Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, Wei Wuxian, and Jin Zixuan had reached the top four in the archery competition just like in canon.
Pan Wukun hoped the sect leaders took her warnings seriously.
She was not going to reveal herself and risk the QishanWen sect's wrath.
She could help from the shadows. No one had to know it was her.
Pan Wukun received and answered letters from Xuhou, Sisi and the other courtesans at the brothel in Yunping City, and Meng Xingyao. She kept it secret from everyone that she had revealed the QishanWen sect's future schemes. Yes, even Pan Heng. They didn't need to worry about her. She didn't want to endanger them. She couldn't risk any of her letters being intercepted by the QishanWen sect.
Unfortunately for Pan Wukun's career as a rogue cultivator, her finances took a hit once the QishanWen sect rudely started closing off night-hunt territories.
Shit…
Ever since the Wens started cracking down on other cultivators, Pan Wukun put her sword away in her qiankun pouch and presented herself as a peasant.
Some of the smaller cultivation sects were already being annexed by the QishanWen sect. Pan Wukun felt guilt but it wasn't possible for her to warn every single sect out there. There was nothing else she could've done.
Pan Wukun decided to start traveling back to Xuhou, planning to wait until the Sunshot Campaign ended to continue her journey safely. She hadn't seen Pan Heng and the other villagers in years.
One day, upon entering a town on the way to Xuhou, Pan Wukun noticed the townspeople whispering fervently and looking at something.
She weaved through the crowd to see what the fuss was all about.
What she saw made her eyes bulge out of her head and her heart leap out of her chest.
"Lan Zhan!" Pan Wukun hissed. "What are you doing here?!"
Lan Wangji's eyes widened. He too was surprised to see Pan Wukun. "A night-hunt."
"Why?" Pan Wukun asked. Why would the GusuLan sect let Lan Wangji go out even after she warned them?
Hmmm…she supposed it would be unusual if Lan Wangji, one of the Twin Jades, suddenly stopped going out on night-hunts. The QishanWen sect would have gotten suspicious if the other Great Sects' prominent heirs and disciples suddenly stopped going out on night-hunts, even the ones outside of their regions.
"I had been out on a night-hunt when the QishanWen sect started to close off night-hunt territories," Lan Wangji said.
"And now you've found yourself here in this town," Pan Wukun said.
Lan Wangji nodded.
Unbeknownst to Pan Wukun, Lan Wangji had received word from commoners that she was around in this area. He decided to follow her, concerned about her safety. He didn't want the Wens to hurt her. He just wanted to see her again.
"So are you trying to get back to the Cloud Recesses?" Pan Wukun asked.
"Yes," Lan Wangji said.
Pan Wukun internally groaned. She had to make sure the QishanWen sect didn't catch Lan Wangji out here. They could kill him or take him hostage.
Pan Wukun sighed. "The QishanWen cultivators have been going around many regions outside of Qishan lately. It's dangerous if they spot you, Lan Zhan! Quick! Follow my lead!"
Pan Wukun had Lan Wangji pay one of the townspeople to give some peasants' clothes to him.
Lan Wangji inspected his new clothes curiously. He had never dressed in commoner's clothing before.
Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji would travel back to Gusu, presenting themselves as commoners to avoid arousing the QishanWen cultivators' suspicions.
Lan Wangji was reluctant to hide his sword away. A cultivator never parted with their sword! But upon seeing Pan Wukun do it and listening to her concerns for his safety, he complied.
They hid their swords, cultivation tools, and Lan Wangji's robes and forehead ribbon away in qiankun pouches. Then they hid the qiankun pouches in regular pouches.
Pan Wukun escorted Lan Wangji as a fellow peasant and good friend, giving him a personal tour of the commoner lifestyle.
But no matter where they went, people could not keep their eyes off Lan Wangji.
Even when disguised as a peasant, people could tell that Lan Wangji was an attractive boy. One who would be quite the handsome man when he grew older.
Damn Lan family genes…
Pan Wukun stuck close to Lan Wangji, ensuring he wasn't kidnapped or made uncomfortable.
She warned him not to flaunt his wealth or that would give them away and lead to trouble. Robbers tended to target commoners instead of cultivators so they would not hesitate to pounce on Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji.
Peasants obviously couldn't afford noblemen's cuisine. So Pan Wukun introduced Lan Wangji to street food.
Meat skewers. Sweet candies. The works.
Lan Wangji was stunned by the explosion of flavors on his tongue. He happily munched into his food.
Pan Wukun smiled. Lan Wangji didn't frown at all and ended up finishing all of his food.
One night, they made it to an inn where they ate a commoner's dinner.
Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji avoided mentioning the Discussion Conference or any cultivator-related business.
Anyone could be listening, even with other conversations going on.
"How is Wei Ying?" Pan Wukun asked.
"When I last met him, he was well."
"Did Wei Ying do anything to make you mad?"
"No."
Pan Wukun was pleased. Good. Wei Wuxian actually listened to her about not touching Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon.
Lan Wangji's eyes focused on Pan Wukun's arm and shoulder. "The spider bite…are you unharmed?"
Pan Wukun was not surprised that Wei Wuxian told Lan Wangji about the spider demons. "Yes."
Lan Wangji's fists clenched. "I should've been there."
Pan Wukun waved her hand dismissively and gave Lan Wangji a reassuring smile. "I'm ok now. Please don't blame yourself."
A waiter came by their table. "Here are your drinks."
Once Lan Wangji drank his cup, he froze and splayed over the table.
Pan Wukun rushed over to him. "Lan Zhan! What's wrong?!"
She picked up Lan Wangji's cup and sniffed it. - Oh no! That wasn't a cup of water Lan Zhan just drank!
Lan Wangji managed to sit upright again, face flushed and ears pink. His eyes were unfocused.
Pan Wukun yelped in surprise when Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around her. He clung to her, nuzzling his face against her neck.
"Lan-Lan Zhan!" Pan Wukun squeaked.
Pan Wukun tried to get Lan Wangji off of her but he refused to let go.
Oh no! It's worse than I thought! Lan Zhan's hallucinating that I'm Wei Ying!
Why else would Lan Wangji be holding onto her with such ferocity?
An inn worker noticed Pan Wukun's predicament. She explained the situation, making him apologetic. "I am so sorry! Our worker accidentally gave you wine instead of water!"
Pan Wukun got some money back from the inn as an apology.
Pan Wukun tugged at Lan Wangji's coat. "Lan Zhan. Let's head to our inn room. Please, I'm tired."
Hearing that Pan Wukun was tired, Lan Wangji did not resist when she slung his arm over her shoulder and helped him walk to their inn room.
She tucked him in bed. Once she laid his head on the pillow, he instantly fell asleep.
Pan Wukun shook her head fondly, smiling softly. "Sleep well, Lan Zhan."
The next morning arrived with bad news.
"Have you heard? The other towns have spotted an army of Wens led by Wen Xu traveling around recently. Looked like they were headed in the direction of the Gusu," the townspeople gossiped.
Lan Wangji tensed. He rushed out of the inn with Pan Wukun following after him.
"Lan Zhan! Wait!"
Lan Wangji stopped, looking at Pan Wukun in confusion.
"I'm going to use an instant communication talisman to warn Meng Xingyao of the upcoming attack!"
Lan Wangji understood and agreed. "Meng Xingyao can also warn xiongzhang."
After Pan Wukun used the instant communication talisman, Lan Wangji caught her so she wouldn't hit the ground. He helped her consume qi rejuvenating substances.
Not wanting to reveal themselves to the townspeople, they went into the forest and got atop their swords.
They had to hurry!
Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji finally reached Gusu City, only to find it besieged by QishanWen cultivators.
"Fuck!" Pan Wukun cursed under her breath.
They spotted a large group of townspeople gathered by the Wen army.
Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji joined the crowd to blend in.
A fearsome Wen cultivator stood in the center. "I am Wen Xu, son of Sect Leader Wen. Now tell me. Where is the way to the Cloud Recesses?"
The townspeople kept quiet.
Wen Xu frowned and waved a hand to his army.
Some Wen cultivators dragged a woman out of the crowd and forced her to kneel in front of Wen Xu.
Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji recognized the woman to be the restaurant owner who provided evidence to drive off Pan Wukun's xenophobic bullies from the Cloud Recesses.
Lan Wangji's fists clenched. Pan Wukun placed her arm out to keep him from rushing forward. He couldn't reveal himself right now. Not when they were surrounded by an army of Wens.
Wen Xu raised his sword. "If you don't tell me, I'll kill you!"
The restaurant owner kept her mouth shut, silently glaring at the Wen cultivators defiantly.
Wen Xu scowled. "Fine then. I'll just have to kill you to scare the others into talking!"
Just as Wen Xu was about to slash the woman's throat, Pan Wukun pointed and shouted, "That way!"
Surprise passed through the restaurant owner's eyes but she kept quiet.
Wen Xu set his eyes directly on Pan Wukun, making her skin prickle. Then he looked at the civilians. "Is it true what this boy says?"
The civilians remained silent.
Wen Xu raised his sword again. "If we find out he lied, it will not end well for any of you."
Lan Wangji, still in disguise, stepped forward. "Yes. What he says is true," he said through gritted teeth.
Wen Xu smiled. "Thank you. See? Now was it so hard to fulfill a simple request?"
Wen Xu shouted to the other Wen cultivators. "Move forward!"
The army of QishanWen sect cultivators marched towards the Cloud Recesses.
Pan Wukun's heart pounded in her chest and her hands trembled.
This was it. The burning of the Cloud Recesses.
What should she do? If she tried to stop the Wens, she could get killed.
She could just leave Lan Wangji right here and flee to safety…But he would never forgive her.
Lan Wangji would never evacuate with her to safety either. His father, uncle, brother, and fellow sect members were in danger. He would rather die than abandon them.
Damn it, why did Lan Wangji have to run into her far away from the Cloud Recesses where she was minding her own business?
Why?! Why?!
"Get to safety, Pan Chun," Lan Wangji said.
Pan Wukun was shocked. "What?"
"You are not part of the GusuLan sect. This isn't your fight." Lan Wangji held no anger or judgment in his voice. "It's alright. Go."
Pan Wukun thought that perhaps Lan Wangji was right. She could just go and help the townspeople evacuate.
Pan Wukun slowly turned her back to him. She took a single step. Then no matter how much she willed it, her legs wouldn't budge.
Wen Xu was going to break Lan Wangji's leg and kill his father. Many of Lan Wangji's fellow sect disciples were going to die.
Even as terror coursed through her, Pan Wukun knew in her heart that she couldn't let Lan Wangji face the QishanWen sect alone.
She clutched Xing Ru's butterfly lucky charm and Pan Heng's fish lucky charm inside her coat.
She turned back and looked into Lan Wangji's eyes.
"I'm coming with you."