Two months later, in Yunmeng.

After the QishanWen Sect collapsed, the city that used to be the most flourishing of all cities evaporated into thin air in just one night, falling into ruins. A large number of cultivators searched for new locations of activity, diverging into multiple new cities. Among them, Lanling, Yunmeng, Gusu, and Qinghe received the greatest influx of cultivators. On the streets, people hurried to and fro. All of the disciples carried swords by their waists, talking loftily about the fate of the current world. All of them were in high spirits.

"I will make sure that my Qishan Wen Sect won't fall in this timeline." said Wen Rouhan.

"Well, if you will stay friendly with all of us and will never have any evil plan then maybe that will happen." said Jingyi.

"I never had any evil plans." said Wen Rouhan.

"Who said that?" he asked.

"Aren't you a cruel one?" asked a random cultivator.

"Being cruel is different from being evil." said Wen Rouhan.

"Besides, I'm a kind man to those I am fond of." he added.

"For example, this little Jiang and little Wei are my new sons." he said as he grinned at the twin prides.

"Who said you can claim them as yours?" asked Jiang Fengmian.

"Aiyaa Fengmian, you knew how I love kids." said Wen Rouhan.

"Stay away from them." said Lan Qiren.

"Whatever." said Wen Rouhan.

"Let the kids decide." he added as they look at the two.

"What?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Between me, Qiren, and Fengmian, who would you choose?" asked Wen Rouhan.

The two looked at one another and grinned.

"Uncle Lan/Old Man Lan." they grinned.

"Why me?" asked Lan Qiren.

"Take a guess." said Wei Wuxian.

Qingheng-jun chuckled at them.

"They're going to give me a lot of headaches." Lan Qiren muttered with a sigh.

"Good luck, Qiren." said Jiang Fengmian.

"Then don't expect me to give you two my most treasured wines. More better than the Emperor's Smile." said Wen Rouhan.

"We already have plans for that." said Wei Wuxian.

Wen Rouhan raised a brow at them.

Suddenly, the people on the streets lowered their voices slightly. In unison, they looked to the end of the street.

From there, a white-robed man wearing a forehead ribbon slowly approached, carrying with him a sword and a zither.

The man’s features were of unparalleled grace, but frost and snow seemed to surround his figure. Before he had even drawn nearer, the cultivators quieted on their own, meeting his eyes in respect. The more well-known ones bravened up and went forth to salute him, “HanGuangJun.”

Lan WangJi nodded slightly, returning the salutations without fault, and didn’t cease in his steps. The other cultivators didn’t dare bother him too much, knowing to back off.

"Lan Zhan, you visited Yunmeng!" Wei Wuxian beamed.

"Mn." said Lan Wangji with a small smile.

"That's good. We will see each other there and have a walk around the city." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, why is he there? That's kind of strange for him to visit there." said Jiang Cheng.

"Of course, he is there for me." said Wei Wuxian.

"There's no one other than that Lan Zhan would visit to in Yunmeng." he added like it is the most obvious thing.

"Lets see." said Jiang Cheng.

Suddenly, however, from ahead of him came a young, grinning girl dressed in vibrant colors. In a hurry, she brushed shoulders with him, but suddenly tossed something toward his body.

Nimbly, Lan WangJi caught the object. He looked down to find the bud of a flower as white as snow.

The bud was delicate and fresh, having gathered some dew. As Lan WangJi maintained his silence, another slender figure approached from in front of him. With a wave of her hand, a small, blue flower was tossed at him. It was aiming for his chest, but ended up on his shoulder. Lan WangJi caught it as well. When he turned to look, the woman giggled before running away without even a hint of embarrassment.

The third time was a younger girl, who wore her hair in double-buns. Hopping over, in her arms she held a bunch of sprigs dotted with red buds. She fled as soon as she threw them toward his chest.

One after another, Lan WangJi had already gathered a bundle of colorful flowers, though he still stood expressionlessly in the middle of the streets. All of the cultivators who recognized HanGuang-Jun didn’t dare laugh even if they wanted to. They pretended to be serious, but their eyes kept on lingering. The ordinary people who didn’t recognize him, however, had already started to point at him. As Lan WangJi pondered with downcast eyes, he suddenly felt something weigh onto his head. He raised his hand. A pink medicinal peony, at the peak of its bloom, had landed flawlessly on the side of his head.

"These women, they're quite strange." said Lan Xichen.

"Yeah, someone might have told them to do that." said Jiang Cheng.

"No." said Lan Xichen.

"They don't seemed to be humans." he added.

"Wei Wuxian, it could only be you." said Jiang Cheng.

"What?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"Do you think those women could muster a courage to toss a flower for him? Well, it was ordered by you." said Jiang Cheng.

"I guess, you're the last one who threw a flower." he added.

"My brother knows me best." said Wei Wuxian.

"How did the two of you guessed that?" asked Jingyi.

"Easy." said Jiang Cheng.

"Ghost women." said Wei Wuxian.

"And shamelessness." said Jiang Cheng.

From on top of a building came a grinning voice, “Lan Zhan—ah, no, HanGuang-Jun—what a coincidence!”

Lan WangJi looked up to see an airy pavilion lined with layers and layers of gauze curtains. A black-robed man lay on his side over a red lacquer divan. One hand of his slender body dangled down, holding a fine liquor jar made of black clay. Half of the jar’s crimson tassel wrapped around his arm, while the other half swayed back and forth in the air.

"See." said Jiang Cheng.

"It's not a coincidence, right?" asked MianMian.

"I feel like it's not." she added.

"Of course it is not a coincidence." said Wei Wuxian.

"My Lan Zhan goes there for me." he added.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're right. What do you think the reason he came there?" asked Jin Ling.

"He goes there because he miss me." said Wei Wuxian.

The juniors gave him a look.

Seeing Wei WuXian’s face, the disciples who were watching the scene all grew somewhat uncomfortable. Everyone knew that the YiLing Patriarch and HanGuang-Jun didn’t have a good relationship. When they fought together during the Sunshot Campaign, they’d often begin to argue. Nobody knew what could happen this time. As of the moment, they didn’t even bother to put on a polite pretense anymore, staring at the two as hard as they could.

"It's not like we will fight every time we saw each other." said Wei Wuxian.

"More like flirt with one another." said Jiang Cheng.

"But you really can't blame those disciples for thinking like that." said Jin Zixuan.

"Yeah, they shouldn't listen to rumors. Me and Lan Zhan will never fight." said Wei Wuxian.

"But you two really did have a fight before." said Nie Huaisang.

"It's not that bad. We don't hate one another." said Wei Wuxian and they just nodded their head.

Lan WangJi didn’t leave with a cold face, contrary to their conjectures. He only said, “It is you.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s me! Someone who does such a ridiculous thing has to be me. Where did you find the time to come to Yunmeng? If you’re not busy, come up here and have a drink?”

A few girls encircled him, all cramped onto the divan, laughing at those down below, “Yeah, Young Master, come up here and have a drink!”

The girls were the ones who tossed flowers at him earlier on. There was no need to say who was the person that told them to do such a thing.

Lan Wangji is glaring at the girls.

"Why are you hanging out with girls?" asked MianMian.

"You shouldn't ask that." said Wei Wuxian as Lan Wangji gripped his waist.

"Oh sorry." said MianMian.

"Don't be sorry, he brought that to himself." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian glared at him.

Lowering his head, Lan WangJi turned around and proceeded to leave. Seeing that there was no reaction, Wei WuXian wasn’t surprised at all. With a click of his tongue, he rolled down the divan and drank a mouthful of the liquor in his jar. Yet, a few moments later, a series of footsteps came, lighter than heavy, calmer than rushed.

With steady steps, Lan WangJi walked up the stairs and parted the curtains as he entered. The bejeweled strings clinked crisply, almost melodically.

"I thought he's really going to leave." said Jin Zixuan.

"Well, Wangji-xiong will never leave without a proper conversation with Wei-xiong." said Nie Huaisang.

"More like they're just going to fight." said Jiang Cheng.

"I gave him flowers so why would we fight?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Just a feeling." said Jiang Cheng.

"You and your feelings." Wei Wuxian pouted.

He placed the bundle of flowers that had hit him onto the small table, “Your flowers.”

Wei WuXian slanted his body until he could reach the table, “You’re welcome. I’ll give them to you. These are your flowers now.”

Lan WangJi, “Why?”

Wei WuXian, “Why not? I just wanted to see how you’d react to such a thing.”

Lan WangJi, “Ridiculous.”

"It's not ridiculous, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

"I know." said Lan Wangji.

"So, since it's not ridiculous, I will give you a flower everyday." Wei Wuxian beamed.

"Mn. I love that." said Lan Wangji.

Wei WuXian, “Ridiculous is exactly what I am. Or else I wouldn’t have been so bored as to get you up here… Hey, hey, hey, don’t go. You’re already here. You won’t have a few sips?”

Lan WangJi, “Liquor is prohibited.”

Wei WuXian, “I know that liquor is prohibited in your sect, but it’s not like it’s the Cloud Recesses here. It’s fine if you have some.”

The girls immediately took out a new cup. After they poured it full, they pushed it toward the bundle of flowers. Lan WangJi still didn’t seem like he was going to sit down, but he didn’t seem like he was going to leave either.

"Please, don't let him drunk." said Jiang Cheng.

"Mn. I don't think so." said Sizhui with a red face.

"What's wrong?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"N-nothing." he stammers making his friend laugh at him.

"Seems like something really happened." said Nie Huaisang.

"You're running your imaginations again." said Nie Mingjue.

"It won't hurt." Nie Huaisang grinned.

Wei WuXian, “You finally came to Yunmeng for once, and you won’t even try the delicious liquor here? But, though the liquor is delicious, it’ll never even compare to the Emperor’s Smile at Gusu where you live. It really is the best of all liquor. In the future, if I have the chance to go to Gusu again, I’ll definitely save half or a dozen and drink them all at once. Just look at you—what’s wrong with you? The seats are right there, and you’re still standing. Go sit, won’t you?”

The girls urged him on, “Go sit, won’t you?” “Go sit!”

Lan WangJi’s light eyes examined the sensual girls coldly. Immediately after, his gaze landed on the coal-black, red-tasseled flute by Wei WuXian’s waist. His eyes looked down, as if he was thinking of the best wording. Seeing this, Wei WuXian raised a brow, mostly able to guess what he was going to say next.

"This won't be good." said Nie Huaisang.

"Why don't those girls just leave?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Those girls aren't even doing anything." said Wei Wuxian.

"Yeah, they're not. But, it's not good being with them for a long time since they're not really humans." said Jiang Cheng.

"And add to that, Lan Wangji doesn't like the sight of it." said Jin Zixuan.

"My brother and a peacock is worried about me?" Wei Wuxian asked with a grin.

"We're worried about Lan Wangji." the two said.

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes at them.

As he expected, Lan WangJi said, slowly, “You should not accompany yourself with inhuman beings for so long.”

The smiles of the girls who were tittering around Wei WuXian immediately disappeared.

The gauze curtains swayed, at times blocking out the sunlight. The pavilion shifted between light and dark. Now, their snow-white cheeks seemed a bit too pale, so drained of blood that they almost seemed ashen. Their eyes were glued to Lan WangJi as well. Out of the blue came a chilling eeriness.

"Damn it. It's creepy." said Nie Huaisang.

"You'll see more creepier things in the future." said Jin Ling.

"Are we going to fight?" asked Wei Wuxian snd the juniors was silent.

Wei WuXian lifted his hand, gesturing for them to move to the side. He shook his head as he spoke, “Lan Zhan, you really do become more boring the older you grow. You’re still so young. It’s not like you’re in your seventies, so don’t copy your uncle all the time, thinking of nothing but scolding others.”

Lan WangJi turned around and walked a step closer to him, “Wei Ying, it is still best if you come back to Gusu with me.”

“…” Wei WuXian, “I really haven’t heard this in a long time. The Sunshot Campaign is already over. I thought you’ve given up long ago.”

"The problem is that, a-niang misunderstood why a-die wants him to go back to Gusu with him." said Sizhui.

"That's because Lan Wangji itself didn't elaborate what he truly meant." said Jiang Cheng.

"Yeah, Jiang-jiujiu is right. So next time, please let the communication work." said Sizhui.

"Lack of communication leads to misunderstandings. And elaborate everything so that they won't misunderstood." he added.

"Mn." said Lan Wangji.

"I mean it for everyone." said Sizhui.

Lan WangJi, “Last time, during the hunt on Phoenix Mountain, have you noticed certain signs?”

Wei WuXian, “What signs?”

Lan WangJi, “The loss of control.”

Wei WuXian, “You mean me almost getting into a fight with Jin ZiXuan? I think you got something wrong. I want to fight with Jin ZiXuan whenever I see him.”

Lan WangJi, “And the things you said afterwards.”

Wei WuXian, “What things? I say so many things every day. I’ve long since forgotten about the things I said two months ago.”

"They I said something?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I only said that he should stay away from shijie." he added.

"Yeah, that's what I remember." said Jiang Cheng.

"But, Wei Ying should stop using resentful energy. When loss of control, it wouldn't be good." said Lan Wangji.

"He will lose control depends on a situation." said Jiang Cheng.

"As long as no one will trigger him, then it would be safe to say that he will not lose control." he added.

"Right?" he asked the juniors.

The juniors nodded.

"So Wei Wuxian, stay away from Jin Zixun." he said.

Lan WangJi looked at him, as though he could tell at once that he didn’t take it seriously. He took in deep breath, “Wei Ying.”

He continued stubbornly, “The ghost path harms the body and the heart.”

Wei WuXian seemed as if his head began to hurt, “Lan Zhan, you… I’ve heard more than enough of these words that you say, and you still feel that you haven’t said them enough? You say that it harms the body, but I’m fine right now. You say that it harms the heart, but I haven’t become that frenzied, have I?”

Lan WangJi, “It is not too late yet. In the future, even if you regret…”

Without waiting for him to finish talking, Wei WuXian’s expression changed. He suddenly stood up, “Lan Zhan!”

"Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian called.

"Mn. I'm here." said Lan Wangji.

"Why is he not listening to him?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Because you're stubborn." said Jin Ling.

"How dare you call me stubborn, young mistress?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Don't call me that." said Jin Ling.

"Whatever. Let me tell you, you're more stubborn than me." said Wei Wuxian.

"So we end up fighting again." he said.

"You always argue with each other back then." said Sizhui.

"But only because you're worried with one another." he added.

"Wei-xiong seemed to be quickly angered in the future." said Nie Huaisang.

"Not as quick as Jiang Cheng." said Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng glared at him.

Behind him, red light had begun to glow within the eyes of the girls. Wei WuXian, “Stop it.”

Thus, the girls lowered their heads and retreated, but still they stared unwaveringly at Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian turned to him, “What can I say? Even though I don’t think that I’ll regret it, I don’t like it when people take guesses at how I’m going to be in the future, either.”

After a while of silence, Lan WangJi replied, “I am the one who was out of line.”

Wei WuXian, “Not really. But, indeed, looks like I shouldn’t have invited you up here. Today was because of my presumption.”

Lan WangJi, “It was not.”

Wei WuXian smiled, his words polite, “Really? That’s good, then.”

"You're so fake." said Jiang Cheng.

"Well, it's better to be like that in order to not deepen our fight." said Wei Wuxian.

"I might have hurt his feelings there." he added.

"You did, I guess." said Jiang Cheng.

"I'm sorry, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

"I will never talk to you like that again." he added.

"Mn. It's okay." said Lan Wangji.

"It's not a problem, no need to apologize." he added.

"I know you'll always forgive me." said Wei Wuxian with a grin as he kissed Lan Wangji's cheeks.

He finished in one gulp the half cup of liquor that was left, “But, no matter what, I should still thank you. I’ll take it as you’re concerned for me.”

Wei WuXian waved his hand, “Then, I won’t bother HanGuang-Jun any longer. Let’s meet again if the chance comes up.”

"Glad they didn't show it." said Sizhui.

"Show what?" asked Wei Wuxian but Sizhui just smile at him.

"You're making me curious, a-yuan." said Wei Wuxian.

"Maybe he mean that it didn't show how the two of leave or maybe something happened." said Jiang Cheng.

"What could have happened?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Lets not think about that for now." said Jiang Cheng.

When Wei WuXian returned to Lotus Pier, Jiang Cheng was wiping his sword. He lifted his eyes, “You’re back?”

Wei WuXian, “I’m back.”

Jiang Cheng, “Your face looks terrible. Don’t tell me you ran into Jin ZiXuan?”

Wei WuXian, “Worse than Jin ZiXuan. Guess who.”

Jiang Cheng, “Give me a hint.”

Wei WuXian, “Wants to lock me up.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, “Lan Zhan? Why is he at Yunmeng?”

"How am I worse than him?" asked Lan Wangji.

The two chuckled.

"Take a guess." said Jiang Cheng.

"Maybe because you're cold and Jin-xiong is arrogant." said Nie Huaisang.

"It is easy for them to fight with Jin-xiong like it's nothing while they have to show some respect to you, Wangji-xiong." he added.

"Or maybe because Wei Wuxian keeps on thinking that Lan Wangji will lock him up." said Jin Zixuan.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng just grinned at them.

"I have complicated brother-in-laws." said Jiang Cheng.

"One is a little bit of arrogant and cold while the other one is prideful and arrogant, so full of himself." he said.

"At least you have a great husband." Nie Huaisang teased.

"He's more worse." said Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen chuckled.

Wei WuXian, “No idea. He’s in the streets, probably searching for someone. After the Sunshot Campaign, he hasn’t brought this up in such a long time. Now he’s at it again.”

Jiang Cheng, “It’s your fault for calling him over first.”

Wei WuXian, “How did you know that it was me who called him over first?”

Jiang Cheng, “Do you even have to ask? Which time has it not been you? You’re a strange one as well. Clearly every time you part with him on bad terms, so why do you keep on trying to get him annoyed?”

Wei WuXian thought about it, “I’m ridiculous?”

"No, you're not." said Lan Wangji.

"Yes, you are." said Jiang Cheng.

"Jiang-xiongs knows you too well, Wei-xiong." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"Do you think Lan Wangji will approach him first? That's kind of impossible if we think about it." said Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, So you do know. His eyes went to his sword again. Wei WuXian, “Just how many times do you have to wipe your sword in one day?”

Jiang Cheng, “Three times. And your sword? How long has it been since you last wiped it?”

Wei WuXian took a pear and bit into it, “Tossed it into my room. Once a month is good enough.”

"That's strange. I will always wipe Suibian everyday." said Wei Wuxian.

"You seemed to be neglecting your sword." said Jiang Cheng.

"There's a reason." said Jin Ling.

"Lets not talk about it for now." he added.

Jiang Cheng, “From now on, carry your sword in important events like hunts or Discussion Conferences. That’s a ripe example of lack of discipline for others to laugh at.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s not like you don’t know. I hate it the most when others force me to do things. The more they force me to do something, the less I want to do it. I’m not carrying my sword—what are they going to do about it?”

Jiang Cheng glared at him. Wei WuXian added, “And I don’t want to be pulled into a sword duel by people I don’t even know. Whenever my sword unsheathes, there has to be blood. Unless they give me a few people to kill, nobody can bother me. So I’ll just not take it. Solves everything. It’s better that way.”

Jiang Cheng, “Didn’t you use to love showing off your sword skills in front of others?”

Wei WuXian, “I used to be a kid. Can’t be a kid forever, can’t I?”

"Are you finally being matured?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Well, because I am great. It would be a waste to have a duel with someone I don't want to duel with." said Wei Wuxian.

"Besides, they just want to show that their better than me which is a lie." he added.

"You're so full of yourself." said Jiang Cheng.

"But yeah, those people are really annoying." he added.

Jiang Cheng smirked, “Don’t carry your sword, then. It doesn’t matter. But don’t provoke Jin ZiXuan from now on. He’s Jin GuangShan’s only son, after all. The future leader of the LanlingJin Sect will be him. If you beat him up, what should I, the sect leader, do? Beat him up with you? Or punish you?”

Wei WuXian, “Isn’t Jin GuangYao here now? Jin GuangYao seems so much better than him.”

Jiang Cheng finished wiping his sword. After he scrutinized it for a while, he finally put Sandu back into its sheath, “So what, if he’s better? No matter how much better he is, no matter how clever, he could only be a servant who greets the guests. That’s all there is to his life. He can’t compare with Jin ZiXuan.”

"Why do you seem to have a bad blood with him?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"And you're siding with Jin Zixuan." he added.

"If I were to choose between the two of them, do you think I will choose Jin Guangyao who I barely knew?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Or it might be another reason." said Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng raised a brow at him.

"There's no other reason." he said.

Wei WuXian found his tone to be even somewhat praising of Jin ZiXuan, “Jiang Cheng, be honest with me—what do you mean? Last time you went all the way to take shijie over. You can’t actually want shijie to…?”

Jiang Cheng, “It’s not impossible.”

"That's impossible." said Jiang Cheng.

"I will never." said Jiang Cheng.

"Well, it seems you are." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian, “It’s not impossible? Have you forgotten what he did in Langya? You’re telling me that it’s not impossible?”

Jiang Cheng, “He’s probably regretting it.”

Wei WuXian, “Who cares if he regrets it. Do we have to forgive him just because he apologized? Look at what his dad’s like. Maybe he’ll be the goddamn same in the future, killing time searching everywhere for women. Have shijie be with him? You could take it?”

Jiang Cheng’s voice was frozen, “See if he dares!”

"I will kill him." said Jiang Cheng.

"I am not like my father." said Jin Zixuan.

"I don't care." said Wei Wuxian.

"Prove that you're worthy of shijie and our trust so that you can have her." he added.

"Which will take a you a long way." he continued.

"I will do everything." said Jin Zixuan with a blush.

"Lets see if you can keep up with us." said Jiang Cheng.

"And we will never forgive you when you insulted a-jie again." he added.

"I will never." said Jin Zixuan.

"He won't." said Jiang Yanli.

"We're not sure." said Wei Wuxian.

"Leave it to us, shijie. We will make sure you will be in a good marriage." he added and Jiang Yanli smiled.

"I know." she said.

After a pause, Jiang Cheng glanced at him before he continued, “But, it’s not like you have a say in whether he’s forgiven or not. Sister likes him, so what can we do?”

Immediately, Wei WuXian was speechless. A while later, he squeezed out a few words, “Why does she have to like such a…”

"Peacock." said Wei Wuxian.

"Shijie, you still have time change your mind. There's a lot of good people and much more better than him that I am sure that will take good care of you." he said.

"You can't just say that." said Jin Zixuan.

"I can." said Wei Wuxian.

"Don't worry, a-xian. He won't do anything bad to me." said Jiang Yanli.

"He better make sure." said Jiang Cheng with a glare.

"I will." said Jin Zixuan while smiling at Jiang Yanli.

He tossed the pear away, “Where’s shijie?”

Jiang Cheng, “I don’t know. Probably still at one of those places—either the kitchen, or the bedroom, or the ancestral hall. Where else could she go?”

Wei WuXian left the duelling hall. First, he went to the kitchen. Half a jar of steaming soup was cooking on the fire. She wasn’t there. He then went to Jiang YanLi’s bedroom. She wasn’t there either. Last, he went to the ancestral hall. There she was.

"Now, she's spending time in the ancestral hall." said Jiang Cheng.

"We have to visit them everyday." said Jiang Yanli.

"You guys are saying that like we're dead here." said Madam Yu.

"We're talking about our future self." said Jiang Yanli.

"It must be really hard for them." she added.

"At least that won't happen here." said Jiang Cheng.

"Yeah, we might can't take it." said Wei Wuxian.