Chapter Text
"Watch out," the impudent rule-breaker shouted suddenly.
A bright glint of unsheathed sword rushed towards him and Lan Wangji shifted to the left to avoid it. As far as tricks went, this was the most outrageous he had ever seen. Ready to rebuke the troublemaker, Lan Wangji opened his mouth and promptly choked on his own words when an arm clutched his waist and a powerful movement shoved him away and behind the attacker's back. A moment later a loud shriek followed, a sound so alien and inhumane that Lan Wangji felt blood chilling in his veins.
There really was something behind him.
He let his emotions cloud his judgment and didn't believe a fellow cultivator when warned about danger. Do not judge unjustly. Lan Wangji did just that, breaking the rules he went to such effort to uphold when trying to detain the wayward visiting disciple. He let the initial dislike rein over his rationality, almost resulting in a grave outcome, were it not for the bravery and strength of said visiting disciple. A cultivator must always remain clear-headed, his uncle's words ran through his mind. He was not. And a lapse of judgment like this one could've resulted in something truly horrible during a night-hunt.
"A little help would've been much appreciated," the same too loud voice rang again.
Lan Wangji jerked out of his stupor, ashamed of his inaction that left his saviour battling whatever had attacked him. He raised his gaze to the enemy and almost stumbled over his own feet.
The thing that was facing him, for the lack of better wording as there was no face or even clear head, looked like nothing Lan Wangji had ever seen in his sixteen years of life. He might've had less experience than his uncle or even brother, but just one glance told him that they were probably dealing with something unusual. The thing didn't appear like any living creature or even any inanimate object known to Lan Wangji. It resembled a deformed, writhing mass of pitch black energy pushed together into a body that shifted and changed every moment. It had eyes on what seemed to be its limbs and mouths on what should've been its midsection. Mouths. Multiple.
Shaking himself out of his stupor for the second time in less than a ke, Lan Wangji unsheathed Bichen and dove into the fight.
That quickly proved to be a wrong decision.
He and the visiting disciple didn't work well together. Without knowing each other’s styles they were just constantly clashing together, having to dodge and evade friendly attacks as much as the powerful strikes of the enemy. At one point his ally’s wide attack almost left Lan Wangji headless and if it wasn't for quick reflexes, on both their parts, his family would've had to mourn him come morning. He had to admit that the visiting disciple’s style was good, all fluid moves that resembled a flowing water taking the shape of whatever container it was poured into. There was speed and relentlessness that betrayed his impatience and lack of experience. Not that Lan Wangji wasn't the same. Inexperienced, that is. He might've seen his fair share of night-hunts, but that was always in a controlled environment and knowing exactly what he was up against. His comrade might be skilled for his age, but both of them were far from a practised grace with which senior disciples could cooperate with each other.
The worst in their predicament, though, was the fact that none of their attacks seemed to do more than irritate or temporarily stop the monster. Lan Wangji grimaced at the term but he honestly couldn't begin to imagine where in the orthodox classification their enemy fell. So, in order to avoid potentially disrespecting a soul or several - if one were to judge by the number of the eyes or the mouths, it would be probably safe to surmise that it was several souls somehow fused into one creature - he would have to resort to such a primitive definition.
He could only hope that uncle would direct him to correct scrolls in their library so that Lan Wangji could rectify his mistakes and learn about the monster they had to deal with. He disliked being ignorant of any creature that he could encounter during a night-hunt, and now that ignorance could cost him his life. He owed it to the loudmouth he had been too busy scolding to notice the monster attacking him.
Said young man dodged and weaved between their adversary and Lan Wangji, showing the wonders of agility and flexibility, his body bending at impossible angles just to continue attacking while not standing in Lan Wangji's way. As interesting as it was to watch, a display training would be a much more appropriate opportunity to admire their guest’s martial arts. Perhaps Lan Wangji would even ask him for a spar, provided that they both survive this battle.
Deciding that a change of tactics is in order he sheathed Bichen and took two steps away, summoning Wangji from his qiankun space. It would be difficult to play standing but he had been practising for this for close to a year. Usually the technique was taught to the senior disciples, but Lan Wangji had long since outgrown the curriculum his peers were taught. He tried to not take pride in his achievements the moment uncle announced that he would move onto more complex skills to properly nurture his talent. To be valued by his sect and his elders was one of the goals Lan Wangji put before himself in life.
The other one, the most important one, of course, was to uphold justice and make the lives of ordinary people safer. And for that he had to improve his skills quickly and learn everything generations of Lan ancestors developed as a foundation of their sect’s cultivation. Of course, there was a room of forbidden books that could be accessed only with the sect leader’s permission, but other than that Lan Wangji had free reign of the library. And so his additional training in musical cultivation started taking most of his free time.
Which helped now that he could move out of the range of the monster’s attacks while also playing Cleansing. But Lan Wangji also found that he had been severely under-prepared because he couldn't even imagine how difficult it would be to keep enough concentration for playing while also avoiding being hit and keeping his qin in the air. After this night he would have to ask someone to train with him, because moving on his own is too different from reacting to someone else's moves.
Even though he already felt uncomfortable about the mere idea of spending time with someone. It would've been perfect if brother had time to train with him.
“I don't think this is working,” his companion complained, still too loud in the calm night air of Cloud Recesses.
Lan Wangji wanted to snap at him that loud noises were forbidden but decided against it. What they had here was an emergency, they could address the issue of broken rules after they successfully took care of the monster that threatened the peace of his home far more than one loud disciple.
Besides, that disciple was correct. While sword attacks were at least useful for stalling the monster for some short time, music did absolutely nothing, which wasn't supposed to happen. Certain that he had been playing Cleansing correctly, Lan Wangji tried to come up with a reason for its ineffectiveness. But nothing came to his mind. Resentful energy should be dissipated or suppressed by the Lan clan’s music, yet neither happened here.
No other pieces he knew were suitable for combat, yet he attempted Rest and Clarity, similarly to no effect. Only by being methodical could one make clear and reasonable conclusions. Though he had to hurry because endangering a guest who graciously helped with protecting his home was out of question.
After a careful thought about options he asked:
“Have ideas?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” the guest disciple answered with a short breathless laugh. He was too cheerful in such a serious situation. Lan Wangji cut that train of thought. He had already broken rules more than once, he had to do better. “But it's too long to explain and I’ll have to ask you to take the full attention of that guy onto yourself for some time.”
It was frustrating how he found the time to talk so much, and without saying anything important at that. And he even continued with his attacks with the grace of a crane - a flashlight strike to the left and in the next moment a wide movement that would've left a slower opponent without a part of the body or several. Unfortunately, their adversary had no real body so every landed hit only gave them a small reprieve, a window of time to collect themselves for continued assault.
A grim thought flashed through his mind: if nothing they tried could kill this monster, how could it be disposed of? Lan Wangji wasn't excessively proud of his skills, it was a fact that he was one of the strongest disciples in his generation. And the visiting disciple was far from weak as well. If he had to make an assessment based on the limited display he had seen so far, he would suppose they were more or less on the same level. A pair of the strongest disciples of their generation should be able to deal with an ordinary resentful creature easily. Which only meant that this one wasn't ordinary.
He sidestepped another attack, a powerful strike to his right side, and focused on his ally just in time to hear:
“You’ll have to trust me.”
Lan Wangji found it difficult to trust anyone who wasn't his family. Even his fellow disciples and some of distant relatives more often than not received doubts they didn't deserve. But even knowing his faults helped little when Lan Wangji failed with curbing his worst instincts and fell back into his usual behaviour. It was frustrating yet he didn't know how to rein himself in.
But Lan Wangji also saw the truth as it was: they wouldn't be able to stand against the monster much longer. He had no idea how the sounds of their fight hadn't alerted at least a part of his sect, but right now he and this obnoxious disciple were the only ones standing between his sleeping family and the creature that would definitely haunt Lan Wangji's nightmares from that day forward.
So he nodded and unsheathed Bichen, taking the other disciple’s place in engaging with the monster directly. From the corner of his eye he could see his partner setting up something a couple of paces away. It had to be a trap of some sorts, something to hold the monster until elders could be notified. While he suspected that ordinary attacks and techniques could do nothing to this kind of monster, he trusted that elders’ wisdom and experience would allow them to put it to rest.
And yet, fending it off alone was much more difficult than Lan Wangji imagined at first. He found new appreciation for his loud and talkative companion because either the monster was too strong for him alone, or he had exhausted himself too much over the course of their fighting. The visiting disciple made it look like there was nothing special keeping up with their adversary, but Lan Wangji felt as if his arms would fall off every time he lifted them. He had to clench his teeth and endure, pushing himself beyond his limits. The experience was exhilarating as much as it was exhausting, and for a single mad moment Lan Wangji thought that he hadn't felt so alive in years.
There was sweat gathering on his forehead and temples, his sleeves were most certainly dirtied and his arms ached. And yet he held his ground, he fortified himself and kept the monster’s attention with deadly attacks that forced it to retaliate in kind. The only problem - he didn't know how much longer he could last. And how to tell his partner to make haste.
“Hey, Lan-gongzi, lead him here.”
Relieved that this finally may be over soon, Lan Wangji did just that. Of course, it was easier said than done, but he was nothing if not determined. If there was the slightest chance to end this fight, even only temporarily, he was adamant to do everything in his power for that to happen. The elders would take care of everything, as they would investigate how the monster made its way into Cloud Recesses. He only needed to push a little. Gathering all his strength and hoping it would be enough, he attacked relentlessly with broad strikes, taking step after step closer to the monster.
A barrier snapped into life the very next moment, a brilliant light illuminating the clearing. Only then did Lan Wangji realise how far from the residential area they got during their fight. It had to be the reason no other Lan cultivator was disturbed by the commotion and joined them. Though he didn't know whether they would actually be of any help. At least not in the initial fight, probably.
In the soft glow of the barrier the visiting disciple he fought alongside didn't look as infuriating as earlier.
In fact, he was beautiful. His slightly tan skin looked warm in the light, and his silvery-gray eyes were mesmerising. Lan Wangji had to shake himself out of stupor when his brain made the connection between the young man's moving lips - the fullest and reddest lips he had ever seen - and the sound that had to be words. Talking again, it seemed like this one didn't like silence. Which would've been annoying at any other moment, but right now Lan Wangji was too happy to be alive for any negative feelings. For a moment he really thought that he would die there, in the middle of the night in the heart of his home, slain by an entity he has never seen or heard of before.
But this striking young man had a solution. When Lan Wangji thought that nothing short of shouting for help could save him and other residents of Cloud Recesses, the man he labelled as a troublemaker found the way for them to prevail. He watched the plush lips move with a mix of gratitude and fascination, and a tiny spark of something he didn't have a name for. Not yet. But he would. With how adamant brother and uncle were that he should join the lectures, now he would have an opportunity to get to know this man closer.
Two words snapped him out of another deep dive in his thoughts.
“Wei Wuxian.”
“What?” Lan Wangji asked, hoping he didn't miss anything important.
“My name,” the young man said with a smile so bright that Lan Wangji thought he would go blind.” It's Wei Ying, courtesy Wei Wuxian. And you?”
“Lan Zhan. Courtesy Lan Wangji.”
***
The barrier glowed a brilliant white-silver, a perfectly shaped dome holding firm against the incessant attacks of the monstrosity that appeared who knew where from. Wei Wuxian thought that Cloud Recesses were a spiritually rich, pure place where a single ghost would be an impossible happenstance. But here they were, looking at the most grotesque thing he had ever seen in his life. And Wei Wuxian lived four years on the streets of Yiling, in the shadow of Burial Mounds. He had seen all kinds of people broken by lives and discarded at the border of the hellhole of the living world. And staying for so long in close proximity to the most cursed place in the world allowed him to see some wretched creatures escaping the boundaries of the mountain every once in a while.
Whatever it was that attacked the Lan disciple as they were discussing rule-breaking and punishment - something Wei Wuxian wanted to avoid if possible - it didn't look like any creature he previously hunted as a Jiang disciple. Damn, it didn't look like any creature he saw in the books and scrolls of the Jiang library either. He was terrified and morbidly curious at the same time, but at least it seemed like he was going to learn something new here, after all.
He imagined this year-long event to be boring and uninformative, just a grand get-together the main purpose of which was for the sect heirs and leading disciples of this generation to get to know each other and learn to work together. He thought that at most he'd keep an eye on the peacock for shijie, ensure that Jiang Cheng got along with at least some of heirs and maybe make some friends to have a little fun and break a couple of those more than three thousand rules. At best he hoped to find a rare book or two in the famous Lan library or meet someone of equal intelligence and interest in cultivation theory. While Jiang Cheng was a strong cultivator and a great companion in everything of martial nature, he didn't like more theoretical topics that excited Wei Wuxian. And shijie was indulgent and listened to him happily no matter what he wanted to tell her, but Wei Wuxian needed discussion, challenge, not soft reassurances that confirmed the intelligence he already knew he possessed.
Yet, here he was, not even fully a student in Cloud Recesses and he already saw something unknown.
And he might've also found a sparring partner. He wondered if Lan Wangji had any interest in cultivation theory. Or maybe he could share some knowledge about musical cultivation. Nothing that was their clan’s secret, but maybe basics, like how they channel qi through their musical instruments. Wei Wuxian had some skills playing dizi, so he might work something out if he only had a starting point.
A blood chilling scream cut the silence that stretched between them like a sword appearing out of nowhere. It took only one glance shared between them to sprint in the direction of the sound. Absentmindedly Wei Wuxian recalled one of those nonsensical rules that prohibited running in Cloud Recesses. The desire to poke and prod hit him so strong that he turned to Lan Wangji and shouted cheekily:
“Isn’t running forbidden in Cloud Recesses?”
He didn't stop to hear the answer.
The scene they ran in was horrible. Four elders more or less successfully fended off another creature, but even all their power was not enough to damage it. They could probably go on like this for a long time, but would it really result in anything other than their defeat? Sighing to himself, Wei Wuxian bit his finger and traced characters on the ground. He never expected for this array to become so useful but now it seemed that he had to concentrate on improving it in the near future.
Wei Wuxian thought he was used to violence, accustomed to it in the way all cultivators were after they left the safety of their sects to participate in night-hunts. He was wrong.
On the ground, among the wreckage that probably was the inner courtyard of a residence, lied bodies, three people probably, though Wei Wuxian couldn't be certain. Limbs were scattered around and he noticed one torso with chest and stomach that looked torn open. Like the creature tried to claw something out from their bodies. He filed the information for later, it was better to focus at one thing at the time at this point.
Gritting his teeth, Wei Wuxian did his best to sidestep human remains while setting up the talismans for his trap. Two stubborn Lan elders continued their attempts with musical cultivation. The piece they were playing was far more complex than what Lan Wangji performed, but it was obvious even to Wei Wuxian that it did absolutely nothing to the creature. Though maybe there was some sense in them focusing on practices they were used to and not interfering with their sect mates’ fight.
When the last talisman fell in place and the barrier appeared around the creature, Wei Wuxian had to clench his fists and control his breathing. The strain on his golden core was almost too great and he would have to talk to one of Lan elders, show them his invention and have them reapply the barrier soon.
One of the said elders, the man with striking intelligent eyes and the most ridiculous goatee Wei Wuxian had ever seen in his life, took a step towards the barrier with a look of disgust on his face.
“What is this?”
“Wangji was hoping that uncle would educate him,” Lan Wangji answered from his side. Wei Wuxian scoffed before the question registered in his mind.
Shit. If grandmaster Lan Qiren - and that's who the man was, judging by Lan Wangji's address - didn't know what this creature was, then no one probably did. Wei Wuxian felt fear shaking his body at the thought. Either this creatures were ancient and hibernated for so long that everyone had long since forgotten about them or they were something entirely new. And if the first option held the chance to find something in libraries of either of the great sects, the second meant that they would have to come up with some way to destroy the creatures.
If those things weren't so terrifying, Wei Wuxian would've been exhilarated at the challenge. But as it was, the creatures posed a great threat to the world. If only one of them could kill three adult Lan cultivators, then if there were more…
“Children!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed. Lan Qiren’s gaze snapped to him and his eyes widened like he didn't even notice Wei Wuxian up until now.
“What?” Lan Qiren asked sharply.
“If there are two of those creatures, who's to say there isn't more?” Wei Wuxian explained, panic rising in his chest. “The one that attacked us appeared seemingly out of nowhere.”
He was rambling, he knew he was. But a mere thought of more bodies on the ground, but this time small, tiny ones, with their eyes forever opened in horror made him lose his grip. Anything but not children, heavens, it would be unfair if those things touched them. If they as much as scared one child.
“Gathering young ones and those incapable of fighting together will make it easier to protect them,” Lan Wangji agreed with him. Wei Wuxian almost sagged in relief.
“And it should be done immediately, lest those creatures might get to them first,” Lan Qiren concluded. The grim resignation on his face told him everything Wei Wuxian needed to know. The order followed immediately. “Wangji, I will entrust this task to you.”
“Yes, shufu,” Lan Wangji answered with a bow.
Wei Wuxian's mouth moved before he could think.
“Lan-xiansheng, allow me to help.”
Lan Qiren’s gaze returned to him, studying, probing. Like he tried to look straight into Wei Wuxian's soul. It was uncomfortable but he met it heads on, unwilling to back away.
“Wei Wuxian, you’re just like your mother,” he concluded with a sigh. Wei Wuxian tensed at his words, but what followed was unlike anything he expected. “Complete disrespect for any rules of propriety. But she too couldn't sit still and watch people die.”
Wei Wuxian felt tears welling up in his eyes. Never in his life had he heard anyone who wasn't uncle Jiang say a good word about his mother. And even uncle Jiang didn't mention her often because it upset madam Yu, so Wei Wuxian learnt to gather scraps where he could and not mention his longing for the tiniest bits of information where she can hear him. And here was another person, someone who undoubtedly knew his mother, sharing his memories with him freely.
He blinked, willing tears away, and bowed lowly, sincere gratitude in his voice.
“Thank you, Lan-xiansheng.”
Lan Qiren gave him a strange look, like he never expected to be thanked for a compliment. It quickly disappeared behind a frown, and he waved them off:
“Go. Be careful.”
For the second time in one night he broke into a sprint, though this time without any comments about rules. It took almost no time to reach the compound and by then the bells were ringing loudly, signalling the emergency. Wei Wuxian could see lights coming to life in the closest houses. Unwilling to dawdle and take unnecessary risks, he darted to the nearest courtyard, coming face to face with a young woman in hastily thrown on robes. He didn't give himself time to be embarrassed and sketched a bow in her direction.
“I’m sorry, guniang, but there's no time to explain details. Lan-xiansheng sent us to escort everyone to…” he faltered, suddenly understanding that he had no idea where they should be taking all these people.
“To the creche,” Lan Wangji came to the rescue from his side.
“Ah, Wangji. Of course. Let me get mother and Lan Yinquan,” the woman nodded, disappearing back into the house.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait for too long. Lan Yinquan turned out to be a curious seven-year old that took everything as if it was some kind of grand adventure. She kept giving him quick glances, undoubtedly intrigued by a new face, and if it weren't for a dire situation Wei Wuxian would've gladly spent some time with her. But his focus was completely on the shadows where another creature could be hiding, ready to attack them.
On their way a couple of other women and children joined them, while able-bodied men rushed in the direction of disciple quarters and communal buildings. Wei Wuxian knew that there was a part of Cloud Recesses where female disciples lived, and someone had to go there too. He just hoped that Lan Qiren wouldn't forget about them in the commotion. He and Lan Wangji couldn't be at all places at the same time.
While the creche was bright and spacious, it came with numerous disadvantages when it came to organising defences. Too many windows, which were good for getting enough sunlight and fresh air for children but a nightmare to keep track of. Madam Lan, the mother of the first woman they encountered, glanced over the space with a critical eye and then turned to them.
“Go, help others,” she urged them. “I will organise the girls to safeguard the space.”
Wei Wuxian didn't dare to argue. First, he was a guest in Cloud Recesses and only as an aid for Lan Wangji here. Second, they didn't have time for arguments when other people could be getting killed out there. So he left everything at madam Lan’s capable - he definitely hoped so - hands and sprinted towards houses that stood further from the creche.
By now most people were already up. Either the word spread that all unable to fight were gathering in the creche, or that was a standard Lan practice, but some men took their wives and small kids there by themselves before leaving to answer the call of bells. Some couples left together after sending their children to safety with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji or some of their neighbours. There was even one woman who brought her husband into the creche along with their child before going out to the emergency meeting. Lan Jingxue, the husband, lost his left leg at some point of his career as a cultivator, so he couldn't be much help, but Wei Wuxian was glad to find that he had a vast knowledge and great interest for talismans. That meant at least one more person to show his creation to, if there comes the need to defend the creche.
The most challenging family to evacuate was a pregnant woman with two five-year-olds. It took some time for them to reach their home and she was still getting her children dressed while trying to manoeuvre around the house with her huge belly. Wei Wuxian eyed her warily. Pregnant women always scared him, especially the ones that were so far along that it looked like they could give birth at any time. Knowing his luck, that time would be right with him being there, and probably expected to help in some way, just like tonight. He held a healthy dose of respect for women, but childbirth as a concept was far too terrifying.
So he did the most logical thing: grabbed the children and left the pregnant Lan lady to Lan Wangji.
In hindsight that was probably a mistake because Lan Wangji tried to respectfully support the woman while keeping touches to minimum. Which, obviously, didn't bode well with hurrying to reach relative safety of the creche.
“You should carry her,” Wei Wuxian advised, fighting to keep his grip on two little Lans he held in his arms. They were quiet but agitated, and he already felt exhaustion creeping up on him.
“Shameless!” Lan Wangji spat. Wei Wuxian gave him an incredulous look.
“What is the use of propriety if she's dead?” he snapped.
Perhaps seeing sense in his words Lan Wangji murmured his apologies and lifted the woman with ease that should've been impossible. How did those Lans train to be so strong? He promised himself to ask Lan Wangji about it when he had a chance.
When they finally reached the creche he let the little ones down so they could run inside and took a deep breath. An older woman came up with a cup of water and a word of reassurance. Apparently, they made a list and every single person in the clan residences has been accounted for. Those who couldn't fight were gathered here, others made their way to the central compound to assist Lan Qiren, as per their loved ones’ words.
Wei Wuxian finally had a chance to sit for a moment and just be, just allow himself to enjoy a drink of fresh water and a feeling of the work well done. Only a moment. Then he’ll have to show Lan Wangji how his barrier works. And check the perimeter. And probably try to distract little ones who were getting fussy.
But that would be in a moment.