Chapter Text
The second Wei Ying laid down to sleep in the tent he immediately fell asleep. Laying on his stomach wasn’t his usual sleeping position, but sleeping on his back would only cause more pain. Turns out, Lan Shi was a medic in training and held a variety of knowledge of how to treat wounds – that’s how he spotted the discoloration on Wei Ying’s robes.
When he woke, the sky was still dark, but there was a tray of food sitting on the makeshift table on the other side of his tent. Slowly getting up, he made his way across to the food, devouring it in a matter of moments.
After his hunger was satiated, he noticed a folded pile of white and light blue robes sitting at the mouth of the tent, just beside where he had set his things before falling asleep.
“I noticed you only had one spare set of robes with you. This set is one of my younger brother’s – you two appear to have similar builds and are close in age. I hope I am not overstepping any boundaries by suggesting you wear these, you certainly do not have to, but if it would make you more comfortable then please do. – Lan Xichen”
Wei Ying looked down at the white robes in his hands and couldn’t help but scoff as he set them back down before taking off his black inner-robe and putting on the set Lan Xichen had given him. As he looked down at the pale blue robes that covered his tan skin, he felt like he was finally able to take a deep breath – like a boulder had been taken off of his chest and he could finally breathe again.
He was with Gusu Lan disciples, he was dressed as a Gusu Lan disciple, he was going back with them to Cloud Recesses. No one walking past them would even suspect Wei Ying was anything but a Gusu Lan disciple – minus the missing forehead ribbon. If Lan Xichen had a spare ribbon on him, Wei Ying would be undetectable from others around him – he needed to ask if he had an extra.
He moved his arms, watching the wide sleeves of the outer robe flow in the air – a wide smile formed on his face.
He felt free. Wei Ying felt like there was nothing holding him back anymore.
Even if he had never been outside of Yunmeng territory, that he had never been to Cloud Recesses or met Lan Qiren, he knew he had a place there – that he would belong there. There wasn’t any reason Wei Ying could give for his thoughts – it could simply be that anywhere was better than Lotus Pier.
Better than judgment from everyone he met, even if they never showed it, he knew they harbored it. Within the first month of living in Lotus Pier, Wei Ying knew he had to stop listening to what people were saying when they didn’t know he was there – things about his parents, his mother in particular.
His mother trusted Lan Qiren, she trusted Cloud Recesses would be a good place to grow up in, to take refuge in, to be safe in. Lan Qiren was someone Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze trusted – Jiang Fengmian was not. Maybe Qiren would know why this was the case, why his mother told him to go to Cloud Recesses and not Lotus Pier, why his mother did not trust Sect Leader Jiang but did trust the brother of Sect Leader Lan.
Wei Ying sighed, brushing his hands down and smoothening the pale blue robes before grabbing his qiankun pouch and stepping outside the tent.
The sun was just above the horizon as he watched the Lan disciples pack up their tents and put out the fire. He noticed Lan Xichen walking towards him, a small smile on his face.
“I see you are awake, I hope your sleep was pleasant.” He spoke, offering a small bow. Wei Ying smiled, bowing back.
“It was. Thank you for the robes by the way. You wouldn’t um…happen to have an extra forehead ribbon on you, would you?” Wei Ying sheepishly asked, hands clasped behind his back.
“I do, why do you ask?”
“I was just thinking that if anyone spotted our little group here I would stick out even in these robes. I’d be the only one without a ribbon.” Xichen nodded as he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a ribbon. He held it in his hands before offering it to Wei Ying.
“This one is one of my brother’s extras – the one that was with the set of robes you are wearing now. Typically, Lan disciples wear the same ribbon throughout their lifetime – but it is always routine to carry an extra, just in case.” Wei Ying took the ribbon, running a finger over the cloud embroidery.
“Do these hold a special meaning in the Lan sect?” Xichen hummed.
“These ribbons hold our restraint. They are only to be touched or removed by ourselves, family, and spouses or fated ones or soulmates – whichever way one chooses to describe such a relationship.” He explained before turning to Lan Shi. “Are we almost ready to leave?” Said Lan nodded.
“We were simply waiting for Wei-gongzi to wake. If he is ready then so are we.” Wei Ying looked up, hands still clutching the ribbon, eyes wide.
“Is everything alright?”
“I’ve um…I’ve never flown on my sword before. I’m afraid I’ll be the one slowing our journey to Cloud Recesses.” Lan Xichen wore a small smile on his face.
“You are still young, inexperienced, there is no need to worry yourself. We all had to start somewhere.” He gazed around at the Lan disciples, all of them awaiting his command. “It will not matter if it takes us longer to return. You may either attempt to fly on your own or you may ride with me.” Xichen spoke, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Lan-gongzi, won’t Lan-laoshi be upset that we will return later than anticipated?” A disciple questioned. Xichen shook his head.
“Shufu may worry if we return a week late, however one or two days will not cause worry. Especially when he has to hear what Wei Ying has told us.” His eyes glanced down at the ribbon still held in Wei Ying’s hands. “Would you like me to tie it on?” the boy startled.
“If you don’t mind.” Xichen smiled as he took the ribbon out of his hand and slowly wrapped it around the younger boy’s head – he could hear a couple gasps from the other Lans.
“Lan-gongzi, why are you-“
“Wei Ying expressed that he would stick out among us if he was the only one missing our ribbon, so for his protection he will be wearing one until we are safely inside Cloud Recesses and speaking with Shufu.” He let out a small laugh. “And, it’s A-Zhan’s extra ribbon, so technically I am allowed to do this.”
Turns out, Wei Ying had nothing to worry about when it came to lengthening the journey to Cloud Recesses. He rode with Lan Xichen the entire time, in constant awe at the older boy’s strength and capability to not only carry two people on his sword but to make the four shichen trip with only one brief stop for a meal.
The group landed at the base of a large staircase, being greeted by a pair of Lan disciples that stood at the entrance before making their way up the stairs.
“We could’ve flown straight inside, but I thought you would like to have time to shake off any nerves.” Lan Xichen looked over at a waterfall. “And my home is very beautiful. I thought you would like to see all Cloud Recesses has to offer.” Wei Ying smiled, eyes roaming around the scenery as they climbed the stairs.
“It is very beautiful.” He breathlessly spoke, eyes darting around like a kid at a candy stall.
The group traveled up the stairs in silence until Wei Ying suddenly stopped walking, eyes widening and jaw slack as he stared at a stone wall – he almost missed the Lan disciples snickering at his reaction.
“Ah, this is the Wall of Discipline. Currently, the Lan Sect has 3000 principles and-“
“There’s so many.” Wei Ying whispered, interrupting Xichen. He quickly turned to him, realizing his mistake.
“I apologize for interrupting. I was aware that Gusu Lan operated with 3000 rules, but seeing it in person, seeing them all written out is a completely unexpected experience.” Xichen smiled at him.
“Typically, those who see the Wall of Discipline for the first time express shock and question how accurate one can actually follow 3000 rules at the same time – and to tell you the truth, it is impossible. However, what I’ve found is intentions matter, reasons for rule breaking matters. If one carelessly breaks a rule, then their punishment is deserving. If one breaks a rule out of survival, if a situation calls for action that is rule defying, then that reason should also be taken into consideration.” His eyes wandered towards the disciples. “Of course, sometimes one is naturally loud or curious or expressive from the moment they are born and considerations must be taken there as well. Gusu Lan would never want to hinder a person’s natural expression.” A Lan whined.
“Lan-gongzi!” Lan Shi spoke, putting his head in his hands as his cohorts let out small laughs. Xichen smiled, eyes wandering towards the top of the stairs.
“It seems we will have to seek out Shufu on our own.” He said as the group finished climbing the stairs – then turning to face the group.
“Wei Ying and I will go see Shufu, I will give our report then as well. You are all dismissed to spend the rest of today as you desire.” Xichen spoke, offering the group a bow before turning to Wei Ying. “Are you ready?”
Wei Ying nodded and the pair started walking away. Xichen stopped, looking over his shoulder.
“Lan Shi, please do let the Healer’s Pavilion know Wei Ying will need medical attention as soon as we are finished speaking with Shufu.” Lan Shi nodded, turning to walk in what Wei Ying assumed was the direction of the Healer’s Pavilion.
Wei Ying read the name on the nameplate above the door – the Hanshi, the Frost Room. Xichen climbed the short staircase and knocked on the door.
“Shufu? Are you available to speak?”
“Come in.” Wei Ying heard spoken from the other side of the door and rushed to climb the stairs and stood next to Xichen as he opened the door.
Contrary to its name, the Hanshi felt warm and inviting. One could easily understand the type of person residing in its walls based on the decorations and scrolls adorning the walls. Sitting at a table, a pot of tea at the center of the table, sat Lan Qiren – whose eyes landed right on Wei Ying as he looked up, eyes widening.
“Shufu-“
“Wei Ying?” the man spoke, slowly rising to his feet. Wei Ying nodded.
“Shufu, how did you-“ Lan Qiren walked towards them, a hand behind his back.
“You look just like your father, but you also have your mother’s eyes.” A faint smile crossed his face. “Your hair is styled just as your mother wore. You may be shorter now, but if you are anything like your father, you’ll have a massive growth spirt in a few years.” A tear fell down Wei Ying’s face as he stared at the man – acting Sect Leader Lan. He watched Lan Qiren’s eyes dart to his nephew.
“How did you meet?” Wei Ying swallowed before stepping forward in a small bow.
“I think I should explain everything.”
Wei Ying spent the next shichen going through his memories – after his parents’ deaths, the letter his mother left him, his initial hesitancy to travel outside of Yiling in case they came back – eventually morphing into an acquaintance with the small town and its residence, living on the streets, dogs, Sect Leader Jiang finding him after his tenth birthday and taking him back to Lotus Pier. He spoke about the rumors he heard about his parents, never believing them. About how Madam Yu regarded talk about Cangse Sanren in particular, Jiang Fengmian’s borderline obsession with Wei Ying, and finally about the day he was whipped with Zidian.
He saw an immediate change in Lan Qiren’s expression when he mentioned Zidian. As he continued to explain, the man’s face shifted in anger, fists clenched in his lap as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When Wei Ying finished, there was a long pause before Lan Qiren spoke.
“Your mother was someone I regarded as a close friend, a confidant of sorts. We met when she attended the guest disciple lectures at fourteen. It was also during those lecture days that she met Wei Changze, though it would be years before those two realized their feelings.” He spoke with a smile, looking down at the tea cup cradled in his hands.
“Your hesitancy towards Jiang Fengmian and your mother’s distrust is correct. Your father was Fengmian’s right hand, the pair were more often seen together than apart, and thus, he and Tengfei often interacted.” Wei Ying looked at him, a slight tilt in his head.
“Tengfei?” Qiren stared at him, trying to read his expression, before his eyes widened.
“Do you not know your mother’s name? Is Cangse Sanren the only name you know that belongs to your mother?” he practically whispered, eyes wide as he watched the boy nod.
“Fengmian never told you anything about your parents, did he?” Wei Ying swallowed.
“Speaking of my parents was forbidden, especially if Madam Yu was around. Jiang-shu-Sect Leader Jiang tried telling me stories, but he would always start but then get hyper focused on one detail and only spoke about that – usually it left me feeling uncomfortable.” He explained.
“What would he focus on?” Xichen spoke, picking up and taking a sip of his tea. Wei Ying shrugged.
“Sometimes it would be about how I had my mother’s eyes and how sometimes he almost addressed me as her, that made me uncomfortable for sure. Another time he spoke at length about how I was learning the Jiang fighting style and how he watched my father teach my mother, specifically standing behind her and correcting her form. I think after that I stopped asking him, and found ways to get out of those conversations.” Wei Ying paused, playing with the hem of his sleeve.
“I want to learn more about them. But the way Sect Leader Jiang would speak about them implied that he wished he was in my father’s position, that I was his son. And I knew my mother did not trust him, so it left a bad taste in my mouth when he would speak about her.” Lan Qiren hummed, refilling his cup.
“Baoli Tengfei was her name. She was taken in by Baoshan Sanren when she was four years old, she didn’t remember how her family died. The immortal took her in and raised her as a cultivator, learning a variety of fighting styles, but your mother preferred talismanic fighting – she was extremely gifted in the art of talisman creation. Contrary to what the other sects and cultivation world believes, she was allowed to descend and return to the mountain on certain occasions – the guest disciple lectures, for example. It wasn’t until she was seventeen that she left the mountain and never returned, but she told me once she was allowed to return only out of absolute necessity.” Lan Qiren scoffed.
“Believing someone like Baoshan Sanren would banish and forbid her students from returning to the mountain – their home – is something I have always found absurd. Outsiders were not allowed in, but Tengfei once told me that if she hadn’t fallen in love with Changze, she would’ve returned the day she turned twenty.” He paused, staring at Wei Ying.
“The next part of this story pertains as to why she does not trust Jiang Fengmian, it is not a pleasant story. Are you certain you wish to hear it now and not at a later time?” he softly spoke. Wei Ying nodded, his hands clasping together in his lap as he took a deep breath.
“Your mother’s birthday is close to yours – October 23 rd – and on her twentieth, she was in Lotus Pier with Changze and Fengmian. I couldn’t make it to Lotus Pier at the time, but Tengfei told me she would come by Cloud Recesses after she left Lotus Pier. This…this is a direct story, she told me herself.” Qiren paused, eyes darting between Wei Ying and his nephew.
“Tengfei told me that Fengmian’s father, the Jiang Sect Leader at the time, had Changze running out an important delivery order to a merchant shop just outside of Lotus Pier, so she was alone with Fengmian. She and Changze had, at this point in time, been secretly courting for three years. They wanted to wait until Changze was no longer serving the Jiang Sect to make any announcements, but I had known since the second they had confessed – Fengmian, of course, had no idea they harbored any romantic feelings for each other.”
“She told me that Fengmian had a present for her and led her back to his chambers – a room that was in a far corner of Lotus Pier. Fengmian had gifted her a comb with the largest smile on his face. Tengfei admitted that she did in fact like the comb, and the one she had been using broke a week prior, so she thanked him for the gift and pocketed the comb, turning to leave the room. Fengmian grabbed her arm, practically pulling her to his side – there were bruises on her arms from it.”
!!!!
“Hey! That hurts!” Baoli Tengfei exclaimed, attempting to jerk her arm out of Jiang Fengmian’s grasp. He smiled at her.
“You liked my comb? You understand what gifting a comb means, don’t you?” he whispered into her ear, chills ran down her whole body as he softly caressed her hair. She met the eyes of the Jiang Sect Heir, and for the first time in a while, fear coursed through her veins under his gaze.
“It was a thoughtful gift. The one I was using just broke last week.” She whispered, body tensing as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Accepting a comb is an acceptance of courting.” He whispered, brushing the hair off of her shoulder, the red ribbon she wore tangling in his fingers.
“I-“
“Tengfei, we’ve known each other for years. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed my affection for you?”
She froze at those words. Never once did Baoli Tengfei ever see Jiang Fengmian as a potential love interest or partner, nor did she ever pick up on any affection the man may have had towards her. The initial shock of his actions slowly wore off as she used her free hand to hit some of his pressure points, forcing him to let go of her other arm.
Unfortunate for her, Fengmian stood between her and the door – she would have to fight her way out of this room. Fengmian looked at her, shock crossing his face.
“Tengfei-“
“Don’t!” she shouted, hands fisted at her sides, internally regretting the fact that she left her sword in the guest room she was staying in.
Fengmian took a step towards her.
“A-Teng, I know you’ve liked me since the moment we met. Always using Changze as an excuse to be around me. You don’t have to hide anymore, your feelings are reciprocated.” He spoke, a wide smile on his face.
He took another step.
“I don’t know how you ever got an impression I harbored any romantic feelings towards you.”
She took a step back.
“What do you mean? You don’t have to feel embarrassed to be having such thoughts A-Teng.”
He took a step.
“I have never thought of you in any way other than friendly.”
She took a step.
“We could change that. You could learn to love me. How about being the Madam of Lotus Pier? When I become sect leader, you could have anything you wanted!”
He took a-
“I will never love you!”
She took a-
“Oh A-Teng-“
He took-
“Stop calling me that!”
He-
Baoli Tengfei’s back hit the wall, Jiang Fengmian’s arms bracketing her against the wood. Her eyes were wide as she stared at him, watching his eyes widen as a grin crossed his face.
“Now, what do we have here? Someone who is entirely capable of kicking my ass on a regular basis is suddenly unable to defend herself?” he said as he stroked a hand down her cheek, cupping her face.
“It almost seems like you do want this, don’t you think?” he whispered into her ear as a hand slowly raked up her chest.
In one fluid motion, she grabbed the hand off of her breast and spun Fengmian around, pinning him against the wall. He smirked at her.
“So you are capable of defending yourself, but you know what? Planning is much more effective when you are able to anticipate your opponent’s moves.” He kicked a foot back, aiming for Tengfei’s knee – a childhood injury left it as a weak point.
When Tengfei fell to her knees, Fengmian spun around and knocked her back onto the bed, hovering over her before hitting a pressure point at the base of her spine that would render her legs immobile for half a shichen. With one hand, he pinned her arms above her head, almost taking pleasure in watching her torso squirm as she tried freeing herself.
She felt his free hand raking over her body, dirtying it with every movement. The sudden feeling of cold air on her chest made her scream for help – he laughed, leaning close to her ear.
“Those silencing talismans you created certainly do come in handy – along with those warding talismans as well.” He whispered as she felt the temperature in the room drop.
The events of the following thirty minutes would come to be something only Qiren and Changze would know about. Baoli Tengfei tried blocking out every single moment, every touch, every caress, every thrust, every scream, every tear she shed in that room. Once she regained control of her legs, Fengmian had already finished and put his robes back on.
When he left the room, she was left with nothing more than her own emotions.
She couldn’t cry, not here, not in Lotus Pier, not without Changze or Qiren by her side. She knew Changze was on a delivery mission from Sect Leader Jiang and said he wouldn’t return until tomorrow. Qiren was five shichen away in Cloud Recesses. Tengfei did not trust her ability to safely fly to Gusu – she barely trusted her own capabilities of walking out of the room.
To think that her own inventions, her own talismans, would be used against her in such a malicious way? That someone like Fengmian would do something like that? She expected that behavior from Jin Guangshan, but never Fengmian.
Right, talismans. She had been working on a teleportation talisman.
Quickly putting her robes back on, ignoring how disgusting and dirty she felt in them, Tengfei rummaged through Fengmian’s desk – finding a blank talisman. With no cinnabar within her sight, she bit the tip of her finger and hastily drew on her experimental design before infusing the talisman with her spiritual energy, watching the talisman glow a light red.
!!!!
“She was disheveled when she suddenly appeared in front of me, luckily I was in my quarters at the time, so there was complete privacy. Tengfei fell into my arms sobbing. I’ll never forget that sound, her just being so broken and not knowing what to do, thinking that Changze would think differently of her or that she had betrayed their courtship – that Fengmian would tell him a different story.” Lan Qiren softly spoke, watching tears pour down Wei Ying and his nephew’s faces – he himself wiping away a few tears.
“When Changze returned to Lotus Pier the following day and Tengfei wasn’t there, he became concerned. I was able to send word to him quickly that she was in Cloud Recesses, that he needed to gather her things and come here if he wanted to see her.” Qiren took a sip of his tea, coating his dry throat.
“When Changze found out-“
“He left Lotus Pier and renounced his position.” Wei Ying whispered, tears freely flowing down his face as he looked up at the older man – who nodded.
“It was a huge shock to Lotus Pier, and the rest of the cultivation world. Everyone knew about Wei Changze, how close knit the main Jiang family was. To see someone who appeared to be held in such high regards completely abandon his station for seemingly no reason? Rumors flew around for months.” Qiren set his cup down, looking in thought as he ran a hand over his beard.
“What did Sect Leader Jiang – Jiang Fengmian – say about it?” Xichen asked, wiping the tears that had fallen down his face. Qiren sighed.
“He acted completely shocked. Fengmian actually came here, demanding that he knew Tengfei was here and he demanded to speak with her.”
“He stormed into Cloud Recesses after knowing what he had done?”
“It was quite a dramatic moment. Of course, he was told she was not here, that no one knew where she would be, that at one point she was here but had left so long ago that she could’ve been anywhere.” Qiren glanced at the quiet boy, watching tears fall down his face.
“You were actually born here.” He looked up. Qiren smiled.
“Your mother and Xichen and Wangji’s mother were quite close. Tengfei stayed with Qiaolian in the Gentian House. She stayed there for a year after her assault, barely seeing anyone other than Changze and myself. After that year, she decided to move into the guest room of my residence where Changze had been staying. She actually found out she was pregnant on Wangji’s 100 day celebration.” He spoke with a huff, a small smile on his face. Wei Ying looked up at him, eyes wide.
“If I was born here, can Gusu Lan lay claim to me?” he spoke softly, almost fearful of not only his own words but of the response. Qiren’s eyes widened as his hand dropped to his lap.
“We can.” He mumbled, eyes darting to Xichen. “Xichen, Lan Rui should know where birth records are kept, ask her to find and bring me the book from the year Wangji was born.” Xichen nodded as he stood, bowing to the pair before quickly – not running – leaving the Hanshi. Qiren turned to Wei Ying.
“There may be some paperwork to deal with, but we will be able to claim you as you were not only born in Gusu Lan territory but in Cloud Recesses – I was the one who signed your birth certificate, we should have a copy of it. Logistically, our claim would only override the Jiang’s if it was your choi-“
“They never claimed me.” Wei Ying muttered, hands fisted in his lap – again, forgetting about the wound on his hand and wincing.
“They…so Jiang Fengmian took you off the streets of Yiling and just brought you to Lotus Pier? He never gave you a formal position or claimed guardianship over you?” Qiren’s eyes were wide as he spoke. Wei Ying nodded.
“I don’t think Madam Yu would’ve let him take any responsibility for me. And…and knowing what I do know now I’m glad she never let him.” Wei Ying wiped a stray tear. “I was told that if I earned it, I could’ve been Head Disciple, but I heard some of the elders speaking one day about how even if I was given that position I wouldn’t be given the benefits that came with it, how they wouldn’t even tell me about them just so I wouldn’t know they were supposed to be my right as Head Disciple.” Qiren scoffed, causing Wei Ying to look up at the man.
“Well, then I’m glad you’re here. Tengfei would be devastated if that had happened to you. She watched the ways the Jiang elders treated Changze – she went on and on about them to me multiple times. Changze was given half the pay his station called for, he was denied having a private home and rather was given one of the guest rooms. He essentially became an errand boy of the Jiangs – we were trying to find ways to get him to leave before Fengmian did what he did.”
Wei Ying watched the man his mother saw as a confidant shake his head, eyes looking towards a window. Something had settled in his chest as Lan Qiren spoke of his mother’s assault. A deep rooted distrust for Jiang Fengmian now seemed completely justified, all the attention he would give Wei Ying, how he was invested in Wei Ying from the second he stepped foot in Lotus Pier. Sect Leader Jiang could’ve sent him to the Lotus Pier orphanages, had one of the elder’s take him in, but he took him back to Lotus Pier proper, the main Jiang estate. Wei Ying became friends with his children, he trained with their disciples, he was given his own room.
But never his own place.
No matter how long Wei Ying had spent in Lotus Pier, he always felt othered – like there was a secret conversation about keeping him close enough to make him comfortable but not close enough that he could be considered family.
But here, sitting in front of Lan Qiren, hearing him speak of his mother so openly, kindly, fondly, with actual grief at her death.
There was no comparing the two.
“What…what would be my position here? Would I be allowed to stay here in Cloud Recesses?” he softly spoke, shoulders stiff as if he feared the answer. Qiren looked back at him.
“That would depend on what you want. You could be adopted by one of the Lan families here in Cloud Recesses or in Caiyi. However, if you want my personal opinion, I would want you to be my ward. You would be under my guardianship, I would take responsibility for you, but without a formal adoption out of respect for your parents – but my legal authority over you would be just as if I had.” The man softly spoke, a small sad smile on his face as he watched fresh tears fall down Wei Ying’s face.
“And after that?” he managed to choke out.
“After that, you would stay here in Cloud Recesses, join the junior disciple classes and any others you may have strength in – if you are anything like your mother, you’ll have her affinity towards talismans. You would stay in the disciple dorms until you’re twenty, likely you would be given your own residence. If you were to become my ward, there would be other sect based expectations set on you – mainly aiding myself and attending the discussion conferences with me while I am acting Sect Leader.” The softness and tenderness of his voice calmed Wei Ying’s skyrocketing nerves.
He would have a place here. A role. A home. People who he knew would treat him like family.
He nodded, a small watery smile on his face.
“I would like that.” He spoke, his voice breaking. Qiren sighed.
“Good, good.”
“If I were staying in the disciple dorms, would I be in a room by myself or would I be rooming with someone?” he suddenly questioned, watching as the older man paused.
“I believe Wangji is currently in a room by himself. You could choose to share a room with him or we could make accommodations for you to have your own room if that is something you want.” Wei Ying quickly shook his head.
“No, I’d like to room with someone. Wangji is A-Zhan right? Lan Xichen’s younger brother, the one who is similar in age to me?” Wei Ying looked down at his robes. “The owner of these robes.” Qiren hummed.
“I wondered where Xichen got you a set of Lan robes on such short notice. Yes, A-Zhan is Wangji. His thirteenth birthday is in two months and he will be bestowed the courtesy name Wangji. I have simply been getting used to saying it in preparation.” Wei Ying nodded.
“So disciples are given courtesy names at thirteen?” Qiren nodded, looking in thought for a moment before speaking.
“Typically, twelve is when swords are given and thirteen, courtesy names. I am aware that the Jin Sect does both at the age of twelve. I believe in one of your mother’s letters to me, I will let you read them as soon as you’d like, she mentioned your courtesy name.” Wei Ying’s eyes widened.
“She had a courtesy name picked out?” Qiren let out a small huff.
“Your mother, from the second she found out she was expecting, had your entire life planned out. She wanted you to be happy, to be loved and to know love. Whether you became a well-known cultivator – or a cultivator at all – did not matter to her. Tengfei told me she wanted you to attend the lectures just as she had, that she and Changze had planned on having your formal education be done here once you turned six.” Qiren reached up and wiped a tear that had fallen down his face.
“She would go on and on about how she knew you would be smart, capable, talented – and if you weren’t? That did not matter, you would be loved all the same. Tengfei and Changze had plans on traveling the cultivation world, of taking you to all their favorite places, letting you be exposed to the world around you before settling down either in Cloud Recesses or Caiyi – they hadn’t yet decided.” He looked across the table at Wei Ying, watching tears fall down the boy’s face.
“Your parents would be proud of the cultivator you have become, of how capable you are. Even here, I have heard about the things you have done in Lotus Pier. How you had taken the younger Jiang disciples that had been written off as incapable of learning cultivation and training them yourself, of how compassionate and caring you are towards them, how their parents have praised you for understanding their children when others have deemed them incapable due to not being able to learn the typical way.” Qiren smiled. “Your father did just the same when he was your age.”
“Your parents wanted you happy. As cultivators, the thought of having children can be daunting. Night hunting can cause deadly accidents, there can be cultivation accidents, inter-Sect fighting. Every parent has to deal with the thought that something could happen to them, leaving their child without a parent. But Tengfei and Changze…they knew that if something happened to them, they had allies – people they could trust with their child.” Qiren reached across the table, taking Wei Ying’s hand.
“What was important to Tengfei and Changze was that you were happy, that you were loved. It didn’t matter to them who you loved, who made you happy, who you choose to spend your life with, the friends you make, the family you choose, where you live, whether you gave them grandchildren or not. They loved you , nothing you could have ever done would’ve made them disappointed in you.” he softly spoke, lightly squeezing the boy’s hand before letting go.
The pair sat in silence. Wei Ying looked across at the man who had just offered a whole new life for him, someone who had offered not only to allow him to live in Cloud Recesses but who offered and wanted Wei Ying to become his ward. Wei Ying was wanted here, he was welcomed, he was allowed to stay with the disciples, he would be given a formal education, given a proper sect position.
Somewhere stable.
Somewhere his parents wanted him to grow up in.
What would it have been like? Wei Ying wonders. To have grown up in Cloud Recesses rather than the streets of Yiling. To grow up in a place his parents clearly loved. With people his parents trusted. In a safe, loving, caring environment.
To grow up in a place where he would flourish. Where he would thrive. Where he would be loved.
“Will you forge me a new sword?” he quickly blurted out, a hand coming up and covering his mouth the second the words flew out, eyes wide as he watched Lan Qiren hold the same expression.
“What?” Wei Ying slowly removed the hand from his mouth, held his head high, and met Qiren’s wide eyed gaze.
“Sect Leader Jiang picked the sword I have now, he even picked the name because I couldn’t decide on one.” His hands in his lap fidgeted. “Typically it is the parents who pick out their child’s sword, who would have the name engraved on the blade. I’ve only had Suibian for a week, I’m barely acquainted with her. Knowing what Sect Leader Jiang has done to my parents, how he treated me, I…I don’t want a sword that was chosen by him, that was named by him.” He swallowed.
“I would rather have the next closest person to my parents have the honor of bestowing me my sword – not someone who has caused so much pain to my family.”
Wei Ying’s eyes widened as he saw tears flow down Lan Qiren’s face, the man reaching up and quickly wiping them away before speaking.
“I would love to have that honor.” Qiren spoke, a small smile on his face.