"Xian-gege, tell me a story!"
He looked down at the large puppy-dog eyes.
"There once was a man named Lan An..."
One shichen had passed by the time Wei Wuxian was finally able to successfully teleport a twig safely from one piece of paper to the other. The papers had been placed quite far from each other. There were only a few more experiments to complete before he would attempt the teleport back to the Burial Mounds.
Firstly- short distance human teleportation. He placed the papers a few feet apart again, and stepped carefully onto one of them. He concentrated, and with a pop, he disappeared and reappeared on the other piece of paper. He cackled giddily at the success. Spiritual energy definitely made the task easier. He made a mental note of how he felt and his energy levels.
The next task was to attempt the teleport again with the defence arrays. He skipped away to set it up, laughing at the image of Lan Qiren skipping. Oh how he wished he had the time to do some more outlandish things while in this body!
Drunk with his success, he paid no heed to his surroundings. The moment he stepped onto his array, he heard a faint puffing sound behind him.
He froze. Turning slowly, he saw a small dog standing an arm's length from his array, tail wagging. He began to tremble. It's only a small dog, it can't hurt me...
It suddenly yipped, and he yelped in fright.
Then there was an explosion, and he knew no more.
"Do not tell lies. Do not flatter. Do not fear the strong... oh, it must be A-Yuan's nap time."
His head hurt. Why was he in pain? Wei Wuxian weakly reached a hand up to rub at his forehead.
"Wei Ying?"
He cracked open his eyes, sleepily gazing at the man seated by his bed, and smiled, "Lan Zhan..."
He felt like he was doused with a cold bucket of water, sitting up abruptly with the sudden realisation. They were in the room he woke up in that morning, assuming it was still the same day. He looked at his hands. That voice was not his own. He was still not in his body, which meant...
"My dear nephew Wangji, I am greatly appreciative of you fulfilling your filial duties and taking care of me in my time of need." He patted Lan Wangji's shoulder.
The Second Jade of Lan looked unimpressed.
"Uncle likes dogs."
"Ah yes, uncle sure does," Wei Wuxian said, feeling sweat soaking the back of his robes. Could the jade statue please stop staring at him?
"Young Master Wei, you do not need to be afraid. We will not harm you." Lan Xichen said, walking into the room.
"Young Master Wei? Who are you..." he saw the beast in Lan Xichen's arms and screamed in fear, lunging at Lan Wangji. It took Lan Wangji's considerable strength to not topple over from the tackle.
"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan Lan Zhan...!"
The puppy barked excitedly.
"Save me!"
Although discomfited by the stranglehold, Lan Wangji reached his arms up to encircle Wei Wuxian, patting his back soothingly when he felt the shivering.
Shocked by the intense reaction, Lan Xichen ordered a disciple to leave with the puppy, and Wei Wuxian calmed down immediately.
"I believe the puppy was attracted by your activities in the forest," Lan Xichen explained the presence of the puppy. The Sect Leader seemed startled at Wei Wuxian's lack of enthusiasm for the cute puppy. Wei Wuxian knew better though. It was a beast, a dangerous beast, with rows of sharp teeth and a mighty bark.
He sighed, relaxed now that the beast was gone. "Fine, I'm not Lan Qiren. I take it you followed me this morning? How did you know who I was?"
He was calmer and in no need of further comfort. Lan Wangji stepped back, seemingly reluctantly, "we suspected it. You confirmed it."
"Young Master Wei has certain... distinct mannerisms," Lan Xichen explained, eyeing his brother.
"Really? Such as...?"
Lan Xichen looked at Lan Wangji, who looked at Wei Wuxian with a pinched expression. Wei Wuxian stared at them. It seemed neither brother were willing to elaborate. He managed to bear the silence for a full minute before he continued speaking.
"Fine, keep your secrets," he huffed, crossing his arms with a pout.
They looked at him strangely. It must be the first time they had ever seen the dignified Lan Qiren act in this manner. He couldn't help smiling despite himself.
"How did this happen?" Lan Wangji said.
Wei Wuxian shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. Last night I was at the Burial Mounds, and this morning I woke up here like this. I'm guessing that Old Man Lan must be in my body back at the Burial Mounds. I need to go there."
Seeing his concern, neither reprimanded him for the casual way he referred to their uncle. Lan Xichen placed a hand on his shoulder. "Young Master Wei, you are going nowhere until our physician has examined you."
"But..."
"Time may be of the essence. However, we must be certain that no harm has come to our uncle's body," Lan Xichen said gently. "I expect you to keep your silence throughout the process."
As if on cue, a stern-looking Lan disciple entered. With a nod from Lan Xichen, the physician approached Wei Wuxian to examine him.
In recent years, Lan Qiren was better known as a scholar, but he had grown up an accomplished cultivator and had undergone rigorous physical training in his youth. He was physically able, but being a direct descendant of the Sect founder, he had never laboured in the fields.
There was a source of water a ways away from the main living and farming area of the Burial Mounds. He accompanied the Ghost General with empty buckets.
"Young Master Wei, are you really feeling alright?" Wen Ning asked for the fifth time that day.
Lan Qiren sighed. "I am fine, and the answer won't change just because you keep asking." He hoped that was a Wei-Wuxian-like answer.
The look that the Ghost General gave him was a blank one, but Lan Qiren could somehow still feel the apprehension emanating from the blank expression. Was exuding emotion a skill that fierce corpses obtained, in lieu of their lack of facial expressions?
"You are much quieter than usual," he commented.
"I am tired." That was the truth. What was wrong with Wei Wuxian's body? His hopes that the morning nourishment would rejuvenate him were dashed when the fatigue remained. He felt like he was dragging lead weights to the creek, rather than two empty buckets.
"And that was a very weird story that you told A-Yuan."
"I heard it when I studied at the Cloud Recesses." Reaching the creek, Lan Qiren knelt beside it and filled the buckets with water. He was surprised that there was a source of water on the Burial Mounds, but the water flowed swiftly and was clear enough to see the rocky depths. "Even living out here, I think it is important for him to know about the history of the outside world."
"Maybe he'll understand that story better when he's older." Lan Qiren had a feeling that Wen Ning had more to say but held back. Wen Ning filled four buckets, balancing two on each side of a long pole, and shouldering the weight effortlessly.
Lan Qiren bent to pick up his buckets, but he overestimated the strength of his current body and lost his balance. With a large splash, Lan Qiren landed full-body in the creek.
"Young Master Wei!"
Lan Qiren emerged from the creek, clothes entirely soaked through and shivering in the cold. If it wasn't for his Gusu Lan discipline, he would have shaken a fist to the skies and demanded to know why this was happening to him.
As a good Gusu Lan disciple, he merely waved off Wen Ning's worries, took a deep breath, and emerged from the creek. He trudged back to the fields, a heavy bucket in each hand, and heavy thoughts weighing down his mind.
The Twin Jades of Lan had to hold their 'uncle' back the moment he was deemed fit by the physician.
"Why are you holding me back?" Wei Wuxian demanded to know as soon as the physician left the room.
"Considering the results of your latest experiments, it'll be safer for uncle's body if you flew to the Burial Mounds. I will retrieve his sword for you, and Wangji will accompany you on your journey."
"I don't need a babysitter, Sect Leader Lan."
"It is for my own peace of mind," Lan Xichen said. "Wait here, I will be back shortly." Lan Xichen shot Lan Wangji a meaningful look, and left the two alone.
Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji, and in an authoritative tone, said, "Wangji, fetch me some food,"
"..."
Wei Wuxian smirked, "come on! Your uncle must not have had a good meal all day, we should take some food to him!"
"We can get some on departure."
"I think we'll also need some alcohol. It gets quite cold at the Burial Mounds, I think he'd appreciate something that can warm him up." He grinned, thinking he might be able to get his celebratory alcohol if he could command his 'nephew' to obtain some for him.
"Alcohol is forbidden."
"You are being very disrespectful to your elder."
"..."
Wei Wuxian put his hands on his hips and pouted, "Wangji-"
Lan Wangji seated himself at the table where they had breakfast that morning and closed his eyes in a meditative pose. Wei Wuxian sat opposite him, resting his elbows on the table, thinking of ways to get a reaction out of him. He thought fondly of those days in their youth, during his punishments in the Library Pavilion teasing Lan Wangji. Would Lan Wangji dare to tell him to 'get lost' while he wore his uncle's body?
As soon as Wen Qing saw the state 'Wei Wuxian' was in, she ordered him to dry off properly and change before getting sick.
"I told you to look after A-Yuan today, not go for a swim!" She pushed him none-too-gently into the cave. "Get changed, and then come and help me with the herbs. No physical work for you today!"
Glad though he was that Wei Wuxian had a change of clothes, he tried his best not to look at himself while he changed.
Changed into dry clothes, he exited the cave. There was a small patch of green in a corner, but most of the field was unforgiving. There were many Wen's in the field, ploughing, digging, watering. A small group of them were building more shelter or furniture.
The scene before him was humbling.
Wen Ning stumbled from one old Wen to the next, ploughing the hard soil, plucking the radishes from the ground with ease, or holding up the large wooden structures while the men tried to fit the pieces together into a new shelter.
Granny sat to the side with Wen Yuan's head on her lap, evidently still sleeping. Beside her was Wen Qing, carrying on a conversation with Granny while simultaneously sorting through some herbs. He approached the two ladies hesitantly. Granny was fine, but he was ashamed to admit that Wen Qing was kind of scary.
Granny nodded in greeting, and he bowed in return. Wen Qing thrust some paper and a brush into his hands, eyeing him oddly.
"Write this down: chrysanthemum, monkshood, cocklebur..."
He dipped his brush into an inkwell, and began writing. All cultivators had some knowledge of basic medicines, it was a requirement in their line of work. However, he questioned Wen Qing about some of the lesser known herbs and their uses. In teaching mode, she was extremely knowledgeable and a lot less scary. Her understanding of the broader uses of the plants was admirable, any sect would greatly benefit from this knowledge.
When he finished the list for Wen Qing, she went to discuss the purchase of more herbs with Wen Ning, leaving him alone with Granny and the still-sleeping Wen Yuan. They sat awkwardly for a moment, then Lan Qiren said, "Granny, I will go to help in the field." He dismissed himself.
Despite the exhaustion in his body and the ache in his bones, which still struck Lan Qiren as odd, he wanted to contribute. As a younger member of this community, he felt he should attempt the more physical tasks in the field. He acquired a hoe that was left on the fields.
A cultivator was physically fit. Digging up dirt with a hoe should be no problem.
He lifted the hoe high above his head, and it felt like lightning struck his back. He was paralysed with pain, and began to panic.
"Young Master Wei?" Uncle Four was immediately next to him, concern in his voice.
"Help me..." he whispered.
Although Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji knew who he was, they insisted he avoid the other Gusu Lan disciples on their way out of the Cloud Recesses. Apparently, they didn't trust him to remain in-character in the presence of others. Pfft, he was a great actor! He'd only need to glare at the disciples and threaten punishment to be in-character!
So Sect Leader Lan snuck him out of his own sect like a thief in the night, while Lan Wangji separated briefly from them to meet them again outside.
At the foot of the steps leading to Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji bowed in farewell to Lan Xichen.
"Take care, Wangji, Young Master Wei. Alert me immediately if you require any extra assistance," Lan Xichen said, giving his brother another silent communication with his eyes. Wei Wuxian didn't bother trying to interpret their 'conversation', although it looked like Lan Xichen was trying and failing to hold back a smile. They bowed back in acknowledgement, and mounted their swords.
Rising high in the air, Wei Wuxian let out a whoop of joy. It had been so long since he'd flown alone on a sword, and the freedom of flight warmed his spirits. He urged the sword forward, zigzagging in the sky as though dodging invisible enemies. He looked back at Lan Wangji to see if he was keeping up.
Lan Wangji's level of cultivation was high, and such tricks would surely be child's play for him.
However, it seemed it was beneath Lan Wangji to perform tricks in the air. He simply looked on in apathy.
Even Wei Wuxian eventually tired of flying around erratically, and eventually flew beside Lan Wangji.
He cleared his throat, and straightened up. "Running is permitted in the Cloud Recesses," he began seriously.
"..."
"I think fluffy bunnies are adorable." 'Lan Qiren' continued.
Lan Wangji's eyebrow twitched.
"Young Master Wei is the best and brightest student to have ever graced Cloud Recesses..."
"Ridiculous!"
"Aha!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed in glee, "so you don't deny that running should be allowed and that bunnies are cute? We should've taken a rabbit with us, A-Yuan would've loved it. And you'd get to see your uncle cuddling with cute animals. It'd be like a rare sighting..."
He had to urge his sword forward when Lan Wangji suddenly put on a burst of speed.
"So, dear nephew... how did you guys know it was me?"
Again, answers were not forthcoming, but Wei Wuxian could see red tinting Lan Wangji's ears.
"Wangji, I command you to be a good nephew and tell this old uncle!"
Wei Wuxian laughed when Lan Wangji urged his sword to fly even faster still.
"Aaaaaah!" Lan Qiren had never felt such excruciating pain in his life.
Under his sister's instruction, the Ghost General dug his dreadfully strong fingers into his lower back, kneading back and forth, unforgiving fingers reaching for his spinal cord.
When Wen Ning finally let up, expressionless eyes full of apology, Lan Qiren sighed into the rocky bed in relief. Until Wen Qing walked straight up to him and stabbed a long needle into his side with more force than was necessary. She was supposed to be a doctor, not a torturer!
"You idiot! You can't push your body as far as you used to, not without a golden core! I don't know how you got a reputation for being a genius..." Wen Qing said as she jabbed another needle into his shoulder. She gave some instructions to Wen Ning, then continued with the needling, one after another.
So it would appear that the lack of golden core was not a result of this bodyswap adventure. In fact, that explained a lot of Wei Wuxian's odd behaviour after the Lotus Pier Massacre.
But how did it happen? Was it the work of the Core-Melting Hand? But if Wen Zhuliu had melted his core, then surely the Wen's would have gloated about it, as they had gloated about throwing Wei Wuxian into the Burial Mounds?
So if it was not the work of the Core-Melting Hand, then there was someone out there with a technique, or a method, that posed a danger to the cultivation world. If a person with this knowledge existed, had Wei Wuxian done something about it?
In any case, demonic cultivation was the only option for the coreless Wei Wuxian. He was deeply concerned about the prolonged use of demonic cultivation on Wei Wuxian's mind and body, especially with the current living conditions.
He musings were interrupted when Wen Qing pulled out her needles in quick succession.
"You will remain here for the rest of the day. No moving! A-Yuan, keep an eye on him. If he tries to move, jump on his back!" He saw A-Yuan entering the cave hand-in-hand with Wen Ning.
The toddler ran up to him, smiling brightly. "Yes, A-Qing-jie!"
"We don't have time to take a break! We need to get back there are soon as possible!"
"Uncle's body needs rest," Lan Wangji paid the innkeeper for two rooms. "We'll rest tonight, and continue tomorrow."
They had landed for what Wei Wuxian assumed was a quick meal, but Lan Wangji had taken his sword while he had been distracted by the multitude of spicy dishes in front of him. He never knew the uptight Lan Wangji could be so sneaky!
But he could not compare to Wei Wuxian's sneakiness. As soon as Wei Wuxian closed the door to his room, he fished out the array from his sleeve and placed it delicately on the floor. He had a lot of time to think about his creation during his flight, and he was confident in its design.
He quickly scribbled a note to Lan Wangji, and stepped onto his array. He heard the door to his room open as he teleported away.
Some Wen's came and went, feeding him a vegetable broth for lunch and making sure he was as comfortable as he could be. Soon enough, the sun had set and a chill began to settle in.
In his state, he could only lay motionless on his front, watching Wen Yuan entertain him with his butterflies.
With one butterfly in each hand, the boy gave them some dialogue:
"I like you..."
"I like you too. Let's fly together!"
What a bizarre conversation.
A loud crack made him jolt painfully. Wen Yuan screamed, scrambling onto the bed in fright, and jostling his shoulder. The two of them looked towards the noise to see a man garbed in the whites of Gusu Lan robes.
Wei Wuxian, in Lan Qiren's body, looked at him with a ready smile, which was immediately wiped off of his face upon seeing Lan Qiren, in Wei Wuxian's body, immobile on his bed. "What did you do to my body!?"
Lan Qiren's eyes widened when he could fully see the state of his own body. "What did you do to my beard!?"