The Path In-Between

Chapter 2: Cloud Recesses, A Different Welcome

It was a normal day. Well, as normal as it could be when the news of the Yiling Laozu's disappearance was seemingly broadcasted through everyone's mouth all over the Cultivation world. There were many times that the gatekeepers of the Cloud Recesses would wish gossiping was not against the rules. It would provide at least some relief from a boring task as such. Today, however, was not one such time.

The guards were alarmed when a man in filthy dark robes and long hair limped with great difficulty into their view. His face was not visible as it seemed to be focused on the ground. Upon closer inspection, a tiny hand could be seen, curled around the man's collar.

They were pushed out of their shock when the man lifted his head -revealing features that could definitely rival that of their Hunguang-Jun's- and a plea for help rung out of his dry lips.

One pushed forward to catch the young man as he crumbled to the ground while the other left to alert the clan leader and the main family of this occurrence.

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Wei WuXian, to his astonishment, was led inside without any questions once the guard who had left to report his presence returned. He walked with the guard who had returned inside the recesses while the other maintained his position at the entrance once more.

Walking inside did not rekindle any memories for Wei WuXian. This was not really surprising as the first time he'd entered the Cloud Recesses was not by walking in the doors, but by scaling the wall and inevitably, being caught by Lan Clan's head of discipline at that time.

"A'Niang..." came a muffled whimper from his arms as his Little Radish awoke.

"We're here baobei, you're safe now." Wei WuXian murmured to A'Yuan.

If the guard heard the peculiar exchange between the father and son pair, he made no comment about it.
Once again, Wei WuXian was appalled by the hospitality that he had not even received during the lectures as he was directed to sit on the cushions opposite the main seating arranged on the other side of the tea table.

He carefully untucked A'Yuan from his robes and pulled him onto his lap, allowing the child to play with his finger and hair as they waited.

Within a quarter sichen time, the father and son noticed the curl of white robes through the doorway.

'Mourning robes' Wei WuXian thought.

Wei WuXian immediately turned his head around so that he was facing the seats of whoever would be entering and not glancing at them as they entered. Unlike him, A'Yuan endeavored to peak over his shoulders and promisingly yelled,

"A'Die!"

Wei WuXian froze and so did everything else. Lan Zhan. It was Lan Zhan.

Before Wei WuXian could react, another voice sounded.

Still as gruff and stern as he remembered from his earlier years, Lan Qiren spoke,

"Wangji. What is the meaning of this?!"

However, it seemed as though Lan Wangji had chosen to ignore his uncle as he moved forward, tears spilling from his eyes, unbeknownst to Wei WuXian.

"Wei Ying." It was a breathy, whimper. The softest Wei WuXian had ever heard Lan Wangji ever speak. "Wei Ying."

All of a sudden, it seemed, the dam that had been holding back Wei WuXian's tears broke. That was all Lan Wangji needed to scoop the husband and child of his heart into his arms.

Lan Wangji clutched Wei WuXian as the demonic cultivator sobbed into his chest. They were like that until the slam of doors and windows resounded in the room.

Zewu-Jun had arrived.