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Chapter Fourty
The Burial Mounds, a mountain known for its eerie and gloomy atmosphere, was covered with black miasma all year round. Spanning from its foot to the peak was like a veil that prevents people from peering what it really was like inside. Even though it was a common knowledge that, like its name suggests, the Burial Mounds should be a mass grave and a haven for walking corpses and vengeful spirits, no person had really seen and live to tell the outside world what it looked like inside.
While the cultivation world was in uproar because of the current campaign to overthrow the tyrannical regimen of the Wens, the Burial Mounds remained the same sturdy harbour of evil, or so what the outside world could see. Because instead of harbouring evil, this place where many people would choose to stay away from, was giving shelter to the innocent and powerless people caught in the war.
At this time, three cultivators and a dog stood at the entrance of the mountain. They came straight from Yueyang and only arrived at Yiling in the middle of the night. It was advantageous for them as this was the best moment to enter the mountain as discreetly as possible.
"Are we really going to enter this mountain?" the youngest from the group asked.
"I thought you want to learn my tricks and yet don't have the courage to enter the Burial Mounds?" a woman under her veil chuckled.
How could this be the same? Just the amount of resentful energy needed to perform demonic tricks and the one present in the Burials Mounds were drastically different. This little friend might be a daredevil, but he was not oblivious of the stories about the Burial Mounds. It was tacitly agreed upon that no one could come out alive from this cursed place. Majority would try to avoid just being near it. He couldn't really see the reason why would they voluntarily seek death. After all, he was still too young to commit suicide.
Seeing the undisguised reluctance in the kid's eyes, the woman in veil laughed even harder. The man beside her sighed as he silently supported her. She laughed for quite some time before stopping.
The veiled woman tried to catch her breath as she decided to be serious once and for all, "My bad, my bad. The walls have ears and I really can't explain it here to you. But trust your Master. If I say that it's safe to enter the Burial Mounds, naturally I'm not trying to get you killed. Even an orthodox cultivator is willing to go with me, so what is there to be afraid of?"
As she said these words, the woman in veil intimately wrapped her arms around the said orthodox cultivator.
The kid snorted inside. How could they be the same? He is just her disciple while he is her husband whose tolerance towards her mischief would make others shy.
Never mind, this master had changed his initial impression about her through and through, making him repeatedly ask himself if he really did the right choice to request her to be his master. She left him alone in the inn, threw him in front of the enemies, and made him the babysitter of the mysterious ancient beast who could talk. Now, she was asking him to commit suicide.
But when it comes to heart, she was indeed the purest soul he had ever met. He had met many people and experienced the cruelty of the monsters hiding under their human skin. This master, he believed, would not do things that could really endanger their lives.
"I apologize for doubting the Master's intention," he said purposely in the tone of an adult.
"Xue Yang is wise," the veiled woman smiled, suppressing her laugh.
It was indeed Xue Yang, Wei Wuxian's disciple. So who could this disgustingly sweet couple be if not Wei Wuxian himself and his husband, Lan Wangji?
The master and disciple had finally come into consensus, but this small episode had caused unnecessary delay to their group that the black dog with them was already in a sour mood.
"What's with the delay? Do you think I have a whole lifetime to shelter these kids inside my space?" the black dog scoffed in contempt. He wasn't an evil, but nor was he a saint. Letting the survivors of the Chang Clan to stay at his space was a great burden to his powers so the earlier he could release them, the better. But these humans really had to talk about nonsense things at this moment. Since he was in a foul mood, he couldn't help his mouth to also spit out some foul words, "I really couldn't understand why sparing the lives of these children wasn't enough that we even have to take them along."
"One should be a bigger person," Xue Yang spoke seriously.
This only earned him a look of contempt from the old demon. "Brat, if you don't know how to use words properly, then just don't use them."
After reprimanding Xue Yang of his wrong usage of idiom, he then proceeded being the annoying old dog that he was originally was, "And I'm not even a person, nor I am big."
"You..." Xue Yang was unable to utter a word out. This old demon's words were really powerful. He had never met someone who would talk about their own selves that way.
"Pfft! Alright alright, if we're going to talk about the bigger person, it is, of course, my husband!" Wei Wuxian couldn't stop himself, receiving a look from Lan Wangji.
"Ehem!" Wei Wuxian cleared his throat. "So shall we go inside?"
When no one refused, Wei Wuxian finally took a step forward to lead their group. As the master of the Burial Mounds, he didn't need any incantation to be recognized by it. Naturally, it wouldn't refuse the people that he would willingly bring along.
The formerly condensed black miasma covering the whole mountain slowly parted, mysteriously giving way to their group. Lan Wangji walked alongside Wei Wuxian while Xue Yang, who had a small dispute with the black dog earlier, still bent down and picked up the beast before following.
As he noticed how the intimidating resentful energy deliberately avoided their group, Xue Yang's eyes widened and glanced at his master with astonishment. He vowed to himself that from now on, he wouldn't doubt his master. Instead, he promised to give his earnest to learn from her.
Their group ascended the mountain unhindered and soon arrived at the clearing located at the middle of the mountain. From here upwards, the mountain was wrapped with multiple residences with houses built from exquisite black bamboos. In the middle of these residences was a high majestic black stairway leading to the peak of the mountain where a huge cave was located.
Even though everything was black, the residences and the stairway was decorated with special red lanterns that lit up the whole place. Because of this, one would not be frightened, but would only feel awe that such place existed behind the blanket of black miasma surrounding the Burial Mounds.
Wei Wuxian couldn't help but hold his breath. Almost a year had already passed after he woke up in his teenage body here in the Burial Mounds. That time, the Burial Mounds was still covered with resentful energy in its every corner and the living creature inside it was only him, the old demon dog, and the small peasants he didn't know existed.
He remembered feeling so empty inside. The burden on his heart after the death of many people was so heavy... so painful that he already felt numb. He was really tired that even if he was given a second chance, the first thing that he thought of was to kill himself. Wei Wuxian glanced at the black dog in Xue Yang's arms. His mouth curved up into a small arc. Thankfully, this dog was with him.
Wei Wuxian sighed as he shook his head. He once foolishly shouldered the lives of many people without enough power and only caused them death. This time, he still did the same but he already learned how to accept the help of others. From then on, many things had started to change. It was him who caused the deviation of the future events and he had never regretted doing so.
Wei Wuxian looked up and noticed the alluring red lanterns decorating the whole mountain. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he saw this scene, remembering the old days in his past life. He couldn't help but hum as he started to ascend the stairway, "Who cares about the crowded broad road? I'll walk the single-plank bridge all night... All! The! Night!"
"Wei Ying..."
"Hmmn?" Wei Wuxian turned to his side and saw Lan Wangji looking at him with unknown emotion.
Lan Wangji, "This time I am accompanying you."
It was a simple sentence but the meaning was really heartfelt. Wei Wuxian was lost for words for a second before he burst out in a mirthful laugh. Back then, Lan Wangji indeed left after visiting him even though A'Yuan asked him to stay for dinner.
Wei Wuxian wrapped his hand around Lan Wangji's wrist and pulled him along, "Yes yes, Rich-gege should stay. I heard a secret that there would be many foods tonight. We should eat together."
Lan Wangji seriously nodded, "Mnn."
"Don't leave us! We also want to eat good food!" Xue Yang called from behind.
"Are you saying that this old demon is also a glutton like you? You don't know but I don't need these lowly things to maintain my life. When I ascended to the position of High Demon I..." Elder Heiying clearly wanted to disagree but he ended up boasting again about his origin so Xue Yang, who was already tired of listening about these stories during their travel from Yueyang to Yiling, had to stop him from speaking any further.
"Okay okay, I'll eat everything," Xue Yang said before running to catch up with the couple.
"Brat!"
Xue Yang pretended not to hear him and energetically climb the stairway behind his master and Lan Wangji.
When they reached the mountain peak, they realized that Wei Wuxian was indeed not making things up when he said that there would be good food tonight. Even Wei Wuxian himself didn't expect this to happen.
The three humans and a dog stood at the entrance of the Demon Slaughtering Cave as they watched the clamour inside. There was a line of small tables set around the cave hall with complete set of foods filling it. The larger table placed on the foremost seat was specially field with red mouth-watering dishes. Just by looking at it, Wei Wuxian had to swallow hard.
"You are finally here," a joyous voice sounded behind them.
Wei Wuxian and the others turned around. What welcomed them was a smiling face of the Wen Rebels' leader, Wen Qing. She stood proudly in a green robe with Wen Ning by her side.
"G-greetings Zhengye Xiangu, Hanguang-Jun!" Wen Ning saluted.
The two nodded back before Wei Wuxian turned to his sister, "Wen Qing! When did you come back?"
"Why not? You told me that you're going to go back and I decided to do your follow-up examination. And after all, our side is already very stable. It is your Jiang territory that isn't," Wen Qing provoked.
Wei Wuxian pouted, "That's why I came back."
He will refine a loyal version of the Stygian Tiger Amulet precisely to stabilize the situation in the Jiang territory's border.
"Yes, you came back and these people who had not seen you for months will naturally want to welcome you," Wen Qing pointed to the crowd inside.
The residents of the Burial Mounds also noticed the arrival of Zhengye Xiangu. They stopped what they were doing and turned towards the group.
"We welcome Zhengye Xiangu!" Uncle four greeted first before the others repeated his words in unison.
"We welcome Zhengye Xiangu!"
The scene was really awkwardly formal. Wei Wuxian hurriedly waved his hand and reprimanded them, "What's with this unnecessary formality? We are family ah family!"
Hearing their savior's words, everyone became at ease and laughed at him.
Wei Wuxian shook his head while also laughing. Then he suddenly stopped as though he just remembered something. "Eh? Where's my A'Yuan ah?"
Wei Wuxian turned to Wen Qing in askance. Then, he suddenly saw something moving behind Wen Qing. Wei Wuxian smiled as he peeked at the little one hiding behind Wen Qing's back.
"Is my A'Yuan not going to greet his A'Niang?" he said in a deliberate sad voice.
We Wuxian then turned to Lan Wangji with pitiful expression, "Husband, what to do? It's your fault that A'Yuan could no longer recognize me."
Lan Wangji did not say a single word but instead placed his large hand against Wei Wuxian's head to make him lean over his shoulder.
"*Cough*," Xue Yang gawked in disbelief. What a shameless couple indeed.
The adults were laughing inside but the little one innocently believed them. He slowly stepped forward with his small feet and bowed, "A-A'Yuan... A'Yuan greets A'Niang and A'Die..."
He just finished his words when he was lifted by a strong set of arms. A'Yuan's eyes widened as he saw the enlarge jade-like face of his father. His initial shocked was quickly replaced with many emotions before it settled to joy. A'Yuan raised his small hand and slowly placed it against Lan Wangji's face. As though finally realizing that he was not dreaming, droplets of tears suddenly poured from the little child's eyes.
"Ba... baba!" he uttered before bursting into tears and burying his face in Lan Wangji's neck.
The Wen remnants were shocked by this, Wen Qing and Wen Ning were shocked by this, and of course, Wei Wuxian would be shocked by this turn of events.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji exchanged knowing glances. Something... isn't right here. However, they could not just jump into conclusion without a solid proof. So no matter how much they want to ask the little child, it wasn't the right time. The Wen remnants gave their much effort to prepare this banquet and they couldn't ruin it. Never mind, no matter what A'Yuan meant with his strange actions, it couldn't be harmful.
"Alright, I'm really hungry so shall we start the feast? Uncle Four, where's your delicious wine ah?" Wei Wuxian naturally diverted everyone's attention.
Uncle Four liked being praised for his wine making skill. He laughed happily as he threw a jar of fragrant wine to Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian expertly caught it and walked towards the foremost seat. Lan Wangji carried A'Yuan as he followed his wife. While Xue Yang and Elder Heiying were guided by the Wen siblings to settle the Chang Clan remnants first.
Wei Wuxian ate his food as usual but his eyes couldn't help but drift towards the little child in Lan Wangji's lap. The child, on the other hand, had already recovered and was now happily eating his light food... just like a little Lan. Wei Wuxian was really shocked with this absurd thought.
When he raised his head, he so happened to meet a pair of pale golden eyes. Lan Wangji nodded to him. Even though he didn't say anything, Wei Wuxian was sure that they were thinking about the same thing.
"This..." Wei Wuxian's heart was suddenly sent into turmoil.
After the banquet, the crowd one by one dispersed until it was only the family of three who was left in the Demon Slaughtering Cave hall.
A'Yuan, or it was more right to call him Lan SiZhui, nervously sat with his straight back as he faced the two people who was familiar yet unfamiliar to him. They were so young and his Xian-ge... how did he became so beautiful.
Almost a year ago, his spiritual sense merged with young A'Yuan. It was a body of a child and his spiritual sense was also damaged badly. He could not take full control of A'Yuan's body and would most of the time sleep to recuperate. He was still not sure if it was only a dream that he was brought back to the past, but during the few times that he was awake, he did everything to help with his little power.
He was not aware why the Xian-ge in his memory became a woman but he was sure that this would be a problem for his father. What if the reason why his father disappeared in his timeline was to find his Xian-ge? Then, he would not recognize his Xian-ge in female form!
Lan Sizhui then thought that if he could make Wei Wuxian bring him along to Gusu and let his father see him, Wei Wuxian would inadvertently reveal his true identity.
On his second spiritual sense awakening, he found out that his father and Wei Wuxian, now his mother, already met again. He really wanted to smack his mother for still denying that she was in fact Wei Wuxian. But he was still a child and could only throw Chen Qing in the hopes of his father recognizing it.
On his third spiritual sense awakening, he could finally maintain his control over the little child's body but he was already abandoned by Wei Wuxian. In the time that he could not see Lan Wangji nor Wei Wuxian, he really couldn't ascertain if this world was only a dream. Until tonight when his father held him in his arms just like when he was a little kid, when he touched his warm face, and saw the same concern hidden behind those apathetic eyes. Lan Shizhui was very happy that he had not realized that he gave himself away with his actions leading to their confrontation at this moment.
"Fa... Hanguang-Jun, when you did not comeback months after Zewu-Jun visited you, Teacher Lan commanded the whole sect to search for your whereabouts. Then in the Burial Mounds, we found..." Lan Sizhui's eyes glistened with tears. He had already taken full control of little A'Yuan's body but it was, after all, still the mind of a child.
"...We found Bichen and Sect Leader Nie's fan together with your corporeal bodies' traces of destruction." Lan Sizhui explained.
"One should not grieve excessively... but how could I not?" Lan Sizhui's tears fell down like waterfalls.
Seeing Lan Sizhui crying with his small body of a child, Wei Wuxian couldn't take it anymore. He stood and pick up the child still sitting uprightly in front of them. He then sat down beside Lan Wangji who looked at them with warm gaze. If others saw this scene, they would indeed think that they are one harmonious family.
Lan Sizhui felt the warm hug of Wei Wuxian and was comforted by it. He sobbed but still managed to continue. "Hanguang-Jun disappeared with Sect Leader Nie. I know something was wrong so I asked Uncle Wen Ning to accompany me to the Burial Mounds once again. I'm not really good with arrays... I triggered something then the light suddenly engulfed me. The last thing I can remember was Uncle Wen Ning shouting for my name."
Lan Sizhui had then realized that Wei Wuxian was hugging him. He politely stepped away. Bowing his head, he continued, "When I woke up, I was already in my young self's body. It was only a few months ago that I completely took control over my body. It was hard for me to talk; I apologize for not telling Young Master Wei of my situation."
Wei Wuxian frowned, "What Young Master Wei? Are you renouncing our mother and son relationship?"
Lan Sizhui raised his head in surprise, "I... I..."
Wei Wuxian sighed, "In the past, we treated you as our own son. In this lifetime, I had formally adopted you, while Lan Zhan and I had already taken our three bows. Now, we are your rightful A'Niang and A'Die."
Lan Sizhui stared at Wei Wuxian in disbelief. In his heart... they were really his parents but could never call them as his at will. Now, Wei Wuxian was saying that he could and he should. The feeling was really surreal.
Lan Sizhui glanced at Lan Wangji to see if he was thinking the same. Even though Hanguang-Jun adopted him before, he had never called him his father. He knew that he cared for him but was not really sure if it was really the care of a father to his son.
Lan Wangji noticed his gaze. He raised his hand and patted the child's head.
Lan Wangji, "Sizhui, Wei Ying is right. It was I who had wronged you before. This time... please call me father."
After hearing this, the child once again burst into tears. He raised his short hands and hugged his mother and father's neck. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji looked at each other in the eyes before tacitly patting the child's back.
Their family of three had finally reunited...
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