"Oh God! Please do not tell me that you dreamed about the cold cave too." Xiao Zhan said with eyes slightly widened.
"I did." Lan Wangji replied.
At that instance, both then looked away from each other as the remembrance of the joined wrist surged into their minds at the same time. Wei Wuxian might not know the significant of the ribbon at this age, but Xiao Zhan was aware of it. He knew what the implication of it very well.
Previous modern world Xiao Zhan had no qualms about a piece of ribbon or the act of tying it to another person wrist. It was not a gesture that he would bother about if he was still there. However, he was currently living in the world where that very simple act was considered as suggestively intimate and only could be done with a spouse. He never really thought much about it when he acted the scene, but when both him and the other person in the room just admitted to dreaming about it at the same time, he could not help the rush of blood to his cheeks. He tried to cover his flushing reddening face with a bad case of fake coughs.
For 15 years and a half which was his entire life, Lan Wangji had been taught on rules which was carved on the Wall of Disciplines and there were a few that mentioned about the headband that he had been wearing since childhood. The forehead ribbon is a sacred object to members of the Gusu Lan Clan. The founder of the clan, Lan An taught that one can only let go of all regulations when they were with the one, they loved and cherished. Thus, a member of the Gusu Lan Clan could not easily give another person permission to touch their forehead ribbon, nor can they take it off as they pleased. Furthermore, they were absolutely and strictly forbidden from tying it on someone else â unless that person is their "fated person".
Even if it was simply a dream, the fact that there was an ancestral presence in it and seemingly noticed, even approved the union of ribbon on Lan Wangji's wrist and the person who was currently fidgeting with his fingers under the table across the room, the fact couldn't be ignored. As though it was not confusing enough for the Second Jade of Lan, he had been persistently plagued by puzzling feelings and uncontrollable emotions since the first day he met Wei Ying. Or this 'Wei Wuxian' from future who once had mentioned before, he shared the same appearance with Wei Ying. To be honest, he did not care which one of them were the real owner of the body at this moment. To him, they were the same person regardless. Both of them were exuding the same exact auras and more importantly, messing with his heart rhythms just the same. He could not disregard the uncomfortable and sticky atmosphere between them any longer. He decided to ask, "Have you heard of foretelling dream?"
His deep voice startled Xiao Zhan, although he wanted to answer immediately but the words would be too foreign for Lan Wangji so he kept his mouth shut for a minute, "...."
I said I won't tell lie, but I never said I won't avoid answering it. As someone from 2022, of course I heard about foretelling dreams. Where? Movies, comics, anime, novels and webtoons of course. I'm sure you will find it, well, ridiculous.
Xiao Zhan re-directed the question back to Lan Wangji, "Why do you ask?"
Lan Wangji pointed to the papers that Xiao Zhan handed over earlier, and stated, "Your notes. It matches what Master Lan Yi said. Starting here in Gusu and then a war against Qishan Wen clan."
Xiao Zhan rubbed his chin in thoughts before exclaiming, "Ah, you're right! Then, it must be our duty to follow and fulfil her wish-" He cut himself off.
Wait, something is wrong here. Why did I say 'us'? Why is it our duty? Why am I even here? Is it related to her wish? If I fulfil the wish, can I go back home? Can this be more confusing than it already is? Avoid making mistake of the past? Her past or Wei Wuxian's past? No, what is past? What is future? Really, this is confusing as fuck.
"Mn", Lan Wangji observed the person sitting across his table. Xiao Zhan was deep in his thoughts and looked confused. Lan Wangji decided to ask after some time had passed without talking, "Is it not in the future?"
How do I explain this? Is it in future? In one version? but it does not match with drama version too. Not exactly. Did the ancestor orchestrate this whole thing? I mean, it made sense to assume the possibility of this.
Xiao Zhan drummed his fingers on the table. "Hmmm... I am not sure how to answer this. The list I just gave you was the original version of the future. Your dream about the cliff was another version of the narration, to which I had hands-on experience in. You can say it's two different universes but somehow share most of the key events and with the same people. Our dream seemed to follow the latter so technically, you could say it is in the future. However, Master Lan Yi's wish was different than what we had dreamed of. Hence, I can't answer your question with either 'yes' or "no."
"How is it different?" Lan Wangji asked, frowning slightly with confusion.
"In the other universe, Master Lan Yi's wish was for us to gather all pieces of Yin Iron and seal it at the cold place. She told us that she broke the seal on the Yin Iron to reinvent Gusu Lan clan, but she failed to control its power. Consequently, she sealed herself inside the cave with a shard of the metal until our arrival to protect the world from its danger. After giving her final message, she left the piece in your care and her spirit departed. The Yin Iron of that alternative plane had different construction and used by another wielder. I can tell you more on it if you want later. I wrote about Yin Iron of this universe in that note." Xiao Zhan elaborated.
"Master Lan Yi did not do such things." Lan Wangji denied firmly.
"I know. I know. She definitely never got involved with such." Xiao Zhan concurred. "Although, I must say that Master Lan Yi was a badass for creating Chord Assassination Technique." He praised.
"...Badass?" Lan Wangji repeated, his brows furrowed at the choice of adjective that Xiao Zhan just uttered to describe his esteemed ancestor.
"Yep. Badass! You know, powerful and strong! Truly admirable!" Xiao Zhan confirmed with aggressive nods.
"..." Lan Wangji was rendered speechless, still conflicted about the crude sounding word.
"Ah! That reminds me. You have mastered it, haven't you, Lan Zhan?" Xiao Zhan asked with a wide grin on his face, making him appear brighter that sunshine in Lan Wangji's eyes.
Lan Wangji was not surprised anymore. No one actually knew about his skill that he kept hidden from the knowledge of his uncle and others. Not even Lan Xichen knew about it as he learned about it in secrecy just to satisfy his curiosity. He kept his silence and shifted his focus back to the few papers full of sloppy writings and studied the event carefully.
Year 1.
Waterborne abyss, Biling Lake, Caiyi Town - chased over to Gusu by Qishan Wen clan. Impossible to destroy it completely. (You know this already)
Qinghe Discussion conference. Class cancellation for few days.
You like rabbits. You're welcome.
The end of my 3 months of study. Fought with Jin Zixuan over Jiang Yanli's. Their engagement annulled. (Not going to happen)
Year 2.
Qishan Wen Conference.
You were one of the top four in archery. Good job.
Prohibition on Night hunts. Wen clan monopoly all locations, banning other sects.
Year 3.
Death of Sect Leader Nie after half a year of illness. Nie Mingjue became Qinghe Nie sect leader at nineteen.
Burning of Cloud Recess. Led by Wen Xu who accused Qingheng-Jun of wrongdoings. He fell into a comma due to the injury. Zewu-Jun managed to escape with Library Pavilion sacred books and scrolls and took shelter at Yunmeng. Met and helped by Meng Yao. (Please see the below notes on this person)
Qishan Wen Indoctrination. Demand twenty disciples from each to be sent to Qishan and must include one from main family to be trained properly by their clan. Everyone's sword confiscated.
Dust Creek Mountain. Night hunt at Xuan Wu cave led by Wen Chao and his mistress, Wangling Jiao. You and I got trapped in the cave for one week. We defeated of Xuanwu of slaughter. I found a cursed sword in the shell and on latter occasion it was made into Yin Iron.
Qingheng-Jun succumbed to injury. (We will prevent this. Do not worry.)
Lotus Pier Massacre. Happened in half a month after night hunt at dusk creek mountain incident. Wangling Jiao came seeking revenge on me for stopping her in Xuan Wu cave from branding a female cultivator's face out of jealousy. Everyone in Jiang sects except me, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yan Li died. Jiang Cheng and I escaped to Yiling with Wen Ning and Wen Qing's help. By helping, these two good Wens put their own life at risk.
Wen Zhuliu melt Jiang Cheng's core when he got captured.
Golden Core transplantation. Wen Qing performed this. I gave away my golden core to Jiang Cheng. (Not going to happen)Wen Chao threw me to Burial Mound. Stuck for 3 months. I somehow created 'what was deemed as Demonic' cultivation for survival since I no longer had Golden Core.
Start of Sunshot campaign. War against Wen Clan. Jin, Nie, Lan, Jiang will form alliance. Lanling Jin was a hesitant party here (See below notes)Meng Yao joins Nie sect. The war lasted for more than 2 years. Zewu-Jun became Sect leader.
Sword recovery from Qishan. Led by Zewu-Jun, you and Jiang Cheng.
I managed to escape Burial Mound. War was 3 months old now. Death of Wen Xu. Nie Mingjue beheaded him.
Death of Wang Wen Chao, Wen Zhuliu. Apparently, I annihilated plenty of Wen cultivators before killing these three singlehandedly.
Stygian tiger seal creation. Composed from Yin Iron. A powerful weapon that can control all fierce corpses within the area. Separated into two halves and one part would be destroyed a couple of years later.
First use of Stygian tiger seal in a battle. Another rampage killing thousands of Wen clan cultivators by me, the Yiling Patriarch. (Okay, not me. I am innocent)
You would get your title as Hanguang-Jun. Congratulations!
*Please note: 'I' here means Wei Wuxian.
*'Demonic' cultivation is a method developed to control ghosts and fierce corpses to escape the Burial Mounds. After three months, it progressed to utilizing flute music to control the resentful energy of corpses and ghosts.
Bad people list
Wen Ruohan, Wen Xu, Wen Chao, Wang Lang Jiao, Wen Zhu Liu. Worst human ever existed. No explanation needed.
Jin Guangshan was a greedy man. He tried to put Jin Clan to succeed the Wen Clan and take over the cultivation world after the end war. Willing to shelter mess murderers, assassinate fellow clan leaders, use his son's death for political gain for power. He lusted over the Stygian Tiger Amulet and as ambitious as Wen Ruohan. DO NOT TRUST!
Meng Yao. He is manipulative and a masked psychopath. He was responsible on leading Nie Mingjue to his demise by playing an altered version of 'Song of Clarity' to him under the pretense to help him calm his mind for a period of time. He learned how to play the song from Zewu-Jun. The altered verse was from the 'Collection of Turmoil' which is very dangerous. We need to keep your brother away from him.
Lan Wangji's expression darkened. He did hear all these events prior as a passing unbelievable tales the first time Xiao Zhan rambled about it and he was pretty distracted earlier to process the information properly. Now that he had all his focus on each and every word, he did not expect such details of the tragedies and future events that would ensue in a span of 3 years.
Burning of Cloud Recess. Father's injury and death. Massacre of Jiang Sects. Wei Ying gave away golden core and practice Demonic cultivation? Flute to control ghosts and corpses? Like the flute music in the dream? Demonic cultivation...