There was something about Lan Wangji tonight... that seemed... strange...

The usual icy aura's gone. Less stiff face, there's something in the face... is that... a... smile?

An extremely slight twitch of the tips of those full and rosy lips that almost invisibly stretched them upwards to the sparkling moon. A smile. Lan Wangji, Hanguang-Jun, the cold and stoic and thick-faced Lan that Wei Wuxian detested... was smiling.

Why... Wei Wuxian wondered, is his smile making me want to... er... erm... k– k–ki.............

WHAT THE HELL?

It's a trick. All a trick. This grumpy Lan is manipulating my mind, hmph!

"Lan Zhan, ah, Lan Zhan, need a cloth to wipe that smile off your face? Smugness, is it? So sure you'll win?" Wei Wuxian unsheathed Suibian with sweating hands. What the goddamned hell was wrong with him today?

"Mn," Lan Zhan nodded determinedly.

"We'll see about that. Hey, where's your brother?"

"Xiongzhang's asleep."

"Ah? Not like him to leave you to wander around alone, eh? Isn't he usually protective?"

He is, but even I don't get why he completely entrusted me to you, Lan Zhan sighed.

"Might I add one thing? This isn't Cloud Recesses..."

"What's the difference?"

"When in Cloud Recesses, I'm a student. Just like you. You and I may have equal then. But it's not the same now. Here in Lotus Pier, I'm a Jiang servant. So... I'd appreciate it if we don't break anything..."

Lan Wangji's eyes swelled ever-so slightly. Would he get beaten by Madam Yu just for that? The grip on Bichen tightened. "Mn, we'll take care not to."

"Thank you, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian bowed. "For understanding. Also... on second thought... isn't it not nice for Lan Er-Gongzi to be fighting with..." he looked down at his feet. Sure, he had been all cocky in Cloud Recesses but he alone knew the wrath he had to face should anything go wrong here.

Lan Wangji clenched his sword even tighter, to the point the sheath was ready to shatter. "Wei Ying is not a servant. Like you said. You and I are equals. Nobody will dare say a word."

"Oh right, Chief Cultivator's brother, who'll speak against you, eh?" Wei Wuxian smiled, his undauntedness returning to his composure. "Well then!" He swung Suibian in one hand. "Bring it on, Lan Er-Gege!"

Lan Wangji growled. A low and deep growl. Out shot Bichen and clang! Metal clashed against metal, cool pale blue glow intertwining with the gentler white glow, dancing around the clashing swords, interlacing, mingling, mixing, blending into each other. For a bare second, both cultivators stared at the way the colours mixed so well together, until both blushed furiously.

What the hell is wrong with my sword? Suibian, stop it! Wei Wuxian screamed in his head and raised his sword in anger, bringing it down like he was Nie Mingjue chopping with Baxia.

Lan Wangji rolled away just in time and parried with a swing of his ow sword, ears red-hot. Spiritual energy mingling like that was... a beautiful sight. But weird... He spun around Wei Wuxian and attacked from behind. A somersault and a jump let Wei Wuxian land ten feet away from the incoming sword.

Panting, Wei Wuxian grinned. "For the sake of old times, my nemesis!" He laughed and leapt up onto a roof.

Lan Wangji sighed. And if we break the roof tiles? Who's going to get beaten? Does this guy not even remember what he said minutes ago?

White and blue energy still occasionally twirling together whenever the swords clashed, a delicate and slender lotus danced atop the roof of the Main Hall with a fascinating pillar of jade, white and violet robes flapping in the wind, scarlet ribbon and white headband fluttering behind their jet-black hair. Any onlooker from down below would only have seen a whirlwind of purple and white, swiftly zooming across the roof, leaping, spinning, brandishing, every move and slash light-footed and dexterous.

But to the moon up above and the Jade Rabbit on it, the so-called 'sword fight' was nothing but a mere courtship dance.

And a mercilessly seductive one at that. Unaware to the fighters themselves, by the end of two hours, both faces were flushed dark red. Whether it was exhaustion from the fight, or the heat rushing through their veins at the heart-tugging sight of each other's sweating faces, neither knew.

Wei Wuxian jumped a few steps back and stopped to take a breath.

"Tired already?" Bichen sunk into the wood of the roof.

"You wish." 

Of course, Wei Wuxian was tired, he had just had a practice duel with his shidi! Recharge, Wei Wuxian, you can't lose to this fuddy-duddy! He chided himself. Tch, I wish I had alcohol. Thinking of the Emperor's Smile he used to drink back then, he smiled. He could feel his mouth watering at the memory of the sweet and mellow wine. I'll finish this fight and go have some wine from our cellar, he nodded to himself. The alcoholic's self-motivation did wonders. All at once, Wei Wuxian regained power double his earlier level, fighting more furiously than ever.

Hanguang-Jun was, for one, amazed.

Elegant and graceful as his Lan competitor, but restless to finish the fight to have a sip of liquor, Wei Wuxian slashed and crashed relentlessly, determined to win. Every last fight between them had ended in a draw. This time, he had to win.

Lan Wangji wasn't as hasty. On the contrary, he felt an incomprehensible desire to let this fight last forever.

Or was it the fight?

Maybe it was the night.

That sounded right. He wanted this one night with Wei Ying to last forever. This night spent sword fighting together with him like this, free of social scrutiny. This night where he, Hanguang-Jun, Second Jade of Gusu, and second in line to his sect, was absolutely equal with the Jiang servant.

Being equal felt good. They could fight more openly.

For some unintelligible reason, though, Lan Wangji badly wanted to keep fighting with this graceful man, whose every poise and move was well-sophisticated and refined. Jiang Fengmian had raised the boy well.

Lan Wangji frowned while he flourished Bichen to block Suibian's endless attacks, and sliced underneath Wei Wuxian's feet. He just couldn't understand why he was even thinking all this. A usual fight with Wei Wuxian called for all his attention. Today, even though Wei Wuxian was just as relentless, his own mind seemed to be drifting away. If he kept up this trance, he might lose...

Impossible, he grumbled and swung Bichen sharply at the purple-robed fighter. Surprised by the sudden rise in energy in the attack, Wei Wuxian spun on one foot and twirled away from the glare of the sword, Suibian at his side. The attack was too fast to block.

Twirling. Spinning around, pirouetting. Nimble feet whirling the svelte lotus away from his wrath. Jet-black hair flying behind the small back, red hair ribbon — probably as precious as his own Lan headband — spiralling around the dainty figure.

Lan Wangji felt his head growing dizzy at the sight.

But then– Sure, Wei Wuxian was nimble. But being agile didn't mean you also saw the raised plank of wood behind you.

The instant he spotted it, Lan Wangji's head began screaming 'Danger' alerts. Protective instincts activated, he rushed forth immediately, without a second of hesitation.

Let alone hesitate, he didn't even know what he was doing! His body and mind seemed to be out of his control tonight.

Wei Wuxian's ankle hit the wooden board that was a bit raised, and he winced. Shoot! Didn't see that! But just as his foot slipped and his body catapulted backwards onto the roof, he found himself falling into sturdy arms.

Perfectly caught, just in time.

He let out a long sigh of relief and looked up at the helper. "L– Lan Zhan?"

Lan Wangji, still in the hypnotic daze, was staring at his face. Gold gazed into silver, entrapping Wei Wuxian in his own reverie.

So close... Wei Ying gulped.

"Sorry," Lan Wangji mumbled and gently pushed his back.

Wei Wuxian stood on his feet and brushed down his robes. "Why say sorry? I'd have rolled off the roof to my death, hahahaha," Wei Wuxian tossed his head back and laughed to let go of the nervousness. Seeing Lan Wangji watching him sternly, clearly not as happy to hear that he had nearly fallen to his end, he gulped again. "Er... Never really thought I'd tell this to you so many times in one day, but... Thank you."

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded.

"Fight's not over!" Wei Wuxian cheekily grinned and lunged forth.

Lan Wangji did block. But apparently, not quickly enough.

Slit!

Wei Wuxian had swung his sword diagonally, twice over, and Lan Wangji had turned away a tad too late. The tip of the blade had first cut through Lan Wangji's left leg.

And then Suibian sliced off Lan Wangji's right sleeve. Lan Zhan had been conscious enough to block the second attack, thus saving his arm from being chopped clean off. Half the sleeve fluttered around in the wind, billowing, until it fell to the training ground.

"Er... Dear me, what got into you? You'd have lost your arm, silly!" Wei Wuxian shouted at him.

"Isn't that your aim?"

"I'm only trying to injure you! Doesn't mean I want you hurt! It's supposed to be a decent duel! Did I cut your arm?"

"No, I'm fine," Lan Zhan mumbled, ignoring the sharp pain searing from below his left knee.

Wei Wuxian easily heard the restraint in his voice and walked closer to check his arm. Not a spot of blood was visible so he felt relieved. He saw the hairs on Lan Zhan's hand standing upright in the cold wind. "The night's cold too. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, it happens," Lan Wangji waived his apologies.

Wei Wuxian spotted red from the corner of his eyes and looked down to find the white Lan robes slowly being soaked with scarlet. "Sit down," he ordered.

"Mn?"

"Sit. Down. Now," he pointed to the bleeding leg.

"No need, I'll return to my room–"

"This isn't Cloud Recesses, you don't have all your first aid supplies in your guest's room, now shut up and sit!"

Lan Wangji's eyes widened at the shout and he felt himself slumping down onto the wooden roof, sitting on the flat top. Wei Wuxian knelt before him and without a word, rolled up his robes.

"You–!"

"Shut it."

"What do you think you're doing!" Lan Wangji was drowning in rouge.

"What do you think I'm doing, you idiot? Shut up and let me check this," Wei Wuxian glowered at him and looked at the leg wound. The gash wasn't too deep, a measly graze, but just harsh enough to render Lan Wangji limping for a few days. Wei Wuxian had attacked only half-heartedly — had he used full force...

Good Lord, Hanguang-Jun would be disabled!

The wound was bleeding profusely so he glimpsed at his hands and waist. "Oh, damn right, I was to sleep after this so I removed my waist belt and wristbands. Lan Zhan, headband."

"For what!"

"To tie this up, dummy! Stop the bleeding."

"How many times have you copied the Lan rules?"

"Is your headband that important? Aish, I copied like a machine, how can I remember? Never mind," Wei Wuxian grumbled. "So picky over a regular white forehead ribbon, sheesh," he mocked, placing Suibian aside and slipping his fingers into his own hair.

Lan Wangji watched, flabbergasted, as the red ribbon in the other's hair came off and wrapped tight around his agonisingly bleeding leg. His blood was as dark as the ribbon, so that whether his wound was still bleeding wasn't notable until they were sure no blood seeped out of the makeshift bandage.

Wei Wuxian patted Lan Wangji's robes down carefully covering the bandage. "There. Now come with me," Wei Wuxian picked up Suibian and got down onto the ground below. Lan Wangji stood, grabbed Bichen and hopped down. Wuxian readily caught him by the arm.

Lan Zhan's ogled at his hand on his arm and shoved it off.

"Excuse me? I'm only trying to help!" Wei Wuxian sulked at him and the two walked in the direction he went. Lan Wangji didn't know where Wei Wuxian was taking him, probably to treat the wound better with something. So he followed silently.

Wei Wuxian bit his lip anxiously. The wound isn't an issue, I'll ask for help to treat it silently and patch it up with some paste to prevent infections. But then, it can't be hidden, he's bound to limp. Oh dear, the trouble I've gotten myself into. We could have easily kept the duel to ourselves, but now I've gone and hurt the second heir to the Lan sect, who knows what they'll say about me? Madam Yu will kill me...

"Wei Ying?"

"Ah?"

"Are you alright?"

"I'm... I guess so..." His worries weren't just getting scolded by Madam Yu............. "I do hope your wound isn't much... and I'm sorry for tearing your clothes like that, absolutely unintentional."

"Mn, I know," Lan Zhan nodded. Wei Ying... was worried? For me? He bit back the smile that itched to grow into full bloom.

"Ah, here we are!"

Lan Zhan looked up at wide wooden doors decorated with carvings of lotuses. Wei Wuxian knocked thrice, then twice, then about five in a unique rhythm. Lan Wangji watched intently. A code to enter? Interesting. He had never done such a playful thing all his life.

"Hmmm?" A gentle feminine voice yawned. "A-Cheng? I thought you were asleep!"

Lan Zhan gawked at the door. What were they doing outside Jiang Yanli's quarters?

"Shijie," Wei Wuxian whispered.

"Oh, A-Xian, coming!"

"Shijie," Wei Wuxian chuckled when he saw Lan Wangji looking away from the door. "You might want to put on an outer robe, we have a guest."

"Oh? Alright!" She called and Wei Wuxian listened to the sound of lightly flapping robes and the creak of the door sliding open. "A-Xian, what are you doing so late at........" She stared. "La– Lan Er-Gongzi?" She goggled at the sight before her. Wei Wuxian's untied and flying hair; Lan Wangji holding a piece of white cloth in one hand, Bichen in the other, one arm of his bare right up to his biceps; drops of blood at Suibian's tip. "A-Xian," she glared at Wei Wuxian.

"Shijie, it's my fault. I invited him to a duel–"

"This was an accident," Lan Wangji cut in.

Wei Wuxian blinked. Accident? He had purposefully attacked!

Yanli nodded to Lan Wangji. "Lan Er-Gongzi out of bed at this time is unusual..."

"Sorry for disturbing you at this hour, Jiang Guniang," he bowed and turned away.

"Oi, stop right there," Wei Wuxian caught him by his headband. Lan Zhan looked daggers at him. Wei Ying quickly let go of it and held him by the bare arm. "Wait a minute. Shijie, his leg is wounded, do you mind helping out? I'm not so good with treating wounds... Should we take him to the healer?"

"You'll be condemned if we take him to the healer, A-Xian."

"But his wound..."

"Don't worry, I'll do what I can. Lan Er-Gongzi, come inside," she stepped aside and waved into her room.

Lan Wangji shook his head. "Inappropriate of me to enter the room of a woman. Especially at this time."

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. "Such a fuddy-duddy. I'll take him to my room–"

"N– Never mind, I'll come in!" Lan Wangji eagerly pleaded with his eyes to Yanli. Jiang Yanli was beyond amused by this scene.

"Ah, what's wrong with coming to my humble home? Sure it isn't as charming and wonderful as Shijie's home, though, but it's decent enough for you to stay! Hmph!" Wei Wuxian crossed his arms. "What happened to being the gentleman, eh? Mister Two-tongued Lan!"

Lan Wangji sighed. "Mn," he nodded and turned away from the house.

Wei Wuxian waved to his shijie to come soon and guided Lan Zhan to his own home.