Chapter Text
Lan Wangji was on patrol duty when he caught sight of a white shadowy figure jumping up the outer wall of Cloud Recesses with two white jars in their hand. With all the grace of a Lan, he jumps up behind the figure and watches as they stop, sensing a presence behind them.
The figure turns and the first thing that Lan Wangji catches sight of is a smile so radiant that the sun might shy away when pitched against it in a competition. The pink plump lips. Focus. The next thing he notices are silver eyes filled with amusement and a slight sense of glee, which Lan Wangji cannot put a finger on. Why would an intruder be happy on being caught?
Fortunately, before he can unsheathe Bichen, Lan Wangji manages to break away from the eyes and finally notice the guest disciple robes the figure is wearing and the lack of any kind of sect sigils on them. He has a slender sword by his waist in a dark sheath. Is he a rogue cultivator? He promptly feels anger rising at both the confusion this awfully radiant boy has invoked in him and the audacity! THE AUDACITY! To break 3 rules in a few minutes and still being so awfully radiant!
“Breaking curfew is against the rules. Entering after 7 is forbidden in Cloud Recesses.”
The figure -the boy- lit up (as if it was even possible to light up more) and made a quick bow, and with the radiant smile still in place replied “Forgive this one for his impudence, Lan-er-gongzi, I was in quite a hurry just now and didn’t notice you. As for the breaking of curfew, this one apologizes and will keep in mind to heed it from now onwards. Surely, Gusu Lan will be most gracious in forgiving this one only this once.”
The stranger flashed him a bright grin and made to bow again in apology. Lan Wangji had never seen someone so frustrating in his life! The way even his words contained laughter! Outrageous!
“What do you have in your hands?”
“Oh, it’s Emperor’s smile! When in Gusu, how can one miss the best it has to offer? Would you like one?” the frustrating boy offered.
“Bribing an official on duty is forbidden. Alcohol is forbidden. Breaking wards is punishable. Report for your punishment”
“Ah! Lan er-gongzi! Can’t you just forgive this one this once?”
It was truly infuriating how the boy could keep speaking on and on!
“No”
The boy’s lips formed into a little pout which Wangji wanted to wipe aw- Focus!
“Truly Lan er-gongzi, you are so righteous! This one is Wei Ying, Courtesy Wuxian, a rogue cultivator. Can you just give me a few minutes before turning me in for punishment? I will gladly follow you after!”
At a loss for words Lan Wangji could only stare at the figure as he jumped outside the compound and then came back up after a few moments with empty hands. At his puzzled expression (which Lan Wangji doesn’t know how the boy read) he explains, “Ah! You see, I couldn't keep the alcohol so I just put it outside so I can drink it there later!”
“Ridiculous!”
At this the boy just laughed and oh heavens above! Did that laugh just make him more infuriating! Focus!
“Follow”
They made their way towards Hanshi where his brother and uncle were having some last-minute discussions about the guest lectures for this year.
He knocked on the door and made his way into the study where his brother and uncle were sitting around a small table with tea and some stacks of paper after granted permission. He bowed to both, “Shufu, Xiongzhang. This disciple was breaking curfew.” He debated on whether to add the alcohol to the list of offences too but decided against it as the alcohol technically was not present inside the Cloud Recesses now.
“This one greets Lan-laoshi and Zewu-jun. This one is Wei ying, courtesy Wuxian, son of Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze.”
Shufu made a sound at the introduction which sounded somewhere between frustration and resignation. Lan Wangji related to at least one of them when faced with the boy. Xiongzhang had an amused smile on his face. “Greetings Wei Sanren, glad to know you reached cloud recess safely. However, it would have been better if no rules were broken in the process.”
“This one apologizes Zewu-jun, I seemed to have lost track of time and hurried here as fast as I could to not to miss classes . I will make sure to abide by the rules in future.”
Shufu seemed a bit skeptical at that, “5 copies of the conduct as the punishment for breaking rules. See to it being completed in a week, Wangji.”
Lan Wangji nodded and left with a last bow and greetings and showed Wei Wuxian to his guest quarters as directed by his brother.
He then moved to go back to Jingshi, contemplating the frustrating, infuriating, ridiculous, rambunctious and devastatingly annoying boy he just left behind on the way. At the end, he shook his head once and prepared to go to bed and pray to heavens that he will be able to uphold the percepts and rules of his sect for the oncoming days of guest lectures.
Next morning, he roused at his usual time and made way to his brother’s quarters before the time for disciples’ classes. His oh so ever-understanding brother smiles at him and invites him inside for tea. He sits himself down, wringing his hands. Lan Xichen looks at him and the slight tightness at the corner of his eyes or the small downturn of his lips and huffs out an amused sigh.
“xiongzhang”
“Yes, Wangji?”
“Why?”
“Why?”
“A rogue cultivator.”
“Hm. Wei Wuxian is an asset wangji. He is a brilliant cultivator. I met him a few months ago on a night hunt. We haven’t had a rogue cultivator in years. It might be good to have some changes once in a while. Perhaps he will make a good friend to you too.”
“Ridiculous”
Why would his brother think that he could be friends with such a menace! Such an unruly boy! He doesn’t want to be friends with him. His brother doesn't feel so understanding anymore.