Part 1

Invitations and Reunions

The arrival of Wei Wuxian meant only one thing to Lan Xichen.

Finally getting to play matchmaker again for his brother who clearly was too shy to actually confess his feelings.

In Lan Wangji's defence, it had been 13 years since the Siege of the Burial Mounds and for three of those years, he'd been in seclusion due to back injuries, and despite his younger brother's best attempts to convey his feelings - even going so far to almost plead with Wei Wuxian to go back to Gusu with him which was scornfully rejected and he even went so far as to defend the Yiling Laozu, who was on the verge of ending his life, from thirty-three elders and suffering a harsh punishment due to his actions. Despite his brother's efforts, Wei Wuxian never reciprocated or even acknowledged Lan Wangji's feelings and at one point even tried to avoid him all those years ago, so it wasn't exactly his fault that his feelings were up in the air..

However, after all these years, after patiently dealing with his poor brother's angst and sorrowful pining, Lan Xichen was finally graced with the greatest news possible: 

The Yiling Laozu, Wei Wuxian, was in Gusu. 

Or to be more precise, he was near the city of Gusu from what the report he received from an attendant said.

Nevertheless, Lan Xichen wanted to cheer loudly and rejoice at the news. 

But he didn't.

Instead, upon receiving the monumental news of the century, Lan Xichen had quickly made up his mind and a plan formed in his brain: he was going to make sure his brother's love was finally reciprocated. 

Somehow.

For this plan to work, all he needed to do was convince Wei Wuxian to stay in the Cloud Recesses longer than the initial planned visit and to let his brother know the object of all his secret earthly desires was here for him to confess to - without room for misunderstandings or interruptions.

Shouldn't be too difficult. 

It was like solving a problem. And Lan Xichen liked a good puzzle.

When he had initially heard of Wei Wuxian being near Gusu, Lan Xichen immediately did not hesitate to send word to the clan leader and invite him to visit the Cloud Recesses for a friendly discussion.

And through a single letter that had been sent to him the next day, he found out that Wei Wuxian had been on a joint night hunt with his martial brother, and they had been in Caiyi Town for the past few days since finishing their hunt, recuperating their resources and getting a much needed break from any clan duties.

Lan Xichen, excitedly, wrote back over the last day to invite both Wei Wuxian and his martial brother to the Cloud Recesses so that they could have a casual catchup and to allow their disciples to rest. 

But when he read over Wei Wuxian's letter, Lan Xichen noticed that there was a name for this martial brother he had mentioned and it was a name he did not expect yet his made his heart quake with a flurry of passionate emotions:

'ChengCheng and I were on a joint night-hunt together and have been recuperating in Caiyi Town for the past few days. Our disciples worked hard to subdue and capture any violent spirits and we even got a few games in to keep the juniors accompanying us more entertained.'

He knew who that affectionate nickname belonged to and his heart hammered in his chest as he bit his lip and let out a muffled giggle, his cheeks turning pink. He signed off his letter with a flourish and had summoned a messenger to deliver the letter to Wei Wuxian.

The invitation was gladly accepted.

Lan Xichen waited at the gate to the Cloud Recesses, on the lookout for his two esteemed guests to arrive. 

His brother was not by his side, which was a shame, since Lan Xichen really wanted Lan Wangji to see his crush again in the flesh. But alas, his little brother was summoned away to lead a class for the juniors in the morning so it was just Lan Xichen and his most trusted attendant, Lan Hanyu.

"What do you think the Yiling Laozu looks like these days, Hanyu?" Lan Xichen asked, turning to his attendant. The attendant, who usually mimicked Lan Xichen's polite and sunny spirit, briefly gave his superior a wisp of a smile.

"Handsome. I've heard talk that he's still fourth ranked in the listings of the most eligible suitors of the cultivation world and has a very dedicated following of fans."

"Is that so?" Lan Xichen murmured, intrigued. In all honesty he had heard talk of the so-called "fanclub" Wei Wuxian had somehow managed to garner over the years and he had also heard rumours of these fanclub members knowing everything about the Yiling Laozu - from where and when he takes his annual camping trip with his adopted son, to his favourite restaurants, to the market stalls he most visits during market days in Yiling, to how much chilli he likes to eat with his food, to even his favoured and most frequented locations when he goes on clan night hunts with his disciples. 

In all honesty, the thought of even having such dedicated fans who knew that much about a person scared Lan Xichen. It seemed like such a breach in privacy and personal space and he wasn't even sure if Wei Wuxian was even aware of the existence of this fanclub. However, he did know that Wei Wuxian was the quite the fashionable man and many of of Yiling's fashion trends all started with him - the longest and ongoing fashion trend was the nobles within the Wei clan's territories donning long red ribbons in their hair and men opting to wear black leather over their intricate fancy robes. Even the common people wear red tassels in support of their clan leader. 

Something similar happened in Lanling, Yunmeng and even in Qinghe when people would start to copy the current head families of the territories that fell under the ruling provinces and cultivation clans. People in Qinghe would often carry fans around with them enscrawled in dark ink paintings and writings as that was what the second master of the Nie Clan was famous for doing, the wealthy nobles from Lanling would often fluctuate their fashion between the current Madam Jin and the young Lady of the clan, with some even daring to wear lilacs and purple instead of the usual faint golds and bright yellow since Madam Jin was originally from Yunmeng Jiang before her marriage. Other nobles would wear gold hairpins encrusted with rubies or amethysts, copying both women, which somehow fascinated the Young Lady's two older half-brothers and they encouraged the fashion trend to boost the womens' popularity. In Yunmeng, it was a well-known fact that the Yunmeng clan leader was just like Wei Wuxian and owned a very large wardrobe of robes and outfits that suited him well and he was the no.1 trend-setter within his province, having sparked a huge phase where lotus blooms were worn in peoples' hair all because the clan leader's young nephew had put a large lotus into his uncle's hair "to make him look pretty like mother." 

But he couldn't complain that much about these fanclubs, he had no real control over the fans of these people, and even he had noticed his dedicated following growing bigger as he got older. His admirers were always sending him love letters and gifts to try and court him - alas he was not swayed in the slightest by honeyed words sugarcoated in sickly sweet tones of affection and lust.

"Very much," Lan Hanyu's voice brought Lan Xichen back to reality, "Your sworn brother, the Chief Cultivator of Lanling replaced his older half-brother in the rankings and is now 3rd most eligible." Lan Hanyu softly remarked. "He would make for an excellent husband or partner." 

Lan Xichen showed visible confusion, his eyebrows furrowing just slightly, "A-Yao? As whose husband?" he asked. Lan Hanyu stifled a laugh. "Yours." he simply muttered softly, a gentle smile upon his lips.

Lan Xichen's cheeks flushed pink. "Oh no, I'm not into him like that…we're just very close friends."

"Really?" Lan Hanyu sounded skeptical. "From the way you talk about him and look at him whenever he visits makes me think otherwise Zewu-Jun." The corner of Lan Hanyu's mouth curled upwards, forming a lopsided smirk. Lan Xichen turned redder.

"N-no….why would you think that???" He stuttered nervously. He really didn't want his attendant to believe he was in love with Jin Guangyao - Meng Yao - all because of the way he talks to him and looks at him. Sure, he was soft and loving towards his dearest friend since Meng Yao was always kind and knowledgeable. Lan Xichen was his elder sword brother, and Meng Yao had helped him numerous times so it was only fair to return the favour and assist him. It wasn't just Meng Yao he was kind to though, he was always kind towards others. That's just how the First Jade was. He treated his friends, acquaintances, allies, family and even strangers all the same, regardless of power and status. It was just in his nature. 

His philosophy was that if he treated others with kindness, empathy and respect, then others would do the same. He was raised as a pacifist, a diplomat….he had his martial arts and music skills, but Lan Xichen at his core, was a gentle soul.

And besides, there's already someone else that had captured his heart….

Someone who dresses in vivid violets and dark black robes that hug every defined muscle sculpted on that toned body.

Someone who wields whip-cracks of lighting so effortlessly it's blindingly beautiful.

Someone who carefully weighs the responsibility of his duties on his shoulders and is loved by his people.

The one who single-handedly restored his broken clan with his own hands and accumulated over 1000 disciples in the months following the Burning of Lotus Pier.

The one who inspires and protects his people and his loved ones to do great and admirable deeds - not for status or fame but for one's self worth and admiration.

The one who was opposite to his pacifist nature and was bluntly honest in every way, who was a stone-cold warrior who didn't care what others thought of him, yet was dignified and respectful all the same.

Lan Xichen sighed audibly, overtaken by the vision of that violet-shrouded beauty that had formed in his mind. Lan Hanyu glanced over at him curious.

"Is something bothering you?" He asked. He didn't like the sound of his master sighing so loudly like that. Was there something - or someone - on his mind?

"Mmm?" Lan Xichen caught sight of Lan Hanyu glancing at him and he cocked his head in confusion.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" He questioned, slightly panicked. Lan Hanyu shook his head.

"No. Nothing's amiss."

When Wei Wuxian was finally in view of the clan leader, he internally whistled. The Yiling Laozu was, as Lan Hanyu predicted, a very handsome man.

As a matter of fact, he was more than handsome.

Now, in his mid 30s, Wei Wuxian seemed to have slowed down the ageing process just enough to stay as youthful as many other cultivators, but now had that twinge of wild ruggedness from living in Yiling for over a decade. His choice of robes was that of a gorgeous long black satin jianxui robe with long wide sleeves, with leather wrist cuffs providing protection, a black leather outer robe with wide shoulders covering his upper torso like armour, a scarlet red under-skirt that covered his legs and a enticing slither of skin peeking through that deep v-neck. His belt practically snatched his waist and Lan Xichen could hear the clack of leather boots as Wei Wuxian strode forward, head held high and mighty, chest puffed out with pride and confidence, back straight as an arrow.

There was also his hair which caught Lan Xichen's eyes. His hair was that same long, shining ebony-black and Lan Xichen caught sight of that eponymous red ribbon that tied his hair up, flying behind him as he walked- no - strode purposely over to Lan Xichen. 

"You were right about him being handsome." Lan Xichen whispered as Wei Wuxian finally closed the distance between them.

As he was finally close enough for Lan Xichen to see his face, the Lan Clan sect leader was flabbergasted over how beautiful Wei Wuxian's face was.

He had loveliest stormy greyish-brown eyes framed with dark lashes, a sharp nose, the soft curve of his jawline and cheekbones made his ever-so lightly sun-tanned face far more defined and adult-like and his pale pink lips curled upwards into his usual cheeky smirk.

Lan Xichen had noticed his hair was in a style similar to what his older sworn brother liked to wear- a thick ponytail tied with that bright crimson ribbon with the rest of deep black hair cascading down his back with several strands falling over his shoulders, and he sported twin neat side bangs falling over the side of his more matured face. 

In that precise moment, a single thought passed through the First Jade's mind, having now soaked up Wei Wuxian's physical appearance:

'Oh…A-Zhan, my dearest little brother, if only you were stood by my side to see this heavenly sight. You would sweep him off his feet immediately and take him to the sanctuary of the Jingshi to confess your heartfelt desires and devotion….today is the most auspicious day.'

"Zewu-Jun." Wei Wuxian clasped his hand into his palm and bowed in respect. Wei Wuxian's voice was deeper than what Lan Xichen was expecting and his honest opinion, his voice sounded quite….sexy? He wasn't too sure. He really needed his brother to give a verdict on how Wei Wuxian's voice sounded.

Lan Xichen bowed as well, copying Wei Wuxian, before straightening up. His eyes subtly scanned the area for a certain man usually dressed in purple, but saw no signs of his presence. Which was odd since they meant to arrive together. Oh well. He was sure that the other man that Wei Wuxian was with was on his way.

"Yiling Laozu," he spoke in his usually polite and courteous manner, "How was the night hunt?" Lan Xichen decided to keep the conversation light for the time being. That wonderfully lopsided smirk he was familiar with lessened. 

"It was....fruitful I suppose. My disciples are resting up. We were in Caiyi Town a day or so ago and they are on their way. I had departed first and allowed them to make their way here at their own pace. The night-hunt was quite exhausting for many, myself included, which is why we all ended resting in one of the inns for a few days prior to your invitation."

"That's good here, I'm glad everything is going well. Are your disciples in good health? Hopefully Master Xue isn't running loose stabbing things and people inconsequentially?"

He commented with a chuckle, which was earned with Wei Wuxian laughing too. 

"Everyone in my sect is all in good health, Wen Qing wouldn't have it any other way. Thankfully, Xue Yang is in good spirits. I've managed to finally wrangle that little murderous crow into a gentleman, he's still a little rough around the edges but then again, who isn't these days?" He jokingly replied, hands on his hips in a relaxed manner. Lan Xichen was well aware of who Xue Yang was - currently the longest serving disciple of the Wei sect (not counting the Ghost General and his resurrected sister), who Jin Guangyao tried to recruit as part of his "rogue demonic cultivation correction training" program, but the young lad was taken in by the Laozu instead and thrived on the demonic resentment spiralling in and around the area in the Burial Mounds that was used as a training ground for the recruits and disciples.

"Mmh. I must say though, it was strange receiving a letter from you, with you inviting us here. I wonder what the rest of the cultivation world would think if they found out that the fearsome Yiling Laozu was in the Cloud Recesses and colluding with the saintly and pure Gusu Lan leader Zewu-Jun?" he wondered aloud in a teasing manner, his customary smirk still on that handsome face of his. Lan Xichen burst out laughing but managed to hide it behind his sleeve. He didn't want Lan Hanyu to reprimand him for losing face in front of an esteemed guest.

"Goodness, you're a riot aren't you Wei Wuxian. You haven't changed one bit since I last saw you."

"True. I have been stuck in Yiling for most of the time, tending to my farms and orchards, looking after my clan, making peace with my brother…..y'know the usual. I haven't had much time to see other clan leaders and the last time I was here, it was for the Gusu Clan Discussion conference which happened after Su She tried to besiege Yiling and take over the Burial Mounds….yikes that ended badly for him…." 

Lan Xichen couldn't help but scowl inwardly upon hearing that name.

Su She was currently (still) the clan leader of Moling after defecting from Gusu Lan in retaliation to having his heart crushed via rejection and emotional manipulation. Lan Xichen was aware of Su She's defection and had been confused over the reasons until Madam Zi from Yengfao filled him in on all the details from her perspective.

According to both her and strangely Nie Huaisang, who had been keeping tabs on his best friend's rivals and enemies, it turned out that Su She had been devastatingly besotted with Lan Wangji to the point of seeing Wei Wuxian as a threat and had once tried to injure or worse: kill him in order to "protect" Lan Wangji from "evil and cursed influences." which, to Lan Xichen, was a ridiculous excuse to attempt a siege on Yiling, as the last time Yiling was the centre of conflict, the Yiling Laozu was at the centre of said conflict. Mainly the Siege of the Burial Mounds.

Su She was one of the many cultivators who had partaken in the Siege of the Burial Mounds, which ended on a very sour note: the Yiling Laozu emerging victorious against any backstabber and performing a cleansing ritual on all whose minds were swayed into battle by former clan leader Jin Guangshan. His successors were unwilling witnesses in this hateful propaganda and defied their father's wishes to fight against evil to join in the cleansing ritual along with all of the Yiling Laozu's allies to wipe the slate clean and start anew. 

Lan Xichen remembered many who angrily had opposed the Laozu and as punishment for blindly following the propaganda had their spiritual energy dissipated and their golden cores crushed from within, rendering them incapable of using their cultivation. It served as a bleak reminder during those dark times that Wei Wuxian was not a man to be trifled with and showed just just how powerful and merciless an individual like him could be when faced with misery and danger from all sides. Those who escaped their punishments came forth thereafter to seek atonement and some even joined Wei Wuxian's ranks, having seen the error of their ways.

Lan Xichen was one of those who had stood by the Laozu's side in defense, having realised Jin Guangshan's fatal mistake. Others such as his brother and Jin Guangyao, in opposition to his foolish father, had stood by the Yiling Laozu's side as well, defending him from accusations of murder and ill-fated dark magic.

Those who did practice demonic cultivation roguishly, besmirching and even abusing Wei Wuxian's gift and recklessly causing damage to pin the blame on the Laozu were either taken in by the Jins, or more accurately, taken in by the (back then new) Chief Cultivator for correction training, unlucky enough to have been captured by Clan Leader Jiang in a fit of rage over his sister's near-death and his brother's attempted suicide before a mysterious cultivator dressed in deep black had rescued him, or Wei Wuxian found them and took them in as his disciples to help them properly harness their new power - an benevolent act which would increase his alliance numbers. It had been a tumultuous period for all involved - a cycle of chaos and tense suspicions - that finally died down many months after the Siege when Wei Wuxian announced that he would be taking leave from public duties to care for his people and allowed the new Chief Cultivator to deal with any rogues as he saw fit and to issue a truce between the Yiling Laozu and the rest of the Cultivation world.

And then Su She decided to ruin that peace.

Lan Xichen internally face palmed himself at the memory.

It hadn't even been a full year since the Siege of the Burial Mounds and the making of that Ghost Cultivator Peace Treaty which granted the Yiling Wei clan full protection through the other Major Clans and Su She had gotten too cocky, over reliant on his close friendship with Jin Guangyao and been won over through a false rumour that had circulated within his inner circle, which caused his inferiority complex and his still obsessive infatuation with Lan Wangji to flare up, which allowed the Moling clan leader to rally his allies and through this obvious physological manipulation, stormed Yiling in an attempt to "finish the job" as he believed he would finally win Lan Wangji's heart. His hatred and obsessive affection warped his mind and he believed that if he got rid of Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji would quickly go to him instead, declare his undying love for Su She and then Su She would provide the necessary tools for Jin Guangyao to enhance his own agenda and alliances. 

And according to the information that Madam Zi's spies had provided and based on the reports Lan Xichen had received at the time, Su She had been met with an entire city filled with very fed up and angry people who had heard that Su She was on his way to besiege the entire Wei clan province, the capital being Yiling, and with the clan's help had rallied together with Wei Wuxian at the front with his disciples to form a defensive army and drove the Moling Su clan away. The Moling clan's siege had lasted only a day but the city was left untouched. And even worse for Su She - every place he went to in order to target the Wei clan, he was met with fury and defensive violence, townsfolk and rogue cultivators who were allies with the Wei clan banded together to drive the Moling clan and their own allies away.

That whole situation was a full decade and a half ago, and Lan Xichen suppressed a shudder at the thought of those events. He was glad that there were no more crazy conflicts and there had been peace for many. 

He heard a light cough from beside him and he glanced over to see Lan Hanyu's eyes darting between him and Wei Wuxian. Lan Xichen immediately knew and cleared his throat. "Perhaps you would be interested in staying at the Cloud Recesses for a while longer? I know I only invited you here for a casual meet up, but you are welcome to stay longer and use our facilities as you see fit." Lan Xichen suggested lightly. Wei Wuxian smiled, but his eyebrows furrowed a little.

"I would love to, it would help us all out if we weren't travelling to and from places so often and my disciples would all cheer in euphoria at the sound of your idea. I would like to wait for Jiang Cheng to arrive however before we enter. He is still on his way with mine and his disciples since I left before him."

Lan Xichen's heart started hammering in his chest as soon as Wei Wuxian spoke of that name - a name that was etched across the very essence of his soul, tattooed into his heart to forever keep dearly. That single name made his whole being ache.

"Oh? Really? I can wait longer if you want?" He suggested, masking his lovestruck reaction behind his sunny smile and radiant aura. Wei Wuxian nodded, "That's wonderful, I appreciate that."

It was just then a tall man approached with a hefty following of individuals, most dressed in dark cyan blue, blacks and purples and others dressed in thick cotton red and black, all walking behind. The man's strides were not as purposeful as Wei Wuxian's was when he had approached, the light tapping of leather clacking on the cobblestoned pathway leading up to the main entrance gate, yet there was a distinct rhythm of respectful pacing in those footsteps. Wei Wuxian's stride was confident and heart-stopping, rendering those in his vicinity to back away and give him space as he approached. This man's gait was more dignified and restrained, yet there was still an air of confidence - even if it was more subdued, more subtle.

Lan Xichen recognised this man instantly and his heart leapt into his throat, rendering him breathless and motionless.

It was Sect Leader Jiang of Yunmeng, the feared, admired and striking Sandu Shengshou - Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Jiang Wanyin. 

Lan Xichen watched with shimmering eyes as the imposing Sect leader approached and came to a halt next to his brother's side, them both exchanging polite words between each other.

"Hey, you made it." He heard Wei Wuxian speak, his voice filled with brotherly affection. He noticed Jiang Wanyin's tilted head as he brushed his side bang out of his face, lightly conversing with his senior martial brother.

Lan Xichen saw how angular and rigid Jiang Wanyin's jawline was and was completely taken by the shape of his almond eyes, entranced by the way his irises of stormy violet sparkling subtly as Wei Wuxian spoke, enchanted by how smooth his lightly sun-kissed skin was, mesmerised by the way the sunlight reflected on the ebony stands of his long hair to make it look like it was completely made out of silk, captivated by the glossy sheen of Jiang Wanyin's lips and how they curled into the softest smile when Wei Wuxian was talking and found himself desiring to touch him and take him in his arms, to caress his body covered by the purple robes and folds. He could feel his mouth filling up with saliva as he continued to stare and a voice gnawed him to calm down. 

Swallowing thickly, Lan Xichen repositioned himself and readjusted his collar as he could feel his body pricking with heat. 

"Sect leader, greetings." he cordially spoke, catching Jiang Wanyin's attention. He turned his head to see the regal First Jade standing close by, his face filled with hospitable serenity. Jiang Wanyin's breath was utterly stolen in an instant.

"Zewu-Jun….greetings.." he cleared his throat, having become mesmerised by Lan Xichen, in his stunning pure-white robes and with his silver hair decorations and white guan just standing there with a dazzling yet courteous smile, topaz eyes glimmering faintly and his entire aura radiant. "Apologies, I did not notice you…" he fussily readjusted his own collar, much to Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian's gentle amusement, and Jiang Wanyin bowed.

"Thank you for extending this invitation, we're honored to be here." he answered politely and courteously, and Wei Wuxian mimicked his brother, repeating his gratitude and bowing once again. Lan Xichen's cheeks coloured, "There's no need for such formalities. We are of the same rank. All three of us are esteemed clan leaders. In all honesty, it should be me who is showing respect and gratitude instead." 

Jiang Wanyin shook his head, those silk strands whispering against his robes and Lan Xichen found his mouth heavy with saliva again. 

"We do appreciate the gesture, this is your home and you have every right to be shown gratitude from those you have invited. You were the one who extended the invitation, so it's only natural for us to be grateful for your kindness and hospitality."

"He's right. We may be your guests, but shouldn't the host have more importance?" Wei Wuxian spoke. Lan Xichen's heart swelled.

"On the contrary, being able to host the Yunmeng *Shaungjie here in the Cloud Recesses is the highest honour for a humble man such as myself." 

Lan Xichen's honest words made both brothers turn pink, and they became almost shy, overwhelmed by the First Jade's honesty and kindness. Jiang Wanyin stuttered uncharacteristically, having been thrown awry and his heart thundered in his chest, aching with compassion. 

"W-well…I guess that makes s-sense I suppose…." Jinag Wanyin stuttered, his face bright pink. He turned his head to the side to mask his flushed face and thanked his ancestors that his disciples were behind him and not in front of him. A gentle breeze blew in their direction and Jiang Wanyin coughed lightly the hopes his blush would dissipate. Wei Wuxian bit his lip to stifle his own squeal and bounced lightly on the balls of his feet. 

"Perhaps we should head on up to the main estate, we don't want you to stand out here for longer than you have already." Wei Wuxian suggested, to which Lan Xichen agreed with a curt nod of his head.

"Very well. Follow me." 

Lan Xichen guided his esteemed guests to the private lodgings he had set up for them, with Lan Hanyu in tow, giving them a quick tour of the Cloud Recesses as they went. Disciples dressed in pure white with their headbands straight as a fiddle across their foreheads bowed in respect to their seniors as Lan Xichen walked them through to the Gentian House, and the clan leader was all smiles as he rambled on about his home - much to the quiet delight of the two martial brothers, as it showed that Zewu-Jun really did love his clan and his home as much as anyone else who resided there.

The Cloud Recesses was pretty much the same from the duo's youth, despite having been almost burnt down completely during the Qishan Wen clan's reign of terror and the place had been rebuilt pretty much exactly as it had been always with the assistance of many clans. The students and residents of this tranquil place were amongst the most virtuous and level-headed amongst most of the cultivators, old and young, which was a testament to the life-long ideals and teachings these young masters undergo on a daily basis to preserve the traditions and culture of one of the longest-surviving clans to this day. 

Wei Wuxian chuckled at the memories he and Jiang Wanyin shared when they were studying here - even if Wei Wuxian's time here was short-lived (he hated being in the Cloud Recesses due to all those rules and restrictions), but now as an adult, he could finally appreciate the beauty this place exuded, the cool atmosphere allowing him to breath in crisp mountain air and letting it wash over him, calming him. His golden core thrummed with life and power as the ancient spiritual energy seeped into his very being, subding any lingering traces of resentment and dark energy that had been slowly eating away at him for years.

"I forgot how peaceful this place was." Wei Wuxian spoke wistfully, his voice quiet with nostalgia. Jiang Wanyin made a soft noise of agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. "Shame you were only here for three months before taking off at the first chance you got." he remarked. Wei Wuxian sighed. "It was a shame. If only I stayed here with you and Huaisang….I could of finished my studies and become a better man….and then none of the - "

Jiang Wanyin stopped his brother by placing a comforting hand on his upper arm, able to feel the toned bicep muscle underneath the layers he wore. He knew what Wei Wuxian was referring to and he didn't want his brother to dwell on the past too much, lest he became sad and angry with himself.

"What happened over a decade ago cannot be undone, however the most important thing - especially to me - is that you are here. Alive and healthy and thriving. You are here, and that's all that matters to those who care and love you."

Wei Wuxian felt tears prick the corner of his eyes and he sniffed, trying hard not to cry. "Thanks. I needed that actually."

Jiang Wanyin closed the gap between them and embraced him, wrapping his arm around Wei Wuxian's shoulder, gently jostling him in his sideways hug.

"Anytime. That's what brothers are for."

Lan Xichen stopped walking to look around for his guests and saw they were not behind him anymore, which confused him. Lan Hanyu helpfully pointed ahead of him and Lan Xichen let out a quiet laugh, embarrassed at himself. He had walked too far and the other two had stopped suddenly, standing still. They both seemed to be quietly chatting between each other and admiring the scenery around them. Lan Xichen walked back over with a faint, sheepish grin. "My apologies, I hadn't realised I was walking too fast. Did something catch your eye?"

They turned to face Lan Xichen and Jiang Wanyin shook his head. "No, we were just reminiscing. We got lost in the sense of nostalgia." he replied. Lan Xichen, despite the thudding ache that had stirred up again in his chest, he retained his sunny aura. 

"Oh, I see. Well that does happen from time to time. Perhaps we should get going? I have already prepared your rooms for you and your disciples." Lan Xichen suggested, to which the other all nodded.

After a while, the large gathering of disciples from both clans, plus their leaders and the host along with his aide, had arrived at the guest dormitory located just far away enough from the main estate and cultivation school to allow visitors peace. Lan Hanyu set himself to work by guiding the Wei and Jiang disciples to their shared holdings, counting each member of the two groups and dividing them into groups of two or three, the maximum number being four, before allocating them a room to share between them for easier allocation. Lan Xichen couldn't but beam at Lan Hanyu's quick initiative and his joyful beaming smile made Jiang Wanyin's mouth drop open slightly in awe, mesmerised by the beauty he exuded.

"The building behind me is where you two will be rooming. I hope that's okay with the both of you?" Lan Xichen addressed them, gesturing to the building made of white stone behind him. Jiang Wanyin nodded vigorously. "Sure, we don't mind." he nudged Wei Wuxian and he too nodded. 

"It's a nice building." the Laozu commented wistfully, which earned another laugh from the venerated clan leader. Jiang Wanyin felt his body grow hot at the sound of such a melodious laugh.

"Why, thank you Wei Wuxian. I must admit, the guest dormitories are quite nice on the outside, but I believe they look better on the inside."

Lan Xichen led them both up to the front door and slid the doors open, and all three were greeted with the sight of a spacious open-plan foyer with the interior a light cloudy blue. The flooring was a dark mahogany and the foyer was split off into two opposite directions - most likely the separate bedrooms. Situated at the end of the foyer was a dining area with a tapestry of the Gusu Lan Cloud symbol embroidered in white against the blue tapestry backdrop.

"This room is really spacious." Wei Wuxian commented with a wonderful smile. Lan Xichen beamed.

"I'm glad you think so. There's plenty of room for the both of you. On the left is one room and on the right is the other. Each comes with a private bath suite and adjoining sitting area. You may choose which one you want for the next few days." 

Wei Wuxian immediately made a beeline for the room on the right, charging straight down the small corridor and characteristically yelling "I CALL DIBS!!" 

Jiang Wanyin laughed heartily, racing down the opposite corridor to claim his side of the private quarters. 

"GUESS I'M TAKING THE LEFT SIDE THEN!!!!" He yelled back, his voice echoing.

"WELL, YOU'RE ALWAYS ON THE LEFT AND I'M ALWAYS ON THE RIGHT!!" Wei Wuxian's loud voice was heard from the right side, the sound reverberating off of the walls.

"MOST OF THE TIME!!" Jiang Wanyin yelled back.

"YEAH, THAT'S TRUE!!!" came the echoey reply.

Lan Xichen chuckled at the brotherly love these two shared so freely, honest and freely expressing themselves. At this point, housed within these four walls, they had automatically shed their high, thick walls of proprietary and mild mannered etiquette and replaced it with loud, childlike innocence and wild actions. 

Lan Xichen felt a pang of jealousy twist in his gut, that feeling of freedom and unrestrained honesty was something he could not obtain. The younger generation of the clan were raised differently from his generation - much thanks to Lan Wangji's effort in order to not deprive the next generation of virtuous Lan cultivators of their freedom and the ability to express themselves - as long as they still upheld the clan's traditions, they did not need focus all their energy into pleasing people all the time. It was a luxury that unfortunately Lan Xichen was not afforded.

He wished he could be as forward and honest as the Yunmeng twins, communicating effortlessly as freely with his own brother as they did so often. Lan Xichen was well aware that Lan Wangji found difficulty in speaking in longer sentences for longer periods of time, that he usually shied away from physical contact more often than others. Lan Xichen loved his brother dearly yet wished that their brotherly relationship was….different. 

Something akin to what the Twin Prides share with each other.

He shook his head, pushing those thoughts down. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before becoming his usual self once more. It was then he heard a light cough behind him and he turned to see Lan Hanyu standing in the open doorway. "Master, you have a meeting with the elders soon, I believe it is best if we get going."

"What about the other sect leaders?" He queried, slightly panicked about leaving the Twin Prides to their own devices without a single word.

Lan Hanyu smiled and pointed to two disciples approaching the guest rooms, carrying a large trunk each - one in black and red, the other in purple and cyan. Lan Xichen knew what Lan Hanyu was referring to.

"I'll let them know." 

The two disciples met Lan Xichen when he stepped outside and they bowed, yet they still held onto those trunks.

"I do apologise but I must leave for a meeting, is it possible to let your sect leaders know?" The First Jade asked. The disciples nodded.

"Of course." They chorused and Lan Xichen was led away by his dutiful attendant, whilst he heard the faint voices of his guests as they were greeted with the sight of those trunks.

Several hours had passed by and Lan Xichen was finally free from that tedious meeting. He had already met with some of the students who had been freed from their classes and he smiled fondly as he remembered the way those young masters gushed about Hanguang-Jun and his incredible teaching methods. Lan Xichen had briefly spoken with his ward and cousin, Lan Jingyi, about his lessons. 

After that, Lan Xichen made his way through the estate, making his rounds.

Wei Wuxian was found in the disciple training grounds, hacking and slashing a training dummy with precise and quick sword work with his beloved Suibian, the cool steel of the sharp blade creating dents and deep gashes in the wood and surrounded by a group of junior disciples who were too busy gushing over the Yiling Laozu and his crimson flurry of blade slashes to notice Lan Xichen's sudden presence. 

He chuckled quietly as he watched his studious students chatter and gasp at every expertly swift movement Wei Wuxian made with his spiritual blade, the red tassel attached at the ball-shaped end of the sturdy hilt flapping in the air as he wielded his weapon. The training dummy was becoming more morbidly mutilated as Wei Wuxian continued his one-sided attack, which delighted and excited the students further, with them crying out words of joy and encouragement, using their abundant imaginations to imprint a picture onto the dummy and believing it be a Fierce Corpse reanimated by a rogue cultivator who was jealous of the Laozu's power and techniques. They chanted Wei Wuxian's name and title in jubilation as Wei Wuxian kept his pace, twirling Suibian and cutting the wooden dummy up into smithereens. He spun on his heel to avoid an "incoming attack" and hurried behind the dummy to unleash a surprise attack on the "unsuspecting enemy", much to the delight of the onlookers.

With one final blow which decapitated the dummy's head clean off the fake shoulders, the crowd of students cheered, celebrating the "Fierce Corpse's" death and obliteration. Wei Wuxian, to make a show of it, summoned a soul-sealing talisman and stuck it on the dummy to represent its soul being "sealed". 

"Yeah! You did it Yiling Laozu!" one of the crowd of students cried out, clapping their hands. It seemed that the students had forgotten the "loud noise is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses" rule, yet Lan Xichen let them off. It wasn't good to overly restrain growing children in an already stifling environment and Lan Wangji was quite fond of the junior disciples as it was. These young masters were not disturbing anyone's peace, they were just showing their enthusiasm since a more experienced cultivator was putting on a show to entertain them. 

The students all clapped and cheered as loud as they could muster without breaking the rules and Wei Wuxian, being the fun and entertaining man he was, sheathed Suibian and dramatically bowed with a flourish to show his appreciation.

"Did you guys enjoy - oh Lan Xichen, hi." Wei Wuxian suddenly noticed Lan Xichen standing near the crowd with his radiant smile and an amused expression on his perfect face. The students all suddenly turned to see their leader/other teacher looking calm and serene and they suddenly started nervously muttering and squeaking. Lan Xichen started chuckling and he pinched one of the students' cheeks affectionately, calming them down.

"It's alright young ones, there will be no reprimanding, you're only excited over Wei Wuxian's skill as a swordsman." His voice was like a lazy river flowing through a sturdy mountain pass and the students ceased their nervous squeaking, opting instead to politely greet him as they had been taught. Wei Wuxian also chuckled at the sight, smiling jovially.

"You scared them for a moment." he commented, crossing his arms over his chest and cracked a smile. Lan Xichen laughed behind his sleeve mischievously. "I like to keep people on their toes sometimes." 

The junior disciples were all chatting quietly behind their leader, still whispering their praise of Wei Wuxian and some were pushing through the small crowd to get a better look at him now that he wasn't a flurry of quick movements, gasping in wonder.

"He's so tall!" 

"Not as tall as Zewu-Jun."

"Awww, I didn't get to see the sword he was using."

"You didn't see it?"

"That was so cool with the way he was slashing and cutting that dummy."

"That wasn't a dummy, that was a Fierce Corpse. You saw the seal he put on it?"

"Pretty sure that was just a training dummy."

"Well, it's lost its head now. It's a headless dummy."

Lan Xichen felt his heart swelled with warmth whilst listening to the young juniors chatter and whisper, his eyes sparkling.

"They seem to have really enjoyed your display." He smiled brightly. Wei Wuxian snorted.

"They were very enthusiastic about watching me. They even pretended that the dummy I was slashing at was a Fierce Corpse that had gotten reanimated. They have quite big imaginations. Reminds me of my little radish who isn't so little anymore." Wei Wuxian got all quiet, his voice faltering. He thought about his sweet and gentle son, the child he had adopted officially after the Siege of the Burial Mounds.

He had gotten quite attached to the little boy from the downtrodden branch of the Wen Clan that had been the target of torture and manual labour at the hands of the Jin Clan and that little boy was always so bright and clingy. 

Wei Wuxian huffed softly, lost in nostalgia.

"Anyway…." Wei Wuxian broke out of his reverie and addressed his gracious host. "I think I'll head back to my room and prepare a bath to cool off. I feel sweaty and gross and I'm sure you have some more meetings to get to so I'll make myself scarce."

"If you need some place to cool off, you can go to the Cold Springs and splash around in the water. If anyone asks, then you can tell them that I told you could." Lan Xichen suggested.

The next piece of his puzzle was forming into place and he wasn't going to miss this opportunity. If his hunch was correct, then a certain someone had already arrived at the Cold Springs and was most likely bathing there. 

Wei Wuxian raised his eyebrows. "Really?" He was imperious and innocent to Lan Xichen's plan.

"Yes, you are more than welcome to go to the Cold Springs."

"The Cold Springs are that way." One of the juniors chirped, pointing in the direction behind Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian smiled gratefully, bowed to show his gratitude over Lan Xichen's kindness and without another word, turned on his heel to set off for the Cold Springs to cool off, the clamour of the students all trying to follow him were behind him and growing fainter as he got further away and closer to his destination.

Wei Wuxian arrived at the Cold Springs after a while and when he arrived, he took a moment to admire the tranquil beauty of the springs, breathing in the cool air.

A large and deep pool nestled amongst the mountain caves and a slim waterfall with crashing water filled the pool. The disciples of Gusu Lan used the pool to mediate their cultivation.

Some would come here to meditate or heal their wounds, others would bathe here to cool off after intense workout and training. Which was what Wei Wuxian had in mind

Wei Wuxian remembered coming here to heal his wounds in the ice-cold waters many years ago, when he was a spritely and mischievous teenager - a promising young master of the Six Arts and a skilled cultivator - and smiled fondly at the memory of splashing around and causing a certain second master some major emotional panic. He had even gone so far as to steal his clothes because he kept rebuffing Wei Wuxian's attempts to befriend him and his desire for any kind of attention from him - positive or negative. Wei Wuxian's teen self would have a fit if he saw what the adult version of himself grew into.

But that was many years ago. He recalled it was around a decade now, perhaps even more.

And he wasn't the same man now.

He had grown up. Simple as.

Wei Wuxian clicked his tongue in thought and after looking around for peepers and satisfied he wasn't being watched, he began to undo his belt and let it fall to the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief as his waist and hips were delightfully released from their bonds due to how tight he had made his belt be and worked to free his body from the rest of his clothing.

He took off his leather outer robe and folded it up as neatly as he could before he dropped it onto the ground. He did the same with his black inner robe, pulling it off his body and shoulders swiftly and folding it up as well. He took off his boots and put them near the pile of clothes.

With a single flourish, Wei Wuxian lifted the final layer of clothing over his head, which exposed his abdomen and hips to the cool air around him and he sighed, shivering just a tad.

To say his body was toned would be an understatement.

If anyone else saw how toned and muscled his abdomen was, with those chiseled abs sculpted by years of rigorous training and a balance diet of fatty meats, fresh fish caught from the rivers and lakes, glutinous rice, chilli, fruits and vegetables that were all grown and caught in Yiling, a slim yet oh-so grabbable waist with the slightest of dipped curves whenever he moved, that sun-scorched shaped burn mark that was an eyesore on his lightly tanned skin, faint scars that littered his body like scratches from a cat and pale, delicate nipples now hardening from the cool air, they would be unable to handle themselves. They would not be able to keep their composure and itch to touch him.

Pair his body with his cheeky, carefree smile, those silvery-brown eyes that glimmered with mischief and joy, the way his cheekbones reached his eyes whenever he grinned, long lithe fingers that danced along the length of Chenqing whenever he played beautifully haunting melodies or caressing and twirled the decorative, sturdy hilt of Suibian sheathed or not, the way his hands were both soft like a baby's and cracked and worn out from years spent in fields and in training grounds….

In a word, the Yiling Laozu was gorgeous.

In every way, shape and form.

People would not admit it out loud - especially other high bred cultivators - especially the ones who sought to kill him on false pretences and rumours - but they desired him, lusted after him, yearned for him. They wanted to experience the sensual, exhilarating, passionate feeling that Wei Wuxian exuberated on a daily basis and clutch it tightly in their grasp. They wanted a piece of that powerful and mysterious ability he had created and acquired, craving to be gifted with it and to wield it the way he did. Ghost Cultivation - or as most people called it as they couldn't be bothered to learn its proper name, Demonic Cultivation - was like a cheat-code to gaining more power without the need for long-term training and mediation. If one could be able to withstand the resentment that ghosts and corpses exuded after death and wield it with startling proficiency, then they could potentially catch the Yiling Laozu's attention. Most failed to even grasp it or control it due to the strength of their own cultivation and even their golden core - or lack thereof - and those who did ended up as Yiling Wei disciples.

Alas, many did not own up to their lust and their yearning, instead they were driven by fear and hate to force such a bright-eyed and innocent prodigy to the very brink of self-destruction. Jin Guangshan was deathly afraid of this power, yet he lusted after it all the same. He had figured it would allow him to be more powerful than Wen Rouhan even was in his lifetime and the insatiable, gold-robed man believed that that Ghost Cultivation could help him achieve such a lofty goal in sealing that weeping power vacuum, if he were to steal such a ability from the one who had created it.

Whether Wei Wuxian was dead or alive when his power was taken.

This plan of Jin Guangshan's had unfortunately backfired on him greatly. He made the mistake of celebrating Wei Wuxians "death" too early and suffered the consequences. He was the first to lose his golden core - in the exact same way Wen Zhuliu, Wen Chao's obedient bodyguard, lost his several years prior in retaliation for the lives lost at the hands of the Wens and then the Jins.

Time can only heal so many wounds and the internal wounds Wei Wuxian carried was a secret that no one would be able to pry from him. He hoped to take his suffering to the grave for real.

"Brrr….cold." Wei Wuxian muttered. He had left his breeches on since he wasn't eager to freeze his…..uh…."flute" clean off in the icy waters. He padded over to the edge of the pool before gingerly dipping his toes into the water to test the temperature.

'Ah shit! Cold! It's very cold.' Wei Wuxian cursed inwardly, shaking his foot in the air, hopping around. He really didn't want to get in, but he was feeling a little cramped and his skin was musty and sweaty. Resigning himself to his fate, he climbed in and wadded through the freezing waters, cursing aloud.

"Cold. Cold. Cold. Very cold. Very cold!" He continued to carefully wade through the waters, shivering almost violently as he did so. 

"Why does the water have to be freezing? Why can't it just be cold like its name?" He asked out loud, jumping on the balls of his feet to try and warm up. The spiritual energy that thrummed in his body coursed through his veins, producing more body heat. He moved around into the ice-cold waters that rested just below his hips, the waters freezing his legs and feet through the material of his breeches. He silently thanked the celestials for that trunk of spare robes he had asked his disciple to bring after the night-hunt. When he received Lan Xichen's invitation, he had a hunch that this visit would last several days and had sent a few disciples back home to prepare a trunk for him whilst he was in Caiyi Town. The disciples in question flew back on their spirit sabers and not even a day later, they had returned. The inn-keeper was kind enough to send along the message that Wei Wuxian had already departed for the Cloud Recesses - which was a full day's travel from Caiyi Town so they made haste to catch up.

As he waded through the waters, he concentrated on his breathing and movement to regulate his internal body temperature in order to stop his body from freezing over inside and out. He inhaled deeply and then exhaled as he slowly moved around, partaking in a solo waltz of some kind. The water around him, somehow, was suddenly getting warmer and Wei Wuxian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ah, that's better. I will be taking a hot bath in the evening after dinner but this is quite nice."

As he continued, he threaded his finger though any loose strands of his hair, still in his half-ponytail updo, the long red ribbon trailing into the water along with his extra long hair. He moved closer to the waterfall and quickly shoved his whole arm under the gushing water and whipped his arm back with a cry.

"Nope! Shouldn't have done that! But I need to loosen these muscles….oh well here goes nothing…."

Braving the cold, he plunged himself into the waterfall, the water crashing onto his bare skin and he cried out, jumping backwards and almost falling into the water.

"Bad idea!" He cursed inwardly and started shivering again, yet his muscles felt much looser now. He concentrated on his breathing as he hunched over, shoulders tense. "Ah damn." 

He heard some quiet movement from behind him and he froze, eyes wide. 

'Wait…is someone here?'

He straightened up, ignoring the cold and the feeling of those wet droplets cascading down his torso, and slowly turned around to see who was in the area. He could hear the sound of water gently parting through movement and he saw a figure just out of sight, standing with their back to him. Wei Wuxian slowly crept closer, curious as to who was with him in the Cold Springs.

As he got closer, he was able to get a much better view of the mysterious figure that was bathing. 

The figure was quite muscular, with defined shoulders and biceps that must have been formed through extensive training. Long ebony hair trailed over the figure's back, hiding milky skin from Wei Wuxian's eyes, yet he spied white marks peeking out from beneath those long locks of hair and across the broad span of the figure's shoulder blades and there was even some scarring on the upper biceps. 

Wei Wuxian recognised those marks and made a slight noise under his breath.

'Those are whip scars. There's no one else that would bathe in the Cold Springs except Gusu Lan disciples. Wonder what this guy did to piss off Old Man Lan to receive those.'

He noticed that tied in the figure's long black hair was a bright white ribbon- possibly made of silk - like a trail of moonlight against a deep midnight sky of ink. The white ribbon was something that Wei Wuxian was also familiar with, yet he could not put a finger on where he'd seen it. In all honesty, he'd seen quite a lot of people in his life that wear white ribbons in their hair so it was understandable that he wouldn't be able to fully recognise where he'd seen this ribbon before.

Curiosity welled up inside of him as he sneaked forward as much as he could without startling the figure and he reached out to touch those long strands of hair, droplets of water running down and making the already milky pale skin and black hair seem more smooth. Wei Wuxian's fingertips just ever so lightly brushed up against the flowing white ribbon but the figure moved, jerking suddenly and Wei Wuxian stumbled backwards in a panic, tripping and falling into the freezing water with a loud splash. The figure, startled, whipped their head around to see who had been behind them and Wei Wuxian suddenly resurfaced, coughing and spluttering. His hair was all tangled and hanging in front of his face like he was some sort of cursed ghost or sentient zombie.

"Fuck!" He swore loudly. The figure's eyes narrowed and a grim expression appeared on their face.

"Vulgar language is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses." A deep voice rumbled, sounding annoyed. Wei Wuxian, with sopping wet hair in his face and still coughing up some of that water, ringed his hair out, moving it away from his face so he could see again and started to angrily vent, spewing out words.

"No shit, Sherlock!!!! You think I didn't know!!!??? I'm allowed to swear, I'm an adult! I studied here when I was 15! That damned dead-panned twink-ass fuddy-duddy who was always scowling at me would make me copy those damned rules over and over again! I think he secretly enjoyed making me suffer hand cramps I swear! Not my fault you moved and I tripped over and now I'm fully soaking wet, freezing my tits off and you have the audacity to tell ME, the Yiling Laozu, the most feared and admired ghost cultivator in all of cultivation society, to not…swear..."

Wei Wuxian trailed off from his rant, having gone silent and now he was face to face with the person who had their back to him. Now that his hair was no longer in his face, obscuring his sight, he finally got to see who was facing him and was met with the most gorgeous man he had laid his eyes on. His body was well defined and looked like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves, with wide shoulders that enhanced his already tall stature, a beautifully slender face - pale like moonlight and smooth like jade - framed with long twin side bangs of ebony black that trailed down his broad and large chest, which sported a familiar looking sun-flame crest - yet it was paler than the mark Wei Wuxian had on his chest - as matter of fact that sun-flame crest was in the exact same place on the man's body as it was on Wei Wuxian's, which he found weird. Even the man's abdomen was defined and muscled, rivalling the famous abs of Nie Mingjue who was considered by many a living war god. Wei Wuxian was frozen in place, absentmindedly staring at how simply gorgeous this individual was and his lips parted open in his shock, eyes widening with each second he stared. The man in question also looked a little startled and Wei Wuxian heard his breath hitch, also frozen in place.

A pair of molten gold eyes locked eyes with Wei Wuxian and a single cloud-patterned white ribbon ran across his forehead and Wei Wuxian's blood ran cold before it heated up like lava had been injected straight into his veins. He knew who was standing in front of him.

He knew.

Wei Wuxian recognised that face and that cloud-patterned white ribbon anywhere.

He was one of the family. 

The family that ruled this province.

It scared him how he was able to just know.

'Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.'

Memories of a past youth resurfaced, scattering across the vast plain of his mind like flower petals. All those memories containing the image and the voice and the sight of this one person, who single handed had etched his entire presence and existence into Wei Wuxian's mind, was now swarming him and the voices began to speak up drowning him. He knew who this was, it terrified him yet he found himself at the precipice of exhilaration.

He had to get away somehow. 

He told himself he would never come to Gusu yet here he was. He only accepted Lan Xichen's invitation on two personal conditions:

1. That Jiang Cheng would be allowed to visit.

2. That he, the Yiling Laozu Wei Wuxian, would never be able to bump into him.

Clearly, Lan Xichen knew his brother like the back of his own hand and was the one responsible for this situation. But Wei Wuxian figured he could rectify it by basically running away like a coward then hiding out with Jiang Cheng until their visit had concluded and they leave for home.

"H-H-H-Han…" Wei Wuxian stuttered, pointing directly at the man who was in equal shock. Those molten gold irises quivered and his breathing was shallow yet quick. He also began to stammer, unable to speak clearly.

"W-W-Wei…" 

Before the other man could speak another word, Wei Wuxian turned tail to run away, panic coursing through his veins and his heart racing.

'Nononononononono…..I can't be seen by him! He'll lock me away!"

A cold hand quickly grabbed Wei Wuxian by his wrist and the Laozu froze in horror, forcing himself to turn back around.

He had grabbed his wrist and was now incredibly close - far too close. His face stopped just mere centimetres from Wei Wuxian and the poor guy had to stifle a shriek.

"Wei Ying?" That deep voice asked, almost a whisper. Wei Wuxian's face went beet-red.

"Hahaha…hi….it's me….suuuupppp." he awkwardly greeted, trying to wriggle his wrist out of that grasp. 

His hand was like ice around his wrist yet his touch felt almost searing, boiling his blood the longer those long, slender fingers were wrapped around the width of his wrist. Wei Wuxian was no longer focused on the temperature of the water that surrounded him, but instead was more focused on that pair of golden eyes staring straight at him, his whole body tingling with an electric buzz.

'Lan Zhan. It's really him. After all these years. He's no longer a skinny boy. He's a freaking man. And those abs….no! Don't stare at him, don't give him the satisfaction.'

"Wei Ying? Is that really you?" that man in front of him, the one named Lan Zhan, whispered in disbelief, eyes scanning for familiarity. He spotted the red burn mark on Wei Wuxian's chest and his own eyes widened, breath hitching. He saw the red ribbon, those silvery eyes, those pale pink lips….everything.

"It's you. It really is you. After all these years." 

'Fuuuuuuck! His voice is hot!!!!!!!' Wei Wuxian's mind blabbered, the sight of this man and the incredibly close proximity they shared boggled him. Wei Wuxian, despite the urge in his mind to act upon supposedly long buried desires that were just resurfacing, he realised he had overstayed his welcome.

If Hanguang-Jun was here in the Cold Springs, it's time to leave.

"I'm sorry….I need to go…." Wei Wuxian stuttered, trying to find his words. Lan Wangji - Hanguang-Jun - narrowed his eyes, those golden irises glinting.

"Why?" he asked, not liking the sound of Wei Wuxian leaving. The Laozu struggled to release himself.

"I overstayed my visit here, I need to go and leave you in peace." Wei Wuxian answered, a little desperate. Lan Wangji had tightened his grip.

"Ow. Please let go, I'm not staying here with you." Wei Wuxian could hear his voice rising, in an almost pleading way, but there was no way he was begging. He was not a man that begs, he's the one that scares people so much that they end up begging.

"Why not?" Lan Wangji's voice rumbled, he sounded displeased. Why was he displeased? He was the one grabbing onto Wei Wuxian's wrist.

"Because my brother is waiting." Wei Wuxian bit back.

"Why are you here? How did you get into the Cloud Recesses without a jade travel token?" Lan Wangji asked his question in a soft, demanding manner, getting even closer. This did not bode well for Wei Wuxian at all and he really wished that throat would allow him to screech for help. Lan Wangji's breath fanned over Wei Wuxian's lips and he could smell the scent of fragrant tea. Pu'er tea to be specific.

'Well, I'm about to die.' Wei Wuxian pessimistically concluded. 'Sorry Jiang Cheng, you may have to plan my funeral. Tell A-Yuan that he's my precious radish and that I will miss you all.'

"Your brother invited me and my brother to stay here for a few days after being on a six-day night hunt." 

Lan Wangji froze a little, surprised. His grip around Wei Wuxian's wrist did not lax. 

"Then….why are you here in the Cold Springs?" Lan Wangji asked, confused.

"Also your brother. He told me I could. I was in the training grounds and he told me I could bathe he- wait why am I telling you this? Did you put some sort of honesty charm on me? Seriously, I thought you were above such tricks?"

Lan Wangji went still, his grip laxing, eyes wide in shock. His face was unreadable as he processed this information but Wei Wuxian wasn't interested in the slightest. As soon as he felt Lan Wangji's hand slacken, he made the immediate decision to take the plunge - metaphorically - and bolt right out of there, awkwardly paddle-wading through the freezing cold waters to dry land. He thanked his strong thighs and legs for allowing him to travel such a distance in a short amount of time as clambered up to the rocks grabbing his folded clothes and boots, ignoring Lan Wangji's pleas as he cried out behind him.

"Wei Ying, wait, please, stay, talk to me, Wei Ying."

With one final glance over his shoulder to gauge Lan Wangji's usually unreadable facial expressions, Wei Wuxian fled the Cold Springs and away to his guest room, hastily dressing himself so he wouldn't cause a disciple or elder a qi deviation.

Part 1 complete