Jiang Cheng found it strange how both Lan Xichen and himself shared something so similar yet also different at the same time. Not that he was happy above Lan Xichen's grief, but hearing his story was like a wake-up call for Jiang Cheng. Unlike Lan Xichen, Jiang Cheng still had the chance to fix something. Wei Wuxian was alive and pretty easy to be found. Jiang Cheng just needed to go to Gusu, and there was a big chance he could find Wei Wuxian there. Or he could just ask when Jin Ling would go for another night-hunt session, and there was also a possibility that Wei Wuxian along with those Lan juniors were with him. Jiang Cheng balled his hand again. "I...really need to do something about him, huh?"
Jiang Cheng glanced at Lan Xichen's sleeping face. That gentle yet fragile-looking face tugged his heart. He knew how much he hated being pitied, so he never bothered to pity other people. No, he didn't feel any pity for Lan Xichen, but he also didn't know what he felt in his heart. He still had his own regrets weighing him down from time to time, but he wanted to help this man. He didn't want the man who was asleep next to him to shoulder everything himself. Maybe all of the nostalgic feelings he got during his visit to Cloud Recesses reminded him how brilliant Lan Xichen's smile used to be.
Everyone agreed at how dazzling and stunning Lan Xichen's smile was, including Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng remembered the time prior to the Sunshot Campaign took place. He wandered by himself, trying to find Wei Wuxian before finally being saved by Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen brought him to Cloud Recesses, providing him with the help he needed. Lan Xichen was also the one who was willing to believe in him and comfort him with his soothing smile--a smile that almost resembled his father's and his sister's. Being believed in after the destruction of his sect and when everyone thought Yunmeng Jiang Sect was no more than a mere history meant a lot to Jiang Cheng. Not to mention Lan Xichen also brought him to the small gathering between sect leaders to discuss the Sunshot Campaign for the first time. Now that he recalled that time, wasn't it also Lan Xichen who told him that his brother was also looking for Wei Wuxian that he joined forces with Lan Wangji?
When Jiang Cheng felt Lan Xichen started moving again, he guessed that it probably was around five in the morning. The next second, however, Jiang Cheng froze in an instant. If Lan Xichen woke up and saw their position, would he feel awkward around Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng surely didn't want that especially after they just had such a deep conversation the night before. Just when Jiang Cheng was about to move away from Lan Xichen, his eyes met Lan Xichen's sleepy gaze. "G-Good morning, Zewu-Jun."
Lan Xichen opened his eyes wide immediately when he noticed how close Jiang Cheng's face was from his own. He bolted up, leaving Jiang Cheng's soldier which he used as a pillow all night long. He cleared his throat and said, "Oh, did I..." he looked at Jiang Cheng for a while before bowing his head, "I'm so sorry for using you as a pillow, Sect Leader Jiang!" Lan Xichen went panic in his mind. Did he really lean on Jiang Cheng by himself? Wait a moment, why was Jiang Cheng sitting that close from him? He then glanced down and found Jiang Cheng's outer robe draped his body, trying to imitate a warm blanket. Once again, Lan Xichen's heart felt warm. ' Sect Leader Jiang... '
"It's okay, Zewu-Jun." Jiang Cheng glanced at the part Lan Xichen had been sleeping off a minute ago before looking back at Lan Xichen. "The rock doesn't look comfortable at all, so..." he stopped midway. What did he want to say? So what? So he didn't want to see Lan Xichen stay in such an uncomfortable place? So he moved Lan Xichen to his shoulder and hoped that Lan Xichen found it a bit more comfortable? Since when did he care so much about Lan Xichen's well-being? Soon, Jiang Cheng felt his face grew warm as the pink flush decorated both his cheeks and ears. "...I uh, let's try to look around the forest once again." Jiang Cheng stood up as he tried to change the topic.
Lan Xichen, still holding Jiang Cheng's outer robe, smiled as he too followed Jiang Cheng and stood up. "Thank you, Sect Leader Jiang," he opened his mouth, "for your advice, handkerchief, shoulder, and robe." He then offered the robe back to Jiang Cheng. He didn't want Jiang Cheng to be cold without that robe. "I feel so much better now. I really needed that conversation last night, I believe."
Jiang Cheng turned around to face Lan Xichen. The moment Lan Xichen's smile filled Jiang Cheng's vision, Jiang Cheng let out a relieved sigh. Maybe Lan Xichen was simply being kind to him, but hearing those sentences from Lan Xichen made him feel happy. True, he himself hadn't been able to do what he told Lan Xichen to do, but the thought of being a little bit of help for Lan Xichen, no matter how small it was, was enough to satisfy Jiang Cheng. "We're comrades, right?"
Lan Xichen chuckled. "Yes, we are. However, Sect Leader Jiang, I feel like I haven't done anything for you."
"But you have helped me a lot, Zewu-Jun." Jiang Cheng stretched his body. "You may or may not remember, but you have saved me before. So, don't say that." Jiang Cheng then wore his outer robe back. "Let's go." And so, with a nod from Lan Xichen, they both went back to the forest, trying to find the source of the problem and also the rest of Yunmeng Jiang Sect's disciples.
Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen walked around the forest again, marking spots that they had passed. If they returned to a place with the mark Jiang Cheng made with Zidian, they would choose another route. Now having the sun as the source of the light surely made it easier for them to recognise the place. After walking some more, they saw one of Yunmeng Jiang Sect's disciple lying on the ground. Jiang Cheng's face grew tensed as he immediately sprinted towards to check the condition of his disciple.
Lan Xichen followed closely at the back as he watched Jiang Cheng turned the disciple around. Lan Xichen's face quickly turned darker the moment he saw the disciple was severely injured. He quickly squatted down next to Jiang Cheng to check whether the disciple was still alive or not. He touched the disciple's wrist and couldn't feel anything. He looked up still with his grim expression and caught Jiang Cheng's face.
Now, the expression Jiang Cheng wore on his face was nothing like the gentle one he showed Lan Xichen earlier--now, the expression was something everyone usually saw on Jiang Cheng's face: a pissed off one which was enough to scare everyone away. Jiang Cheng picked up his disciple and made him lean on a tree before turning Zidian back to its whip form. Zidian, which usually was in the colour of purple like Yunmeng Jiang Sect's colour, now in a colour that resembled white. On his right hand, Jiang Cheng gripped Sandu tightly.
After walking a bit further, Lan Xichen saw several huge footprints of an animal, most probably the tiger along with the trace of resentment energy. He tapped Jiang Cheng's shoulder before pointing at his findings on the ground. Lan Xichen looked at Jiang Cheng and mouthed, "This. Way." Lan Xichen tried to sharpen his senses as he followed the direction which the resentment energy came from.
Jiang Cheng followed Lan Xichen along with the sizzling sound that Zidian continuously created. Soon after, they saw a white tiger, brooming itself. The size of the tiger was abnormally big compared to a normal tiger. However, the tiger's size couldn't scare either of Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng. The tiger was not only big, however, but there was also some strange black fog around it that if people only took a glance, people might have thought the colour of the tiger was grey instead of white. Being in the cultivation world for so long, this was not something strange or scary in their eyes. Jiang Cheng unsheathed Sandu as he approached the tiger, armed by both Sandu and Zidian on each hand.
The tiger immediately noticed Jiang Cheng's and Lan Xichen's presents, and it made sure those two knees that they were not welcome in its territory. The tiger angrily roared at Jiang Cheng, but no sound could be heard by both Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen. At that moment, Lan Xichen finally understood why they couldn't hear anything while being in the forest. It was all the tiger's doing. If the prey couldn't hear any sounds made by living creatures, then the tiger would find it easier to capture its prey. Lan Xichen was hesitant in using Liebing at first, thinking that his xiao would probably have no effect. However, when he remembered that he could hear Jiang Cheng's bell sound yesterday, he quickly pulled Liebing and put it in front of his mouth.
Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng was already in full battle mode and charged at the tiger. Zidian was launched towards the tiger, but the tiger managed to avoid it. Seeing that, Jiang Cheng's frown grew deeper. The tiger then used its claw, trying to attack Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng managed to dodge the attack using Sandu. He pulled Zidian back and slammed some whips on the ground, releasing some of his frustration before charging towards the tiger once again. When Jiang Cheng was about to use Zidian to hit the tiger once again, the sound of Liebing could be heard. As the song which Jiang Cheng didn't know its name was played, the movement of the tiger slowed down as well. Using that chance, Jiang Cheng used Zidian to tie the front legs of the tiger, causing it to fall on the ground. Jiang Cheng then killed the tiger using Sandu before sheathed it back.
Lan Xichen held Liebing on his right hand as he saw Jiang Cheng holding down the tiger using Zidian. He couldn't help but took some seconds to admire the sight. He heard that Jiang Cheng was good at fighting, especially using Zidian. People said that he used it as well as his late mother, Yu Ziyuan, if not better. However, Lan Xichen had never witnessed it with his own eyes before. Even during the Sunshot Campaign, the one who joined forces with Jiang Cheng was Wangji. Now that he finally managed to see the Sandu Shengshou in action, Lan Xichen admired him silently.
"Sect Leader Jiang," Lan Xichen tried calling Jiang Cheng, and when he turned around, Lan Xichen then once again was convinced that the voice thing was the doing of the tiger. After checking the condition of the tiger and making sure that it really died, Lan Xichen rose up and said, "I'll search for Yunmeng Jiang's disciples over there."
"Thank you, Zewu-Jun. I'll look over there," Jiang Cheng said as he walked towards the opposite direction from Lan Xichen.
After searching for a while, Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen found everyone. However, they lost two of the disciples, one heavily injured, while the rest was found unconscious with light injuries. They decided to go back to Yunmeng immediately.
"Zewu-Jun, thank you once again for your assistance," Jiang Cheng said as he bowed to Lan Xichen the moment they arrived at Lotus Pier.
Lan Xichen stopped Jiang Cheng from bowing and smiled at him. "I'm glad I can help you, Sect Leader Jiang."
"Please stay for a while in Lotus Pier to take some rest, Zewu-Jun." Jiang Cheng didn't know what to offer as a token of his gratitude to Lan Xichen besides offering his hospitality in Lotus Pier.
Still, with a smile on his face, Lan Xichen nodded. "Thank you very much, Sect Leader Jiang. I guess I'll bother you for some more days."
"It's not a bother at all," Jiang Cheng shook his head. It was not only because of the sense of gratitude Jiang Cheng felt towards Lan Xichen that he said that. He really meant it. He never found Lan Xichen's presence a bother at all. On the contrary, he quite liked it if he could be honest. After all, Lan Xichen was the first person he could consider a friend after so long.
When the sky slowly turned dark, Lan Xichen was now fully rested. For Lan Xichen, Lotus Pier was indeed a beauty. He got out of his room again to enjoy the evening sky he hadn't experienced yet. He heard the cheerful chattings of the disciples as they played around. Some younger disciples were running around while hugging a kite each. The sight brought a smile to Lan Xichen's lips. In Cloud Recesses, no one played around like the way they did in Lotus Pier thanks to Gusu Lan Sect's strict rules.
That evening, Lan Xichen was not the only one who decided to enjoy the beauty of Lotus Pier. The Sect Leader of Yunmeng Jiang Sect also had the same idea in his mind. When he walked around, he caught sight of white robe flowing gracefully along with the white forehead ribbon that was decorated by cloud pattern motives. Jiang Cheng stopped his step briefly. From the spot where he stood, the sight of Lan Xichen being surrounded by lotuses looked so ethereal that Jiang Cheng wished he could hire a painter right on the spot to immortalise the sight. "Zewu-Jun, good evening," Jiang Cheng strolled towards Lan Xichen, "I hope the rest was good."
Lan Xichen turned around and smiled when he saw Jiang Cheng. "Good evening, Sect Leader Jiang. Yes, I'm fully recharged now."
"That's good," Jiang Cheng replied. His face didn't show any usual scowl he usually had whenever he was training his disciples or the furious frown he showed earlier that day. Jiang Cheng glanced at Lan Xichen, who was now watching the lotus again. He did plant many lotuses around the area of the Jiang residence, but he knew somewhere near his residence where you could find more lotuses blooming. It was a place where he, Wei Wuxian, and other disciples around his age loved playing at when he was young. Maybe he could bring him there? "Zewu-Jun, do you love lotus?"
Lan Xichen nodded. "They are gorgeous," he said without moving from his spot, "they hold a different kind of beauty from the magnolia in Gusu, but the beauty of lotuses is so out of this world, yet seem so close to you at the same time, as if they let everyone enjoy their beauty. Especially the one here." He then glanced at Jiang Cheng. Little known to Sect Leader Jiang, Lan Xichen did it purposefully. He still couldn't forget the image of Jiang Cheng fighting against the white tiger from before; such a magnificent image couldn't be easily erased, after all. However, every time Lan Xichen found a relaxed expression played on Jiang Cheng's face, it seemed as if Sect Leader Jiang was not as harsh and strict as people kept saying. Just like the lotus, Jiang Cheng was both 'out of this world' and 'close to you', and maybe a bit approachable once you got to know him. Lan Xichen decided not to say anything more and simply ended his compliment with a smile, hoping Jiang Cheng would get it anyway.
Jiang Cheng knew perfectly well that Lan Xichen was talking about flowers, not about him despite his wishful thinking. However, for some reason, the words of compliments from Lan Xichen about Lotus Pier's lotus managed to make Jiang Cheng blush—as if the one that was complimented was him instead of the blooming lotus. He looked away from Lan Xichen, trying to hide the pink flush on his cheeks while also convincing himself that Lan Xichen was complimenting the lotuses and not him. It was somehow easier than he thought, though; after all, how could someone as great as Lan Xichen think so highly of someone like him, right? "I-if you like lotus that much, I know a place which has even more lotuses than this place," he said while scratching his head, "and it's not far from here...meaning I can take you there now...if you want."
Lan Xichen rose up immediately as his smile grew brighter. "If you don't mind, Sect Leader Jiang."
A small boat made of wood was now floating on the water near the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's resident. On that boat, two sect leaders were sitting face to face from each other, legs touching. The paddles gently moved next to the boat, rippling the water around them. Soon enough, a familiar place for the one who paddled the boat came into their sights. Seemingly hundreds of lotuses bloomed as if they tried to imitate a blanket. In his mind, several kids were already jumping onto the water as they played around. Playing fighting with the paddles, turning the boats upside down, stealing the lotus pods to the point causing the old man who took care of the area chased them away—named it, and there was a big possibility that those kids had done all of the shenanigans one could think of. That mental image always played in his head whenever he came there — such a beautiful place for a beautiful past.
Noticing Jiang Cheng's expression turned even softer, Lan Xichen was in awe. He could never guess he would ever get the chance to see that in his lifetime. He wanted to turn away to see what Jiang Cheng had brought him to see, but the soft yet sad smile in front of him made him unable to look away. If Lan Xichen was not careful enough, he might have tried to hug Jiang Cheng to shoo away the loneliness he felt that was as clear as day. He was grateful to both Young Master Wei and Wangji for suggesting him to visit Yunmeng. "Beautiful," Lan Xichen murmured under his breath.
Lan Xichen's voice pulled him back. Jiang Cheng quickly turned around to see Lan Xichen and nodded. "It is, isn't it? I used to come here a lot when I was young," he said as he stopped the paddles from moving, "running away from my mother whenever she caught us slacking off during our daily training." The moment he tried to recall some of his childhood memories, it was as if he couldn't stop. "Especially during summer. Yunmeng is especially hot during summer, so back then, this was our favourite playground." He then shut his mouth all of a sudden. The word 'our' slipped so easily off his mouth. The word that he used to use to refer to his brother and him—Yunmeng's Shuang Jie. Trying to distract his own thoughts, he looked up at Lan Xichen, "What did you usually do when you were young, Zewu-Jun?"
Lan Xichen smiled hearing Jiang Cheng talked so fondly of his childhood. "Nothing as fun as you." He closed his eyes as he tried to remember the old days when both Wangji and he were nothing but children. "Since both Wangji and I were young, our uncle has always been the one who takes care of us," he smiled at the memory where Lan Qiren taught them about the Gusu Lan Sect rules, "my uncle has always been so strict, but I know he does that out of love and worry for both Wangji and me."
Jiang Cheng remembered learning about the previous Gusu Lan's Sect Leader and his wife. If he recalled correctly, Qingheng-Jun had always been in secluded meditation while his wife, Madam Lan, had a severe illness which prevented her from interacting with the outside world. Having that knowledge, Jiang Cheng couldn't bear to think of how lonely Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji were when they were small. Even though he also had an extremely strict mother, Jiang Cheng could still have a proper childhood experience with both Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian by his side.
Lan Xichen glanced back at the lotuses around them. The gentle scenery that filled his eyes and all of the talk about childhood reminded him of his own mother. A gentle lady who had a good sense of humour was probably how Lan Xichen would say should he describe his mother. He sometimes wished that he could share beautiful sceneries such as this one with his mother. However, he remembered whenever he told his complained about this to his mother, his mother would only smile and try to make jokes to distract him. He had never heard any complaints coming out of her gentle mouth.
"Your uncle must be really proud with you and Lan Wangji then," Jiang Cheng said, "you two are the role models of our generation."
Lan Xichen chuckled. "For Wangji, surely he's still the role model until now. For me, however..."
That was it. That was Jiang Cheng's last straw. He had been trying to be gentle around Lan Xichen, considering the fact that he didn't want to make Lan Xichen feel even more stressed since it was his stupid brother's idea to send Zewu-Jun his way for a vacation. However, hearing Lan Xichen being so oblivious of the fact finally pissed him off. "How dare you think so lowly of yourself, Zewu-Jun," Jiang Cheng's usual frown suddenly showed up again between his brows, "Do you think just because you're in seclusion for a while now means you are not as great as you used to be?"
"Sect Leader Jiang, I--"
"You what? You don't realise your good quality is all," Jiang Cheng let out a huff, "if you still doubt your skill, you should remember how you helped me dealing with that damn tiger from before." He tightened his grip on the paddles' handles and continued, "I was not just being polite when I told you that your assistance earlier was a big help."
Even though right now he was clearly being scolded, Lan Xichen found the entire situation quite amusing. When he first saw Jiang Cheng's frown, he got worried that he had accidentally offended him in some way. However, the moment he realised the reason behind Jiang Cheng's scolding, he somehow felt that Jiang Cheng was quite a funny man. Lan Xichen then accidentally let out a soft chuckle while listening to Jiang Cheng's continuous lecture.
"You find this amusing, Zewu-Jun?" Jiang Cheng widened his eyes. Even Jin Ling didn't dare to smile during his lecture, let alone chuckle. "If you still have the time to chuckle, Zewu-Jun, use the effort to believe in your ability yourself!"
Between his chuckle, Lan Xichen managed to insert some yes and nods, which made Jiang Cheng sigh heavily. After Lan Xichen finally managed to calm down, he threw a soft smile at Jiang Cheng who was fidgeting his hands with the paddles half angrily in Lan Xichen's eyes. Spending time with Jiang Cheng truly made him realise so many things about the most feared Sect Leader Jiang. 'Can I see more sides of you that no one knows if I spend more time with you? ' Lan Xichen thought to himself as he put his hands inside his sleeves. Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind. "Sect Leader Jiang, do you mind if I call you Jiang Wanyin?"
If Jiang Cheng were drinking something that time, he surely would have choked. Jiang Cheng immediately turned his head around and looked at Lan Xichen with a surprised face. "Wait. What?" He let go of the paddles that he had been playing with ever since they got onto the boat.
Thinking that Jiang Cheng didn't approve his request, Lan Xichen quickly shook his head. Did Lan Xichen have too much fun that he overstayed his welcome? "I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries."
"N-No, no, I didn't say you couldn't, Zewu-Jun," Jiang Cheng tried to drift his eyes away from Lan Xichen's face, "I'm just surprised. That's all." He truly was. No one ever called him by his name anymore. Everyone called him 'Sect Leader Jiang' out of both fear and respect. The moment Jiang Cheng heard his name being called by Lan Xichen was the moment he finally realised how lonely he felt all this time. He knew it, but he never wanted to admit it. He believed that by accepting that loneliness, it would just make him weak. Hearing his name again coming out of another person's mouth felt...strangely nice. It felt like he could finally be himself again; not the feared Sect Leader Jiang or, as much as he loved Jin Ling, the strict uncle of Sect Leader Jin, but himself--Jiang Cheng, Jiang Wanyin .
Lan Xichen's eyes lit up. "So, I can call you Jiang Wanyin?" After receiving a nod from Jiang Cheng, Lan Xichen smiled as his fingers gently stroke the purple handkerchief he received from Jiang Cheng back in that cave in his sleeve. "Then please call me by my name too, Jiang Wanyin."