Chapter Text
Book 2 - Impact
Foxtail
“To hold, you must first open your hand. Let go”
- Laozi
Lan Wangji’s world tilted right out of its axes as Wei Ying brushed past him.
It was happening again .
Wei Ying was slipping right through his fingers, no matter how hard he held on. And this time he had shown his full support. And yet, the outcome seemed even worse.
As they were out of sight he reeled to the side and his mind blanked out until his palms touched cold stone. As he looked up the engraved rules were staring back at him. Rule after rule stared him down, as if they were mocking him.
Be good and good will come to you.
He balled a trembling fist and hit the stone full force, a single quiet sob escaping his lips.
A crack traveled through the stone and Lan Wangij could feel his skin rip open. But he did not care. Very slowly he sank to his knees until his forehead met the cold surface as well.
The emblem on his ribbon clicked against the stone. In a fit of rage he sat up and grabbed the front of his ribbon, about to rip it away and apart.
Being a sign of restraint and devotion to the clan, it suddenly felt like hot iron on his skin and for a moment he felt the mere thought of wearing it unbearable.
His fist was still closed around the ribbon, but he did not tear it apart as his impulse tempted him. Instead he slowly pulled it off. The silver piece hidden in his fist, the pale blue fabric pooled around where his hand sank into his lap.
He did not feel one bit better.
It was not the ribbon’s fault. It was not his clan’s customs fault either.
Lan Wangji had sworn himself one thing after all that had happened. Not leaving Wei Ying´s side again.
But he had done it again. Because Wei Ying had asked. Not because he had resigned like before. He had looked at him so intently, like he knew what he was doing.
So Lan Wangji had no choice but to trust him… right?
He hadn"t done so in the past and it had ended badly. Wei Ying had to have a reason for his actions and certitude for their success.
Still holding onto the ribbon he patted the collar of his robe under which the paper talisman rustled gently. It was a grounding feeling, like evidence that Wei Ying was real.
He placed his desperate hope in the talisman Wei Ying had slipped him.
If it would not be fruitful he would go to the Nightless City. He had no clue yet how, but he would find a way.
Many things still didn"t make sense and things seemed to escalate much faster. Back then, the discussion conference had still been peaceful, even if the fronts had gradually hardened, and it was only the attack on the Cloud Recesses and the indoctrination that started the war. And that happened much later.
As Lan Wangji had managed to stand up again he had gone to see Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren to find out what had happened. At first he didn"t understand why they had looked at him with such pity.
He also saw the surprise in their eyes that the ribbon was missing from his forehead. Few people were still around, but it was scandalous nevertheless. They did not mention it though. Lan Wangji did not really care but followed them into the Hanshi.
After their report, it was clearer to him. He felt anger, but not towards Wei Ying. First and foremost, he was angry that he hadn"t come back earlier. He couldn"t have done anything, but at least he could have stood by Wei Ying. He should have asked about his plan earlier. He should have-
"Wangji..." he heard his brother say and looked up. Only now did he realize that he hadn"t been listening. He had no idea what Lan Xichen had been saying.
"Don"t worry about it. You can"t see into people. You had every reason to see only the good in him."
Lan Qiren cleared her throat at this statement, but said nothing.
Lan Wangji looked down for a moment.
"Huan-ge, I trust him. He had his reasons and did not want Wen Chao to do more harm."
Lan Xichen looked at him with narrowed eyebrows.
"Do you really think that?" he asked anxiously.
“I know it.”
Lan Wangji thought that everything had been said and stood up. With a short bow, he excused himself and left.
He heard his uncle quietly murmur " naive ". It didn"t bother him.
˙⊹܀☁︎˚˙⊹⁺
Back in the Jingshi, he took the talisman out of his sleeve and placed it on the table in front of him to examine it. It was made of simple talisman paper and painted on one side. However, the color was not black, but dark red. Lan Wangji picked it up and smelled it. The liquid had long dried, but he could detect a slight metallic odor. The talisman had been painted with blood. He slowly lowered it back onto the table. Wei Ying had already started this too? The only thing that made his methods different from the Wei Ying who was called the Yilling Patriarch was that he didn"t have the tiger tally but instead he still had his golden core. And he hadn"t seen him controlling and using resentful energy... however, his new spiritual weapon worked disturbingly similar... just with spiritual energy... as far as Lan Wangji could tell.
He studied the signs on the talisman attentively. If he interpreted them correctly, the talisman must have something to do with communication, but Lan Wangji didn"t know how to use it.
After a moment"s thought, he raised his hands and let spiritual energy flow into the talisman to see if he could send anything with it. Nothing happened and he could not perceive anything.
Then he let Bichen spring from its sheath just a tiny bit so he could run his thumb over the blade. A drop of blood beaded on his pale skin and he let it drip onto the talisman.
It glowed slightly and the blood disappeared into the paper but nothing happened.
Maybe the talisman was just made to receive messages.
Lan Wangji decided not to take any risks and wait until Wei Ying contacted him. He sat down cross-legged in front of the talisman and began to meditate.
“Trust me, trust me, trust me” , he quietly prayed the last message of Wei Ying over and over.
The morning had just dawned when a faint red glow rose Lan Wangji from his meditation.
He immediately observed the talisman. The faint glow was not coming from the side that was written on, so he turned it over.
Characters formed there in real time. They were also blood red and Lan Wangji immediately recognized Wei Ying"s handwriting. His heart skipped a beat and he began to read. It wasn"t that easy, because it was just a few words and the writing was really strangely distorted, as if the writer had a very unsteady hand.
"Foxtail - six - twenty,” he read.
Lan Wangji’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Additionally a little scribble appeared over the message. It was a tiny cloud that circled into the shape of a heart. He felt relief wash over him and hoped that meant Wei Ying was at least somewhat safe to be playful.
He waited a little longer but no more messages arrived.
After a moment of breathing, he looked at the characters again, trying to figure out the hidden meaning.
When he left the Jingshi, he put on his ribbon again. It now held his new resolution. It would be his rooting point for getting Wei Ying back. It now stood much more for this resolution than his restraint. Noone besides family and spouses were allowed to touch it. Wei Ying had been the last one to touch it and Lan Wangji would make sure he would be the next one to touch it again.
His steps led him to a less frequented area of the Cloud Recesses. None of the sect members came here often, as it was the working ground of the servants. However Lan Wangji knew his way around as he had often prepared food for Wei Ying, especially the spicy dishes that were unfamiliar to Gusu.
He knew that behind the kitchens there were little patches of land which were mostly used to grow herbs. However he also remembered that some of what he searched for grew there.
Foxtail.
His ears heated up a little upon the connection his mind had to it. When he had embraced Wei Ying for the very first time, foxtail and moist grass had been around them, hiding them. He could still remember the light but tingly brushes against his skin, a harsh contrast to Wei Yings nails dragging over his scars and the urgent heat shared between them.
His heart sped up a little as he saw the plant that stretched out at the side of the patch. People tended to ignore it and found it too ordinary. But… It was his first guess after reading the hints on the talisman.
Now he stood in front of the plant and looked around. Maybe Wei Ying had hidden something around.
He had to call his hope foolish very quickly because even as he scanned the area with spiritual energy, there was nothing out of the ordinary. As long as he glared at the innocent plant, it just stayed regular and not secret-bearing foxtail.
The sound of a bell brought him back to reality. The other clans had arrived. His presence was mandatory in the Hanshi now.
He had no intention to go there. Not now at least.
He avoided the main hall back on his way to the Jingshi. He would wait until nightfall and then go to the library. To the forbidden part of the library if necessary.
He first must make sense of Wei Ying’s message before he would focus on anything else.
˙⊹܀☁︎˚˙⊹⁺
After having talked to his brother and Lan Qiren the day before, he was only slightly surprised as he found Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin in front of the bamboo forest, arguing with the disciple there to let them through into the inner circle premises.
“We need to see Lan Wangji, it is important,” Jiang Wanyin demanded, putting on his best intimidating impression. The disciple remained unimpressed though.
“Only clan members are allowed beyond here”, he persisted.
Jiang Yanli turned and saw him as Lan Wangji approached.
Her eyes were wide and alarmed and her face was pale.
He felt a pang of guilt in his guts. He was not the only one who was deeply affected by Wei Ying’s sudden departure.
“Let them trough”, he told the guard without stopping himself.
Jiang Wanyin stepped up to him.
“Lan Wangji, Wei Ying he is-”, he started but Lan Wangji held up a hand.
“Not here”, he cautioned and proceeded, so they had no choice but to follow him to the Jingshi, leaving the startled disciple behind.
He settled them down and purred some tea which Jiang Yanli took with thankful hands.
It was quiet for a moment.
“I-”
“We-”
“Its-”
They all began at the same time and an awkward silence followed.
Lan Wangji took a breath and then nodded toward the siblings, indicating for them to speak first.
“You have to trust Wei— Wen…”, Jiang Wanyin struggled to find the words.
“Wei Ying”, Lan Wangji agreed with a nod, he did not ever want to hear that other name again.
Jiang Wanyin looked a little relieved but the furrow in his forehead did not ease.
“You have to trust him, he would not betray you!”, he stated with a stern voice, that sounded as if he was ready to throw hands.
Lan Wangji took a breath.
“I trust Wei Ying.”
Jiang Wanyin deflated a little. He looked like he had prepared for more of a fight, for his anger finding an outlet in defending his brother. Now he huffed and crossed his arms.
“Well…. good!”
Lan Wangji couldn"t dismiss the sudden blossom of empathy he felt inside upon seeing Jiang Wanyin ready to defend Wei Ying. It would take a lot more to make him forgive all that had happened, but this Jiang Wanyin began to grow on him. He was willing to give him a chance.
Jiang Yanli had been silent so far, but now she had put down the cup with shivering fingers.
“He remembers”, she said and it caught Lan Wangji´s attention.
“I don"t know for how long, but he remembers!”, she repeated. “We made a promise as children, he remembered it!”
Lan Wangji nodded and Jiang Yanli looked relieved that he believed them so easily. She sank back a little.
Lan Wangji allowed the feelings to settle again. He had been similarly distressed and relieved as he had found out. Jiang Yanli seemed to notice his lack of surprise as soon as she had regained her composure.
“You knew ?”, she asked.
Lan Wangji felt his ears heat a little.
Should he have told them? But that would have been Wei Ying´s decision to make.
“He told me a little while ago. I … am sorry, you have been kept in the dark. I believe he did it in your best interest.”
“You know what he is up to???” Jiang Wanyin blurted out, leaning over the low table.
Lan Wangji had the urge to lean away but he sat still, letting his gaze drop.
“Not in its entirety”, he admitted regretfully. “He wanted to tell me the details about his plan just before he… had to leave.”
"What plan?!”, Jiang Wanyin probed, leaning forward even more so Jiang Yanli had to tug his sleeve. But her gaze seemed as demanding for answers.
Lan Wangji breathed in. Was he allowed to share this? Then again, he felt the need to share his own distress. Last time they all had kept to themselves leaving many unnecessary misunderstandings and it had ended in disaster.
“Wei Ying remembers his origins. He has a strong sense of equity and having seen the deeds of the Wen clan, he has set himself up to stop them.”
Both Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wangyin gasped in horror and he found a tiny bit of satisfaction in it, as it was more what he would have liked to react himself when he had learned it.
“Alone?! That is dangerous!”, the siblings exclaimed.
Yes. He fully agreed with this and it was reassuring that he was not the only one. He had started to doubt himself about this.
“I agree. But he is not to be talked out of it. I offered my help, but we did not manage to discuss it…”
Another shocked silence followed.
Lan Wangji felt the reluctance but he also felt that it was not for him alone and that the two of them might actually be able to help.
He pulled the talisman out of his robes and put it on the table, brushing over it gently.
Then he passed it over.
“Wei Ying gave this to me before he left. Currently I am unable to decipher it. I believe it is a code and he wants to tell us something.”
Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin both took a look.
“Foxtail…”, Jiang Yanli mused and bit her lip.
Jiang Wanyin brows were as furrowed as before.
“We should tell father and get him involved-”, he started but neither Lan Wangji nor Jiang Yanli were paying attention to him.
Jiang Yanli was thinking hard and Lan Wangji was watching her with growing anxiety. She was onto something. Suddenly her eyes lit up and she looked up.
“My book”, she said and Lan Wangi was up in a second to fetch it.
It was neatly stored on a shelf alongside his other favorites.
Of course, he thought as he took the book out. There was even a drawing of a fox on the cover.
He placed the book on the table so everybody could see and together they opened it on page six and searched for the twentieth syllable.
“Bunny hopping over the moon”, Jiang Yanli read.
…
Two pairs of eyes shot towards Lan Wangji and he felt his ears heat.
That was definitely a hit and a silly way of Wei Ying to address Lan Wangji.
Jiang Wanyin grunted and grabbed the talisman.
“Is there more?”, he asked impatiently.
“No. The writing is quite uneven. I believe he had no time for more yet.”
“Do you think he is safe?”, Jiang Yanli asked and Lan Wangji said nothing because he was not sure what to say and he did not want to lie.
“And what should we do now?”, Jiang Wanyin asked with an angry huff.
Lan Wangji did not have to think about that.
“I will wait for Wei Ying to send further messages. Then I decide on further steps.”
While Jiang Yanli nodded, even though she looked a little defeated, Jiang Wanyin got up.
“Waiting?!”, he huffed.
“The exclusion of Lan Gusu to the Discussion Conference will be the number one topic of discussion between the arriving clans,” Jiang Wanyin said eventually. “They are together right now! What if they decide to go against the Wen clan? Against Wei Wuxian?”
Lan Wangji’s jaw tightened.
“They won"t."
“Well, not if we can stop them. But we can"t sit around here!”
Lan Wangji took a breath. He did not care what the others thought or did.
“I will wait for Wei Ying to send further messages. Then I decide on further steps.”
Jiang Wanyin was close to grabbing his neck but he did not seem brave enough in the end.
“You can"t be serious! We have to go and see what they are up to! How else can we help from afar?!”
Lan Wangji was stubborn, as his mind was set and just sat there in silence exchanging glares with Jiang Wanyin.
It was Jiang Yanli in the end who took over.
“I don"t think it is doing anyone good that we sit here and stare at the talisman until new messages arrive”, she said eventually with grim determination.
“But it is also not good to involve the clan leaders just yet. However it would be wise to hear what they say about the situation in the meantime. If new messages arrive, we can come back at any time…”
Lan Wangji felt only a little comforted by that. But thinking about it, he could understand. He had never cared for politics but in this matter, it may be quite important. Wei Ying had spent a lot of time improving the bonds between clans, unison indeed could be a strong weapon but also a strong protection. And right now most of the people who supported Wei Ying were in this very room, not with the clans.
A short silence followed so she continued.
“We already talked to our father about A-Xian and he seems to believe us.”
To that Lan Wangji was surprised. He would have expected them to send word immediately after they had learned about it months ago.
Jiang Yanli smiled again.
“He told us not to tell our parents, especially not fuqin. He wanted to do it himself. I think it is because they parted in an argument.”
She did not have to say who she meant, it was pretty clear. It was a typical Wei Ying thing to do.
And also an explanation why Jiang Fengmian had not arrived in the Clod Recesses earlier to look after the lost disciple.
Lan Wangji did not give a nod but rose to his feet. He slowly took up the talisman and tugged it securely into his collar again.
Jiang Yanli gave him a hesitant smile before she spoke again.
“We should see what the clans have to say. It is never bad to have more information. And in case they are discussing an offense against the Wen-Clan…”
“We will break their legs!” Jiang Wanyin could not keep himself quiet anymore.
Lan Wangji would not have phrased it like that, but they were in general agreement on the matter currently.
LQ: Who put the crack in the stone of rules!?
LX: Shufu, I think we both know the answer to that.
LQ: The person will be expelled from the Cloud Recesses!
LX: Huh… you really wanna go down that road again?
WWX: Aiya, I would be even more validated in my questionable actions, if I knew how my favorite people in the world bond over those very questionable actions :D