Archive of Our Own

The building is dark and quiet. The dark part is usual. The quiet part is less so, but the night has only just fallen. There is some heavy resentment in the air, weighing down on him, but he has also felt far worse in his time. Nothing visible yet. The guy who briefed him seemed nervous, but maybe he was just new. Maybe he knew, who Wei Wuxian is.

He expects he'll work on this building for around two months, but it all depends on how long the spirits take to show themselves. He always says it will take longer than he really thinks it will. That way he usually always finishes before the deadline.

He sits behind his desk, where his materials, the briefing documents, but also his equipment are laid out on. He can also look at the camera feed from the computer and log things. He always writes at least one entry per night. He doesn't think his logs are read most of the time, but sometimes he can refer to them himself and if something ever happens to him, if the next cultivator to take over the case for him is at least a little competent, they will find these helpful.

Sometimes writing down notes will also help alleviate boredom.

Monday, Day 1 of the investigation of the Pier-side Hall

22:00

Starting my first night shift here. Building has been abandoned for a few years. Current owners want to renovate, but are struggling with a number of hauntings so large several construction companies have refused to continue the project. There is a lot of resentment here.

01:18

Heard violin music, but as I attempted to follow it, it faded away. This has been both a theatre and a concert venue in the past when the town had more residents. Attempts at communication have been unsuccessful so far. In case this case is transferred I would recommend it be handled by or in close collaboration with the Lan Clan. Inquiry would really help here. The Lans are the on-call back up for tonight, so if the situation gets bad, I may consult them.

Wei Wuxian almost never actually contacts the back ups, but it's fun to daydream. He is given those cases that no one wants, because he handles them quickly and efficiently with minimal resources. If he started asking for help, he'd become a lot less convenient.

1:45

Door slammed shut somewhere, heard the words, "Leave me alone!" followed by something I could not make out.

2:33

More door slamming and angry shouting. Voices of multiple women and men.

4:30

There are definitely multiple spirits here. There is a lot of shouting, it's all "Leave!", "Leave us alone!" Since they are so unwilling to speak I will simply let them be and observe. That usually helps. Once they understand I mean them no harm they might open up. I have time.

Interviewed the current owner.

Doesn't believe there are actual hauntings. Has not stayed on the premises during nighttime. Very frustrated and annoyed. The building will have lots of parking spaces and shops. Has confirmed clients already. A tobacco and wine store. Clothing stores.

Tried interviewing the first construction company.

They're really tight-lipped. I don't think the guy was hiding something as much as he was just annoyed by my queries, but it's hard to read certainty into things left unsaid. He's annoyed with his staff, lost a lot of money. Said his men were talking about music being played at night, people shouting at them to leave, eventually stuff started getting thrown around. It was gradual by the sounds of it, getting worse and worse over the course of a few weeks.

Day 2

22:00

The resentment definitely feels heavier tonight.

23:15

The door banging and shouting started earlier tonight. I have an approach in mind, but I was hoping for them to be a little less angry for it.

0:48

Waiting seems to have been a bad idea. These people are angry. They tried to strangle me. It was really unexpected. I think there are more of them here than I initially thought. Did seriously consider getting back up. It's Lans on duty again. I'm lucky, I mean, we don't necessarily see eye to eye, but they're very competent and perfect for this case, in my opinion.

"Hello, this is the Pier-side Hall complex. There's been an investigation here regarding some extremely volatile hauntings and I am the cultivator currently on Night Watch duty."

"Mn. Do you require back up, Wei Ying?"

"Lan Zhan?! They put sect heirs on call?!"

"I requested it."

"Of course you did. Always ready to help. Well, I might actually have something challenging for you for once. Or maybe I'm just getting rusty. We have some extremely angry people on our hands. They are making continuous attempts at my life, none have been successful so far, but I thought -."

"I'm on my way."

"Yeah? Great! Thanks for coming all the way out here."

"Of course."

By the time Lan Wangji makes it to the scene Wei Wuxian is in full combat. He's still impressed with how fast Lan Wangji made it, "That was quick!" He had fully expected to have to handle it himself.

"It is the point of having a stand by back up option," Lan Wangji points out, getting out his guqin in one smooth motion, "You're still attempting suppression?"

"Right now I'm attempting survival," Wei Wuxian jokes, "do you know, who's on duty tomorrow?"

"Me."

"Two nights in a row?!" Wei Wuxian asks, they never stop fighting for a moment, even as they chat, Wei Wuxian is blocking blows left and right.

"Mn. You almost never call for back up."

"Wait, you knew it was my case?!" Wei Wuxian is so surprised he almost forgets to fight.

Lan Wangji blocks one of the attacks coming straight for him, "Of course. We get access to the initial case files just in case. Being prepared is part of the job."

"Huh. Could have fooled me. The few times I did call back up none of these fellas were very prepared."

"Mn. You almost never call and you're highly capable and talented, so they assume it's an easy case and they don't prepare sufficiently."

Wei Wuxian seems neither surprised not distraught by this revelation, "Ah, that explains it. Wait... you think I'm talented and capable? Since when?!"

"Wei Ying! I also think you're incredibly easily distracted," Lan Wangji says, blocking a blow that threatens to hit Wei Wuxian square in the face.

"Right. Now that you're here, how do you feel about a strategic retreat?"

"You don't believe the two of us could exterminate or suppress all these spirits?" Lan Wangji asks.

"I think we could. That's not the route I think we should take however."

Lan Wangji thinks about it for a moment, then nods, "All right," he agrees.

The retreat is easy, with the two of them having each other's backs keeping the spirits at bay, even as they are furious and full of anger, is easy.

WeI Wuxian doesn't speak of his plans even when they are outside, he leaps to the rooftop, from there to another and another, taking a shortcut to his hotel, but instead of going inside, he stays on the rooftop. He takes a moment to catch his breath, sitting down, "Okay. I know it might not have looked like this in there, but I don't think these people are beyond help. They're angry, but I think we should still try to communicate with them. I just haven't been very successful. I think my approach has been wrong."

"You've been on the case for two days," Lan Wangji points out.

"Still. I thought I should wait and then try and talk to them again, but I shouldn't have waited. I should have acted right away. Last night, while I was on my watch, I heard them call out several times. Things didn't just escalate from zero to a hundred in a second. I was told multiple times to leave. I tried to talk, but that was clearly not what was wanted. What they want is to be left alone."

"They can't just be left alone. The contractor wants to start renovating the building."

"I know that. The very first thing I heard was music. I did some research and there used to be a theatre here. It had a long history and it was a cultural central of the entire town. Then it burned down roughly 60 years ago. It was going to be rebuilt, but money wasn't found for it right away. In the end they tore down what was left of the original building and built a concert hall with a music and theatre school. It thrived and many talents were born behind those walls. It seemed that this would be a historical music school to last centuries. You.. you already know all this, don't you?" Wei Wuxian asks, even as Lan Wangji looks at him, very focused and not at all looking bored.

"I read the summary provided, but I did not do much additional research."

"Ah, but you're so diligent, tell me when it all gets too boring. However, because gossip is so frowned upon in your home, did you know that this school had some beef with Cloud Recesses?"

"I did not. There has not been a school here for 20 years."

"Right."

"Wei Ying?"

"Yes?"

"Why are we having this conversation on a rooftop?"

"Oh. Well it's a long conversation and I wasn't sure if you'd be willing to help tomorrow as well. I kind of need you to assist with my plan, but I'm sure I can think of something else as well. Probably. Anyway, I suppose we could go to my hotel room, but you'd think it's an unbearable mess so..."

"I am."

"Huh?"

"Willing to help tomorrow."

"Oh. Cool. I guess we should go inside. I thought sitting on the roof would be cool and mysterious, maybe even a bit charming, but now it just feels silly. Are you planning on flying back tonight? You got here so fast."

"I was well-prepared, but staying closer would be preferable," Lan Wangji says.

"Yeah, you must have used up quite a bit of qi to get here so fast. There aren't any more hotels around this town anymore, just a few home accommodations."

"I'm sure this hotel is more than acceptable."

Wei Wuxian smiles, "Rich and not overly stuck-up. You Lans are a rare breed indeed," he says and jumps off the rooftop.

It turns out the hotel is fully booked.

"It's just this week," the front desk agent says apologetically, "there is a rally track that goes through the area and there is a big race this weekend, so people come to watch it here. There is another hotel just outside the town, but I believe that one is sold out too."

"I do have two beds in my room," Wei Wuxian tells Lan Wangji, "I have some stuff thrown around, which I'm sure offends your minimalism adoring sensibilities, but if you can put up with me for just one night, I don't mind if you stay with me."

"I'm sure I can," Lan Wangji says softly and Wei Wuxian thinks he looks vaguely amused.

They add Lan Wangji's name to the room and go upstairs, where Wei Wuxian promptly tries to clean the floor of all of his clothes. He doesn't actually put too much effort in, thinking he can never match the Lan standard of cleanliness anyway.

There are two beds in the room, pushed together to make one larger one, and Wei Wuxian, mindful of Lan Wangji's desire for personal space, pushes them apart.

"You were telling me about the school's relationship with Gusu," Lan Wangji reminds him.

"Right. Have a seat," Wei Wuxian says and throws himself onto one of the free beds.

Lan Wangji sits with much more poise and elegance, making Wei Wuxian smile, "So, the school was doing well. They taught a lot of classical Chinese instruments, so of course comparisons to Gusu and Cloud Recesses were being made. However, you guys obviously also had musical cultivation classes. They didn't. Cloud Recesses was considered superior for several reasons, but this was one that was often brought up. So probably for that reason they started to gradually move into the musical cultivation field. They started teaching musical cultivation classes at a much smaller scale, but they didn't get very far. Just a few years into the classes a scandal broke out, it turned out that one of the musical cultivation teachers was a fraud. While a capable musician, they barely knew anything about cultivation. They were about as qualified as those street vendors that sell fake talismans."

Wei Wuxian looks over to Lan Wangji, "Are you falling asleep?"

"Not yet," Lan Wangji assures.

"Obviously the fella was fired and the school moved away from musical cultivation. It's hard to say how damaging the entire thing was to the school's reputation. They certainly didn't fold right away. You know how the topic of funding can be in education. The school seemed to steadily produce less and less musical genius as the funding dwindled and therefore the funding dwindled even more. Meanwhile, the population of the town itself was getting smaller and smaller as well. It's hard to put together a full picture as it's not like anyone wrote one all-encompassing fully coherent article on the history of the building, but I tried to look everything up. I also think that at that point people were no longer moving to the town to study there. There are other great schools if you're going to move anyways," Wei Wuxian looks over to see if Lan Wangji is still listening.

"18 years ago the school closed for good. The concert hall was already established and built for this purpose, so concerts were still happening. Smaller stars and music groups would visit on their local tours, lesser-known musicians, amateur theatre productions, productions that liked the building for its architecture, historical location or connections with some star that studied here. There were also occasional conferences, parties and retreats, a few local weddings. Ironically, a few smaller cultivation related retreats and discussion panels were held here. It was rather perfect for hosting musical cultivation discussion panels."

"You attended," Lan Wangji notes.

Wei Wuxian grins, "It's interesting. You know I can't keep my nose out of things."

"...Mn, but there were no complaints of hauntings then."

"There weren't," Wei Wuxian agrees.

"Did you feel anything while you were here?" Lan Wangji asks.

"Lan Zhan! I'm never going to get to explaining my plan at this rate!" Wei Wuxian complains.

"Apologizes. Go on."

"Ah. There's no need. It was a valid question and it might be relevant. I'll tell you later, okay? Remind me."

"Mn."

"Anyway, the place was only fully abandoned around five years ago. The hauntings only started when the renovations started. My current working theory is that the musicians, who spent much of their lives performing here, are angry that the place is no longer being used for that historical purpose. The new contractor is planning on making it a parking structure with spaces downstairs for stores. One of the main signed clients is a tobacco and wine store and it also seems like there will be some cheap clothing vendors."

"You've done a lot of research," Lan Wangji notes.

"I conducted a few interviews before my shift started. I'm allowed to if it's part of the investigation. I was going to write my notes into something more coherent, but I haven't gotten around to it yet," Wei Wuxian explains.

"You've been on the case for two days," Lan Wangji says again.

Wei Wuxian shrugs, "I think we should try communicating with them through music. The Lan methods are perfect for this, this case is made for musical cultivation."

"Mn. I will help, but if your theory is correct, we still cannot change what is being built there."

Wei Wuxian sighs, "I suppose we can't. Still, not exactly what the community needs, is it? More fake Louis Vuittons and wine."

"..."

"I know, I know. I do love wine. I just love music and theatre more."

"Mn. You're a talented musician."

Wei Wuxian laughs, mostly out of surprise, "Coming from you I think that's the highest compliment I have ever earned. And I thought my day couldn't get any better when you called me capable. For now my theory is just that, a theory. I haven't been able to talk to construction workers at all. I want to know if they talked about what's going to happen to the place. If the spirits heard and that's why the got angry. I think it's likely they'd talk about it."

"It is," Lan Wangji agrees.

"We'll have a look at it tomorrow. Together. With your help we'll wrap this one up in no time. Now, do you want to go wash up? You must be exhausted."

Lan Wangji gets up and goes to get ready for bed. When he returns Wei Wuxian is on his laptop. He shuts it down and gets up to wash up as well.

He returns some time later, topless and barefeet, hair put up. He feels Lan Wangji's eyes follow him, "Am I offending your Lan sensibilities?" he asks, teasingly, but with an odd edge. Like the answer truly matters, "Is it the nudity or the scars?"

Lan Wangji stares at his body. It makes goosebumps break out on Wei Wuxian's skin, "Lan Zhan! I can't tell if you want to eat me or beat me up!" he jokes.

Lan Wangji finally averts his gaze, "Apologizes. I was rude."

Wei Wuxian shrugs, "If I was truly ashamed of it, I wouldn't flaunt it, would I?"

"Injuries aren't shameful," Lan Wangji says.

"Right?! Even if you'd argue I deserved being beaten up, surely even then, I've paid my dues."

"You didn't deserve it. Never to that extent."

Wei Wuxian shrugs and settles into bed, but he doesn't look like he is going to sleep, "You asked me earlier, if I felt anything while I was here, at the musical cultivation discussion panel."

"Did you?"

"You know I'm sensitive to resentful energies as of late, but obviously, this being a place for cultivators, they'd clean the place of anything too volatile."

"Mn," Lan Wangji agrees. "They don't often do a very thorough job for short discussion conferences."

"Yes, but they deal with the obviously harmful stuff. There wasn't anything like that. However, there was - something in the air. Some tension that wasn't quite - from this world, but the place was so crowded I couldn't really be sure and investigating it would have caused a stir and I was trying to prove a point. The point being that I am capable of staying under the radar. Now, did you feel anything?"

"... I'm not sure," Lan Wangji admits. He looks confused.

"Oh? How so?"

"I had a dream."

"A dream?"

"Mn."

"Of what?"

There is no instant reply, so of course Wei Wuxian can't help but take the opportunity to tease, "Ah, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! It wasn't a dirty dream, was it?"

He is met with an angry glare, but that only serves to make Wei Wuxian laugh, "What?! Why else would you be so shy about it!"

Lam Wangji pretends to go to sleep at that, unwilling to discuss the matter further.

"All right, all right. I'll be serious. What did you dream of, Lan Zhan?"

"..."

"I will make no more stupid jokes! Not tonight! I promise."

"Come on. What if it's important to solving the case?"

"It won't be. It's likely entirely unrelated."

"It might not be! Besides, you wouldn't have told me if you thought it was unrelated!"

Still, it seems that Lan Wangji is unwilling to talk about it and Wei Wuxian decides to let it go. He knows how fast Lans fall asleep and figures that Lan Wangji must already have willed himself to sleep. He puts his phone away and wonders if Lan Wangji will still wake at his usual time, only a few hours later. Normally he finishes his watch around five or six, so he decides to take advantage of his early night and try and sleep as well.

"I dreamed of my mother," Lan Wangji tells him.

Ah. It really was a bad idea to joke about it then.

"And there was something unusual about the dream?" Wei Wuxian asks.

"I saw her face. Clearly. I - I don't remember her face usually, not really, just bits and pieces. I thought it just a particularly vivid dream, but I had left my guqin on the night stand after the discussions. As I woke, I heard it being played."

"That can happen?" Wei Wuxian asks.

"It's - an uncommon occurrence, but the conditions were suitable. I also don't usually leave my instruments out this way."

"I see. Was it just a musical piece being played or a message in guqin language?"

"A message."

"Saying what?"

"...You should tell him, A-Zhan."

"A-Zhan! Lan Zhan, that's so cute! I would have thought everyone in your family are super old fashioned and only use courtesy names, but I suppose she would have called you that. You were just a baby."

"Mum wasn't traditional," Lan Wangji says.

They fall into a silence before Wei Wuxian asks, "Do you know, who she meant or what she wanted you to say?"

"Mn."

"Did you tell the person?"

"...No."

"... Did you try to talk to her more?"

"Yes. I hesitated, but... I asked who she was. She said she was my mother."

"Like that? So formally?"

"No."

"I see. You're paraphrasing. Did she call you something cute?"

"..."

"Okay, so what happened then?"

"I asked one more question. She answered. Then - nothing."

"Nothing?"

"She didn't answer anymore. To any question."

"Oh. Does that happen often?"

"Sometimes. Some ghosts are too weak to answer. Some choose not to. The reasons as to why may wary."

Wei Wuxian nods in the darkness, "What was the other question you asked?"

"..."

"Lan Zhan!"

"..."

"I suppose it's private. Between you and your mum."

"..."

"Have you talked to her before?"

"No. After she died I was not skilled enough. Uncle would... not. I tried a few years later, but never got a reply."

"It's a lot, isn't it? When you know the person. I wouldn't even know what to ask my mum or dad. I would love to know about my parents, but with the things the way they are, I don't even know if they would like me. I like to think they would, understand my choices and approve of them, but there is a very real chance they wouldn't and that would suck to hear, you know?"

"... My mum likes you.”

Wei Wuxian just laughs at that, “How do you know?”

“I do.”

Wei Wuxian smiles, “Thanks, Lan Zhan. I’m sure your mum is super proud of you. I mean you’re so hard-working and smart and righteous.”

"Thank you," Lan Wangji says quietly.

"I wonder why she was there. Maybe we'll find out tomorrow. Good night, Lan Zhan."

"Good night, Wei Ying."

It's too bright in the hotel room. Wei Wuxian wonders if he forgot to pull the curtains shut. He hides his face into the pillow and groans instead of getting up to fix the issue. He hears the door open and jumps awake. It's Lan Wangji, walking in with a cup in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.

"Lan Zhan! You're up. What time it is?"

"6:45."

"And you're awake? We had a long night last night, it's way too early to be up. You should sleep more."

"I did sleep in."

"By what? 20 minutes? Get back to bed, you even look tired, which means you must be absolutely exhausted."

"I'm used to Night Watches. I can mediate."

"You know it's not good to constantly miss sleep. Even for strong cultivators like us."

"Mn," Lan Wangji seems to agree. Still, he only takes off his outer clothes and shoes and sits on the bed, staring at the wall.

Wei Wuxian has thrown himself back to bed and is hiding his face into his pillow, "What is it?"

"Nightmares," Lan Wangji admits after a moment. 

"Ah.. do you want a hug?"

There is no response, so Wei Wuxian opens his eyes. Lan Wangji does not look put off by the suggestion, "Pull the curtains shut, push the beds back together and come to bed."

There is no reply when Wei Wuxian had absolutely expected some verbal protests at that point. The nightmares must really be bad then if he's considering it. His eyes are closed, but he can hear Lan Wangji getting up to close the curtains and relaxes as the sun is no longer actively trying to stab him in the eye. He hears Lan Wangji move his bed, "We don't actually have to cuddle or anything, sometimes it just helps - oh," he puts his arm around Lan Wangji, "Good night, Lan Zhan," he says and falls back asleep.

They don't talk about it when they're both finally awake at noon, eating the breakfast Lan Wangji bought. Instead they prepare for the evening that's coming and get their instruments ready. Wei Wuxian plays a little for fun, he says it's to make sure he's still got it.

They go back to the site earlier, before it gets fully dark, to set up and prepare, "Things escalated really quickly last time, so it's better to be prepared."

Things escalate really quickly this time around as well. Lan Wangji can barely take out his guqin and play the first notes when spirits are already drumming against his strings. There are definitely more spirits than a couple. The sudden rush of resentful energy that makes it towards Lan Wangji makes Wei Wuxian's head hurt. It also makes him want to protect him, but he knows Lan Wangji can protect himself.

"Wow. That's a lot of them. What are they saying?"

"They're angry," Lan Wangji says, even if that much is really obvious from the way the spirits are pulling at the springs, "as you suspected they're mad that there won't be a theatre or a concert hall here. That no one will perform. They want us to leave. They are also mad at me. That I'm from Cloud Recesses."

"Ah. Lots of different reasons for lots of different things. Fun. Makes you wonder how it was missed before, but sometimes it's the one thing that tips everyone over the edge and then a seeming calm turns into a storm."

"Mn," Lan Wangji agrees. He tries to talk to the spirits or maybe he just tries to establish some order and get everyone to take turns speaking. It doesn't really work. More and more spirits seem to join the musical shouting match. Wei Wuxian is beginning to worry they might be in too deep. Then he shakes the thought away. It's him and Lan Zhan and a few really angry performers. Nothing they can't handle. 

"Wei Ying, I'm not sure we can appease all these spirits. We can't give them what they want. We can't influence what will be built here. Besides, there are so many of them and they are so angry. Reasoning will be difficult."

"We'll manage. They're artists. So we'll speak through music. In the classical sense of the word," Wei Wuxian takes his flute and sits on the dusty concrete floor and plays. Not one of his haunting melodies designed to control resentful spirits, just music.

He plays a song, but when the spirits still clearly complain to Lan Wangji, he sets his flute down and looks put off, "Come on, now. Don't shout at Lan Zhan. Even if you're mad at the other Lans at Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji is the epitome of goodness and righteousness. He has never treated you unfairly. So don't treat him unfairly either." He plays again and this time he does use his cultivation. Lan Wangji wonders of Wei Wuxian's own unique way of delivering his messages to the spirits.

Wei Wuxian's haunting cultivation music turns back into a gentle melody that isn't laced with any sort of energy. It's just music. Lan Wangji can tell if he focuses enough. Years of musical cultivation studies have honed his skills enough.

When the song finishes, the spirits seem calmer, they no longer seem to yell at Lan Wangji all at once. There are only a few "voices" pulling at the strings.

"What are they saying?" Wei Wuxian asks.

"That I must be made aware of the truth. That my sect people are liars, murderers."

Wei Wuxian frowns, "You've told me they can't lie to you."

Lan Wangji nods, "They can't. They believe this to be true."

"... Ah."

"Someone seems to have changed their mind. They're no longer as hostile as before. They just say I must learn the truth."

"What is that truth?" Wei Wuxian asks.

Lan Wangji translates the question to guqin language.

Nothing.

"Oh, so you all want him to know the truth, but when we ask you to tell it, you're silent?"

Lan Wangji asks again, but there is still no response.

On the other side of the construction site a door opens, pointedly. Wei Wuxian goes to it and Lan Wangji follows. When he gets to it he thinks he catches a glimpse of a woman in the doorway.

There are footsteps that lead up a staircase, one that no longer looks the sturdiest, but can probably still support them. They go upstairs. Another door creaks open, "She better not be luring us into a trap," Wei Wuxian says.

It's a classroom. It hasn't been maintained well, but the blackboard is still there, as are some tables and chairs. Wei Wuxian sits down, not minding the dust in the slightest, "Well, Lan Zhan, up for a history lesson?"

"Mn," Lan Wangji says and sits next to Wei Wuxian. There's an audible sigh. Then a woman appears in front of the blackboard.

Lan Wangji goes very still, he is always still, but this is a different kind of stillness. Wei Wuxian can guess, who she is, "Madam Lan."

She looks at Lan Wangji with a soft sort of adoration and Wei Wuxian isn't the slightest bit mad that he is being fully ignored.

"You are the one, who told the other spirits not to be mad at Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian says.

"You did too," Madam Lan tells Wei Wuxian.

"But they listened to you," Wei Wuxian thinks.

"They listened to both of us," Madam Lan turns to look at Lan Wangji, "you still haven't told him, A-Zhan," she admonishes his son very gently.

"Is that's what keeping you, mother?" Lan Wangji asks, "My secret?"

Madam Lan laughs, a gentle kind laugh. Wei Wuxian thinks he has never heard a Lan laugh like that, "A-Zhan," she says, "I just want you to be happy."

"What's this truth they all think Lan Zhan should know?" Wei Wuxian asks.

Madam Lan sighs, "They think it indeed. I just think it would needlessly burden him."

Wei Wuxian looks over to Lan Wangji, "She's your mother. It's your choice."

Lan Wangji looks over to her mother, "What's keeping you here?"

"Many things, A-Zhan. Too many things. You musn't worry. I'm all right."

"Why are you here?" Lan Wangji asks.

"It's... quite complicated. I am tied to this place for several reasons."

"We could use Empathy," Wei Wuxian offers, "It's your mother, so I'm sure it's safe and I'll be here to pull you out."

"..." Lan Wangji says nothing.

"I could go," Wei Wuxian offers, "if you'd prefer me to, but it has to be your choice. Or maybe," he turns to Madam Lan, "you could try telling us after all."

"There used to be a music school here," Madam Lan starts, "one that started out just teaching music and they were good at it too. Really good. A lot of great talent came from here."

"Mn. I know. Wei Ying did the research. He told me."

"Then you know the official narrative. What you have to realize is that the school here really was good. Students loved studying here. Their passion for music was nurtured. They had a good time here. People say a lot of good things about the curriculum at Cloud Recesses, but I have always found it too stifling and harsh. If you're not madly wholeheartedly in love with music studies, they will almost certainly kill your passion. The composition class is a joke. There needs to be creative freedom in compositions."

Wei Wuxian raises his eyebrow at that. He never spent much time thinking about what Lan Wangji's mother was like, but he never thought she would dislike Cloud Recesses that much. Although, from the brief times Lan Xichen had mentioned her, perhaps he should have guessed.

He is equally unprepared for what Lan Wangji says next, "Are my compositions so lacking?"

"What?" Madam Lan startles, "Of course not. They're brilliant despite the classes. Sad, but then, that is to be expected, but they're very good. I meant to say that this place, at its height, was truly great and even if they only had a few musical cultivation classes, these were very popular. People were fascinated by them and for a good reason. I managed to listen in on a few, they were great. Some students were sincerely considering changing schools if the musical cultivation curriculum expanded a bit more and the school here was thinking of expanding it. I feel like all this - atmosphere -  won't be evident from the documents, because the musical cultivation classes here were short-lived, but they really made an impact. Gusu was no longer the only consideration when it came to musical cultivation."

"So in your opinion the teachers that taught here were mostly competent?" Wei Wuxian asks.

"They were all competent," Madam Lan says firmly, "and qualified."

Wei Wuxian blinks, "You know about the scandal with one of the teachers being found to be a fraud."

Madam Lan scoffs, "That poor guy was as much of a fraud as you are a demon and the enemy of the entire cultivation world."

"Ah. A slight exaggeration then?"

"Musical cultivation teachers are required to take a certain number of classes and courses every year to keep their credentials. Cloud Recesses are the only place where you can get these courses. So in order to get rid of the competition, they simply didn't allow the teachers to sign up for the necessary classes. Their applications got lost, they just happened to be the people there wasn't enough room for in the course, there were unfortunate errors being made in the student lists. Eventually, one of the teacher's qualifications expired. Someone dropped a helpful anonymous hint to the cultivation education department and their competition problem was solved with the help of an overblown scandal. All the more reasonable articles covering the nuance of the situation got so drowned out by sensational titles that they're almost impossible to find."

"I really should have dug deeper in my research," Wei Wuxian says.

"You've been on the case for three days," Lan Wangji reminds him. He turns to his mum, "You tried to set the situation right?"

"I found evidence of what was going on long before the plan was fulfilled," Madam Lan says. "I knew going to the Elders wouldn't have changed much as most of them were on board with the idea and I wasn't well-liked in Cloud Recesses. People thought I didn't care for your father, but in reality it was the Lan Sect and their rules and way of living I didn't care for. I was unhappy there and they were unhappy with me. I was an outcast in what was supposed to be my own sect through marriage," she laughs a short humorless laugh, "at one point there was even a rule that I was not supposed to be spoken to. The fact that I was a sect leader's wife didn't matter."

She looks away into the distance, recalling what happened, "I was going to gather all the evidence of the fact that they were purposefully trying to make sure that the teachers here wouldn't be able to update their credentials. I was going to go to a newspaper or make things public somehow. Unfortunately I was caught by your father's mentor. He was a respected and revered Elder. He was talented. Unfortunately he was also cruel and brutal. He already didn't like me. He threatened to throw me out of the sect. Honestly, I felt so much joy and relief at the prospect. I wanted to escape. I think he saw that. So he changed tactics," she looks over to her son, "I - ," she sighs, "he threatened to kill me. It wasn't an empty threat. He was going to kill me and say I attacked him first. He would have been believed in a heartbeat. I was already so heavily disliked that they would have gladly believed I was a murderer."

"So you killed him instead," Lan Wangji says. He has heard that his mother was a woman, who murdered his father's mentor in cold blood many times. He has never been told why. He has learned not to ask, not to even wonder.

"I'm sorry, A-Zhan. I'm sorry I left you to grow up in that horrible place. I wanted to take you and your brother and escape so many times. I never quite managed. There were just too many of them."

"You tried to escape with me and brother?" Lan Wangji asks, disbelieving. He has no memory of this, no second hand knowledge either.

"Of course, many times. How did they tell you I died?" she asks.

"They didn't. They just said you were gone."

She nods, "I guess that's less cruel than the truth."

"They wouldn't..." Lan Wangji mutters, but he doesn't sound too sure of himself.

"I was trying to kidnap their sect heirs," Madam Lan says softly, "and I showed no signs of planning to stop. Maybe I should have, but I just couldn't quite accept it."

Lan Wangji nods solemnly, "In that case... I think my secret is better kept."

Madam Lan looks over to Wei Wuxian thoughtfully, "or you could leave."

Wei Wuxian takes the look as his cue to leave, "I'll be downstairs thinking of ways to appease the rest of our little crowd." He goes and puts his flute to his lips and plays and wonders what Lan Wangji's secret is. Would it be okay to tease him about it? Maybe not now. Lan Wangji has been through a lot already.

"I was thinking we could make the truth public," Wei Wuxian tells Lan Wangji later when he's finished talking to his mum. "It would appease a lot of the spirits here."

"... Mn."

"It will be hard to find solid proof now of course, but maybe they haven't quite gotten rid of everything. I can be the one to make it public, My reputation is already in shambles. Of course you would be believed more, but I don't want you to ruin your life. We'll - we'll think of something. Also, we probably can't convince the owners of the property to change their construction plans, but what if we had one large musical event in honor of everyone, who ever studied and worked here? It would probably help as well and it is certainly the easier task to manage than unveiling a closely kept secret of a major sect."

Wei Wuxian offers that Lan Wangji stays in his hotel for the following night as well. It is already very late and they need to discuss plans anyway. And plans they do discuss, even if there is very little to go on. Lan Wangji hopes that the Lan Clan's current leadership is less willing to keep such a large ugly secret under wraps, if only because he believes his brother and sect leader would also want this to come to light. Wei Wuxian hopes he doesn't look too sceptical. He does like and respect Zewu-jun, but he also knows what big sects are like. 

"Lan Zhan, are you okay?" he asks once they have both gone to bed and are lying under the covers in the darkness, having finished planning for the night.

"..." Lan Wangji says nothing. Perhaps it was a stupid question to ask, Wei Wuxian thinks.

"It's a pretty big deal, everything that happened, seeing your mother, finding out how she died."

"..."

"You know, what she said, that you could leave. She clearly wanted you to leave, but you don't have to just because she wanted to. You're happy at home, aren't you? Your entire family is there. You love them. It's your home. You don't even mind the awful number of stupid rules. Of course, given what we learned today, I would also understand, if you couldn't stay there anymore."

"You wouldn't be happy if you married into the Lan Clan," Lan Wangji says, his voice is a quiet, shaking thing, as if he's afraid to speak the words out loud.

"Well no, of course not. I would feel exactly the same as she does, I imagine, but then I would never marry into the Lans in the first place."

There's a sharp sudden exhale, loud enough in the quiet room that they both hear it. Wei Wuxian waits, thinks that Lan Wangji might want to say something. He doesn't say anything.

"I don't think there would ever be a Lan, who'd want to marry me either," he adds as a quiet afterthought.

There is no reply. He doesn't expect one either.

When he wakes up the next morning Lan Wangji has long packed his bags and left. They carry on their correspondence through letters.

Wei Ying,

I have spoken to my brother. I have told him everything. After the shock wore off he must have consulted with the Elders. Their decisions seems to be to do nothing. "Leave the matter to rest" is their phrasing, but they admit that they feel this would harm the sect's reputation. I have expressed my desire to reveal the truth regardless. I have been told in no uncertain terms that this would result in either a very severe punishment or my expulsion from the sect. I was also then told that the results of me revealing the truth would be catastrophic for my sect and would be its downfall. I don't know if the truth would be this extreme, but something gives me pause regardless. Perhaps I am simply a coward. I fear I may be.

Yours, 

Lan Zhan

Hi, Lan Zhan!

How good to hear from you! You left so suddenly. Missed you in the morning. Do you have any tangible proof? If you do, I could release it. No reason for you to lose your reputation when you already know someone willing to help, whose reputation is already in the ruins.

I spoke to the construction company about the possible tribute concert. Basically they are happy with anything that stops the haunting as long as it doesn't take very long to organize. So they very much want us to get a move on with that. Perhaps we should start there, If only because it is more doable? How does your sect feel about the concert idea? My contacts with big sects are complicated at best.

Yours,

Wei Ying

P.S. I'm pretty sure you have never been a coward in your whole entire life.

Wei Ying,

You think too well of me. I have done the cowardly thing more than once. 

Finding any tangible solid proof that would work without me backing up its legitimacy has been difficult, but even if it hadn't been so, I feel that this should be a truth shared by me.

There have been no loud objections to the tribute concert idea. Let us put together a program for it. I would also like to perform.

Yours,

Lan Zhan

Hi, Lan Zhan!

Of course I fully understand if you want to share this yourself. She is your mother after all. I know that unlike me, you think your actions through and you don't really need me to say this, but being without a sect, it really sucks. The lack of support network is perhaps a slightly bigger deal than you can imagine. I do not think you are spoilt, but you have lived your entire life as a sect heir, so maybe you do not fully understand the scope of all the things you would be giving up.

Of course you are a sect heir and you are well-loved by your sect. I never really was, so I was different. So maybe the threat of a punishment is really only a threat and in the end they won't be so harsh? I can only hope.

Do you think I could perform at the concert or would that just cause unnecessary drama? Not that I don't love a bit of flair and chaos.

Yours,

Wei Ying

Wei Ying,

My family is not the one for empty threats and we are not more lenient on those of higher positions. At least we should not be, but recent events have me doubting it. I am considering leaving regardless of whether or not they will force me to do so. 

Your musical talents would only elevate the concert.

Yours,

Lan Zhan

The concert ends up being beautiful and grand and Wei Wuxian is certain it brought peace to at least some of the spirits, with so many famous cultivators attending, the event sells out. Wei Wuxian only performs a few songs, but if he's honest that is more songs than he expected to perform.

After the concert ends, Lan Xichen seeks him out and expresses his desire to speak with him. Despite thinking that nothing good can come of this, Wei Wuxian agrees.

"You have been working on this case with my brother," Lan Xichen says, "and I think you have said some things that have greatly wounded him. I believe you should apologize."

Wei Wuxian thinks back to their recent correspondence, but he can't think of anything he might have said to Lan Zhan that would have been particularly hurtful. In their youth, sure, he might have, but recently? He can't think of anything, "Are you sure it's not the actions of his sect that have hurt and wounded him?"

Lan Xichen sighs, "You are correct in thinking that they have certainly played a part. However, I believe your thoughts and feelings are also a factor."

"Of course, because all the terrible things that befall the cultivation world are somehow Wei Wuxian's fault," Wei Wuxian says with barely-hidden sarcasm, before bowing a little theatrically and taking his leave.

He walks to the park not too far from the concert hall and former school and sits under a tree. This case is a weird one. He doubts it will really be over before Lan Wangji comes out with the truth. Or if the ghosts are suppressed. He wonders if the case will be taken away from him. The big sects would have that kind of power and the fact that he hasn't been as fast as he usually is solving these things, would probably be a good excuse to kick him off the project. He wonders if it will make it even harder for him to find work in the future.

While he thinks this over Lan Wangji finds him and joins him under the tree.

"Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian opens his eyes and looks at the gorgeous man in light blue, "Hi, Lan Zhan! You played beautifully. The whole concert was great, but you were the best part!"

"Thank you. I came to inform you that I'm planning to make a statement about the truth behind my mother's death tomorrow and then I'll voluntarily leave my sect."

Wei Wuxian nods, "It's a difficult choice, but honestly, after thinking it over, I don't see you making any other choice. Let's just hope they don't instead force you to into some sort of imprisonment."

"You think they would?" Lan Wangji asks.

Wei Wuxian shrugs, "Maybe not, but I've learned to keep my expectations low when it comes to the large sects."

"Perhaps I should leave before coming clean then," Lan Wangji thinks.

"Maybe. Your brother already knows your plan though. He loves you of course, but do you think the Elders know as well?"

"I do not know," Lan Wangji says.

"... Speaking of your brother. He said I had wounded you greatly emotionally. I haven't, have I?"

Lan Wangji falls quiet.

"I mean recently, during this case."

"... Not very recently," Lan Wangji eventually says very hesitantly.

Wei Wuxian frowns, "But I did semi-recently? During this case?"

"... You can not help how you feel," Lan Wangji says.

"Meaning?"

"..."

"Lan Zhan!"

Lan Wangji sits down next to Wei Wuxian, "You said you would never want to marry into the Lans."

"Oh! And you took that personally? Lan Zhan! I didn't mean you. Anyone would be happy to marry you. You're courageous and righteous and gorgeous," Wei Wuxian teases.

"You still wouldn't be happy there."

Wei Wuxian laughs, "Lan Zhan! Are you thinking of marrying me?"

"..." Lan Wangji doesn't reply, he looks away.

Wei Wuxian sighs, "Well, yes, probably not, I wouldn't be, but by this point neither would you?"

"No," Lan Wangji agrees with a small sigh. "... would you be willing to work together with me once I have no sect affiliation? Perhaps travel together for a bit?"

Wei Wuxian's face instantly lights up, "Of course, Lan Zhan! I mean working with me out of all people won't be great for your reputation, but - ,"

"I don't care."

" - I'd still love to. I'd love that," Wei Wuxian says and smiles and Lan Wangji's face too, turns into one of soft quiet joy.