Chapter Text
It feels like I'm a lone survivor, forgotten in a dark and deadly world
And on my own I walk alone
To see the sun again, I'd give anything
But life demands a final chapter, a story that we all must leave behind
It's do or die, and this is mine:
The anthem of a bird with a broken wing
- Bird With a Broken Wing, Owl City
Prologue
He couldn’t breathe.
Heat billowed against his face and left a disgusting, sulfuric smell that overwhelmed his nostrils and made his eyes water. Even despite his previous long exposure and the past several hours he’d been here, he was still caught unaware by the sulfur-filled scent that forced his body to accept it.
He froze, torn between two opposite, extreme emotions separated only by a single, desperate moment. The joy bubbling up under his skin, which had been subdued and anxious and nonexistent for such a long time, now caught in his throat, exposed, as everything changed in a single, suddenly horrific moment.
Darkness seeped through his veins, leaving icy trails of resentment and goosebumps on his skin in their wake. His gaze, glued to the scene before him in all its nightmarish glory, kept him forcibly rooted on the spot as the delayed thud of the arrow pierced its target. The other man’s smile, falling in surprise as his head dipped down to see what had occurred, before his eyes widening and his face going slack into unconsciousness.
Everything happened in slow motion, as the man he would protect with his life went unprotected to his grave.
Anguish billowed to the surface as the lone, prone body fell to the ground and landed with a solid thud. It did not move further.
He sucked in a sharp breath and released it in a shattered gasp. He had failed.
He fell back to his knees, overwhelmed, as emotions screamed out of him in a long, heartbroken cry. He’d fought so hard, done everything he could, taken on responsibilities beyond what he’d ever imagined. Everything had led to this moment. Everything.
But he still failed.
His tortured soul felt newly empty, a husk hollowed out by what had just occurred, and the resentful energy rising up from his sword was more than happy to slot into the hole left in his chest. It whispered to him, sang to him, reminded him that he had been betrayed by the others despite everything he had done to help them, to save them. Everyone around him was a threat, and none of them cared about what had just happened.
A gentle numbness settled over him, and he was only dimly aware of the shouting crowd as he stumbled back to his feet, his sword heavy in his hand and hatred washing over him, the sweet whisper of revenge reverberating in his mind. It whispered to him, a tempting promise of targets to take his despair out on, and he listened. He gripped his sword tighter.
They would all pay.
Part 1: Wei Wuxian, Third Young Master of QishanWen
Chapter 1
So I walk alone down the darkest roads
'Cause I've always known how the story goes
When the curtain falls I'll be wearing thin
Clawing at the walls as they're closing in
- Bird With a Broken Wing, Owl City
Wei Wuxian usually felt many different emotions at the same time because of his quick nature and engaged mind, but these days his default emotion was usually utterly bored. He’d complained as much to his shifu, Wen Ruohan, the man who had taken him in and raised him since he was too young to remember, and who also happened to be the most powerful man in cultivator society. After a bit of brainstorming together when he’d confessed his perpetual boredom, here he was a week later, now finally, completely enthralled.
They were on a beautiful wooden boat with plank seats on either side and a nice shade from the sun, traveling up a wide river surrounded by green. Signs of wildlife flitted through the leafy trees: flying birds called above their heads, deer poked their heads out of brush, and turtles floated lazily along the banks. He was trying to drink it all in and absorb as much of it as he could remember, considering he didn’t have the best memory to begin with. Still, if this was going to be his only time out of Qishan for the foreseeable future - he didn’t want to get too hopeful about that changing - he wanted to make sure he would have something to look fondly back on.
“Young Master Wei, how will you choose your friend?”
Wen Ning’s shaking, timid voice held a bit of awe in it, a sound that Wei Wuxian was now used to from the younger boy. His cousin was sitting properly, cross-legged with a straight back, and his fine hair was bunched into a top knot adorned with the fire motif. Despite being a couple years younger and not being able to keep up with Wei Wuxian’s quickfire mind, Wen Ning was the closest person Wei Wuxian would consider to a friend - that is, if Wen Ning’s sister Wen Qing didn’t stop most interactions between them before they started.
Wen Qing herself was sitting in front of them on the boat, her lips pursed but otherwise not giving any indication that she was listening. Of course, she was.
“Well, Wen Ning, I think I’ll offer to duel everybody there first!” Wei Wuxian answered cheerfully. He was lying on the bottom of the boat, his legs fully outstretched as he idly swayed his cultivator sword back and forth over him. The movement further wrinkled his new black robes until the flame motif adorning his sleeves was nearly unrecognizable.
The official boat of the QishanWen, headed by the second son Wen Chao, was drifting lazily towards a place one of the disciples called Caiyi Town, where they would disembark and continue on foot up the impressively tall, misty mountains in the distance.
Wei Wuxian’s heart was beating excitedly in his chest at the new landscape: the lily pads floating along the river bank, the murky gray water reflecting the storm clouds above their heads, and the sheer amount of flora that he’d never seen before growing up in Qishan. The air was cool here, a discomfort against his skin so used to the hazy heat of home. Still, everything was exciting, and the prospect of finding himself a friend was exciting too.
His shifu had been clear when it came to his expectations for this journey, and Wei Wuxian recalled their conversation when he’d been told he would be accompanying his cousins to Gusu:
Wen Ruohan sat down on his throne, flourishing his wide sleeves as he did so. “I will make you a proposal,” he said seriously.
“Anything, shifu!” Wei Wuxian answered excitedly as he folded his hands in front of him and bowed respectfully.
His shifu began to explain, “You’ve been complaining about being bored here in Qishan for a long time, and I think it’s time we changed that. I have instructed a-Chao to escort Wen Qing to the Cloud Recesses tomorrow, to attend the student lectures at the GusuLan Sect. If you go with Wen Qing and assist her in her search for the next yin iron piece, I will ensure that you’ll no longer be bored. If you are successful, you may bring a companion home to keep you entertained.”
Wei Wuxian may have involuntarily shuddered a bit at the mention of the yin iron, one piece of which was floating behind him; he could feel it scrape against his mind, whispering things that he couldn’t understand, that he didn’t want to understand. After years of working with his shifu on taming the yin iron and shaping it to their will, it was like the material had become an extension of his own being. As far as he was aware, only he and his shifu could detect the pieces like this, so his assistance in finding another piece would indeed be beneficial.
As for traveling outside of Qishan and visiting a place where other young adults his age were congregated...his mind was racing with possibilities. He remembered reading about the Cloud Recesses before; it was the home of the Lan Sect, one of the five main cultivation sects, and they were known to be proud, silent, noble group of people. They were uptight regarding their rules. If they were gathering the other sects to host lectures... He suddenly realized what was going on.
“Ah, shifu...this is school, isn’t it? I don’t want to go to school!” Wei Wuxian frowned in distaste at the idea of traveling to somewhere exciting and new only to be stuck in classes.
His shifu scowled. “Wei Wuxian. I have offered you a lucrative deal. I am willing to assist you...if you are willing to assist me. Yes, they are lectures, but your main priority would be finding the yin iron piece they are keeping from us.”
Wei Wuxian knelt and bowed once more, his nose almost touching the floor. “Shifu, I will travel to Cloud Recesses with Wen Qing,” he promised. “I will make you proud. Thank you for thinking of this one.”
Wen Ruohan hummed. “Wei Wuxian, I have made you the Third Young Master of this household. Do well to remember that you should never kowtow to others aside from me,” he reminded.
He lifted from his bow and inclined his head. “Yes, shifu.”
“Wei Wuxian, quit talking about finding a friend,” Wen Qing scolded, pulling him out of his thoughts and back onto the boat. She looked a little green as the boat swayed on the water. “We have a job to do and you need to focus on it. You must not tell anybody why we’re here.”
Wei Wuxian caught her disapproving gaze and winked as we waved his sword above his head in a lazy rendition of the Wen sword forms. “Ah, Wen Qing, I’m merely here to assist you. Shifu insisted that if we accomplish our task, I can pick out a friend!”
Wen Qing wrinkled her nose and looked away again, back towards the approaching town.
Taking that as a win, Wei Wuxian smirked at Wen Ning. “Do you think they have good liquor here, Wen Ning? Perhaps I can bribe my new friend with good liquor!”
“I don’t know, Young M-Master Wei,” Wen Ning stuttered nervously. “Alcohol is not permitted in Cloud Recesses. You may get in trouble.”
Wei Wuxian paused, his sword still outstretched over him. “What?” He eyed Wen Ning before dropping his hands and leaning forward to crowd his cousin's space. “What do you mean, ‘alcohol is not permitted in Cloud Recesses’? Why would they ban alcohol? It’s so delicious! Brother Ning, tell me everything!”
As they grew closer to Caiyi Town, Wei Wuxian listened raptly while Wen Ning slowly recited what he could remember about the Cloud Recesses. Some of it was common knowledge, like the upright monk-like lives the sect members lived; other information was new to him, including a few rules that made him frown. By far, the rule that bothered him the most was the ban on alcohol. How was he supposed to enjoy himself? He’d been sixteen for long enough, and while Qishan liquor was good, it burned like fire down his throat. He’d love to find something smoother but still strong. He imagined if somewhere like Gusu had liquor, with its upstanding noble gentry with quiet ways, it would have exactly what he was looking for.
Finally, they arrived at Caiyi Town, which was a bustling, busy landscape of smiling faces, shouting venders, and delicious aromas. As the group of twelve disembarked - a scowling Wen Chao and Wen Qing first, followed by Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian, and then eight other disciples - he couldn’t help but be drawn to all of the exciting colors and sounds and smells.
More than once, Wen Chao snapped at him or Wen Ning gently tugged on his arm, pulling him away from whatever he’d been looking at, but Wei Wuxian especially couldn’t help himself when he came across a vender advertising for ‘Emperor’s Smile,’ a mellow liquor that promised to be delicious and effective. He sneakily exchanged silver for two bottles, and he also managed to purchase a few packages of snacks for later. Unfortunately, Wen Qing yelled at him before he could purchase some mouthwatering steamed pork buns that made his stomach grumble.
Once outside town, they found themselves in front of a long, never-ending set of stairs that wound up and out of sight at the foot of a tall, gray mountain. Wei Wuxian clutched his sword, Yinhuo - silver fire, a silvery sword tucked inside a red sheath - and sucked in a deep breath.
They began to ascend, Wen Chao leading. His extremely slow pace was borderline excruciating and Wei Wuxian found himself pouting as the steps dragged on and on. He wanted to get there already, damn it! But there was nothing he could do as Wen Chao not only outranked him, but he’d also respond physically if he complained. Instead, he focused on trying to chat with Wen Ning. Wen Qing stepped between them however, and with a pointed look to Wei Wuxian, she tugged her brother alongside her and forced him to continue walking.
Fine, he thought to himself with a huff, I’ll make the mountain my friend.
He turned his attention to the landscape around them as they hiked up the seemingly endless stairs. Storm clouds blended seamlessly with a gentle fog farther up the mountains, and the gray of it all left him feeling muted and peaceful. The only noise on the mountain was the distant calls of birds; even the stone underneath his feet didn’t echo with his footsteps. Trees towered majestically overhead, and he had to crane his neck up to see the canopies of green above him. It was like he was in a different world.
To his left, the sheer cliffs were steep - and quite climbable, he admired - and to his right was a crevice descending into a lush valley. Mist hung and swirled in the air, giving the entire area a shrouded, damp feel. He shuddered as he realized he was cold again, but at least the endless staircase they were ascending kept his body moving and warm.
Wei Wuxian was so busy admiring the beautiful mountain scenery that he almost missed the rest of the group suddenly halting. Almost. Distracted by a particularly pretty tree, he accidently ran straight into Wen Qing’s back, and she whirled on him with eyes like daggers.
“Wei Wuxian! Pay attention to your surroundings!” she barked.
He sighed, complaining, “Wen Qing, are we there yet? We’ve been walking for ages!” His feet were definitely getting sore, and although the scenery was beautiful, he was bored without somebody to talk to. That was Wen Qing’s fault, he figured.
Up ahead, Wen Chao turned around too and glared at them, effectively shutting him up - at least for now. He never stayed quiet for long.
“Please show us your invitation,” said an unfamiliar voice. Blinking and straightening, Wei Wuxian craned his neck to see who they’d come across.
They stood in front of a simple, imposing white gate on the side of the mountain. In front of the white gate were a couple of white-clad cultivators, each wearing a plain white ribbon around their foreheads. With all that white, they must be members of the Lan Sect!
“Invitation?” Wen Chao hissed like a snake preparing to strike, and Wei Wuxian could already feel that this conversation was going to be blown out of proportion.
One of the white-clad cultivators took a step forward. “Nobody is allowed into the Cloud Recesses without an invitation. Nobody is allowed to go inside without a jade token. Nobody is allowed to go inside if they are late,” he recited as if from memory. Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, waiting for somebody to hand over their invitation. Surely as the leader of all the sects, QishanWen had one!
When no such invitation made itself forthcoming, he frowned further. Then his nose caught a whiff of sulfur, and Wei Wuxian realized what Wen Chao was about to do. Taking that as his cue to intervene, he laughed loudly and bounded forward until he was hanging on Wen Chao’s outstretched arm, encouraging his most annoying inner self forward.
“Ah, Wen Chao, we should play nicely!” he encouraged with a big grin at the Lan cultivators, who must have also sensed danger and now looked defensive. “We should have an invitation, we are QishanWen. Go on, turn over the invitation like a good boy.”
Wen Chao threw Wei Wuxian off and he stumbled, catching himself at the last minute on his adoptive brother’s robes. This earned him a kick to the shins that had him falling properly. He shouted in annoyance and glared up.
“Wen Chao! Be nice!” he scolded.
Instead of answering, Wen Chao brought his arm up again and lit the Lan cultivator on fire, because of course he did. It wrapped around the cultivator’s neck like a snake constricting its prey, and the cultivator began to choke and panic. The other white-clad man ran over and tried to pat out the flames.
“This is the invitation of the QishanWen clan,” Wen Chao declared with a smirk.
Even my untested diplomatic skills are better here, Wei Wuxian grumbled to himself as he stood back up and brushed off his new robes. Before he could intervene, however, Wen Qing stepped forward and disintegrated the fire with a snap.
She glared at Wen Chao. “His Excellency has ordered Wei Wuxian and me to keep a low profile,” she reminded him in an annoyed tone. “This is not a low profile.”
Wen Chao snapped his gaze back to Wei Wuxian, who was crossing his arms and eyeing the injured cultivator, and turned his scowl back to Wen Qing. “Wen Qing, you’re almost as bad as Wei Wuxian,” he chastised as he started toward the gate, walking past the Lan cultivators without a hint of remorse. With a wave of his hand, the rest of the Wen group began to follow, Wei Wuxian getting caught up in the process. “You were originally from a small clan. You’re overcautious, while Wei Wuxian is an idiot. We’re QishanWen! Invitations are for those beneath us.”
Three stairs up, he turned around to face them. Wei Wuxian was still pouting and was a little concerned for the Lan cultivators, especially the one who looked like he was in pain, and the other was glaring daggers at their group. Why did Wen Chao have to be so pushy? Maybe if he could ask Wen Ning for some of Wen Qing’s healing medicine -
Wen Chao’s next comment stopped his thoughts. “Disciples, protect the Third Young Master,” his adoptive brother ordered with a smirk.
Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to protest as he was suddenly surrounded on all sides by disciples in their uniforms. None of them so much as gave him a second glance. “Wen Chao! I don’t need to be babysat!” he called, but Wen Chao ignored him and continued to walk up the next set of stairs.
With the tall hats of the disciples surrounding him, Wei Wuxian couldn’t even admire the scenery anymore. He kept his surly gaze on his feet as they trudged up yet more stone stairs, now damp from the thick fog that surrounded them.
He’d never walked this much in his life and he was getting hungry and annoyed. He contemplated the jars of liquor and snacks hidden in his qiankun sleeve, and while he realized he probably shouldn’t eat or drink them out in the open, he did also come to the realization that he was already breaking one of the Lan Sect’s rules. He let a small smile creep onto his face and he hid a giggle behind his hand, earning him a glare from both one of the disciples crowding him and Wen Qing in front of him. He was taking alcohol into the Cloud Recesses, which Wen Ning said was forbidden!
Despite the quick thrill at his act of rebellion, by the time they reached the top Wei Wuxian had lost that mischievous grin and was now more than done with stairs for the rest of his lifetime. Why bother walking up the world’s largest staircase when they could just fly by sword?
At the top, they discovered a quiet community. All Wei Wuxian could make out from his personal guard were imposing buildings built of dark timber and white screens, and the white-pebbled walking path beneath his feet. He could also see the impressive, gray mountains the Cloud Recesses were nestled in far above their heads, their peaks darting in and out of existence in the low storm clouds. He thought he could hear running water in the distance, and a low rumble of thunder echoed across the valley. It was very peaceful, and the fog gave it a sense of being otherworldly. He’d never experienced anything like it.
Wen Chao seemed to have his sights set on somewhere in particular. Wei Wuxian tried to see where they were heading, and eventually he managed to make out a large building in the distance. His feet left white stone and stepped onto a sturdy, wooden pathway, and then they were marching up a short set of stairs and into an open room that was filled with cultivators in white.
“Until today, I didn’t know how difficult it was to enter the Cloud Recesses,” Wen Chao called, his voice interrupting whomever had been speaking. Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes and entered the room with the rest of the disciples. They piled in together, and finally the disciples moved far enough away to let him breathe. With Wen Ning and Wen Qing stopping in front of him, he could peek around their heads at the room.
Students around his age surrounded them, their faces displaying various stages of surprise. In front of them was a row of cultivators wearing the same white robes and forehead ribbons as the guards at the gates, and there was also an older man in deep blues at the head table. Off to the right side was a young man, not much older than he was, with an elegant air about him. He wore a combination of light blue and white, a palette that seemed to complement the rest of this very colorless place. He had a sword strapped to his side and his left hand gently held a pristine white xiao. Perched atop his head was a gaudy guan that covered half his head, which meant he was probably significant. Settled perfectly in the middle of his forehead was a pretty, soft blue ribbon with a metal cloud motif in the middle. His eyes were light and held mild surprise at the interruption.
“I did not know the QishanWen clan was coming,” the man not much older than he was spoke pleasantly but firmly. “I apologize for not greeting you at the gate.” The implication of them forcing their way through the gate was obvious, and Wei Wuxian frowned at him. “In hundreds of years, QishanWen has never attended our lectures before. I wonder what brings you here this time?”
Wen Chao adjusted his sleeves, rolled his neck, and sighed, “Sect Leader Lan, I’m not here to attend your lectures. I merely brought others here to you.” He gestured behind him; Wen Qing shifted, and Wen Ning adjusted the ornate box he was holding as a gift before glancing nervously back at Wei Wuxian, who gave him an encouraging grin. Wen Ning didn’t like Wen Chao any more than he did, but they just had to bear his horrible personality for awhile longer, and then they would be free for an entire half year!
“Furthermore,” Wen Chao added haughtily, “QishanWen teaches other people. We do not need to be taught.” By you went without saying, but Wei Wuxian couldn’t bring himself to care about Wen Chao’s rudeness. Not even Wen Chao could bring his mood down today; after all, he was surrounded by people he didn’t know from places he hadn’t seen, and the thought of all the new and exciting things was distracting him greatly.
He bounced excitedly, his sword jingling a bit in its sheath as he did so. He couldn’t tell if everybody here was from Gusu or if some were from those other sects his shifu had mentioned. So far everyone he had seen was wearing white robes - What is this, a funeral? he mused - so there was no way to tell who was from what clan.
He put his hands on Wen Ning’s shoulders, trying to stand on his tip-toes and see better -
“Cut it out!” Wen Chao hissed as he whirled back to glare at him. “You’re an embarrassment!”
Wei Wuxian stuck his tongue out. “Am not,” he retorted back. “Wen Chao, is it my turn yet?”
Wen Chao gave a long, loud sigh that clearly showed his feelings about him, and as he turned back to the serious man with the xiao, he waved forward a disciple who gave him an official Qishan notice. He unfolded it and began to read in the most obnoxious voice possible, “My father, Wen Ruohan, chief cultivator of all the sects and His Excellency, is using this esteemed opportunity with the lower sects, blah blah blah, to formally introduce the Third Young Master of the Wen Clan to the rest of the world.” With that he glared back at Wei Wuxian and gestured angrily with the scroll. “Get up here, you idiot!”
“Who are you calling ‘idiot’?” Wei Wuxian grumbled, but he did as he was told, holding his head high and his sword at his left side. Wen Ning and Wen Qing parted for him and he left the annoying blockade of disciples to stand slightly behind the Second Young Master. His ears caught raised voices and he peeked out of the corner of his eye to see what was going on. Maybe somebody wanted to be his friend already! He beamed, even when Wen Chao knocked into his arm to make him pay attention again.
“The Wen Sect officially introduces the Third Young Master, Wei Ying, courtesy name Wei Wuxian,” Wen Chao finished before shoving the notice back at the disciple who’d given it to him.
Wei Wuxian glanced at the man they were facing, the one holding the xiao, who still had a pleasant smile plastered on his face. “Hello!” he chirped with a wave.
“Welcome to the Cloud Recesses, Third Young Master Wen,” the other man greeted politely. “I am Lan Xichen, Sect Leader of the GusuLan.”
Wei Wuxian’s mouth fell open, suddenly nervous. He’d forgotten his manners! “My apologies, Sect Leader Lan,” he said with a quick, courteous bow. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about sects outside of Qishan.”
“You are forgiven,” Sect Leader Lan answered easily.
Wei Wuxian inclined his head again and adjusted to a more comfortable stance as he waited to see if there was anybody else he should greet.
There was a swish of robes and a soft cry of “A-Cheng!” behind him, and he turned to see a young man staring at him with an expression that suggested he was shocked and angry. The young man looked to be the same age as he was, though a bit shorter, and he was wearing the same white robes as the other students, but with a light bluish purple adorning the shoulders. Holding onto his arm was a beautiful young woman in the same style of robes with lavender accents adorning her shoulders.
“Wei Wuxian is dead!” the angry teen shouted as he wrenched his arm away from the young woman’s grasp.
Wei Wuxian frowned, perplexed, as Wen Chao stepped up next to him with a lazy demeanor. “Are you slow? Wei Wuxian is right here, in all his annoyingness.”
“You’re annoying!” Wei Wuxian shot back, utterly bewildered about somebody he’d never met thinking he was dead. Then something caught his eye just behind Wen Chao. The person who had caught his eye, a young man with a bright white sword, was standing among the first row of students and looked extremely like Sect Leader Lan. He was wearing pure white - so mournful, Wei Wuxian thought again - and his guan was a step less gaudy than Sect Leader Lan’s. Wei Wuxian glanced towards Sect Leader Lan, then back to the other man, and thenhen back again.
“Are you two related?” he blurted.
Sect Leader Lan smiled a bit while the other man glared and clenched his sword tighter. “Young Master Wei, this is my brother, Lan Wangji,” Sect Leader Lan introduced. His brother didn’t say or do anything, eyes narrowed in obvious distrust.
Wei Wuxian smiled and bowed carefully. “It’s nice to meet you, Lan Wangji,” he said politely.
Wen Chao slapped his shoulder again and forced him back up. “Don’t bow so deeply to these people,” he hissed under his breath.
Ignoring him, Wei Wuxian shoved Wen Chao aside to approach the angry Lan. “Lan Wangji, are you a good cultivator? Do you want to have a duel sometime?”
Lan Wangji looked positively livid at that and unsheathed his sword. It was a beautiful work of steel, with intricate inlay and a cool, white sword glare that shone like a full moon on a clear night.
The sound of other swords unsheathing reached Wei Wuxian’s ears, and he found himself in the epicenter of dozens of swords pointed at him, while his own still remained sheathed. Hastily raising his arms, he grinned and said, “Ah, my apologies, Lan Wangji! I am merely looking for somebody to duel with me.”
“Wei Wuxian!”
Wen Qing’s scolding shout was enough to make him flinch. He reluctantly retreated back to his family, casting one last longing look at that powerful, mesmerizing sword glare. Wei Wuxian vowed to himself then and there that he would convince Lan Wangji to duel him. With a sword glare that strong, he could be an equal to Wei Wuxian’s unparalleled swordsmanship!
Swords were sheathed once more, but everybody remained tense. Wen Chao looked very angry at everything, but Wei Wuxian couldn’t care less. Wen Chao would probably work out his anger using his fists later, but it didn’t matter because Wen Chao would be leaving soon and then he would be free to explore and duel all he wanted for the next six months!
“Master Wen,” Sect Leader Lan said calmly, addressing Wen Chao. “We are in the middle of our saluting ceremony. You interrupted Young Master Jiang’s bows. Please, whoever in your group is staying, take your seats in the back. I humbly request that the Wen disciples who will not be joining us for the next six months to rest and refresh in our guest quarters before taking their leave.”
Wen Chao’s expression twisted in anger at the blatant dismissal, but Wen Qing caught his sleeve and very subtly shook her head. Wei Wuxian smirked behind her before he led Wen Ning through the throng of disciples to the empty seats at the back. This place was actually pretty interesting, and that one angry person who’d claimed he was dead hadn’t left his mind yet. The man - ‘a-Cheng,’ the woman next to him had called him - was sitting again and staring straight ahead, a tick in his jaw. He’d have to figure out what that was about soon.
“Don’t forget who the chief cultivator is, Sect Leader Lan,” Wen Chao growled before he strutted out of the room with his entourage of disciples, pausing only to glower at Wei Wuxian before leaving. Wen Qing bowed to Sect Leader Lan and to the older man at the front before she joined Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning in the back.
Everybody sat at Sect Leader Lan’s gesture. Now that the excitement was over and Wen Chao was gone - Wei Wuxian almost giggled with glee - he let himself relax and keep a keen eye on the young cultivators around him. The angry teen who had claimed he was dead walked up to the front to offer his gift - introducing himself as Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Wanyin to the older man seated at the head of the room, but Wei Wuxian didn’t catch what the gift was because he was busy watching at Lan Wangji. The young Lan was sitting with his back ridiculously straight, head facing forward, and he didn’t move a muscle no matter how long Wei Wuxian watched. It was like he was a statue!
After YunmengJiang finished their bows, Sect Leader Lan called QishanWen forward. Wen Qing stood up, gesturing for Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning to do the same. Wei Wuxian followed suit and forced himself to walk sedately alongside the other two, even though this part seemed boring and he wanted to duel instead. Still, he followed Wen Qing’s lead and performed the bows with as much grace as his long arms could muster, and then when Wen Ning gave their gift to Sect Leader Lan, they bowed one more time and retreated back to their seats. Wei Wuxian caught Lan Wangji’s eyes again and he beamed at the other boy. Lan Wangji’s face was unreadable and he turned his gaze back to the front without acknowledgement.
Thankfully, the ceremony ended after they were done. The students were dismissed, and a few white-clad cultivators were assigned to show Wen Qing, Wen Ning, and Wei Wuxian to their rooms.
They were already well on their way across the yard when a nearby shout had them pausing. Turning around, Wei Wuxian noticed the angry teen - Young Master Jiang, who had saluted before them - hurrying towards them before stopping in front of the three Wen disciples, his gaze set in a stubborn frown as he met Wei Wuxian’s eyes.
“You’re Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian? That’s your name?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard it already in the lecture room.
Wei Wuxian smiled brightly and offered a shallow bow. “Here, that’s me!” he announced proudly. “Young Master Jiang, I wanted to speak with you!”
The teen spluttered, face reddening. Before he could answer – or shout again, which he looked dangerously close to doing – the young woman from before walked up behind him and touched his elbow.
“A-Cheng, you mustn’t be rude,” she said calmly. Bowing deeply to the three Wens, she smiled courteously. “I apologize for my brother’s behavior. I am Jiang Yanli, this is Jiang Cheng, Jiang Wanyin. We are from Yunmeng.”
“Lady Jiang.” Wen Qing returned the bow, and Wen Ning quickly followed with a stuttered greeting of his own.
Wei Wuxian bowed as well. “Lady Jiang, I’m Wei Wuxian,” he introduced again. “Why does your brother think I’m dead?”
Jiang Yanli glanced silently at Jiang Cheng, whose jaw was working as if he was still figuring out what to say, before turning back to the group and smiling sadly. “Please forgive my younger brother, he spoke in error. Please forgive our behavior,” she said. “We apologize for stopping you. Please, Young Master Wei, rest and be well.” She bowed again and led her brother away by the elbow.
Wei Wuxian frowned thoughtfully after them, brushing a finger against his nose as he watched. Then his eyes caught sight of Lan Wangji at the top of the stairs leading to the lecture hall. Momentarily forgetting the strange encounter, his face broke into a smile again and he waved enthusiastically. Lan Wangji immediately whirled around, his feet carrying him in the opposite direction.
Sighing to himself, Wei Wuxian drooped his shoulders and followed his cousins back to their rooms. “Who would want to be friends with me?” he asked himself glumly.