When the sun slowly peeped over the Cloud Recesses, birds shook the morning dew off their feathers and gave a cheerful song that would lift even the most sorrowful of spirits. A light fog wrapped around the mountain range, and the slight chill in the air was enough to give a gentle shiver. Sunlight seeped in past the thick canopy of branches and the cold breeze tickled the trees, making their leaves shake and sway. There was a relaxing feel of the mountain hill making it perfect for letting the stress disappear and peace to find its way to one's soul.
Well, that was supposed to be the case since there was no class for the entire week as Lan Qiren had gone to the Qinghe Nie discussion conference.
The guest disciples and the Lan junior disciples around the same age were puzzled when they were suddenly instructed to gather in the flat field. Apparently, there was a replacement training to fill the free periods. The questioning chatters and complaining noises breached the tranquility of the oh-so-perfect scene, and it got even louder when the two figures made their way to the front together with the First Jade of Lan.
"Good morning, everyone." Lan Xichen started his speech with a smile on his face. The area became still and silent. "I apologize in advance for taking over your small break from the lessons. I cannot miss this opportunity to let everyone improve their cultivations."
Someone suddenly raised a hand from the crowd. "My apologies, Zewu-Jun, for interrupting you. What is he doing at the front?"
"Yes, why are you there, Wei-xiong?" Nie Huaisang seconded.
Even Jiang Cheng's eyebrows turned into a unibrow from being squeezed too tightly as his perplexity skyrocketed.
Xiao Zhan stood facing the crowd with his arms crossed, one hand holding his sword, and his facial expression matched the icy head of Discipline of Gusu Lan Sect. Both were looking serious and assertive, and the combined auras they exuded were intimidating. It was starting to get noisy again with endless bombardment of questioning.
Xiao Zhan just playfully smirked in reply and started to stretch his upper body.
"Do not be excessive," Lan Wangji reminded him.
Xiao Zhan grinned and tapped his equal's shoulder a few times as reassurance, "I will be gentle."
"Young Master Wei and Wangji will be the trainers for the session." Knowing what was going to happen next, Lan Xichen took a few steps back after finishing his announcement.
"Huh??" The phrase chorused from the chaotic disciples.
Xiao Zhan drew Suibian out, and the blade sparked a red flash of light as the sun's rays hit the sharp edges. He was smiling, but he did not look like he was playing around. "This is an emergency drill! So, try to defend yourselves as if your lives depend on it."
With Bichen in hand, Lan Wangji joined in at that note, and they leaped right at the center of the shell-shocked people, who frantically moved backward. Standing back-to-back, the duo made their battle formation debut.
Xiao Zhan was kind enough to do the countdown before throwing a couple of talismans that he created, inspired by smoke grenades. "Incoming! Smoke in three, two, one."
With their vision obscured by dense smoke, the sound of swords being unsheathed mixed with some curse words and voices of confused people overwhelmed the field. Soon, red and blue sword flares flashed, and metal clanged. Bodies started thudding to the ground; some flew several feet away from where they started, and some simply fell from being pushed by whoever was beside them or thrown at them.
"Hey, what is this? Put up some fight! I didn't even hit that hard." Xiao Zhan taunted as the sudden battle arena became a little clearer from the thick haze. With his nimble movements and light steps, he weaved through the crowd and temporarily incapacitated several people. The ones who were still standing were incited by the provocation and started to rush towards the slippery owner of the voice. They screamed his name, "Wei Wuxian!!"
"Yes, I am here! I am here!" Xiao Zhan chirped and easily outmaneuvered the group that attempted to gang up on him. Against huge mobs, his gaming experiences sure came in handy at that moment. While he handled some easy targets, he pulled aggro and led them toward the frosty Terminator of the day. They were well-versed in each other's moves; therefore, their coordination was optimally tuned and the best possible. Their teamwork was systematic and efficient. Their victims piled up left and right.
The respectable title of the Two Jades of Lan was given to Lan Huan and Lan Zhan just after they turned fourteen. They were also acknowledged by the cultivation world for their synchronization, skills, and talents.
Today, however, there was another person who worked in flawless harmonization with Lan Wangji. Possibly even better, since their different skill sets made up for their individual flaws and gaps. Just like Yin and Yang, opposite but interconnected forces fit together seamlessly and work in perfect harmony. They exemplify how contrary forces may be complementary and interdependent, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate with one another.
It took them an hour or so to immobilize and bring them down to their knees, backs, or even faces to the ground. No one was badly injured, although they might be heavily bruised from being knocked by the hilt of the sword or barehanded fists, slashes, or kicks. There were only some superficial scratches and cuts, but nothing major. The duo did hold back a lot of their original strength.
Lan Xichen, who watched with his mouth agape at the overpowered duo from the sidelines, took charge again when the terrifyingly formidable pair made their move back to the front. "I hope everyone can forgive us for employing such methods. Is everyone alright?"
The majority of the collective voices in the background said, "No."
Nie Huaisang was one of the earliest ones to get the dubious privilege of becoming a flying victim. He held his throbbing gut as he grunted, "Xichen-ge, this is too cruel for cultivation training."
Lan Xichen smiled. "Huaisang, the world itself can be vicious. Isn't it good to be prepared for such unexpected events?"
"Wei Wuxian, did you have to kick me so hard?" Jiang Cheng grimaced.
The crowd echoed his dissatisfaction and annoyance. Their bitterness and ire were directed toward only one person, Wei Wuxian. No one dared to mention the other half of the two-person team, as his glaring was enough to freeze their mouths shut.
Lan Wangji was about to say something but halted as he felt a palm pressed firmly on his chest, telling him to stand down. Xiao Zhan's smile dangled on his lips. "I will handle this."
He then faced the angry mobs. "Well, well, look at all of you. It seems like you all still have plenty of energy to spare. Should we go to round two straight away?"
Taking that humorless remark into account, silence gradually took place.
Xiao Zhan waited patiently until no one made a single sound. "Gentlemen and brats alike, this was all for your own good. Take a look around. It only took two people to take all of you out, and we barely used a quarter of our actual strength. It was pretty difficult for us, though, to control ourselves to make sure there were no major injuries."
"Hah! Are you kidding me? Do you think you're that powerful?" Jin Zixuan scoffed, his teeth bared. His fair complexion was now tainted with tiny patches of scratches, and his long sleeves were stained with the color of the ground. He was annoyed with Wei Wuxian, who had confidently scorned all of them. He, too, had fairly good skills, and yet he had been easily defeated by that very person.
Xiao Zhan stood tall and erect; he clasped his hands at his back. His voice was stern and firm, "Young Master Jin, my robes are clean and I am without any scratches. I never said that I am powerful, but I am more than capable to beat your ass without dirtying my clothes."
Jiang Cheng couldn't deny Wei Wuxian's superiority since everyone knew Wei Wuxian was always the best in Yunmeng. He clenched his fists and rolled his eyes. "Will you look at that? You refused to do compulsory training in Yunmeng. Now, you're running the show?"
"Be a little more open-minded, will you? I passed that basic level a long time ago, so it wouldn't benefit my cultivation more if I kept doing the same thing. I only move forward and rank up," Xiao Zhan retorted calmly. "We are all here to learn and improve, not just in theory but in practice as well."
Supportive Lan Xichen chimed in, "I can vouch for Young Master Wei's and Wangji's abilities. You've already seen what they've accomplished."
Someone from the back made an argument, "Zewu-jun, we could understand if you and Lan Wangji were the ones to guide us. But how is Young Master Wei qualified? He could only defeat us because Second Young Master Lan protected him."
Xiao Zhan lowered his eyebrows and glared aloofly at the guy who spoke out. He snickered, "Oh, so you think you can beat me one-on-one?"
"...I'm not saying that." The person stammered. He knew he couldn't do that.
Xiao Zhan grinned devilishly. "Since you have doubts about my aptitude, how about a demonstration? Is anyone up for a challenge? I won't hold back this time."
Just like the idiom goes, "the empty can make the loudest sound," no one volunteered as tribute.
Lan Wangji spoke in a low voice. "Wei Ying, you said you would be gentle."
"Are you worried about me or them?" Xiao Zhan still wanted to prove his point. "Since no one wanted to spar with me, then our Second Young Master Lan here will be my opponent. It should be enough as proof, right?"
Lan Xichen gave his approval. "Since there is no objection, you can start right away."
Xiao Zhan retied his hair into a high ponytail. "Don't hold back. I'm not going to either."
Lan Wangji had no other option but to agree. "Mn," he said.
They immediately jumped into their routine sparring. It was not an exaggeration when Xiao Zhan said they were only using a quarter of their capabilities.
The bright colors of the sky and the crimson of red sparks slashed through the air as their swords clashed. Their techniques went beyond those of the Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang sects. Their moves were repolished and refined as they both sat down and discussed their weaknesses and flaws after each sparring session, incorporating ways to improve them. It was an eye-opener for the rest of the disciples. In terms of swordsmanship, Wei Wuxian was an equal match for Lan Wangji, and he was not even struggling. They were basically just dancing around each other but with lethal swords.
Almost two hours had passed, and there were still no signs that either one of them would surrender anytime soon. Xiao Zhan wanted to end the duel earlier and pulled out one of his last cards, a butterfly talisman. A kaleidoscope of iridescent, sparkly butterflies swarmed toward the Second Jade of Lan, creating a distraction that caught Lan Wangji off guard for a few seconds.
Seeing that there was an opening to launch an ultimate offense, Xiao Zhan lunged forward with Suibian.
The corner of Lan Wangji's lips curved up slightly as he swiftly readjusted his footwork and deflected the quick sword.
"Urgh, you improved again, huh?" Xiao Zhan pursed his lips. He, however, always came prepared. He had a plan B, C, and D if plan A did not work. He shot another talisman that transformed into a blue rope made of light, and it wrapped around Lan Wangji's wrist. He managed to recreate both butterfly and bonding talismans from the drama he once played as his current self.
Lan Wangji lost his footing from the unexpected tugging, and Xiao Zhan didn't waste the second chance to make his decisive move. He aimed the tip of his silver sword squarely at his partner's neck. A cheeky smile flashed across his face as he stated the obvious, "You've lost."
Lan Wangji did not flinch even with the sharp tip pointed at him. Even if he were defeated this time, he was satisfied with the fact that they had made progress again, and he was proud of the clever and brilliant Wei Ying. He uttered, "You've won."
Lan Xichen clapped his hands as the mock battle came to an end. "Good job, Young Master Wei, Wangji."
Xiao Zhan offered his hand to pull Lan Wangji up, which Lan Wangji accepted without a fuss. The two stood side by side again, mirroring each other as they sheathed their swords and went toward the opposite side of the crowd.
There were some faint murmurs of gossiping buzzing from a group of disciples, talking about his mimicking postures and gestures.
Xiao Zhan ignored those gossipmongers' talk, "Does anyone else think I am not qualified to stand here? If so, come forward and I will be more than happy to repeat what I just demonstrated."
Seeing that no one else would speak up, Nie Huaisang spoke on behalf of the group. "Who would dare, Wei-xiong? Even Second Young Master Lan lost to you."
"That's true, Young Master Wei. You are competent without a doubt." A meek Su She suddenly popped his head from the back. His eyes were full of admiration.
Yikes, not Su She please. I got goosebumps all over now.
Xiao Zhan sensed a foreboding feeling and shuddered at the thought.
Lan Wangji shot his infamous cold glare at Su She, who then shrank back into the group of people.
Lan Xichen said, "Great! Then I will gladly put Young Master Wei and Wangji in charge of this matter."
"Thank you, Zewu-Jun." Xiao Zhan said, "Listen up, find a person to pair up with for a one-hour spar. The rules are simple. One, do not kill anyone. Two, do not cause severe injuries. Three, stop if one party surrenders. Four, stop sparring after one hour and switch partners. Those who break these rules will face the two of us. We will do three sessions today and we will watch everyone here closely. You are welcome to challenge either one of us."
"Wei-xiong, can't I not do this? I'll only get beaten up." Nie Huaisang acted pitifully.
Xiao Zhan replied humorlessly, "Nie-xiong, do you want me to train you personally?"
"No, thank you. I'd rather fight a water ghoul than you." The Young Master Nie scurried to Jiang Cheng's side, who let out an exasperated sigh at his cowardly behavior.
Xiao Zhan shook his head. He walked side by side with Lan Wangji, going around the field observing and supervising the duels. He remarked, "Lan Zhan, you're getting good at reading my next move."
Lan Wangji, "You always come up with newer, unpredictable tools."
Xiao Zhan chuckled, "It is called using your wits to fight."
After a few rounds, they stopped by the area where his martial brother and the timid Nie Huaisang were. Xiao Zhan was a little worried since Jiang Cheng was quite good with his swords. To Xiao Zhan's surprise, Jiang Cheng was quite considerate and controlled his strength to accommodate his opponent's low cultivation level.
"Ah, here comes my headache and my headache-in-law." Jiang Cheng sneered while blocking the weak barrage of attack from Nie Huaisang's blade.
Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow, "Do you want to fight me next?"
Rolling his eyes skyward, Jiang Cheng rejected callously, "I am not stupid enough to let myself get beaten by you. Or him."
Xiao Zhan, "You should be honored to be hit by me. My personal coaching is expensive, alright? Since you are my martial brother, I will do it for free."
Lan Wangji glowered at the suggestion and huffed, "You can't do that."
Xiao Zhan turned sharply in his direction, bewildered by his disagreement. "Huh? Why? We are from the same clan. It only makes sense to help him."
"No." Lan Wangji repeated. His light golden gaze was as chilly as the North Pole; his tone was so cold that the temperature around him dropped by twenty degrees. There was no way he would let that despicable Jiang Wanyin get near Wei Ying. Gripping Bichen's hilt, he sounded fierce as he worded in a gravelly voice. "I will do it."
Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the fierce-looking glare in their direction.
Terrified by the overwhelming chilling aura, Jiang Cheng broke into a cold sweat, he negotiated, "I decline. You can have my idiot brother instead. You can even bring him to your clan if you want. He can have your last name too. Take him! Spare me!"
"You asshat! Are you itching to taste my boots?" Xiao Zhan almost launched a flying kick hearing that brat spurting nonsense, but a strong grip on his arm prevented that from happening.