Back, forth, back, forth, back, forth, back and forth.

"Wei Ying."

Back, forth, back, forth...

Lan Wangji sighed and walked across the room to the window in front of which his husband was pacing madly. He grabbed him by the hand, pulling him to a stop in his arms.

"Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian blinked back to consciousness when their foreheads hit and he felt Lan Zhan's warmth. Blushing, he stepped back. "Sorry, Lan Zhan. Erm..." He scratched his nape. "I was wondering... exactly how did this get there?" He held up the piece of cloth.

Lan Wangji took the cloth from him and turned it over in his hands. Blackish-grey velvet, crimson fire rising amid the blackness.

"Flame in the dark," Lan Zhan muttered.

"Eh?" Wei Wuxian turned to him. "Was that your motto?"

"Mn."

"Flame in the dark. 'Amidst the murk and shadows rose a single source of light. His name, Heiguang-Jun.'"

"Mn?"

"Oh, nothing. I remember that's how Heiguang-Jun was described in an article some time ago."

Lan Wangji walked to his shelves and rummaged around in a pile of books before bringing out an ageing paper. "This one?"

"Wow, you kept it with you?"

His eyes... were twinkling. With exuberance. Delight. Admiration. Awe-filled happiness. Hm... Lan Wangji smiled softly. "Wei Ying, this was the ZiHun Bao."

"Yes, it was!" Wei Ying beamed as he glimpsed at the paper. 紫昏报, or ZiHun Bao — literally the Purple Evening News — was Yunmeng's evening news report for Lotus Pier. It didn't have much: like all newspapers in those times, it only contained reports on the most important announcements from the official governing households. In this case, the sect offices. The differences to the ZiHun Bao were two: unlike the rest of China, Yunmeng's newspaper came in the evening because only then were all Jiangs awake. Dusk was when all of Yunmeng thrived the most, with the skies turning their dearest purple.

Also... the special addition. Other than the usual announcements and reports on noteworthy incidents, there tended to be an extra piece of writing on whichever topic was the most widespread. Qingming Tomb-Sweeping Day, Lantern Festival, the Jin sect's Phoenix Hunt, coming of winter, New Year and spring, or as of in this case... the Dark Knight.

Where did this entertaining idea come from? Curiously enough, it was Jiang Fengmian. But who was in charge of the writing?

One look at Wei Wuxian's beaming face as he realised Lan Zhan had treasured that poetic article on him, and you'd have your answer.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan smiled. "Thank you for that."

"For what? Th- this? Wh- Who said it was me? Ahaha!"

"Everyone knows the Head Disciple of the Jiangs was the spotlight of the ZiHun Bao. So thank you."

"Aish, Lan Zhan, it re- really wasn't... me..." Wei Wuxian hid behind the paper. That article really was poetic, and now that Lan Zhan knew about him... it was too obvious that Wei Wuxian had had a crush on him since way back then... God this was so embarrassing...

"Nobody else can write so beautifully."

Wei Wuxian cowered and shoved his face into Lan Wangji's chest to hide the scarlet cheeks. "You didn't HAVE to make me worse, did you?"

"It's amusing," Lan Wangji patted his back.

"Ugh... n- never mind. Anyways, the flame in the dark. This really is the same material," Wei Wuxian shot up and marched over to the locked drawer and pulled out the black and red uniform. He hung the costume up on the wall with his Golden Thread and inspected it. "Look!"

Lan Wangji walked over and nodded. The piece of cloth Jiang Cheng had found in the cave fit perfectly against a slit missing piece of one of the two billowing sleeves. "Where did you tear your sleeve, Lan Zhan?"

Lan Wangji bit the inside of his cheek and thought for a while before nodding. "Nevernight."

"Huh???"

"Mn. After meeting Sect Leader Wen, I had to get out fast-"

"He called the guards?"

"Mn."

"And then?"

"On the way across the Wen palace, I crossed paths with Wen Xu. It was then."

"Wait a second. Wen Xu fought with you? And somewhere in the fight, your sleeve tore off?"

"Not his sword, there were rocks all around."

"Mhm. That rascal... so for this to get from Nevernight to that cave... it has to be Wen Xu. But why would Wen Xu capture the Lans..."

Lan Wangji perked up. "Remember what Wen Qing said? Wen Xu was cooperating with Meng Yao?"

"That's it! And it was Meng Yao who brought the Lans back to Yunmeng and explained saving them with A-Cheng..."

"Mn. We know Jiang Wanyin went as a last favour for xiongzhang. But what was Meng Yao doing there?"

"Right. Okay, if Meng Yao was there along with A-Cheng, let's say we assumed he was there from the start. It would make sense... capturing the Lans... cooperating... then 'saving' them... leaving your cloth there... Wen Xu and Meng Yao orchestrated the abduction to FRAME you?" 

**********

Having roamed the outskirts and the forest surrounding Gusu, Jiang Wanyin strode into town. Looking around, smiling at the familiar and much-loved smells of Caiyi Town's wines, sweets and spices, he wandered down the streets, nodding if any passing Lan disciple recognised and greeted him. Nearing the central section of the town, he gulped and quickly turned away. For all I know, Xichen might be there just for my bad luck. I'll avoid that for now.

Until I recover...

Might as well pray I ever do.

Just as he turned around, something round and yet pointy hit his leg and he hopped back, wincing. "Ow ow ow!"

"S- SORRY! I'm so sorry Gongzi!"

A child?

Jiang Cheng looked down.

A little boy goggled up at him, observing the violet robes intently. "Jiang...?" He muttered under his breath.

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but smile. A boy so little, perhaps only four years old, and yet he didn't look like he was from the Lan sect... but knew a Jiang when he saw one?

"Hello there."

"Hello, Gongzi! I'm truly sorry... did it hurt you, Gongzi?"

"Not at all," Jiang Cheng shook his head. The round thing had been the boy himself, whereas the pointy thing had been the delicate wooden butterfly toy in his hand. White robes... not exactly the Lan uniform but... "Are you a Lan, son?"

"Nope!"

"Oh?"

The boy beamed wide, taking Jiang Wanyin by surprise. Good Lord... A-XIAN! Do you have a lovechild?

"I'm a friend of the Lans. Zhen Yuan!"

Jiang Wanyin blinked. Snowy-white skin, jet-black hair, pearl-white robes, all together reminded him of Xichen... but not Lan, Zhen–

Zhen Liuhua? Xichen's mother?

Jiang Wanyin swallowed hard, grabbed the boy's hand and dragged him over to a side street. Cowering to his height, Jiang Cheng scrutinised the boy. He had no clue why but this little fellow somehow felt close... "Would you, perhaps, be related to Zhen Guniang? Zhen Liuhua? Madam Lan?"

"Ah, Qian-gege and Xian-gege said that was my aunt."

No wonder he felt close to this boy. "Xian-gege?" He smiled.

"Mn! Wei Wuxian!"

"And Xichen must be your cousin brother."

"Yeps!"

Well, at least he's A-Xian's cousin-in-law and not a lovechild... Snickering, Jiang Cheng patted the boy's shoulder. "Here." He handed a little bag of sweets he'd gotten for himself.

"YAY!" Yuan clapped happily. "Erm... Gongzi knows Xian-gege?"

"He's my brother."

"WOAH!" Yuan beamed again. "Gongzi can have this," he held out his butterfly toy.

"Oh? But why?"

"For the sweets! Xian-gege said it's something called bar... barta..."

"Barter trade," Jiang Cheng laughed. "Well, if you insist. Beautiful toy," Jiang Cheng shrugged and accepted the toy — only because the little one's pouting face seemed determined to gift it.

"Xian-gege made it for me! Now it's his brother's! Tee-hee," Zhen Yuan giggled. "Jiang Gongzi, I need to go find Mama. I'll see you later!"

"Take care!" Jiang Wanyin waved and twirled the butterfly in his hands. "Ah well, guess I can give it to A-Jie's child someday." The light in his brain blew up. "That's it! I'll go visit A-Jie. Tell her and Zixuan to let me stay there for a while before going back to Yunmeng to resume work." Relieved, he skipped along the road and marched towards the river to take a boat to Lanling.

He was spending ten minutes lounging on the riverside, munching on a makeshift lunch of candies and slices of bread before taking off, when suddenly something bumped into him again from behind. Was it his bad day or WHAT?

The sudden nudge sent him shrieking and toppling into the water with a shout and a "guggle".

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry again, Gongzi!"

Jiang Cheng rubbed his face on his sleeve and climbed back onto the deck, ignoring the giggles from the townspeople at his soaked robes. "It's fine, always happens back home. What's the matter?" He frowned, seeing the tear-streaked face.

Zhen Yuan's lips trembled. "G- gongzi, M-Mama..."

"Your mother?"

"M- Mama... she's sleeping... but she's not waking up..."

Jiang Cheng's jaw dropped. "Oh no. Was she sick?"

"Mn. Qian-gege said something about 'incurable disease'," the boy mumbled the foreign phrase, tears streaming down his face.

Jiang Cheng pinched his forehead. I'll have to take her to Cloud Recesses...

Xichen?

...not now. No time to think.

"Little one, take me to your mother. We'll bring her to Cloud Recesses. She may still be here... we'll get Xich–" Gulp. "Chief Cultivator's help and show her to the healers, yeah?"

"Mn!" Zhen Yuan rubbed his nose, grabbed Jiang Wanyin's wet robe by the hem and pulled him towards his little home in the suburb.