run into the forest?" The younger inquired.

"Ah, it was because he was frustrated, he wished to join the competition." Lan Huan said with such a kind voice that made Jiang Cheng feel bad for lying to him.

Jiang Cheng had lied, he didn't want to seem childish or odd. But in truth he ran to hide himself crying, crying about the prettiest boy he's ever seen, crying about how perfect the boy was, crying how he may never even be considered his equal, crying because his first love came to him too early.

Jiang Cheng shrunk back, and Yanli looked at him in concern.

"Has he come to apologize yet?" The younger voice asked.

"It's fine, he doesn't need to." Lan Huan spoke benignly.

This was the last straw for little Jiang Cheng, he began pleading with his sister to go back to their tent in hushed tones and feeling bad, Yanli complied.

The two returned and went to their separate tents, Yanli as the Young Miss of Yunmeng Jiang, had her own tent while Jiang Cheng settled with sharing one with his best friend.

Wei Ying was fumbling with empty paper talismans when the younger boy arrived with a sullen expression.

Noticing the other's presence, Wei Ying jumped, "Who bullied you? Tell me, what did they do so bad that you ran crying?"

"No one." Jiang Cheng replied blandly.

"'Niang said Lan-gongzi and Nie-gongzi found you." Wei Ying frowned, "How did they find you?"

"I don't know," Jiang Cheng replied emptily.

Seeing his mood, Wei Ying changed his strategy. "Did you know I met the pretty Lan again!"

At this, Jiang Cheng's head snapped toward him.

Wei Ying's chest swelled proudly thinking he finally got his shidi's attention, "He doesn't come out often but I finally saw him today, his golden eyes are still the prettiest! Although he's kind of mean, isn't he? Doesn't matter, he's too pretty to be bad!"

Jiang Cheng shrunk again, Lan Huan didn't have golden eyes, and he wasn't mean, he must be talking about that Lan Zhan again.

Wei Ying had already met the Lan Brothers when he was five, that was when he decided that the Lan with golden eyes was the only one he'd ever call pretty other than his shijie and a'niang.

They hadn't met for two years, not even on the previous Annual Night-Hunts as the youngest Lan was simply never seen outside, but Wei Ying had retained his little obsession with the other's golden eyes, chubby snow-white cheeks and long raven hair that looked smoother than any surface of water.

"How can a seven-year-old be so strict with himself? So young and so frigid." Wei Ying complained. "I think even when we were five, he was already like that."

"He's older than you, you know." Jiang Cheng smiled, trying not to let out a laugh.

"Those are unnecessary details, it's just months, what's the difference?"

"I'm younger than you by a few months, you make a pretty big deal about it!" Jiang Cheng finally breaks from his gloomy shell.

"That's different." Wei Ying jokingly dismissed.

"Wei Wuxian!"

"You can't use that name yet!" Wei Ying was already creeping away from his few months younger shidi. "Wait until we're of age, then you can yell at me with it."

"You!"

The two children ran around inside their tent, trying to make as little noise as possible with their gleeful laughter.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian was born to the wandering cultivator, Cangse Sanren and Sect Leader Wei Changze of the Yiling Wei Sect. There was once a time when he was lost and only one week after was he found again, with a new fear of dogs.

Despite being an only child, he had friends he considered his own siblings. His two shijies, Jiang Yanli and Xin Yuran, and his shidi, Jiang Cheng. He was close to the Jiang siblings because their father, Sect Leader Jiang and his father were sworn brothers, so he often went to Lotus Pier to play with them.

And Xin Yuran, the Jiang siblings' second cousin often stayed at Lotus Pier, with a personality like she was Yanli's evil twin sister, Wei Ying naturally considered her a beloved shijie.

Life at Yiling Wei Sect was dreary for Wei Ying, the Burial Mounds were their territory and nobody liked to enter there, he much preferred the bright and noisy Lotus Pier over the isolated mounds. Don't get him wrong, he loves his Sect and his father's presence there makes it a less depressing place, but between a friendly waterpark with kids your age and a literal graveyard filled with resentful energy, which one would a child choose?

In addition to that, his wandering cultivator mother loved travelling, she sometimes took him with her but he usually just stayed at Yunmeng Jiang's Lotus Pier.

Sect Leader Jiang and Madame Yu had no problem with him staying over, it's just that when Jiang Cheng had dogs before, Wei Ying would run to hide behind Yu Ziyuan or his shijies, or whoever was nearest, so Jiang Cheng was forced to give up the dogs.

Nevertheless, Wei Ying was very content with his life and family.

However, there was one existence that stumped him to confusion. From a young age, Wei Ying had been lovable and well loved by anyone and everyone around him, every kid wanted to be his friend, adults adored him, his shijie adored him, even his shidi Jiang Cheng idolized him.

No one has ever been so indifferent to him like the Second Young Master Lan, even that bratty Young Master Jin respected his giftedness, the Second Young Master's own brother liked Wei Ying as well.

So what could he possible dislike about Wei Ying?

As time passed, Wei Ying forgot about that question, only caring about somehow garnering Lan Zhan's attention.

At age fifteen, Wei Ying had already met Lan Zhan for five times aside for their first meeting, now he and several other young masters and misses were coming to attend a three-month lecture at Cloud Recesses. Wei Ying was only excited to see Lan Zhan, or should I say Young Master Lan Wangji.

"His name matches him, doesn't it? Lan Wangji!" Wei Ying grinned.

"A'Xian, put the brush down, you'll stain your robes." Yanli spoke.

"Ink is especially difficult to wash." Xin Yuran sighed at the boy.

Wei Ying obeyed and placed his ink brush and paper down, on the paper was an elegant handwriting of the characters of Lan Wangji's name.

"You sound and look like a little miss gushing about her crush. Shut up and pick your things up, Wei Wuxian." Jiang Cheng groaned exasperatedly.

Pursing his lips, Wei Ying replied: "Don't worry, A'Cheng, I'm sure Lan-gongzi will remember you."

"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Cheng barked.

Wei Ying snickered.

Just a couple of months ago on their celebration on becoming fifteen and formally receiving their courtesy names, Lan Huan, who was named Lan Xichen two years earlier, gifted Jiang Wanyin a silver bow.

Wei Ying saw the way the younger boy treasured the gift so much that he had a laugh about it, Jiang Cheng displayed it in his room and always looked at it ever since he got it, and he rarely used it and no one but Wei Ying knew why.

"What's wrong, is there something you're hiding from us?" Yuran guessed suspiciously, a hand on her hip.

"Nothing, Ran-shijie." Wei Ying cleared his throat, then with a singsong voice: "I think Cheng-cheng is thinking too much."

"Don't 'Chengcheng' me, you—!"

"What~ did I say something wrong?"

"Alright, alright. That's enough or else the boat will leave without us." Yanli said, ushering them out.

At the docks, Wei Ying suddenly stopped in his tracks and whined, "Ah, shijie... I don't wanna go, they separate girls and boys there! I won't see you two often and I'll be stuck with him." He side-eyed his friend who glared back at him.

"Wasn't it just a few minutes ago when you were excited to see Lan-er-gongzi?" Yanli said, "Besides, we'll see each other again in the lectures."

"Backing out at the last second, Wei-gongzi?" Yuran teased.

"No way! Fine let's go."

By the time the four arrived at Caiyi Town, they had nearly finished the batch of lotus seed pods they brought from Yunmeng.

"Shijie, have you tried Emperor's Smile? I heard countless praise of it but I'd like to judge for myself." Translation: Shijie, I want to buy wine.

Yuran sighed while Yanli smiled.

"Alcohol is forbidden in Cloud Recesses." Jiang Cheng said strictly.

"Oh! Wen-gongzi!"

Wen Qionglin jumped at the call, having been caught off guard, he dropped the paper fan he was holding. "Wei-gongzi, hello." He shuffled to return the item to the vendor before saluting the new arrivals. "Greetings to Jiang-gongzi, Jiang-guniang and Xin-guniang."

"When did you get here?" Wei Ying asked.

"Just two hours ago, gongzi." Wen Ning said quietly.

This young master of the Qishan Wen Sect was probably the most bashful young lord of the Greater Five Sects, he used to be a sickly child in the past, now he even became one of Wen Sect's most skilled archers.

"How come you're alone, Wen-gongzi?" Yanli inquired.

"A'jie went to fetch some herbs in the marketplace, she said she could only find the remaining ingredients she was lacking in Caiyi Town. She told me to wait here..."

"Oh, is that so? In that case would you like to join us or will you wait for your sister?" Yuran offered.

"It's okay, I'll stay." Wen Ning gave them a small smile.

"Alright."

Before they left him, Wei Ying and Yanli handed him a couple of lotus seed pods to share with his sister. It was time to climb the steps to the entrance of Cloud Recesses.

Cloud Recesses was an ethereal place, it gave you an illusion that you were in a palace floating in the sky because of the mist at this height, however the reverent ambiance of the place made you feel like you were visiting a monastery.

"No wonder their founder was a monk." Wei Ying commented.

"A'Xian, be respectful." Yanli chided.

Small koi ponds were found around the area, along with white pebbles and blue flowers. The colour scheme of white and light shades of blue and grey reminded Wei Ying of Lan Zhan, so he was pleased at the sight instead of deeming it dull as he had once thought before.

"I haven't visited this place in a while, but I think it just got a lot more gloomy." Wei Ying mumbled.

"When do the lectures begin, a'jie?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Tomorrow early in the morning, they're giving the guests time to settle down and rest." Yanli said.

"I forgot about their dreadful sleeping schedule! How does anyone live without twelve or more hours of sleep?" Wei Ying whined.

Yanli giggled as Yuran replied to him, "A'Ying, if you keep complaining, how will you live here for three months?"

Wei Ying could only groan at this.

"Alright now, it's time for us to go to the Dormitories for young ladies, you two go get settled in your rooms." Yanli said.

"We should've stayed a little bit longer in Caiyi Town, don't you think?" Wei Ying lamented.

"Yeah and waste time for practice? You're on your own." Jiang Cheng scoffed, polishing his sword, Sandu.

All of a sudden, a young man in dark green robes strolled into the pavilion, then came a boisterous voice. "Hello, hello, respectable young masters, I'll be your dormmate for three months so suffer or deal with it."

The boy wore grey and green robes, and had dark hair cascading behind him, in his clutch was a closed fan, but even by the lacquer on it's wooden frame, he could tell it was quite an expensive fan.

"Nie Huaisang!" Wei Ying called gleefully.

"Oh I'll definitely have to suffer and deal with it." Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.

"Wei-xiong?" Huaisang looked at him, like he didn't realize the boy was in the room.

He actually didn't know who the other people in their dorm would be, but he was relieved to have found that two of his friends were with him.

"Aiyo~ here I was getting worried for nothing."

"Nie-bro, it's good to see you! So you're our dormmate?"

"It appears that way, it's so good to see you, it's been awhile, eh? Sorry I couldn't go to your coming of age ceremony, dage was having me swing a lump of metal around on mine." Huaisang said defeatedly.

"No problem, it's wasn't that exciting anyway! Other than the time Lan Xichen gave Jiang Cheng a bow."

"Wow, that's cool. Did you bring it Jiang-xiong?"

"No I didn't, and stop telling people about my bow." Jiang Cheng hissed.

"Ah don't mind him," Wei Ying waved his hand. "So how have you been, Nie-bro?"

"I've been moping at home, dage won't leave me alone." Huaisang quibbled, "I wish he'd find someone soon and have descendants, I don't even wanna inherit the sect."

"What do you wanna do anyway?"

"I don't know, be a writer? A painter? A fan enthusiast?"

"You kinda already are all of those."

"Whatever, I don't know!" Huaisang threw his hands up.

"Someday you'll achieve your dreams, bro. That's when you become an uncle, Nie-shushu~"

"Wei-bro!"

"Nie-shushu~!"

Jiang Cheng shook his head at their antics disapprovingly, "Where is a place I can practice quietly without a Wei Wuxian?"

He then slipped out of the pavillion to look for such a place.

In his opinion, Cloud Recesses was such a serene place, unlike Lotus Pier that was always busily bustling with vendors and children coming and going, Cloud Recesses was a place of tranquility and it made him feel at ease.

He was walking along a desolate path, looking here and there for some open space to practice.

Almost out of nowhere, he heard a voice.

"—Thank you for your guidance, Lan-gongzi."

"No worries, I hope you find your way to your brother, Jin-er-gongzi."

Jiang Cheng spied on two youths standing together, one bowing in gratitude, the other assuring him with a kind smile that it was nothing.

Lan Xichen stood before a beautiful young man with ebony locks, two such locks ceremoniously fell beside the boy's chest, tucked neatly behind his ears, he even had a set of identical dimples at the corners of that disarming smile of his.

"Please just call me Meng Yao, I haven't debuted yet, it's embarrassing to say." He said.

Haven't debuted? How young could he be? He looks fifteen, could it be that he's only fourteen? Jiang Cheng pondered.

"Alright." Lan Xichen smiled at him.

Meng Yao went away just as Young Master Lan spotted the creeping Jiang Wanyin.

"Jiang-gongzi, may I help you?" He looked confused as to why the other was hiding behind a pillar.

"Oh, um..." Jiang Cheng stuttered, "I'm sorry, I was looking for a place to train, I was really waiting for both of you to disappear— I mean pass, pass the area."

Lan Huan's confusion turned into an amused chuckle, "There's a vacant area in the back of the mountain, it's a little far but it's not dangerous or forbidden to go there. I would think nobody will disrupt your training there."

"Thank you, Lan-gongzi." Jiang Cheng saluted him stiffly before trying to run away.

"Wait, that's the wrong way—"

Within a blink, Jiang Cheng switched directions.

"Ah, gongzi."

"Yes?" Jiang Cheng stopped abruptly, as did his heart it seems.

"Did you like my gift?"

While standing on the wooden platform connecting the corridors to opposite halls, Lan Huan stood a level higher than the other boy who was on the white pebbled path.

Xichen held the wooden pillar next to him for support while inclining his body towards Jiang Cheng. "Did you get to use it yet?"

Time froze for Jiang Cheng as he noticed a small strand of dark hair swaying around the tip of Xichen's pale ear, the subtle glow on his skin as his lashes lightly fanned, and there seemed to be multiple layers of that warm brown in his irises...

"-gongzi...?

...Wanyin?"

At this, Jiang Cheng slowly leaned back, desperate to create distance between them. "Your gift is wonderful, thank you." He spoke curtly before dashing off.

"Huh?" Lan Huan mumbled, a confused smile returning to his face.

Meanwhile, back in Caiyi Town, the Wen siblings were still trying to make their way up to Cloud Recesses when Wen Qing noticed something on the lotus seed pods her brother gave her.

"A'Ning, where did you get this?" She asked softly.

"I told you, from Wei-gongzi and Jiang-guniang." Wen Ning responded, a bit puzzled as to why his sister asked him to repeat his words. "Is there something wrong, a'jie?"

"No, nothing... just..."

Wen Qing fiddled with the uniquely braided cloth tied around the lotus seed pod's stem.

"I think I've seen it somewhere."

"Huh? What was that?" Wen Ning spoke as he chewed on a handful of peeled lotus seeds.

Wen Qing's concentrated look changed into a gentle smile. "Nothing, is it good?"

Seeing this, Wen Ning grinned. "Yeah, really good!"

Chapter Text

While Wen Qing would have preferred to keep her brother by her side, they weren't in Qishan anymore so they had to abide by the Lan Sect's rules.

Compared to the boys section of Cloud Recesses, the girls' had no access to the Cold Springs, however they had their own "springs" at Jiejing Hall, the girls' bathhouse that connected to a pool with an eight feet tall waterfall.

Although otherwise there were no other differences, they had somewhat the same classes and could sometimes attend the same lectures, they had the same style of dormitories by default, so generally speaking, almost everything was just like the other.

But Wen Qing didn't know that.

While the Wen Qing was concerned about how well Wen Ning would be treated over there without her, Xin Yuran was busy grumbling about discrimination.

They had already unpacked their things, the other day and gotten well rested, now they were being led by a guide.

"A'Yu, what are you doing?" Yanli asked.

"Do you think they've got better food there?"

"Yuran." Yanli chided softly.

"A'Yan, you know me, I can't live without good food." Yuran whined lowly. "Ever since I was a kid, the food here has always been so bland~"

"I have soup, will you calm down now?" Yanli coerced her as they joined the crowd.

"Okay." The girl grinned, satisfied.

Before she could add anything more, a voice from behind her spoke, "Jiang-guniang? Is that you?" 

"Oh my, it's been a long time!"

Suddenly, Jiang Yanli who's been quietly beside Xin Yuran, was flocked by young ladies from various sects, most of them from clans and the rest were from small sects.

"How have you been?"

"I think Jiang-guniang became lovelier!"

"My brother is a disciple at your sect!"

"So is mine!"

"Please give Jin-gongzi are kind regards…"

Yuran fumed, they had the nerve to mention Jin Zixuan? "Hey—!"

"Silence, ruckus will not be tolerated in Cloud Recesses." A woman boomed over the crowd.

"Please pardon us." Those young ladies began acting all proper and well-behaved.

"Now, if all the young ladies could pay attention…" The woman began monotonously explaining everything they had to know, no curious peeking on the male section of Cloud Recesses, always follow the rules, rule breaking results in consequences otherwise punishment. At this moment the boys were also receiving the same words.

Then she sent them on their way towards their lectures.

Yuran found herself gazing down at the table in front of her where there lay a book, she was listening well to the lecture given by Lan Qinglian, a distant member of the Lan Clan.

"Xin-guniang, what would you suggest doing in this situation?" Lan Qinglian asked her.

"Laoshi, there is no right answer for this question. I assume this has never happened before and you made it up?" Yuran responded.

"Xin-guniang, questions aren't answered by questions." Lan Qinglian said, causing some girls to giggle and snicker. "However you are correct, if such a scenario were to happen, it would not make sense even to try and solve it. It is simply too impossible, in the end, the person would die one way or another. That is why it is important to learn and keep in mind the rules and regulations of musical cultivation."

"May I?" Yuran raised her hand, Lan Qinglian nodded. "I believe it is important to remember that one of the most effective pieces that prevent qi-deviation, Song of Clarity, is a mind-calming technique. However because it also deals with the mind, it could very well make a person go mad if it were to be altered in a certain way, so it's even more important to memorize the notes and melody before thinking of playing it for another person."

"That is true, what is your point?"

"What I mean to say is, while rules and regulations are important, we should also pay attention to the tune. Musical healing techniques can still be used as weapons." Yuran said.

"You thought this through." Lan Qinglian cocked a brow at her, but her tone was a bit sarcastic.

"Pardon me if I offended you, laoshi." Yuran saluted.

"No, I was just about to get to that part anyway."

Suddenly, a new voice spoke. "Laoshi, how can you practice the songs if it might be able to affect yourself too?"

"You must have a clear mind then, no distractions, a perfect concentration on the melody prevents any effects on the caster."

The one who'd spoken was Wen Qing.

"Then, does the quality of the instrument affect the quality of the music?"

"Wen-guniang, it is a given when the instrument produces unpleasant sounds, the melody should sound as it is, never make it extravagant or any less. And tampering with healing music sheets could be dangerous." Lan Qinglian answered.

"Thank you, I will learn well." Wen Qing saluted her.

Seven lectures passed then they ate lunch, it was in the middle of noon when the class merging started, all the young cultivators filed inside the lecture hall to see the Twin Jades of Lan already sitting in the front row.

"Wow, it's Lan-gongzi!"

"Lan-er-gongzi looks so handsome…"

"Twin Jades indeed,"

"It feels like painting, they're surreal."

Girls and boys whispered amongst themselves, just as Wei Wuxian bursted through them.

"Excuse me, guniang, gongzi." He cheekily rushed to sit directly behind Lan Wangji, whose eyes were shut and back straight in a meditative state.

Jiang Cheng groaned, reluctantly sitting beside him, behind Lan Xichen who gave him a friendly smile.

Yanli and Yuran approached, only to be beaten to their seats, they both sigh and move to sit on the other side. Because of this, Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng glared at the fawning girls behind them.

"Jiejie." Wen Ning smiled at the sight of his sister.

"A'Ning, have you eaten?" Wen Qing caressed his head.

"Mn! I have, you?"

"Don't worry about me."

"Jin-gongzi, there's empty seat here!"

Jin Zixuan entered, beside him was a smiling Meng Yao. The two half-brothers could not be more different as one constantly frowns and the other smiles all day, well at least they're both handsome.

When Jin Zixuan spotted Jiang Yanli, he subconsciously took a step back, Meng Yao caught him by his elbow and looked at him in concern. "'Ge, are you okay?"

"Yeah, let's go sit—"

As Zixuan was about to usher his brother away from the two girls, Wen Ning and Wen Qing took the last two seats that were not behind Yanli and Yuran.

"'Ge, we should sit now before the Grandmaster gets here."

They sat down at the two remaining seats.

Jin Zixuan willed himself to remain as expressionless as he could, however when Yanli greeted him as politely as ever, with a sweet smile, he couldn't stop the stubborn pink on his face from turning the colour of rouge.

He looked away immediately, only for his eyes to land the two boys who were glaring daggers at him.

Only then did Lan Qiren arrive.

The young masters and misses settled down, and it wasn't hard to tell that Lan Qiren knew they've been breaking the rules. That they've been gossiping and noisy in the lecture hall.

Lan Qiren sat at the head table. "Just like today, divided classes are from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock at noon and merging classes start right after lunch until 4 o'clock. Tomorrow, groups of twelve are selected to learn in the lecture rooms. For merging time, the lecture hall sessions will only come twice a week, lecture room studies will fill out four days, then you're given a day of rest. I expect none of you to break anymore rules and/or to cause any trouble, behave accordingly and I will not be sending letters to your sects or clans. Punishment will be carried out by Lan Qinglian and Lan Wangji. Any questions?"

Deafening silence filled the room, however before Wei Ying could mess about, Lan Qiren continued.

"If there are no more questions, let us proceed on our lecture." He called out a Lan disciple who carried a scroll, the disciple unrolled as the three-thousand rules of Gusu Lan Sect was displayed, he dutifully recited the rules without once looking at the scroll.

Wei Ying yawned and turned to Jiang Cheng who was concentrating on his desk solemnly, he scoffed to himself, then he looked at Lan Zhan, whose face he could not see due to sitting behind him.

'Does he not remember me?' Wei Ying thought grumpily.

He sighed and switched his gaze to Yanli and Yuran, both of them were politely behaved until they both felt his stare and smiled at him, only to go back to behaving.

'Not even Ran-shijie wants to play with me', he pouted.

He slumped on his table before looking behind him to see Nie Huaisang sleeping and hiding behind his figure, he grinned, lightly tapping the boy's desk causing him to startle awake, his arms hitting the wood and making noise.

Lan Qiren glared as Huaisang bowed his head quietly.

"Wei-xiong." Huaisang mumbled, a subtle tone of whining.

"What? You were sleeping." Wei Ying snickered.

Lan Qiren cleared his throat, causing Huaisang to wither, while Wei Ying only went back to facing front, rolling his eyes at the Grandmaster Lan.

The lecture lasted for three hours without Wei Wuxian causing trouble, and it was only because Lan Wangji quietly gave him a piece of paper containing the words: Please don't disrupt.

Wei Ying was quite bored after three hours of Lan Qiren droning on about principles and high morals, and the few words Lan Wangji gave him meant that as long as he didn't 'disrupt', he would allow Wei Ying to disrupt him, this was the deal they made around three years ago.

    Flashback ——

"Don't make noise in Cloud Recesses." The twelve years old Lan Zhan spoke strictly.

"Lan Zhaaan… I'm bored, you can't stop me if I'm bored." Wei Ying teased him.

"Mn."

Just then, Wei Ying thought the boy was gonna leave, he was about to snatch his wrist in a panic until Lan Zhan spoke again.

"Please don't disrupt, I will let you talk to me." Lan Zhan had said.

The innocent Second Young Master Lan did not know what greed he'd finally triggered in Wei Ying as the boy grinned happily, taking the deal. "Okay! You can't forget, if you do, I will cause chaos!"

"Mn."

"Hello Lan Zhan, it's been a while! You didn't come visit me~" 

"Wei-gongzi." Lan Zhan greeted him monotonously.

Wei Ying frowned, he pursed his lips and decided to not say anything about it. "What are you doing?"

"I am writing."

"I can see."

Silence enveloped the two, they were in a secluded area in the Library Pavilion, they were only ones there.

Wei Ying pouted before settling on sitting beside the Lan boy and staring at the side of his face, as his eyes followed the line of his forehead, the ribbon, his eyes, his nose, then his lips, his chin, his adam's apple, Wei Ying's eyes snapped back up to the pair of eyes that were now staring back at him.

"What?" Wei Ying smiled.

Lan Zhan returned to his paper as Wei Ying went to another desk.

In what was thirty minutes, Lan Wangji had written a hundred pages of whatever it was he was writing and Wei Ying finally moved back to him.

"Look Lan Zhan, I got you something." Wei Ying said.

He raised a piece of paper with a detailed portrait of a young man sitting peacefully as he stroked his brush.

Wei Ying grinned proudly.

What Lan Zhan said next, caused him to freeze. "Thank you. Good job."

Wei Ying watched dazedly as the wind blew through the opened windows, blowing Lan Wangji's long black hair and white ribbon, his golden eyes were as bright as real gold, although he did not smile, Wei Ying felt like he was being smiled at.

He couldn't take it.

Wei Ying leaned to softly peck his cheek.

Lan Zhan was as still as a stone, despite his hair and ribbon still billowing in the breeze.

"Only smile at me." Wei Ying said.

Chapter Text

When Wei Ying was five, his mother took him out of Yunmeng for the third time, and it was for his first visit in Gusu. Lan Tian, a dear friend of Cangse Sanren, had invited them to Cloud Recesses and naturally she could do nothing but accept as she'd love to annoy someone from there.

"'Niang, is Ran-jiejie here?" Wei Ying hesitantly asked her. "She was not in Lotus Pier, I can't find her."

This 'Ran-jiejie' of course referred to Xin Yuran.

Now the reason why Xin Yuran would be in Cloud Recesses was because she was Lan Tian's daughter.

She was the Jiang siblings' second cousin through her father, Xin Beishang (the Sect Leader of Yunping Xin), who was Jiang Fengmian's cousin. While Lan Tian, was Sect Leader Lan's cousin as well, leading to Yuran being also second cousins with the Twin Jades. (That doesn't mean the Jiangs and Lans are related in any way)

"Of course she is, if Tian-a'yi is there, why wouldn't she be there as well? She wasn't in Lotus Pier because she's still studying in Cloud Recesses."

Wei Ying was happy that there was at least one person he knew around his age.

"Ying'er, don't bother Yuran too much, she's also busy training and cultivating. I'm sure there are other kids who might play with you there." Actually Cangse wasn't sure, the last time she was there as a teen, she had experienced the most upright and stiff bunch, however she was curious as to how her lively and mischievous son would fare there.

"Jiang Cheng said they flayed children there with their rules and whips." Wei Ying said.

"No they don't," Cangse held herself back from laughing at her gullible son. "Somehow, you'll figure out it's not that scary and have fun."

"Really?"

"Really! If you don't believe me, let's start with Gusu itself first. Look around, welcome to Caiyi Town, Ying'er."

Wei Ying tried to stand up, but after a while of being in a sitting position, his legs had gone numb so he had to be hoisted up by his mother in order for his not to fall face first into the river.

Being higher, he was able to see a marble river in front of their boat that glowed jade-like under the clouded sun. There was a line of houses with white walls and grey tiled roofs, an abundance of boats, nets and merchants all around. They sold fruits, flowers, pastries, tea, silk, toys and other woodwork.

But the first thing Wei Ying caught scent of was a faint spice from a distance, it was their famous restaurant that was known for it's excellent Hunan cuisine.

"'Niang!—"

Cangse chuckled lightly, knowing well what he had in mind. "Yes, we're going there for lunch, I'm hungry too."

The little boy cheered happily.

Suddenly, somewhere around them, a female voice called out in a unique language.

"Loquats! Fresh loquats! Come have a taste! Hello Mrs. Wei, what a cute boy! Ah, little boy do you want a free basket?"

Her voice was so soft, like even if she were to threaten you, it would sound like she was kindly offering to harm you in the nicest way possible that you would not feel the slightest bit scared.

"'Niang, is she talking to me? What is that? What are they saying?" Wei Ying asked in confusion, he was especially thrown off by the strange and unfamiliar dialect she spoke with.

"She said you were a cute boy and asked if you wanted a free basket of loquats, loquats are those small yellow fruits there."

"Okay, I want one."

Out of nowhere, his mother replied in the same dialect. "My son has never had a loquat before, but he said he'd love to try some."

"Alright, catch these two baskets, madame. All free! Have a nice visit, gongzi!" The lady chirped as she lightly tossed the baskets.

"Thank you, jiejie!" Wei Ying called back.

"Aiya, what a lovable child!"

Cangse placed the baskets and Wei Ying down, "See, it wasn't so bad."

"'Niang, are everyone this nice here?"

A moment of thoughtful silence passed, with small smile, then Cangse answered. "No, but you can find kindness in everyone. Somehow, there is good as there is bad. Everyone might not be this polite or this generous, but you'll find that everyone has their own way of perceiving the word 'nice'. And you just need to keep smiling happily."

"Okay." Wei Ying grinned.

"Come now, let's visit that fragrant restaurant."

It was almost noon when they arrived at the mountain where the entrance to Cloud Recesses was, there Lan Tian personally greeted them.

"Aiya, Tiantian, if you decided to come all the way down here why didn't you just come get us from Lotus Pier?"

The beautiful woman giggled, "Oh? Should I have done that?"

The two hugged each other before Lan Tian patted Wei Ying's head, "Hello Wei Ying, you've grown a lot after a year. Sorry, Yuran is in class at the moment, she couldn't come greet you with me."

Cangse placed a hand on her dejected son's shoulder before saying: "It's alright, let's go in, it's getting cold here."

Cloud Recesses was certainly an ethereal place, even as a child, Wei Ying acknowledged that every inch of it had an air of sure elegance and every passing disciple had dignified scholarly auras.

The Cloud Recesses of Gusu Lan was somewhere between a heavenly paradise and a fairytale, it was just that excellent of a place. Despite it lacking much vibrance besides the white and blue tones among it's grey scale color scheme, it was definitely pleasant to the eye.

Suddenly, Wei Ying was not so scared anymore. Although there was still that small uncomfortable feeling from the unfamiliarity of everything, it definitely improved.

The two women had been chatting for a while as they walked around, until two seven year old kids approached them. "Yuran, A'Huan, your class has ended." It wasn't a question, it was a statement as Lan Tian knew the two would never go out in the middle of a lesson.

Yuran was the girl on the right, her ebony hair was tied with a long white ribbon reaching the small of her back, wearing the Lan Sect uniform that looked to Wei Ying like mourning clothes.

The boy on the right however, was Lan Huan, the eldest son of Sect Leader Lan. He was wearing the same robes, but the white ribbon he had on was instead wrapped around his forehead, tied into a knot on the back of his head and the thin fabric followed the trail of his dark hair.

"Hello a'yi." Yuran said to Cangse.

"Good afternoon, daozhang." Lan Huan greeted.

"Please, just call me Mrs. Wei." Cangse denied quickly.

"Ran-jiejie!"

Yuran's attention quickly flew to the little boy, with a bright smile she mock saluted him. "Wei Ying, I'm your shijie, you must address me so." She chided cheekily.

"Oh, sorry shijie." Wei Ying giggled.

"Hello, Wei-gongzi." Lan Huan greeted, "My name is Lan Huan, I'm Yuran's cousin."

"Hello, Lan-gongzi. My name is Wei Ying!" The boy smiled happily.

"A'Huan, where's your brother?" Lan Tian inquired.

"He's with uncle and the Fourth Elder right now… in the classroom."

All of a sudden, Lan Tian, Yuran, Lan Huan and even Cangse's faces darkened. Wei Ying was confused why their expressions changed so drastically, but he knew there was something largely concerning that he didn't know of.

It was well into dusk when the mother and son duo had settled in their guest bamboo house, Cangse was already cooking soup and feeding Wei Ying the loquats they'd gotten earlier.

"'Niang, why was Huan-gege's brother still in the classroom if the lesson was already over?"

"First of all, Ying'er, you mustn't pry into other's business. It's not that I'm keeping a secret from you but rather, it's truly not my secret to tell." She responded seamlessly.

"Then why do you know?"

"Ying'er," She scolded gently. "Come now, let's just eat."

The day they arrived at Cloud Recesses ended shortly, it wasn't too exciting nor was it too boring. But if they were to stay there for one week, Wei Ying might as well find something fun to do, or someone fun to play with. So early next morning, he greeted his mother and told her he was going out to play and left the bamboo house in search for the younger brother of Lan Huan.

Unfortunately he did not know what he looked like, so it had to take him to ask around from the disciples about where he could be.

There was only one person who answered him straight, while the others politely greeted him and evaded his questions, this person told him:

"The boy you're looking for is Lan-er-gongzi, his name is Lan Zhan. It's not wise to seek him out in public, if you want to meet him on your own, you can find him lurking around his Jingshi."

And then he was pointed to the direction of the Jingshi.

There he trekked forth, holding a sturdy and thin branch, lightly tapping the path out of boredom, he wanted to run to find him quicker but it was forbidden to run in Cloud Recesses. So if he didn't want to get kicked out, he had to resort to the boring walk he was currently on.

But in the end, he was met with disappointment as the place he was told to go was empty of people. Although he was told not to enter anywhere else, he had long forgotten the instructions and entered another courtyard.

There he saw the most beautiful set of bamboo shoots around the yard, if there were already blue flowers in the main area of Cloud Recesses, there were even more of them here, the blue flowers bloomed abundantly on the patches of soil and there was a small pond containing a few koi fishes swimming slowly in the water.

Suddenly, he heard a small childish grunt, followed by a feminine giggle.

"A'Niang, stop teasing him. He might really stop visiting you soon."

"Aiya… will you really stop seeing mama, A'Zhan?"

Then a scoff was heard, but there were no words spoken.

''A'Zhan'? Is that Lan Zhan's nickname? The boy's voice must be Huan-gege then, then the woman's voice must be their mama', Wei Ying concluded.

Suddenly the paper screen door was opened, revealing a small pale boy, but he wasn't too pale to the point of looking sickly, his skin looked fair and untouched, as if snow would rather melt than be compared to it. The boy had an identical forehead ribbon with his brother and was specifically around Wei Ying's age, with the most uniquely coloured eyes, his raven hair was so silky that even from afar Wei Ying could already tell.

Suddenly, the prettiest eyes Wei Ying has ever seen widened as if he had startled them. The boy suddenly walked behind a woman who was standing behind him.

"Huh? A'Zhan? Who is it, what's wrong?" The woman looked at Wei Ying and her worried look disappeared, replaced with a gentle smile. "Oh, hello there…"

Lan Zhan peeked at him from behind his mother, causing Wei Ying to smile brightly at him, but the move made the boy shrink back behind his mother.

"Sorry, my A'Zhan is very shy."

A sudden hum was heard from behind her, making Wei Ying think the boy might not be able to speak.

Beside them, Lan Huan stood surprised at Wei Ying's appearance.

"Ah, 'niang, this is Cangse Sanren's son, Wei Ying. They were visiting, he must've accidentally come across the cottage." Lan Huan explained.

"Oh, is that so?" Madame Lan smiled again, "Wei Ying, may I call you that?"

"Yes!" The boy grinned.

"Does your mother know where you are? Or are you lost?"

"A'Niang knows I went out to play, sorry I went inside without permission." Wei Ying wilted.

"No, it's fine. Would you like to come in?"

"'Niang?" Lan Huan mumbled, confused.

No one, other than the two sons and Sect Leader Lan, has ever entered Madame Lan's house. So naturally, Lan Huan wondered what the sudden invitation was for.

But Madame Lan just smiled at her eldest son before beckoning Wei Ying forward.

"Okay." Wei Ying beamed.

But Lan Zhan continued to hide, peeking at him with furrowed brows, walking further inside the house, and hiding away again.

After Madame Lan and her eldest son welcomed Wei Ying inside, Madame Lan sat Wei Ying down with her as Lan Huan bid them goodbye since he had to leave for his study.

"A'Zhan, I'm leaving now, play with Wei-gongzi and a'niang, okay?" Lan Huan said, leaving right after.

"A'Zhan, come out, mama might start crying again." Madame Lan softly threatened.

Lan Zhan peeked out from behind a screen, walking tentatively over to his mother's seat and hiding behind her again.

"A'Zhan, be nice. It isn't polite to not greet your guests."

"Hello! My name is Wei Ying." Wei Ying said.

"A'Zhan…" Madame Lan called carefully.

Then, ever so hesitantly, Lan Zhan spoke. "My name is Lan Zhan."

Wei Ying was slightly startled to hear the soft voice that came from his mouth.

Although he had allowed himself to utter a single sentence, it wasn't enough for him to play with Wei Ying. So Madame Lan schemed quietly.

"A'Zhan, A'Ying, I want to rest. Do you mind playing outside for now?"

"I don't mind, do you?" Wei Ying asked Lan Zhan, who clung tighter on his mother's robes.

"A'Zhan, go play outside, mama wants to rest."

Lan Zhan looked up pitifully at his mother, who was almost swayed, before silently and slowly walking out of the house, followed by Wei Ying.

As soon as the paper screen was shut, almost immediately, Lan Zhan went to hide.

"Wait for me! Wait, do you wanna play hide and seek? Okay, I'm gonna catch you, you better run or else I'm gonna hug you!" Wei Ying called out.

A small sound was heard from the other boy as if he was startled. Suddenly, the rustling of leaves came from behind him, Wei Ying then went to chase the sound.

"Run fast, hide well, don't let me catch you!" Wei Ying giggled.

Madame Lan was quite glad she knew how to resist her youngest son's pretty puppy eyes.

Lan Zhan had not once let Wei Ying hug him, so until now, even as the noon came to paint the clouds a tinge of light orange, Wei Ying was yet to catch the other boy.

Tiredly, Wei Ying sat down in the threshold, whining. "Aiya, Lan Zhan, why are you so hard to catch? Did you already run away from me? So mean…"

As he was whining though, Lan Zhan was only standing a little away from behind him, with a slightly guilty look on his little face.

"Wei Ying…" He called him after a while of not being noticed.

"Huh? There you are!" Wei Ying tackled him in a hug.

Lan Zhan flushed red but didn't refuse the hug, and through the crack of the screen, Madame Lan almost squealed.

"I caught you, I caught you!" Wei Ying cheered, helping the boy sit up. "Also, did you call me Wei Ying?" He smiled happily.

"Mn." Lan Zhan answered, "Sorry."

"What for?"

"Sorry."

"Aiya, if you don't tell me, I won't know."

"……."

Wei Ying sighed, he really just won't tell.

"So you want to be friends?"

At the mention of 'friends', Lan Zhan looked up with shimmering eyes.

Wei Ying was distracted by the sudden change in his pretty eyes, so he stared.

"Friends?" Lan Zhan mumbled.

"Huh? Oh, oh yeah! Let's be friends!" Wei Ying held his pinky up, "Friends forever, promise!"

But the look on the boy's face was complete confusion, as if saying 'huh?', Lan Zhan didn't seem to know what a pinky promise is.

After quietly teaching him what it was and how to do it, they pinky promised to be friends.

So for the rest of the day, Wei Ying spent his time talking to Lan Zhan, telling him stories and about Lotus Pier and his time at Yiling. Little did he know, as he rambled on, not thinking too much about his words, Lan Zhan listened intently, remembering every single detail of his stories and everything about him that he said: from his fear of dogs; his parents; his shidi, Jiang Cheng; his shijies, Jiang Yanli and Xin Yuran; his Jiang-shishu and Yu-shigu; his favourite games; his favourite food; his favourite place; the things he does on his free time…

Then the things he noticed himself: Wei Ying's little whims and habits like lightly scratching his nose when he felt embarrassed or annoyed.

They had spent the day well with only Wei Ying chattering on and on almost endlessly, Lan Zhan 'mn'ed and listened quietly while looking at his lap.

Wei Ying at first found him boring, but the way the boy was willing to listen to him and not complain about him being annoying, he didn't dislike it.

So for the rest of their stay, Wei Ying was determined to spend all of his time on Lan Zhan.

There were times when Lan Zhan would struggle to placate Wei Ying's pouty tantrums and the other would enjoy watching him strain his little face, there was even a time he was close to tears because of Wei Ying's bullying.

They didn't play like other kids, they didn't fight like other kids, but they talked (mostly Wei Ying) and drew and sometimes spent time with Madame Lan or Lan Huan. But there were times when Wei Ying couldn't find him immediately and resorted to waiting in the Gentian House with Madame Lan until Lan Zhan came back.

It was when Lan Zhan's sleeve fell while raising his arm to grab a fallen leaf on his head, did Wei Ying notice the red lines on his arm.

"Lan Zhan, what's that?"

The five year old was quick to fix his robes and continue painting, forcing the other child to pout at being ignored and decide to leave it alone.

If he knew any better, he would have thought there was some sort of abuse going on in their household.

But Wei Ying didn't know better.

When it was finally time for them to leave, Wei Ying was in tears, for the first time in his life he'd made a friend that would make him cry just from being separated from him.

Cangse was amused, Lan Tian even joked that at this point Wei Ying might beg Madame Lan to allow him to stitch her son to his side.

"Ying'er, do you like Lan-er-gongzi more than a'niang?"

"Yes!" Wei Ying didn't hesitate.

"That's mean." Cangse laughed aloud.

Wei Ying would forever remember Lan Zhan as the prettiest creature to ever be seen by his eyes, while Lan Zhan would not remember the week of their first meeting at all.

There was a time of chaos in Cloud Recesses, but it was all kept hushed up so only the inner most of the Lan Sect knew while the rest of the disciples only acknowledged it as a year of grim quiet.

Five year old Lan Zhan was attacked by a powerful resentful energy that escaped the Room of Darkness because of someone's irresponsibility, resulting in a severe head injury that rendered him in a coma for six months. When he awoke, the elders even considered it miraculous, however he suffered amnesia and recurring headaches from the critical injury.

When the next time came for Wei Ying and Lan Zhan to meet again, the former could only be confused with how cold and stern the latter was.

Chapter Text

Just like Lan Qiren had said, twelve students were selected for each of the study rooms. Wei Ying was fortunately paired with Lan Wangji, with the addition of Nie Huaisang, Wen Qionglin, plus several other kids.

However, to his annoyance, he sat behind Lan Wangji while beside him was one of the prettiest boys he's ever seen. He was apparently Bai Yuhua of Chuse Bai Clan, someone that people might even dare add in the Ladies' Beauties List for how feminine and gorgeous he was.

He had long dark hair, pretty silver eyes, small pink lips, a milky complexion with faint peach blooming on his delicate skin. He also wore his clan's colours with robes of black and white and their insignia of two kois swimming around each other.

Someone as pretty as that naturally looked good beside Lan Wangji, and Wei Ying didn't like that. No, he didn't like it at all.

"Gongzi, Yuhua greets you." Bai Yuhua bowed to Lan Wangji, the boy looked at him and hummed in acknowledgement, causing Wei Ying to jealously stare between them.

"I haven't seen Lan-er-gongzi in a while, how have you been?" Bai Yuhua continued, not noticing the burning glare towards him.

"Fuqin* invited you and your older sister last month." Lan Zhan muttered, "Muqin* misses Bai-guniang."

Wei Ying looked between them incredulously, that was quite a long sentence coming from Lan Zhan, who was this Bai Yuhua? Was he more important than he thought he was?

"A'Jie has been sick."

And the conversation abruptly ended there without anything else but silence.

Wei Ying gaped, while Bai Yuhua didn't even seem fazed one bit.

Beside him, Huaisang grinned. "Wei-xiong why does it seem like you're so distracted with the scene in front of us?"

Well that class ended well, except Wei Wuxian could do nothing but stare between his two classmates, he couldn't even hear a single thing from the teacher.

"Did you know about them being close?" Wei Ying hounded Huaisang immediately after class.

"No, but I heard of them having met as children. And people think Old Man Lan's aiming to have Lan-er-gongzi and Bai Yuhua engaged."

"You mean Bai Yuhe?"

"No, not her. She's the second daughter."

"Then Bai Yinghua?"

"No, not her either! Are those the only Chuse Bai Clan children you know?"

Wei Ying shrugged carelessly.

"Also isn't she the scandalous eldest daughter? Lan Qiren would choke on his blood! Bai Die, Bai Yuhua, the one that sat beside Lan Wangji! Chuse Bai's White Butterfly!"

"He's the White Butterfly? The Beauty Immortal? That youngest son of the Art of Seduction Sect? Chuse Bai is that sect?"

'The Art of Seduction Sect' was Chuse Bai's infamous title, their clan was filled with beauties, whether they be male or females, they were all incomparably beautiful. Aside from being literal angels, they were quite proud of their reputation but they weren't as haughty as one would think. As the saying goes, "A battalion of even the most noble would fight for a glance from the daughter or the son of Chuse Bai."

Quite the exaggeration, but it did happen once.

"You didn't know?"

"I only knew his name was Bai Die (White Butterfly), it's literally his nickname. I only overheard people at Lotus Pier talk about it, I wasn't that interested. Wait, isn't Bai Yuhua a guy though?"

Huaisang scrunched up his face, "What kind of mindset do you have, Wei-bro? Love doesn't have to be that boring, male prostitutes exist and female prostitutes aren't just for males. Also aren't you in love with Lan W—"

"What an interesting metaphor."

"What? It's true!" The younger boy sighed. "Anyway, I wonder how Jiang-xiong is faring without us."

"Definitely better than with you." Jiang Cheng chimed in out of nowhere.

"I heard you're sitting next to 'Huan-gege'?" Wei Ying teased, hooking an arm around his friend's neck.

Jiang Cheng grunted, elbowing him in the rib. "Get off me. And no, someone named Meng Yao sat beside him." He revealed in a tight voice.

"Isn't he Jin Zixuan's second younger brother?" Huaisang remembered. "He's known to be quite the people pleaser, just like a certain someone he apparently sat beside with."

"Shut up."

"But he's actually really nice, don't be fooled, he has a sibling complex. And he's an incredible softy to children." Huaisang waved dismissively. "I'd know since he's always over in Qinghe 'cause dage's mother and his mother are best friends, he always took care of me when we were kids."

"So he's nice?" Jiang Cheng responded grouchily.

"Wow, we're both having a bad day." Wei Ying groaned.

"Why? Did your 'Lan-er-gege' ignore you again?"

Huaisang snorted, "Worse."

Jiang Cheng raised a brow, "Oh? What could be worse than that?"

Just then, Lan Wangji and Bai Yuhua passed them, walking side-by-side all while speaking in hush.

"Ah."

"What do you mean 'Ah'?!" Wei Ying raved, keeping his voice down so that only the three of them could hear him.

"I mean 'ah'."

"Shut up."

"You know, Wei-bro… I still remember every occasion you had the chance to bother Lan Wangji, it was always so painfully embarrassing but you were so shameless to the point that it was impressive. Do you like him that much?" Huaisang wondered aloud.

Wei Ying went quiet for a moment, a pensive look on his face, until he broke into a wide smile. "Maybe?"

Jiang Cheng sighed and pursed his lips, after all he was in a similar predicament.

But he spoke anyway.

"You know, you may have gotten away with a lot of things back then. But we're not kids anymore."

This didn't affect Wei Ying, "So what? At least we're no longer treated as if we can't handle anything. They're expecting us to be adults, let's be adults."

"I don't wanna be adults." Huaisang grumbled.

Wei Ying turned to his best friend again, "What was the next class?"

Huaisang paused, "Self-defense or something? The instructors are the fair, I think I'll survive."

"I wish you luck, bro. If you fail this class, your brother might send you to Cang Qiong Mountain Academy."

"With my luck, dage will send me to Bai Zhan Peak for three years."

"I think we'll be sent there nevertheless." Jiang Cheng said.

Wei Ying was baffled.

"For what? We learn enough from Yunmeng Jiang, maybe we'll learn enough here as well. What's to send to Cang Qiong Mountain to refine?"

"Cang Qiong Mountain Academy is a scholar's dream, a warrior's will, a young man's beacon and a parent's dying wish." Jiang Cheng recited. "Or at least that's what they say."

"How crude, both my parents are still alive. 'Niang won't send me away."

"Father is still alive, but dage still has the power to send me away." Huaisang wilted.

"Mother might send me to Bai Zhan Peak after three months." Jiang Cheng sighed.

"It's so far away!"

"I can't do anything about that."

"I'll ask Yu-shigu for you!"

"You do that."

Wei Ying huffed and place hus arms around his friends, the three walked away to their next lesson.

"'Ge, are you okay?" Meng Yao frowned deeply.

Jin Zixuan had been jumpy all afternoon, there were no obvious reasons for this behaviour and as to why he would constantly stop talking in the middle of his sentence only to hit himself on his head.

"A'Yao..." Jin Zixuan returned to his senses and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry what was it you were saying?"

"'Ge, if there's anything wrong please tell me."

"I'm— I'm just worried about Xiao-Yi and A'Su, that's all. I've been wondering how they are without us."

"Aiya, 'ge..." Meng Yao tutted, "They're perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, plus Concubine Qin and Concubine Mo are too protective of them, the other children won't be able to bully them. If they do, we'll come home before you know it."

"But we have to respectfully finish three months here, we can't just leave."

"Then what do you want to do?" Meng Yao sighed, suddenly he pouted.

"Ah 'ge~" He whined.

This made Jin Zixuan chuckle, "What now?"

"Do you not like A'Yao? A'Su and Xiao-Yi are the apple of your eye?"

"No, I don't pick favourites." Jin Zixuan sighed fondly.

"Then what? You won't even listen to me talk, they're more important than hearing me out."

"Alright, what can I do to appease your anger?"

"'Ge must buy me a new set of books!"

"Again? A'Yao what do you like to keep writing about anyway?"

"I must keep track of what I learn before I forget, don't you know writing down what you learn helps you remember it in the long run?"

"I don't know, what I do know is I'll forget everything as soon as I finish writing down a sentence." Zixuan deadpanned, "And in a long run, all I'll be remembering is how exhausted I am."

"'Ge!" Meng Yao protested.

Jin Zixuan laughed at his brother's expense, causing the other to groan and chuckle along anyway.

Yuran would have liked it if she sat next to her best friend for the rest of the time they were in Cloud Recesses, the girls from Gusu Lan were a tad boring and loved nonstop praising her for just being born, the other snobby pretentious little misses from various clans and sects were bothersome and unsightly, but Wen Qing? She was worse!

Goody-two-shoes, smartypants, teacher's pet— Wen. Qing.

Who does she think she is? A princess from Xianle? Please, she isn't even half as pretty.

Okay, Yuran retracted, maybe she is pretty but it doesn't mean she gets to be a little—

Why was Yuran so infuriated by the seemingly innocent girl sitting beside her?

Maybe because she looks that innocent, after having exchanged dorms with Wen Qing, she was already annoyed at the girl despite that it was not her fault they had to exchange (since apparently Wen Qing was allergic to the plants that grew in that dorm and nowhere else was vacant and Yuran, being the daughter of Lan Tian, was expected to be as gracious as her mother).

Then Wen Qing revealed herself to be quite the snitch.

She told Lan Qinglian that Yuran had kept a stash of food scattered around her room. Yuran was extra sneaky with those, not even Wei Wuxian would have found them, she had only forgotten to retrieve them after moving out of the dorm.

The next thing she knew, Wen Qing was already telling Yanli about all the cheat sheets that she was initially planning to stoically pass on to the boys.

Then she told Lan Qinglian that Yuran never even started writing on the journal she was supposed to be keeping track of.

Then she told Lan Qinglian that there was evidence Yuran had snuck in a bottle of Emperor's Smile.

She was lucky that damned snitch didn't go to Lan Qiren already, or else she'll lose his good graces and blame it on Yunping Xin (her father's clan/sect).

Honestly, Yuran didn't know what crawled up the Wen girl's ass, but this has got to stop. She's never even bothered her, so what-in-all-of-the-resentfulness-of-this-world is going on?

"A'Yu, don't fume."

She remember what Yanli told her, repeating it like a mantra in her head with her best friend's pacifying tone.

This was all that was holding the Yunping Xin heiress from tearing Wen Qing from her seat.

"Xin-guniang, you haven't played your guqin." Wen Qing's soft voice broke through her thoughts.

This caused her to unintentionally slam her hands on the instrument quite loudly, making Wen Qing flinch and turning the heads of the other girls in the room.

"Right." Yuran seethed, "My apologies."

She exercised her breathing for five minutes before playing a song.

It was a beautiful piece that made you feel at ease, calming turbulent minds, warming chilled souls and cooling a hot head. The Serenity Medley.

Unlike the Song of Clarity, the Serenity Medley wasn't as powerful or as effective since it couldn't do much against hostility, but it was usually used for large rooms filled with anxious people. Composed of melodic remedies for the easing of nerves and the soothing of migraines, it could calm someone nervous or enraged, as long as they were rooted from normal human emotion and not provoke by any sort of magic.

Everyone in the room began minding their own business, the creases on their foreheads eased as a layer of safety enveloped their senses. The peaceful tune carried over and around them, as Yuran's smooth fingers sailed lithely across the strings.

Yet even playing as song such as the Serenity Medley, Xin Yuran's frustrations didn't seem to fade away from her expression.

Yanli noticed this and the spell the song had over her broke, she frowned in concern and worried. It wasn't often to see Xin Yuran this disturbed, it didn't sit well with her.

Wen Qing, having not noticed a thing on her seatmate's expression, began silently practicing on her own as to not interrupt Yuran's playing.

This infuriated Yuran the most, did she not know how aggravating she's been? Or maybe she was gracefully ignoring her improprieties.

Truth be told, Wen Qing seemed like such a nice and respectful young lady, but why had she been acting like such a brat towards her?

Actually it wasn't just her the rest of the students were also annoyed with her Royal Snitchiness, even extending to most of the boys on the other side of Cloud Recesses.

Xin Yuran forced herself to keep playing, not letting her annoyance tense her hands as they flowed against the guqin like water.

She wished the day was over so that maybe she could suddenly wake up without her vexation towards the Wen girl.

The leaves that were barely hanging onto it's crooked branches shook as Huaisang managed to stumbled backwards onto the tree trunk, at this Wei Ying cackled.

"As I was saying!" Huaisang interrupted, "I swear I saw it. If you still think I'm lying, go ask dage to send me to Cang Qiong Mountain and you can tell him that I was the one who suggested it."

"You can't be serious," Jiang Cheng shook his head. "A rabid Lan Sect disciple? Were you sleep walking and attacked by a bear? What were you doing outside of the dorm anyway?"

"I just told you, I went on a stroll, I was look for inspiration for the landscape painting I was planning for a new fan of mine. Then I just got attacked! It really was human!"

"Okay, let's just say it really was a human. But in the first place, where is this human now?" Wei Ying asked.

"How would I know?" Huaisang huffed.

"Didn't you see his face?"

"No I didn't, it was dark at night."

"How were you expecting to find inspiration for a painting if it was that dark?" Jiang Cheng asked.

Huaisang glared exasperatedly.

"Alright why don't we just wait out and see if it reappears? Then we can end the discussion." Wei Ying decided.

"I barely managed to get away last night and you're asking me to wait here for it?"

"You won't wait alone, we'll be here with you." Wei Ying hooked around Jiang Cheng.

This made Jiang Cheng look at him strangely, "Since when did I agree to that?"

"Shut up, you're here now." Wei Ying patted his shoulder.

"Ugh… we're gonna get in trouble."

"We always are anyway, right Nie-bro?"

"Right." Huaisang replied dejectedly.

Surprisingly, as the evening drew nearer, the three boys who should have been in their dorm a long while ago, were yet to be caught.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Huaisang muttered uneasily.

The crickets became more than just white noise in the background and seemed louder than how it was usually, this was tampering with Jiang Cheng's nerves as well.

"Shh…" Wei Ying looked around warily, a hand ready on his sword's hilt. "Footsteps."

His two companions strained their ears to pinpoint the sound he had heard.

Then… faint rustling and a crackle of leaves being stepped on, steady and unhurried footsteps.

"It doesn't seem to be rabid." Jiang Cheng whispered.

The three tensed as a snowy white robe entered their vision, a matching white boot placed itself before them, until the full body of the mystery person revealed.

"Lan Wangji?"

Steely golden eyes, akin to shimmering glass panes, stared back unrelentingly without a word.

The four were at a semi-awkward standoff until Huaisang finally broke into a sweat and chuckled, "Lan-er-gongzi what brings you here?"

"Why are you outside. It's almost 7 o'clock." Was what the white-clad scholar said.

"We're hunting boars." Wei Ying lied seamlessly.

"Cloud Recesses does not have boars." Lan Wangji showed no reaction even from what happened in the library last time.

'He's a stone, does he ever emote at all?' Wei Ying grumbled inwardly.

Jiang Cheng decided to come clean.

"Actually we were—"

Before he could finish, a low rumbling echoed nearby, they all tensed in unison.

There was an unnerving loud cackling that made them flinch and rush to cover their ears, only Lan Wangji immediately look down in alert. Wei Ying followed his gaze but there wasn't anything there.

They heard the sound of a branch breaking, before they could look up, Wangji spoke up.

"Don't look up. Look down."

The cackling came overhead, but now it seemed to come from everywhere.

As their gazes concentrated on the soil they stood on, at the corner of their eyes, a pair of bare feet stood in front of them and a trail of rope landed next to it.

"Hanged ghosts?" Jiang Cheng cursed.

Wei Ying moved to take a talisman from his chest pocket when the ghost spoke.

"Lan Wangji…"

It's drawling and dry voice scratched it's way into their ears.

"Lan Wangji!!"

Chapter Text

Around twenty years ago, or less, Lan Tian was sent to Yunping Xin to be married to their newly instated Sect Leader. It was a sort of alliance to placate the brewing war between the nobles of Gusu and Yunmeng, as there had been a feud because of a large misunderstanding.

The marriage between a young miss from the Lan Clan and the Sect Leader of a small sect wouldn't have been a big deal if it weren't for the main reason it even happened, no one had actually expected any news to come out of this marriage especially for the fact that Xin Beishang had the reputation for being frigid with women. Plus, such a dainty and unassuming miss from the Lan Sect? Who would think she knew anything about consummation?

But who would have actually known that few years later, news of a daughter being born in the Xin Clan of Yunping surged the streets and entered the streams of conversation across the Greater Five Sects.

When she was born, the masses gave her a name of their own: "the Jewel of Heaven" or "the Jewel of Yunping" (an argument no one wanted to return to)

And when she grew up, she was the "Flowering Maiden of Yunping".

The birth of the child that strengthened the alliance of the two regions.

For the lack of a better word, Yuran is important.

Rest assured it never got to her head, but she couldn't help but complain to her secretly favourite second cousin. Lan Wangji.

"I mean how could she do that? Who poisoned her breakfast everyday?" Yuran paced in the library as noiselessly as she could. "I'm not some average young miss."

"Wen-guniang is only following the rules, telling the head of discipline one's misconducts is a good example to show to your fellows." Ever the strict and unmoving Lan Wangji responded to her senseless whining. "And being a person respected by others, you should also be a role model for your juniors."

"I can always trust your constructive criticism, Wangji." Yuran sank helplessly, but she knew she was in the wrong. "If it were anyone else, they'd badmouth the poor little miss... I was just frustrated, that's all."

"Yu-jie."

Yuran looked up in delight, "This reminds me of back then. You wouldn't dare utter my name and only refer to me as 'tangjie*'."

"I should be. But you asked me to called you 'Yu-jie'."

"A breath of fresh air under that tight collar of yours wouldn't hurt." Yuran sighed, tracing a finger across the bookshelf. "Have you talked to Wuxian yet?"

"I have."

"How was it?"

"He's very strange."

"He is, isn't he? The good type of strange."

Wangji paused, "Did we really meet before like he said?"

The word pity was not something Yuran liked using to describe her feelings of regret for someone, but she couldn't help but think there was no other way to describe it.

"Yes, you have."

Yuran was also a Lan by blood, and early into her childhood, honesty was a virtue she was always taught to keep sacred.

At least whenever her conscience couldn't bear her to lie, and in this situation, she really couldn't lie to Wangji.

'I think only me and Xichen knows how in debt you feel because of your memory loss', Yuran sighed inwardly.

It really was no one's fault but Lan Zhan couldn't help but feel burdened by the fact there was someone who was attached to the him he couldn't remember, and the fact that same person didn't know he had lost his memories was getting hurt by his indifference.

In the end, he didn't know what to do but follow the rules

Suddenly, a new presence entered the library.

"Xin-guniang." It was Wen Ning.

"Oh, it's you." Yuran smiled.

She seemed to favour the brother over the sister, 'at least Wen Ning is a nice kid'.

"Have you seen Wei-gongzi and Jiang-gongzi? They've been away for a while and the dinner is getting cold." Wen Ning asked her, still not noticing the other person in the room.

"Huh?"

"Oh, a'jie cooked dinner for us so I brought it over. We share the same dormitory." Wen Ning clarified.

"Oh."

It was only then did Lan Wangji decide to speak.

"It is almost evening, why are they not in their dormitory?"

Wen Ning jumped, "Lan-er-gongzi! My apologies..."

"It's fine." Wangji turned to Yuran, "I will look for them."

"Well, good luck." Yuran shrugged.

She glanced at the unsuspecting Wen boy, 'nevermind, they're still similar no matter what you do'.

After searching for the missing youths for half an hour, he bumped into Yuran once again and feeling bad for his predicament, she advised him to search outside of Cloud Recesses as he had yet to think of doing so.

Listening to her, ended up being a good thing.

When Wangji found the three unruly boys, they were suspiciously jumpy.

And the reason why, came quite quickly.

But when the ghost spoke his name, Lan Zhan was tempted to look up in question, it was thanks to his frigidness that he hesitated and never did.

He stood there frozen, not knowing what to do as the ghost charged at him.

Wei Ying pulled his sword from it's sheathe and blocked the ghost as Jiang Cheng finally came to and helped him.

But the ghost kept on, almost desperately, calling Lan Wangji's name, no matter what they did.

The two fighters were dodged and evaded by the slippery ghost who insisted on reaching the frozen boy.

It wasn't until the arrival of another person that this stubborn ghost was put down.

The man held out a light blue qiankun pouch and casted a spell, pulling the ghost along with the ropes that tied around it's neck, into the space of the magical bag.

He then turned to acknowledge the two young men who held their blades at their side to survey him, then to the cowering young master who didn't meet his eyes.

Finally, he looked at the still Lan Wangji.

"Wangji."

The boy looked up, a slight of startle in his eyes.

Qinheng-jun, the Sect Leader and the father of the Twin Jades of Lan, stood elegantly with a straight back before their eyes. One might notice the resemblance between the father and the gentler eldest son, but no one could deny that the father and the youngest son did share the same golden eyes.

Wei Ying was a little bit flabbergasted to see such mixture on an adult, it was the first time he met the Lan's Sect Leader and he didn't know what to make of it so he stood silent, waiting for either of them to make a move.

"Are you alright?" Qinheng-jun asked his son.

To the naked eye, Lan Wangji was as unchanged as ever, not a hint of dishevel or any other human emotion. But Qinheng-jun himself was asking his inexpressive son as if he had been scared.

The three outsiders peeked a glance at the younger Lan in the area.

"Fuqin."

Lan Wangji cupped his hands and offered his father his usual salute.

This reaction was indeed late, at this point anyone could tell there was something wrong, was it because the ghost kept chasing him? (Although it was not like he moved from his spot)

"Young Masters, please go inside. It isn't safe to be out, though I can tell you're all the adventurous type, it is almost resting hours." Qinheng-jun said.

Jiang Cheng was the first to answer, "Then we will be going, Sect Leader."

The three of them bowed in salute before making their way back to Cloud Recesses.

Wei Ying couldn't help but steal a few more glances at the boy who stood in front of his father, before finally leaving after Jiang Cheng's constant smacking at him.

No one knew why Qinheng-jun looked at his son with a worry that anyone would have thought impossible for the perfect and flawless Second Young Master Lan, and no one knew why Lan Wangji stood there unable to move while a ghost fought to get to him, and no one knew why the ghost kept calling his name.

And maybe no one will ever know.

It was the next day, Cloud Recesses greeted the new morning at 5 o'clock and the settled mist over the pavilion moved as disciples went on their separate ways to where they were going.

"Wei Wuxian, if I knew you weren't going to wake up today I would have buried you under a rock!" Jiang Cheng growled at the doors of his shixiong's room.

"Pipe down, I'm up." Wei Ying stretched his limbs before opening his door.

He was already dressed with his sword safe at his belt.

"If you were already up, why didn't you say anything?" Huaisang fanned his face.

Jiang Cheng fumed.

"Calm down, I was drowsy so I didn't speak. At least I'm out now." Wei Ying patted his shoulder.

"Gongzi, there are still stuff left over from last night." Wen Ning showed them the pot of soup that was now empty of meat but had a little vegetables left.

"It wouldn't hurt to finish it before we go." Wei Ying nudged Jiang Cheng. "Although it's not as good as shijie's cooking, send our thanks to your sister, this is good soup."

Wen Ning smiled.

It wasn't long till the next lecture, but this time they were studying music.

On Lan Wangji's table there was a beautiful black zither which was apparently also named Wangji, while in Lan Xichen's hands was his white flute Liebing.

The others had to make do with their borrowed instruments, but if you were from the Jin Clan of Lanling, you were well prepared with new and expensive ones.

"I wonder if Yuran-shijie already got to use her pipa?" Wei Ying muttered to himself.

"I think they've been getting music classes over there, so maybe she has." Jiang Cheng gazed at the zither placed on his table.

At this, Wei Ying also glanced at the zither on his table, then at Lan Wangji.

"I don't know how to play this." Wei Ying whispered to Jiang Cheng.

"Me neither, did you expect that I could help you?"

"Quiet down, please." The teacher said, there was a zither with 21 strings on his table on his table, a guzheng, it was the same as several others including Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng.

Unlike Wangji's Wangji, which was a guqin or a seven-stringed zither.

Wei Ying couldn't take it anymore and raised his hand.

"Wei-gongzi?"

"Laoshi, I don't know how to play a guzheng, I'm afraid I may make your ears bleed. May I change into a flute? I'm better at it."

"Oh, alright."

After the exchange, the teacher seemed to sense something before he spoke again. "So is anyone comfortable with their instruments or does anyone want to change?"

Several hands shot up in the air, including Jiang Cheng's as he covered his face in embarrassment.

Their instruments were then changed and everyone smiled satisfied, muttering things like:

"I've always wanted to play this."

"This is better."

"My fingers would have died..."

Jiang Cheng surprisingly chose a xun, an egg-shaped instrument with five finger holes and a flat bottom, a type of whistle-like vessel flute.

"Does anyone know a song they can play with their instruments?" The teacher asked.

A hand that hadn't raised itself earlier, rose up this time.

"Bai-gongzi."

Bai Yuhua placed his thin white fingers over the guzheng and pulled a string until both his hands were smoothly flying through the zither of 26 strings.

There were no mistakes made while the song played, the other disciples or young masters smiled in content while listening to such good music.

While the two Lan brothers closed their eyes to listen, one with a smile and one without, while Wei Ying quietly tapped his flute on his cheek.

The type of flute he had chosen was a dizi, a flute one played sideways as opposed to Lan Xichen's flute Liebing, which was a xiao and played at it's end vertically.

Although he didn't like Bai Yuhua, he couldn't say he didn't like his playing, but he would never say he considered it impressive out loud.

A few minutes later, the song came to an end and the class clapped, but not to the point of being rowdy.

Bai Yuhua gracefully bowed to show his thanks before setting his hands down again.

"This Bai Yuhua is the perfect candidate for the Second Young Master."

They whispered.

This irritated Wei Ying for some reason.

Pretty? Sure, Bai Yuhua is like a male goddess of beauty, but Wei Wuxian didn't lack anything in looks.

Effeminate? Wei Wuxian has range.

Respectful? Wei Wuxian can do that.

Manners? Wei Wuxian can adjust.

Graceful? Wei Wuxian can also do that.

Talented? Wei Wuxian is the epitome of talent.

"Wait why am I comparing myself to him? I'm better than him anyway." Wei Ying shrugged, attempting to look casual to mask his impatience.

Jiang Cheng casted a side eye at his shixiong beside him and shook his head.

The Lan Brothers played a song together before the class continued, but by the end of the song, Wei Ying couldn't stop swooning.

"How unsightly." Jiang Cheng kicked his shin.

Wei Ying yelped and smacked him with his flute causing Jiang Cheng to smack him right back with his xun, until Huaisang intervened with a low call.

"Gongzi, please settle down before you're caught."

The two rolled their eyes with a huff before putting their instruments away.

"Who else would like to play a song?"

Out of spite, Wei Ying grinned.

"Laoshi, laoshi, my shidi wants to play but he's too shy to say."

Jiang Cheng's eyes bulged, but he held his tongue when the teacher smiled kindly, inviting him.

He screamed inwardly at the smug look on Wei Wuxian's face and clumsily picked up his xun.

Lan Xichen was smiling at him too.

Ugh. What is this predicament.

He held the vessel flute to his lips and calmly played a song.

Over the melody, it was as if there was a young girl was happily singing along.

Jiang Cheng kept his eyes down while playing, not wanting to see anyone and even when he finished, he didn't bother to look up.

They clapped for him and the teacher praised him, but nothing moved him more than the low voice of Lan Xichen: "That was very good, where did you learn it, Jiang-gongzi?"

Wei Ying subtly poked him.

It took him a second to register that he had asked him a question.

Not wanting to seem like an idiot, he pretended to look like he was trying to recall where he did, then with a steady voice, he finally spoke.

"I think I heard my sister play it once or twice, I'm not very good."

Lan Xichen smiled nevertheless, "Well I think that was very good, for only having heard someone play it, you played very well."

Jiang Cheng huffed, trying to hide the rushing blush on his face.

Wei Ying grinned again, "You're welcome, shidi."

"Fuck off."

Chapter Text

Classes and lectures, breaks, breakfast, lunches, dinners, sleeping hours and Wei Ying's mischief hours, they all passed by in a blur, by the time anyone knew it, it had already been almost two months since they all started their lessons at Cloud Recesses.

Some were relieved, some were impatient, some were biding their time until the last month was over.

But some, who were somewhat like Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, felt it a shame that the time spent to be in the same space as the Twin Jades, were soon over.

And as their luck would have it, their little, insignificant infatuation towards those two esteemed young lords were nothing but fruitless. They would never look their way unless they were in such a difficult situation, which truth be told would be fairly rare considering how excellent both Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng were.

The two were neither seemingly frail or as feminine or as elegant as the ones they eyed with rivalry, nor were they in the position to dream to be the other's spouse especially since they were both the only heirs of their respective sects.

It wasn't like they could ask both their parents to bring about another son so that they could go off and get married to the Twin Jades of Lan, what a scandal it would have been. And they'd owed this much to their parents for having raised, fed and clothed them.

There would be a time when they had to stop daydreaming and start facing the facts, this was simply impossible.

"As if I'd agree." Wei Ying spat.

"Are you dumb?" Jiang Cheng sighed into his palm, he'd been trying to convince him that all their so-called efforts (but what efforts?) of wooing the brothers were completely useless and they might as well just start looking at someone else for a change.

"Call me dumb, selfish even naive, but I'm not letting go. I will marry Lan Zhan even if it's the last thing I'll do." Wei Ying persisted stubbornly. "'Niang won't force me to marry someone I don't like."

"That's what I mean, you like Lan Wangji now but how about the next year? Or the time we'll finally become full-grown adults? Are you saying you'll remain as unchanged?"

"Yeah, I've been like this for ten years, I'll be like this for another ten years. What's so wrong with liking him?"

"I— nothing is! But face it, does he like you?"

Wei Ying halted, then— "I won't listen, I won't listen!"

"Nothing I say goes, my mother will only disagree if I cannot fulfill my duties as the future Sect Leader of Yunmeng Jiang, maybe your mother and father won't say anything, but you're willing to just trust the future of your sect to a stranger? A none blood relative? Just to be a 'Madam'?"

"What are you saying?" Wei Ying furrowed his brows. "Are you telling me that you yourself can switch off your affections towards Lan Xichen, right at this moment?"

"You are so hard to talk to!"

"We were having a decent conversation until you kept spouting nonsense!"

"You're the one spouting nonsense!"

"Why am I the one spouting nonsense?"

"Can you actually believe the words you're saying?"

"I'm saying those words, why don't I believe them?"

"You're still young anyway! You can't sign your life away like this!"

"I'm not! And this is my life!"

"You're impossible, how about Lan Wangji?!"

They finally stopped, heaving and panting after their back and forth screaming match just as Huaisang strolled into the pavilion holding two caught pheasants.

His look of joy was quickly replaced by concern as he looked between the two senior and junior brothers, then at the innocent Wen Ning whose face half-peeked at the commotion through the crack of his door.

Huaisang didn't dare move or make a sound as Jiang Cheng stormed off, the only one left in the middle of the courtyard glanced at Huaisang once before sinking into himself on the floor.

His crouched figure looked rather pitiful as it shook with his low sobs, it wasn't the first time they fought, but they hadn't screamed at each other this much after Jiang Cheng's dogs were given away.

"Why? Is it wrong to like someone? Why do I have to hold back because of other people? Why? Why doesn't he look at me?" Wei Ying cried.

Huaisang frowned, he'd never seen him cry before, it was neither funny nor amusing. He approached carefully before placing the pheasants on the wooden table nearby.

The boy didn't bother speaking, only quietly patting his friend's back in an attempt to console him.

He's never had to comfort anyone before since it was always him being consoled, but he remembered how his shixiongs and elder brother had soothed his tears before. Although his older brother was rough, he learned how to calm Huaisang and had always lent a simple pat or a shoulder to cry on and a space for the younger to think.

It didn't take long for Wei Wuxian to compose himself and ask if they'd made such a ruckus that the whole mountain could hear them, only after Huaisang shook his head 'no', did he finally get up to return to his room.

Jiang Cheng didn't come back until late at night, when Lan Xichen caught him sneaking around once again.

"Jiang-gongzi." There he was again with his amiable smile.

"Lan-gongzi." Jiang Cheng returned without meeting his eyes.

"Where were you headed to?"

"I was just gonna go back, I wasn't breaking any rules, I swear." Jiang Cheng quickly defended himself.

"I wasn't going to punish you, I was only curious. Pardon me if it came out that way."

"No, not at all."

"Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"I... have."

This felt strangely just like the time he'd been found by Lan Huan around twelve years ago.

"I see. Do you like sweets, gongzi?"

"Not that much." Jiang Cheng answered honestly.

"Oh then, by all means, please try these. I think you'll love them." Lan Xichen opened the box he'd been holding that took Jiang Cheng only now to notice.

There were pure white balls that seemed to be coated in either flour or powdered sugar, they look like sweets… Jiang Cheng hesitated before eventually giving in to Lan Xichen's encouraging smile.

He took one small, hesitant bite.

There was nothing but softness until he bit again, there was bean paste inside.

Was this... a bean paste bun?

Then ever so quietly, he inquired: "...Have these gone cold?"

Lan Xichen's eyes faltered in embarrassment, "Ah yes I'm afraid so."

There was a moment of silence.

"They're... fine."

It felt strangely as if Lan Xichen was attempting to comfort him, at this Jiang Cheng inwardly scolded, 'don't flatter yourself, he's always like this'.

Yet maybe it was because of the fact that Lan Xichen was always like this, did Jiang Wanyin reconsider, maybe he really was comforting him because he was that nice.

He paused, suddenly he cupped his hands and saluted Lan Xichen.

"Many thanks to Lan-gongzi." But it was time to distance himself from this person.

"It wasn't any trouble, I made them myself."

"I will be returning now, please pardon my discourteousness." Jiang Cheng kept his head down as Lan Xichen attempted to get him to stop bowing.

"It really was okay." Lan Xichen drew back when he noticed the other's discomfort. "Alright, please have a good rest."

"Thank you again."

Jiang Cheng bowed one last time before leaving.

Lan Xichen's eyes followed his retreating figure almost wistfully, his voice whispered quietly into the wind: "He's crying again."

When the next day came, it was not an option for either Wei Wuxian or Jiang Wanyin to acknowledge each other's presence. In the dormitory they'd pretend the other wasn't there, in class, if they had a choice, they wouldn't dare sit next to each other, and when it came time to eat they would eat separately in their rooms or elsewhere.

It was unbearable for those who noticed, even the Twin Jades stared at them quietly once.

Hah, the Twin Jades, the source of their conflict. Indirectly, of course. Those two perfect beings could never be faulted for such a thing as a childish feud over childish crushes.

But it made Wei Ying feel little.

Although he felt that way, he was as shameless and boisterous as he usually was, sans all the usual teasing directed at Jiang Wanyin.

A little while after the incident with the weird hanged ghost, Lan Wangji talked to Xin Yuran once again, it was then that he decided to try a more friendlier approach to Wei Wuxian. For what seems to be no absolute reason whatsoever.

So when the time came for his usual punishment session, Lan Wangji had surprisingly started the conversation.

"You're artwork is excellent..." He paused shortly, but only shortly. "However your handwriting needs improvement."

Wei Ying had to take a minute before it registered to him that Lan Wangji had actually spoken to him on his own volition. "Yes?"

"Calligraphy is important."

"Ah... right."

That was good, right?

Lan Zhan was unsure.

Wei Ying, however elated as he was, was slightly weirded out by this strange conversation opener.

"Lan Zhan, do you want me to work on my writing?" Wei Ying raised his eyes to see the other young master who had his whole concentration focused on the page before him.

"Yes."

"I see."

Were they just gonna drop the conversation there? No, but Wei Ying was wondering what Lan Zhan was going to do.

But when nothing followed after the silence, he sighed inwardly.

"So, how do you know Bai Yuhua?" Wei Ying decided to ask.

"Mother loves the tea his elder sister makes, she also wrote a book about flowers once and mother was a big fan."

Wow. That, was the longest sentence he had ever spoken to Wei Ying.

Delighted, he'd forgotten all about his jealousy and sadness from the recent events and jumped from his seat happily.

"Oh yeah? Does your mother still remember me?"

There was another pause, a slight and unnoticeable falter.

"I think so."

"That's good, do you think we can visit your mother any time soon?"

This question was something he'd been wanting to say for a while but couldn't find the time to.

"If you'd like, I hope not to inconvenience your studies."

"Oh nah, you won't. I don't like studying anyway—" Wei Ying froze, checking Lan Zhan's face for any negative reaction. "I mean, visiting someone won't take a toll on my education."

"Then we will visit her."

"Now?"

"If Wei Ying wants." Lan Zhan placed his book aside.

'If Wei Ying wants', that sounds nice. Wei Ying grinned even wider.

The Gentian House was as beautiful as he'd remembered it to be, his mind played his memories when he was five and dawdling around with the toddler Lan Zhan, he felt at peace for the first time in a while.

"A'Zhan? Is that you? Give me a moment,"

The voice sounded disheveled, but when the woman emerged from the house, she was all but.

This was Madam Lan, it's been years but time had been favouring her all this time. She was tall and had a small face, her eldest son sure did inherit her smile, not just the smile though, the colour and shape of their eyes were the same.

"Oh my, you brought a friend!" The Madam was quite delighted to find her son had made a friend.

"Muqin, do you remember Wei Ying?"

The woman was confused until she realized, "You're Wei Ying?"

"It's nice to finally see you again, a'yi."

"Oh, how wonderful!" Madam Lan beamed.

"I've actually been studying in Cloud Recesses for the past two months, I could visit because I didn't know if you would remember me or if I was even allowed." Wei Ying admitted sheepishly.

"Dear, there's no need to be sorry." Madam Lan assured him, "A'Zhan, you remember Wei Ying?"

"I…"

It was Wei Wuxian's turn to be confused.

But no one elaborated, and he was too afraid to ask.

"Well come, have tea!" Madam Lan quickly ushered the two. "This boy also has not visited me for a while."

"I have yesterday."

"You're cheeky, Wei Ying do you like cinnamon tea?"

"I'm fine with anything."

"How is Cangse?"

"She's travelling like always, she can never stay in one place." Wei Ying joked.

"You got that right, I can always rely on her to retell her adventures to me. I used to be a wandering cultivator much like her back then…" She reminisced.

The two chatted as Lan Zhan ended up being the only one drinking tea quietly in the background.