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There was nothing quite like waking up to the news that his parents and Aunt Baoshan were sending him on a mission to the perhaps stuffiest clan Wei Ying knew.
This year again, the Cloud Recesses would host heirs and promising disciples of various sects for a year or so, teaching them the ways of their own clan.
Celestial cultivators did not mingle with the cultivation world as such. They lived as rogue cultivators, roaming the world and working to keep its peace, just like Wei Ying and his parents did. He had never spent much time with his peers, much less within the boundaries of a sect, which was why the number of clan heirs and disciples he knew was staggeringly low.
Wei Ying was thrilled.
Life as a rogue cultivator with his parents was undoubtedly eventful and rewarding. There was no doubt in his mind that he was one of the most powerful and accomplished cultivators of his generation. His teachers were the Boashan Sanren and her disciples. Besides, he doubted the other disciples learned to sneak into enemy camps and to retrieve secret information.
Wei Ying loved life as a wandering Celestial cultivator, he loved going on adventures with his parents and retreating to the Celestial Mountain for training and reprieve. He loved his family and friends and the countless acquaintances he had made during his travels.
But that was that. They traveled too much for him to make lasting friendships, had too many secrets to fully open up to anyone. Wei Ying barely knew anyone his age who he hadn't met only in passing.
So, when Baoshan Sanren and his parents suggested that Wei Ying go infiltrate the studies at the Cloud Recesses, he was absolutely delighted. Beneath all the subterfuge, it was a chance to meet his peers, to really dive into the routine of the cultivation world they were working so hard to protect. It was a chance to truly understand who could be trusted and who couldn't, how people and sects and secrets were interwoven.
It was also a chance to learn the traditional way of a cultivator, even though Wei Ying was more than satisfied with the way he had learned.
It wasn't his first secret mission, far from it. It wasn't even the first time he had infiltrated one group or another. But it was the biggest and most important task Wei Ying had ever been given, one that would truly test all his abilities and give him new opportunities to explore both himself and the world.
So, at seventeen years of age, Wei Ying found himself bidding his family goodbye and embarking on a highly responsible mission.
His mother fastened the ribbon in his hair and pressed a kiss to his forehead, reminding him to always carry Suibian with him and to be watchful and polite and careful about how many of his skills he revealed and-
Wei Ying released a laugh. "A-niang! I know, I know! This one has grown up doing these things. It is second nature!"
Cangse Sanren chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'll stop. I don't have to worry about you, do I?"
Wei Ying shook his head cheerfully. "Not in the slightest."
His mother sighed, patting his head affectionately. "My son has grown up well, indeed."
He beamed at the praise, even as his father let out an amused huff. "Cangse, you're spoiling him again."
"Is it spoiling him if it is the truth?" his mother replied, turning to smirk at Wei Changze, "The looks may be all yours, but the skills and personality are all mine."
"Agree to disagree," his father shot back. He ruffled Wei Ying's hair, causing his son to yelp. "Obviously, A-Ying is a perfect mix of both of us."
"Now you're both spoiling him," Baoshan Sanren commented dryly. There was something to her voice that made her sound as wise and acient as she was, even though her outwardly appearance has remained unchanged for nearly three centuries.
She directed a smile at Wei Ying. "I can't tell who your parents are praising more - you or themselves."
Wei Changze shrugged. Baoshan rolled her eyes at him. "That is the influence of your mother without a doubt."
She sobered back up and stepped closer to place a hand on the crown of Wei Ying's head. "We trust you, A-Ying. Still, I will not forego reminding you to be careful."
"I will be. I always am."
Almost in unison, all three adults raised one eyebrow at him.
"Alright, fine. Perhaps I can be a little..."
"Reckless?"
"Impulsive?"
"Unrestrained?"
"Maybe. You said it yourself, I'm a mix of you two!" he reminded his parents.
"That much is true, I suppose." Wei Changze sighed and shook his head. "Mind your manners while in the Cloud Recesses. The rules there are considerably stricter."
Beside him, Cangse Sanren grimaced. "And the food. A-Ying, I wish you a lot of patience. And Lan Qiren, too. Something tells me he was not ecstatic about my letter."
"He accepted A-Ying as a student, so it cannot have been too bad," Wei Changze replied.
"Enough tardiness," Baoshan Sanren cut in, "Go forth, A-Ying. Remember that we are but a message away and you are always welcome here. Safe, too."
"I will," Wei Ying assured them with a nod. He hugged them all one last time before walking down the Mountain and making his way to Gusu.
The Cloud Recesses were, as his parents had told him, a quiet place with a myriad of rules, one more ridiculous than the next. Not the place of his dreams, but it would do. After all, there were much worse places to be.
He introduced himself as Wei Wuxian and was let inside, escorted to meet Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen, then brought to his guest quarters.
The first downside of being a guest disciple was that he had to trade his simple and convenient dark robes for the pristine white of GusuLan. The color wouldn't last, Wei Wuxian could predict that much, but what was even worse were the wide sleeves and seemingly endless layers. Such inefficiency! Such inconvenience! How did the Lans stand it?
He felt somewhat out of place with the robes on, but that feeling didn't last. When the other disciples arrived, the fact that they were all wearing the same robes helped take most of the attention off him. Without the distinct robes, it was harder to tell who belonged to what sect and that he belonged to none.
Still, the disciples seemed to know each other, if only in passing. Before long, Wei Wuxian drew enough curious gazes that formal introductions were in order.
"This one is a simple rogue cultivator. My parents have also studied at the Cloud Recesses and saw it fit to let me meet my peers and obtain valuable knowledge together with them."
The explanation was enough for most people. Interest in him wasn't that high. Wei Wuxian quickly got to know the many different sects and disciples and found people to stick to. They let him, some more willingly than others.
He attended the lessons, trying his best to appear as a model student. He followed the rules as well as he could, even if his lively personality didn't let him stick to all of them.
And then, after curfew, he changed out of his white and inconvenient guest disciple robes and slipped into his midnight-blue and black ones. He even traded his signatue red ribbon for a black one, pulling his hair into a tight ponytail. Blending seemlessly into the night, he went out and explored in search of what he had come here for.
There was something strange about Wei Wuxian.
Several things, actually, but most of them could be accounted to the other having lived as a rogue cultivator rather than the disciple of a sect.
It had surprised many just how skilled Wei Wuxian was. His golden core burned bright and fierce, his proficiency in both practical and intellectual fields was commendable and his presence almost rivalled that of the sun.
Which was a little off-topic, but worth noting.
Lan Wangji was deeply impressed. Begrudgingly, at first, because Wei Wuxian was not the type of person he usually got along with. He was loud and restless and unconventional in every sense of the word.
Then again, Lan Wangji found it difficult to get along with just about anyone, so perhaps the argument was moot.
The point was, while Wei Wuxian certainly had everyone fooled with his act, Lan Wangji wasn't so easily deceived. Perhaps it was some kind of bias speaking or the unexplainable gravity Wei Wuxian had that kept drawing his gaze, but Lan Wangji found himself observing the other much more often than was proper or necessary.
On the surface, it all made sense. A rogue cultivator who had spent his entire life roaming the lands with his parents had decided that it was time to look for his own path and meet some people his age, to acquire new knowledge, forge connections and perhaps find a sect to pledge allegiance to.
But Wei Wuxian had no need for the lessons. He had no trouble connecting with his peers. He spoke of his travels with great enthusiasm and passion. There was no need for someone so accomplished and satisfied with his lifestyle to attend the lessons at Cloud Recesses.
Above all, it was a feeling Lan Wangji had. There was something more to Wei Wuxian's story. There had to be.
For one, it was notable how much time he spent with the Wen siblings. Too much time for someone who didn't belong to the sect, claimed to never have met them before and knew about the peculiarity that was the Chief Cultivator Wen Ruohan.
Another small detail that caught Lan Wangji's eye was that Wei Wuxian always carried a red ribbon around. He had worn it in his hair, at first. Sometimes to hold his ponytail together, sometimes braided in or as a simple adornment. After someone had pointed out that it not only clashed with his guest disciple robes, but was also impolite, he had resorted to wrapping it around his wrist. Lan Wangji knew because he'd glimpsed it a few times.
And what clan was the color red associated with?
The Wen.
A month into the study season, Lan Wangji formulates his first hypothesis:
Wei Wuxian is a spy of the Wen.
Now, Lan Wangji only needed to figure out why the Wen would need to send a spy to the Cloud Recesses, especially since the Wen disciples had been openly and explicitly invited.
One step at a time.
Wei Wuxian waited for the patrol to turn around before he dashed around the corner, keeping his feet from making any sound.
He snuck around the Library Pavilion and towards the window he had discreetly left unlocked. With a light push, it swung open. Wei Wuxian pulled himself up and wriggled through the opening, landing on the pavilion floor with light feet. He closed the window behind himself and made sure he was alone in the library.
Wei Wuxian had been sent here with many tasks, but the perhaps most important one was finding Lan Yi's final resting place. With Wen Ruohan on the rise of power and in search of the Yin Iron pieces, it was more important than ever to be certain of their whereabouts. Baoshan Sanren did not know much about them, but she had been able to say with certainty that one of the pieces had remained with her old friend.
The problem was, she had no idea where Lan Yi had gone in the end. Her best guess had been the Cloud Recesses. Lan Yi had valued her Sect above most things in her life.
After a month of fruitless search, Wei Wuxian decided that it was time to look for additional information. Perhaps the Lan had some records that would clue him in.
The problem was, such records would not be laying around in the open for just anyone to discover. No, Wei Wuxian needed to search somewhere else. Somewhere more secret.
With the Cloud Recesses being the heart of the GusuLan Clan, it was a given that their secret knowledge was stored somewhere around here. More explicitly, Wei Wuxian needed to find the Secret Library. Every sect had one, small or big. The question was just where and how to get inside.
The first problem was, hopefully, easily solved.
Wei Wuxian had kept an eye out while he'd been in the library, but no clan would leave the entrance to their secrets visible to a simple observer. Luckily, Wei Wuxian had just the thing.
He retrieved some talisman paper from his pockets and began sketching it out. It was an experimental talisman; one he'd worked months to perfect. What better opportunity to test it than now?
Wei Wuxian finished drawing and activated the talisman, flinging it into the air. The paper was instantly drawn to one of the bookshelves, sending out waves of blue energy as it collided with it.
With a satisfied grin, Wei Wuxian walked over. The talisman was designed to reveals secret passages and charmed entrances. He'd thought to add a spiritual energy visualizer only during the last week. The blue light confirmed that the passage had been charmed by a Lan.
If this wasn't what Wei Wuxian was looking for, he'd eat Lan food without secretly mixing in his chili oil for a week.
Wei Wuxian moved his hand along the bookshelf and closed his eyes to focus, sending a small wave of energy through his palm. It hummed with resonance, quickly reacting to the spiritual energy the bookshelf was imbued with.
There was something there, alright.
At the same time, Wei Wuxian could feel some kind of resistance. The lock had been fixed with spiritual energy, but that energy alone wouldn't open it. The lock responded to Wei Wuxian's light push, considered him for a moment, but then retreated, fortifying the entrance.
Wei Wuxian withdrew his hand. He didn't want to trigger any kind of warning system.
So. The passage had considered letting him in, which means it wasn't automatically repulsed by his energy signature. Therefore, the lock was not bound to an individual's signature. Which wouldn't have made much sense, anyway.
No, more curiously, it wasn't even reliant on Lan blood, of which Wei Wuxian had none. As far as he knew, that was. It was an identifier many sects used, but this wasn't the case here. If it had been, the energy would have rebelled against him much quicker.
No, it had checked him for something else. Something Wei Wuxian didn't have. He took a step back and considered the bookshelf.
Logically, the Secret Library should only be accessible to high-ranked members of the gentry. The sects had slightly different opinions on who exactly that was meant to include. Knowing the Lans, they permitted entrance to either the inner family and the Elders or to only the inner family.
But then, even while the Lan held their Elders in high regard, they put an accent on identifying the groups their sect members belonged to. Notably, most disciples wore a simple, unadorned headband, while the inner family, such as Lan Zhan and Zewu-jun, wore one with a silver cloud emblem in the middle. There was a third type Wei Wuxian had seen on higher-ranked disciples and the one Elder he'd spotted so far. The Lan and their forehead ribbons...
Huh.
Wei Wuxian chuckled to himself.
The forehead ribbons? Really? Only in the GusuLan clan...
He released a small sigh. So. He needed a Lan headband. And not just any. No, he needed one that belonged to the inner family. Which left him with, to his current knowledge, three options, none of which were particularly thrilling nor promising.
Wei Wuxian released a small groan into the silence around him.
Great. If there was one thing Lans were ridiculously protective about, it was their forehead ribbons.
Perhaps his theory wasn't entirely sound, Lan Wangji thought as he observed Wei Wuxian with the Wen siblings. They acted familiar with each other, yes, but not in the way people who had known each other for long did.
Too often, either one of them would ask about a simple fact like favorite dishes and embarrassing childhood stories or birth years and abilities. Such were things one would know about close friends, no?
But perhaps the Wen siblings hadn't been familiar with Wei Wuxian prior to coming here. How much time did a spy spend mingling with his home sect, really? Lan Wangji knew of one or two of theirs, but only because he was inner family and had seen them report to Uncle and Brother a few times.
So, while this discrepancy could be ignored rather easily, there was a more glaring one.
Wei Wuxian was simply too young. Not even fully grown yet, he was simply the wrong age to be a spy entrusted with a delicate mission. Only the most accomplished of cultivators took up such responsibilities and that after careful consideration and long mentorship.
Then again, maybe the Wen operated differently. Or perhaps Wei Wuxian was lying about his age, even though Lan Wangji doubted that was the case. He was much too immature to be much older than he claimed.
The third and perhaps most pressing problem was that Wei Wuxian was simply too distracting to be discreet. No cultivator entrusted with a secret and delicate mission would behave like this.
If the point was blending in, then Wei Wuxian had not only missed it entirely, he had dressed it up in frivolous attire and made a mockery of it. He wanted people to pay attention to him, liked being perceived by others. In this regard alone, untrained Lan Wangji would make for a much better spy.
It was just too easy to get along with Wei Wuxian, as was evidenced by the amount of people orbiting him. Too easy to be impressed by his skills and knowledge, too thrilling to observe him. Too easy to root for him when he stood up to the rude and arrogant, which often included the Jin and the Wen.
This was the opposite of how an infiltrator would behave, much less one allied to the Wen.
It was difficult to suspect Wei Wuxian of anything when he was this trustworthy. The picture Lan Wangji had of the rogue cultivator in his head and the reality of Wei Wuxian that he experienced every day just did not match.
With some disappointment, Lan Wangji admitted to himself that he had to revise his theory. Wei Wuxian was either no spy of the Wen or spectacular at concealing the fact.
Lan Wangji needed a new working theory. Preferably one that removed him from Wei Wuxian's close orbit lest he became biased and complacent.
Wei Wuxian felt a little bad about doing this, simply because Lan Zhan was his friend. His friend who was especially protective over his ribbon and who's hard-earned (barely-earned?) trust he was breaking.
Alas, Wei Wuxian didn't have much of a choice. Asking for the headband would not only be another horrible faux-pass to add to his long list, it would also be tragically ineffective and only make Lan Wangji suspicious. Which Wei Wuxian assumed the other already was. He watched him with that observant, slightly-suspicious look much too often.
Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren weren't much of an option, either. For one, Wei Wuxian had no idea where their quarters were and those were no doubt guarded more heavily than the disciple ones.
Plus, ridiculous Lan precepts aside, Wei Wuxian had spent enough time observing different sects to know that no Sect Leader ever went to sleep on time. There was just too much to do. Seeing how Lan Qiren was the acting Sect Leader and Lan Xichen soon to take over, chances were high both of them would be awake well into the night.
No, Wei Wuxian didn't have that much time to waste.
It was his personal blessing that he'd been given a single room upon arrival. The sects liked to stick together and he belonged to none. That, at least, made sneaking out much easier.
As always, Wei Wuxian changed into his darker and much more convenient robes, pulled his hair up into a ponytail and twisted it into a bun, then checked his pockets, climbed out the window and up onto the rooftop.
The patrols rarely remembered to look up. Still, Wei Wuxian stayed as low as possible, even with the moon being as dim as it could be. Before long, he reached the quarters Lan Zhan resided in and looked for a way in.
A silencing talisman helped him climb through the half-open window without noise. Wei Wuxian was careful to keep his golden core from emitting too much of an aura. It was a useful trick Aunt Baoshan had taught him that came in handy whenever he wanted to avoid detection by cultivators powerful enough to sense golden cores from a distance, which Lan Zhan definitely was.
It was dark inside, so much so that Wei Wuxian had to stand still and let his eyes get used to the darkness for a few moments. Soft, even breaths filled the air.
Lan Zhan was, unsurprisingly, sleeping in the most uncomfortable position Wei Wuxian could envision: On his back, straight like a log, with his hands clasped across his midsection and the blanket drawn up to his neck, not a single wrinkle visible in the darkness.
Wei Wuxian shook his head in amusement and his gaze landed on the headband hanging across the bedframe.
Sorry, he mouthed at Lan Zhan's sleepy figure and reached for it.
Miraculously, the Lan did not stir. Wei Wuxian conjured up an illusion of the headband with one of his talismans. It wasn't perfect, but good enough that no difference was visible in the dark.
He retreated as quietly as he could and removed the silencing talisman, erasing all traces of his visit. Even if he intended to return within the same night, it was best to leave no evidence behind.
Sneaking into the Library Pavilion was something he could do with his eyes closed by now. No one ever checked how firmly the windows were closed.
Before long, Wei Wuxian found himself standing in front of the bookshelf, Lan Zhan's headband wrapped snugly around his wrist as he pushed some spiritual energy into the invisible lock.
The bookshelf shuddered and moved, sliding to the side and revealing a staircase winding downwards. Wei Wuxian clapped himself on the shoulder, both for figuring this out and remembering to put a silencing talisman on the library's walls.
He drew a character in the air, providing himself with a small light source that floated in front of him as he descended the stairs, the bookshelf sliding back in place.
The Secret Library wasn't much different from the openly accessible one. But oh, the knowledge! The artifacts! Wei Wuxian's hands itched to pick up some literature and read through whatever the Lan Sect deemed important or dangerous enough to hide down here, but that wasn't what he had come here for.
His search led him to the possibly most boring section: Sect History.
The GusuLan Clan had extensive records on its predecessors and history. It took Wei Wuxian the better part of an hour to find what he was looking for, even with the search talisman he had drawn.
Lan Yi's name appeared far too often and in too many different scrolls and books. The talisman had narrowed down his search by marking every mention of her name for him, but Wei Wuxian still had a lot of material to sort through.
Disappointingly, all he did find in the end was a mention of the Sect Leader succumbing to the power of the Yin Iron piece and disappearing into self-proclaimed seclusion, one she swore to never leave. Her finals whereabouts remained a mystery, but the text did note that she had been seen heading into the direction of the mountains - the opposite direction of the entrance to the Cloud Recesses.
Which meant Lan Yi had most likely never left the Cloud Recesses.
Wei Wuxian rolled the scroll up with a sigh. He'd already known that much. Well, maybe not known, but strongly suspected. But then, the mountains were a direction, at least. A confirmation that Wei Wuxian would have to search somewhere farther from the center of the settlement.
He drew another talisman and instructed it to help him find information on the mountain area. If there was anything there that would serve as a great hiding place for Lan Yi and her piece of Yin Iron, then the secret texts were the most likely to know.
Halfway into the night, Wei Wuxian did find something, if only indirectly. A scroll explaining the healing properties of the Cold Springs and the underlying vein of spiritual energy flowing beneath them. The next section was all smudged and illegible.
Wei Wuxian frowned at the blob of ink and brought his light source a little closer. Something about it was off. He snapped his fingers when he figured it out.
The color of the ink was different from that used in the main text.
He drew a talisman to check and yes, the ink had been spilled sometime after the text had been written. Wei Wuxian had used this particular talisman often enough to be able to estimate the age of the ink. The main text dated back to the time of the founders and the ink spell...
To somewhere around the time Lan Yi had lived.
"Interesting," he told the silent room. Very interesting, indeed.
It was time to pay a visit to the Cold Springs.
When Lan Wangji woke, his gaze always went to the forehead ribbon hanging on his bedpost first. As every morning, it was right where he had left it. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Had he placed the ribbon slightly more to the left than usual?
He stared at the ribbon for an unnecessarily long time, trying to pinpoint what it was that nagged at him. He even performed a cursory safety check with a few spells he knew. But there was nothing. The ribbon was smooth and clean, the emblem polished and unscathed.
Still, Lan Wangji couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was wrong. It followed him around for the rest of the day, that small shred of doubt and uneasiness lingering in the back of his mind.
At one point, Wei Wuxian came skipping over, loud, unapologetic, and radiant as always. It was improper and annoying. It also instantly eliminated all other thoughts from Lan Wangji's mind.
Why was Wei Wuxian so terribly distracting? Was it some kind of spell work sewed into his robes? Something worked into his red ribbon?
"Lan Zhan!" he chirped. Lan Wangji scoffed quietly. Talk about improper behavior.
"Guess what I've been told!" Wei Wuxian rambled on, unbothered, "You Lans have a space that helps with meditation and has healing properties! The Cold Springs, wasn't it? I can't believe no one has ever told me this before!"
Lan Wangji very nearly raised his eyebrows at him. It had been mentioned in the lessons, if only briefly. Then again, it was no surprise that Wei Wuxian had missed it. He was usually busy zoning out, thinking about whatever it was that he was here to do. Annoyingly, Wei Wuxian was still able to answer all questions directed at him, which meant that the lecturers were never able to catch him out on not paying attention.
Did Wei Wuxian already have all that knowledge, then?
Where from? What for?
Perhaps he was a representative of the rogue cultivators he mentioned? Maybe they were looking to establish their own sect and hoping to build connections to the major sects through Wei Wuxian? It would make perfect sense to send someone as sociable and likeable as the young cultivator, then.
The red ribbon had made a reappearance, fastened in Wei Wuxian's hair, creating a glaring contrast between his dark hair, the guest disciple robes and that particular shade of red. Chances were Wei Wuxian had woken up late and put it there in a hurry, completely forgetting about it. Which would explain why he had almost been late to class that morning.
Wei Wuxian was still talking. What's more, he was looking at Lan Wangji expectantly.
"... think your uncle will let me see? Or your brother, perhaps? He seems more agreeable than your uncle, that's for sure."
"See the Cold Springs?" Lan Wangji repeated, just to make sure he had gotten the gist of Wei Wuxian's monologue.
"Yes! Do you know how many springs located atop natural spiritual energy veins there are? Not many, Lan Zhan, not many at all."
Wei Wuxian whipped on his feet, excitement radiating from his entire body. Lan Wangji sighed inwardly. Knowing the other, he would not let this go. One way or another, Wei Wuxian would end up in the Cold Springs. It would be better, then, for Lan Wangji to trail along and keep an eye on him.
Wei Wuxian had thought about it. He could sneak out and look for the Cold Springs himself. Sooner or later, he would find them.
But.
The entrance was most likely restricted. If Wei Wuxian were a Lan leader, he'd have installed some kind of warning system around the area, simply because it was a place the Lan were quite proud of. Besides, he'd like to know if some stranger decided to bathe in his personal healing springs.
Anyway, it would be smarter to take along someone who knew the area and the possible protective measures that were in place. Then, Wei Wuxian would be able to observe and figure it out from there. And who better to ask than Lan Zhan?
Or, more realistically, what other options did Wei Wuxian have? Lan Qiren?
Either way, if nothing else came from it, it would be a fun trip with his friend, who was incredibly easy to tease. Such entertainment!
When they entered the area, Wei Wuxian was slightly disappointed to not feel any kind of ripple in the ambient energy, which meant that there most likely weren't any protective wards in the first place.
He could feel the gradual shift of energy from both the natural springs and something else, though. The something else, he suspected, could very well by Lan Yi's spirit and her piece of the Yin Iron.
He wondered whether the Lan ever felt it. Perhaps they knew about Lan Yi. Or maybe they did not and - if they did feel it - had accepted the weird energy as something that was just a part of the Cold Springs. After all, no living Lan had been around to familiarize themselves with the ambient energy before Lan Yi had disappeared.
Lan Zhan was walking a few steps behind him and Wei Wuxian got a feeling that he was being watched. The other had been doing that a lot lately.
When Wei Wuxian thought back on it, Lan Wangji had always been watching him. He was trying to be subtle about it, but to Wei Wuxian Lan Zhan was hardly more than a flowery metaphor for a simple thing. He could read him well enough.
While Wei Wuxian was aware of the dashing looks he had inherited from his parents and the undoubtedly impressive skillset he possessed, even he wasn't self-absorbed enough to believe that was what drew Lan Wangji's gaze.
What else could it be, then?
Suspicion was the obvious answer. Curiosity, perhaps.
But why? Wei Wuxian was doing his utmost best not to appear suspicious in any way and it had worked quite well so far.
Then again, he should know better than to underestimate the Second Jade. Perhaps he had roused Lan Wangji's suspicions in some way. From here on, Wei Wuxian had to be more careful than ever.
He turned around, crossing his arms behind his back and grinning at the Lan.
"Say, Lan Zhan, if Cloud Recesses has such a wonderful place, why do you not use it more often?" He gestured around. "There's no one here apart from us. Wouldn't it benefit young cultivators especially to be surrounded by such powerful ambient spiritual energy?"
Lan Zhan inclined his head in acknowledgement.
"Sacred place. Cultivators do come here, but mostly for healing purposes."
"Oh?"
"To preserve healing properties."
Wei Wuxian's eyes widened. "You think the energy can... get used up?" That was something he had never considered, neither had the texts in the library mentioned it.
Lan Zhan shook his head. "Unlikely to be used up. Weakened." He nodded at the clear, crisp water they had arrived at. "Injured cultivators use ambient energy to speed up the healing process rather than their cultivated energy."
"Ah, I think I follow," Wei Wuxian said, "You mean that if too many people came here, especially when injured, they would end up drawing on ambient spiritual energy rather than their own cultivation and thus not only hinder their own progress but also weaken the ambient energy over time."
"Such is the theory," Lan Zhan confirmed with a short nod.
"Woah," Wei Wuxian said, gaping. "With this much ambient energy, that would take millennia."
Something in Lan Zhan's expression twitched. Wei Wuxian would almost call it a smile.
"Aim to preserve tranquility first and foremost," he conceded, gesturing at the empty and quiet space around them.
"Ha!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed with a grin, "I see how it is! Well, that's not going to stop me from diving into these wonderful waters!"
Lan Zhan's almost-smile slipped as Wei Wuxian made to disrobe and jump into the springs. He considered the Lan successfully distracted from whatever suspicions the other held.
Lan Wangji, once again, had to rework his theory.
His new theory was the following:
...
...
...
Lan Wangji had no working theory.
Whatever it was that was off about Wei Wuxian, it was not something Lan Wangji was able to put into words.
Wei Wuxian felt really, really bad about doing this.
Even worse than the last time around. But he was this close to solving the mystery and completing what he had come here to do. His parents and Baoshan Sanren were counting on him. By extension, the entire cultivation world was counting on his success, even if they did not know it.
Wei Wuxian had felt the same ward in the Cold Springs as in the library. Except that it had been stronger and more ancient. Something was hidden there. Something powerful and ancient and related to the Lan Inner Family. Something that couldn't fully hide the resentful energy it was keeping even amidst the abundance of spiritual energy.
There was only answer to that riddle.
Wei Wuxian needed a Lan headband. Again. And not just any. He needed that of a member of the inner family.
So, Wei Wuxian was sneaking around Lan Wangji's room to steal his sleeping friend's headband, knowing fully well how much the piece of cloth meant to the other and what transgression it was in the Lans' world for him to be touching it at all. Again.
Really, there were no words for how bad he felt about it.
But what had to be done... had to be done.
Wei Wuxian snatched the headband and replaced it with an illusion, then quietly made his way out of the rooms and to the Cold Springs, staying as low as possible on Suibian.
He didn't bother with disrobing before he dove into the dark, icy waters, clutching the cloud emblem tightly. Before long, something was pulling at his legs and dragging him deeper into the waters.
Wei Wuxian emerged spluttering and soaked in some kind of cave. Which, of course, was ice-cold. He was lucky his Core was as strong as it was or else he'd be bedridden for weeks after this trip.
A lonely guqin sat on a slab of ice. White bunnies rested all around it.
Wei Wuxian squinted at them. Were those headbands? On the bunnies? Really? Only in the Lan Clan...
"Lan Yi?" Wei Wuxian spoke into the quiet, looking around curiously. "My name is Wei Wuxian. Baoshan Sanren sent me. She needs your help." Belatedly, he added, "The cultivation world is in danger."
For a few moments, nothing happened. One of the bunnies jumped to close to the water, making it splash.
Then, a voice echoed through the cave.
"If your name is Wei Wuxian and Boashan, who left the cultivation world behind a long time ago, is the one who sent you, then why do you hold my family's emblem?"
Behind the guqin, a shimmering figure appeared, hands neatly folded in her lap. She considered Wei Wuxian with an assessing gaze.
"Explain yourself."
Wei Wuxian was running out of talisman paper. He'd wasted two on completely drying himself after his little trip to the underwater tunnel and now he was slapping yet another silencing talisman on the walls of Lan Zhan's residence before he climbed in through the window.
Deftly, he landed on the wooden floor, his steps entirely muted.
Something flashed at the corner of his eyes and Wei Wuxian rolled back, drawing Suibian in the same motion and raising his sword to block the hit.
His attacker swung again and Wei Wuxian got to his feet, dodging and deflecting the swipes through sheer muscle memory. Good thing Celestial cultivators were drilled in all forms of sword fight.
His opponent was good, though. Excellent, even. They were nearly evenly matched and Wei Wuxian was at an disadvantage with having been caught off-guard and being unfamiliar with the layout of the room.
Before long, he found himself with a sword pointed at his throat while Suibian was poised to strike his opponent between the ribs.
A lamp ignited on the bedside table. Despite himself, Wei Wuxian grinned at his opponent.
"Not that I mind sparing with you, but we could have done that in the morning."
Lan Wangji did not look nearly as amused. His forehead was bare and his hair loose. His attire was missing quite a few of the stifling Lan layers. Overall, it was a very unusual sight.
What was not usual was the frown on his face, except now it was more pronounced than ever.
Wei Wuxian sighed and lowered Suibian ever so slightly. "Look, I can explain."
"Can you?" Lan Zhan asked icily.
"Yes," Wei Wuxian replied, then grimaced. "Well, I'm not technically supposed to, but I guess I don't have much of a choice now, do I?"
Lan Zhan pressed his mouth into a thin line and Wei Wuxian sighed once more. "That's a no, isn't it? Definitely a no."
"Explain," Lan Wangji prompted.
And so, with a sword pointed at his throat, Wei Wuxian did.
Technically, Wei Wuxian could have gotten out of there. Found some way to evade Lan Wangji, to avoid being executed by his blade. He was skilled and powerful enough for it, he was sure. Wei Wuxian could have run. He had what he had come for and no one would be able to trace him. Celestial cultivators were impossible to track down.
But Wei Wuxian liked Lan Zhan. He liked having friends and making memories with them, even if it was in Lan Qiren's boring classes. Leaving now would mean leaving all these people behind. Lan Zhan and Nie Huaxiang and the Wen siblings. Wei Wuxian had deceived and kept secrets his whole life, carried the weight of this mission everywhere. It was incredibly tempting to tell someone.
So he did.
He told Lan Wangji about growing up on the Celestial Mountain as a child to his parents and a disciple to the immortal Baoshan Sanren. Told him about travelling the lands as a Celestial cultivator, belonging to a sect no one knew existed and protecting the cultivation world from threats with no one the wiser.
Privately, Wei Wuxian had asked himself a great many times why Baoshan Sanren even bothered. She critiqued the sects more often than not and had turned her back on them a long time ago.
But every time they descended the Mountain, he understood.
Despite all the conflicts and injustices, the world was a wide, wonderful place. It deserved to be protected and the innocent never deserved to suffer for other people's mistakes. There was so much to learn from every person they met on their travels.
Wei Wuxian had helped eliminate his fair share of threats, big and small. Now, he was trying to protect them all from the biggest threat of all: a tyrant and his thirst for power.
"This is why," Wei Wuxian concluded his tales, "I had to do what I did."
He reached into his pocket and held Lan Wangji's headband out to him. There was a flash of fury in the other's eyes, mixed with visible relief.
"And regardless of how you feel about all this, I need you to trust me and let me go."
Lan Zhan's eyes snapped up to his. Wei Wuxian knew he was asking for a lot. He knew all of this could backfire on him. On every Celestial cultivator, even.
And yet, he had to trust that it wouldn't.
Finally, after what felt like a very tense eternity, Lan Zhan lowered his sword and took a step back, not without taking his headband with him.
"You will leave."
It was neither a command nor a question, but rather an observation. Wei Wuxian shook his head.
"Not yet. I do want to stay and complete my studies here. I... I never really had friends and I would hate to leave them so soon and so suddenly. But I do need to deliver this to my sect."
He held up the pouch that held the Yin Iron. Even though he had never specified what it was that he had been looking for, he assumed the other either knew or could guess well enough.
After a long moment of silence, Lan Zhan sheathed his sword and gave a sharp nod.
"I will not tell."
"Thank you," Wei Wuxian said, voice weak with relied. He nodded at the headband. "And I'm sorry."
"No more secrets," Lan Zhan demanded, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
Wei Wuxian gave a laugh. "Every secret I had, I just revealed to you. I have no other reasons to lie to any of you."
Lan Zhan accepted that and told him to get out, which Wei Wuxian promptly did.
Out of sight of all the quarters, in the middle of a clearing, he took his last talisman paper and drew a pattern only his sect knew. The talisman crumbled to ashes and Wei Wuxian waited.
A few minutes later, a strong and graceful bird descended onto the clearing, his glowing form held together by spiritual energy. Wei Wuxian handed the pouch off to it and attached a small note. His mission was complete, but he would stay for a little while longer. He sent the bird off and returned to his quarters, the sun rising at his back.
Lan Wangji had cycled through a great many theories. While his suspicions had been justified, he had somehow managed to get every single theory wrong.
There was something off about Wei Wuxian, but it was neither sinister nor hurtful.
After nearly a year of knowing him, Lan Wangji had to accept that while no one could be that skilled and powerful and kind and just and radiant and magnetic, Wei Wuxian was. Knowing about his upbringing explained only part of it.
While his suspicions had been sufficiently confirmed and squashed and turned into a tentative kind of trust, Lan Wangji still found his gaze straying towards the Celestial cultivator much more often than was necessary or proper.
It was even worse now that Wei Wuxian was wearing his black and red robes again, his trusty red ribbon holding his hair together in a ponytail as he said goodbye to his friends, all dressed in their respective sect colors.
Quietly, Lan Wangji wondered whether the Celestial sect used black and red colors or whether it was just Wei Wuxian. Something told him it was most likely the latter.
Wei Wuxian skipped up to him last, a radiant grin on his face.
"Lan Zhan! Can you believe how quickly a year has passed?"
Lan Wangji inclined his head. "Hardly."
"Me neither! It felt like no time at all!" Wei Wuxian gave a wistful sigh as he gazed towards the Cloud Recesses. "I will miss this place, stuffy and full of rules as it was. No offense."
"You will not return," Lan Wangji observed. It came out sounding almost like a question.
Wei Wuxian looked back towards him. "I am a wanderer, Lan Wangji. I do not know where my path will take me."
In a move that was entirely uncharacteristic for him, Wei Wuxian bowed at Lan Wangji, depth and posture immaculate.
"Nevertheless, our paths shall meet again. I, Wei Wuxian, promise that."
Lan Wangji considered this. The Wei Wuxian he knew had always kept his promises. With a nod, he accepted the promise and bowed back at the other, earning himself a startled look.
"Do not touch my headband without permission when we do."
Wei Wuxian released a startled laugh. "Alright, alright, I won't! Promise." He sobered back up and said softly, "Keep the cultivation world out of trouble for me, will you?"
"I shall try," Lan Wangji replied, knowing fully well that he would risk some trouble if it meant seeing Wei Wuxian again.
"So shall I. Goodbye, Lan Zhan."
"Goodbye, Wei Ying. Safe travels home."
"I'm a Celestial cultivator. The world is my home, no matter where my path takes me."
With one last radiant smile, Wei Wuxian turned around and walked away, following a path no one else knew. His red ribbon fluttered in the wind.
Privately, Lan Wangji thought that 'celestial' was the right word to describe the enigma that was Wei Wuxian. He had to formulate a new theory. This time, he knew it was a sound one.
There was no simple way to explain Wei Wuxian.