Chapter Text
The moment Lan Wangji realized his surroundings had been swallowed by a strange, drifting mist, he knew something was amiss.
Bichen was taken out from its hilt, and the frosty glare of the blade soon illuminated an area with a sizable radius from his standing. His face was cast partly in shadow. The light-colored eyes flickered slowly, observing each direction.
Aside from his own breath, he could hear no more noise.
Somehow, the sound of his heartbeat seemed to be unnaturally amplified. Thumping, sometimes rhythmically, at times chaotically fast. If he immersed himself more closely, there's a strange rhythm in itself, luring him somewhere.
It felt as if he were in a tightly enclosed space.
If he shut his eyes, he had the illusion that he could even hear the gurgling of his blood running through his veins.
Right...What Wei Wuxian said earlier crossed his mind. It gave him the feeling of being trapped underwater.
A faint crease formed between his brows. This was incomprehensible. He didn't sense any formation beforehand. It was impossible for him to trigger any array without noticing it. It wasn't arrogance. Lan Wangji simply understood the extent of his ability.
Knowing oneself, thus understanding your enemy.
Recognizing how capable you were, thus knowing what kind of situation you could handle or were unable to. Lan Wangji's eyes became clear. What Wei Wuxian said, "being underwater", once again echoed through his mind.
He stepped forward. There was no need to deliberate over direction. From the moment they descended into the cliff, they had already stepped into another domain.
No wonder they couldn't sense anything.
They were already within it.
To put it simply, you wouldn't sense the wetness of water when you're already diving underwater. The three of them could detect no abnormalities—because the entire space itself was abnormal.
He did not know how long he had walked, nor how far. At some point, Lan Wangji halted. Before him stretched a vast expanse of dense white mist. Even the light cast by Bichen could not pierce through it.
He watched as the mist slowly swirled and stirred in abstract forms.
It looked somewhat like the manifestation of the curling of clouds in the GusuLan moire emblem.
Gradually, the mist began to recede.
Or perhaps it was Lan Wangji who had unknowingly been pulled into the whirlpool, whatever it was, but he could finally see what lay beyond.
It was him.
Lan Wangji stared at the person standing opposite.
It was Lan Wangji.
"Why aren't you speaking?"
He looked calmly at the figure before him—another 'Lan Wangji'.
“Oh.” The other’s lips curved into a faint smile. “So you understand, you are within an illusion. You are correct. I am your illusion.”
The person in front of him bluntly admitted his identity, but Lan Wangji remained scrutinizing him in silence.
'Lan Wangji' similarly did not seem in any hurry either. After a moment, he spoke again, “Have you finished observing?”
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. As though unafraid of being struck down, he turned his body slightly, until the two stood side by side. Raising a hand, 'Lan Wangji' summoned another swirl of mist. It gathered and condensed, forming a mirror before them—within it, Lan Wangji’s reflection stood, Bichen held in hand.
Lan Wangji cast a glance at his side. As if reading his thoughts, the illusion said, “I am but an illusion. I exist within your mind. Only you have a reflection.”
The mirror in front of him looked especially clear.
It didn't look like Lan Wangji was seeing his reflection; rather, it was as if three identical figures had converged into one place. Were someone faint-hearted to stand here, they would surely feel unease, fearing that even the slightest movement might not be mirrored in return.
Lan Wangji narrowed his eyes. "Kunlun Mirror."
The illusion nodded. "So you know of it."
Lan Wangji paused for a moment before speaking, "A few months ago, during our work in the Library Pavilion, Wei Ying found a miscellaneous book that appears more like unserious lore, quite unlike the style of books characteristically stored in the Lan Clan. The book tells various tales about the Immortal Land. The tale about Monkey King, Jade Emperor, Peach Banquet in the fairyland, and many others. The legend of Kunlun Mirror is also included in the strange tales about the Heavenly Realm."
"It indeed is Hanguang-Jun." The illusion smiled faintly. "Calm and perceptive as ever."
Lan Wangji's expression remained placid.
"Kunlun Mirror," The Illusion continued, "a mirror said to reveal the true nature of one’s heart and soul. Those who gaze into it will see their deepest desires, their fears, and their aspirations laid bare."
"...Lan Wangji, Lan Zhan, Hanguang-Jun,"
'Lan Wangji' stared at the reflection in front. "What lies within your heart...tell me."
There were several countermeasures when one had to unfortunately fall into an illusion.
Keep your mind clear. In case the illusion had the function of detecting one's heart, it'd be tricky. But if someone were to have a clear conscience or a firm resolution, only then would they be less affected.
Lan Wangji understood he wasn't a Buddha who had attained the ultimate bliss and was ready to soar into the Ninth Heaven. So long as humans remained as Humans, they're not exempt from 7 Emotions and 6 Desires. The difference lay only in whether one could face them with clarity and acceptance.
To gaze into the Kunlun Mirror was to see one’s true self.
In a way, it's even beneficial to temper one's heart and soul, strengthening their spiritual consciousness further.
Lan Wangji was not afraid of it.
Gazing into the Kunlun Mirror reveals one's deepest desires, fears, and aspirations.
Gazing into the Kunlun Mirror reveals one's deepest desires,
...one's deepest fears,
...one's deepest aspirations,
Lan Wangji was aware of what his desires were.
He acknowledged it.
Lan Wangji understood what his aspirations were.
He had been walking and living on this path.
Lan Wangji knew his fears.
Fears,
What were his fears?
The reflection opposite distorted into something else.
The moment it stopped, the pair of glassy eyes trembled, looking at the brown-colored eyes opposite.
His fears,
It smiled warmly at him.
The mouth of the reflection in front parted slightly; no sound was heard, but it said, "Wangji."
It was Lan Xichen.
The illusion smirked triumphantly when the reflection started to deform.
"Here it comes! Look, here it is!"
As the image within the mirror shifted and revealed what lay beneath, the illusion fell momentarily still—before bursting into loud, unrestrained laughter.
Laughing so gleefully that it rolled around on the floor with its facial muscles twitching.
Wearing the shell of 'Lan Wangji', the scene was particularly uncanny.
"Aahahahahahhahh—! Your fear! Your fear, Lan Wangji, look well at what you fear! Hahaha—!"
Lan Wangji himself stood frozen.
For the first time, he could not react.
His pupils were erratic, and his lips quivered.
Why...?
Why was it his elder brother?
What was he supposed to fear...in Lan Xichen?
As if knowing what Lan Wangji was battling in his mind, the reflection spoke —its voice came from every direction, filling the entire space, ringing directly into his mind —
"Wangji...are you afraid of me?"
Lan Wangji parted his mouth, wanting to say, 'I am not.'
"Then, do you hate me?"
'I am not.'
The reflection smiled deeply. "You are not. But you are afraid of being afraid of me."
The glassy-like pupils dilated. 'I am...What?'
At 6 years old, losing your Mother gave you a huge sense of loss.
Yet, looking at your Xiongzhang, barely three years older than you, he did not seem nearly as shaken.
You are afraid of him.
"I did not."
You are afraid that your family deems you as not as good as him.
"I..."
As you grew, the world praised you both as the Twin Jades of Lan, the pride of the clan.
Yet each time you looked at him, you were afraid of him.
"I have never."
Afraid that you were merely the lesser jade.
Afraid that the Double Jades wasn't about the twin, but about the First and Second Jade.
And that you would always be the lesser one.
Lan Wangji pursed his lip in a thin line.
He understood that the illusion tried to instill bitterness and stir his emotions.
More genial than you, pleasant to look at.
More adept with words,
easier to approach.
Have more reputation than you,
being respected by everyone.
He doesn't have to do anything, and the title Zewu-Jun has been bestowed to embellish his grace.
But you, as a second child, will never have a title unless you make a name for yourself.
Do you not resent him?
"I have never."
Even the one you hold dearest in your heart… comes to favor him more than you.
Are you certain you do not resent him?
"...He deserves it."
Yes. He deserves it.
Because in every regard, he is better than you.
It does not take months or years—only a few days, and your beloved is already leaning close to him, smiling as though they had always been so.
The grip on Bichen unconsciously became tighter, turning the knuckles ghastly white.
How pitiful.
Everyone said it was the Double Jades.
But you are just the lesser Jade.
Destined to never be chosen over the better one.
Lan Wangji's breath hitched. "Wei Ying would not..." He heard himself speaking in a cracked voice.
The reflection smiled—gentle, yet merciless. "Wei Ying would never...what?"
"Never overlook you? Never abandon Lan Xichen for your sake?"
It parted its mouth and enunciated the words slowly, "...Over the lesser Jade?"
OoooooooNggg.
OooonNg.
Ooong.
It was getting closer.
The moment Wei Wuxian turned at a fork in the path, he heard the final echo of that strange howl.
There was no one in sight.
Wei Wuxian bit his fingertip, tracing incomprehensible runes without looking at them on his palm, and proceeded to smack it on the ground below.
In the next instant, a ring of fire burst forth from the earth, flames surging nearly two meters high. The surrounding darkness was driven back at once. The entire area was bathed in light.
He strolled about leisurely, his gaze sweeping across the terrain. It soon settled upon the protruding stones scattered on the ground. He took a closer look, observing them closely one by one, almost looking like a Gecko, hugging and crawling from one stone to another, and continued to do the same to the cliff wall.
After completing his peculiar inspection, he suddenly laughed and struck the nearest rock with his palm.
As expected, not long after, another howl was heard.
Right from the small cracks on the stones and the cliff wall.
"Alas....And here I am, getting all excited. It turns out there's nothing but Nature phenomenon here." Wei Wuxian sighed, lamenting his bad luck.
If there were anyone in this world capable of compiling a treatise on the classification of “howls,” perhaps only Wei Wuxian could do it.
The young man had a Perfect Pitch. He was able to recognize, memorize, and replay the music notes he heard just once perfectly. More than that, another trait of Wei Wuxian was that he could hear things other Cultivators couldn't hear.
Just like the QingheNie Burial Ground rang endlessly with howling in his ears if he were to come there, the Burial Mound too, was such a place.
Even Worse than that.
During those three months he spent in Burial Mound, Wei Wuxian had heard countless howls, enough to form his own understanding of their distinctions.
Earlier, when he, Lan Xichen, and Lan Wangji first heard the howling, Wei Wuxian had already discerned its nature. It did not belong to any human or living creature. If anything, the howl didn't have any emotion to convey.
The moment he realized this, the truth behind both the howling and the poisoning—became clear.
Kunlun Mountain Range was rather famous for its Hot Springs.
Beneath the earth, molten rock ran close to underground water sources, warming them.
Where there was heat, water would emit vapor—Gas. Those gases traveled through the cracks of stone beds underneath the Earth, building pressure as they moved. When they finally escaped through narrow openings, they surged outward in force, producing that eerie howling sound within the confined space of the gorge.
In the end, those mysterious cries were nothing more than a natural occurrence.
Once again, Wei Wuxian had to let out a long regretful sigh. The dignified Brother Wei had already rolled his sleeve and prepared his flute. As a result, there's no enemy in sight!
Where's the fearsome enemy!
Where's the life and death battle!
Where's the war!
Having come all this way, he felt like a Dragon who, unfortunately, fell in shallow water, unable to show its majesty—or a Tiger in a flat land, unable to spread its roar resounding everywhere from the mountaintop.
He breathed out another sigh and turned his heels to walk somewhere else.
Now, it's time to find our Hanguang-Jun.
...Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji.
Look at you.
Look at how shameless you are.
No.
Look at how pitiful the joke you have made out of yourself.
Lan Wangji clenched his fist tightly.
In that instant, Bichen flared with an unexpected brilliance, its glow surging far brighter than before.
Lan Wangji seemed momentarily startled. His hand moved to press against his Dantian, his expression turning distant, as though his thoughts had been drawn elsewhere.
Gradually, the sword’s radiance dimmed.
It was as if that sudden burst of light had drained the spiritual energy from his body all at once.
The Reflection noticed his strangeness but didn't think too much of it, assuming that Lan Wangji should have been caught off guard by its words.
You know it, don't you?
You're aware of it, aren't you?
It is futile.
What you are doing now looks like a farce.
You are the joke.
The thin veins inside those light-colored eyes flared bit by bit.
The lines crept across the eyeball, coloring it with reds.
It looked like they were about to burst with blood.
It was Wei Wuxian who wished for Lan Xichen to go with him.
It was Lan Xichen whom he wished to go with.
So what are you doing here?
Shamelessly barging into the world of two lovers?
What are you aiming to do?
What do you gain from doing it?
Do you think...your presence will be welcomed?
You know it yourself, don't you?
How embarrassing.
Forcefully including yourself in an event you're not invited to.
The reflection smiled softly.
"Wangji. What do you think Wei-Gongzi will think of you?"
Its mouth parted slowly.
"A nuisance."
"How annoying."
"Lan Wangji, that is what you are."
It was the last straw.
Bichen slipped from his grasp and fell with a sharp clang.
Lan Wangji’s knees buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, his figure crumpling in silence.
The reflection’s lips stretched into a wide smile as it reached out, its hand drawing closer—closer still—
Just a little more, and it would reach Lan Wangji on the ground,
"Alright. That's enough." A smiling voice was heard.
The reflection froze.
A hand seized its wrist and yanked it forward with force.
It looked up—and its face turned ashen at the sight of the person it least wanted to meet.
"Wei Wuxian!! Why are you here?!" It abandoned all the calmness it had before and shrieked in a high pitch.
Wei Wuxian grinned. "What's the matter? Can't I be here? I shouldn't be here? Why not? Hmm? Why don't you tell me?"
The reflection of Kunlun Mirror let out an even sharper scream as the blood from Wei Wuxian’s palm smeared across it.
"Ahhhhh—! My body! My pure body!!"
On the contrary, Wei Wuxian’s eyes lit up with delight. "Ah, now this—this is what I call a howl with emotion."
The reflection howled even louder.
The sound was even more heartbreaking compared to what Brother Bai had earlier.
"Damn you! Damn you!! Damn you!!! You Filthy human!!!"
Wei Wuxian sighed similarly heartbreakingly. "Three handsome young masters come all this way, yet you refuse to meet me. Isn’t that a bit discriminatory?"
"Who would ever want to meet you?!"
It was a consciousness born from a prehistoric artifact, the Kunlun Mirror.
Long ago, it was just a mirror with no consciousness. A Divine mirror capable of revealing the true nature of one’s heart. However, countless people had entered its domain. For hundreds of years, thousands of years.
Countless people with various hearts came. There were more and more emotions that it perceived. Their emotions lingered, their desires seeped into it.
Placed within the geomantic location in the spiritual Kunlun Mountain range, it finally formed its own consciousness.
However, the moment an Artifact gained consciousness and started to have independent thinking, it meant they would also be subjected to emotions.
Desires. Selfishness. The Kunlun Mirror was no exception.
What did it desire?
After gaining consciousness, naturally, it was to manifest. Gaining a vessel. Having its own body.
The Mirror itself was its body, but the consciousness didn't feel satisfied. Because no matter what, inanimate objects would have far greater difficulty in Cultivation. Among all beings, humans were the most suited for spiritual refinement.
Thus began its long search—for a vessel worthy enough.
Years passed, yet none who fell into this gorge met its standards.
As a Divine Artifact, it was rather picky. Some humans weren't good-looking enough. Their aptitude wasn't adequate to reach a higher Cultivation Stage. In short, the humans who came here had always been either crooked melons or cracked dates! Unsatisfactory.
Until Lan ShuangBi came.
Yet again, regrettably, they came along with a damn Human!
Now this damn human had yanked it out and energetically smothered its body all over with the bloody runes.
Its body sizzled, and it howled in agony.
Kunlun Mirror was a Divine Artifact. Its alignment was a pure Being. A consciousness born from the Artifact was holy in essence.
If the consciousness was tainted with resentful energy, it'd lose its connection with the Divine Artifact. Without that connection, it would lose its power source...and perish.
From the moment Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian had entered this domain, it had avoided Wei Wuxian like a plague.
No, in fact, this person was indeed like a Plague God! His soul was thoroughly soaked, highly concentrated with resentful energy. In conclusion, it's the natural nemesis of Divine Consciousness!
"Curse you! Damned human!! How did you know I'm the Kunlun Mirror?!"
Wei Wuxian raised a brow. "Oh? So you're the Kunlun Mirror."
It stopped its screech. "You didn't know!?"
Wei Wuxian, "Hmm? I didn't know. I only knew something was stirring up troubles here behind the scenes, and it's most likely something in Divine alignment, since I should definitely sense it no matter what if it's something related to Evil."
Kunlun Mirror, "..."
It hated this damned human even more!
"Ahhhhh—! Filthy human! Let go of me, I'll tell you something, I'll give you immortality! Don't you want to get a new Golden Core? Don't you want to cultivate like you used to be? I can grant your wishes!"
Wei Wuxian paused for a moment.
In another second, his smile deepened, and his grip became tighter instead.
"No, thank you. If I get a Golden Core from you, I won't be able to sleep. Who knows what you might do to tamper with it?"
The Kunlun Mirror was rendered speechless.
Wei Wuxian tilted his head, looking at it with interest. "This is actually incredible. A spirit born from Kunlun Mirror? I'm actually rather interested to know you better."
The next moment, his lips were still curled in a smile, but there wasn't any smile in his eyes.
"...If only you hadn’t set your sights on Zewu-Jun and Lan Zhan as vessels."
His other hand moved swiftly, about to land the finishing blow, but the Kunlun Mirror struggled desperately,
"Human!! You're so stupid! Running over here in haste instead of saving your spouse, hahahahahaha! Don't think that you're smart! I have split my consciousness into two."
It smirked evilly, somehow forgetting its alignment as the consciousness of a Divine Artifact.
"...You've made your choice. Since you run here to save Lan Wangji, you won't be able to save Lan Xichen there, ahahahahahahahhahahahahaha!"
Wei Wuxian slapped it to death without hesitation.
"Noisy." He said blankly. "It's because you're laughing too much like a Villain that you're defeated in your match. Fool."
".................Zhan?"
"Lan Zhan?"
"Can you hear me, Lan Zhan?"
Lan Wangji heard a voice calling to him.
His eyelids trembled. The darkness receded from his vision. His eyes had been wide open all this while, but it felt as though only now had he truly awakened.
Wei Wuxian examined him closely.
"...Wei Ying?"
"It's me!" Wei Wuxian beamed cheerfully. "Good—so you’re back, Lan Zhan. Tell me, how much is this?" He raised two fingers before him.
Lan Wangji, "..."
"What, you can't answer? Don't know the answer? Still not clear-headed?"
Lan Wangji replied blankly, "It is two."
Wei Wuxian smiled in satisfaction and praised him vigorously, "That's correct! As expected of Hanguang-Jun! You can answer accurately."
Lan Wangji laughed quietly.
Wei Wuxian's expression turned serious this time. "How are you feeling? Anything out of place? Can you circulate your Spiritual Energy properly? Do you feel something amiss with your body?"
"Nothing."
"Don't hide anything." Wei Wuxian reached forward. "Come, give me your hands, let me check your pulse."
Lan Wangji extended his hand, Wei Wuxian took it, only to be caught off guard as the hand turned, seizing his wrist instead. With a sudden pull, he was drawn forward, stumbling straight into Lan Wangji’s arms.
The next moment, Wei Wuxian felt both of Lan Wangji’s arms wrapped tightly around his back and waist, firmly enclosing him in an embrace.
A fleeting touch, light as a butterfly, brushed against his lips.
"...Lan Zhan?"
The sound of utter surprise.
The bewildered face.
Of course, Wei Wuxian didn't understand.
No matter how much he tried, those feelings had never been properly conveyed.
Lan Wangji suddenly laughed bitterly.
Tears couldn't stop streaming down his cheeks, drenching his face in a rare loss of composure.
His chest tightened painfully, as if something within had been twisted out of place. The ache spread from his heart to his ribs, up to the base of his throat.
He felt an overwhelming sorrow.
His voice cracked, sounding more like a painful croak, "Wei Ying...you once asked me to sing for you in Muxi Mountain. The song I sang back then, it has a name."
He took a deep breath and said, "...It is WangXian."
Look.
I have loved you since long, long ago, since way back then.
My heart delights you.
It has always been.
Do you understand?
That's why,
"...Wei Ying," Lan Wangji's voice was very faint, almost unheard.
"...If I asked you… to leave Xiongzhang behind, and elope with me…would you come?"
Wei Wuxian, "...Huh?"
Won't you choose me over the other Jade?
Lan Xichen retracted a few steps backward.
Upon a slight corner, he spun around and completely hid himself in the darkness.
His body noiselessly slid down from where he stood until he sat upon the ground. Just as Lan Wangji was ungracefully crying there, he, too, rumpled on the cold, dirt-laden ground, likewise, ungracefully.
The keen sense of a Cultivator allowed him to faintly catch the voices drifting from afar.
"...Don't cry, Lan Zhan. My heart can't bear it."
"Wei Ying...?"
"I like it."
"You...like...?"
"The name of the song—it's beautiful. I really like it."
The person seemed to be smiling as he spoke, "I remember the melody. But I can't remember clearly how you sang it. Next time...won't you sing it for me? Sing it properly so I can hear you."
"...Mn."
A long stretch of silence followed.
Or perhaps they simply had nothing more to say.
Or perhaps… they no longer needed words.
Lan Xichen did not know. Nor had he gathered the courage to confirm it with his own eyes.
The next moment, he heard them speaking again, it was Wei Wuxian, finally saying, "Let's find Zewu-Jun first and leave this place."
"...Mnn."
Lan Xichen clenched his fist tightly.
He looked down, and his palm slowly unraveled, showing a cracked jade pendant.
A beautifully made Jade pendant.
"This pendant mimics a defensive treasure from our Sect's treasure pavilion. It is directly connected to Wangji’s cultivation. If someday, if you were in a bind, this pendant could withstand a blow with the same level of Wangji's cultivation..."
As long as Lan Wangji is alive,
It would be as though he were always there, standing at Wei Wuxian’s side, shielding him from harm....
Earlier, Lan Xichen had remarked that he had learned to be sneaky from Wei Wuxian—slipping a talisman onto the impostor’s sash when it clung to him in feigned intimacy.
But Wei Wuxian… had done the very same, even way earlier.
Without Lan Xichen even noticing it.
Wei Wuxian had sneakily slipped this Jade Pendant over his chest when the young man pretended to tremblingly hug him in fear, as they had heard the howling sound at first.
Wei Wuxian decided to go and find Lan Wangji first before Lan Xichen because he had put this Life-Saving measure on him.
A treasure that, in the end, saved him from being forcefully seized by the consciousness of the Kunlun Mirror.
The Jade Pendant was Lan Wangji's token of devotion.
It had been meant to protect Wei Wuxian with his life.
Yet in that uncertain circumstance, Wei Wuxian had not hesitated to place it upon Lan Xichen instead.
Perhaps Wei Wuxian was not aware of Lan Wangji's love for him, but he should have understood his care.
Obviously, having this Jade Pendant meant Wei Wuxian could have more assurance of his safety.
And Yet,
Having already grasped the nature of the situation the moment he heard that emotionless howl, Wei Wuxian knew he would be fine on his own.
So instead, he chose otherwise.
He thought that the jade pendant… would serve better if it were placed upon Lan Xichen.
Lan Xichen closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
As for Lan Wangji...
The moment he faced the illusion from the Kunlun Mirror, he should have understood—Wei Wuxian, whose path stood opposed to a Divine artifact, would not be easily harmed.
He should also have felt it—the continuous draining of Spiritual Energy from his cultivation base, as the Jade Pendant exerted its full strength to resist the layers of arrays and traps.
At that moment, he ought to have realized that Wei Wuxian had given the Jade Pendant to Lan Xichen at some point.
He could have severed the connection.
He could have let Lan Xichen’s soul be annihilated—his body overtaken by the consciousness of the Kunlun Mirror.
If Lan Xichen were gone, he would have had reason—justification—to pursue Wei Wuxian without restraint.
Yet he didn't break the connection.
Again and again, he allowed the Jade Pendant to draw upon his own spiritual power.
To the point that Lan Wangji himself was about to be overwhelmed by the illusion.
Lan Wangji loved Wei Wuxian deeply.
Wished for his beloved to choose him and be his.
But his love is not something that could be built upon the death of a family member.
And Wei Wuxian, too, was never one who clings to material obsession, such as the Jade Pendant,
nor was he someone who would choose to protect only himself out of selfishness.
because he knew...
If anything were to happen to Lan Xichen, when it could have been prevented—Lan Wangji would grieve.
Lan Xichen covered his face with his free arm.
'Ahh....these two...'
How could he ever resent Lan Wangji?
It was impossible to cry in indignation toward Wei Wuxian either.