Keep Your Heart Clear(Your Wish Will Come True)

by RAYisPHNXaddicted

Summary:

Jiang Cheng was caught in a curse that affected him unexpectedly.

He didn't expect to be picked up（literally） by Lan Xichen of all people, especially when he should be in seclusion.

Lan Xichen didn't expect Jiang Cheng to be that cute. (He is kind of smitten)

Secrets are going to be unveiled, relationships will be mended, and love will start strong.

In which JC becomes a child and LXC/WWX are whipped.

Notes:

• A translation of 心澄则灵 by 檐上月

This is a work of translation from Chinese to English. I tried my best to make it work as well as possible but there still might be some parts not understood. (I myself was self-taught in Chinese so my vocab is LIMITED)
But I fell into the never-ending hole of Xicheng and ran out of brain candy to munch on in English so I hop over to the Chinese fandom on LOFTER and Woah there was so much I can feed myself. This work that I translated held deep into my heart and I just cried at some heartwarming parts and awwed at Jiang Cheng and I just had to share it with everyone. So, I asked for permission by the author of this fanfic if I can translate and they replied almost immediately, even though they no longer hang around the Mo Dao Zu Shi fandom anymore. (bless them)

This is my first time translating so if there are mistakes please comment below! Tell me how you think about it!

Original author:檐上月
Original fanfic page on LOFTER: http://pinglinmomoyanruzhi.lofter.com/post/37f94c_11a8248c

Chapter 1: Where Everything Starts

01.

The rain came very suddenly, lasting for almost six hours till the clouds parted and the rain ceased. Yuzhong is usually humid in its climate, its paths hard to travel and even when Lan Xichen used a water-repelling technique* on himself, his hair somehow still managed to become moist whilst traveling through the deep woods.

After the sealing ceremony*, sect leader Lan has gone into seclusion, leaving civilization long enough that people began to worry, frightened to think that he was still trapped in the death of Jin Guangyao.

However, it was a coincidence that brought the esteemed younger Lan and his lover back from traveling Yuzhong, who spoke of the areas mesmerizing scenery, managed to persuade Lan Xichen into going out to get a breath of fresh air.* He happened to hear some rumors of disturbances while passing by the rural mountains and decided to take a look.

 

According to the locals, there were some people who claimed to see a female ghost in white wandering in the mountains, scaring people's souls out.* But after looking around the mountain, Lan Xichen was unable to sense any that could’ve caused such rumors. He believes that since his area is under the jurisdiction of the Meishan Yu, perhaps the ghost was already purified by them instead.

The mist clung low to the mountains, bathes it in the scent of purified air typical after the rain. All around him was the smell of nature, clean to the point of chilling—— It was too quiet, even compared to the Cloud recesses where excessive noise is prohibited.

A noise was heard from the shrubs beside him, and Lan Xichen instinctively reached for his weapon.

But all that came stumbling out from those shrubs was a child around six or seven, tripping over his too-large robe and falling onto the ground with a small wail. His body still too soft to the point that he rolled over once, very much like a small cute animal.

Lan Xichen was stunned, his hands off his weapon in an instant.

He quickly deduced that it was an ordinary child, not any sort of mischievous ghost—— but that’s the strange thing, why would a lone child be here? Where were his parents? Who would be foolish enough to place a child here alone and not expect anything bad to happen?

Theories were flashing in his mind as the child’s eyes began to tear at the pain, yet not rolling out as he pressed his lips together, determined to not cry. Seeing a pair of snow-white boots standing close to him, the child peered up at the owner of those shoes, and finally, Lan Xichen could see clearly those big almond-shaped eyes, glistening with tears. It was as if lightning struck through his mind.

He knew the owner of those eyes.

But its owner is definitely not a child.

Does sect leader Jiang have a child? He pondered, still slightly stunned at the discovery. Sandu Shengshou* is known for his icy cold attitude and his aloofness, even Lan Xichen wasn’t able to be close to him other than back then during the sunshot campaign.

But memories of the proud man weeping in the Guanyin temple, the man who naively hoped for a promise not kept, who always had Chengqing with him—— he surely cannot leave such a close blood relation by himself right?

Lan Xichen lowered his eyes as he pondered, his hand on Liebing out of habit. His snow-white robes trailed neatly onto the floor, like flowing clouds, almost glowing in the dark forest.

This time, it was the child who was stunned, forgetting even his pain in a moment, a tear trailed along his cheeks as he said, “Are...are you a god?*”

Lan Xichen smiled as he bent down, lowering his sight until it paralleled with the child. Gently speaking, “No I’m not. I’m just a wanderer. ”

“A wanderer?” The child looked suspiciously at him.

Lan Xichen pulled out his handkerchief, gently wiping away the dirt and dust on the child's face. The child looked alert but curious, shrinking into himself. Perhaps it was Lan Xichen’s gentleness and beauty, the child behaved while letting Lan Xichen clean him.

Growing up in the lotus pier, his father was not quite familial to him, his mother was very strict; other than his big sister, this was actually the first time someone treated him so nicely, and he was the most beautiful person he’s ever seen as well.

The dirt and mud now removed, an extremely cute face was revealed. Big almond eyes, little sharp chin with baby fat, and nicely shaped eyebrows as well.

Lan Xichen patted his face, asking, “What’s your name? Where are your parents, why are they not with you?”

The child bit on his lips, seemingly scared,” I don’t know, I was taking an afternoon nap. But everyone was gone when I woke up.”
“Where is your home then?” Lan Xichen patted the child's soft hair, looking into his eyes, ” I’ll bring you home alright?”

But the child just stared at his forehead ribbon*, his eyes widening, ”Ah! You're from Gusu Lan sect!”

“That’s right.” The child is smart, not revealing his name nor where he lives. Only when he realized the background of this stranger did he let himself relax a little. Lan Xichen let out a smile, gently gazing at the child in front of him, “My name is Lan Xichen, others call me Zewu-jun*. What about you?”

“Zewu-jun? What does that mean?” The child did not think of it for long as he introduced himself with a sweet smile,” My name is Jiang Cheng, A-die, A-Niang, and A-Jie calls me A-cheng My home is at Lotus Pier!”

 

Lan Xichen was stunned again, thoughts whirling in his mind, but he didn’t let it show on his face.

If what this child said was real……

“I’ve been to lotus pier before,” he gently coaxes the child into speaking more. “There is a big field of lotuses at the front of it, right?”

“Yeah! There are SOOOOO many lotuses at my front door, they finally bloomed a couple of days back, it was so pretty!” At the thought of home, A-cheng began to cheer up, waving with his tiny arms to describe just how “big” it was. He has dropped his guard, finally trusting the stranger from Gusu Lan completely when Lan Xichen said the right description of his home.

He smiled so happily, and Lan Xichen was unable to see how this child later become the infamous Sandu Shengshou. (But he can see, because Sect leader Jiang shouldered his entire sect alone for thirteen years. )

Nighttime was approaching and raindrops soaked their clothes. A-cheng only wore a torn and battered piece of cloth, and he was probably walking barefoot, as there were no shoes in sight. Yet his smile was bright and pure, almost glowing in the dreary background. Lan Xichen picked up A-cheng from the ground, he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart, but he couldn’t understand what it truly was. It was like this forest, covering its real appearance with a cooling mist.

He remembered the teenage Jiang Cheng he’s seen only a couple of times in the cloud recesses, proud and laughing, shoulder to shoulder with Wei Ying. Then he thought back to Sect leader Jiang, crying bitterly with not a trace of his famed proud air of authority.

He remembered Meng Yao who dressed poorly, but gentle in nature. He also remembered Jin GuangYao right before his death, cloaked in blood yet eyes sharp like daggers. He remembered the sinner who killed his father, killed his brother, killed his wife, killed his son*. Who ended almost any relationship he could ever have in his life. But he also remembered the sworn brother who had never held a single trace of bad intent towards him, towards Lan Xichen.

The child in front of him peered up to look at him in his naiveness, almost like a scene from a ridiculous picture book. Yet as Lan Xichen looked into those pure eyes, he felt as if everything was just a wild dream.

It was he who sunk too deep, it was he who could not see through.

But the child is innocent.

The sky darkened, the Golden Crow* sank westward, he carried A-cheng down the mountain.

Six-years-old little Jiang Cheng didn’t know of the pain of knowing too much, curious and slightly nervous, he asked if he can play with Lan Xichen’s forehead ribbon.

Lan Xichen suddenly wanted to laugh. The complicated feeling of both softness and being stunned swelled in his heart.

Like the softness of a pink-white apricot flower falling onto the tip of his nose.

Like a swish of a koi’s tail in a winter lake, revealing a peek of springs bright colors.

 

The unbreakable cycle of love and hate, of birth and death (that he was trapped in), none of it has to do with this child.

A-cheng held the snow-white ribbon tightly in his hand, fast asleep in his embrace. He was completely unguarded, sleeping so soundly, Lan Xichen couldn’t bear to break his sweet dreams.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the children in this world are this pure?

As the last beam of golden light shimmered away to nothingness, the curtains of the night draped across the sky quietly. Lan Xichen lit a guiding light*, watching the child’s sleeping face under the soft glow. He gently touched the baby hair on his forehead before suddenly feeling a gaze fall onto his person in the midst of all this silence.

A woman in a white dress with a lavender belt floated in mid-air. She solemnly looked over at them, she looked more like a goddess*than a ghost with the way the light covered her body.

It was strange because Lan Xichen did not feel a single trace of bad intent or evil from her.

Her gaze fell upon the child in his arms, silent yet gentle, like the fall of the first snow. She then noticed the look of alarm on Lan Xichen's face, she laughed, before a single finger fell before her lips, signing a universal signal of “keep quiet”.

 

The silence was broken by the sudden sprinkles of light from multiple torches as a cry was heard from the distance, “Sect leader Jiang! Where are you?!”

The little thing in his arms squirmed as if awoken by the sudden noise, Lan Xichen soothed him by gently patting his back. Yet it seems that the ghost has disappeared right when he was distracted.

He couldn’t think on it though, as the torches from afar approached quickly. Lan Xichen could presume that these people who came to look for the missing Sect leader were servants of Meishan Yu. The only ones that gathered enough people at this time of the night to look for Jiang cheng surely have to be Meishan Yu, Who were relatives from his mothers’ side.

But the most obvious reason was that they were in Meishan Yu’s territory.

‘What good timing’ he thought, Jiang Cheng's mother originated from Meishan Yu, and due to his sudden change in both mind and body, it would be best if he were to hand this child back to his family to take care of.

“Sect leader Lan,” a voice sounded from beside his ears, it was six-years-old Jiang Cheng. The oddly familiar tone of cold authority was spoken with that sweet voice. Jiang Cheng has awakened sometime during this ordeal, a pair of almond-shaped eyes scanned the fire from the torches still far away. Those eyes were like a fire burning in a glacier.

So alert, so cold.

So—— unlike a child.

Lan Xichen didn’t have enough time to bury the shock in his heart before seeing a silver ring slide out from the neck of Jiang Cheng, the purple crystal burning vivaciously. Jiang Cheng pulled the ring back into his collar as if doing so was a familiar action to him. He frowned before calling out to the dazed Lan Xichen, “Sect leader Lan.”

“......Sect leader Jiang,” Lan Xichen finally understood that the person occupying the body of six-years-old Jiang Cheng was no longer the carefree and worriless A-cheng, but the person who single-handedly rose Yunmeng Jiang from ashes who was the Sandu Shengshou. Everything was so absurd and erratic, even someone like Lan Xichen whose vast knowledge is almost unparalleled went blank for a moment, “What happened? How did you…...”

“It’s a long story, I don’t have time to explain right now.” Jiang Cheng gazed over at the inclosing servants from Meishan Yu. A rare serious expression on his face before quietly saying, ” Zewu-Jun, if you can help me with something…”

 

It was a moonless night, the mountain was dark and everything was quiet. The servants never thought that they can come across a guest, especially someone like Zewu-Jun.

He walked out from the woods, his robes shone like the moonlight, not a speck of dust on him. Even with a sleeping child in his arms, his posture ever calm, as was his expression, ever gentle. Only revealing a tiny bit of surprise on his face, “Oh, and who are…...”

Who didn’t know of Zewu-jun’s handsome face and his demeanor? Even if some had not seen him before, that forehead ribbon was a symbol as well. The servants bowed immediately after recognized him, “Zewu-Jun! Why are you here?”

“Were you looking for Wanyin?” Lan Xichen had a gentle smile, it went well with the knowing expression on his face. He was respectful towards servants, even if he is the top cultivator.

“He invited me for a night raid here on this mountain, but he received an urgent message from Wei-gongzi so he hurried over. I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to find him here. But, he asked of me to stay here to tell those looking for him, to prevent any unnecessary worry. ”

“The Yiling Patriarch!” Someone exclaimed. But there were others that thought, he spoke of Sect leader Jiang so familiarly, were they ever this intimate?

“Yes,” Lan Xichen nodded, He talked about his brother and brother-in-law with such surety it almost sounded real even to himself. “There were some troubles in southern Xinjiang with Wangji and Wei-gongzi, so they called Wanyin over to solve it. He entrusted everything to me when he left, I feel honored, but quite pressured.“

He softly patted the back of the child in his arms, letting out a gentle smile. To the eyes of the servants, it was a hopeless but loving smile.

Ever since Jin Ling became the sect leader, the greed of the elders began to show. But it was because of Jiang Cheng’s influence, that they couldn’t really do anything. If they were to know that Jiang Cheng became a helpless six-years-old, Jin Ling would be eaten alive by those people.

This was the first time he ever saw Jiang Cheng request someone to do something——but even if he wasn’t stuck in this situation, Lan Xichen would still help him.

Hearing the servants leave, Jiang Cheng stopped pretending to sleep, sitting up as much as he can in Lan Xichen’s arms.

“Thank you.” He said, with some difficulty.

As of now, he has the face of a six-year-old. Anything he does, it looked endearing. Especially when he looked like a child trying to be an adult. Lan Xichen silently Awwed in his heart, smiled and said, “It was no trouble, so you don’t need to thank me.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, almost asking out loud what he was smiling about, but stopped himself. “It is you who doesn’t need to be so polite. If Gusu Lan ever needs something, the Lotus pier will always respond”

Lan Xichen signed.

“Sect leader Jiang, even if you promise me nothing I’d still help you.” His eyes shone with a gentle light as he held the gaze with the child's eyes, “Have you forgotten what I had promised you in the past?”

 

TBC.

Notes:

1. water-repelling technique- I don't really know what to call it, but it basically keeps you from getting
wet(mostly clothing perhaps)
2. sealing ceremony- The event that happened at the end of the series
3. scaring people's souls out- It was originally something like " Scaring the three souls and seven
（something）I didn't REALLY understand that so I improvised.
4. Sandu Shengshou- Jiang Cheng's title (I'm sure you all know)
5. forehead ribbon- I'm not sure what you call that. Is that okay as a translation or do the English reading
audience call it something different?
6. Zewu-jun- Lan Xichen's title (I'm sure all of you know that too)
7. Killed his father, killed his brother, killed his wife, killed his son- Part of JIN GUANGYAO's famous words
towards Lan Xichen. I chose to translate it this way because it was more impactful than just (killed his
whole family and friends)
8. Golden Crow- From a Chinese legend where there were 10 Golden Crows that were actually suns but they
were too hot, causing droughts so a famous archer shot down 9 of them. The last one was spared and it
became the sun we know.
9. Guiding light- It was more like soul(?) guiding light
10. Goddess- It's different from the female cultivators who could also be called this by normal people.

Chapter 2: In Which A-Chengs' cuteness won over Gusu Lan

02.

A couple of days later, they finally figured out the pattern of the side effect of this curse. The one that appears during the day is seven-year-old A-cheng, and during the night Sect leader Jiang surfaces. The pattern never once made a mistake during the first couple of days, and they were curious as to just what kind of curse it was, to have a side effect of a curse this accurate.

According to Jiang Cheng’s memory, He went to his mothers' sect in Meishan to visit family and discuss a couple of businesses. All was well in the duration of his stay in Meishan until he was about to return home when he heard of disturbances around the mountains. He decided to hold a night hunt himself before returning home.

Who would’ve thought that it began pouring right after he entered the mountains.

It was strange when the Water-repelling technique didn’t work, and after being almost half-soaked he ran into a small shrine he’d passed by to escape the rain.

The shrine was clean and well cared for even though there is no one living in these mountains. There was also a statue of a female goddess inside being worshipped.

Jiang Cheng had slipped it a couple of looks but wasn’t able to tell just who was being worshipped————but the goddess had a gentle expression, her features beautiful but not outstanding, in the shaded glow of the rain, it looked a bit like Jiang Yanli.

The rain pattered on the roof outside. Jiang Cheng stared at the statue, almost desperately.

What happened during his teens suddenly seemed like it was just yesterday, the smiling faces of A-Jie and Wei Ying appearing in front of him, carved into his memory. Yet A-Jie is gone, A-Die and A-Niang passed away too, and Wei Wuxian is even more eager to never come back.

There was only him left (almost unrecognizable in anything but his face) in the large empty home that is the Lotus Pier, chasing after what little (peaceful) memory he could scourge up in between the leaves of blooming lotuses.

Those memories of the past (the happy ones, the ridiculous ones, the fulfilling ones) all mixed up into a mess that is his adolescent life, like a dream doused with warm sunshine. Small beams of light found its way through the thick leaves of the lotuses, each beam of sunshine carried its own unique memory of their laughs.

He tries (SO HARD, SO DESPERATE) to grab at them with his hands, trying to hold and keep (something…anything…! ) …...

But they’d just slip off his fingers.

His dreams are just dreams, and he (still) has nothing when he wakes, the long (too long) nights become more and more chilling, more and more unbearable.

“Wouldn’t it be SO NICE if everything went back to the way it was before?”

That thought slithered its way into his mind, flashing for just a second before he frowned, clearing it almost immediately from his mind. A moment later and he laughed self-mockingly. In the end, he just drifted his eyes to the ground, walked forward, and lite a stick of incense.

A-Jie, if your spirit is still there, please watch over our Jiang sect.

Protect Jiang sect, protect Jin ling.

...and if you're not upset still…then...please watch over Wei Ying as well…

The thought only flashed in his mind when his conscious began to blur like a candle’s light suddenly blown out, everything becoming dark. When he woke up again, he found himself laying on the ground of this little shrine, in his seven-year-old self————What more dreadful, he discovered he can’t control this body, because its true owner is the seven-year-old Jiang Cheng, not him.

Finding out that he can still come out during the night was a pleasant surprise, meeting Lan Xichen was a stroke of luck amongst the misfortunes. A technique that can make an adult a child was never heard of in history, and don’t even mention the idea of breaking this curse. They returned to the shrine to investigate later on, yet there were no traces of it anywhere in the mountains. In the end, Lan Xichen returned to the Cloud Recesses with Jiang Cheng, hoping that there are some mentions of this curse in the Lan’s vast library. Their cover story was that A-cheng is a child of Lan Xichen’s deceased friend, so he brought him back to the Cloud Recesses to raise.

Sect leader Jiang is extremely annoyed, but A-Cheng is very happy.

Young children didn’t know of worrying, and A-Cheng is no exception. Lan Xichen told him that his parents had a business trip, his A-Jie went to visit family back in Meishan Yu and although A-Cheng was conflicted for a little while, he chooses to believe the story and let Lan Xichen “kidnap” him back to the Cloud Recesses.

On the first day there, Lan Xichen dressed him in a mini Lan discipline uniform. He even gave him his own forehead ribbon.

Lan Xichen was afraid that he’ll feel scared to be in a foreign place, so he took his hand and walked out with him.

A-cheng almost tripped on his too-long forehead ribbon, Lan Xichen almost had a heart attack, and the female cultivators had their hands on their hearts at the adorable sight.

Perhaps it was because Lan Xichen treated him very kindly, and because of his gentle demeanor that A-cheng began to stick to him like glue in just a couple of days. He didn’t say anything, but the way he almost always discreetly hug Lan Xichen’s legs, somehow afraid he’d get his robes dirty exposed his thoughts for everyone to see.

 

This was the first time he’d ever met someone who was so handsome and treated him so nicely too!

Even A-Die has never acted so close and gentle with him!

Zewu-Jun helps him organize his clothing, he teaches him how to use a sword, he even picks him up so he can sit in his arms, so high up and far from the ground, like a bird! A-Cheng will even wake up according to the Lan sect rules in order to be picked up like that, always trailing behind Lan Xichen like a little duckling.

 

There was a little tail that trailed behind their sect leader these days, the Lan Disciples noticed.

They wondered where their sect leader brought the child back from, he was so very adorable and good. He does anything Lan Xichen tells him to do, doesn’t cause trouble whenever Lan Xichen is busy. He practices his sword forms in the courtyard just outside, occasionally leaning his head inside just enough so he could peek at Lan Xichen.

Lan Jingyi especially likes to play with A-Cheng.

Today he came saying, “Hey, A-Cheng! Stop practicing and come over to big brother Jingyi for some candy!”

But A-cheng only paused to look at him for a second before returning to his forms, strict and unrelenting. Although he was young, his forms were improving at a very fast pace, everyone could see it was someone very strong who’d taught him. Lan Jingyi is not the type of person to notice small details, so he just thought it was Zewu-Jun who had taught him. On the other hand, though, those forms don’t look like the traditional Gusu Lan style, it looked more like ...huh, who was it again?

Lan Sizhui also thought about it for a moment, but couldn’t grasp it in his mind. Seeing A-Cheng finish his forms, he waved the child over, pouring him a cup of tea, asking, “ Why don’t you rest for a moment? Sect leader Lan has asked of us to look out for you in case you over exhaust yourself. If something were to happen to you, we wouldn’t be able to face him anymore.”

 

A-Cheng frowned as he held his cup of tea, he was very hesitant, “But…...but wouldn’t Zewu-Jun hate me if I don’t try hard enough?”

“How come?” Lan Sizhui was stunned for a moment, pinching A-Cheng’s face. Zewu-Jun treated everyone on the same level of kindness and respect, there is no one from the Gusu Lan that didn’t respect him, and don’t even talk about how much their sect leader spoils A-Cheng. He probably treated him better than his own non-existent child!

The truth is, there had been many rumors going around, people wondered if this child was actually the real child of Lan Xichen————Currently, there is no next generation of the main family of Lan, Lan Wangji is a cut sleeve, and every Lan was hoping for a little master.

Lan Jingyi also joined the conversation, “ That’s right! How could Sect leader Lan hate you when he treats you so well!”

A-Cheng's' pure eyes lit up, thought about it for a moment and asked a question with a hopeful tone, “Then if I worked harder, will Zewu-Jun Like me even MORE than before?”

“Well...” Lan Sizhui didn’t really know how to respond to that, “Zewu-Jun would naturally like seeing disciples train hard and be diligent!”

A-Cheng beamed at the two, but became depressed after a while, his smile losing their energy. “If only A-Die was like this as well…...”

Lan Sizhui asked, “Why the thought? All fathers love their children, they would also like their diligence as well.”

But A-Cheng just shook his head, looking down at his feet as he kicked a pebble, “Papa doesn’t like me, he likes A-Ying(WWX) better.”

 

“Who is A-Ying?” Lan Jingyi exchanged looks with Lan Sizhui.

“A-Ying is the head disciple,” A-Cheng had a hint of jealousy and awkwardness in his voice, but the adoration and love were clear. His eyes lit up like stars, and he became energetic almost immediately. “He can climb trees, and catch birds, and-and his swordsmanship is also really good! But A-Niang doesn’t like him, but it’s fine! I can protect him!”

 

This child has everything written on his face, but his heart is clear and has ambiguity. Although the two little jades don’t know this “A-Ying”, they still got the impression that these two brothers are very close-knit.

 

“Em…...A-Die likes A-Ying a lot better, but that’s fine! A-Ying likes me anyway, and I like A-Ying too!” A-Cheng exclaimed.

 

As he spoke, a hand reached the top of his head, rubbing it. A-Cheng raised his head and saw Lan Xichen smiling at him, “What were you talking about, A-Cheng?”

A-Cheng threw himself onto his waist almost immediately, “We were talking about A-Ying!”

“Oh? Your Shixiong*?” Lan Xichen lifted him into his arms, brushing his fingers against the moist back of his robes. He frowned, “How long have you practiced this time?”

“No- not that long…...”

“Were you being difficult to Jingyi and Sizhui?”

A-Cheng blushed, thought about it before turning his head and apologizing to Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui.

Lan Xichen let a rare laugh before touching his forehead, “I wasn’t mad at all you know?”

 

The only people who knew the true identity of this child in Gusu Lan was Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren. The fewer people knew about it, the better. Since Lan Xichen has agreed to help, he made sure information as important as this curse must not be in the hands of others. However, to unknowing eyes, it was unparalleled love and protection.

Even Sect leader Jiang has agreed to that, “Zewu-Jun spoil him too much.” he said while frowning.

The sight of him speaking something so mature whilst trapped in a toddler's body made the sight all too adorable. But Lan Xichen just glanced at him once, smiling while he returned to his writing.

The candlelight beside him swayed in the air, his smile was breathtakingly beautiful under its light.

Jiang Cheng suddenly couldn’t say anything strict to him when he saw that smile. It’s like punching cotton*.

But he is a sect leader, and it's his nature to be persistent. He slightly calmed himself before saying, “Zewu-Jun, I'm serious about this. He really will become too spoiled.”

 

Lan Xichen wrote down his last sentence, finally putting down his brush before looking over back at him. “ Sect leader Jiang,” his voice quiet like a sign. “ Why are you…...so strict even when it comes to yourself? ”

 

Jiang Cheng was stunned, eyes blurring for a moment. But it was only a moment before he regained his bearings again. “You call this strict?”

“Is it not strict?”

“You should’ve seen my mother then.” Jiang Cheng said almost mockingly.

“I know,” Lan Xichen spoke quietly as he pushed open the windows, letting the summer moonlight streak in, the chirps of crickets singing a song in the chilling night. His expression blanked, like reminiscing a distant memory. After a moment, he spoke with solemnity in his voice, “I have met Madame Yu a few times before, she was graceful and powerful, unbending to anyone.”

What do you know?

Jiang Cheng thought of his mother, an ache in his heart. But those words are impolite to speak out, especially in front of Lan Xichen so he buried all the anger and doubt in his already tired and beaten heart. He doesn’t like talking about the Jiang family with anyone, even when its praises————what right do the unknowing people have to decide what’s good and what's bad.

Those who spoke of their glory too much was not right in their hearts*.

Those who spoke insults were often more foolish than wise.

They only hear one side, and then stupidly deduce the rest.

In the end, the sword in his hands is more assuring than anything and anyone to Jiang Cheng.

 

But Lan Xichen is an exception.

Whatever he says, Jiang Cheng will probably believe it————not because of admiration or anything, but because this man lives up to the name given to him, clean and pure.

Like a clear lake you can see through, not finding anything dirtying it. There was no one who doesn’t know of Zewu-Jun’s behavior and way of living, and Jiang Cheng has seen first hand what kind of person he is when they were standing shoulder to shoulder during the sunshot campaign.

Comparing him to his knife of a mouth mother, his Shixiong who headed another way, and Zewu-Jun’s own little ice-block of a brother, Lan Xichen is too easy to understand.

Everything he does is written on his face, obvious and clear for everyone to see.

The man that made Jiang Cheng almost jealous————if you wanted him to speak the truth, the only “bad” sorts of emotion he felt towards Lan Xichen on instinct is admiration and competition.

 

So when Lan Xichen said that he admired Madame Yu, Jiang Cheng believed him.

When Lan Xichen said he was too strict on himself, he was stunned, at a loss of what to do.

It’s been too long……too long…...thirteen years since someone had simply CARED…...

 

“Another thing, Sect Leader Jiang.” Lan Xichen said.

“What?” Jiang Cheng frowned. Whenever A-Cheng was there Lan Xichen always called him A-Cheng, Jiang Cheng almost got used to it. But whenever Lan Xichen calls for him, or “Sect Leader Jiang”, it always was more distant, a hint of the Gusu Lans unique way of speaking to guests, it made Jiang Cheng uneasy.

His ears bleeding when he hears that title.

Or like when his heart (again) was driven through with a driller with an ache (too familiar).

It was a title he was bared with for thirteen years, yet it was like no one remembered him before he was Sect leader Jiang.

“About Sect leader Jiang returning to your Child form, Shufu has looked up a lot of texts, and today we finally have a lead. I wonder if you know of an ancient artifact named ‘ The Bell of Dusk and Dawn’*——”

 

“——Zewu-Jun.” Jiang Cheng interrupted.

“What?” Lan Xichen paused, a bit surprised.

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, his eyes fluttering to the floor. He looked anywhere but at Lan Xichens’ eyes, “There is no need to be so polite, I’m not such a closed-off person; You can just call me as you have before.”

 

Lan Xichen looked at him, like looking at the moon's reflection in the lake, a flower in the mirror.

He slowly blinked his eyes, immediately following that action was a swell of happiness flowing into his heart as his smile became more and more bright.

It was like suddenly going back ten or something springs and falls, uncovering those precious memories covered with dust.

“Well then, will Wanyin call me Xichen like before as well?”

tbc.

Notes:

Both Jiang Cheng and A-Cheng make me cry while translating this chapter, my poor babies let Lan Huan love you!

LOL, I'm too lazy to put up the explanations for the * I put in the chapter. But if there is anything you don't understand, please comment and ask, I'll reply as soon as I can.

How do you remove the notes at the end? The * from the previous chapter is here and I don't know how to remove it...

Chapter 3: Haunting Pasts

Summary:

OMG, I'm late by a year! I'm so sorry for those who had been waiting for ch.3, but I had some serious family issues I needed to deal with along with College assignments, etc. But I'm back! Hopefully, I will be able to update more often but we'll see. I got a job now since I began paying my own rent, and I'll have to work my schedule out a bit more.

Anyways, Enjoy! This chapter might give a different feel since my writing abilities rusted.

03.

 

The Bell of Dusk and Dawn was made by a Daoist priest who went by the monastic name of Han Yun. The artifact was said to be passed down generation by generation tracing back to the Southern Dynasties. The bell itself was brought together with four beams of sunlight, three beams of pure moonlight, two pieces of souls of the mountains, and a piece of soul from the water itself. Legends say that the bell can reverse time, regressing seasons from autumn to spring.

But a legend was just a legend, even if the story of the bell was passed down for hundreds of years, there was no one who has ever seen it before. Even the person who was said to have made the bell passed away long ago, the legend dwindling with time until it was all but words on faded ink in a book stored in the vast libraries of Gusu Lan.

This sort of legend, usually seen as just talks of nonsense, was not supposed to be of any importance. Yet the book itself———— with its one missing page detailing the location of the bell torn out, made this legend more believable than ever.

 

Lan Xichen wordlessly caressed the edge of that torn page.

Jiang Cheng scooted over beside him, seeing that torn page before a thought came across him. Frowning, he spoke, “Jin Guangyao?”

Lan Xichen nodded, his sigh like a drop of dew splattering onto the ground, quiet yet heavy as he said, “Besides my family, only Wei-gongzi and A-Yao has entered this place before.”

“A-Yao?” Jiang Cheng looked at him, his gaze held a sliver of mockery in it, “He never fails to amuse me with all his despicable ways.”

Lan Xichen remained quiet, his eyes clouded like he was reminiscing the past. There was no one who didn’t know of his inner conflict with his deceased sworn brothers.

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt an unknown anger swell in him, gritting his teeth in bitter laughter, “How gracious of you to still hold onto memories of him.”

 

The book didn’t say much, only a couple of sentences and even then it’s unclear, Jiang Cheng thought to himself if not for the fact that he came across this kind of curse, who would’ve thought that the legendary artifact said to reverse time itself, actually just turned someone back into a snot-nosed brat?

How unfathomable.

The Bell of Dusk and Dawn————truly a nice name. The bell of dawn rings once, and youth is returned; the bell of dusk sounds, and even the souls themselves are reversed*. Jiang Cheng stared at the lines on the page, thinking to himself.

Master Han Yun’s real name was Yu Mingzhao, and his hometown was Shuzhong———— that said, there could be possibilities that his artifact, lost around the perimeter of his hometown, was actually real.

But in the end, all that’s left was ink on paper, and even then, blurred and damaged. Only when the missing pages are found was when the whereabouts of the bell can be revealed.

“Wanyin,” Seemingly coming to a decision, Lan Xichen called out to Jiang Cheng. “It appears that we shall head to Jinling Tai tomorrow. ”

 

Above Jinling Tai is the Peony Pavilion and in the Pavilion stood Jin Ling.

The young Sect leader of the Jin sect stood under the roof of the pavilion, almost not believing the sight his eyes were taking in. His mouth opened and closed, babbling out noncoherent sounds but in the end not able to convey his words. Even if uncle sent him a letter explaining the situation, seeing the truth with his own eyes weighed much more impact than just reading ink on paper. Yet Lan Xichen stood right in front of him, bending down and patting the back of the child by his leg, gently introducing, “A-Cheng, this the Sect leader Jin.”

At those words, the child whose eyes wandered everywhere was immediately brought back, staring at the stranger in front of him with caution. It was strange because the big brother in front of him made him feel warm, perhaps it was because he looked like A-Jie? A-Cheng brought his head out from behind Lan Xichen’s legs, he snuck a peek at the vermillion mark on Jin ling’s forehead before introducing himself, “It’s nice to meet you, Sect leader Jin. I’m A-Cheng.”

 

The child in front of him has a pair of almond-shaped eyes, the corner of those eyes slightly slanted upwards, like a kitten rolling around within the lotus leaves, almost indescribable pureness and naiveness pouring out from those eyes.

Jin Ling…… Jin Ling feels light in the head. Jin Ling was shocked immensely, and Jin Ling covered his bright red face with his palms.

He bent down leveling himself to A-Cheng, reaching out with his hands. The tone of his voice was still touched with disbelief till his eyes gazed into a pair of eyes a child should have. “N-no need to be so formal,” His words were shaky like he didn’t know whether to be strict and formal or close and familiar, “Um, call me——calling me A-Ling is fine! We do have the same ancestors after all.”

 

Lan Xichen already mentioned to him that this child was just six, still innocent to his surroundings, and better off not knowing anything else. The Jin Ling who succeeded his role as sect leader became a lot more mature. He knew the weight of the situation, and even if he couldn’t shed light on their familial bond, he had to suppress the feeling of closeness and pretend to be just a distant elder relative.

 

“Really?” A-Cheng’s eyes lit up immediately though, spinning around to look at Lan Xichen for confirmation.

‘Why does he look at Sect leader Lan and not me!’ Jing Ling fumed in jealousy.

Lan Xichen just smiled while he nodded his head, “Yes, that’s right. The clan that Sect leader Jin’s mother belonged to had close familial ties with the Jiang Sect, if we really sort them out into details, he will even have to call you uncle!”

“Uncle?” A-Cheng giggled at that thought, “Really? But Sect leader Jin is bigger than me by THIISSSSS MUCCCHHHH!”

 

Looking at young Jiang Cheng, Jing Ling suddenly thought back to his childhood. He was still so small at that time, but his uncle already seemed tall and intimidating, his loneliness looming over him like clouds which covered up almost all of his inner world.

However, he is Sect leader Jin now, and his tiny uncle is sitting on the lap of Zewu-Jun, staring in awe at the fields of peonies outside the pavilion. A-Cheng raised his head up from looking at the flowers, his brows creasing from hints of laughter. The colors of the golden peonies seemed to imprint itself onto his eyes.

“Zewu-Jun, Zewu-Jun look! The flowers here are so beautiful!”

Jin Ling leaned over to take a closer look, but smiled once he saw which flower A-Cheng was talking about, “Ah, this is the symbol of my sect, the golden peonies. Do uncle- A-Cheng like them?”

“I-yes...I like them...” A-Cheng immediately straightened his posture, nodding his head trying to be mature. What he doesn’t know is that the light shining in his eyes spoke a different view.

Seeing the desire in the child’s eyes, Jin Ling bent down and plucked the prettiest one from the field, determined to let his uncle have the best looking one, “Here! You can have this one!”

The child immediately held the flower into his hands, a gentle glow of gold radiated from the flower onto his youthful features. “Thank you so much, big brother A-Ling!” It was a truthful laugh of innocence.

 

Jing Ling could not breathe right now.

All he wanted to do was to fly to Cloud Recesses and shake Lan Sizhui’s shoulders screaming, “LAN SIZHUI!!!!!!!! WHY IS MY UNCLE SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

It was known that the room Jin Guangyao used to live in was sealed after his death, the only person that was allowed to enter being the Sect leader. On the way to that particular room though, Jin Ling already tied A-Cheng’s forehead ribbon into an adorable bow. Now he is circling the child, looks of conflict flashing across his face as he innerly deliberates whether or not to bring the child into his arms.

When they finally made it to Jing Guangyao’s room though, A-Cheng was already taking his afternoon nap in Zewu-Jun’s arms, his face buried into the crook of his neck. Jin Ling side-glanced towards the sleeping child, he had never seen in his life his uncle so clingy and gentle, he couldn’t help but be curious!

But the more he looked, the more jealous he was.

 

In his memories, his uncle was always alone by himself. The Lotus Pier’s Sandu Shengshou who wielded his legendary whip, ruling one of the four great sects with an iron fist. Everyone knew not to mess with him.

Who would’ve thought that a person like his Jiu-Jiu could, once upon a time, also be so innocent and bright? He was happy just being given a flower! This sort of behavior just seems extremely odd when Jiang Cheng’s name was attached to it. Just how much bloodshed and pain have Jiu-Jiu gone through to turn such a softball of warm fur into an electric whip with its thorns spiked up, hurting anyone that got close.

Jiang Cheng never relied on anyone during these past thirteen years nor does he have anyone to rely on in the first place.

Jin Ling became the Sect leader of the Jin sect believing he can now shield his uncle from wind and rain, yet his uncle doesn’t even recognize him, instead, he became close to Lan Xichen of all people.

 

But why Lan Xichen? Before it was Jin Guangyao who was close to him, now it's uncle, just what makes him so special?

The more Jin Ling thought about it, the more he became jealous over it. An idea slipped into his mind during the thought process though, that no matter what, he’ll get uncle to stay here with him instead. But right now it’s business time, so he shoved that thought into the back of his head to focus on the current situation.

Jin Ling lit a matchstick, lighting the peony shaped candles. The glow radiating from these candles reflected the dust cast on the no longer used furniture.
Jin Guangyao’s secrets lay there, between those dust-filled antique bookshelves.

Lan Xichen gently set the sleeping A-Cheng onto the mattress at the side of the room, covering him with his own outer robe before turning to scan the rows of bookshelves within the room. “All of Xiao-Shu’s things are here, I called for the servants to bring them all here before sealing up this room, no one else touched this place.” Jin Ling stated.

Lan Xichen tilted his head to look at him, his gaze swaying slightly, “You are still willing to call him Xiao-Shu?”

“Why not, Sect Leader Lan?” Jin Ling stared back, annoyed he would ask that but then turned to stare at the ground, “I know what he has done was unforgivable and deserved to be thrown into the deepest parts of hell, but even so…… only he was willing to play with me when I was little, Fairy was also a gift from him…...”

 

When Jin Ling’s gaze fell on his person, all Lan Xichen could think of at that moment was: ‘Ah, how similar this child is to his uncle.’

The thought flowed into his mind and then vanished with the currents, Lan Xichen came back to his thoughts, thinking back on the memories he shared with Jin Guangyao.

He had treated Lan Xichen with utter respect and admiration as well.

Yet the more proper he was in front of him, the worse he was around other people. Even if Lan Xichen remembered his good side, who would remember the good of those innocent victims?

Jin Ling looked up after not receiving a response, “Sect leader Lan?”

“I was just thinking,” Lan Xichen peered at the guqin set on the table, his voice low when he responded, “If I understood Yao-di a little better back then, perhaps Da-ge wouldn’t have died in such a horrifying way.”

 

Jin Ling hesitated, his words stuck to his tongue. He couldn’t interfere with Zewu-Jun’s thoughts. He snuck a couple of glances at the elder man in the room, he knew there was nothing he could do to relieve the atmosphere. It was like the soul of Jin Guangyao remained within this very room, along with the past and memories of the famed Triad. The two no longer spoke, focusing on the task of finding the stolen pages detailing the Bell of Dusk and Dawn.

Jin Guangyao was a very clever individual. His specialty was to exploit loopholes for his own gain, and it was impossible to look into his mind to see what he was thinking. There were many scrolls and books within the room, but ones that were dangerous or forbidden are exceptionally spare, either very well hidden or destroyed by his own hands.

Jin Ling flipped through a couple of scrolls but rubbed at his eyes when he couldn’t find anything that was relatable to their current situation. There were stacks as high as mountains stored here, it would take a long while to sort through all of the materials. His heart trembled for a moment, the thought that was previously shoved into the back of his head came creeping back in with more intensity than ever.

He coughed once, clearing his throat before speaking to Lan Xichen, “Sect leader Lan, it would seem that sorting through all of these scrolls might be impossible for today, why not stay for the night here, and we shall continue tomorrow?”

Lan Xichen paused his search for a moment to consider, but shook his head a moment later, “I thank you for your invitation, but I’m afraid staying for the night is not a viable option. Considering A-Cheng’s identity, the fewer people who knew, the better. I’m afraid that the more he is exposed to the outside, the more suspicious he might be to others.”

Not to mention the current Jin Sect is not a stable environment to stay in with its hundreds of eyes trailing their young Sect leader at the moment. It would only draw more trouble to the both of them if a child who shared similar facial features as Jin Ling appeared by his side at this time.

Hearing the response, Jin Ling hurriedly added, “It’ll be fine if no one else saw! Jiu-Jiu would be safe staying in my room, no one dares to trespass my quarters!”

“We won’t know for certain exactly how long we’ll be searching for the missing page, it won’t be long till people with bad intentions start noticing something is off, therefore taking advantage of the situation.” Lan Xichen gently chided, “Besides, I’ve already promised Wanyin to not let A-Cheng get into trouble so it’s only fair for me to be extra cautious of his surroundings.”

 

Wanyin? Sect leader Lan actually called Jiu-Jiu ‘Wanyin’?

Jin Ling was surprised and questions started filling his head, but before he could argue again, a child’s pained cry sounded from the direction where A-Cheng was placed. The two men in the room immediately rushed to his side, but A-Cheng already rolled off the bed, stumbling into Lan Xichen’s embrace breathing harshly.

“Die...Die-Die...A-Niang……..”

Lan Xichen immediately held A-Cheng into his arms, but A-Cheng already buried his face into Lan Xichen’s chest, teardrops slid down his cheeks staining his snow-white robes. Jin Ling was at a loss over what to do but started carefully patting A-Cheng’s back, asking him what’s wrong.

A-Cheng was crying so hard he choked on his breath, laying his head on Lan Xichen’s shoulders for quite a while before finally being able to reply, “I……..I had a bad dream…....”

“There were ……. There were bad people who came to Lotus Pier…...”

“Both Die-Die and A-Niang laid on the floor, and there was a lot of blood……”

“......They- they tied me up with rope, and-....and there was a mark of the sun on that person…...he used a whip on A-Niang, but A-Niang didn’t move…...”

 

He dreamed of a training ground so red with blood there was nowhere untouched, of lotuses scorched by the burning sun.

He dreamed of arrows protruding out of his parents' unmoving body (‘corpses’ his mind whispered) abused even after their passing by Wang Lingjiao’s whipping while Wen Zhuoliu stood to the side, expressions blank and blood dripping off his blade.

He dreamed of Zidian at his fingertips, dreamed of the disciplinary whip slashing his body, dreamed of his own helpless cries, and he dreamed of his father for the last time, “A-Cheng, stay safe...” before turning his back on him, never returning again.

He did not know whose memories these belonged to, whose bloody tears trailing off cheeks, he only knew that this was just a nightmare of nonsense (A-Cheng told himself that fervently), as long as he wakes up, everything will turn out fake! —— There was no way it could be real! (Was it?) Zewu-Jun said A-Die and A-Niang were just out on business! There was no way something could happen to them, they’re the strongest people he knew!

But perhaps it was just due to the sensitivity of a child, A-Cheng just felt extreme panic as his senses alerted (almost reminding) him. He tried his best, telling himself that boys were never afraid of nightmares, but his tears just wouldn’t (COULDN’T) stop, almost like the pain that was piled up (BUT SUPPRESSED) for years just flowing out like an exploded dam.

A-Cheng held onto Lan Xichen desperately, his throat clenched tight before finally crying out with his voice, “Zewu-Jun! I——I want to go home!”

 

TBC.

Notes:

The original Author's note:

"That's right, sometimes A-Cheng can see the memories of Sect leader Jiang through dreams, perhaps it could even be called empathy."

Chapter 4: Bitterness, Tears, and Some Screaming

Summary:

Yep, I'm back with an update. My writing definitely rusted, and I finally half-squeezed myself back into the MDZS (or specifically XiCheng) fandom. Depression almost made me fail Uni but I tried my best, and I'm graduating from Uni soon. Super nervous about my unsettled future, but I have my ships, my games, and my favorite characters with me to cheer me up. Hopefully, this chapter may also help some people to get past another day.

But, warning: This chapter is somewhat sad til the end.

BTW: My Twitter is @Michi_Shiroyama if anyone wants to chat and remind me to update!

04.

The trio returned quietly to the Lotus Pier. Jin Ling immediately ordered the incoming servants away upon his arrival.

A-Cheng was wailing loudly, wanting to go home to see his parents. Jin Ling’s heart ached at the sound of his uncle crying but had no other way to comfort him. Meeting eye to eye with Lan Xichen, they decided to bring him back to Yunmeng through sword flight. Everyone was quiet on the way back, thinking about how they can avoid an explanation to A-Cheng.

Although A-Cheng was exhausted from crying, he still managed to keep himself awake, running towards Lotus Pier right after landing at the entrance.

It was near sunset when they arrived, and what lingering light from the sun tinted the compound dark. A-Cheng who was still blurry-eyed from crying did not notice the differences in Lotus Pier after its repair, dashing towards Jiang Fenmian’s room.

He did not find his father, so he went off to look for his mother.

Naturally, Yu Ziyuan’s room was empty as well. Facing those empty rooms, round tears once again started flowing from A-Cheng’s eyes.

 

“Don-don’t cry Un—— A-Cheng!” Jin Ling was panicking badly, his heart breaking into pieces. He hurriedly hugged A-Cheng to his chest, pointing to the window, “Look! There is the training area, everyone is still practicing their swordsmanship! Everyone is well and healthy! No one’s bleeding out either, right?”

From the window of Yu Ziyuan’s room, right through the pavilion, the training area was clear to see. At this time, disciples of the Jiang sect gathered around the area to either practice or play together, painting a peaceful scene.

A-Cheng stared hard in the direction of the training area, finally calming down a little before bringing up another topic, “Where is A-Jie? A-Ying? Where is A-Ying?”

A-Cheng mumbled to himself, he felt panic swell up in his chest, and once again spun around and dashed off. He tripped on one of the thresholds on his way, crying out in pain but did not waste any time on the wound, running towards the deeper parts of the corridors.

“A-Cheng!” Jin Ling wanted to reach out and grab him, but Lan Xichen stopped him, shaking his head a little, before calmly stepping out to go after A-Cheng. “A-Cheng has been away from home for quite a while, it is normal for him to miss home. We should leave him be for a moment and let him get everything out.”

But Jin Ling was on-edge, “Then what should we do? There is no way we can tell him that Grandpa and Grandma are both gone already!”

Lan Xichen just shook his head again, letting out a sigh, “Let me handle it.”

 

A-Cheng was already far ahead of them when they finished the conversation. Realizing that they were left behind, the two cultivators quickly followed the child, rushing through the twisting pathways and pavilions to see A-Cheng running towards a specific room, quickly pushing past the doors to step in.

But Jin Ling stopped at the entrance, his heart already pounding. This room was named one of the forbidden sections in Lotus Pier a long time ago. Uncle had never let anyone in or out, not even himself! What is A-Cheng doing here out of all places? What is this room for? But he didn’t have the time to vocalize his warning, because A-cheng already stepped into the room. An unknowing Lan Xichen quickly followed behind the child. Jin Ling gnashed his teeth for a moment, before stepping inside as well.

 

There was nothing special inside the room.

It looked just like any average children’s room, with old items scattered around the place. There were two beds, and two small tables, and even the tiger plushie was a pair placed on top of a shelf. The room looked like it had been empty for years, but it was also oddly clean, there was not a speck of dust flying in the air. It seemed as though someone spent much care in keeping this room clean. Jin Ling picked up the pair of plushies from the shelf, taking a closer look at it.

On each of the tiger's bellies, a word was sewn on with great care. One was “Cheng”, and the other was “Ying”.

A-Cheng quickly snatched the yellow tiger from his grasp, crying out loud. “Don’t touch A-Ying’s stuff!”

Jin Ling froze, the shock and confusion almost nailing him to the ground he stood on.

 

This was Uncle and Wei Ying’s bedroom since childhood.

Why…... has Uncle still kept this room, even keeping the effort to clean it himself?

“Al-alright! I got it! I won’t move.” Jin Ling's mind was steaming from how much he was thinking. His shock was like a needle piercing through all deceptions, turning his brain into mush. “Un——A-Cheng, don’t cry alright? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…...”

“Just because A-Ying is not here doesn’t mean you can bully him!” A-Cheng wailed again, pushing Jin Ling to the side. He hugged the plushie to his chest, pattering towards the closet before hiding Wei Ying’s plushie inside. The wooden closet was piled with stuff, the moment A-Cheng opened the door, the breeze from the swinging door blew a couple of pieces of paper dropped to the ground.

Jin Ling had never got along with other children since young, not to mention his young Uncle talking to him in this particular tone. Running out of ideas, a teary Jin Ling can only helplessly turn to Zewu-Jun, seeking assistance.

Lan Xichen heard the sound of A-Cheng’s cries, and memories of the difficult and complicated relationship between the Yunmeng siblings flowed into his mind like spring water, filling his head with nostalgia. A long time has passed by, and no one stays the same, no matter how much they wish and hope.

Sympathy swelled quietly in his heart like a tide, almost overflowing his body. He stepped a bit closer, squatting down next to A-Cheng to hug his shoulders, gently patting him on the back and comforting him in a soft tone.

“A-Cheng, Sect Leader Jin did not do that on purpose, he did not know that the plushie belonged to your Shixiong. Let’s not be mad at him, alight?”

“Bu-but, I promised that I will protect A-Ying,” A-Cheng sniffled, “A-Jie made these plushies for us, it is one of A-Ying’s favorites……”

“Well then, how about this…A-Ying is with your sister at Meishan right now, so when A-Ying comes back, We can bring Sect leader Jin to A-Ying and have him apologize to A-Ying in person alright?” Lan Xichen gently voiced a solution. Picking up the scattered pieces of paper while speaking, he tried to distract A-Cheng’s attention away from the matter. “Did A-Cheng draw this? It looks wonderful! What is of this picture, A stool?”

“This was—were–um—the puppies I raised some time ago,” and thinking of his puppies, A-Cheng’s tears slowly dried off. He pointed at each image drawn on the paper, giving a name to each drawing. “This is Jasmine, this is Princess, this one… the one with the short tail is Little Love.”

Lan Xichen patted his forehead, and couldn’t help but smile. “How adorable. What about this one?”

“This is, lotus and pork rib soup……”

“Oh? Was it delicious?”

“It's really good! A-Jie made it once for us, and it was the best!”

“And this one? This one looks like—” Lan Xichen paused his questioning, he couldn’t go any further.

 

It was a family picture.

 

A-Cheng wiped the remaining tears from his face, pointing at the two purple-themed men and woman, who were holding hands. He started explaining, almost solemnly. “This is Die-Die, and A-Niang, they were out on a night hunt before they came home.”

He pointed at the girl wearing flowers in her hair, standing beside the two adults. “Die-Die and A-Niang brought a crown of flowers for Jie-Jie, and new clothes too.” He then pointed at the two boys, stating, “This one is me, and this is A-Ying. We practice swordsmanship together, and also caught birds in the forest. We even picked lotuses for Die-Die, an entire one hundred lotus flowers.”

 

The two little boys in the picture were like two potatoes, small and round. One of them had red ribbons, the other holding a lotus pod. They held hands, wearing the same purple robes, and the same silver bell and sword attached to their waist. They were smiling widely, clear as day even from the squiggly lines drawn by a child's hand. It was a clumsy drawing, but full of childhood innocence and purity.

They had a grounded father, a beautiful mother, and a gentle sister They have each other, and the future.

There was a bright red sun in the sky and large blooming lotuses everywhere. The Jiang family stood in the middle of everything, their smiles were simple but truthful, and even a little stupid.

 

Jin Ling can’t stand to hear any more than that, quickly bursting out of the room. But A-Cheng was wholly unaware, speaking of the future he sees (in his dreams) for the Jiang family. He raised his head, those almond-shaped eyes that were still a little foggy from the tears blinking up at Lan Xichen, asking. “Zewu-Jun! When A-Die returns, I want to show him the sword forms I’ve been practicing. I’ve trained extra hard and seriously, won’t A-die praise me?”

“......He will definitely be proud, for sure.” Lan Xichen brought him back into his arms, closing eyes that were burning from tears.

A-Cheng hugged Lan Xichens neck tightly before nodding. After a while, he suddenly leaned into his ears, quietly inquiring, “Zewu-Jun, it really was just a nightmare, right?”

But all Lan Xichen could do was hug A-Cheng closer to his chest, gently soothing his hair, “Sleep, you are tired.”

 

He was playing a song of【Weaving Dreams】, it was as if it was the first time he completely understood the purpose of this song. He weaved the best dream for this child.

In the dream, his family was together and happy.

In the dream, the world was at peace.

In the dream, there was A-Cheng who picked a hundred lotuses, and a smiling Jiang Fengmian who showered him with praises.

No Wen, No Massacre, No turning of backs on each other.

Father and mother held hands and the three siblings held their hands even tighter.

Liebing hummed, its melody flew away with the evening breeze and into the shadows of the sunset like an illusion of a summer night dream. Jin Ling stood at the edge of the lotus ponds, the winds brought the sound of the Xiao to his ear, and gently took away his sobbing tears, whisking them away into the evening sky.

 

The song closed with its last note, and hearing footsteps from behind him, Jin Ling could only wipe his face with his sleeves in time, hurriedly looking away.

Lan Xichen walked out from the entrance, the evening breeze swaying his forehead ribbon and billowing sleeves. He saw the smear of red at the corner of JIn Lings' eyes but remained quiet about it. He only said, “He fell asleep.”

Jin Ling nodded, collecting his thoughts quickly, yet stuttered out a question. “What A-Cheng was dreaming off……Were those memories from my uncle?”

“I’m afraid so.”
“What should we do?” Jin Ling panicked, and the smear of red beneath his eyes seem to deepen as he stressed himself. “A-Cheng is still so young, we can’t just, just let him……”

Lan Xichen responded, “don’t worry, the worst situation is that I perform the 【Weaving Dream】and【Purification】for him every day, so as to not let him dream of those again.”

Jin Ling was stunned for a moment but bowed low. ”Thank you, Zewu-Jun.”

“There is no need for that, Jin-Gongzi,” Lan Xichen propped him up quickly, the gentleness of his brow finally resurfaced, matching the smile at the corner of his lips, so faint it almost melted into the evening. “I promised Wanyin that I would help him.”

 

“Is Zewu-Jun familiar with uncle?” Jin Ling’s curiosity and questions followed his searching gaze toward Lan Xichen, but before Lan Xichen can respond, he suddenly heard someone calling his name from behind.

 

“Jin Ling.”

 

The A-Cheng that should’ve been asleep now stood by the door, his tone and gaze held not a single bit of youthfulness. Sandu Shenshou has awakened from the body of this child and stepped outside of the room. Along with the brightening glow of the moon, were the purpled-tinted eyes burning in the night.

“Who the fuck allowed you into this room?!”

 

“A-Che—Uncle!” Jin Ling spluttered and almost didn’t switch his address in time, panicking and flailing for something as an excuse, “I–I–I didn’t do it on purpose!!! Don’t be mad!!!!!!!”

“Not on purpose? Did someone perhaps force you into the room then?” Jiang Cheng was burning with rage, gnashing his teeth. “Lan Xichen did not know, but you would not know that was the forbidden area in my Lotus Pier?”

“Uncle! It was just a room for you and—” Jin Ling paused, his thoughts finally catching up to him. “Wait, how did you know? Were you awake when We went inside the room?”

Jiang Cheng just let out a cold laugh, “You thought that I would stay asleep whenever A-Cheng is awake? I’m not some seven-year-old child, needing naps every day. I just don’t come out, you think I’m blind?”

Jin Ling mentally thought, ‘but you were napping so soundly in the arms of Zewu-Jun, why are you so mean right now?’

The more he thought about it the more he complained. Stomping his foot, he said, ” If you saw all of that, then why blame only me? I wasn’t the only one that committed the mistake! If you have the guts to be mean to me, then why don’t you make Wei Wuxian’s room disappear then!”

 

With a sharp snap, Jiang Cheng pulled off the ring dangling from his neck.

“Jin Ling,” he snarked. “Little brat thinks that I can’t break your legs with Zidian if my energy hasn’t recovered yet.”

Jin Ling shuddered, his voice shaking already. He is already dashing to hide behind Lan Xichen, “Save me Zewu-Jun!”

“Wanyin, Jin Gongzi truly wasn’t—” Lan Xichen started, trying to smooth the conflict.

“Lan Huan don’t try to cover for him!” Jiang Cheng’s anger is getting to his head. His almond eyes glared at Lan Xichen for a moment. “He won’t even listen to me now!”

Jiang Cheng tried to chase Jin Ling, but his small, seven-year-old body could not quite keep up with what he had in mind. Not only not being able to catch up to his target, he accidentally stepped on his too-long forehead ribbon and fell face down flat beside the foot of Lan Xichen.

 

‘Oh dear,’ Lan Xichen can only laugh bitterly in his heart. Wanyin is such a prideful man, he’d only go insane at such a mistake.

He wanted to help Jiang Cheng to his feet, but in the end refrained, letting Jiang Cheng get back to his feet by himself. His little face was full of disbelief and embarrassment, even his shoulders were slightly quivering. It was an odd sight, Lan Xichen thought while looking at him. He wanted to laugh, but more because of how cute and lively Jiang Cheng looked right now. How long has it been since he saw such an off-guard Jiang Cheng, never since the farewell multiple years ago.

His heart melts, but before he can think of anything else, his body almost mechanically picks up little Jiang Cheng, making him sit on his arms, high enough so that they were at eye level.

Jiang Cheng’s mind blanked for a moment, unsuspecting of such a move from Lan Xichen. “...Lan Xichen, what are you doing?”

Lan Xichen gave a charming smile, “The fault was not with Jin Gongzi, I am also responsible for my mistakes. If you were to punish someone then I should be the first.”

Jiang Cheng tried to digest the conversation they were having and the current position they were in. His facial expression twisted into a knot, “...Lan Xichen, put me down.”

Lan Xichen did not respond, the inhumane strength inherited by every Lan in the Lan family helped Lan Xichen carry Jiang Cheng steadily back toward the room. Unable to escape, Jiang Cheng was so angry he began voicing his protests. “Lan Xichen! You really think I won't do anything to you?!”

“I’ve very scared, but I will bare your anger and punishment.” Lan Xichen did not hide, nor did he try to. Smiling a little meekly towards Jiang Cheng. He even had the time to deliver a look at Jin Ling, “Jin Gongzi, it is getting late. Let’s hurry back to Jingling Tai shall we?”

 

TBC.

Notes:

Original Author's Note:

"Stepping on your forehead ribbon and failing in front of your nephew, JC your so cute!"

"Don't hit me don't hit me! I'm not making people emo on purpose"