It really had been three months now.

Saying Lan Wangji was scared to visit the Celestial Mountain after three months was an understatement. He wasn't even sure that during the three months, is Wei Wuxian even alive or dead. It's not like he didn't try to come back during the three months at all, but the situations in the outer cultivation world wouldn't let him.

But he could finally go back to the Baoshan Mountain now. He hadn't heard anything about or from Wei Wuxian. But mustering up courage and keeping up hope, he knocked on the invisible barrier by the settlement, where he was soon presented by the immortal grandmaster.

When she greeted him with a smile, Lan Wangji was already more hopeful and less scared. He greeted her with a bow. "Grandmaster Baoshan."

"Lan-Er Gongzi." She greeted back. "I really thought you left Wei Ying forever. A-Ying is gonna be glad to see you here. He keeps mentioning you almost everyday." The lady chuckled.

Lan Wangji sighed. Wei Ying is alive. "May i meet him?"

"Of course you may. Though he has gone for a hunt with the junior disciples, and probably won't return till tomorrow. You could stay the night if you wish." Lady Baoshan mentioned.

Lan Wangji nodded. Even though he isn't sure if he could stay, he could at least stay for a while and talk with Wei Ying's Parents and Grandmaster about his health. So he followed the lady inside.

"How has Wei Ying been in the past three months?"

The Grandmaster smiled. "You'd be shocked when you see him. He has changed much, both physically and mentally. He is not the best still, how an average man of his age should be, but he is working on it. He has also started to develope his core's strength."

"His core?" Lan Wangji asked muddled. Some day during the days after the bloodbath at the nightless city, when Wei Ying was living like a breathing corpse at the Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji had come across the fact that Wei Wuxian had no golden core. How and why, was still a mystery to him.

"Oh well, yes. Around a month ago, i transferred a small bit of my own core to his body. What was a small bit for my body was a bigger chunk for his. Almost half the size of what I predicted his original core must be." Lady Baoshan explained.

"He must have been a great cultivator back when he still had his core, i suppose." She continued. Lan Wangji hummed. Wei Wuxian was indeed one of the finest cultivators of his generation, especially at his age. "I was honestly suprised to see how knowledgeable and smart he was, despite not having practiced orthodox cultivation for so long. I appointed him to teach my younger students. I feel that it would keep his mind away from negative thoughts, and the children love him too."

Wei Wuxian has always been great with children, Lan Wangji knew. It isn't for no reason that A-Yuan loves him so dearly, and still calls for him everyday.

The two of the cultivators entered the pavallion. Over the walls, several paintings were hung up. It didn't take long for Lan Wangji to recognise the art style, for he did admire a particular painting of that artist every night he spent at the Jingshi. "Wei Ying drew these?"

The lady chuckled. "Yes, it's his. His mother hangs then up everywhere like one does for a toddler. Well, in her eyes, Wei Wuxian is still four."

"They are beautiful." The paintings were indeed eye-catching. Each painting were different. Some were of the sky, the river, the birds, the gardens, the trees. Others were of people, Wei Wuxian's friends and family. They were all happy. Among them, he noticed one where he recognised himself.

"This one is you, isn't it?" Lady Baoshan mentioned the same painting with a small chuckle. "When Wei Ying showed me this work of his, he wouldn't stop talking of how you looked more handsom in real life and how he couldn't portray all of your beauty onto the paper."

The smile on the lady's face dropped. "These are only the paintings that he drew when he was happy. There are many more. Not all of them are pretty and happy like these. Some are scribbled over. Or torn too. When Wei Ying starts crying amidst his work, he can't complete them. He gets angry and throw them away. Some have his frustration and demonic thoughts inked down."

There was an uncomfortable and sad silence between them.

"Wei Wuxian is like his father. He puts his emotions into his paintings. I had seen Wei Changze behave in a similar pattern when he had come back to the mountain with his wife after the apparent loss of their child." She told. "It may feel painful to see them like this. But it's far better than bottling up those feelings."

Lan Wangji responds with a nod. He thinks for a while before speaking. "Isn't it true that you never take back the disciples who left the mountain?" Even though it wasn't directly related with what they were speaking, a part of Wangji felt it necessary to ask.

"It is. But seeing Cangse and Changze retiring from the cultivating world and begging to be let in again, i couldn't say no." She cleared his doubt. "Cangse was one of my finest students. Having her around was certainly a bigger help than what i might have thought then."

Lan Wangji doesn't say anything after that. The rest of their small walk to the house was silent. Lan Wangji had several thoughts going about his mind. And it was now that the fact that he won't be seeing Wei Ying until tomorrow is killing him.

The thread of thoughts in his mind was interrupted when he heard several laughing voices, amongst which he vividly recognised the voice he was yearning for.

Instinctively, Lan Wangji looked back to see who were behind those voices. And he was right. The person he was longing for was there, among other juniors. Wei Wuxian was there. And he indeed looked so much better.

His body had thickened. He was more than just blood and bones. His cheeks, that has hollowed in, now bounced back out. His face wasn't pale white anymore. It had tanned with a light blush. Even his hair had grown visibly healthier. He was really glowing.

But what captured Lan Wangji's eyes was the melodious laugh that sounded better than a hundred bells from heaven, and that contagiously endearing smile. He genuinely looked happy over whatever joke he was laughing over with his new friends. Lan Wangji didn't realise he was staring until he was called.

"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan!"

Lan Wangji blinked. Wei Ying called him. Wei Ying ran upto him and squeezed him in a hug before Lan Wangji could even register it. But as soon as he did, he hugged Wei Ying back. "Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian lightly punched his back. "You fuddy-duddy! Why did you not visit me in so long? I missed you!" Wei Ying was crying. "I thought ... I thought you left me too." He whispered slowly.

Lan Wangji almost hadn't thought that Wei Ying's mind was too sensitive to be able to resist those sort of negative thoughts. He hadn't realised when tears had shed down his eyes. "I'm sorry. Wouldn't leave you."

Lan Wangji didn't know how long he held Wei Ying in his arms, a few minutes felt like centuries. It was Wei Wuxian who parted first. He wiped his tears with the back of his wrists and proceeded to plaster a big happy smile.

"Aiya! We shouldn't waste our time crying. You have come here after long. Come, i will show you around." He said, pulling Lan Wangji's wrist.

"Ay! Ay! Wei Ying! Where are you running off to? How did y'all come back? Weren't you on a night hunt?" Lady Baoshan said, holding Wei Ying back.

"Well, Baoshan-Ma, yeah," Wei Wuxian chuckled, "But the clouds were getting darker, so Die-Die said it will be better to cancel the hunt for now, it may rain heavily." Lady Baoshan ruffled his head lovingly.

"Alright go, play with Lan Wangji."

"Wu Ming, join us! I will introduce you to Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian said. And the pair of eyes that were once glaring at the pair with envy, now relaxed to fake a smile.

"Sure, Ying-Ge." The junior said walking up to the two.

During their travel around the Celestial Mountain, Wu Ming tried to hold onto Wei Ying's hand a several times, but the latter was oblivious to the motion, busy showing his old soulmate around his new home.

By the time Wei Wuxian showed Lan Zhan every corner of the mountain, the sun had began setting. "And, Lan Zhan, this is where we practice cultivation. Fighting and physical training stuff. Isn't it funny, in the morning, i teach kids, and in the evening, i am junior among the same kids." Wei Wuxian chuckled. Lan Wangji just hummed along.

"The sun is setting." Wu Ming said.

He just wished for this Lan-Er Gongzi to go away so he could spend time with Wei Ying alone. Wu Ming had grown to really like Wei Ying during the three months. And seeing his crush practically ignore him for another man did sting harsh.

"Ahh, yes, you're right. Let's get back home! Lan Zhan, you'll wait for dinner, won't you?" Wei Wuxian asked with sparkling hope in his eyes. And how much he wanted to stay, Lan Wangji wouldn't have any answers for his Uncle's answers once the curfew closes.

"I'll have to take my leave." Lan Wangji said. The shine had immediately wiped off Wei Wuxian's eyes even as he tried continue smiling.

"Oh. Alright." Wei Ying didn't even attempt arguing.

The look on his face was already unbearable to Lan Wangji. "But i will come back." Lan Wangji added immediately. "I am not sure when, but in a few days."

Wei Wuxian smiled brighter. "Can you try to come the day after tomorrow? It's A-Niang's birthday, we will be having a small celbration!" And because it was impossible for Lan Wangji to say no to Wei Wuxian, he agreed. "Oh, and um, could you also bring A-Yuan? Is he still angry from me?"

"A-Yuan is not angry. In fact, he really misses you. He will love to come too." Lan Wangji said.

Saying, the the two had to finally bid a farewell.