Chapter Text
The next day, Lan Xichen opened the door of his Hanshi to someone's visit. Early in the morning. Even the Sun hadn't risen properly from the eastern horizon.
"Wangji?" He looked at the early visitor in surprise.
Lan Wangji nodded. "Xiongzhang."
Lan Xichen turned and led him inside. "Come in first. What brings you here so early?"
His younger brother followed him and replied, "Xiongzhang said yesterday, to let Wei Ying join me in arranging the Library Pavilion."
"...I did say that," Lan Xichen looked at him hesitantly. "But...Must you come to fetch him this early in the morning?"
Lan Wangji pursed his lips and stared at the wooden floor for a while, unable to answer.
"It is not like I disagree with your early arrival," Lan Xichen hurriedly clarified, "It is just...Wei-Gongzi has yet to wake up. It will be difficult if you require him to start early."
Lan Wangji heard his words and raised his head in a flash. "Why hasn't Wei Ying woken up yet?"
Seeing the accusatory look in his younger brother’s eyes—as if silently asking what else did you do to him—Lan Xichen suddenly felt the urgent need to defend himself.
"Nothing happened to him." He said quickly. "He just stayed up rather late, busy drawing the blueprint for a tool he wanted to make. I tried to wake him up at Maoshi, but he could not bring himself to get up...until now."
A strange sense of relief spread through Lan Wangji’s chest.
"Mn." He responded.
After a moment, he asked again, “What kind of tool did he want to make?”
"Last night, Wei-Gongzi said..." Lan Xichen's voice trailed off.
Looking back at what happened last night, it actually went like this:
The two of them had been eating dinner in the Hanshi when Wei Wuxian suddenly exclaimed in pleasant surprise after sipping the fish soup. "Mmhh!"
Lan Xichen looked up and asked him with concern, "What's wrong?"
Wei Wuxian shook his head. "Nothing. I just didn’t expect the food in the Cloud Recesses to have improved. This fish soup is well-seasoned!"
"I did tell the Cooks to prepare it in Hunan-style flavor." Lan Xichen smiled. "The cooks here usually make lightly seasoned dishes for the residents’ palate, but they are professionals nonetheless. They can adjust to other tastes if necessary."
"I see. That makes sense." Wei Wuxian nodded in understanding. "I will have to thank the nice Sisters there for the delicious food when I get the chance!"
Lan Xichen raised his brow. "Nice sisters?"
Some Cooks in the GusuLan Sect's kitchen were indeed females...though most were middle-aged.
Wei Wuxian grinned. "Of course! All women want to be regarded as Sisters forever. Don't you know that, Zewu-Jun?"
"...It is the first time I have heard of it."
As their meal was about to end, Wei Wuxian suddenly let out another pleased exclamation. “Hmhhh!”
Lan Xichen looked at him and smiled, asking gently, "What else this time?"
Wei Wuxian met his gaze, suddenly turning serious. “Zewu-Jun, you said before that if there’s something I want, I can tell you.”
"I did." Lan Xichen nodded in affirmation. "Have you thought of something? Tell me, I will see to it."
“Yes, please!” Wei Wuxian leaned forward slightly. “During this period, I’ve been thinking about creating some tools. The idea was already vaguely formed, but it lacked the finishing touches. Just now, I suddenly got inspiration on how to complete it.”
Lan Xichen grew curious. “Oh? What kind of tools do you want to make?”
Wei Wuxian waved his hand. "Rest assured, I'm not making any harmful devices. It's actually something that could be especially useful in nighthunting. Zewu-Jun, let me ask you, how did you resolve the Waterborne Abyss in Biling Lake back then?"
"That Waterborn Abyss..." Lan Xichen recalled for a moment. “It was difficult to handle. The lake had to be drained, and the basin exposed to sunlight for several years. Just calculating the manpower needed to eliminate the water ghouls, drain the lake, and supervise the purification process—it was already considerable.”
"I figured." Wei Wuxian knew that many resources would be required to handle a troublesome evil infestation like the Waterborne Abyss.
Lan Xichen also added, “That was only the direct loss to the Gusu Lan Sect. The indirect losses were also significant. As Wei-Gongzi knows, Biling Lake has always been central to the daily lives of Caiyi Town’s residents. Transportation, trade, livelihoods, and farming all depended on it. Draining the lake over several years greatly affected civilians. The Gusu Lan Sect had to expend many resources to mitigate the damage.”
Thinking about the past trouble caused by the Wen Clan, Lan Xichen couldn't help but sigh.
Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, suddenly curled his lip in a smirk. "Then, what if I'm telling you now, the tools I'm about to make, are things that not only can make you solve Waterborne Abyss in just a few days, but also cut down a huge portion of manpower and resources?"
Lan Xichen looked up in surprise. "There is such a thing?"
Wei Wuxian patted his chest proudly. "Of course there is! Leave it to Brother Wei!"
Lan Xichen chuckled at his jokes and asked, "Then, may I know how?"
"You've probably heard that during the war I created a Spirit-Attraction Flag, do you?" Wei Wuxian explained, "I plan to refine it—not only to attract Yin creatures, but also to control its range. For example, if your night hunt is at Biling Lake, you’d want to attract targets only from the lake and nowhere else. So the flag’s scope can be adjusted to several miles."
Lan Xichen had indeed heard of the flag. Wei Wuxian had often shared his knowledge generously. For instance, his explanation that only high-level evil entities devoured souls, while lower-level ones consumed flesh.
Even if some refused to acknowledge his contributions, his insights were undeniably used as a standard by the Cultivators during nighthunting.
The flag itself had also been used during the war against the Wen Clan of Qishan, which meant its reputation was often associated with bloodshed.
This was the first time Lan Xichen considered its practical use in a more constructive light.
Wei Wuxian continued to enthusiastically introduce about the tools he wanted to create,
"—And in addition, I’m thinking of creating an Evil Compass. It’s a tool that helps locate nearby evil entities! For example, when dealing with a Waterborne Abyss, you might use the flag to attract it elsewhere, but these things are cunning. They can hide and shift positions within the water."
Lan Xichen nodded, following his reasoning. “Indeed. If you place the flag rashly, you might attract the wrong entities instead.”
“Exactly!” Wei Wuxian clapped his hands. “That’s where the Evil Compass comes in—it shows you the location of the Waterborne Abyss. Then you can calculate the flag’s range precisely. Once you lure it to an unused body of water, you can resolve it quickly without wasting so many resources.”
“First locate the target, then attract only that specific target without inviting others,” Lan Xichen summarized, visibly impressed. “A flawless combination for night hunting… That is truly convenient.”
The word convenient carried far-reaching implications—from efficiency to reduced collateral damage—and its significance spoke for itself.
Lan Xichen immediately understood how useful the Flag and Compass would be.
They would literally save manpower, resources, and time.
As a Sect Leader, however, what he envisioned was not merely how to utilize the tools, but the impact they would have on the entire cultivation world—not only today, but in the decades to come.
Oftentimes, night hunts were delayed simply because cultivators needed time to locate their targets. They might spend days searching before even confronting the threat. This was manageable for cultivators from established sects who operated in groups, but for rogue cultivators who worked alone, night hunts were far more difficult.
Wei Wuxian’s tools would greatly aid their work. If their nighthunting efficiency increased, more Cases would be solved. More human lives would be saved in return.
It's even more impactful to Rogue Cultivators. Not every region had a cultivation clan overseeing it. Small towns and remote areas—such as Yi City in the western regions—often fell into blind spots. Incidents occurred, yet no one came to help.
Those regions where no Cultivation Sects resided became the place where Rogue Cultivators often wandered to make their earnings.
If their efficiency improved, more incidents in secluded zones would be resolved.
The more areas that could be managed, the more willing cultivators would be to venture into new regions.
And the more regions were explored, the more hidden resources might be discovered.
Let's not forget that one of GusuLan's potent forbidden techniques came from a newly found land back then, Dongying.
The larger the scope of the cultivation world became, the more prosperous the era would be.
It's such a vigorous cycle—The more you unravel, the more you'd get.
If properly promoted and popularized, Lan Xichen knew just how much impact these two tools could bring to cultivator society.
Lan Xichen couldn't help but look at Wei Wuxian with a strange gaze.
This person was indeed ridiculous—casually proposing ideas that could reshape the entire cultivation world. What a bold person.
Regardless, Lan Xichen suddenly said, "Wei-Gongzi, when you have finished these tools, may I, will you let GusuLan promote it to the Cultivation World?"
Wei Wuxian looked surprised. "Why, of course, you can! I'll be happy if you want to help me spread this out. Forget it, I'll even give you the blueprints!"
Lan Xichen hurriedly made his intention clear, "There is no need to go that far. Your manuscript is your private property, Wei-Gongzi."
"Hmmm, but these will be just my initial work? I will, in fact, upgrade the tools sooner or later. By then, these versions will already be outdated."
"...Is that so?" Lan Xichen smiled stiffly.
It was the first time he had heard of cultivation manuscripts becoming outdated!
“In that case,” Lan Xichen continued nonetheless, “when the time comes, the GusuLan Sect will arrange proper publicity to introduce your tools.”
In public relations, a lack of publicity and the wrong approach to promotion can cause an achievement not to receive the recognition it deserves.
In other words, Proper timing, proper methods, and proper presentation were all essential.
Lan Xichen’s considerations extended beyond merely popularizing the tools. As Sect Leader, his thoughts naturally turned to the clan’s interests. Wei Wuxian would become his spouse; thus, Lan Xichen also wished to safeguard his reputation. Promoting these inventions would enhance the young man's reputation.
At present, Wei Wuxian's reputation was known more for his ability to create bloodshed.
But Lan Xichen wanted the world to see more clearly. Wei Wuxian was not merely a weapon of war. His intellect could benefit all Three Societies—cultivation clans, rogue cultivators, and civilians alike.
So, here we come, Gusulan Public Relations (PR) Team!
When Wei Wuxian woke up at the late Chenshi (09.00), he was surprised to find Lan Wangji already in the Hanshi.
“Lan Zhan!” He moved toward him and plopped down beside him at the table.
Wei Wuxian often had a sloppy posture. When sitting, he was rarely able to keep his back straight and would always slouch at some point. This time was no different. Sitting crookedly next to Lan Wangji, propping his head with one hand on the low table, he peered sideways at him. “When did you come? Are you here to pick me up to work?”
Lan Wangji glanced back at him. "I came at the last hour of Maoshi."
Wei Wuxian's jaw dropped. "That early?!"
Lan Wangji, thinking that he should add a more convincing reason, said with a straight face, "It is better to start early and finish early."
Wei Wuxian, "...I know that. But still, that kind of hour..." He looked troubled but unable to voice any complaint.
Yesterday, he had promised to help things, but now he's squabbling over the time. Wouldn't that sound rather insincere?
Lan Xichen’s gaze fell on Wei Wuxian’s knee, which was slightly touching Lan Wangji’s.
He smiled and said, "Wei-Gongzi, helping Wangji is just something I offered to you so that you will not feel bored while I am away. It is absolutely not an obligation. Let alone a strict schedule—even if you suddenly wish to do something else halfway, you are free to leave and attend to it first."
Lan Wangji looked up and caught his older brother's gaze, seemingly wanting to say something, but then he closed his mouth.
On the other hand, Wei Wuxian immediately brightened. “Thank you, Zewu-Jun!”
Lan Xichen shook his head gently. "No need to thank me. That is only natural. Speaking of which, Wei-Gongzi, I have prepared your bath water and your change of clothes. You may get ready first."
He stood up and motioned to his younger brother to follow him, "Wangji and I will go out to give you privacy."
After the older brother said this, Lan Wangji had no choice but to stand and walk out.
Wei Wuxian, "??"
He wanted to say, 'I’ve bathed here many times already, and you never avoided anything. Why the sudden politeness?
The two brothers stood side by side in the simple garden among the bamboo groves. A small pond lay surrounded by jagged granite. The dark rocks contrasted with the grounds, which were laid with pure white pebbles arranged in wavy patterns.
Lan Wangji suddenly spoke, "Xiongzhang, is it appropriate for Wei Ying to stay in your Hanshi these days before your formal...union? Should you not arrange a temporary courtyard for him during this time?"
"Hmm?" Lan Xichen bent down, picking up a fallen bamboo leaf from the white pebbles. “It is fine. The marriage ceremony is not far away.”
“It is one month away,” Lan Wangji corrected strictly. “It is still long.”
Lan Xichen, "..."
“It is not good for his reputation,” Lan Wangji added softly.
Lan Xichen laughed. "You truly are...care so much about Wei-Gongzi's reputation, don't you?" His eyelids drooped slightly.
Lan Wangji pursed his lips.
"Well..." Lan Xichen sighed. "At first, I did not consider sending him elsewhere because he had just awakened from a coma. It is easier to look after his health if we share the same space."
"As for the other reason?" Lan Wangji pressed.
"The other would be..." Lan Xichen's words halted halfway through.
Recalling how they had been sleeping on the same bed these past days, he thought it was already too late to worry about propriety.
That being said,
Glancing furtively at his younger brother, Lan Xichen decided not to reveal this detail. Lan Wangji had already shown disapproval about sharing a residence before marriage, how would he react if he knew they even shared a bed? Even though nothing had happened.
He explained slowly, instead, “Wangji, this is Wei-Gongzi’s first time living in the Cloud Recesses aside from his guest-disciple period. In the future, this will be his home. I want him to feel closer, to help him feel that he belongs here.”
Hearing that the Cloud Recesses would also be Wei Ying's home in the future, Lan Wangji couldn't help but feel elated.
His joy was very clearly displayed on his face under Lan Xichen's observation.
Knowing that his younger brother was in a good mood, Lan Xichen continued, "——One of the ways to make someone comfortable is by offering companionship. If I place him in a separate courtyard now, Wei-Gongzi will inevitably feel lonely, considering his sociable nature. If his initial stay is uncomfortable, I fear it may affect his future impression of the Cloud Recesses…"
Lan Wangji lowered his gaze, it was unknown what he'd been thinking.
In the end, he acquiesced and said, "...Xiongzhang always knows what to do best."
"Ah?" Lan Xichen chuckled. "That is not true. Besides, another thing I have considered to make Wei-Gongzi feel more relaxed here is by letting him spend time with his acquaintance, in this case, it is you, Wangji. So I will leave this part to you. I hope the two of you can spend your time comfortably."
Lan Wangji's pupils dilated slightly.
He responded firmly afterward, "...Mn!"
At that moment, their attention was drawn back to the entrance of the Hanshi. The door slid open. From Within, Wei Wuxian sprang out in a high spirit.
"Zewu-Jun, did you two wait for long? Lan Zhan, I'm ready, let's go!"
There, Wei Wuxian, clad in the pristine white garments of GusuLan, was putting on similarly pure white boots to match his robes.
Though, rather than the 6-layered Hanfu, he merely put 3 layers of inner-middle-outer robes. Despite the silky fabric lending a more formal air, the habit of showing some skin on his chest still couldn't be erased. The set of uniforms was once again transformed from a solemn vibe into a romantic style by the wearer.
Lan Xichen walked over, automatically straightening his collar to cover more skin. He tightened the girdle at his waist as well. After adjusting him here and there, he finally seemed satisfied and patted his shoulder.
"There you go, Wei-Gongzi."
Wei Wuxian, "..."
Being fussed over like this in front of Lan Wangji was embarrassing.
He glanced sideways. Lan Wangji's gaze had flickered away just now. As though he was avoiding the sight.
Wei Wuxian thought in his mind, 'Lan Zhan couldn't be jealous, right...?'
Jealous that he, Wei Wuxian, had robbed him of an older brother?