Chapter Text
Being Head Librarian was Lan Zhan's first official role in Gusu Lan sect. He had grown up in the company of books the moment he could read, and there was no one more familiar with the library's filing system. Even though he had not come of age, Lan Zhan had been the top choice when the rotation came.
Lan Zhan had already helped evaluate countless books on their worthiness to join the library, but he had never picked the books up from Caiyi-zhen. Eager to experience the entire process, Lan Zhan was on his first official trip as Head Librarian when he came across Yiling Xiaoshi's 夷陵小士 book, On Fear. 1.0
Lan Zhan paid no mind to the shopkeeper's surprise when he introduced himself. At fourteen, he was still growing, and had already gained three centimetres since the last leaf had fallen from the trees. Even xiongzhang had assured him that he would soon shed the baby fat on his cheeks, but Lan Zhan cared little about what people thought about him. Lan Zhan was a serious young man that carried himself with the air of someone who had already proven himself. And he probably had, to merit the role of Head Librarian.
Lan Zhan picked the slim volume up.
"It's the latest book by Xiaoshi," the shopkeeper said, still tying Gusu Lan's purchases together. Lan Zhan did not bother with a response. He was a person of few words—if something could be conveyed in four words, then it should be shortened to one. If something could be said in one word, then nothing should be said at all. Lan Zhan flipped the page, glancing through the author's ruminations on the roots of fear. He raised a brow at the author's conceited self-experiment to achieve fearlessness. Interesting. He placed the book on the counter.
"I'll throw it in free for you," the shopkeeper said hurriedly. "Let me see—ah, here, Xiaoshi's first book too. Their works have a very limited print but I can set aside a copy for you in future."
The shopkeeper was eager to please, his eyes drifting uncontrollably to the silver tael Lan Zhan had placed on the counter.
"I will have to trouble you," Lan Zhan said.
"No trouble, no trouble. It's our honour to serve Gusu Lan for generations." The shopkeeper watched Lan Zhan keep Xiaoshi's books into his billowing sleeves.
Lan Zhan nodded, an elegant but lonesome figure as he rode his sword back to Cloud Recesses. It was a rare day-off for the disciples of Gusu Lan, but Lan Zhan had no other plans in Caiyi-zhen. Unlike his peers, Lan Zhan did not have a friend to spend time with; not that he minded.
Besides, being Head Librarian afforded him the privilege to enter and exit Cloud Recesses as he pleased, but of course, Lan Zhan had never abused the flexibility. He abided closely to the two thousand seven hundred and eighty nine rules of Cloud Recesses, leading a simple, clockwork life devoid of excitement.
Lan Zhan was later given the name Lan Wangji when he came of age, and he rotated between many more positions to familiarise himself with the workings of the sect. As the second heir of Gusu Lan, Lan Wangji was only expected to play the supporting role to his xiongzhang. Xiongzhang had grown into the role of sect leader well, and the peace in the cultivation world had allowed him to preserve the kindness he had had when he first assumed the role. He was also indulgent of Lan Wangji, allowing him to remain Curriculum Head for three years, an important but flexible position that afforded Lan Wangji the freedom to wander about jianghu, which he craved.
Together with Xiaoshi's reputation, Lan Wangji's collection of the author's books had grown in the twelve years. Lan Wangji had just settled down with the latest book when he suddenly jumped, banging his knee against the underside of his table. What was this! Lan Wangji flipped the book to look at its cover, his touch quick and light as if worried that it would burn him. His cheeks flamed further when he read the title.
On Intimacy! Lan Wangji's ears were ringing and he felt faint. His mind was a jumble of thoughts. He had read all the love poems in the library, but this was a league of its own—of course it would be, Xiaoshi never did things by halves, but to open Xiaoshi's first book after eighteen months with the description of the sensation of fingers down his back?
The similar goosebumps Xiaoshi mentioned rippled down Lan Wangji's and made him shiver. Lan Wangji wanted to toss the book across the room, he wanted to shred the book into confetti, he... he wanted to grab the book and continue reading. Why would Xiaoshi—was Xiaoshi in a relationship? He had never been able to find out more about Xiaoshi's identity but he had come to consider the author as a friend. Xiaoshi's book On Family—coincidentally released after his father, Qingheng-jun passed away—had helped him to reconcile with his upbringing. Xiaoshi had as usual, shared stories of born and found families he had met during his travels, and Lan Wangji had lost count of the number of times he had reread the slim volume. It was in Xiaoshi's words that Lan Wangji had finally accepted that he would always begrudge his father for his decisions, and to freely indulge in his brother's favour. Xiaoshi had been an indelible presence in his formative years, his books encouraging him to travel across the cultivation world instead of staying in the comfort of Cloud Recesses.
Lan Wangji swallowed as he crept around the table. Shufu always skipped him when reminding xiongzhang the importance of settling down. Lan Wangji did not want this to change. He did not have the temperament to settle down, but was this a hint from Xiaoshi? Lan Wangji's heart was in his throat. He was seldom caught unaware like this, and it felt like his soul not yet settled back into his body.
Lan Wangji peeked at the book, forcing himself to finish the first page, dizzy with relief that it was just another of Xiaoshi's experiments. Xiaoshi's books were always a study of the topics he wrote about. He took on the concepts of fear, family and kinship, food, and fortune because it intrigued him, and structured his books with personal anecdotes, stories from people he met, and references to other authors. The books would then end with a lengthy summary on his takeaway from the exercise, before providing empty pages for the reader's opinions, each book akin to a personal conversation.
Lan Wangji was lost in Xiaoshi's words, his lips pale from how hard he bit on them. Xiaoshi's friends always had the most irreverent takes and they did not disappoint in the book, providing graphic, voyeuristic descriptions of their exploits in the brothels around town. He couldn't tear his eyes away, his eyes trailing down the words. Lan Wangji had always wished privately that he could meet Xiaoshi. He would not be able to express his opinions or convey the impact of Xiaoshi's works on his life, but he would surely enjoy Xiaoshi's sheer brilliance and never tire of his mind.
Lan Wangji finished the book in a single crouch. His heart was a runaway beat, his mind wild with Xiaoshi's eighteen months of labour. He placed a hand on his chest and forced himself to calm with each thump of his heart. He noted the firm curve of his muscles.
Xiaoshi had talked about different types of intimacy, ranging from physical, emotional, intellectual, experiential, to spiritual, and Lan Wangji had been reminded of how lonely he was. A-Niang would always tease them when they were younger, and he would hold her close and breathe in the scent of peach blossoms in her clothes. But A-Niang had passed, and he had grown up. The person he was closest to now was xiongzhang, but they had grown up bearing their own responsibilities as heirs of the sect. He shared emotional, intellectual, and experiential intimacy with xiongzhang: he could be vulnerable in front of xiongzhang, they had grown up together and were evenly matched, and they often discussed new ideas. But there were still divides he could not cross. Lan Wangji had become averse to touch, and xiongzhang bore the weight of an older brother and a sect leader that he could not share. Like shufu, xiongzhang indulged him in his temper, never forcing him to socialise and join the dreary cultivation competitions and conferences.
Consequently, Lan Wangji had settled into his disposition. For example, he never cared for the silly promises of lovers. He had known that he was unfulfilled, but it had never mattered until he read Xiaoshi's plain words about the deep-seated belonging an old couple felt for one another. Lan Wangji could not properly fathom the feeling of finding, and having the mirrored half of his soul. How would it feel to be complete?
The way he resonated with Xiaoshi's conclusion of On Intimacy frightened Lan Wangji—he wanted to be held and understood, but he did not have the courage to remove his defenses and be vulnerable before another. It was easier to insist that he was sufficient, and that he did not care for intimacy.
Lan Wangji's hands trembled as he penned his immediate thoughts in the book. His eyes were warm at the startling awareness of how lonely he was. For so long he had shrouded himself in the power of knowledge and straightened his spine with the rigidity of rules. It did not matter that he had no interests apart from cultivation, or that he had no friends when they would only waste his time on the frivolous; his single-minded focus had helped him become the brightest and the most accomplished cultivator of their generation.
It had all been unimportant until Xiaoshi had torn down his defences like paper, reminding Lan Wangji that he too, craved company, and understanding. But where did he begin? A-Niang had always teased him about his stiff and quiet personality when he was younger. Even if he had the courage to be vulnerable before somebody, what redeeming factors were there of his personality? Even if there was, did people have the patience to perceive him like his family did?
Lan Wangji changed out of his robes and packed his travel bag. Xiaoshi had reached into him and shaken his soul, and he suddenly felt stifled in the comfort of Cloud Recesses. He would continue to be the same peerless model if he stayed under the eyes of the people who knew him. He needed to go on a journey by himself.
The missives to his brother and the faculty under him were sent off, disintegrating on his desk. As the home of scholars, his staff were qualified and highly independent, and they were the backbone of Gusu Lan's esteemed academy that had nurtured countless batches of leaders. The projects Lan Wangji had implemented to reinforce the practical nature of the students' education were also well underway, and apart from the guqin classes that had to be entrusted to the senior disciples, there was little he had to tend to. Nonetheless, if there was anything of concern, he could be reached by the same communication talisman designed by Yunmeng Jiang.
Lan Wangji sent consecutive blows against the guai with Wangji-qin, the illusion faltering just slightly for him to see the back of the winged beast hitting the trees. In the next moment, the forest immediately returned to a scene of himself in the Jingshi, wisps of steam rising lazily from the cup of tea beside him.
Lan Wangji played the Song of Clarity, listening closely for the guai's movements, then sending another wave of attacks when it neared. It was a pity that he had parted with the group of junior disciples two days ago.
The guai screeched, and Lan Wangji could feel his attack dissipate in a burst of heat when both collided. This would have otherwise been a good practice for the junior disciples, potentially even allowing at least two of them to be promoted to senior disciples if they performed well.
It was too much of a hassle trying to break the guai's illusion while maintaining his attacks. Lan Wangji had just decided to sever its wings with a reinforced guqin string when he heard the light, tranquil tinkle of a bell. The illusion of the Jingshi immediately shattered, returning him to the forest grounds where he had sought the guai.
"I'll take close range," a figure dressed in black said, darting past him. The cultivator slapped two talismans on the guai, leaping backwards when it turned to him. The guai suddenly crumpled to the ground in pain when its wings suddenly exploded, blood and flesh splattering everywhere. Throwing itself forwards with a loud roar, the guai reached for the cultivator.
"Woah, bad, bad! Why'd you have to get up again?" the cultivator said, matching Lan Wangji's long range attacks seamlessly with his sword.
"Watch its claws," Lan Wangji said. There was little else he could do for an idiot with a death wish. Any Gusu Lan disciple that fought like the cultivator, who stayed within attack range of their opponent would not have been allowed to go on nighthunts.
"I know. It won't be allowed to have my supple, fragrant fle—" the cultivator cut off when the guai reached for him once more. He started to yell a string of gibberish, slapping more talismans onto the guai's body. As if anticipating its fate, it became more vicious, snapping its jagged yellow teeth at the cultivator as it chased after him.
Lan Wangji did not share the cultivator's amusement at the guai's intent to maul him. It must have been only a few seconds, but time seemed to drag on as the cultivator frolicked with the guai, his peals of laughter drowned by the guai's deafening roars.
"Duck!" The cultivator yelled after his talismans activated. He beamed at Lan Wangji when he noticed the boundary around him that had saved him from a blood bath.
"Thank you! I was probably going to flip out of the way or something," the cultivator said. He made to move, then paused at the bloody mess all around them. Mumbling to himself, he drew a talisman, then another, the carnage slowly disappearing before him.
Lan Wangji was reluctantly impressed. He did not imagine much use of such a cleaning talisman for himself, but it would be a godsend for some of the Gusu Lan disciples.
"Wow, thanks, gongzi. I swear I don't usually make such a big mess—hey! How can you not look at me like that? I really don't make such a mess usually. Really, I swear. I really swear that I don't make such a mess," the cultivator said, exclaiming in awe when Lan Wangji leapt upwards to clear the mess on the crown of the trees.
"Are all of you so elegant in Gusu Lan?" he asked, falling into step beside Lan Wangji.
"It must be the mountains and the lakes. I've never been to Caiyi-zhen before, but Biluo Chun's my favourite tea. Yeah, I know! I'd be proud of it too, if I were you," the stranger said.
Lan Wangji was taken back by the stranger's lucky guess. He quickly realised that the cultivator had a keen eye for his expressions, addressing Lan Wangji's opinions and speaking even faster in excitement whenever he caught even the mildest of interest. He sped through conversation topics with no seeming logic, but every one of them were unintrusive and interesting. 1.1
He had awarded Lan Wangji with a 'possibly the best sparring partner' title, laughingly praising him for being as vicious as him, then suddenly jumping to the insane price of peaches, to how he had snuck out of Lotus Pier, to how lonely he had been with nobody to talk to for the past three days, before talking at length about the compendium of wild mushrooms he was compiling.
Time went by quickly even as they travelled by foot. It was only when they returned to the village that Lan Wangji remembered about his sleeping situation. The number of villagers had steadily dwindled with the danger posed by the guai in the forest, and most of the houses had fallen to disrepair when the able-bodied individuals left to seek better prospects. The village chief had offered him the house of his late son when there was none available.
"Ah, don't worry! I can return to the forest. But you'll need to wake me up tomorrow because I'm kind of—wait, you're not going to leave without me, right? We work well together and people who have brushed past the gates of hell need to spend at least like two days together, and you wanted to help me test the mushrooms plus you said that you were wandering about, which means that we can wander about together," the stranger said, pouting as he held the edge of Lan Wangji's sleeves.
Lan Wangji was taken aback by the cultivator's speech. Still adjusting to company—much less one so effusive—he had not spoken much to the cultivator, but the cultivator had accurately read his interest.
"We can share," Lan Wangji said. The hut was small but it was sufficient for two men.
"I'll take the floor," the cultivator immediately said when he saw the single bed.
Lan Wangji did not care to reply. It was impossible to abide by his usual bedtime in Cloud Recesses when travelling, but simply waiting for the guai to appear today had taken him a fair amount of time. He needed to turn in soon before his body clock woke him in less than a shi chen.
"How can I address you?" Lan Wangji asked, seated on the edge of the bed after washing up.
"This one is Yunmeng Jiang's senior disciple Wei Ying, zi Ze. I anticipate your guidance."
Lan Wangji eyed the cultivator when he drew blank at the name. He paid little attention to the rivalry of the cultivation competitions and chose to skip it entirely, but he would surely have heard of someone as skilful as Wei Ze. It was also tradition for the sects to send their best disciples to Gusu Lan when they were of age, for a networking session thinly veiled as classes.
"This one is Gusu Lan sect's senior disciples Lan Zhan, zi Sizhui."
"Wah, Lan Zhan? Your parents really had high expectations for you," Wei-gongzi said.
"Mn," Lan Wangji said, accepting Wei-gongzi's sympathy gracefully. Shufu had always bragged that both xiongzhang and him were often used as references for the younger disciples, much less if there was a child who shared the same name as him.
"It's not the same Zhan, is it? Say, were you always this quiet or was it forced upon you because of your shixiong?" Wei-gongzi narrowed his eyes when Lan Wangji did not speak.
"I mean, the other Gusu Lan disciples I met were all reasonably chatty… but then again they weren't called Lan Zhan…" Wei-gongzi tapped his nose as he considered the matter at hand.
"Never mind! I don't want to brag, but I'm very interesting. You'll definitely be able to find your own personality by the time we part."
Lan Wangji stopped the man before he could lay a spare robe on the floor. "We can share," he repeated.
Wei-gongzi looked at the hand on his arm. His eyes shifted to Lan Wangji's face, then the bed.
"We can share," Lan Wangji insisted, "I will wake at mao shi." It seemed wasteful for the bed to be unoccupied when he woke, but at the same time he did not want to make do on the floor or the table.
"Are you sure that Gusu Lan doesn't have any rules against bed sharing?".
"No. I am helping the underprivileged."
Wei-gongzi froze. He burst into incredulous peals of laughter. "Ai, Lan Zhan, Lan-gongzi," he said gravely, clutching both of Lan Wangji's hands. "You must not forget me when you become the better Lan Zhan."
"Mn, one must be grateful." Lan Wangji said, his voice deadpan. Wei-gongzi rolled on the bed, careful to control his movements and laughter.
"Ah, I've always been told that one shouldn't have too much excitement before bedtime but how am I supposed to go to sleep now with the knowledge that Lan-gongzi is actually so funny, haha. But eh, I've heard that Gusu Lan sect has close to three thousand rules," Wei-gongzi said, his eyes bright. Wei-gongzi had burrowed his face under the blanket and was now peeking at him, his eyes still curved in mirth, face still pink from when he had laughed at Lan Wangji's dry comments.
"It is three thousand and seventeen now," Lan Wangji nodded.
"Three thousand and seventeen! Wah, you guys really don't do things by halves. Can you teach me the rules? I was supposed to attend the lectures when I came of age but some things happened," Wei-gongzi shrugged. Lan Wangji extinguished the candle, listening to the rustle as Wei-gongzi shifted on the bed.
He could feel the weight of Wei-gongzi's eyes on him even in the dark, the momentary silence as if an invitation for him to ask why not. Why had he not attended the lectures in Cloud Recesses? But Lan Wangji was not the nosy sort. He was curious, but he respected other people's privacy.
"I know that it'll take a while, but you learn things faster when you teach others. If you go through all three thousand and seventeen of the rules with me, you'll have a renewed appreciation for the rules, which will make you become more virtuous and upright than Lan-shixiong himself."
"Rule 11, no talking before sleeping."
Unperturbed, Wei-gongzi huffed in amusement. "Is rule 10 no talking during meals?" 1.2
"Mn," Lan Wangji replied, exhaling deeply. He imagined distributing the weight of exhaustion in the middle of his chest to his hands, then his legs.
"What's 'one must help the underprivileged' and 'one must be grateful'?" Wei-gongzi asked.
"181 and 53," Lan Wangji mumbled, too tired to move his lips. The last time he shared a bed with someone must have been close to two decades ago with xiongzhang, when A-Niang had passed away. He would have to watch for the strange cultivator. If he was robbed, attacked, or killed, he would have to—
Lan Wangji's eyes fluttered open at mao shi even without the toll of Cloud Recesses' bell. His eyes stung with the lack of sleep, but he snapped to consciousness quickly when he registered someone pressed against him.
Wei-gongzi had curled into him sometime in the night; and was this a hug? Wei-gongzi's arm and leg did not budge even when Lan Wangji tried to extract himself. Lan Wangji checked the flow of the qi in his body, calming when nothing was amiss. His sealed qiankun pouch was also unmoved on the table.
So Wei-gongzi had proven himself to be just slightly trustable… Lan Wangji had never travelled with any stranger long enough for them to take advantage of him. Most of them would be intimidated, quickly excusing themselves when they pegged him to his title or status as Hanguang-jun or the second jade of Lan respectively, while the others who stayed would tire of his company (or lack-thereof), leaving at the first opportunity.
Perhaps it was Lan Wangji's plain robes that had concealed his identity. Nonetheless, regardless of how interesting Wei-gongzi was, it was not wise to remain in his company for long. There was no reason for Lotus Pier to hide a disciple as capable as Wei-gongzi. There was a high possibility that Wei-gongzi had stolen the clarity bell from an unsuspecting disciple and adopted their name.
Lan Wangji huffed. Trying to pull away only made Wei-gongzi hold him tighter. He would have snapped Wei-gongzi's limbs off if they were not asleep and unaware of their actions.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji called, dusting his robes off. He had threw himself off the bed to escape Wei-gongzis clutches. The candlelight flickered, shadows dancing on the cultivator's sleeping form.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji repeated, a little louder this time. Wei Ying breath was still even. He called the man again, testing the cultivator's unconscious response to the name he provided.
The cultivator batted his own face, grumbling something about later under his breath. Lan Wangji was grudgingly satisfied with the outcome. More observations would obviously be necessary, but this was enough for Lan Wangji to start his day.
It was close to wu shi when Lan Wangji returned to the hut. The sun had already travelled across half the sky, and the little children had finally come out to play, rejoicing the defeat of the guai that had plagued the village for so long. 1.3
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji called. The hut was cooler than outside, a stream of sunlight slanting through the window, pouring onto the small vee of Wei-gongzi's exposed chest. Lan Wangji helped himself to the pot of tea, long bitter from waiting for Wei-gongzi to wake.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji repeated. He had completed the repair works for the villagers, and intended to travel to the village north-west of the forest. Not wanting to miss the guais and the smaller villages, he rarely travelled on Bichen during his nighthunts.
"Wei Ying, it is close to wu shi," he said. He had promised to travel with Wei-gongzi, but he had to set out soon if he intended to reach the village by lunch. Unlike the previous times, the words finally seemed to register, the cultivator startling awake, sitting upright in a swift move.
"Wu shi? It's wu shi," Wei-gongzi gasped, throwing the blanket aside. The wooden slippers clattered noisily on the floor as he ran behind the privacy screen. "Lan Zhan?"
Lan Wangji did not reply.
"Lan Zhan?" Wei-gongzi peeked at him. "Lan Zhan, is it really wu shi?"
"Close," Lan Wangji replied. The wisp of annoyance he felt faded away when Wei-gongzi cringed, obviously mortified by his own conduct. Lan Wangji had just set the folded blanket down when Wei-gongzi came up to him, his head hung low in apology.
"I am sorry for bringing trouble," Wei-gongzi said, peering at him with a crestfallen pout that looked out of place on a face usually bright with laughter.
"It is okay. We did not agree on a time to wake," Lan Wangji admitted. Wei-gongzi did mention he was hard to wake, but Lan Wangji had not comprehend the severity of the situation.
"I'm the one who wanted to tag along, so I should accommodate your time. I didn't want to say this yesterday because it's kinda embarrassing, but hitting me really hard or shoving me off the bed works," Wei Wuxian said between bites. He smiled sheepishly when he registered Lan Wangji's eyes flitting between the bowl of porridge and his mouth.
"Rule 10, no talking during meals," Wei-gongzi recited, his cheeks full.
The irony was not lost on Lan Wangji. "You are not bound by Gusu Lan's rules."
"Mn, but I need to be presentable enough so that I don't end up being abandoned."
"Do you not travel alone?"
"Of course I have, but isn't it more fun when you're with someone? I've also never met anyone with as fast a reaction time, plus don't you think that we fight well together? I won't dare to say that you have anything to learn from me, but I'll definitely benefit from your discipline and how you abide by the rules. You know, I was just thinking about it yesterday, if you're already like this, then won't Lan-er'gongzi be in an entire league of his own? How could we ever measure up? Did you ever blame your parents for naming you after Lan-er'gongzi?" Wei-gongzi asked between mouthfuls of his porridge.
Lan Wangji, who had cared for the toddlers in the nursery for a few months, was unfazed by the rapid fire questions. The children had the attention span of a gnat and questions that truly mattered would be repeated anyway.
Lan Wangji helped himself to more tea. "Your ponytail is crooked," Lan Wangji said after a while.
Wei-gongzi shifted the ribbon.
Lan Wangji pointed his chin to the right to indicate that he was tugging in the wrong direction. Wei-gongzi pulled it to the other side. The ponytail loosened.
"I'm done. Thank you for helping me get breakfast. I'll buy lunch," Wei-gongzi said, surveying the room. He straightened the privacy screen, pushed in his chair, then fastened his sword to his belt. Lan Wangji blinked.
"Your ponytail is loose."
Wei-gongzi flicked his hair behind his shoulders. "Mn. Does the village need any help with repairs? I'm pretty good with talismans—"
"Your ponytail is loose," Lan Wangji repeated. He felt his eye twitch. Rule 12, do not interrupt. Wei-gongzi set the tray down and tugged at his ponytail. Both of them looked at one another. Lan Wangji tilted his head to the right.
Wei-gongzi redid his hair. It was not any better. Wei-gongzi looked at Lan Wangji, his lips in an unimpressed curve. Lan Wangji tilted his head to the left. He knew that he was bordering on absurdity, but it was impossible for him to let it go.
"Rule 113, Put on your robes after combing your hair—" Lan Wangji began.
"When your appearance is proper, you will look energetic, and your engagements will be smooth," Wei-gongzi recited with him. 1.4
"Is it better?" Wei-gongzi asked, shifting the root of his ponytail slightly to the left. He cheered when he received Lan Wangji's approval. "Today will be a fantastic day. Let's improve people's lives."
Wei-gongzi blocked his hand when he tried to relieve him off the tray. "I can do it. Let's go find jobs to do."
"I have finished all the pressing repairs and provided the villagers with a supply of talismans."
"Lan Zhan!" Wei-gongzi whined, unconsciously stomping his foot. "Can't the both of you have mercy on us? How am I supposed to display my capabilities like this?"
"Wei-gongzi will have to wake earlier then," Lan Wangji said, trying his best not to smile. It was hard to describe the effect Wei-gongzi had on him. The way Wei-gongzi switched effortlessly between serious and ridiculous amused and intrigued him.
"Ai, ai, ai, that's not possible. I'd really die if I woke up at mao shi with you. How about chen shi? Can you wake me at chen shi? We can have a competition of, I don't know, roof mending, to know who's more capable." 1.5
"Lotus seed peeling," Lan Wangji said after they had thanked the village chief for his hospitality. Wei-gongzi took a moment to register his reply.
"Ai, I'm a real expert—" he said, only to trail off. He looked at Lan Wangji, his eyes narrowing slowly as the words sunk in. "You're the worst! You really think that you're so damn good, don't you! I'll really show you! I'll only let it go when you call me 'die'."
"Mn, I wait in anticipation 拭目以待." Lan Wangji said, taken aback by the anticipation and excitement he felt. Was it because he was unencumbered by his titles for the first time? Was it because there was finally someone who dared to challenge him?
"Ai, you better not be so arrogant! I've peeled more lotus seeds than the grains of rice that you've eaten. You'll really regret your words later!" 1.6
"We just passed a troop of mushrooms," Lan Wangji said. He did not want to interrupt Wei-gongzi, but they would be miles ahead before he could speak.
"Ah, really? Your eyes are really the sharpest, haha." Wei-gongzi turned the mushroom here and there, then produced a piece of paper. Settling down, he started to sketch the wide capped mushroom.
"I was actually lying when I said that I'd show you how I study mushrooms. There's almost no mushrooms that I've not seen before, so we usually just nod at each other then go our separate ways, but you're in luck today! Anyway, the first rule is do not make assumptions unless you're a mushroom expert. I've met one mushroom that really looked like another before, but wow," he smacked his lips. "I really had a wild time that night."
Lan Wangji watched in mild fascination as Wei-gongzi proceeded to colour his sketch with a paint palette. Wei Wuxian sniffed the mushroom, made more notes, then drew his sword—the polished blade, forged under the sweat of a skilled craftsman, bathed in the blood and gore of his foes, with an edge finer than a strand of hair, sliced the pithy mushroom into neat little halves.
Lan Wangji could not find the right words to convey himself. Wei-gongzi was not disrespecting his cultivation weapon—his research was a valuable contribution to botany—however esoteric—but did he really have to use his sword?
"When will Wei-gongzi publish the book?" Lan Wangji asked, deciding to focus on the more important things. He would personally make space for Wei-gongzi's mushroom compendium in Cloud Recesses' library when it was ready. Wei-gongzi blinked at him.
He shrugged, swallowing the mushroom on his tongue.
"Alright! Wasn't that fun? Eh, Lan Zhan, have you been told that you're very lucky? Six years of mushroom cataloguing and I still come across a new one when I'm with you. But my compendium is this thick right now. I've set foot in almost every single sect and clan. I mean, I could be Yunmeng Jiang's envoy, but you know," Wei-gongzi trailed off with a shrug. Lan Wangji did not know. Wei-gongzi was a choice selection as an envoy. He was charismatic, intelligent, flexible, and had the god-given ability to code-switch in the matter of seconds.
"Anyway, I think that I'll call it Little Wrinkly Dot. I have a whole nomenclature for the mushrooms. I mean, of course it doesn't make sense to be giving new names to the more ubiquitous mushrooms or the ones that have already been discovered, but the rarer ones are fair game. It drives my shidi spare like 'oh it's such an embarrassing hobby', 'you'll really die from the fungi one day' but firstly, it's a lifestyle, not a hobby. Secondly, it's the price you pay for knowledge. I don't expect everyone to understand the art of mushrooms but they should still respect it, you know?"
Lan Wangji nodded gravely. Wei-gongzi's shidi was short-sighted, but it was also true that Wei-gongzi was prioritising the lifestyle over his life. "I can loan you more books on mushrooms." Cloud Recesses' collection would surely dwarf Wei-gongzi's. It would be good if he could help strengthen Wei-gongzi's research.
"Ai, are you offering me books from the fabled library? Is it true that Gusu Lan's treasure is its books?"
Lan Wangji nodded. There was even an established book-evacuation plan should Cloud Recesses come under siege. The books, together with the roles and responsibilities, and the different escape routes were reviewed on a regular basis. "It is a lifestyle," he said succinctly.
Wei Wuxian barked in laughter, the loud sound dissipating quickly in the forest. "Ah, you're really the funniest, hahaha. But honestly, everyone should be free to lead their own lives as long as it doesn't impact others negatively, you know?"
"Mn," Lan Wangji agreed. He noticed a deity-binding net on a tree and pointed at it. "For example, I do not understand Lanling Jin sect's penchant to flaunt their wealth, but because it impacts no one, I respect it."
"Wait, wait, wait, no, no, no, no! Lanling Jin sect is a blasphemy that deserves no respect. Firstly and most importantly, their classlessness impacts everyone—"
Lan Wangji listened as Wei-gongzi laid out his grudges against Lanling Jin sect. A good majority of his points were biased and incredibly petty, but Lan Wangji's lips curled into a smile anyway. Growing up as a son of the Gusu Lan clan, Lan Wangji had been raised and molded according to its rules and expectations, and he had formed his opinions and worldview accordingly. He did not enjoy speaking ill of others or making assumptions about others, but he appreciated Wei-gongzi's spiritedness and vivacity.
He enjoyed listening to Wei-gongzi's strong opinions on everything, and he respected Wei-gongzi's clear distinction between the things he liked and disliked.
Lan Wangji sent the reply off to xiongzhang, then turned to the nighthunting journals that he had received. He paused, meeting Wei-gongzi's gaze.
"Nothing, I was just watching you use the—our talisman again," Wei-gongzi explained, embarrassed at being caught staring. He shifted behind his own desk.
They had finished both the cases early, and had settled in for the night. Like the other times, Lan Wangji would settle his correspondence, work, and reports while Wei-gongzi would shuffle his sheath of papers, scribbling away or fiddling with talismans.
Lan Wangji was unconcerned about Wei-gongzi's secrecy, which had not lessened even after a week and a half of travels. Wei-gongzi would share about his work if he wanted to, and since he did not, Lan Wangji did not ask, nor did he peer at Wei-gongzi's eye-wateringly unintelligible script.
Lan Wangji had also come to trust Wei-gongzi, and it was not hard for him to admit that he had found an equal. It was rare for him to be able to use the full extent of his cultivation in friendly matches and the rare, even matches with Wei-gongzi excited him. Nobody but xiongzhang could give him a challenge in Cloud Recesses, but majority of his duels with Wei-gongzi ended in a stalemate
Educated by the same teachers, xiongzhang and him were too similar, and victory was often determined by the slightest missteps, whereas victory had to be wrangled from Wei-gongzi’s clenched fists.
Like when they had first met, Wei-gongzi was quick on his feet and not beyond underhand methods. Apart from bad humour and shameless taunts, Wei-gongzi also wove talismans seamlessly into his combat. More intriguingly, his sword style was also wildly fluid, quickly blending Gusu Lan's directness with his original agility from Yunmeng Jiang and brutishness from Qinghe Nie. Lan Wangji would often replay the details of their match in his head to identify weaknesses in Wei-gongzi's unpredictable style, and he looked forward to their matches every evening. Not only did they challenge him to think faster and sharpen his moves, it also served as an opportunity for him to attempt the specialised techniques he had only read in the forbidden books
When they were not exchanging blows, Lan Wangji also found himself enjoying Wei-gongzi's company. Wei-gongzi's inquisitiveness pushed him to question his assumptions, and their conversations extended beyond the cases they took, to cultivation and education methods. After two out of three nights where Wei-gongzi had fallen asleep in his room, they had wordlessly revised their sleeping arrangements—a room with two beds and tables was better suited to their needs. Most importantly, it also made waking Wei-gongzi more convenient, though the fact that Wei-gongzi now turned in at a more reasonable time also helped.
"Mn," Lan Wangji replied. When Jiang Wanyin had taken on the mantle as sect leader after his late parents met with an unfortunate accident in a nighthunt, Yunmeng Jiang had quickly become an innovation hub.
Amongst the many nighthunt tools and talismans was a system that helped to encourage invention, introducing alterations for new talismans that could be tied to the different sects. These modified talismans would then only be activated on talisman papers specially produced for the corresponding sect. The sale of these specific talisman papers would then serve as royalties for the invention. Naturally, Yunmeng Jiang's talisman papers had been of great demand, and the papers were so elaborate that it was impossible to forge.
The disparity in inventions was stark. Qinghe Nie's disciples had no patience for repeated failures, Lanling Jin's disciples were too proud to accept feedback, whereas Gusu Lan's disciples were too rigid to tread the unexplored. It was in the ambiguous that Yunmeng Jiang's less structured curriculum shone. There were rumours that Yunmeng Jiang's meteoric achievements could be attributed to an esteemed elder, who had single handedly designed all of the inventions that had taken the cultivation world by storm. More bizarrely, the second most popular rumour was that the young Jiang-zongzhu had sacrificed his parents to a malevolent spirit to realise his ambitions.
Lan Wangji paid little attention to the barefaced envy. He had not met Yunmeng Jiang's Head of Curriculum to understand the finer details of their syllabus, but going by his interactions with Wei-gongzi, it was obvious that they encouraged their disciples' inquisitiveness through a varied and stimulating education.
It was impossible to change Gusu Lan overnight, and Lan Wangji did not aspire to do so. Gusu Lan's disciples were known for their humility, grace, refinement, fairness, and intellect, and they were already building the disciples' adaptability by increasing their practical training requirements. The revised format for nighthunting journals had also been approved, with the new addition of 'potential areas for innovation'.
Lan Wangji intended for the disciples to question the status quo. The Gusu Lan disciples were more than capable of finding and exterminating spirits individually but Yunmeng Jiang's spirit luring flag simplified the process. It was this dissatisfaction with the current situation and daring to question the norm that Lan Wangji intended to cultivate. He had also raised a hiring notice for a suitable instructor to equip the disciples with basic innovation know-how.
Lan Wangji was grateful of the support he received for the initiative. Even shufu had acknowledged that the growth of combat methods developed by Gusu Lan's sect members had slowed with the sect's growth and consequent stability. It was in the sect's interests of its longevity and competitiveness to balance its focus on character development and innovation.
Wei-gongzi smiled at him beatifically. Lan Wangji knew he was proud and happy to see his sect's innovations being adopted by the cultivation world—it was a topic that Wei-gongzi had brought up multiple times. Even though Lan Wangji always listened when people spoke (only when they were reasonable), Wei-gongzi was the first non-family member that he had come to know so well, and vice versa.
Lan Wangji froze at the thought, his hands stilling above the inkstone. Wei Wuxian was the first non-family member that he had come to share intellectual and spiritual intimacy with, and it had only taken ten days. 1.7
Wei-gongzi also had a poor grasp of personal space—Lan Wangji hurriedly nipped the train of thought. Continuing it would only lead him to trouble, and the inevitable question of why he had not told Wei-gongzi to keep his hands to himself. Wei-gongzi would struggle and he would sulk, but he was not a disrespectful individual. He would restrain himself from throwing an arm around Lan Wangji, or leaning against him.
Lan Wangji moved onto the next journal. He had fought and travelled with countless cultivators but Wei-gongzi was the one that stood out. The both of them shared the same perspective and values, and it would be his honour if he was allowed to call Wei-gongzi a friend.
Lan Wangji felt a sudden rush of pity for xiongzhang. If Wei-gongzi was the standard everyone had to measure to, it was no wonder that xiongzhang had never succeeded in helping him make friends. There had been none before Wei-gongzi, and there would be none after.
"Wei-gongzi," Lan Wangji called, repeating when Wei-gongzi did not look up, scribbling away on his paper.
"May I write when you return to Lotus Pier?" Lan Wangji enquired. The edges of his lips softened into a smile. Wei-gongzi had flushed pink with embarrassment and pleasure. He had noticed that Wei-gongzi would talk about anything and everything, but always stopped short of revealing his vulnerabilities.
"Of course! I've been thinking that I need some calligraphy practice. I'd love to be able to use your letters as reference! Ah, where was I?" Wei-gongzi said, trailing off into a mumble. He shuffled his papers, head so low as if he burrowing into them.
Lan Wangji exhaled sharply in amusement. Wei-gongzi also had a penchant for ruining sincere, heartfelt moments with humour. He would then change the topic forcefully, with none of his usual loquaciousness.
"Wei-gongzi is a good nighthunting partner. I look forward to travelling with Wei-gongzi again," Lan Wangji said. Wei-gongzi set his brush down, flustered.
"Ai, Lan Zhan. I didn't ask because I didn't want to be a bother, but are you sure that you're alright? Are you going off tonight? No? Then tomorrow? No? Ai, then why are you suddenly speaking about these things! How am I supposed to think about my work when you're talking about all this? Rule 211, one should not run after two horses 一心不能二用, Rule 463, learning comes first, rule 1023 maintain your own discipline. Let us both focus on our tasks." 1.8
"Rule 971, plan for the future," Lan Wangji said.
"Ai, didn't we agree to write? We can plan in letters after we part. Not everything has to be discussed in person," Wei-gongzi made a short, disapproving noise at Lan Wangji's persistence. "I took reference from you and learnt the economy of words but look at yourself! It's not that I want to nit-pick, but when did you become such a chatterbox! Stop laughing, Lan Zhan!" Wei-gongzi finally gave up, bursting into giggles.
"You're really a terrible influence! Ai, we'll need to nighthunt together more often to continue improving your sense of humour. I'll really help you to become the better Lan Zhan."
Wei-gongzi craned his neck to peek at Lan Wangji's desk when he picked up his brush to write something. Lan Wangji flew the paper to Wei-gongzi's table when he was done, careful to not smudge the ink.
Wei-gongzi doubled over in laughter when he finished the short letter almost instantly.
"Lan Zhan!" He gasped between giggles. "I'll really laugh myself to death one day and then I'll haunt you forever, hahaha."
Lan Wangji was taken aback when he noticed Wei-gongzi's tears of laughter. He had merely taken Wei-gongzi's request to convey himself via letters to an extreme, sending him a missive even when they were still together. He thought that Wei-gongzi would appreciate his commitment, but surely not this much. Wei-gongzi was indeed a very bizarre individual.
"It's the contrast 反差萌," Wei-gongzi explained, noticing his confusion. "You're being ridiculous but your letter is so formal, 'Dear Wei-gongzi. Okay. Lan Zhan.' You're not allowed to be so earnest in future!" 1.9 1.10
Meeting Wei-gongzi's eyes, Lan Wangji then looked down slowly at the paper on Wei-gongzi's desk. Wei-gongzi followed his gaze, then burst into another round of giggles when he reread the letter.
"No, no, no, Lan Zhan, no. I was joking about you being a chatterbox. I will not accept any more references to the letter. I'm keeping this away right now so you better not think about it in future."
Lan Wangji watched Wei-gongzi rummage through his qiankun pouch for a suitable storage place.
"Can you lend me a book? I don't want to crumple my first letter from Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji ran through the items he had with him. The cases he took on had usually been left to fester for a period of time, and their urgency meant that he had less time to himself. He almost never travelled with books he brought from Cloud Recesses, but this time had been an anomaly. Too flustered by Xiaoshi's On Intimacy, Lan Wangji had taken it along with him and completed his reflections when he felt better.
"I only have one book, but it has my private thoughts in it." Lan Wangji said.
"Oh. Alright. I'll have to buy a book then," Wei-gongzi said, placing the paper carefully at the corner of the table.
Lan Wangji made a quick mental note. This was an opportunity for innovation. It would give texts the due respect they deserved if papers could be uncrumpled, or made to never crumple.
"Eh, Lan Zhan, what's the book that you're reading? It's probably really good if you're only carrying around that one book."
Lan Wangji saw the opportunity and took it. He handed his copy of On Intimacy to Wei-gongzi for perusal. "My writings are at the back," he said.
Wei-gongzi visibly startled when he took in the cover. He looked at Lan Wangji, then the book.
"You are familiar with Yiling Xiaoshi?"
"Haha, yes—I mean, no, I mean, I only know their publisher because I was in Yiling the day they dropped off their manuscript. The bookstore owner was in a good mood then."
"Mn," Lan Wangji said. It was corroborated with the information from the bookshop owner in Caiyi-zhen. Yunmeng Jiang truly had considerable talents.
"Do you like their works?"
Lan Wangji nodded. "I admire Xiaoshi's creativity."
"Ah, really? Erm, don't you think that they merely package people's words and then slap on their name? I feel like they're just rambling on about nothing in particular because they—"
"No," Lan Wangji interrupted. "The varied interviews help Xiaoshi present the nuances of the chosen topic. It also helps Xiaoshi build his perspective. Xiaoshi's topics were what I took for granted, but he helped me to reconcile the different human experiences and properly appreciate my privilege and improve myself. I am honoured to be able to learn with Xiaoshi."
Wei-gongzi wet his lips. He blinked at him, seemingly at a loss for words. "Yeah, they're probably finding their own answers…" he said finally, his voice thick.
Lan Wangji's heart was still racing. Apart from the rush of conviction defending his favourite author, Lan Wangji was annoyed that Wei-gongzi did not appreciate Xiaoshi's brilliance. How could he be so dismissive of Xiaoshi when even xiongzhang had been impressed by his works?
"I will sponsor your collection of Xiaoshi's works." Xiaoshi's earlier works had long gone out of print. It would not be an easy task to gather everything, but the outcome would be well worth the effort.
"No, no. It's fine. Xiaoshi's publisher offered me a collection when I visited. I mean, it's fine. I'd agree that they're pretty good," Wei-gongzi said. His eyes darted about in embarrassment at being told off so sternly.
"You should give them another go to appreciate them better. The truth might be uncomfortable, but it will help us grow."
Wei-gongzi waved the letter at him, a wordless agreement to drop the topic. "Lemme store it in your book for a bit until I get something. Also, I must clarify that I too, have a copy of On Intimacy. So I won't be getting another of the same."
"And I'll definitely re-read everything," he tacked on, as if reading Lan Wangji's mind.
Lan Wangji returned to review the nighthunt journals, satisfied. He could not remember how they had settled on the topic of conversation, but it was a good outcome. He enjoyed sharing the things he liked with the people he valued.
Footnotes
1.0夷陵小士 Yiling Xiaoshi, shortened as Xiaoshi after, means Yiling's Little Soldier here, where shi'bing means soldierreturn to top
1.1Biluo chun 碧螺春 is "a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting mountain region near Lake Tai in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China… it is renowned for its delicate appearance, fruity taste, floral aroma, showy white hairs and early cropping." return to top
1.2食不言寝不语 shi bu yan qin bu yu translating to no speaking during meals and no speaking before sleep and broken up into the 2 rules of 10 and 11, is a standard chinese proverb. Thus, WWX asks LWJ if rule 10 is no speaking during meals. Tbh, the CR rules are fairly reasonable refrains you'd hear growing up in a Chinese family. return to top
1.3Wu shi is 11am. return to top
1.4rule 113 "故冠而后服备， 服备而后容体正，颜色齐，辞令顺 comes from 《礼记·冠义》 , or Book of Rituals: Capping Ceremony, referring to the coming of age ceremony of boys, detailed in my previous work here. It emphasises on the importance of dressing well and sequence, translating to 'Put on your robes after tying your hair up (in a guan); when your appearance is proper, you will look energetic, and your speech (and engagements) will be smooth (or go well). return to top
1.5Chen shi is 7am. return to top
1.6I've peeled more lotus seeds than the grains of rice that you've eaten is derived from what Chinese parents usually say that goes "I've had more salt than the rice you've eaten," which means that they have had more life experience than you, and that you're a dumbo who'll regret whatever you're doing if you don't listen to them. In this, WWX is bragging that he has peeled So Much lotus seeds and will whoop LWJ's ass in a peeling competition. Idk who'll win… return to top
1.7Ink for writing and drawing in ancient China is made by grinding the inkstick (made from soot and animal glue) against an inkstone with a wee amount of water. In Ashes of Love, this is also part of Jinmi's job as an attendant in Xufeng's study. Referenced from my own footnotes from an earlier fic here. return to top
1.8Rule 211, one should not run after two horses 一心不能二用, the chinese version directly translates as one heart (focus) should not be used on two matters, and is a common refrain against multitasking and flubbing both up. Found a better translation re horses for today's crowd. return to top
1.9I'm huge on this whole contrast thing, of how WWX thinks it's So Cute that LWJ is being lame but so serious about it. It's called 反差萌 like gangsta (tough, badass, scary) peppa pig (cute) that took China by storm, elaborated in an earlier fic here. It's the juxtaposition of both that's funny, erm. "return to top
1.10Lan Zhan's letter to Wei Ying, referenced from his nice little formal letter to WY re Koi Tower JL full-month celebration invite in CQL:
"Dear Wei-gongzi
Okay.
Lan Zhan"
“送呈
魏公子
好。
蓝湛" return to top