The storm picked up again during the night.
It was still going strong in the morning, delivering even more water from the sky, as though someone had asked for an encore.
Wei Wuxian found himself not minding at all.
It was one of the days he didn't have morning classes to teach, which meant sleeping in, and when he woke, naked and happy, Lan Wangji was already there with breakfast for him.
Wei Wuxian sat in his lap as they ate, luxuriating in the sting of fresh bruises that littered his neck and his hips and the warm weight of Lan Wangji's hand resting low on his back.
It was still raining heavily by the time they left the Jingshi to meet up with Luo Qingyang on the training grounds, and the wind almost blew their umbrella out of Lan Wangji's hand a few times, but even this wasn't enough to affect the smile on Wei Wuxian's face.
Luo Qingyang greeted them politely as they entered the training hall. With what seemed like concern, she studied them for a moment, then quickly smiled and raised an eyebrow. "No longer moping, are we, Wei-gongzi?"
"Mianmian!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, enthusiastically returning her salute. "Who's this Wei-gongzi guy you keep mentioning? I'm sure there's no one here who needs to be addressed so formally!" He winked. "Eh, Lan Zhan?"
While Lan Wangji seemed slightly surprised, Zu Zhenzhen next to Luo Qingyang gawked as though Wei Wuxian had grown a second head.
"I... beg you would excuse me," she said primly, then hastily took her leave.
Wei Wuxian felt tempted to stick out his tongue at her back.
"See you later, Zhenzhen!" Luo Qingyang called after her with a happy smile.
"So even miss knows-the-rules-better-than-you gets to be on first name basis, huh?" Wei Wuxian sighed, hanging himself off Lan Wangji's shoulder. "I'm sure both Wei-gongzi and Lan-er-gongzi are feeling absolutely crushed by such preferential treatment."
"Wei Wuxian!" Luo Qingyang laughed. "Stop dragging your husband into this!"
"Lan Zhan doesn't mind being dragged into anything by me!" Wei Wuxian proclaimed triumphantly. "Right, Lan Zhan? You'd also prefer just being Lan Wangji for once instead of er-gongzi this er-gongzi that everyday all day, wouldn't you?"
"...If Luo-guniang wishes, this one would not mind ceding his title when addressed," Lan Wangji consented sincerely.
She giggled. "On one condition. You also have to call me by name. Otherwise, I will be thrown out of the Cloud Recesses headfirst for outrageous audacity."
"Yeah, Lan Zhan, you definitely should! Friends don't need to stand on that much formality. I'm sure Mianmian won't mind being Mianmian to both of us."
Lan Wangji blinked at him, seeming a little unsure.
At last, he politely inclined his head and said, "Luo Qingyang."
"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian whined in complaint.
"Don't force him," Luo Qingyang waved off. Seeming happy, she nodded back. "Lan Wangji."
Acknowledging defeat, Wei Wuxian ran out onto the training field and shouted for the other two to follow him already so they could begin fighting.
The rain was still heavy by the time Zu Zhenzhen returned to bring Luo Qingyang back into the women's grounds, though the wind had let up a bit, making the track back to the Jingshi much more pleasant than leaving it had been.
While Wei Wuxian shared a cozy lunch with Lan Wangji, well protected from the roaring rain pressing against their home's windows, he couldn't help but think about his shijie, hiding in an old, possibly decrepit hunting lodge, vulnerable to wind and weather.
He immediately wrote her to ask how she was doing.
His concern was alleviated somewhat when Jiang Yanli replied, reporting splendid weather in Yunmeng.
Further, Han Xia and some of the children had discovered that their hiding place included an old kitchen. Jiang Yanli was delighted to enumerate every pot and utensil that she had been able to salvage from dust and decay.
While Yinzhu had apparently warned against cooking a larger meal since a smoke plume would draw attention to their location, Jiang Yanli was determined to find something she could make without firing up the stove.
"She sounds happy, but I can tell she's worried," Wei Wuxian said to Lan Wangji. "She hasn't mentioned Lotus Pier once."
"How many days are the rations she brought designed to last?" Lan Wangji inquired.
"I don't know." Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian carefully refolded Jiang Yanli's letter. It would join all her others below his desk in the Hongshi. "I'm guessing a fortnight or so. She has many mouths to feed. Eventually they will have to venture some place with a market."
"Hm."
Wei Wuxian sighed. "Assuming her parents gave her funds beyond just her pocket allowance she'll at least have the money for it." He smiled weakly. "What about your brother, are there any news from the south?"
"Xiongzhang has not written me since yesterday morning."
"What? It's been that long?" Wei Wuxian's eyebrows furrowed. "Have you asked for an update?"
Lan Wangji inclined his head in agreement.
Barely audible through the noise of the rain the second midday bell rang outside, announcing the end of wushi and the end of lunch break.
Lan Wangji wordlessly stood from the table and walked to his desk.
Wei Wuxian followed him with his eyes, concern curdling in his belly.
"Well, I'm sure Xichen-ge must be very busy," he reasoned, getting to his feet as well to retrieve Suibian, trying his best to sound optimistic. "He'll probably get back to you soon."
A noncommittal hum came from Lan Wangji's direction.
He had already started sorting through paperwork.
For a moment, Wei Wuxian just watched him, trying and failing to come up with something reassuring to say. At last, he shook himself. He had a class to teach in half a ke.
Almost out of the door, he called, "Ah, by the way, Lan Zhan, I'll come home early today since I don't have to haul equipment out of the training hall with the weather forcing classes indoors. I could come pick you up?"
Finally, Lan Wangji seemed to light up a bit. "Mn. Wei Ying, you forgot something."
"Huh? What... ah, right!" Wei Wuxian quickly dove around the doorframe to grab an umbrella. "Thanks! Okay then! I'll see you in front of the kitchen, yeah?"
"Yes."
"I love you!"
Lan Wangji blinked fondly. "I love you as well."
With one last grin, Wei Wuxian dashed out of the Jingshi and out into the rain.
Running through the Cloud Recesses the weather only seemed to get worse. It started to thunder just as he passed the gate into the public grounds and the more the general elevation of the area decreased around him the larger the puddles on the paths seemed to get.
Summer had had the Cloud Recesses in a grip for so long that Wei Wuxian had all but forgotten how cold and uninviting Gusu's mountains could be. Now that the sun had been overtaken by swirling storm clouds, nothing could distract from the fact that seasons were in the process of changing.
The first colorful leaves were peeking through wind-swept green everywhere, some already speckling the white gravel of the official paths.
In a few short weeks fall would have the entire forest changed into striking reds and yellows.
And some more weeks after that and Wei Wuxian would be turning seventeen.
While living on the streets of Yiling as a child he'd looked to the trees surrounding the city to keep track of his own age. It was something his parents must have invented for his benefit at some point to help him remember his birthday, that when the trees started changing, they were preparing to celebrate the day he had been born by donning their best colors.
Counting down the days they would throw their leaves to the earth like flower petals at a celebration and then, when they finally had no leaves left to give on the last day of the tenth month, Wei Wuxian had lived another year in the world and needed to hold up one more finger when asked his age.
Back when he'd first come to Lotus Pier his shijie had patted him on the head after he'd told her that mnemonic and suggested that they should collect the prettiest leaves they could find to celebrate his birthday alongside the trees.
Madam Yu had been annoyed with the mess they'd dragged inside, and Jiang Cheng had always gotten prissy about his leaves being the best-looking, but while they'd run around the docks together, Wei Wuxian remembered thinking that getting to see the trees change color in Lotus Pier wasn't so bad.
Maybe he should take the younger juniors into the forest to collect leaves when the weather was better?
-------
The two classes Wei Wuxian had scheduled for that afternoon concluded without a hitch.
Gusu Lan's junior disciples seemed a little cast down by the bad weather, but a few games sufficed to get all of them both warmed and fired up quickly.
Looking at their concentrated faces while he led them through sets of hand-to-hand combat, Wei Wuxian felt his chest glow with warm happiness. He'd been so consumed by worry these past days that even his classes had felt more like a chore to him than anything else. Now that he had made up with Lan Wangji it seemed he'd also rediscovered the fun of teaching a gaggle of kids.
Despite Wei Wuxian's own conviction about how well he'd kept his troubled feelings to himself, some of his students seemed to notice that something had changed.
Lan Yuhan even approached him during a break between sets and shyly said, "I'm glad you're feeling better, Wei-gongzi."
No amount of dramatic complaining about children growing up too fast and sticking their noses into their teacher's business deterred him from sending Wei Wuxian happy glances during the rest of class.
Wei Wuxian supposed it was fine.
So long as he hadn't worried the kids too much, he wasn't about to lose sleep over the fact that they'd seen through him a little.
The rain finally petered out by the time he went to pick up Lan Wangji.
To Wei Wuxian's delight, Lan Wangji must have looked forward to going home together just as much as he had as he was already waiting outside the kitchen as he arrived, a large tray of freshly cooked food in hand and clearly on the lookout for him.
Wei Wuxian happily chattered about the juniors' progress all the way to the Jingshi.
Once home they sat down together and enjoyed the stir-fry Lan Wangji had prepared, then started to get ready for bed, first attempting to bathe separately, but at last ending up in the same tub with their hands wandering and bathwater wildly spilling out onto the bathroom floor.
Later, when there was only a single candle left illuminating the Jingshi, they sat side by side in front of their bed.
Lan Wangji had moved his qin over and was strumming the song he had written while Wei Wuxian softly hummed along, his head pillowed on the former's shoulder.
It was almost haishi and soon Lan Wangji would gently still his song by placing his hands on the strings.
He would pick Wei Wuxian up, carry him to bed and wrap himself around him.
He would blow out the last candle.
The storm outside had finally passed Gusu by.
All that remained of it was the drip-drop of rainwater falling off the Jingshi's roof.
Yawning, Wei Wuxian had just closed his eyes, as a strange sound reached his ears.
At first, he thought he might already be dreaming and imagining it.
When it persisted and even became louder, he raised his head from Lan Wangji's shoulder and looked up.
A moment later Lan Wangji stopped playing.
It was the sound of footsteps, hurried and urgent.
Save for Wei Wuxian himself there was no one who just casually ran inside the Cloud Recesses, let alone at this hour.
Lan Wangji stood and walked to the doors—just in time for someone to audibly crash onto the porch and begin rapping against the Jingshi in a violent hurry.
"Lan-er-gongzi! Lan-er-gongzi!"
Lan Wangji ripped the doors open.
A panting Lan disciple almost fell towards him. "Lan-er-gongzi! It's—it's Zewu-jun!"
Wei Wuxian stood so quickly he almost knocked Wangji of its stand.
His feet carried him to the closet while the Lan disciple continued behind him.
"Lan-xiansheng requests your presence in the infirmary immediately!"
With quick hands Wei Wuxian grabbed shoes and over robes for both him and Lan Wangji, then flew to the other two, immediately taking Suibian and Bichen off the sword stand. "Is Zewu-jun alright?"
"I... I don't know. I didn't see him myself," the disciple apologized, worry palpable in every word. "They just came back a moment ago. He was brought to the infirmary immediately and xiansheng didn't say—he just ordered me to get you!"
"Okay." Wei Wuxian nodded to himself.
He looked at Lan Wangji who didn't seem to be breathing. In the low light his face was even paler than usual.
"Okay, we understand," Wei Wuxian said, nodding again, this time at the disciple. Pinning Suibian and Bichen beneath one arm, he quickly started putting on his shoes. "Thank you for getting us. Go ahead, we'll follow in just a moment."
With a hasty bow the disciple excused himself and hurried back the way he had come.
Finished with his shoes, Wei Wuxian put on his clothes, then dropped Lan Wangji's shoes to the floor and pushed the remaining robe against Lan Wangji's chest.
Lan Wangji still didn't move.
"Lan Zhan, dress !"
As if breaking out of a spell, Lan Wangji finally jerked into motion.
He slipped into his shoes so fast Wei Wuxian was distantly surprised he didn't mix up left and right, then threw on the robe with minimal care—he hadn't even put both arms through their sleeves before he was already running.
Wei Wuxian was only a step behind him. Together they dashed into the night.
Lan Xichen's stay in the south had been planned open-ended—however long Gusu Lan was needed was how long his group had been supposed to stay.
That he was back already spelled bad news.
That he had returned only to end up in the infirmary spelled even worse.
Their feet splashed through unseen puddles as they raced down the paths of the Cloud Recesses, but Lan Wangji didn't slow down, didn't even seem to notice and Wei Wuxian only cared about keeping up with him.
They reached the infirmary in record time.
Bursting inside as one, they almost ran over a physician's assistant.
Without even needing to ask, they were shown down a corridor.
Even though he tried not to indulge his mind's catastrophizing, Wei Wuxian couldn't help but brace himself for the worst, blood everywhere, Lan Xichen motionless and pale, looking like his father had the few times Wei Wuxian had seen him.
The physician's assistant brought them to one of the last sickrooms off the corridor.
Lan Wangji reached it first.
With what counted as more than frantic energy for him, he wrenched it open.
There was only one occupied cot in the entire faintly lit room.
Lan Xichen was placed on top, and though he was indeed motionless, he was also sitting perfectly upright, his eyes closed and spiritual energy swirling around him in meditative effort.
"Xiongzhang!" Lan Wangji gasped.
Lan Xichen's eyes opened immediately.
He smiled. "Ah, Wangji. A-Xian."
Wei Wuxian released a heavy breath and clutched the doorframe, faint with relief, while Lan Wangji ran over to his brother.
Only now did Wei Wuxian notice the other people in the room.
Lan Qiren was sitting by the wall, his face grim, and Lan Wenyan was standing next to him with concern written all over his expression. Head physician Guo was also there, working on Lan Xichen.
A long cut spanned the side of the latter's neck.
The wound looked maybe a day old—Lan Xichen's formerly white collars had been dyed the dirty brownish red of dried blood. Bandages of the same color were wrapped around his right arm, but whatever wound they were covering, it clearly wasn't head physician Guo's priority.
The neck wound was long and sizable.
Even with Lan Xichen's high cultivation, it would probably leave a scar.
"I'm fine, Wangji," Lan Xichen said, gently touching his younger brother's arm.
Wei Wuxian walked over too. "What happened?"
"An assassin sneaked into Zewu-jun's tent at night!" Lan Wenyan exclaimed.
" What ?" Outraged, Wei Wuxian instinctively wrapped his hand around Suibian's hilt. "Who dared?!"
"We aren't certain," Lan Xichen admitted, then quickly smiled and took Lan Wangji's arm again. "Really, I will be fine , Wangji. It's not as bad as it looks. I awoke just in time to mostly avoid the blade." He chuckled, sounding a little self-conscious. "At least it seems that my training was not for nothing."
Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian escaped an incredulous laugh. He walked over to the cot and gingerly sat on the side that head physician Guo wasn't working on to nudge Lan Xichen's uninjured arm. "I hope the rotten bastard didn't get away unscathed at least?"
"He is dead," Lan Xichen confirmed.
Wei Wuxian nodded in grim satisfaction while Lan Wangji visibly exhaled.
"I managed to subdue him as he attempted to flee, and we interrogated him," Lan Xichen went on. "However, he only responded when asked if he had any last words."
"Oh?" Wei Wuxian's eyes narrowed.
Lan Xichen shook his head. "We... could not make sense of what he said."
"It was always the same," Lan Wenyan chimed in, visibly disconcerted. "'You and your friends were doomed before you even found together,' that's what he repeated over and over again. I'll say it, the guy was mad!"
Wei Wuxian shared a glance with Lan Wangji.
"He would not explain himself," Lan Xichen agreed. "He was a cultivator, but we did not find any valuable information on his body. Nothing that hinted at possible affiliation."
"He must have been a Wen!" Lan Wenyan declared angrily. "They didn't manage to take Lan-zongzhu in a fair fight and so resorted to underhanded tactics!"
"How is the situation in the south?" Lan Wangji asked his brother.
Lan Xichen didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were trained on his lap.
"Qishan Wen's forces were... overwhelming."
His eyes closed. "We did not even reach Maoming proper. Communications with Gong-zongzhu and the other sect leaders ceased long before we had even arrived. I'm afraid that, by now, both Guangxi and Guangdong have fallen into Wen Ruohan's hands."
Wei Wuxian clenched his fists. "Fuck."
"Language," Lan Qiren grumbled, though it seemed mostly a force of habit.
"Seriously, just how many disciples does Wen Ruohan have!" Wei Wuxian sprang up from the cot and started to pace. "How is it possible that he can lead three large scale attacks at the same time?!"
"There were certainly more Wen disciples than we expected," Lan Xichen said gravely. "But we later heard that had only been the case in Guangdong. It was Wen Ruohan himself who took the minor sects in Guangxi. The reports are unanimous. He had not a single disciple with him."
Wei Wuxian stopped in his tracks.
His own horror was mirrored on Lan Wangji's face.
Lan Qiren huffed. "It seems claims of his nigh immortality are not exaggerated."
"Fuck," Wei Wuxian said again.
This time no one reprimanded him.
"Zewu-jun, if you would tilt your head to the side," head physician Guo calmly requested.
A drop of sweat rolled down Lan Xichen's temple as the doctor began to apply a strong-smelling salve along his neck wound, but he endured the treatment without complaint. Once the cut was covered completely, head physician Guo carefully began to bandage it.
"The elders' council has requested a meeting," Lan Qiren grunted, breaking the somber silence. "They wish for the sect leader to address the sect tomorrow."
Lan Xichen hummed, seeming unsurprised. "Please call for headmistress Xi to attend as well, shufu."
Puzzlement flashed over his uncle's face. "Headmistress Xi does not have any qualifications that would necessitate her sitting in. The woman's side will be informed of whatever results the meeting brings once it has concluded, as usual."
Finished with the bandages, head physician Guo moved to turn his attention onto Lan Xichen's arm, but the latter stopped him. "My other injuries are minor. I will be taking care of the rest myself."
If the doctor had objections, he hid them splendidly. "Understood, Zewu-jun." With a bow, he excused himself.
As soon as head physician Guo had left, Lan Xichen stood from his cot. "I still want her to attend. I would be most grateful if you were to issue Headmistress Xi an invitation, shufu."
Lan Qiren exhaled and regarded him with narrowed eyes, but at last just nodded. "Use the night to rest, Xichen, but still make sure to prepare yourself well for tomorrow. Injury does not justify a laps in diligence."
"Mn, I know," Lan Xichen agreed. He turned to Wei Wuxian. "While I'm at it, I would also like to hear how the situation in Yunmeng has progressed, A-Xian, if you are amenable."
Pleasantly surprised, Wei Wuxian perked up. "Of course! I can only tell you what Jiang-guniang could tell me though, and she evacuated from Lotus Pier a few days ago."
Lan Xichen inclined his head in understanding. "Perhaps you and Wangji would like to come over to the Hanshi for tea?"
-------
Though there were no news Wei Wuxian or Lan Wangji could share that didn't utterly pale in comparison to that which Lan Xichen could tell them about his time in the south, Lan Xichen still wanted to hear about everything that had happened in extensive detail and listened with interest to all particulars of Jiang Yanli's journey.
He even requested Wei Wuxian write his shijie to ask her if she had objections to him reading what she had sent—she didn't—and had Wei Wuxian bring her letters from the Hongshi.
Above all, he was most interested in what Wei Wuxian had heard from the assistant of Caiyi Town's new magistrate though.
"Perhaps I should meet magistrate Hua myself after all," Lan Xichen wondered. "His household seems extraordinarily well connected."
"If Jin Zixuan is travelling to Lotus Pier our own offices will report on it before long," Lan Wangji said.
"Ah, yes, I suppose that is true, Wangji."
"By the way, what about Pingyang?" Wei Wuxian chimed in. "Does Chifeng-zun have more luck getting rid of the Wen sect up north?"
A fond smile appeared on Lan Xichen's face. "He has not reached out to me yet. It is no cause for worry though. Mingjue-xiong is not the most... reliable correspondent. Especially not when his mind is occupied with a stimulating objective."
"Such as hunting down Wens, I imagine?" Wei Wuxian huffed in amusement.
Lan Xichen's eyes twinkled. "Exactly."
-------
The next morning found Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji on the training field of the public grounds with Luo Qingyang again.
With every subsequent training session, their friend seemed more cheerful. Wei Wuxian was quite satisfied with himself for thinking about having her stay in Caiyi half of the week. He was even more satisfied every time Luo Qingyang freely addressed Lan Wangji by name.
After weeks of training, she had notably improved in strength.
Sparring with her, Wei Wuxian noticed her strikes had gotten heavier and he was pretty sure the robes she had been given in the Cloud Recesses were beginning to sit a little too tightly around her shoulders.
Perhaps they should lend her some money so she could get herself new ones?
Or maybe Wei Wuxian should inform Mu Lijuan and she could offer something from her own closet as she had with his shijie. That would go some ways towards paying her back for opening her doors to Luo Qingyang, wouldn't it?
Distracted by thoughts like this, Wei Wuxian suddenly had his sword knocked out of his hand.
Gaping, he stared at where Suibian had landed a few paces away from him.
Luo Qingyang lowered Fuxiao, grinning brightly. "That's what you get for not paying attention!"
Surprised, Wei Wuxian laughed. "Nice job! Ah, Lan Zhan, don't be too hard on me with your critiques, yeah?"
"Wei Ying needs to refrain from letting his mind wander if he does not want to be disarmed during a spar," Lan Wangji said cooly.
Wei Wuxian's squawk of betrayal was ignored.
Lan Wangji heartlessly turned to Luo Qingyang. "Your strike was perfectly timed and adequate in strength. In a true fight Wei Ying would have struggled to regain control over his weapon in time to defend himself against a follow-up attack. Well done."
Beaming proudly, Luo Qingyang saluted him. "Thank you for your feedback."
"Yeah, thank you." Huffing, Wei Wuxian made sure to pout pitifully.
Lan Wangji was unmoved. He only briefly touched his back as he came to take his place.
Because he was a good sport, Wei Wuxian chose to be cheered up.
Summoning Suibian back into his hand, he ran to make way. "Let's see you take revenge for me, Lan Zhan! This Wei Ying has been incredibly frightened by suddenly losing his sword to a formidable enemy—his husband needs to protect him!"
Lan Wangji inclined his head.
Snorting lightly, Luo Qingyang rolled her shoulders in preparation to compete against a new opponent.
They cheerfully went on like this for most of the morning.
Noon was still a shichen away when Wei Wuxian noticed someone appearing on the training field.
Thinking for a moment it was Zu Zhenzhen, he prepared to ask why she had come so early, as he realized that it instead was one of the senior disciples who frequently assisted Lan Qiren in his office.
"Wei-gongzi," the guy greeted with a bow once he had reached him.
Lan Wangji and Luo Qingyang stopped fighting behind him.
"Good morning. Is everything okay?" Wei Wuxian asked, returning the greeting.
The man inclined his head. "Zewu-jun has asked for his brothers to come to Lan-xiansheng's office so that you may prepare for the meeting with the elders' council."
Confused, Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow. "The meeting is scheduled for the afternoon. Was it moved up?"
"This disciple cannot say."
Lan Wangji and Luo Qingyang joined them in that moment.
"It seems like I should excuse myself, huh?" the latter said.
"Actually, Zewu-jun explicitly requested for Luo-guniang to come as well," the man addressed her politely.
"I... what?" She blinked. "Why?"
"Again, this disciple was not informed of the specifics."
Wei Wuxian exchanged a confused glance with Lan Wangji. Then he shrugged. "Ah, well, in that case, let's go. Better not to keep the sect leader waiting."
Nodding in agreement, the senior disciple held out his arm, signaling for them to follow.
As they walked—Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji some paces behind the man and Luo Qingyang at their shoulders—Luo Qingyang leaned forward and whispered, "I didn't break some rule, did I? Would Zewu-jun personally punish a guest?"
Wei Wuxian waved his hand with a smile. "Nonsense, how would he even know? He only just came back yesterday."
"There must be new correspondence," Lan Wangji chimed in quietly.
"Right, all communication tablets are in shufu's office. It must be that," Wei Wuxian agreed.
Luo Qingyang nodded and leaned back again, though continued to nervously glance around the Cloud Recesses.
Wei Wuxian didn't think to worry before they actually reached the old man's office and he saw that there were quite a number of senior disciples and elders gathered inside the antechamber of the building, as well as in front of it. All of them were talking with hushed voices and varying levels of agitation.
Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren were seated at the latter's desk, bowed over some papers.
As Lan Xichen spotted them come in, he rose abruptly.
A single look at his face told Wei Wuxian immediately that something was wrong.
"Luo-guniang," he said first, regarding her with strange tension. "Wangji. A-Xian. All three of you, please take a seat."
They did.
Wei Wuxian felt even more apprehension rise in him as Lan Xichen didn't immediately speak.
Instead, he seemed in need of collecting his words first while Lan Qiren at his right just darkly looked at the table.
Yes, something was clearly very wrong.
"Gusu Lan has received peculiar reports," Lan Xichen finally began. "First, there has been good news. After waking this morning, I received an all-clear from Mingjue-xiong. Apparently, the Wen force attacking Pingyang Yao was much smaller than Yao-zhonghu had made it out to be in his call for help. They were defeated easily."
His brow furrowed.
"Mingjue-xiong's men discovered multiple empty Wen camps that seemed mostly uninhabited. The only people found inside were a group of peasant men dressed in Qishan Wen uniforms."
"...What?" Wei Wuxian asked incredulously.
"Mingjue-xiong was fuming," Lan Xichen said, concern shining in his eyes. "His men very nearly killed these civilians under false assumptions, but it was discovered just in time that they had been threatened with the lives of their families by Wen Xu himself to stay inside the camp and wait for Qinghe Nie's arrival."
"...They deliberately kept Lan and Nie apart," Lan Wangji surmised. "The attack on Pingyang was largely staged to keep Chifeng-zun from joining xiongzhang in the south. Yunmeng, Guangdong and Guangxi are Qishan Wen's true priorities."
"Fuck! They played us!" Wei Wuxian cursed. "Why didn't Yao-zongzhu investigate properly? It should have been obvious something fishy was going on if those camps were half empty!"
"He likely panicked at the first sign of Wen presence in his territory," Lan Qiren grunted.
And sect leader Yao seemed just like a man who would exaggerate the situation in the hopes to pull more help towards himself, Wei Wuxian thought. Wen Xu was far from stupid. Perhaps he had even counted on this.
"What else?" Lan Wangji asked his brother.
Lan Xichen hesitated.
Strangely, his eyes snapped to Luo Qingyang.
"Something unrelated, but no less troubling has occurred as well," he said, quickly looking back at the letters littering his uncle's desk. "Rizhao Zeng and Weizhou Tang have sent word from Lanling. There has been trouble in Koi Tower. Apparently, Jin-furen and Jin Zixuan were gravely injured on a nighthunt."
"What? The peacock?! I thought he was on his way to Lotus Pier!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed in alarm.
"While there was talk of a young master leading a large group of Jin disciples towards Yunmeng, it appears the assumption that it is Jin Zixuan has been in error," Lan Xichen said. His face grew strained. "It was Jin Guangshan himself who reported his wife's and son's injuries. He... he blamed several small sects from Lanling and accused them of colluding against his family... Allegedly, they hired a group of rogue cultivators operating as mercenaries to attack them..."
Once again, his eyes flickered over to Luo Qingyang.
She had grown completely still.
"He has already... razed these small sects to the ground in revenge."
"...No," Luo Qingyang breathed.
Lan Xichen averted his eyes. "I am truly sorry. Zeng-zongzhu and Tang-zongzhu each independently provided lists of the sects who were targeted... the Juye Shu sect was mentioned both times. It has to be assumed that..."
She shook her head at him with wide, pleading eyes.
Lan Xichen looked heartbroken right along with her. "I'm sorry," he could only repeat. "Of course, you are free to remain in the Cloud Recesses. I would be happy to... that is, please stay however long you like. Until you have decided what you want to do next at the very least."
Lan Qiren squinted at him while Luo Qingyang just lowered her head.
Her fists were trembling in her lap.
"This story doesn't add up at all!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed furiously. "What could small sects possibly have to gain from attacking the lady and heir of Lanling Jin? Rather than gaining anything they have everything to lose! Did Jin Guangshan even provide any proof?"
"Apparently Laoling Qin discovered documents detailing the exchange between the minor sects and the mercenaries, as they raided the latter's secret hideout," Lan Xichen said. "Qin Cangye begs the Cultivation World to think of his friend in these times and hope for his family's quick recovery."
"Oh, how convenient that it was Jin Guangshan's good friend who just so happened to discover evidence!" Wei Wuxian mocked.
"Wuxian, mind your tongue," Lan Qiren warned. "At this point in time the truth is unattainable. Jin Guangshan may have an agenda of his own or he might not. We should not trust him implicitly, but we also cannot outright dismiss his claims until there is proof to contradict them."
"What the fuck would proof even help at this point?" Wei Wuxian scoffed. "And where is it supposed to come from if there's no one willing to investigate?! The smalls sects who were razed to the ground certainly can't come to their own defense anymore, can they!"
"Please, shufu, A-Xian," Lan Xichen chided quietly, throwing a concerned look at Luo Qingyang who had flinched. To her he said, "There is no need for you to remain. A disciple could escort you back to your quarters now, if you wanted."
"...Thank you," she just said, her voice almost too quiet to be understood.
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