When Wei WuXian woke up the next morning, he had a mild heart attack. Instead of the black walls and blown out candles, with the touch of a small back ache, he woke up in comfortable night robes, tucked under a blanket in a bedroom that was nothing but old memories in his head.
Wei WuXian sat up, looking around his old bedroom that resonated within the warm walls of Lotus Pier. He sat there silent, just taking in the room. He knew it was his, he saw the childish and silly carvings in the wood he had made years and years ago. But the air felt different...as if it were unreal, not supposed to exist.
Wei WuXian stood up, slowly basking within the atmosphere so different but so familiar, as he got ready for the day. Jiang Cheng had insisted on providing some new black and red robes for the demonic cultivator, who took them with gratitude. His old robes were simple, black and red, occasionally he wore a dark grey or deep brown hue. But these robes, the robes gifted to him, were high quality. The fabric was strong and Wei WuXian could feel the hums of protective wards and talismans to keep him warm and for the robes to not stain. He also noticed the lotus motif that was sown in a slightly different shade of black. It too wasn't obvious unless you were familiar with Yunmeng stitching as he was or had been informed it was there. A smile crawled onto the pale face, silver eyes sparkling with affection.
That motif was not just an assurance that he was still considered a part of the sect, despite "defecting", but it was a promise that he wasn't alone. Wei WuXian let himself be selfish and relish in it, letting himself trust the fabric that would hide his thin frame.
Once he had given himself the longest and most thorough bath in years, Wei WuXian adorned his new, but old, robes. He noticed the new red ribbon instead of his old one, another amused smile curling at his lips. He reached for a comb, fingers coming to a stop as a pale hand grabbed it instead. Wei WuXian glanced in the mirror to see two females and one male with glowing and slightly transparent bodies floating around him. Wei WuXian smiled, "You followed me,"
The female who picked up the comb giggled, the laughter pleasant and warm. Her clothes were a minty green color, her black hair ending at her shoulders. In her hair was a simple headpiece with a pale pink flower, matching with the earrings she had on. She was the youngest of the three spirits and her name was Bai Chunhua and when she was alive, she was a simple common woman. Her death was unfortunate, killed by her family as she refused to marry let alone have any romantic relationships with a man. She was not interested in the male gender as she was the female, "Of course, we did, *Xiao Wei"
The second female was the eldest of the three. She wore female cultivator robes, a sword just as transparent as her strapped to her waist. Her black hair was tied back into a high ponytail and her eyes were sharp yet bright. Her robes were dark blue, with white inner robes. The name belonging to her was Ren MingXia, a former cultivator who had died in the Battle that caused the Yiling Mountains to become the Burial Mounds. She raised an eyebrow at Wei WuXian, "As if we'd let you just walk out of Yiling without our company when the cultivation world is out for your head!"
The third and final spirit was older than Bai Chunhua, but younger than Ren MingXia, and his name was Zeng Minsheng. He wasn't a cultivator, but he had a large sword strapped to his back and daggers hidden on his body underneath the dark brown robes, with equally dark grey inner robes. He was a talented fighter, but when he was alive, was nothing more than an orphan who taught himself to fight and survive, doing quick jobs to earn money and living as a street rat, who occasionally resulted in stealing. He had died by getting attacked by a powerful yao. Zeng Minsheng rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall, "Are you sure leaving is a good idea?"
Wei WuXian sat down and let Bai Chunhua do his hair. She had done it multiple times before. Out of the spirits he communicated with, these three were the closest to him. They protected and nurtured him, kept him company at night when the nightmares plagued him. They had warned him multiple times of intruders and cultivators trying to start trouble during the past two years. He spoke with a firm tone, "Lan Zhan is in danger,"
"Right, your beloved," Ren MingXia smirked and the three ghosts all smiled as Wei WuXian's cheeks dusted pink.
"Whatever," Wei WuXian muttered, as his hair was completed. He stood up and slipped Chenqing into his waist belt. His fingers hovered slightly over Suibian, the sword that was nothing more than an extra weight for Wei WuXian to carry. With a deep breath, he picked it up and brought along only because he knew they'd be flying again.
When he turned back, the door was being held open by Zeng Minsheng. He heard the door close behind him, but knew the three ghosts followed him, yet hid themselves away for now. Wei WuXian strolled through the halls of Lotus Pier, taking in the place where he had once felt the safest.
Did he even have such a luxury anymore? To have somewhere he could run to and feel comforted? To feel warm and protected from the world? Even now- as he walked down the halls that had built his entire life...were they the same as they were four and a half years ago?
Were these the same halls where he would get scolded and praised? Walked and ran? Cried and laughed? Slept and woke?
Wei WuXian knew...that it wasn't.
That the carefree boy who had brought the death of almost the entire Sect deserved the torture he had recieved in the Burial Mounds. He deserved to be defected. He deserved to be shunned. That boy who had given up his sword for a flute in order to keep a promise was half dead. The part of him left was nothing far from broken. Traumatized. Desperate to protect the people who had given him love that he didn't deserve.
The Wei WuXian who fell into the Burial Mounds barely managed to survive. And even then...the changed male that had walked out, had returned straight back to the mountain in the end.
"Young Master Wei, good morning,"
Wei WuXian glanced up, breaking from his depressing thoughts. Lan Xichen stood looking a lot better than the day before, a gentle smile carved onto the jade features. Wei WuXian saluted, "Sect Leader Lan,"
Lan Xichen looked thoughtful for a few seconds, then placed a hand on Wei WuXian's shoulder, "Xichen-Ge,"
"Huh?"
"Call me, Xichen-Ge," Lan Xichen grinned.
Wei WuXian blinked before nodding slowly. He swore he could here Bai Chunhua's teasing giggles and held back glaring in that direction. He returned the smile, "Then you shouldn't address me formally either,"
Lan Xichen hummed in thought, "A-Ying?"
Wei WuXian felt his grin brighten, "I would be honored, for Xichen-Ge to address me so informally!"
Lan Xichen nodded, patting Wei WuXian's back a few times. Wei WuXian then guided Lan Xichen towards the Sword's Hall, where Jiang Cheng was seated on the Lotus Throne reading a letter. Wei WuXian walked over and asked, "What's that?"
"You're up?" Jiang Cheng spoke with genuine shock, "I thought you'd sleep in...more than usual,"
Wei WuXian crossed his arms across his chest and huffed, "I'm wanted dead or powerless to the entire world...I've been forced to adapt,"
There was a stiff pause and the demonic cultivator confessed, "...I also got the best sleep I have in over two years,"
Jiang Cheng trained his eyes on Wei WuXian sternly before awkwardly muttering, "A-Jie's gonna make me send you a proper bed,"
"Anyways," Lan Xichen moved the conversation along, "When should we leave to Koi Tower?"
"Right after this dumbass," Jiang Cheng motions to his brother, "Gets some food in his stomach,"
"I'm fine, we don't need to waste anymore time," Wei WuXian shook his head ignoring the feeling of a hand whacking his head lightly in protest.
"You haven't eaten since a small snack yesterday and we're going to be flying to Lanling," Lan Xichen frowned worriedly, unaware of the fact the three spirits were agreeing with him with extreme enthusiasm.
Wei WuXian shrugged non committedly, "I've been fasting without meaning to. I can go quite a while without food and still be in good condition,"
Another ghost hand smacked his head.
"No wonder you're so thin," Jiang Cheng grumbled and nodded to a disciple waiting for an order, "Three steamed buns, please,"
"A-Cheng!" Wei WuXian protested, "We have to find Lan Zhan!"
"And we'll find him," Jiang Cheng shook his head, already having enough of his brother, "For someone who argues with Hanguang Jun any time you meet, you're freakishly concerned about this..."
"Because I know what resentment can do better than any person in the world!" Wei WuXian defended, forcing himself to not panic and reveal everything. He added, "Plus- he's a great person who has a heart of gold. He's literally called, the light bearer, but now he's harnessing yin instead of yang! How can I not be worried about him...it'll destroy him if we manage to save him and he's done something awful. Lan Zhan isn't me, grandmaster of demonic cultivation,"
Lan Xichen smiled mysteriously, "And the world thinks you two hate each other, how exactly?"
"I don't hate him," Wei WuXian defended much too fast, bowing slightly to the servant who handed him three steamed buns that were wrapped up. He placed two in his sleeve for later, and unwrapped the first as they walked out.
"Oh?" Lan Xichen's smile broadened, "Then...how do you feel about my brother?"
Wei WuXian froze and his mind went on alert, 'Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! Wait- does he know? No, how could he know! There's no way, maybe's he's guessing and being an overprotective brother? That seems possible,'
Wei WuXian coughed awkwardly, avoiding eye contact and answering, "I care about him, which is why we should head to Koi Tower,"
He quickly used resentment energy to make Suibian fly and stepped on it while eating his steamed bun. Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng followed after him, the trio heading towards Lanling where they would arrive an hour after lunch.
As they flew, Wei WuXian asked, "Do you think Sect Leader Jin would let me see A-Ling, or no?"
"I think A-Jie and ZiXuan would let you see their son and not care if Sect Leader Jin did or not," Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.
Wei WuXian turned to Lan Xichen, "Xichen-Ge, did you know that shijie was the one who suggested I give A-Ling his courtesy name?"
"I did not,"
"And you chose, Rulan," Jiang Cheng shook his head, but smiled at the memory, "Why did you choose Rulan again?"
"The newest generation of Lanling is Ru," Wei WuXian reminded.
"And why Lan?" Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, "No offence Zewu Jun, but I just never understood why you threw in Lan when A-Ling is from the Jiang and Jin Sect's?"
"I didn't choose it for the damn Sect's!" Wei WuXian screeched, before feeling his face warm up in a way he did not enjoy. Zeng MinSheng's teasing whisper made him swat a hand near his ear as he defended to the other two, "Lan can mean many great things like gentlemen and orchid and things like that! It doesn't necessarily have to be Lan as in blue, as in the Sect!"
Lan Xichen burst into laughter, the younger males staring at him with confusion. The Sect Leader just shook his head and grinned dumbly, "A-Ying, you're quite dense,"
"Huh?" Wei WuXian said at the same time as Jiang Cheng snorted, "That's true,"
When the three entered Lanling, they first spotted the extravagant Koi Tower. The tower sat at the most flourishing part of the city with a large dirt path surrounded by the stories of Jin Leaders and distinguished cultivators. This path was only ever opened for serious occasions such as a discussion conference. Wei WuXian had always groaned at the large number of steps one had to climb to get into the actual residence, passing by bundles of the Sparks Amidst Snow Peonies.
No one in the cultivation world could deny that the LanlingJin Sect was rich and they weren't short of flaunting their wealth, uniforms the color of gold and each room and pavement of the Koi Tower clean and elegant. Right now, the three cultivators flew past the stairs and landed outside the Fragrance Hall. Wei WuXian had many memories of this hall- the first being when he got the location of the Wen Remnants and left with Wen Qing to find Wen Ning. The second was two years ago at Jin Ling's one month banquet.
Wei WuXian exhaled heavily as he stared at the closed doors. There were no disciples in the court, so Wei WuXian didn't worry about being seen yet. But behind those doors...behind those doors were people that would attack him and curse at him. He felt a soft hand stroke his back, a hand that belonged to one of the three spirits.
"So...how are we planning to avoid a sword getting stabbed at me?" Wei WuXian hissed, glancing at the Sect Leaders on either side of him.
"We'll protect you," Lan Xichen spoke with determination and then nodded to Jiang Cheng, "Sect Leader Jiang, we should go ahead and enter first. I believe A-Ying should enter behind us so chaos doesn't start right away,"
"I'll enter when you call for me," Wei WuXian agreed, shoving Suibian into Jiang Cheng's hands, "Keep it for me. Its practically useless in my hands,"
Jiang Cheng nodded with a confused expression, placing the sword in his sleeves. He glanced at them both and placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder, "Just- don't lose your cool until we get everyone to realize you're the only person fit for this case,"
Wei WuXian snorted, but nodded and walked forward until he stood slightly hidden from view if the doors were open, but could also observe half of the hall from behind the pole he was against. Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng glanced at him once more, before opening the doors. Wei WuXian grimaced at the overlapping voices of Sect Leaders clashed into his ears. He spotted the white figures of the ghosts and saw all three of them have discomfort and annoyance on their features.
"Sect Leader Lan! Sect Leader Jiang!" Nie MingJue's voice boomed, quieting down the hall.
"Er-Ge," A gentle voice spoke which could only belong to Jin Guangyao, "You said this was about the situation with WangJi,"
"Yes, yes it is," Lan Xichen spoke and Wei WuXian inched slightly closer.
"Have you found him?" Sect Leader Yao asked.
"No..." Lan Xichen sighed somberly, "But, I have found a way to save and find him,"
"Really?" Jin Guangshan raised an eyebrow, "And what idea is that?"
"It's actually waiting right outside," Jiang Cheng casually spoke.
"Outside?" Jin ZiXuan's voice repeated, "Why outside?"
"Because we wanted to make sure everything was alright in here," Jiang Cheng answered back.
"Sect Leader Lan, do tell us what this idea of yours is?" Sect Leader Ouyang grinned.
"Yes, it must be wonderful!" Sect Leader Yao agreed.
"Yes, Sect Leader Lan is a smart and capable leader. This idea will most likely work!" someone else praised.
Wei WuXian couldn't help but bite his lip to hold back laughter at the irony of the situation. Yes, yes, the same leaders who spat at him were now praising him unknowingly. Zeng Mingsheng didn't hesitate to hold back his laughter, the sound only reaching Wei WuXian's ears.
"If Sect Leader Lan and Sect Leader Jiang have both agreed and brought this to propose, it must be trustworthy, " Jin Guangshan praised
Wei WuXian lost his shit, no longer able to stay silent. He burst into laughter right outside the doors of the hall. He heard as the hall quieted down as his cackles trickled in.
"Who is that?!" Jin Guangshan demanded.
"Wait- wait- I know that laughter!" Nie Huaisang gasped.
Wei WuXian took that as his cue and walked to stand in the doorway revealing himself in all his demonic glory. He gave a great grin as the Sect Leaders in the hall watched him, realization slowly falling onto their features, eyes widening and face's paling.
Wei WuXian brought his hands together and bowed respectfully. A playful smile claimed his lips and he was unable to stop himself.
"It's been a while,"
*Xiao Wei = Xiao means 'little' / Wei is the character used in Wei Ying's name, it means 'ghost'. The spirits call him, 'Little Ghost'