Wangxian
The mass grave in Yiling sounds frightening, but it's not what it used to be.
Three years ago, after Wen Ruohan was executed, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were ordered by Jiang Cheng, or rather, Wei Wuxian shamelessly dragged Lan Wangji here to clean up the remnants of the Wen clan. They didn't find many remnants, but they did find the Wen clan hiding deep within the Demon-Subduing Cave.
The family consists of twenty-seven people. The oldest is over seventy, and the youngest is still an infant. Most of them are elderly, weak, women, and children from collateral branches who are of no fighting ability. The only ones who can be considered as having fighting power are Wen Qing and Wen Ning.
Wei Wuxian was squatting at the cave entrance, looking at the panicked eyes inside. He scratched his head and turned to Lan Wangji, saying, "Lan Zhan, this matter... is a bit difficult."
Lan Wangji didn't speak, he just quietly looked into the cave.
Sunlight streamed in from behind him, casting his snow-white figure into a long, slender silhouette. After a long silence, he said, "The various sects of the immortal realm will not tolerate them."
“I know.” Wei Wuxian stood up and dusted off his clothes. “But Jiang Cheng instructed that Wen Qing, a member of the Wen clan, must not be killed indiscriminately.” He paused, his voice lowering. “Besides, Wen Qing saved his and Lin Yang’s lives.”
The two exchanged a glance.
That evening, Wei Wuxian set up a triple concealment formation at the entrance of the Demon Subduing Cave.
Lan Wangji then returned to Cloud Recesses and retrieved several ancient books on concealing one's aura and strengthening barriers from the secret library.
Three years have passed, and the mass grave remains the same, eerie and haunted by occasional vengeful spirits. However, they have managed to carve out a peaceful area within a three-mile radius of the Demon-Subduing Cave.
It was early summer afternoon.
The once barren black soil slope in front of the Demon-Subduing Cave has now been transformed into neat vegetable plots. The lush green radish seedlings are thriving, their thick leaves gleaming healthily in the sunlight. Further away, some shade-tolerant herbs have been planted, tended by Wenqing and a few other women.
Wen Ning squatted by the vegetable patch, carefully pulling out weeds. He moved slowly, making sure not to damage the radish seedlings after pulling out each one.
"Ah Ning, this field has been watered." A woman dressed in coarse cloth came over carrying a wooden bucket; she was Wen Yuan's mother.
She used to be a young lady from a collateral branch of the Wen family. Now, with her hair in a simple bun, sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and a flush on her face from working, she looked much more energetic than she had been in Qishan three years ago.
"Thank you, Aunt Yuan," Wen Ning replied softly, taking the wooden bucket and carefully watering the other plot of land.
Wenqing emerged from the cave, carrying a mortar and pestle, and was pounding herbs. She wore a faded dark blue cloth dress, her hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, and fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. Seeing the orderly vegetable garden, a hint of relief flashed in her eyes, quickly followed by worry.
"Aunt Qing!" A little boy of three or four years old ran over unsteadily and hugged her leg.
It's Wen Yuan, a chubby-faced boy with big, bright eyes.
Wen Qing put down the mortar and pestle, bent down to pick up the baby, and pinched his cheek: "Going to bother Brother Wei again?"
"Brother Wei taught me to read!" Wen Yuan said in her childish voice. "Brother Lan was there too. He didn't say anything, but he gave me candy!"
A gentle smile escaped her lips.
Wei Wuxian, with his personality, would be quite adept at taking care of children. As for Lan Wangji… she thought of that white-robed immortal lord who always had a blank expression but would silently use his spiritual power to catch someone who had fallen in Wenyuan, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Just then, a clear and melodious sword sound came from the other side of the hillside.
It was Wei Wuxian practicing his sword.
The sword in his hand transformed into streaks of silver light, its sword energy crisscrossing yet carrying no murderous intent, but rather a sense of smooth, flowing freedom.
Today he wore a black, narrow-sleeved, fitted outfit, a leather belt around his waist, and his long hair was tied up high, flying with each sword move. For three years he had not used the flute, focusing solely on swordsmanship. The gloomy aura that lingered on him from his cultivation of the demonic path had long since dissipated, replaced by a dashing and unpretentious air.
Lan Wangji stood under a withered tree not far away. He was still dressed in spotless white robes. His zither, Wangji, lay across his lap, but he did not play it. He simply watched Wei Wuxian practice his swordplay.
Sunlight filtered through the bare branches, casting dappled shadows on him. He sat ramrod straight, his profile sculpted, his long eyelashes drooping, obscuring the emotions in his eyes.
Only the slightly curled fingers betrayed a sliver of his thoughts.
After finishing his swordplay routine, Wei Wuxian sheathed his sword, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead. He casually wiped it with his sleeve and walked towards Lan Wangji.
"Lan Zhan, how is it?" He smiled, his eyes crinkling, and leaned close to Lan Wangji. "Has my swordsmanship improved?"
Lan Wangji looked up at him, his gaze lingering for a moment on the man's sweaty forehead before shifting away: "Not bad."
"Not bad?" Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, deliberately sitting down next to him, shoulder to shoulder. "Hanguang-jun, your evaluation is too perfunctory, isn't it? I practiced for three whole months."
The two were standing very close together.
Wei Wuxian could smell the cool sandalwood scent emanating from Lan Wangji, mixed with a hint of the aroma of sun-dried fabric. His heart skipped a beat, but his face remained expressionless with a playful smile.
Lan Wangji's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he didn't dodge. He lowered his eyes to look at the zither on his lap, his fingertips unconsciously brushing across the strings, producing a very soft single note.
“The third move, the transition is slightly delayed,” he said calmly.
Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up: "Where? Show me!"
Lan Wangji paused, stood up, and took the Suibian sword that Wei Wuxian handed him.
His sword-wielding posture was completely different from Wei Wuxian's, more dignified and refined. When the sword rose, it was like a pine tree standing on a snowy plain; when the sword turned, it was like clouds passing over green mountains.
The same swordsmanship, but in his hands, it became less unrestrained and more upright.
Wei Wuxian stood by with his arms crossed, watching. As he watched, his gaze shifted from the swordplay to the person wielding the sword.
Lan Wangji's profile was almost translucent in the afternoon light, his nose straight and his lips slightly pursed. When he was focused, his eyelashes would tremble slightly, like butterflies alighting. Wei Wuxian looked at those eyelashes and suddenly felt his throat go dry.
After the demonstration, Lan Wangji sheathed his sword, turned to look at him, and asked, "Did you understand?"
Wei Wuxian snapped out of his daze and grinned, "I understand now, but Lan Zhan, your swordsmanship is too proper. It doesn't suit my style at all." He leaned closer and lowered his voice, "How about... you teach me step by step?"
These words carried a clear sense of teasing and probing. For three years, he had always liked to tease Lan Wangji like this, to see if he would frown, scold him for being "boring," or... have any other reaction.
Lan Wangji looked at him quietly, his light-colored eyes as still as an ancient well. After a long while, he said, "Practice on your own."
Then he handed the sword back, turned and walked back to the withered tree, sat down again and played the zither. The zither music flowed gently, a sound that soothed the soul.
Wei Wuxian stood there, watching his back, feeling a ticklish, yet empty feeling in his heart, as if scratched by a cat's claw.
And so it is again.
Every time he tried to test him, Lan Wangji remained unmoved. If he said he disliked him, Lan Wangji had been practically inseparable from him for the past three years, even making countless exceptions to the Lan Clan's strict "do not do anything improper" rule for him. If he didn't dislike him, he was always so cold and indifferent, showing no particular interest whatsoever.
Sometimes Wei Wuxian really wanted to grab this person by the collar and ask: Lan Zhan, what are you thinking?
But he didn't dare.
He was afraid that if he asked, even the days of walking side by side like this would be gone.
With a sigh, Wei Wuxian picked up his sword and walked to the edge of the vegetable garden. Wen Ning had just finished watering the last row of plants. Seeing him approach, he smiled shyly and said, "Young Master Wei."
"Ah Ning," Wei Wuxian squatted down and casually plucked a weed, "what are we having for dinner tonight? Radish soup?"
"My sister said we can pick two radishes to make soup," Wen Ning whispered, "and add some wild vegetables and rice porridge."
"Okay." Wei Wuxian patted his shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work."
Wen Ning shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Young Master Wei, my sister and I... want to discuss something with you and Hanguang-jun."
"Um?"
"This place... is ultimately not a permanent home." Wen Ning looked at the lush green radish seedlings in the vegetable garden, her voice soft. "Although the various sects of the immortal cultivation world haven't come looking for us in the past three years, what if..."
He didn't finish speaking, but Wei Wuxian understood.
While the concealment formation of the Demon-Subduing Cave is strong, it is not foolproof. Moreover, with over thirty people, their eating, drinking, and relieving themselves will inevitably leave traces. Currently, the cultivation world is relatively stable with Lan Xichen as the Chief Cultivator and Jin Zixuan assisting. However, if someone deliberately investigates, it's hard to guarantee that clues won't be discovered.
At that time, the Wen clan will inevitably die, and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, who protected them, will become the target of everyone's hatred.
"Lan Zhan and I are aware of this matter." Wei Wuxian stood up, the carefree smile on his face fading slightly. "You two can rest assured and not overthink it."
Wen Ning looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude, but also with deep worry.
As evening fell, smoke rose from the front of the Demon-Subduing Cave.
Several women set up earthenware pots and cooked radish and wild vegetable soup. The aroma of rice porridge mingled with the smell of firewood, filling the gradually darkening sky. Wen Qing sat with Wen Yuan at the cave entrance, teaching him to identify medicinal herbs. The child learned attentively, pointing his chubby fingers to different leaves, asking in his childish voice, "What about this one? What about this one?"
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sat on a rock a little further away. Wei Wuxian held a bowl of porridge, drinking it half-heartedly, but his gaze kept drifting towards Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji ate with extreme elegance, even in this desolate wilderness, holding a rough earthenware bowl as if he were performing some solemn ceremony. He sipped his porridge slowly, his eyelashes drooping, casting a faint shadow on his eyelids.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian suddenly spoke.
Lan Wangji looked up at him.
"You know..." Wei Wuxian stirred the porridge in his bowl with a spoon, "Don't we look like a family like this?"
These words, spoken casually, concealed a test. After Wei Wuxian finished speaking, he lowered his head to drink his porridge, but his ears were perked up, waiting for Lan Wangji's reaction.
Lan Wangji remained silent for a long time.
When Wei Wuxian thought he was going to ignore the question again, he finally gave a soft "hmm".
Extremely light, yet clear.
Wei Wuxian's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly looked up at him.
Lan Wangji turned his face away, gazing at the undulating mountains in the twilight. In the dimming light, his ears seemed to be slightly...red?
"It must be my imagination," Wei Wuxian thought. "Why would Lan Zhan blush?"
But the joy in his heart was irrepressible, rising up in a gurgling sound. He grinned, finished his porridge in a few gulps, and put the bowl down: "I'm going to check on A-Yuan!"
Then it skipped and hopped towards the cave entrance.
Lan Wangji watched his carefree retreating figure, and the corners of his lips curved slightly. The curve was so small and fleeting that no one could see it.
It's late at night.
The Demon-Subduing Cave was divided into several small rooms, with Wen Qing and Wen Ning residing in the innermost one. At this moment, the oil lamp flickered dimly, and the two siblings sat facing each other, their expressions solemn.
“Sister,” Wen Ning spoke first, “I mentioned it to Young Master Wei today…”
“I know.” Wen Qing interrupted him, rubbing her temples. “Young Master Wei told us not to overthink it, but how can we not?”
She looked at the flickering flame of the oil lamp and lowered her voice: "In these three years, Young Master Wei and Lord Hanguang have done more than enough for us. Setting up formations, farming, gathering herbs, teaching children... they didn't have to do all this."
Wen Ning nodded, her eyes filled with struggle: "But where can we go? A Yuan is still young, Third Grandmother has difficulty walking, and Aunt Li is half-blind... Without the protection of Young Master Wei and Hanguang-jun, we won't survive more than three days."
This is the cruelest reality. They are powerless to protect themselves, yet they don't want to become a burden.
“The various sects of the immortal realm will not tolerate us with the surname Wen.” Wen Qing smiled bitterly. “Even if we have never done anything evil, even if we saved the lives of Sect Leader Jiang and Miss Xie, in their eyes, having the surname Wen is an original sin.”
Wen Ning clenched his fist, then let it fall limply. He remembered three years ago at the foot of Qishan Mountain, when Xie Linyang stood in front of Jiang Cheng and said to him, "I believe you."
They also recalled that outside Lotus Pier, Jiang Cheng had his back to them, waved his hand, and signaled them to hurry up and leave.
But kindness is kindness, and reality is reality.
“Sister,” Wen Ning suddenly raised her head, a resolute glint in her eyes, “what if we… change our surname?”
Wen Qing was stunned.
“It’s not that we’ve truly forgotten our roots, it’s just… a change of identity.” Wen Ning’s thoughts became clearer as he spoke. “Young Master Wei said that Miss Xie’s master is a reclusive master who might be able to help us conceal our presence and forge our identities. As long as we can live openly and honestly in this world, we won’t have to burden Young Master Wei and Hanguang-jun any longer.”
“But we need Miss Xie’s help.” Wen Qing frowned. “We haven’t heard from her yet, and we don’t know when Miss Xie’s injuries will heal.”
“Not now,” Wen Ning said. “Wait until the time is right. Besides… Miss Xie will help us.” He spoke with certainty. “She is like Young Master Wei and Sect Leader Jiang; she is genuinely good to us.”
Looking at the long-lost light in her younger brother's eyes, Wenqing was filled with mixed emotions.
Three years have passed, and Wen Ning is no longer just the timid younger brother who cowers behind her, needing protection. He has begun to think and take responsibility.
“Okay.” She finally nodded. “Wait for the right time. Until then, let’s take care of ourselves and try not to cause any more trouble for Young Master Wei and the others.”
The oil lamp crackled.
Outside the cave, the moonlight was bright and clear.
Wei Wuxian lay on the simple bed, his hands behind his head, staring at the stone patterns on the cave ceiling. Lan Wangji slept on another bed not far from him, his breathing steady, as if he were already asleep.
But Wei Wuxian knew he didn't.
"Lan Zhan," he called softly.
"Um."
Are you asleep?
"not yet."
Wei Wuxian turned over, facing Lan Wangji. Moonlight shone in from the cave entrance, outlining Lan Wangji's reclining silhouette, his shoulders straight and his waist slender.
"Lan Zhan, how long do you think... we can stay like this?"
Lan Wangji was silent for a moment: "How long do you want to stay?"
"Me..." Wei Wuxian looked at the cave ceiling and smiled, "It's fine as it is. Planting radishes, teaching A-Yuan to read, and listening to you play the zither at night."
He spoke casually, but his palms were slightly sweaty.
There was silence from Lan Wangji for a long time. Just when Wei Wuxian thought he wasn't going to answer again, he heard him say softly:
"Um."
Another "Mmm." Wei Wuxian's hopes were dashed once again. He pouted, turned his back to Lan Wangji, and closed his eyes.
So he didn't see that after he turned around, Lan Wangji opened his eyes and quietly watched his back for a long time.
Moonlight flowed by, and the night passed in silence.
That night, some tossed and turned, unable to sleep, while others felt a surge of inner turmoil.
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