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“Lan Wangji, Lan Wangji, you are really competent! Bringing me here and confusing me with an illusion charm, how righteous of Lan Sect, indeed,” Wei Wuxian’s voice echoed in the chamber. He added bitterly, “I must have underestimated you! Do you think I dare not go against you? DO YOU THINK I DARE NOT GO AGAINST YOUR SECT?”
He glared at all the Lan Wangji(s) present in the chamber. The room was slowly getting chillier and darker despite that it was only late morning.
Another voice said, the voice of a young master, “What is the meaning of such nonsense!? How dare you disrespect Lan Zhan!? Why cause a ruckus while you're in Cloud Recesses! Who are you anyway?”
Another voice said, “That's right, Lan Sect never punishes the innocent. What are you afraid of?”
The voices came from behind the resentment-filled Wei Wuxian.
Two swords were almost touching Wei Wuxian’s neck on either side. It was the men who spoke— their voice was drastically the same as Wei Wuxian’s, even the three faces were identical.
Wei Wuxian chuckled coldly, “Lan Wangji, you seem so righteous in appearance, when in reality you're no better than all of them. If I'm heinous, do you think you're any less treacherous?”
“Put down the sword,” Husband Lan said.
“But Lan Zhan—” one of the Wei Wuxian who held the sword said.
Wei Wuxian, the bizarre man with red glowing eyes, let out another chuckle, “Why pretend to be kind? If you wish to kill me, kill me. I'll not restrain myself either!”
The dark miasma grew stronger, as if enraged. Anyone close would burn in its black flames.
“Are you deaf? Put down the sword,” the eldest Wei Ying (present timeline) said in his most serious tone. His countenance was indifferent. He raised his hand and a part of the dark miasma pounced straight towards him—only to be absorbed into his body. His eyes closed, a subtle glimmer of red was shrouded under the eyelids.
The red-eyed Wei Wuxian, who had insulted Lan Wangji ever since he came here, stood frozen with horror and disbelief. He snarled, “What — who are you?”
The two Wei Wuxian(s) retracted their swords immediately. The dark miasma initially grew stronger and stronger, invasive and dreary, but no matter how excessively it brushed forth towards Wei Ying (present), it would only be absorbed by him.
“I’m afraid you'd not be interested in that,” he replied, eyes still closed.
“You! You're from the inner family?! The Lan Sect actually has a demonic cultivator in their inner family?! What a joke!” The dark miasma stopped all of a sudden. Red-eyed resentment-filled Wei Wuxian laughed hysterically as his eyes were fixed upon the embroidery on Wei Ying's white robes. “You have really broadened my horizons!”
When the current Wei Ying's eyes opened again, he said, “Enter the chamber and close the doors. It's not the right time for casual chattering.”
This was the first time he had sounded so firm ever since the mishaps of the time-space disruption began. The red in his eyes had disappeared by then.
Wei Wuxian #1 (red-eyed, hot headed) strode straight towards Wei Ying. He probably could not make any sense out of it. Wei Ying was wearing the robes of the inner family but not the headband. He just did not feel like tying it on his forehead that day. Wei Wuxian #1 could not make any sense out of it. He roared, “You’re a demonic cultivator as well, aren’t you? I don't know what kind of treasures the Lan sect bribed you into. Think with a sane mind. Will they tolerate you once you help them eliminate me? You're not any better than me! They will never tolerate you! LAN ZHAN WILL NEVER TOLERATE YOU!”
He was about to hold Wei Ying by the collar of his robes but Husband Lan would simply not allow it. Thus Husband Lan shielded his little husband.
Wei Wuxian #1 glared at Husband Lan and gripped Chenqing tighter. The red glow in his eyes strengthened. Husband Lan’s eyes returned the piercing stare, but it was not a stare of anger, neither of hate.
“Aiya, Lan Zhan, he's slandering you! Have you stared enough?” Wei Ying kept his hand on his husband's shoulder, “Let me get this straight.”
He set aside his husband and stepped forward, “What are you yelling about? You can't even control your demonic energy properly, it's all over the place! You dare accuse people so bluntly?”
“Accuse people bluntly? Did THEY care when they accused ME blindly?” Wei Wuxian #1 said bitterly, “You're not even an orthodox cultivator! It's only wise to avoid the clans that are only righteous in name. Think, what good would you be once you help them get rid of me? YOU THINK THEY WILL SPARE YOU? You don't know any better!”
Wei Ying rested his hand on his hip, “You- I think you're having some severe misunderstandings here. We have no interest in keeping you here. I-”
“Lies, lies! I'm not listening to any of it!” The demonic aura burst forth through Wei Wuxian #1, extending towards Wei Ying fiercely— all to no avail as it was dismissed in an instant with a wave of his.
“I don't have the time to make you believe but the truth is I've been tampering…a little, with the time and space which is the cause of this distortion. All the Lan Wangji you see here have converged from their separate timelines. I suppose the same happened to you all,” Wei Ying explained, “Don't worry though, I have a solution. I can send everyone back to their own timelines—”
His eyes fell on Wei Wuxian #1 who was not impressed at all. Well, no one would be, if they were explained with something like that. How could tampering with time and space be so simple? Who would believe him?
“What? You doubt me?” Wei Ying muttered.
“WHO ARE YOU?” Wei Wuxian #1 growled. There was maliciousness in his eyes. A great distrust— not that Wei Ying cared.
Thus he replied playfully, “You want to know who I am? How about you ask Lan-er-ge?”
He looked at Husband Lan (who he expected was looking at him with a fond smile by then) who did not play along and meet his gaze, as Husband Lan was rather busy staring at the three Wei Wuxian(s) who just entered.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying uttered softly and pitifully, like a young maiden being abandoned by her husband. His tone changed swiftly, teasing, “Now that the original goods are back, you no longer care about this old husband of yours?”
“Stop playing tricks!” Wei Wuxian #1 exclaimed, “You— Who are you?!”
Wei Ying was no longer in the mood to play, he said, “Since you're so curious, allow me to introduce myself.”
That's right, he was not in a mood to play. He was in a mood to cause some serious chaos and great mischiefs to entertain himself and make fun of his younger self. (Yes, he was allowed to bully himself.)
He pointed at himself with his thumb proudly, eyes suddenly sparkling. He said, “Mo Xuanyu, Lan Zhan’s beloved husband.”
He could barely stop himself from laughing, but he still contained the laughter within himself to take a good look at the faces of his younger selves. The commotion in the room had been going on for very long but now everyone was silent— absolutely silent.
The three Wei Wuxian(s) (as Wei Ying believed were one from Cloud Recesses and another from Wen Indoctrination as the robes could tell, the other was either from Sunshot Campaign or the Battle of Nevernight, it was hard to tell)— the three Wei Wuxian(s) looked at Wei Ying unbelievably, as if what they just heard had still not reached their ears. Their well-maintained goofy countenance as he had always kept had washed away with this new epiphany. They only stared at married Wei Ying, or, say ‘Mo Xuanyu’ like blinking idiots as the news slowly sunk into their head.
Wei Wuxian knew his younger selves better than anyone, even if his memory was not always upto the mark. If he was right, they were probably wondering “Lan Zhan… he… married this man?”
The problem did not lie in that Lan Zhan married a man. It lied so that he married this man.
There were more than one points that were against the favors of Mo Xuanyu in the accounts of marrying the second jade of Lan, that was probably what the younger Wei Wuxian(s) were thinking at the moment, somewhere around the lines of ‘This man is not only a demonic cultivator who can apparently tamper with time and space but also a young lad with peach blossom eyes and skin as elegant as jade, the kind of beauty that foreshadows the face of men and women around him. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this man was even prettier than the women of high ranks. Who would have known that Lan Wangji would like this kind of man?’
The scene seemed unreal as they imagined it in their head.
‘Perhaps this man is lying.’
But if it was so then Lan Wangji would have long reprimanded these falsified claims.
But Lan Zhan did not. Instead, when the three Wei Wuxian(s) looked at him with an unbelievable expression, mixed with confusion and some kind of vague sorrow, Lan Zhan did not say anything which was a clear method of his affirmation.
Little did any of them know that the soul within the body of Mo Xuanyu was none other than his future self— Wei Ying.
“Now that you all know this, quit bothering this old one. I have a lot of work to do,” Wei Ying blabbered, “Take seats, everyone, I and Lan Zhan will be back in a while. No commotion please, we wouldn't want to give an opportunity for the elders to collect exponential reasons to get me kicked out— not that Lan Zhan would allow it— but either way, it'd be a little less of a bother if everyone complies. It's that thought that counts, right, Lan Zhan?”
He was having fun smearing on the faces of his younger selves the fact that Lan Zhan was his husband.
“I’ll entrust Lan Zhan to supervise everyone,” Wei Ying declared as he turned his hand towards the direction of Lan Zhan from Yi City. He added, “Well, just in case—”
Then he suddenly remembered something that he should have long remembered before revealing his false identity. It never came to his mind back then that there was one Lan Zhan in this room who did know that the man in Mo Xuanyu’s body was indeed— it was indeed—
Wei Ying spluttered, finding himself helpless on whether to blame this mistake on his own ignorance or his own idiocy. Perhaps the god of luck was not by his side today.
He remembered it crystal clear that his husband had known that Wei Wuxian was in the body of Mo Xuanyu ever since he had played wangxian at the Dafan Mountains.
He literally told Lan Wangji (Yi City) with his own two lips that Lan Zhan and he were about to get married in the future.
That wasn't necessarily a huge issue but when this man’s lips crooked into a little smile that only Wei Ying could see, there was a bit of restlessness in his heart.
His husband's hand touched his shoulder. Wei Ying averted his gaze instantly, pretending as if no epiphany had dawned upon him.
But Lan Wangji knew better.
Teenager Wei Wuxian, who was in the disciple robes of Cloud Recesses, said, sounding a little mad, “Hey! You are leaving? Aren't you the one who caused this mishap? Shouldn't you be taking responsibility? Will you even come back once you leave?”
Wei Ying knew himself the best. Someone like his fifteen years old self would not directly interrogate a stranger so blatantly—unless, of course, if he found someone so untrustworthy that he lost all his spirit to play with words. Or perhaps because he knew that ‘Mo Xuanyu’ was Lan Wangji's husband in the future, there was irritation in his heart.
“That's why I'm taking Lan Zhan with me. You don't trust me, but you trust Lan Zhan—right? I'll return just in time,” Wei Ying smiled mischievously.
He would say something more but he restrained himself as he felt someone glaring at him— he turned to find out that it was not his husband as he had expected, but the Lan Wangji (Yi City) he had enticed. It was not a glare.
It was an intense gaze which Wei Ying could not make anything out of. A room full of Lan Wangji(s) was not good for his heart.
“Why should you take him?” Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination), who was wearing the disciple robes of Wen, reprimanded.
Wei Ying thanked his oblivious younger self for interrupting and saving Lan Wangji's husband some face.
“To bait the prey,” Wei Ying winked. He said hastily, before some other version of his husband could distract him, “Then my husband and I will go to find the Wei Wuxian(s) from the other timelines, if there are any, which I suppose there is. Don't go out or cause trouble or Shugong will have my head. Please excuse us, Young Master Wei and the Second Young Master Lan.”
Despite the commotion, all present in the chamber were excellent cultivators with sharp hearing and thus all paused instantly to look at the man appearing from the inside chambers of Jingshi.
The dishevelled shabby robes that the man wore could not shroud his tall and sturdy frame, and the face was inexplicably handsome. He looked at all the faces in front of him and chuckled to himself like a mad man.
Wei Ying knew at once that it was another version of himself from the past— a Wei Wuxian without his golden core, the one from Yiling, who was busy either farming or conducting experiments on demonic energy.
“So Wen Qing was not cursing me when she said I would soon go mad, hahaha” Wei Wuxian (Yiling) murmured.
By that time, Wei Ying was tired of explaining the whole situation over and over again. He turned to his husband, asking for help, who returned a fond smile that only he was aware of— and perhaps all the Lan Wangji(s) in the chamber did too.
Husband Lan Wangji summed up the chaotic situation in brief, all of which were as if foreign words to Wei Wuxian (Yiling). He stood there, trying to process the matter.
And just when things couldn't get more complex in Wei Wuxian’s (Yiling) head, Husband Wei Ying added, “Forgive me for the inconveniences.”
Then he proceeded to introduce himself as “Husband of Lan Wangji, Mo Xuanyu.”
Thus Wei Wuxian (Yiling) sat next to Lan Wangji (Yiling), as he was asked to, trying to comprehend if all these were even true. But there was evidence shown, as the others were— Bichen and Suibian can not be faked. In fact if there was an imposter among them, it would have to be himself— for he had no divine sword with him.
The two husbands excused themselves. Wei Ying sprinted out happily with his husband following him at his heels. He seemed to be unusually happy today.
-忘羡-
As they left, the chamber was left in absolute silence—
The youngest Wei Wuxian decided to fix the unfortunate silence, or rather, he could no longer hold back the urge to comment.
“Lan~” Teenager Wei Wuxian, in Lan guest disciple robes said, “Zhan~”
Six pairs of golden eyes turned towards him. All six.
They stared at him with all kinds of emotions on their faces— all the expressions were just the same but if it were Zewu Jun, he would probably say that all were different.
Teenager Wei Wuxian could not help but feel a little intimidated. He had called him but he did not know what to say. Yes, he was shameless, usually he was and he knew and even took a lot of pride in it. But seeing six Lan Wangji(s) staring at him, all serious and intense, he had truly lost his tongue, how unlike himself!
He asked, looking at the Lan Wangji to whom Lan Zhan's husband had entrusted supervision, “L-Lan Zhan, you're the oldest Lan Zhan here, are you not?”
He only said that as it was the first thing to come in his mind to save his exquisite nobel title of the chatterbox.
“Mn,” was the response.
The other Lan Wangji(s) looked quite the same but this one Lan Wangji who was left for supervision seemed more experienced than the other youths. He was relatively taller, broader and more well defined. His temperament, even, seemed to be better, he was not irritated or excessively strict. He seemed to be a fully bloomed lotus swaying in a shallow pond on a bright summer day. Only his countenance was just the same as the Lan Zhan he knew.
Placid.
“Then tell me something good about the future,” Teenager Wei Wuxian beamed and went down to sit beside the man. He was almost on the older Wangji's lap the way he sat but nobody said anything.
They were all told not to discuss anything regarding the past and future.
“In essence?” Supervisor Wangji asked.
Teenager Wei Ying blabbered in one breath, just wanting to seize Wangji's attention and dispel the silence, “Something like— Was I successful in persuading you to be my friend? Did we become sworn brothers? Was I invited to your wedding— not me, my older self?”
Wei Ying had expected to be scolded for asking something so irrelevant. He had guessed that if not scolded, he would be reprimanded with a silence spell. But none of it happened.
“Not married.”
But he met with a response that he did not, in no way, had expected. Something was wrong. It seemed to him that this version of Lan Wangji— there must be something broken in the head. Perhaps even one or two nerves were to be mourned.
“O-oh, you're not?” Wei Ying stammered as he felt a bit taken aback. But he would not back down so easily. He teased, “Why not? You should~”
“Should we?”
Teenager Wei Wuxian could only blame his own rascal of a mind for interpreting these two words as ambiguous. What kind of ambiguity!? Lan Zhan obviously meant his husband ‘Mo Xuanyu' and himself! What else would he mean anyway?
The Second Young Master of Lan was upright and just. His words were always straightforward and courteous. He never knew how to play with words and therefore the only source of the ‘ambiguity’ was Wei Wuxian's own rascal of a mind.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji, the older one, said. Only then did teenager Wei Wuxian realize how different his voice sounded. It was not like the Lan Zhan’s voice he knew— cold and aloof. It was a deep but soothing voice.
“Y-yeah?” Teenager Wei Wuxian said, trying to sound casual. He cursed himself when his words came out a bit breathless.
“Anything else Wei Ying would fancy hearing?” Lan Wangji asked seriously. His tone was indeed so serious that teenager Wuxian could not help but fret for his life. He felt as if Lan Wangji would truly recite everything from the past to the future for him to hear if he did not decline this offer.
“Aren't we prohibited from discussing this matter?” Teenager Wuxian laughed awkwardly.
“It is no harm,” Lan Wangji said. How could the Second Young Master Lan be breaking rules so casually?!
Teenager Wei Wuxian stood up excitedly and sat next to Lan Wangji. He giggled, “You're so much more interesting than my Lan Zhan!”
That certainly was not a praise but the ambiguity of the sentence turned the said Lan Zhan’s (Cloud Recesses) ears flush. His eyebrows knitted. Only the other Lan Wangji(s) would know where this youngster’s mind fluttered.
Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) interrupted them, not pleased with some other Wei Wuxian getting Wangji’s attention alone, “Lan Zhan, tell me about us in the future!”
Lan Wangji (Wen Indoctrination), who took one sip from the tea cup and was about to take another, paused. He seemed as if he had been poisoned by Wei Wuxian's words. Out of all the things he could inquire about— why would someone ask that first? It sounded ridiculous too.
Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) stood up as well and sat next to Lan Wangji (Yi City), eyes shining in excitement. This kind of Lan Wangji— truly enthralling.
Teenager Wei Wuxian chirped, “Yes, yes, tell us, are we finally friends?”
The oldest Lan Wangji shook his head from left to right gently.
“No?” Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) asked, concerned.
Teenager Wei Wuxian asked, mournfully, “Why not, is the Second Young Master Lan so difficult to make friends with?”
“Difficult.” Even the other Lan Wangji(s) were not assured if he acknowledged or teased, considering that his voice was still as indifferent as ever.
Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) sighed comically while teenager Wei Wuxian said, “Tell me, Lan Zhan, do you want to be friends?”
“Mn.”
“Then we're friends now. See, not so difficult!” Teenager Wuxian exclaimed.
“Mn, not for Wei Ying.”
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, does that mean we're friends too?” Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) asked.
“Mn.”
Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) laughed. Teenager Wei Wuxian asked, smiling like an idiot, “Then since we're friends, can we drink together?”
It was evident that he only said that to tease Lan Wangji. But the latter's response was rather serious, even if it was a simple “Mn.”
Both Wei Wuxian(s) gasped at the same time, “We can!?”
“We have,” Lan Wangji said, “Before.”
The two Wei Wuxian(s) looked at each other and then at Lan Wangji like two little rabbits staring at their favorite person.
They probably doubted if this was Lan Wangji at all.
Since Lan Wangji was suddenly a keen conversationalist, the two Wei Wuxian(s) broke out into successive comments simultaneously.
“Lan Zhan, did you ever break any rule of Cloud Recesses?”
“Lan Zhan, did you keep the rabbits I gave? How are they now?”
“Hey, I asked first!” Teenager Wei Ying whined.
“No, it's obvious that I did,” Wei Ying (Wen Indoctrination) chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. Their banter was interrupted by Supervisor Lan Wangji's answers.
“Did break rules. The rabbits grew up well.”
“Wah, Lan Zhan!” The two Wei Wuxians squealed in union but then paused to look at the other with false contempt.
“Why are you imitating me?” Teenager Wei Ying blurted.
“Imitating you? You're imitating me,” Wei Ying (Wen Indoctrination) responded with an ingenuine smile.
“How dare you!” Teenager Wei Ying exclaimed.
“No, how dare you.” Wei Ying (Wen Indoctrination) mocked.
“You're imitating me!” The two exclaimed in union, “No, you are! You! You, you, you! No, you!”
“Wei Ying.” Two words from the oldest Lan Wangji was enough. The two Wei Wuxian(s) looked at him, pausing their bickering.
“Lan Zhan!” The two whined immediately as if to emphasize how hurt they were. They briefly paused to subtly glare at each other, eyebrows knitted.
“Lan Zhan, have you tried chilli flakes? Or is the food at Cloud Recesses still as bland?” Teenager Wei Ying asked.
“If Wei Ying insists, I'll try,” Lan Wangji replied.
“Huh?! You really will?” Teenager Wei Ying propped up to sit straight, almost jumping into Lan Wangji's face in surprise. However, Supervisor Wangji did not move a cun, looking unbothered.
“Mn.”
At a long hand distance where teenager Lan Wangji (Cloud Recesses) sat, even a commoner would be able to feel the dark clouds rising. His grip on the porcelain cup tightened so quickly that it could even break.
Wei Ying (Wen Indoctrination) pushed his face closer to Lan Wangji’s (Yi City) as well. He could not bear to lose a competition with his younger self. He asked, “Lan Zhan, this is unfair. My Lan Zhan doesn't talk to me at all and dismisses all words I speak. I think you're so much better! How come you are so talkative now? Is it because of my bad influence~?”
It was supposed to be a joke. It was supposed to earn a reprimand from Lan Wangji. But nothing of that sort occured. Instead, the oldest Lan Wangji decided to reply with “Mn. Corrupted.”
If one's eyesight was sharp enough to look closely, one could probably hear a certain Lan Wangji's (Wen Indoctrination) dissatisfaction written all over his face.
Teenager Wei Ying said, “Lan Zhan, talk to me too!”
“No, Lan Zhan, talk to me,” Wei Ying (Wen Indoctrination) argued.
And thus for the third time, their banter started yet again.
A certain Wei Wuxian sighed. It was none other than the humble radish farmer of Yiling. Having finally understood the whole situation, as the only reasonable man in the chamber, he decided to put in some words, “Stop bickering. Do you two not know the meaning of not discussing irrelevant things?”
The other two Wei Wuxian(s) ceased to look at this Wei Wuxian (Yiling). Their expressions were just the same.
“Would Wei Ying like to hear anything as well?” The oldest Lan Wangji asked. So kindly did he ask that Wei Wuxian (Yiling) could not have the heart to refuse (and if his heart skipped a beat at that, it was between him and the heavens). Thus, in a small matter of time, like the other two Wei Wuxian(s), he sat right next to the oldest Lan Wangji too.
If one's hearing was sharp enough, one could probably hear a certain Lan Wangji's (Yiling) heart almost beating out of chest, perhaps out of agony or perhaps out of anger.
“Hmph, you reprimanded us but here you are,” Teenager Wei Wuxian retorted jokingly.
“He's really no better than us,” Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) commented, adding to the prior's humour.
“Wei Ying.” Yet again it was those two words uttered from Lan Wangji's lips, and immediately the two Wei Wuxian(s) words seemed to have dissipated from theirs.
“So you…” Wei Wuxian (Yiling) said, pondering what to ask, or perhaps contemplating whether it would be appropriate to ask. He mustered up his courage to finally let out some words, “You are married now—?”
“No— not yet.”
It was the same question younger Wei Wuxian had asked before. Wei Wuxian (Yiling) wanted to talk to him but there was barely any word left to say to him. He still tried, “Then, have you met—that man—I mean, your husband, in your timeline?”
“Mn.”
“Oh…” Wei Wuxian (Yiling) stared at the table in front of him. How empty. He added, “Then is Lan Zhan content?”
“Now?”
Wei Wuxian (Yiling) raised his head to meet Lan Wangji's firm gaze, only to be startled and to look away instantly. He said, “Yes?”
Lan Wangji said, “Yes.”
“That's great— if Lan Zhan is happy then I'm happy too!” Teenager Wei Ying exclaimed, raising his both hands in the air out of happiness. But the moment he was about to wrap his arm around Lan Wangji’s (Yi City) shoulder due to himself being full of brotherly sentiments, Wei Wuxian (Yiling) rebuked, “Aiyah, keep your distance. He'd soon be married.”
“But— it doesn't matter, we're both men,” Teenager Wei Wuxian reasoned, feeling wronged.
“Hey, that's very rude of you to say when you know he's married—” Wei Ying (Yiling) corrected himself, “I mean— Would be married— to that man!”
“Is that so, Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying asked.
“Wei Ying can do as he pleases,” Lan Zhan replied.
“I can?” Teenager Wei Ying grinned.
“Mn.”
“But—” Wei Wuxian (Yiling) looked at Lan Wangji helplessly. The latter looked at him with an upward tilt of his lips. Oh, that smile! It almost killed him! How could have Lan Wangji changed so much over the years?!
“I can hardly believe that I grew up to be such a boring young man, retorting and rebuking everything, knowing nothing of youthful joys, what a pity! Is that any better than being a white-bearded old man at a young age?” Wei Ying (Wen Indoctrination) shrugged.
Teenager Wei Ying did not seem very fond of his older self (Wen Indoctrination) due to the prior disagreement between them. On the other hand, Wei Wuxian (Yiling) seemed to be more sensible and practical. Thus he decided to defend his older self (Yiling) from his— older self (Wen Indoctrination). He said, “Ay, who are you calling an old man? Aren't we all the same! You are the old man!”
“So what if I am an old man? Would you call me grandfather?” Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination) teased.
Wei Wuxian (Yiling) sighed, not knowing how to bring an end to their bickering. He could not recall himself being truly this shameless when he was younger.
But Lan Wangji only smiled. And that one smiled silenced the entire chamber.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you smiled!” The two Wei Wuxian(s) said simultaneously as they grinned. This time, neither of them paused to retort the other.
Wei Wuxian (Nevernight) had been sitting in a corner of the room silently since they were seated. Husband Wei Ying was worried that he'd be the first one to cause a great commotion. But he was quiet, absolutely silent as he stared at the person next to him. Next to him was Wangji— the one clad in white mourning robes.
-忘羡-
Meanwhile, the junior trio were walking past the Library Pavilion.
“Alas, Senior Wei really seems to have forgotten that we had plans to sneak out today, what a pity! Now all he does is to create new techniques to summon multiple Hanguang Jun(s),” Lan Jingyi sighed dramatically.
“I have no interest in what he's up to,” Jin Ling stated, his cheeks flushing a little.
“It is more reasonable to consider that it was accidental. What else could it have been?” Lan Sizhui tried to justify.
Lan Jingyi replied with some animated gestures, resting his arm on Sizhui’s shoulder, “Tch, Sizhui, you know better than this, what else could he be upto? Imagine having so many Hanguang Juns in a room all by yourself— I'd faint!”
“Sure you would,” Lan Sizhui answered playfully, accompanied by a gentle smile.
“But even so, it was not right for Senior Wei to abandon us for this purpose,” Lan Jingyi said as his feet paused. He added, “Hold on— Is that…?”
“Senior Wei!” Lan Jingyi waved.
Senior Wei was truly approaching them. That was a little strange as the Jingshi was quite far from there. Perhaps Senior Wei had used an array to solve the matters quicker.
No sooner did Senior Wei notice the three of them, the former’s eyes skimmed through all nearby paths. If Lan Jingyi’s eyes weren't deceiving him, Senior Wei even took a step backward.
“Greetings, Senior Wei, have you found the solution to the matter already?” Lan Sizhui asked.
“S-senior Wei?” asked Senior Wei skeptically, looking left and right, perhaps searching for another Senior Wei.
“Yes, have you solved the matter already? Then we can finally sne—” Lan Jingyi was interrupted as Sizhui rested his hand on his shoulder.
“What?” Lan Jingyi whispered to Sizhui.
“The matter?” Senior Wei said, or rather, asked, rubbing the back of his head with a smile. He continued, “Ah, yes, the matter, yes of course. I'm just- about to solve it.”
“So soon?” Jin Ling muttered.
“Then are all the Hanguang Juns gone now?” Lan Jingyi asked with a subtle tone of disappointment.
“Not yet, but there is no reason to fret. It is a simple matter,” Senior Wei commented.
He added with an awkward laugh, “Thus I shall leave first, I suppose.”
He turned around and walked away, or rather, tried to run away.
“Senior Wei!” Lan Jingyi exclaimed. Senior Wei paused at once and his head turned around slightly to meet their gaze.
“Aren't you going back to the Jingshi?” Jingyi asked.
The Jingshi was the other way.
Senior Wei replied, “Oh, the Jingshi, yes, where else? I was just strolling.”
Then he finally went the right way.
“Is it just me or does something about him just not set right?” asked Jingyi.
“You've realized too quickly,” Jin Rulan commented sarcastically.
“Who asked you? I'm only talking to Sizhui!”
“But you were too loud and I heard it! So might as well reply.”
Lan Sizhui silently pondered. Was that person truly Senior Wei?
-忘羡-
As Wei Ying and his husband were headed in search of the missing Wei Wuxians, the former said, “There should be two more me from another timeline— oh no, just one.”
There were six Lan Wangji, excluding his husband and he had currently met three of his own self from the different timelines. Then it should have been two more Wei Wuxians. But if Wei Ying’s hypothesis was correct and all the Wei Wuxians had arrived from the same timeline as Lan Wangji, then one of them was dead during Lan Wangji’s mourning period, so that reduced the number by one. Then only one Wei Wuxian was yet to arrive. And supposedly, that would be in the body of Mo Xuanyu, one who was returning from Yi City with the adult Lan Wangji.
“Mn,” Lan Wangji hummed, deducing so quickly as if their thought processes were all connected.
Wei Ying muttered, “Everyone who was pulled in by the technique reached the Jing Shi for it is where my array was. But only one Wei Wuxian did not.”
This was the only Wei Wuxian who was in Mo Xuanyu's body.
The soul in Mo Xuanyu’s body was Wei Wuxian’s. The forbidden dark arts technique could bring back the deceased soul inside his body in exchange for his life but the soul and the body were yet to align perfectly.
A foreign soul entering the body had disrupted the yin and yang, causing incoordination between xin and shēn as well as zhang and shén. The jing and xin of the soul caused instability in the qi and zhuang of the body.
The initial months of when Wei Ying had returned after thirteen years of being in the land of no return, he would often face problems in keeping his systems coordinated. After practicing for months, the mind and the collateral sinew eventually aligned.
The Traversing Yuan Technique that Wei Ying was trying to refine regarded the manifesting of the soul first, before summoning of the body, even though the calling only differed the same time as burning of an incense stick. In conclusion, since there was a lack of coordination, it might have even caused a separation between Wei Wuxian’s soul and Mo Xuanyu’s body!
But if not both, at least either of them had reached this lifetime. As for the other— perhaps it was lost somewhere in the vast universe, which was highly possible for the soul as it had higher yin energy and water element.
The matter that seemed to be simple to him upto now, seemed not so easy anymore.
Why had he not thought of this earlier? His expressions changed into a rather serious one.
He headed towards the Library Pavilion at once, Lan Wangji beside him. By this time, Lan Wangji seemed to have caught up to the majority of his ideas as well.
If it was true that the separation occurred and the soul was lost, he must search the library for he had the perfect book of solutions in his mind. If the technique was successful, it would make sense as the present Wei Ying himself was the proof of an existing future. But if it failed and the soul would never come back, that would prove the existence of an alternate reality. That would mean not all timelines are merged in one, for if it was that would result in a paradox.
As he had almost approached the Library Pavilion, he met the three juniors passing by.
“S-Senior Wei!? Did you not just return to Jing Shi?” Lan Jingyi asked, a little exaggeratedly.
But currently Wei Ying had no care for this. The more the time would pass, the further the soul might travel. He had to be quick.
Even so, he could not completely ignore his little juniors. As he was about to pass by them, he turned around to have a glance of their faces.
Lan Sizhui and Jin Rulan seemed to be subtly confused as well.
His mind repeated the words again, “Did you not just return to Jing Shi?”
It struck his mind.
It should have been his other self. The Wei Wuxian who was about to return from Yi City with Lan Wangji.
But he could not be rest assured that the body and soul was truly intact.
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying nodded with determination, saying nothing more and nothing less. Lan Wangji knew what to do next, he immediately headed towards the Jingshi.
The three juniors were used to the married couple’s non-verbal conversations. They seemed to have figured out that the person they met before this was not their Senior Wei.
Wei Ying smiled brightly at them before rushing towards the Library Pavilion.
-忘羡-
In the time that would take for burning an incense stick, Wei Ying had returned to Jingshi with some scrolls and special talismans. No sooner did he enter the chamber, all the gazes of multiple Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian converged at him.
It was suspiciously quiet with so many Wei Wuxians in only one room, and even more suspicious how Lan Wangji had prevented his sanity from falling apart. There was not even any chattering. All silent.
Feeling rather awkward for being the cause behind the whole commotion, he looked at his husband who came forward to take the things from his hands and keep it on a table.
The Wei Wuxian (Yi City), the one in Mo Xuanyu’s body, stared at the two of them, avoiding Wei Ying’s.
Wei Ying understood that his husband had already explained the needed things to him. That makes less trouble for him to solve.
But he couldn't make any sense out of the fact that all the Wei Wuxian(s) in the room were unnaturally silent. How did Lan Zhan manage to do that?
“Now then, everyone, it'll take me a while to draw an array here. I hope everyone can give me a hand to keep the furniture aside!” Wei Ying declared, “Since everyone is from separate timelines, I need to perform the technique separately.”
“Why should I believe everything that you say? What if you're trying to trick us? What if you're sending us to somewhere else?” Teenager Wei Wuxian asked, sceptical.
“You think I'd go through all this trouble for that?” Wei Ying joked, laughing it away.
But all other Wei Wuxian(s) were just as wary. On the contrary, all Lan Wangji(s) seemed to be rather quiet, perhaps because they have great faith in themselves. Oh, only if they knew what a fool in love his future self was.
“I might not be trustworthy but Lan Zhan is a witness here. Dare I make a rash move?” Wei Ying tried to convince them, but the sarcasm between each word only added to their scepticism.
Perhaps because Husband Lan had sensed an unwavering dubiousness in the Wei Wuxian(s) present there, he added, “You are trustworthy.”
Wei Ying shrieked a little, his face a lighter tint of red. Years have passed since his name was cleared and years have passed since the two were married, but he could not get used to being acknowledged so outright, so daringly.
He turned to his husband, smiling— only to feel the numerous strong stares that were directed towards them.
“Alright, I'll no longer delay the process. Better pay heed to the instructions, we don't want anyone to get lost in a space void, eh?” Wei Ying said, “I’ll try to keep it simple and brief. All will be provided with a talisman. When the array is activated, it will start burning. If there is any disruption or issue with the space or timeline, focus the qi in your hand and it will stop burning, connecting the whole of the soul and body to this timeline. It is less likely that it will go wrong— but suppose it does— then do not wait to cease the burning talisman. If it indeed goes wrong, it shall be within the time of two burning sticks— and I shall wait here, in this array— to drag back the entirety of soul and body. This way there is assurity that none will get lost.”
He continued as the others listened with keen ears, “Now, if all goes as planned— which I believe it will, for that is how everyone reached here— it is quite likely that the memories of this timeline will be dismissed once you reach your place. Oh, and the talisman will be burnt completely by then. This talisman is a bit— how do I say— different. Thus it does quite the trick for keeping orientation between the body and soul as one travels through space and time. It is also a given, it is pretty expensive and it takes a long time to be made. If the proceeding fails and I'm compelled to drag anyone back into this timeline, I'm afraid you'll have to stay here for some months now. Shall we hope for the best then?”
“You're saying you're not even sure if we can get back home even though it is you who accidentally dragged us here!?” Wei Wuxian (Wen Indoctrination), exclaimed.
“I mean, not exactly. Chances are in the favour that the technique will be a success. But I can not completely dismiss the idea of any occurring flaw— at least not yet, for I'm yet to verify this technique.”
“You're telling me you've never done this before!?” “You must be kidding me!” Two worries broke out simultaneously from the two youngest Wei Wuxian(s).
Wei Ying looked cheekily at his husband, who stood forward to guard him from the piercing glances of all present in the chamber.
-忘羡-
—And among all this chaos, Wei Ying could hardly remember how all this matter was solved, especially when most of the Wei Wuxian(s) were not the most uncooperative.
Now, other than the couple, only one person was left in the chamber— Lan Wangji, the one in clean mourning white robes, who travelled alone all the way from the Jing Shi of another timeline to here. His disposition was not quite the usual; his face despite being as usually pale as it always was— today, resembled not the unwavering solidity of Mount Tai but the solitary confinement of Mount Kunlun. His words despite being as usually less as it always were— today, resembled not the simplicity of brevity but the inability to mold sentences in the absence of his devoted listener.
His fine raven hair was perfectly combed, but his mind seemed haggard. His mourning white robes were clean and pristine but his trembling hands had been once tainted by the blood of someone he never killed. His handsome countenance was peaceful— as if he had nothing to lose, for he had lost all that there was to lose— but his heart was still in unspoken turmoil.
All this time, this Lan Wangji spoke not even a word, other than what was necessary to respond to Wei Ying's inquiries.
But this time, he chose to break this silence. Perhaps because he had not spoken in so long, his voice was a little hoarse.
“It was you,” he said.
“Huh?” Wei Ying uttered.
“It was… you, wasn't it?”Lan Wangji asked, approaching Wei Ying. Husband Lan looked at them but did not stop him.
Wei Ying was at a loss of words.
“It was you…” Lan Wangji’s voice broke as he cupped Wei Ying's face with his own two palms in the most gentle way possible, as if he was afraid that his slightest touch would break the latter. His eyes gazed into Wei Ying's eyes, shining so brightly that Wei Ying could not decipher whether those eyes watered out of weal or woe.
Lan Wangji embraced Wei Ying, trying to be cautious so as to not hurt the latter— as if he wanted to comfort him and shield him from the barbaric world— but no matter how gently he tried to hold him, it was also himself who seeked comfort. Thus his face sunk into the crook of Wei Ying's neck, his hands wrapped around Wei Ying's torso, enclosing the slightest space between the two, as if he was afraid Wei Ying would disappear any second now and his arms would remain empty yet again.
“It was indeed you..,” he repeated, as if he was convincing himself.
Wei Ying felt warm tears fall upon his neck. He could feel Lan Wangji's chest against his very own— and the prior’s heartbeat had never been this erratic.
He knew from earlier that something like this was about to happen sooner or later the moment he saw this Lan Wangji earlier in the morning and derived a conclusion. He could not help but admit it to himself in his mind that the reason why he saved this Lan Wangji to be sent back at last was because of a coincidence but because he truly did not want this Lan Wangji to part away from him. He was afraid that if he sent him back, this man would completely break down, all alone, no one to lean on.
Lan Wangji’s grip on Wei Ying's robes tightened, as if he was a child clinging onto the only beloved rattle drum he was left with. He murmured with disoriented words, sometimes interrupted by sobs or coughs, “It was you, it was you— that night— not a dream— that night— was you indeed.”
He added, “It was you… Wei Ying.”
The last two words were clear. Everything else was vague.
As Wei Ying watched his beloved suffer so miserably, he knew he could only embrace him back. He closed his eyes and hugged him back just as lovingly. But this was not enough.
This was not enough at all. How can he not do anything more than this to comfort him?
He was indeed the Yiling Patriarch. How was he so incapable that he could not even coax the person he loved the most? Was he truly so powerless?
He had never seen Lan Wangji being this unkempt, this miserable, this vulnerable. He had never seen Lan Wangji mourning.
His very own heart ached, as if a thousand ants gnawed into it, and a thousand more with every sob that reached his ears.
“I’m sorry, I'm sorry.”
Wei Ying knew this was his own voice, the original owner of which was Mo Xuanyu. But somehow, he couldn't believe how hoarse and low it was. It was rare for him to speak so vaguely, and thus it seemed so foreign.
Wei Ying did not receive a response and instead the hands that were wrapped around him tightened so swiftly that he was growing rather stiff, but he did not mind at all.
When he opened his eyes, still not pulling apart from the embrace, his vision was a little blurry. His cheeks were warm and a trail of tears ran down.
He could vaguely make out a figure standing in the distance, right in front of him. It was none other than Husband Lan.
He stood there silently. It was not very dark tonight and the chamber was well lit. But Wei Ying couldn't decipher the emotions behind Lan Wangji's indifferent face. This was a rare occasion; for everyone in the Lan Sect was aware that only three persons in the entire cultivation world possessed the ability to read Hanguang Jun’s ever-so-nonchalant expressions— his older brother, Lan Xichen; his adopted son, Lan Sizhui and his beloved husband, Wei Wuxian.
Tonight, Wei Ying was not worthy of this title.
-忘羡-
After a sichen passed, only two people and a complex array was left inside the chamber. All the furniture was shifted towards the periphery of the chamber. Common red cinnabar and special yellow talismans were arranged from everywhere to everywhere. Their purpose was served.
The people who were chattering here only a moment ago had returned to their respective timelines. He had also taken measures for precaution, in case someone had yet lost their way, Wei Ying had sent one of the special talismans with each of them which could be activated with blood and spiritual energy to reconnect to this timeline so that they would not get lost in space and time. Though Wei Ying doubted it would be required at all.
Wei Ying smiled as he headed outside the chamber with his husband to burn down the used talismans. He exclaimed, lighting up the mood again, “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, it was quite the scene, eh? Did you enjoy gazing at your first love's face? Was it good? Did it rekindle old feelings of your youth?”
Lan Wangji looked at him, “Mn.”
They walked together, side by side, almost reaching the backyard.
Wei Ying nudged Lan Wangji with his left elbow as both his hands were full of talismans. He continued, “Whom do you like more— me or that Wei Wuxian?”
It seemed that Wei Ying had taken a certain kind of fondness towards playing the role of ‘Esteemed Hanguang Jun’s husband, namely Mo Xuanyu’.
Lan Wangji ceased. Wei Ying proceeded to walk eitherway.
He acted pitiful, “Lan’er ge, if you like Wei Wuxian more, this husband will not know what to do.”
Lan Wangji reprimanded him from speaking any further, “Wei Ying. Don't fool around.”
“Hanguang Jun doesn't deny it, this husband is upset, veryyy upset,” Wei Ying uttered playfully.
Just when he turned around to take a look at his husband's expression, his back was slammed to the thick wooden pillar that supported the Eastern side of the house. Talismans scattered everywhere.
Wei Ying's eyes met Lan Wangji's. Wei Ying grinned.
Lan Wangji’s left forearm rested next to Wei Ying’s head, upon the pillar, while his right arm pulled the latter's waist closer.
Lan Wangji's eyes did not even blink, he said resolutely, “Wei Ying is Wei Ying.”
Wei Ying muttered, “That's what you always say.”
“What Wei Ying wants me to say, I'll say,” Lan Wangji declared, not moving a cùn away.
Lan Wangji's eyes, as golden as the first ray of the morning sun, as serene as the first ray of the evening moon, looked at him with such sincerity and gentleness that Wei Ying found this unfair.
How was he supposed to tease him more and extract all kinds of expressions from him when those loving eyes were so distracting? Absolutely unfair. Absolutely cunning.
“Alright, I don't hold Lan Zhan accountable anymore. Forgiven,” Wei Ying said with a cough.
“How can that be?” Lan Wangji replied in his astute tone, “Since Wei Ying doubts, I shall love him more sincerely.”
Lan Wangji bent forward and sealed the gap between them, placing his lips upon his husband's. Hugging the former's neck, Wei Ying returned the kiss with much joy before pulling away abruptly.
He said, “Lan Zhan, I just remembered. Do you not recognise anything out of the ordinary that happened today?”
Lan Zhan stared at him in disbelief. He was not wrong. A lot of things ‘out of the ordinary’ happened today.
“Haha, Lan Zhan, don't look at me like that. I meant,” Wei Ying seemed to have understood the cause behind Lan Zhan’s stare, “The last Lan Wangji… he said it was me, Wei Ying, from that night— oh, did he also mention a dream, I'm sure he did— what might he have meant? I initially thought he recognized me because he was observant of my behaviour. But it seems rather complicated now.”
Wei Ying’s head, which was so indulged in these complex thoughts, finally came back upon Earth as he felt a warm breath under his nose. His husband was not a patient man indeed. And Wei Ying, being the optimistic man he is, believed that it is not a shortcoming but a surplus in his husband's character.
“Must Wei Ying think of other men right now?” Lan Zhan asked.
“You jest, Lan Zhan, is that Lan Wangji not Lan Zhan too?” Wei Ying reasoned, only to realise just after, that he had played into Lan Zhan's tricks. Since Wei Ying had been teasing him about whether he liked the present Wei Ying more or the ones from the past, Lan Zhan seized his chance to tease him back about just the same.
“This husband is very upset,” Lan Zhan said in a stoic manner, “Not fond of Wei Ying embracing other men.”
He did say so but back there he did not disrupt the moment between the (previous) Lan Wangji and Wei Ying. He himself was much aware how badly he needed this kind of reassurance back in those days. Alas, it was all in the past now.
Since Wei Ying could not comfort him in the past, he could do it now. All the things he could not do in the past, he could do it now.
Thus he delayed the matter no further and hugged Lan Zhan's neck, taking the initiative to place his lips upon his husband's.
Words were unreliable. Gestures were heartfilled, full of warmth.
So passionately had they kissed that they did not even fear if the moon would turn crimson in embarrassment, having witnessed such a unscrupulous scene.
And yet again, Wei Ying pulled away abruptly, this time seeking breath.
Lan Zhan pulled him closer by the waist, not waiting any longer to share another breath with his husband— in the most literal sense.
“Lan Zhan— wait—” Wei Ying was interrupted by his husband's lips that gnawed upon his lips. Wei Ying tapped upon Lan Zhan's shoulder, “Wait, wait—”
Lan Zhan discontentedly pulled away.
Wei Ying said, finding himself a little guilty, “Lan Zhan, I just remembered. Shall we report today's incident to the elders?”
“Unnecessary,” Lan Wangji answered briefly before leaning closer towards his face again, tilting his face and grabbing Wei Ying's waist by his arm.
Wei Ying was not convinced. He lightly tapped the hand wrapped around his waist as he said,“It's all resolved now but in case there are any consequences later…”
“Also, the last time I accidentally summoned a bunch of ghosts or so while trying out a prototype, I said it'd be unnecessary to report to the elders as well,” Wei Ying continued, laughing out of conscience, “If any of the disciples or elders happened to witness today's incident, I'm afraid Shu Fu would cough up blood again.”
Gaining no response from the impatient husband Lan Wangji, Wei Ying continued to blabber, “If they find out there were seven Lan Wangji and six Wei Wuxian here, they'd really kick me out.”
“Who dares?” Lan Wangji uttered, his expressions as still as Mount Tai.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying embraced him, “If- If you're like this, how is this man with a poor heart going to survive? Who will report to the elders then?”
“No need to report,” Lan Wangji replied.
“Is there any assurance that no one would know about today's incident?” Wei Ying asked rhetorically, sinking into his beloved’s embrace.
“Mn,” Lan Wangji answered as he suddenly pulled away from the embrace, placed his right hand behind Wei Ying's knees, his left behind Wei Ying's torso, and finally picked him up. “What occurs in Jingshi remains in Jingshi. Assured.”
Having said this, he entered the chambers of Jingshi, carrying his whole world in his arms, as he glanced at the tall wooden backdoor. The door, itself, shut close in an instance, securing the untold secrets shared between Heaven and Earth and the two husbands.
“LAN ZHAN!”
-忘羡-
Extra
-忘羡-
“Is there any assurance that no one would know about today's incident?” Wei Ying asked rhetorically.
“Mn,” Lan Wangji answered, holding him tighter, “What occurs in Jingshi remains in Jingshi. Assured.”
Wei Ying really should not have believed those words.
Whatever occured in Jingshi that day definitely did not remain confined to Jingshi.
Rumours about having seen multiple Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian simultaneously were floating about throughout the Cloud Recesses.
For a sect where gossiping was strictly prohibited, the rumours had been fanned not only quickly but also quite efficiently. So efficiently that by the next morning, it had even reached the ears of the oldest disciples, the elders and— Shu Fu.
The only reason why Wei Ying was yet to be called in for inquiry was because of the lack of evidence.
Wei Ying had been blessed with the key to all this information from his only source of rumour gathering: Lan Jingyi.
Thus, at night, Wei Ying laid leisurely upon Lan Wangji as he said, “Lan Zhan, it seems I really can not escape the fate of being kicked out this time. Before this happens, shall I summon the Lan Wangjis from the other timelines for one last time?”
“Shu Fu came to know?” Lan Wangji guessed, rather assuredly.
“Probably,” Wei Ying replied, “Say Lan Zhan, you really liked seeing all so many Wei Wuxians. Shall I summon them again too?”
“Was it not accidental?” Lan Wangji inquired.
Wei Ying affirmed, “It was, but today, I found the discrepancy that caused it. So to put it simply, while I was trying to figure out how one could traverse through time and space, I happened to figure out how to drag someone else through time and space instead, haha”
He placed his forearms upon Lan Wangji's chest to prop himself up so that he could take a look at the latter's face. He added, “Then would Lan Zhan really like to have a lot of Wei Wuxians? What an ambitious man Hanguang Jun is~”
“One is good,” Lan Wangji said, “One Wei Ying is enough.”
Wei Ying buried his face at the crook of his husband's neck. He said in a somewhat calmer tone, “One Lan Zhan is good too.”
It was late in the night. The summer had only begun in Cloud Recesses.
寻找温暖，
细微的月光交织
与附近河流的低语，
悄悄地渗入了静室。
Searching for warmth,
The subtle moonlight, mingled
With the whispers of the nearby rivers,
Crept into the Jingshi.
-忘羡-
—Fin.