As the days went on, the Cloud Recesses maintained their tranquility and mundane order without the existence of the troublemaker version of Wei Wuxian and his mischief.
The current Wei Wuxian was someone who had no interest in alcohol or pornographic books, nor did he tolerate any cheating in the tests. While he was still a little rebellious here and there, his solid reputation as the exterminator of the waterborne abyss sort of gave him a special privilege to be let off the hook for minor misdemeanors, although not all.
Xiao Zhan finished his copying punishment much earlier than expected with the help of the head of Discipline himself. As the cherry on top, he even made an extra copy and left it at Lan Qiren's table since the elder needed a constant reminder of his own sect's rules. He did not proceed with his original idea of pasting the papers on the walls since Lan Wangji strictly forbade him from doing so. He knew he was being childish in this matter, but he just had to do this one petty revenge since he came to a decision to fully embrace his minus fifteen-year-old body and enjoy the perks of being a young youth again.
"Good morning, Lan-xiansheng. I hope you had a peaceful time without my presence in your lectures." He said while maintaining his polite composure and clasping his hands forward. His tone was bright as he continued, "I have completed the copies you requested. I made this extra one for you to examine, in case of any inaccuracies."
Lan Qiren was vexed, knowing the obvious meaning behind the one flawless and thick copy of Conduct and Virtue, but he had to swallow his infuriation since it would look exceptionally bad for his reputation as the upholder of righteousness if he scolded the boy who put it there. "Hmm. I hope you have learned your lesson this time."
Xiao Zhan had something else in mind to ask the older male. "Lan-xiansheng, may I humbly make a request?"
Stroking his precious goatee, Lan Qiren narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the sudden request from the teen. "What is it?"
"Can you please excuse me from the class and allow me to stay in the library?" Xiao Zhan saw Lan Qiren's face begin to change color, so he quickly added, "Please allow me to explain. By no means do I want to disrespect you or your teachings. My only desire is to learn a variety of valuable knowledge from the thousands of books and improve my cultivation through the available resources in the library. I'm afraid I can't do that if I have to attend the classes since I have already learned all of the material in the syllabus."
Lan Qiren huffed. There was no way he would believe this preposterous claim from the insolent boy. He scoffed, "Wei Wuxian! Are you saying that you have learned a year's worth of the material I prepared? What a brazen claim!"
"To be honest, I found out about your teaching syllabus before coming here today, Lanxian-sheng." Xiao Zhan replied, his expression didn't falter. He continued, "I can prove it to you. You can test me right here and right now."
Xiao Zhan smirked inwardly. It was easy to coax the details out of Lan Wangji and thanks to that, he found out that Lan Qiren had been using the same books and teaching the same things for years without any changes.
And so, Lan Qiren fired his questions like rapid-fire, and Xiao Zhan answered each one of them within a beat.
By the end of it, Lan Qiren was in absolute denial. Wei Wuxian excelled in the tests he had given without making any errors, and that teenager could even recite everything in each book he was using in the class for multiple generations. He sat in silence for a while, feeling somewhat defeated as he pondered the absurdity of the situation. He had never needed to change his lesson materials before, as there had been no such person with the kind of brain in his class before Wei Wuxian. The youth was truly a rare genius. He couldn't deny it even if he wanted to do so badly.
The disciple of the Jiang clan had proven his worth in terms of his high level of cultivation, swordsmanship, intelligence, the six arts, and the list went on. Not to forget, he had singlehandedly solved the issue in Biling Lake, which he could not do himself. What else could he possibly teach someone with those capabilities?
Lan Qiren eventually yielded and reluctantly granted the boy's request. He looked at the silver lining. It was a positive thing since he did not have to see Wei Wuxian falling asleep during his lesson, as the others might follow his example. "Since you came here to study to further improve your knowledge, it will not be fair for you if you stay in my class. You may utilize the Pavilion Library as you please."
"Thank you so much, Lan-xiansheng!" Xiao Zhan beamed with joy. He added with a grin on his face, "Oh, and you don't have to worry about me slacking off. Your nephew will make sure that I remain diligent in improving my studies."
Lan Qiren made a low, grunting noise as he heard something he disliked once more. He was further displeased to see the nephew who was once his proudest disciple still stuck to the descendant of Cangse Sanren like glue, and he could not find any excuses to separate the two. As much as he detested the boy, Lan Wangji seemed to be in good spirits these days. Truthfully, he was glad to see the warm light that was coming back into his nephew's golden eyes. It was something he had never seen since his sister-in-law's passing. He had also noticed the vast improvement in his nephew's cultivation since the two started spending more time together. It could only be from the influence of that Young Master Wei. For those reasons, he had to tolerate his own discontent in silence. He waved off his dismissal. "You may go."
In a flawless posture, Xiao Zhan excused himself with a polite salutation. Once he was out of the elder's sight, he quickened his pace to the library, where he knew he could find the one person he would tell the good news to. He was ecstatic to be free from the boring lecture hall and now had free rein over the thousands of ancient texts, one of which may contain the answer to why he was transmigrated into this world of cultivation. He had always loved reading, and it was even better now that he had finished his punishment. Lan Wangji seemed pleased with the whole thing as well.
Half a day passed in a blink. Xiao Zhan was getting annoyed with the long strands of hair. Taking off the red ribbon and holding it with his lips, he let his luscious black hair down. His hair had become messy after flying and flipping around during their mock battle.
"Lan Zhan, let me tell you a fun fact," Xiao Zhan said as his hand combed through the tangles in his long locks. "Most men, including me, have short hair in my world. It's neat, practical, and less hassle."
Lan Wangji's light eyes settled on the free, untied hair. He could understand the logic behind the shorter length, and he grasped that the person in front of him came from a world where convenience was the priority. He pondered and tried to imagine how Wei Ying would look in the modern world. He took a moment before responding, "How short are we talking about?"
"Super short!" Xiao Zhan's eyes sparkled as he smiled brightly. He already knew that he still somehow needed to blend in with the order of the cultivation world, so a short haircut was out of the question.
Nevertheless, Xiao Zhan was a fashionable man and a trendsetter. He had even made many endorsements for global fashion giants. He wondered if he could at least use some of that knowledge, as he had grown bored of wearing the set of robes in the same color and style. He thought of the over twenty costumes he had worn while filming. Most of them were predominantly black, but the designs differed from one outfit to another.
Can I at least wear a different color or style? Or can I be practical and wear one less layer, maybe just trousers? Ahhh... I miss being comfortable in a simple T-shirt and plain pants.
"Lan Zhan, is it compulsory to follow the color code for attire? I mean, can I at least switch it up and wear different colors?" Xiao Zhan combed his long hair and untangled some of the knotted strands.
Lan Wangji responded, "I do not know your clan's rules on uniforms."
"Oh, that's true... It depends on the strictness of the clans, huh?" Xiao Zhan mused.
"Mn."
"Oh, in that case..."
Didn't Wei Wuxian start wearing black after Burial Mound while he was still in Yunmeng Jiang? Awesome! New clothes, I'm coming!
"Now that I think about it, I actually can! Thanks for your input, Lan Zhan." Xiao Zhan flicked a thumb up toward Lan Wangji's direction.
Lan Wangji had no idea how he had helped but still hummed a reply, "Mn."
Xiao Zhan then put his hair up into a high ponytail, which was the second-best option to get his hair off his face a little. Noticing the eyes that followed his movements like a hawk, he tilted his head to one side. "Do I look that weird?"
Lan Wangji swiftly turned his gaze away. "No. Just different."
Xiao Zhan tightened the ribbon to make sure the hair stayed in place. He then placed his hands on his hips and declared, "You know what? We need to get more fighting experience. With the real thing."
Lan Wangji looked up at him once more. "Do you mean night-hunting?"
"Yep! Exactly that!" Xiao Zhan pointed out, "There's nothing I can summon anymore at this place, and you need to practice that Chord Assassination Technique of yours. You can't possibly use that killer chord of yours on me, can you?"
"Mn." Lan Wangji nodded.
"Then, should we ask for permission tomorrow morning?"
Lan Wangji nodded again.
Xiao Zhan kept both his sword and flute on his waistband. He walked side by side with the expressionless Lan Wangji and casually hummed a song under his breath habitually. He paused as he brought to mind, "Lan Zhan, when are you going to sing for me?"
"When did I agree to it?" Lan Wangji said before the flashback of that day came to him, and he remembered the mention of another 'him'. His eyebrows knitted in a deep frown, displeased at the thought.
Xiao Zhan could not let it go; he wanted to hear someone other than himself sing. He whined, "Ah, why are you being stingy with your voice? I know you can sing."
"..."Â Lan Wangji kept his lips tightly in a straight line.
"How about I give you something you like? Will you sing for me?" Xiao Zhan tried to persuade.
Lan Wangji asked after a ten-second pause. "For example?"
Xiao Zhan gave him a knowing smile. Without warning, he grabbed his wrist, pulling him into a run to a place he knew Lan Wangji would love. It took less than ten minutes, and they finally arrived at a hidden bamboo patch inside the green forest.
Lan Wangji's eyes widened at the sight. In front of him were small, furry mammals with long ears, short fluffy tails, and strong, large hind legs. The rabbits were leaping around, munching on some green leaves, and they did not seem to be afraid of humans.
Xiao Zhan bent down to pick up a white bunny from among the dozen that were there and cradled it in his arms. Lan Wangji had no experience handling these kinds of cute animals since there was a rule that forbade pets in the Cloud Recesses. He stayed rooted in place, although he was quite intrigued by the furry little thing.
"Here. Hold it like this. Don't drop it." Xiao Zhan coerced the small bunny into Lan Wangji's stiff arms. "Relax, it won't bite."
Feeling the soft fur in his careful embrace, Lan Wangji eventually relaxed, and a smile broke across his lips.
"See. You're smiling.", Xiao Zhan giggled. "You like rabbits, am I right?"
Lan Wangji carefully petted the tame rabbit, gently stroking its head, "Mn."
Xiao Zhan sat on the ground where the bunnies gathered and pulled one onto his lap. "Hmm... I miss Jian Guo."
Without missing a beat, Lan Wangji asked, "Who is Jian Guo?"
"My cat," Xiao Zhan shook his head at his undiscriminating jealousy. He knew the personality of this person in front of him very well, and he was a little bothered that he might already be in too deep in this camaraderie. Despite that, he still could not help the body's involuntary chemical reactions and his instinctive feelings. He poured his emotional turbulence into the act of petting the rabbits, giving each of them the utmost attention and care.
The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. The two sat side by side with rabbits on their laps, reveling in the view of the sunset.
"You owe me a song," Xiao Zhan reminded.
"..." The Second Jade sighed deeply, resigning himself to his fated defeat. Perhaps it was amusing for Wei Ying as his laugh began to float through the air like a melody, his face reflecting the golden shade of the disappearing sun rays. Lan Wangji could not tell which one was more beautiful and delightful: the picturesque scenery with furry animals, Wei Ying's bright face, his twinkling silvery eyes, or his hearty, merry laughter. Regardless, his heart filled with warmth and contentment. "Later."
"Okay! That is a promise." Xiao Zhan said triumphantly.
*****
That night, Lan Wangji had another dream. Wei Ying was painting something on lantern paper, and he was sitting beside the head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang, making the bamboo frames. Wei Ying was wearing the same white attire he had in the cold cave dream.
"Lan Zhan, shall we set a lantern together to make a wish?" Wei Ying glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Since we've experienced life risks together?"
Lan Wangji, "I'm used to being alone."
"You can change your habit anyway." Wei Ying whined. "And my lantern is specially made for you, Second Young Master Lan. Look."
He felt like Wei Ying saw right through his reserve, barging into his loneliness and isolation without any regard for all of his wards. Wei Ying showed him the drawing he was working on. It was a white rabbit. A smile was drawn on Lan Wangji's face, replacing the cold look he usually displayed.
"You smiled!" Wei Ying happily declared while giggling adoringly.
The skyline was evidently demarcated by the brightest of orange and deepest indigo. Standing atop the hill, they lit the lantern and released it together. Both of them watched as the lantern, decorated with a bunny painting, slowly made its way up into the sky. He could feel Wei Ying's soft gaze upon him as he observed the floating white paper ascending.
Wei Ying clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a sincere wish. "I, Wei Wuxian, wish I could always stand with justice and live without regrets."
The brief but pure prayer went straight to Lan Wangji's heart. A simple wish of wanting to spend his life doing what was right. No three thousand rules were needed to be righteous; just one was enough. He made the same oath as Wei Ying in his heart. "I, Lan Wangji, wish I could always stand with justice and live without regrets."
They might be standing near a cliff right now, but unlike his nightmare, he did not have to set his eyes downward or try to desperately catch the hand of the person beside him. This time around, they stood atop the hilltop together, watching their shared lanterns, which carried the same promises of two people, gradually ascend higher into the sky until they disappeared from their line of sight.