Chapter Text
It started with a bang. Or perhaps, more like a crash. There Wei Wuxian was, just painting a dumb image of Jiang Cheng in the corner of what was supposed to be notes from another stuffy, boring lecture from Lan Qiren. It should have been a boring day. Maybe after lectures, he and Jiang Cheng would try and take Nie Huaisang fishing again, or try some spicy peanuts their friend had gotten, but surely today wouldn’t be special. He spent half an incense stick whispering to Lan Zhan, only to have yet another paper man crushed in the Jade’s hand, so really, there was nothing at all to be remarkable about today.
Then it banged, or, perhaps, more like a crash. The standing room in the lecture hall was filled with even more teenagers than had been there just seconds previously. Even Wei Wuxian dropped his brush, reeling back on his stool in shock. The students whispered as the new teenagers half fell over themselves, with not enough room to stand, and others struggled to keep their balance. Some were in Jin Gold. There was a handful in red or blue like the Ouyang Sect, but so many were in the Disciple white of the Lans, complete with the little head ribbon.
“Ow, get off of me!” A Jin said. He had a red dot on his forehead, and from the embroidery, had to be someone high ranking for his age. He couldn’t be older than Wei Wuxian. Most of them couldn’t. The Jin shoved hard, knocking over an Ouyang teen. “You’re on my thigh, Zizhen!”
“It’s not my-” This Zizhen said. He yanked hard, grunting as he tried to pull his leg free. “Fault!”
“Dad,” someone said. Jiang Cheng reached forward, putting a hand on Wei Wuxian and he pulled, getting him closer and further away from all the mass of strangers. A Lan boy who had a small, dark freckle on his cheek, leant down in front of Wei Wuxian. “Dad, why are you wearing white disciple robes?”
“Ah?” Wei Wuxian blanked. He was talking to him. The disciple was talking to him and staring at him so earnestly. Jiang Cheng’s grip tightened on his shoulder, pulling him further back.
Another Lan stood from the mess, finally extracting himself from the tangled limbs. He put his hand on his hips and grouched. “No! No! That’s not something I want to see. I hated it the first time, it doesn’t need to get any worse now!”
“Jingyi,” The boy who called him dad said over his shoulder. “What now?”
“No!” The Lan boy Jingyi pointed angrily at Wei Wuxian. “I know your parents love it when Senior Wei plays dress up and pretends to be a good Lan disciple, but why is your uncle getting involved now?”
The Lan boy who called him dad turned back to him, and his eyes finally glanced towards Jiang Cheng. His eyes widened in terror, and he quickly stood up.
“Hanguang-Jun,” Zizhen asked, kneeling by … by Lan Zhan? Why was he calling Lan Zhan Hanguang-Jun? That was an awesome title, but they were just kids, what the hell? “Why are you sitting there?”
It seemed more of the strangers had realized Lan Zhan was there. There was a chorus of it now, all saying Hanguang-Jun, Hanguang-Jun.
“What the hell is going on?” Jiang Cheng asked loudly. He wasn’t the only one. Even Jin Zixuan had a tightening grip on his sword handle as if he suspected these confusing teens to make something worse, and some of his cousins were muttering and asking similar questions.
“How did we get back to Cloud Recesses?” Zizhen asked Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan’s eyes were slightly wide, the only way Wei Wuxian knew that the Jade had any sort of feelings of bewilderment that everyone else was feeling. “It’s such a far distance from the night hunting camp. Hanguang-Jun, we swear we didn’t do anything wrong; we were this close to the panther yao.”
“Silence!” Lan Qiren demanded. All the normal students, still sat properly in their seats even if they were reaching for their swords, clammed up tight.
Some of the… new ones, however, only turned and sent wary looks towards Lan Qiren, and did not heed his instructions. The high-ranking strange Jin stood, dusting himself off in distaste. Zizhen turned right back to Lan Zhan and spoke. “Hanguang-Jun, did you use a teleporting talisman? That’s so much energy to get us all through, Senior Wei will be so worried.”
“Wasn’t Senior Wei with us?” The high-ranking strange Jin pointed towards Wei Wuxian. “Wearing his normal robes?”
“Stop pointing at me,” Wei Wuxian said. Senior Wei. Dad. Whatever was going on was twisting his stomach in nerves. He put his hand over Jiang Cheng’s, returning the tightening hold Jiang Cheng had on him, pulling him into a protective hug from the back. “You’re freaking me out.”
“I said, silence!” Lan Qiren’s face was turning red. Normally, that was a shade Wei Wuxian only saw when the teacher was yelling at him, so it was feat. He doubted Lan Qiren was at all used to repeating himself. Especially not to students who were so clearly dressed as Lans.
“I’m thinking,” The Lan (seriously, Lan Qiren just told them to quiet down, they were brazen) who called Wei Wuxian dad said. He stood, backing into the small aisle between desks. “Maybe we should be very careful what we say.”
“What’s going on?” The Jingyi one said.
“Those aren’t any Lan robes, those are the traveling student disciple robes and Uncle is wearing them, too.” The first Lan said.
“Yeah, I know, it’s weird,” Jingyi tilted his head to the side.
“Why did you call me dad?” Wei Wuxian protested. Only the two Lans seemed to hear him. The first one flinched hard, even pulling his hands up to his chest in distaste. The Jingyi one paled like he had been stabbed in the stomach.
“Uh, Ha- Hanguang- Jun?” Zizhen asked. He was sounding far more nervous now. “What’s going on?”
“We should be asking you that,” Lan Qiren stood to his full height. Wei Wuxian had to wonder if he was plotting the disrespectful teens murder now. “How did you get here? Who are you? You have failed to enter respectfully and introduce yourselves, much less show honor to the host!”
They looked bewildered towards Lan Qiren but didn’t move their mouths. They almost looked as bewildered as Lan Zhan. For the first time since the bang, or the crash, it was quiet. The nervous Lan stood in the middle of the aisle, his pretty white Lan robes draped perfectly positioned around his posture, but there was no distracting from that growing, worried look on his face. They all turned to Lan Zhan, as if they expected him to fix all their problems.
From their behavior, maybe they did.
Lan Zhan stared back at them, but his eyes glanced – so quick, Wei Wuxian could only tell because he was checking intently (not for any real reason, he was only curious of course) – to Lan Qiren and back again. He seemed to take a moment to steady himself, before speaking. Lan Zhan said, “Answer him.”
The strangers stood at his command, and most of them turned, hands forward in a mostly polite bow. Wei Wuxian had never bowed at that depth towards Lan Qiren, he would have gone a little deeper. Most of them, Jiang Cheng, Yanli and Nie Huaisang, would have bowed more deeply. By that deepening red shade, he was quite sure that Lan Qiren noticed.
That Lan boy spoke first. “Teacher Lan. I am Lan Sizhui. I believe my class and I may have had an incident on a night hunt.”
An incident on the night hunt. Wei Wuxian knew that wording very well. He was pretty sure he had used it himself at some point. A great way to tip toe around blame, by simply saying an incident occurred, there was no person to lay fault to. Unless the person listening was Madam Yu – then of course, it would be his fault. It probably was, anyway… she was probably right.
“We have no Lan Sizhui.”
Lan Sizhui, the one who was so concerned over Wei Wuxian, lowered his hands. The other Lan that had spoken clear enough to be heard before, Jingyi, frowned. Worry was brimming over his face, and he stared Wei Wuxian in the face, studying his robes, his hair. He huffed, “not yet, you don’t.”
Sizhui smacked his side.
“Speak plainly!” Lan Qiren said. He wasn’t yelling. There was probably some rule about yelling that he was obeying, despite the pure anger and tension in his tone that made his feelings very clear. It was probably right up there with speak plainly.
Some of the strangers looked to Lan Zhan again. Lan Zhan worked his jaw, and Wei Wuxian had to wonder if this was about to be the most the poor sheltered Lan ever spoke in a single day. “Answer him.”
Sizhui and Jingyi bowed again, the same depth as before. “Teacher Lan. We seem to have fallen through time.”
“This is ridiculous.” Jiang Cheng was right. It was ridiculous. Most of the students – the real students, from right now, were dismissed, despite the grumbling desires to witness whatever hell was about to go down. Yanli helped convince many to go, ushering them out through the door while the future teens stayed.
Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian did to – they had to.
“Look at you! So handsome!” Wei Wuxian cheered. Lan Sizhui laughed awkwardly; his chin pointed down to the ground.
“Dad, I’m nineteen.” Sizhui said, as if that would save him from Wei Wuxian’s teasings.
“He must take after his mother.” Jiang Cheng nudged Wei Wuxian with his elbow.
“Hey! You’re just jealous I have such a handsome son!”
“Who knows if he really is!” Jiang Cheng pointed out. “This could all be some sick joke from someone.”
"A horrible joke," Lan Qiren spoke. "As if a respectable Lan would marry someone as undisciplined as Wei Wuxian."
It cut deep, but Lan Qiren probably had a point. What exactly had to happen for him... to end up with a Lan? Wei Wuxian tilted his head, glancing back over the students. Most of them seemed to fall behind four of them, perhaps the highest ranked. Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Ouyang Zizhen, and the stubborn Jin boy seemed to lead the large grouping, like they were in charge when their seniors were out.
Those four seemed to prefer taking their cues from Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan. It was seriously weird, and hilariously pissing off Lan Qiren. It was also incredibly, incredibly disconcerting.
“He has a point.” Wei Wuxian said. What kind of tricks would he have to pull, what bizarre behavior, would marry him to a Lan? Lan Qiren was right. It probably wasn't so straightforward as falling in love. He was no Lan's standard or type. “I mean, can you prove to us that you’re from the future? Some clue, maybe, as to how... this happened?”
“How are we meant to do that?” The lead Jin boy said. He scoffed, shoving his head up to the ceiling. “You’re all too young. Most of what we know about you comes later.”
“Can you tell us about the future?”
“Sorry, dad. You probably shouldn’t even know that you’re my dad,” Sizhui shrugged appealingly. “I don’t want to do something that might cause my friends to not be born.”
“Do you think that can happen?” Zizhen asked nervously.
“No,” The Jin boy said. “I mean, it would be paradoxical, wouldn’t it? If you say something that spirals their actions into not having the correct child, then you wouldn’t be born. Then you wouldn’t be able to come back and say the thing that erased you, and you would be born to come back.”
“Everything we do could change things, Jin Ling,” Sizhui said.
“I’m not saying that’s not true.”
“Whatever the case may be regarding erasing ourselves, we should try to limit our effects here,” Sizhui said.
“But think of all the pain we could ease!” Zizhen protested. “I don’t know if I could live with myself. We know how ba- … what happens.”
Zizhen frowned to himself and stared at his feet.
“We would still be risking coming back to a world we don’t exist in,” Sizhui said.
“I’m thinking they might be serious,” Wei Wuxian whispered to Jiang Cheng, his head slightly turned to his shoulder to line up with Jiang Cheng’s ear.
His brother huffed. “Whatever. I still want proof.”
Sizhui frowned for a moment, before he spoke. “Once, Uncle, you had three puppies. They were taken from you, and you were very upset. However, later on, you promised to never again have dogs, and to always protect Dad from them.”
Sizhui shifted, as if he wanted to say more about that regard, but he didn’t. Wei Wuxian felt his cheeks darken. The last thing he needed was for Lan Zhan to think he needed protection from puppies. It seemed, because his luck was that terrible, Lan Zhan heard every word, staring at him with that Lan look of confusion painted over an unmoving face. “Ah, ah, Lan Zhan, you don’t need to listen to them. It’s nothing!”
Jiang Cheng groused. “It seems they know some things. I can’t believe you have a son, a Lan son. He should be Jiang.”
Lan Qiren seemed to be on his side. “Of that there is no doubt. We’ll see how much his discipline lacks like his father."
"Actually, I’m-” Sizhui started. Jingyi slammed a hand over his mouth.
“Follow your own rules,” Jingyi said. Wei Wuxian stared blankly. Countering a teacher, a very senior teacher, the brother to a sect leader and grandmaster all in one? Who the hell were these kids? Who taught them to be so bold? So-
“Disrespectful.” Lan Qiren said. “Who taught you?”
“You did, for a while,” Jingyi said. There was chittering around the future disciples, and Wei Wuxian looked up. Some had hands and sleeves over their faces, others were just openly giggling amongst themselves. His eyes widened – now laughing in the face of a teacher?
Oh, Wei Wuxian laughed at Lan Qiren and made fun of him, but he did that far away and unseen, by anyone but his brother! And Nie Huaisang, but that did not count. The point was it was in front of close confidants only. He laughed awkwardly and quickly wrapped his arm around Sizhui’s shoulder.
“Perhaps we can take a break and help everyone settle in, ah?” Wei Wuxian offered. “My son can stay with me and Jiang Cheng in our dorm! I can interrogate him all night.”
“Absolutely not,” Lan Qiren said. “We must send them back, if they are from the future, as soon as possible.”
“Teacher Lan,” Wei Wuxian bowed. He heard someone click their tongue – one of the future students? Where they mad at his respect? “We are talking about time travel. This is not something that would be solved in one afternoon. Not unless our dear travelers saw what happened and know already how to reverse it.”
“Some kind of array?” Zizhen offered. The students mumbled in agreement.
“If it’s an array, I’m sure dad will have it solved in no time.” Sizhui said. Though Sizhui didn’t bow, his friends certainly did, and there was a round of stoic, polite Senior Wei.
Senior Wei. That. Was so. Weird. Wei Wuxian laughed nervously and gripped onto Jiang Cheng’s arm. “Jiang Cheng, I’m worried.”
“You’re worried? This is a nightmare.” Jiang Cheng whispered back.
“You must tell us everything leading up to your arrival here,” Lan Qiren said. “Immediately.”
“Actually, finding out where we might sleep tonight sounds really good to me.” A yet un-introduced Lan boy said. His friends seemed to agree, mumbling and nodding their heads in complete disregard for their elder. Wei Wuxian laughed nervously.
“Dad, could we see your dorm?” Sizhui asked. “Though I guess we can’t really stay there. I’m sure there’s a limit to the beds in there, and we should try to not say too much.”
“Yeah, sure,” Wei Wuxian said. “Though I can’t imagine it’s very different from the dorms of your time. We didn’t exactly decorate.”
Sizhui shrugged. “It would still be nice. And perhaps Hanguang-Jun can show us where to really stay.”
“I have not dismissed you.” Lan Qiren insisted.
“Senior Wei is right.” The Jin boy stepped forward with the confidence of a grandmaster. “We simply cannot figure it out immediately. I know everyone will feel better about the situation once we know we have somewhere to sleep at night.”
He stepped forward without a single glance backwards. The other disciples began filing out after him, the Lans lining up without a care in the world as the Jin clambered after the one with the red dot centered on his brow. Wei Wuxian swallowed a ball of nerves in his throat, glanced once to Jiang Cheng at his right, then across the aisle to Lan Zhan. “I suppose we should… go after them?”
Lan Zhan huffed. Lan Qiren was close to roaring.
“The absolute disrespect.” The teacher said. He glared towards Wei Wuxian. The man’s thoughts were left unsaid, but Wei Wuxian didn’t need ears to be able to hear it. This is your doing. You’re the senior, they learned from you. Wei Wuxian looked down, utterly mollified by the silence.
Lan Zhan stepped forward and pushed his way out. It seemed at least he was on board with getting the students set up enough that they would try and listen. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian followed, walking neat and prim for as long as they were in the school hall.
Then they began pushing each other. “I can’t believe you have a son!”
“It’s not my fault I’m prettier than you!” Wei Wuxian shoved back.
“He’s a Lan!” Jiang Cheng said. “Oh, look at you, getting stuck with all three thousand rules for the rest of your life.”
“Watch me! My roguish ways are going to get me a beautiful lady and we have a beautiful sun together.” Wei Wuxian said. He wrapped his arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulder as they walked. The traveler students were watching them with oddly wide eyes, and even Lan Zhan peaked back over his shoulder. “Besides. I bet we spend plenty of time in Lotus Pier. How else would I be both your second and his father at the same time?”
“Please. How are you getting a Lan? They all hate you. Even Lan Zhan barely tolerates you being around.”
Wei Wuxian pulled Jiang Cheng’s head under his arm. They were all laughing all in good fun, as he wrestled and yelled, “Have respect for your big brother!”
Jingyi watched in amazement. He couldn’t tell if Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng were fighting or not. They seemed to be using fighting words – if Hanguang-Jun ever heard Jiang Cheng speak like that, he was likely to shove the handle of his sword at Sect Leader Jiang’s shoulder. But Senior Wei was laughing, and they were chasing each other around the pathway. They were just kids. They easily could have been younger than he and his friends were. Jingyi tugged on Zizhen’s sleeve.
“Are they fighting?” He whispered.
Zizhen leaned back. “I think they’re getting along.”
“Impossible,” Jingyi said. “How could they get along?”
Even Jin Ling watched in somewhat amazement. He knew Sect Leader Jiang best, was far more witness to the endless shattered temper. His eyes followed Jiang Cheng unblinking as he ran up the path, chasing after Wei Wuxian, only for them to turn around and dart back the opposite way. Never straying too far from the group, always close at hand and playful.
Somehow.
“No running,” Hanguang-Jun said. Wei Wuxian paused, allowing enough time for Jiang Cheng to grab on to his shoulder, winning their unnamed game of tag with a short burst of air.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, you will have to get used to me running in Cloud Recesses!” Wei Wuxian declared. “One of your lady Lans will love me, and you will have to be my friend.”
“How the hell do you think you’ll make a Lan love you?” Jiang Cheng asked. Wei Wuxian froze. Jingyi could almost see the ice water the too-young Senior Wei seemed to swim in. His posture straightened as his eyes dead-eyed stared ahead.
“Oh, my gods. Madam Yu sold me to the Lans.”
Sizhui stepped forward, as if to try and calm the situation, but he didn’t get a chance. Before anyone could do anything, Hanguang-Jun spun around, advancing on the Lotus Pier duo with a frightening ferocity.
“We are not,” He spat out. “In the business of buying people.”
“Ah, ah, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian stumbled over his words. “I didn’t mean like that.”
“You are not something to be sold.”
“Lan Zhan, it’s okay,” Wei Wuxian said. “I just mean… Madam Yu realized my best worth and a way to get me out of her hair was through a marriage alliance. I just didn’t think she’d ever go through with it.”
“Maybe it’s not so bad,” Jiang Cheng said quietly. “I mean, you did your duty and had a son. He’s not ugly, so … she must be a nice-looking Lan. Even if you don’t get along, you can always come back to Lotus Pier and be my second hand.”
“I suppose.” Wei Wuxian said, but his voice was far too soft. “It makes sense she would want me to be miserable in a place like Cloud Recesses.”
“Dad, it’s not like that,” Sizhui said. His voice was quiet, too, as he reached forward for Wei Wuxian.
“Oh, Sizhui! I’m sure it’s not by the time you come around! You probably made it all worth it.” Wei Wuxian sighed and shook his head. “I guess it just means I shouldn’t flirt so much. Not if there is a contract in my future. But I’m sure it’s okay!”
He patted Sizhui’s shoulder. “Plenty of people have arranged marriages and are fine. Lan Zhan! Do you think it’s possible for me to get along with my Lady Lan?”
Hanguang-Jun furled his lip and gritted out, “Ridiculous.”
Jingyi could practically feel Sizhui breaking into pieces next to him. Senior Wei’s face fell, and he looked down to the ground. He seemed so forlorn for a moment, for two, before a bright smile forced its way across his face. “That settles that then. I shall just live for my son and my siblings then. What do you think, Jiang Cheng? We should probably get these guys to their rooms so we can get to work.
Wei Wuxian pulled on Sect Leader Jiang’s forearm, yanking him up the path with none of the fun he had just moments ago.
“Did.” Sizhui paused for a long moment, frozen on the path. Hanguang-Jun had moved up, stalking to get ahead of them and properly lead them to the spare quarters. “Did I just watch my parent’s marriage fall apart?”
“I doubt that,” Zizhen clapped a comforting hand on Sizhui’s shoulder, the other hand holding his arm. “They’re Senior Wei and Hanguang-Jun! They’ll be okay.”
“Not if dad is all solemn and doesn’t flirt!” Sizhui protested. “Not if father thinks he’s taken by someone else! Or was – was!”
“Sold,” Jingyi supplied.
“Exactly!” Sizhui whispered harshly.
“We’re not leaving just yet,” Zizhen promised. “I’m sure in a few days we’ll see Senior Wei go back to his normal self. It will all be fine.”
“No, it won’t.” Jin Ling said. Jingyi elbowed him hard, glaring. “What? That was my mother back there. Am I the only one of us that actually managed to keep my trap shut? And my dead parents were right there, I – I - ”
Jin Ling shut his eyes tight. His lip wobbled dangerously, and Zizhen let go of Sizhui to try and comfort him. Sizhui pouted but didn’t protest.
“It will all be okay,” Zizhen promised. “Maybe it’s a good thing! You can get to know your parents. And Sizhui! I’m sure we can fix what just happened and make sure yours get together, too. It will all be fine.”
“And then we get home?” Jingyi asked. “Somehow?”
“I’m sure Senior Wei can fix that, too.”