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Chapter Text

The sounds of barking, the pitter patter of steps coming from a malnourished child resounded as heavy breathing were heard and the child tried to hide the food he managed to find amongst the trash. 

In the alleyways of Yiling, there was an abandoned child who did his best to survive. Everyday, he scoured for food and fought dogs who hurted him for it. 

It hurts. Bites starting to bruise his already blemished skin as he curled into a ball and hoping to ease the pain.

The wafting smell of pie permeates through his nose as he looked at the another child in front of him, confused as he eyed the food warily despite it looking delicious.

Soon enough, he couldn't resist as he scarfed the food down. The child also sat beside him as he closed his eyes.

He looked at the hair akin to a color of blood, and he was only wearing one layer of fabric similar to him and the redhead was thinner than him. 

"I'm Wei Ying."

The child who has the most peculiar hair color opened his eyes and looked at him, his reddish-brown eyes seem to be in deep thoughts.

"What is your name?"

The redhead opened his mouth, then closed it again since he doesn't know what to say. Records played in his mind to search for the right language that should be used. 

Cale Henituse, even as Kim Rok Soo, doesn't know how to speak Chinese. 

All the gears inside Cale's head worked nonstop to form an appropriate sentence that is understandable for the raven. 

"Name...no."

It took several seconds for Wei Ying to grasp the words said by the redhead. 

"You have no name?" 

Surely, Cale knew both his names will be quite weird in a world of cultivation, so he just nodded. 

Wei Ying seems to be in deep thoughts, so Cale let him until the redhead almost jumped from surprise of the latter yelling. 

"Then, your name will be Wei Xun(1)! We are brothers now! You can call me gege!" 

For as far as Cale knows, gege means hyung. So he looked at the raven beside him and wanted to refute but he doesn't know what to say. 

For all he knows, he might curse in English or Korean. 

"No. Older...me..."

Cale seriously wants to just waltz in a library nearby but he also realized that all of the words written will be in Chinese, making him groan internally as he pointed at Wei Ying. 

"You...didi...me...gege."

Wei Ying knew that he himself is thin and small for someone his age, but looking at the redhead beside him who insists that he's older, he could only doubt the latter's words. 

The raven was about to speak when several growls resounded in the alley. 

"In here! That brat should still be here!" 

Cale moved forward as he hid Wei Ying behind him who was trembling at the sight of dogs. 

The redhead placed a finger in his lips to shush the raven who was now sobbing, Wei Ying could only nod as he did his best to contain his whimpers. 

"Hah! I finally found you, you little thief!" 

The man whose belly could rival Buddha's, screamed as he continued to reign the leashed dogs in his grasp. 

Cale knew that the man saying thief was pertaining to him, because he did stole the pie that he fed to the trembling child behind him. 

There were many other people who were looking at such commotion, making the redhead grit his teeth and glared at the man in front. 

Cale looked above, searching for an escape and drag Wei Ying away. 

'Haahh, I will seriously fucking kill that God for making me work nonstop.' 

He readily activated the Sound of the Wind and held Wei Ying's small hand, they were about to fly away but stopped when they heard a new voice and the sound of a clarity bell ringing. 

"What is going on here?" 

The man who was screaming boisterously just earlier kneeled at the sight of another man dressed in violet clothes. 

"S-Sect Leader Jiang! I was just chasing a little thief!" 

Cale knew well who is that man, the man who will adopt Wei Ying in consideration for his old friends, Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren...or whatever along those lines. 

Jiang Fengmian. 

The Sect Leader stared at Cale with undeniably soft eyes, then the redhead bowed in greeting before stepping away for him to see Wei Ying. 

"I finally found you, Wei Ying." 

The child tilted his head in confusion then looked at the redhead who started coughing discreetly. 

Cale swallowed the blood back before staring at the raven with a stoic face. He simply waved and mouthed the word 'goodbye' before proceeding to run away using his ancient power. 

Several people's mouth agape at the sudden show of power as Cale ran like he was stepping on something through the air. Now that the Sect Leader had found Wei Ying, his first mission is finally done. All that's left is to watch him from afar as much as possible. 

"Wait! Gege!" 

Cale wanted to snort at how easy he get the raven to call him Gege. 

The redhead stopped midair and looked down at the child who was looking up at him. 

"Will I see you again?" 

The redhead could only stare at him before looking at the dark sky above, raindrops starting to pour slowly. 

"Do...you...want to...?"

Wei Ying beamed in expectation as he smiled widely at the redhead. 

"Yes!" 

Cale knew he is weak to children, considering how he adopted three and more back in the Roan Kingdom. 

The redhead only smiled before he continued to run away from the alley. 

Of course he would go and visit the raven in his new shelter, Cale wasn't the one who would pass on free food and a roof above his head since he hates sleeping in an abandoned alley just like the past few days after waking in this world. 

He just doesn't want to get associated Jiang Fengmian's wife unless needed. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Hello..."

Wei Ying almost screamed out loud and possibly waking everyone up in the Lotus Pier just because of the redhead who was sitting in his room's window. 

"Gege?! Whaㅡ?" 

"Why are you so loudㅡaaahhhhhㅡmph!" 

Wei Ying covered Jiang Cheng's loud mouth who was beside him and just woke up. 

"Gege, what are you doing here?" 

Cale feigned innocence as he tilted his head, "Should I...go?"

The redhead was about to jump away from the window when Wei Ying stopped him. 

"No stop! I'm not shooing you away! I was just surprised to see you after three days and in a middle of the night."

Cale could only nod as he looked at the other kid who was frowning at him. He just ignored it and answered Wei Ying. 

"I was...learning the...language. Sorry...I just...searched for you...now."

The younger was about to say something when Jiang Cheng threw clothes straight on the redhead's face, failing to catch it. 

"Atleast wear something other than that rag you're wearingㅡ!" 

"S-shijie!" Wei Ying utters as both him and Jiang Cheng looked at the doorway nervously. 

Jiang Yanli could only stare at them then to the redhead who was scanning the clothes that were thrown at him, not minding her. 

1. 纁  - xūn - crimson

Chapter Text

For starters, Jiang Yanli didn't expect to gain another brother, such another peculiar one who Wei Yung claims to be his gege. 

"Xun-ge! Try this one!" Wei Ying offers his ration of soup, colored with red spice that even the smell made Jiang Cheng shiver.

"You're killing him you idiot!" The younger screams, and before Yanli could stop them, the redhead had already taken a spoonful of the soup.

It wasn't that spicy, Cale thinks as he proceeded to eat another, and another that made Wei Ying look at him in awe and Jiang Cheng with horror.

Yanli just chuckles before putting the chili container beside Cale.

"Have more if you want."

Cale just nodded, thankful as he poured the spice to his own bowl to his liking.

Jiang Cheng looked at him more severe than the horror he have earlier.

"Hm." Cale hums in satisfaction, making the youngest give up.

Wei Ying laughed like a proud brother he is while Cale just continued to slurp his 'bane of death' soup that is much worse than Wei Ying's, or whatever Jiang Cheng names it. 

"Xie Lian thy help you but I sure won't if you choke to death."

Cale blinks, before putting an offended look on his face. The redhead then knocked the wooden table three times making the people with him confused with his antics. 

"A-Cheng, don't be rude to your gege."

Jiang Cheng choked. 

"Then I can be his shixiong!" 

"Heyㅡ" 

"Good idea, A-Ying!" 

Cale just looks at them with a blank look, feeling a little out of place. 

Ever since he had died as Cale Henituse, he was born into this world as an orphan in the streets the same as Wei Ying, but with the mind of an adult at age ten. 

Cale couldn't even quite believe how he survived his first nine years in the cultivation world, maybe it was his instincts back when he was Kim Rok Soo, who knows. 

The problem now is, he couldn't remember the way he died as Cale Henituse. His memory is blank like bleak winter. 

Cale unconsciously wipes Wei Ying's cheek that was smeared with sauce, a habit he always do when it comes to Raon, Ohn and Hong. 

He flinched a little, before putting down his hand and continued to eat his food. 

"Look at him, already acting like a good older brother to A-Ying."

Jiang Cheng huffs before intentionally smearing his cheeks with the same sauce, looking at Yanli with sparkling eyes. 

"I have a jiejie who would wipe mine, right?" 

Cale just looks at the child with a flabbergasted expression, putting a piece of meat in Wei Ying's own bowl. 

"My shidi is being so childish, let me wipe that for you~" 

"Stay awayㅡ" 

Cale's fingers twitched, his eyes a little distant before making eye contact with Jiang Yanli. 

"Do you want to stay for the night?"

The redhead hesitantly nodded his head, but he never uttered a word since this isn't the first time he's sleeping discreetly in the Lotus Pier. 

"Let's all sleep together!" Wei Ying suggests, which Cale didn't miss how Jiang Cheng's eyes glint for a while before scowling. 

"Who wants to sleep with you and your loud snores?!" 

Yanli just laughs, "But you're snoring too, A-Cheng."

In an instant, Jiang Cheng's face flushed red in embarrassment, making Wei Ying laugh boisterously. 

"Jiejie!" The youngest whines. 

Cale just looks away from the scene, reminding him of his three children as his heart ache painfully. 

"A-Ying, A-Xun, can you help me get the sleeping mats? A-Cheng, you can get the pillows."

"Of course! Anything for shijie!" 

Cale remembers, his name is Wei Xun in this world now. 

"Yes." He just answers, still not adept at the language. 

Soon enough, the four of them laid side by side to each other. With Jiang Cheng being in the middle of Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli, he couldn't help but grumble to himself. 

"Gege, are you sleeping?" Wei Ying experimentally asks Cale who was beside him. 

Cale didn't answer, too tired to speak so he just closes his eyes. 

"A-Ying, can you tell us about your gege?" 

"Shijie is right, he's too...what was the word...different?" 

Wei Ying just laughs, looking at the familiar red hair he has grown accustomed to seeing for the past few nights he spent sleeping in the Lotus Pier. 

"My gege is pretty and otherworldly, right?" 

Jiang Cheng couldn't refute at that, since Cale really is beautiful for a person that breathes the same air as them. Though at the back of his mind, his shijie is still the most beautiful person in the world. 

Wei Ying just smiles when he saw the look on his shidi's face before looking at the wooden ceiling of the room. 

"We're not really related by blood."

"We can see that you idiㅡ" 

"Aiya let me finish first didi." 

"I'm not your didiㅡ" 

"Boys." Jiang Yanli says in a stern tone before looking at Wei Ying to continue his story. 

"He gave me an apple pie back then before Uncle Jiang took me here to Lotus Pier! So in a short while, I officially adopted him as my younger brother! Though he insist that he's older and he's supposed to be my gege."

Jiang Cheng sighs in an exasperated manner, already imagining the look on Cale's face how he was adopted all of a sudden. 

"Oh! He also protected me from the dogs and even hid me when someone came looking for me!" 

The youngest frowns before looking at the unmoving redhead. He couldn't quite believe how a little and frail person could live and protect someone else while living in the slums. 

"You said that A-Xun is older than you? Do you know how old is he then?" Jiang Yanli questions. 

"He says he's ten!" Wei Ying answers jovially. 

"He's younger than me by a year then." Yanli mutters to herself, chuckling as she have three younger siblings to look after. 

"Shijie, is it possible to have spiritual powers at an early age?"

Jiang Yanli looks, confused for a moment before answering.

"It's possible if they had cultivated at the earliest time possible, or they have parents that have strong foundation and spiritual cores."

Wei Ying's mouth agaped, his eyes glimmering in awe.

"Gege is strong then! He used his spiritual core to fly away!"

At this, Jiang Cheng's curiosity was also piqued.

"Did he have a sword to ride on?"

Wei Ying looks at him confused, "No? He just flew like there are invisible stairs he was stepping on."

"Then he's strong! Like, strong strong!"

Cale, who was listening to the whole ordeal could only just feel his sweat drop at the misunderstanding. Now they think he's some powerful hero, just the simple thought of it made Cale shiver as he recalled those nicknames he have in his previous life.

"Let's ask him tomorrow to fly again!" 

'My slacker life would fly away first if I show my ancient power to you.'

"Yeah! Let's ask him first thing in the morning!" 

'Not if I run away first.'

Jiang Yanli who knows that Cale isn't yet asleep, giggled when she sees the redhead flinch every now and then as she could practically hear his thoughts. 

When Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng collapsed from sleepiness, Yanli waited for Cale to rise and catch him on the act. And so, she did. 

"Leaving without saying goodbye, A-Xun?" 

Cale suppressed himself from yelping loudly, possibly waking the two younger boys who was snoring away. 

"I'll be...back in...a few days..."

"To work on your vocabulary, I presume? You know I can always teach you with A-Cheng, right?" 

Cale just nods, opening the window as he let the cold wind caress his pale face for a while. 

The redhead looks at Yanli before turning his back. 

"Goodbyes...are perpetual...instead...see you later...noona."

Cale didn't wait for Yanli to stop him before using Sound of the Wind to run away from the Lotus Pier, too tired to explain his ancient powers to them. 

A small laugh came from Yanli, "That child, when did he became so poetic, I wonder?" 

Chapter Text

Wei Ying kept panting, his breaths labored as he dropped the wooden sword he's using for practicing cultivation. 

"Shijie...Where is gege?"

Jiang Yanli for the first time, doesn't know what to say to Wei Ying.

"I don't really know, A-Ying..." Yanli trailed, holding Wei Ying's trembling hands.

"B-but...it's been a long time...s-shijie...did he leave me too l-like mama and papa did?" 

Jiang Yanli sighs before hugging Wei Ying who started crying. 

"Dummy, of course your gege wouldn't abandon you. Maybe he's out there learning the language or something." Jiang Cheng says too in attempt to comfort Wei Ying. 

"He promised to come back, A-Ying. So don't be sad, hmm?"

Wei Ying just cried even harder.

It's been almost a month since Cale had left without saying goodbye. Wei Ying knows it's normal for the redhead to be away every now and then, but not for this long.

"I hate him..." Wei Ying muttered to himself, though he doesn't really mean it.

When he and Jiang Cheng had finished their training, Wei Ying slumped to his own bed after receiving series of scolding from Madam Yu, further adding to his depressed mood.

Jiang Cheng seeing this unusual behavior coming from the usual bubbly Wei Ying, couldn't help but make a reckless decision that will surely kill them.

The younger pulled Wei Ying by his arm, "Come on, let's look for gege."

It was the first time Jiang Cheng had called Cale gege.

"But...wouldn't Shijie get mad?"

"She will if she knows. Come on, we'll back before dusk."

It lifted Wei Ying spirits even for a little bit as he giggles.

"Aiya, my didi is such a delinquent."

Even though he said that, the two of them discreetly ran away from the Lotus Pier with precision, looking at each other's back with care to not let the other get caught.

"Loquats for sale!"

"Lotus seeds exclusively from Yunmeng's River!"

"Hello there dear customer!"

The bustling streets slightly overwhelmed Jiang Cheng, considering this is the first time he walked around without his older sister or his father.

"A-Cheng! Look! They have a funny mascot."

It was indeed funny, many children crying at the obnoxious-looking dragon mascot as their parents only laughed at their misery.

A dragon with black plating but have gold spots around it, the blue eyes seemingly glimmer under the sun. 

The mascot then turned to look at their way, making Jiang Cheng visibly flinch as he hid behind Wei Ying. 

Though it didn't made the situation better, Wei Ying just laughs heartily at Jiang Cheng. 

"Let's go A-Cheng."

The two of them continued to walk through the busy streets, stopping every now and then to look at the merchants and stands displaying their most attractive things to sell. 

"Hello there Auntie!" Wei Ying greets cheerfully, making the older woman swoon at such cuteness. 

"Aiya, hello little customers. Do what I owe you the pleasure to visit this humble store of mine?" 

Wei Ying just gave her a bright smile before asking, "Did you see a boy who is a bit taller than me, thinner than me...and umm...he has a red hair!"

The old woman seem to be taken aback by the description. 

"Dear little customers, if you haven't said the red hair part, I'd be sorry to give you no information. But alas, I seem to know this redhead guy you're asking about."

Jiang Cheng perk up, "So you know him?" 

"Of course! Everyone knows the little genius everywhere around this street."

"Then, do you know where we can find him?" Wei Ying asks, his eyes flickering with excitement when the older woman mentioned his gege being a little genius. 

"He usually stays at the public library in a secluded alleyway. Just go straight this road and turn right when you see one, then walk for atleast thirty steps and turn left again. If you see an old building with shelves of books and scrolls, you've already arrived at the library little ones."

Wei Ying bows, followed by Jiang Cheng who was silent from behind, "Thanks a lot Auntie!" 

"Be careful on your journey boys!" 

Jiang Cheng shyly waved, making Wei Ying nudge him teasingly as the younger kicked the older in his kneecaps. 

Both walked, turning right when they see another path and even counted their own steps. And when they were about to turn left, Wei Ying shivered when he heard the familiar sounds of barking.

"J-J-Jiang Chengㅡ"

"Shh. You'll catch their attention, breathe in...breathe out...again...follow me..."

Jiang Cheng continued to guide Wei Ying for him to breathe properly, since he still did promise him that he will protect the older if they encounter a dog and keep Wei Ying away from it.

Though Jiang Cheng started shivering too when he saw a guy towering the two of them, it was the mascot who wore the same obnoxious dragon mask they saw earlier.

"Who are you? Stay away from us, I warn you." Jiang Cheng says as stern as he can, but the mascot could still see how the child tremble pitifully before him.

The dogs barked louder, making Wei Ying whimper as he clutched Jiang Cheng's clothes. The mascot guy also came closer, making the youngest let out a small whimper as he gritted his teeth.

"There he is! Get him!" A stranger suddenly yells, making the three looked at the source as the dogs started running at their direction.

Seeing Wei Ying in a panicked state, he started to run away the opposite direction.

"Wei Ying!" Jiang Cheng yells before running to catch with his stupid shixiong.

The mascot sighed before removing the dragon head, "What the hell."

He raised his right arm as wind swirled around his fingers, sending harsh currents to the dogs and the man who was following him.

He then coughed out blood.

"Hah, really. How the hell did they get out?"

"Hey you! Get back here!"

"I should run away first and snatch them away. Goddammit this body is weaker than my previous one...maybe because I'm still nine? Tsk."

He combed back his red hair in annoyance before putting wind in his ankles, a speed where he can catch to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng faster.

"Who the hell am I kidding? I've always been a weak human, or so Raon says."

In the alleyways, Jiang Cheng did his best to catch the frantic Wei Ying, even almost punching him to snap out of his panicked state if not for a certain redhead stopping him. 

"Don't punch your shixiong now, A-Cheng."

"Youㅡ!"

Cale looked at Wei Ying who whimpered more when the barking resounded more than ever. Clicking his tongue, he grabbed the two by their arms and put Sound of the Wind in their respective ankles.

"Run like you are stepping on the ground."

Cale didn't wait for their response as he pulled them away, to the rooftop of the houses as they hid away from the people who were trying to catch them...him.

"Alright, what are you two thinking running away from Lotus Pier?" Cale starts, swallowing the blood that is threatening to come out from his throat. 

"Xun-ge...where have you been?" 

"Answer me first A-Ying." Cale says in a stoic way, making Wei Ying's breath hitch in his throat. 

"Y-you were gone for a-almost a month gege! I-I thought something happened to y-you or w-worse...you left m-me like mama and papa did..."

That statement alone left Cale stunned. He didn't know Wei Ying was that attached to him, though he knows it's partly his fault for not saying anything to them before he left, he know that now atleast. 

"I was going to go back to you, A-Ying...and A-Cheng too...even Shijie. I was just busy that I didn't have the time to visit you in Lotus Pier."

Jiang Cheng then asks, "Are you coming back now? With us?" 

Cale wanted to ask since when Jiang Cheng had this side of him? He thought he will be the one who would be apathetic with him gone, though the thought of it seems funny in his head now. 

"No, atleast not yet. You see, I made a bet with Sect Leader Jiang that I will be worthy to enter the Yunmeng Sect without a golden core."

"With uncle?" 

"Father?" 

"Wait, you don't have a golden core?" 

"Then how the hell did you flyㅡow!" 

Cale just sighs before retracting back his hand that he used to slap Jiang Cheng's head because of his crude words. 

"It was just a talisman, see?" The redhead says before showing them a yellow paper with characters written in red. 

'Of course the talisman is fake. I'll just bullshit my way through it since they're just eight-year old kids.'

Wei Ying seems to be in awe(which is bad, Cale thinks as he could feel his slacker life waving goodbye) while Jiang Cheng just stood there in confusion. 

"Come on, let's get you two back to Lotus Pier. Yanli must have been worried sick with you two missing."

Jiang Cheng almost cursed again when he could see sun setting over the horizon, and before he could start running away, Cale pulled him again together with Wei Ying as they ran across the air. 

Seeing the Pier in sight, Jiang Cheng could only gulp as he could see his jiejie with a blank look on her face. Gone the usual smiles from his beautiful sister. 

Yanli stomped her foot as he walked towards them with a frightening look on her face. When Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng expected to be scolded and have their cheeks pulled, it didn't came and instead, series of ows came from Cale himself. 

It was Cale who have his cheeks being pulled, Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng could only pity their gege(though a part of them says that the redhead deserves it). 

"Nwooㅡshwijie! I cwan explwainㅡ! Ow!" 

And Cale did in fact, explained what happened. 

"It still doesn't mean that you can leave without sending letters, young man."

Cheeks that have the same hue as his hair, Cale unknowingly pouted before standing up. 

"As I said, I'm coming back to make Sect Leader Jiang want me to be atleast a disciple here."

The three could only sigh in exasperation at how hard-headed Cale is. 

"I'll be leaving now then." Cale mutters and started walking away. 

He looked one last time to the three of them before speaking. 

"Let's meet again, for the first time."

Wei Ying visibly glowed as he waved to his gege, "I'll wait for that first time, Xun-ge!" 

"Stay safe, A-Xun."

"Make sure to come back to us! You hear me?! Gege!" 

Just like how warm it is when the sun had set, Cale could feel that warmth seep through his chest, making him smile a little. 

'Maybe I do belong somewhere in this world now.'

Chapter Text

"When the winds of change blow, some people build walls..."

"...And others build windmills. May I ask what are you doing here, Sect Leader Jiang?"

The redhead closed the book he's reading with a thud, his reddish-brown eyes looking straight to Jiang Fengmian's own.

"Is It wrong to visit the little genius who dared to make a bet with a Sect Leader?" The older asks, feigning an innocent smile on his face.

"The usefulness of a cup..."

"...Is in its emptiness. Wei Ying should receive his courtesy name soon. Would you like to be the one to give it to him...oh little genius of Yunmeng?"

Cale scowls, annoyed at the little nickname he earned just because he appeared wise and answered all the proverbs Sect Leader Jiang threw at him. 

"Why should I? I'm just a nobody when it comes to you, who is his uncle whom is best friends with his parents."

Jiang Fengmian shook his head softly, eyes scanning the scattered books around the redhead's table. 

"Teachers open the door..."

"...But you must walk through it yourself. So, do you have any ideas for his courtesy name?" 

Cale felt like he was playing a word chess with the Sect Leader as the man himself just chuckled. 

"I'm thinking of Wuxian. Wei Wuxian."

The redhead nodded before opening a scroll, written with history of cultivation ages ago. 

"To have no envy. It does have a nice ring to it."

Jiang Fengmian smiles similarly to his daughter(Cale notes), "Doesn't it? What about you? Do you want one too?" 

Cale frowns, "What nonsense are you spouting now, Sect Leader Jiang? I don't have a golden core, what use do I have of a courtesy name?" 

The Sect Leader chuckles, "You'll need one after you enter Yunmeng Sect."

"...Huh?"

"Huh." Jiang Fengmian answers teasingly. 

After collecting his thoughts, Cale asked, "Are you serioㅡ" 

"With one condition. People are all borne with a golden core, Wei Xun. It just depends on how we cultivate it, that's why there are Sects situated in many places, big or small and have their own rules."

Cale scrunched his face in disgust, shivering at the foreboding sensation he's feeling. 

"...And you want me to cultivate or something?"

Jiang Fengmian just smiled that seemed very onimous to Cale. 

"A jade that is never carved will never be of use."

The Sect Leader is practically saying that Cale will be useless with his wits alone in a battlefield, which is a huge insult to him who was once a Commander of a kingdom. 

Though, a part of him agrees with Sect Leader Jiang.

Cale looks outside the window of the deserted library they're in, a melancholic feeling washing over him as he sighed.

"Alright fine. I'll try but I'll make no promises."

'It's fine since I don't belong to this world.'

Cale was very sure that he wouldn't get to do anything too troublesome such as cultivation. He have enough problem as it is.

"Wonderful. Come along, we're leaving now."

The redhead hesitates to stand up for a while, rethinking his decisions if it is all the right thing to do for his plans in the future.

"One day, three autumns(1)."

Jiang Fengmian stops in his tracks, looking back at the redhead who just sighs forlornly before stacking his things. 

The Sect Leader could see Cale tuck away a self-made bookmark in one of his books, filled with obnoxious drawings of seemingly red and silver cat, and a blob of black with blue jewels decorating as the eyes. 

"Your first lesson after we arrive at Yunmeng Sect would be the arts." 

Cale doesn't know if Jiang Fengmian is ridiculing him or helping him, though he just shut his mouth instead. 

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Wei Ying is tired, depressed, annoyed and misses his Xun-Ge deeply that the other disciples are avoiding for how scary he is for the past few weeks. 

"Gah! When is that first time happening?!" 

Wei Ying throws his bow and arrow on the ground before picking it back up when he felt Madam Yu staring at him with scorn. 

"Focus, you idiot." Jiang Cheng says before letting go of his arrow, the quiver trembling before he put his bow down.

"Ten points to Jiang Cheng!"

The older pouts before refocusing his aim, easily hitting the center of his own target (Madam Yu visibly frowns). 

"Ten points to Wei Ying!"

Jiang Cheng just sighs, already hearing the phantom scoldings from his mother. 

"A-die says he will give you a courtesy name later, and also a gift." The younger grumbles the last part. 

"A courtesy name? That reminds me, you have yours too isn't it?" 

Like a proud child he is, Jiang Cheng puffs his chest in pride, "It's Wanyin, Jiang Wanyin."

And like a supportive shixiong Wei Ying is, he clapped in excitement as he asked, "What does it mean?" 

"It means night to chant." Jiang Yanli says before aiming her own bow. 

"Eight points to Jiang Yanli!" 

"Woah! How romantic, A-Cheng." Wei Ying says, twirling his hair like a shy maiden, making Jiang Cheng blush and smack his bow to the older's head. 

Wei Ying just laughs before running away and started aiming, making him miss the target on purpose then said, "Don't worry A-Cheng! We can share the gift from Uncle!" He says instead to soothe his shidi's flustered face. 

There was then a scoff. 

"So that's what I am, a gift that can be shared like a toy."

Everything felt like it went into a slow motion, both Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying's eyes going wide as they instantly looked behind them, Yanli following suit with a soft gasp. 

"Don't be like that, oh Little Genius of Yunmeng. Your didi would be sad if you talk like that."

The redhead scowls, kicking Jiang Fengmian's kneecaps(which only felt like a tap of a newborn baby, if he was being honest). 

He then clicked his tongue, muttering to himself, "Though I don't mind being shared as long as they shut up."

"Gege!"

"Oomph!"

Cale felt like his ribs just cracked into smithereens, considering Wei Ying just dived straight to his chest and they both landed on the hard ground of the Lotus Pier, Cale being the cushion of the said fall. 

Did he also mentioned how Wei Ying is too damn strong for an eight year old child(You're just too weak for a ten year old Cale) like him? No? Then now you know. 

"A-Ying, that isn't how you treat guests. Stand up now, you're killing him." Jiang Yanli says after giggling to herself. 

'Praise Shijie and her kindness, amen!' 

"Dumb Wei Ying." Jiang Cheng mutters, though he shyly looks at Cale who seems to want to hug the redhead too. 

Soon enough, Madam Yu went close enough to see the commotion, making the cheery atmosphere earlier become tense. 

"It is nice to meet you all. I am Wei Xun, a new disciple of Yunmeng Jiang Sect." Cale introduces himself, bowing in a noble manner after he fixed himself. 

"What is this all about, Sect Leader?"

Jiang Fengmian's bows in greeting to his wife, which is weird since the two are husband and wife tied in marriage. 

"My Lady, it was such good luck for me to find such another talented child to become a disciple of the Yunmeng Sect. I pray My Lady doesn't mind with me making my own decisions."

Madam Yu scoffs, "You're the Sect Leader, so it's up to you to recruit disciples in this Sect."

After that, came an awkward silence, making Cale want to groan to himself and just hibernate into a hole or something. 

Cale kicks Jiang Fengmian in his foot and this time, discreetly and stronger than earlier with the help of his wind ancient power(though he could feel his ankles throb). 

"Give it to her Sect Leader Jiang, don't be a coward and ask her for a tea in the garden or something later." Cale mutters loud enough for Jiang Fengmian to hear, making him maintain his smile on his face. 

"Then, I will excuse myselfㅡ" 

"My Lady waitㅡehem. You see, I found a hairpin being sold in one of the stores and it made me immediately thought of you. M-may I have the honor to p-put it to your h-hair m-myself?" 

Cale wants to punch a concrete wall or something, his smile twitching into annoyance as he groaned internally. 

'Why do you have to stutter like a lovestruck fool in the endㅡoh wait, he is a lovestruck fool.'

"Oh...ehem...right now?" 

"...Yes?"

Cale kicked Jiang Fengmian's foot again, "Ask her for tea and put the ornament on her head when it's only the two of you, you dumb fool."

The redhead grits his teeth, making Jiang Cheng, Yanli, and Wei Ying look at him comically in wonder. 

"I-I mean! Shall we have some tea, My Lady? Just the two of usㅡ" 

"Oh my! Sect Leader Jiang is having a date with Madam Yu, best we leave them alone fufu." Cale says, making him want to gag. 

'You owe me.' Cale thought while squinting his eyes at Jiang Fengmian. 

After they left the two, Jiang Cheng immediately went and hug the redhead in a calmer manner than Wei Ying earlier. 

"You came back, g-gege."

Cale just smiles unknowingly, muttering a small' I'm back' under his breath as he looked at Yanli who mirrored his own smile. 

"Wei Wuxian, your shidi is crying. As his shixiong, you should comfort him."

"What...?" 

"Wei Wuxian, yeah it suits for a doofus like him." Jiang Cheng shares his opinion, snickering. 

"Wei Wuxian. It does suit you, A-Xian."

"But what does it mean?" 

"...What does it mean, human?" 

"To have no envy."

"You. The words used in it are only meant for you."

 

"...Only me?" 

"...Wei Wuxian..."

"Congratulations to your courtesy name, A-Ying."

"Yeah, because you are a great dragon."

Wei Ying visibly glowed, the same as the vividly black dragon in Cale's memories. 

"So cool! Look Jiang Cheng! I also have a courtesy name now!" 

"I'll use it since you worked so hard on it!" 

"I am Wei Ying! Courtesy name, Wei Wuxian! A disciple of Yunmeng Jiang Sect and Jiang Cheng's shixiong and shijie's A-Xian! And also Xun-Ge's didi!" 

"I am the great Raon Mir!" 

Chapter Text

"We can appreciate art not for what it's visionally made, but by how the creator put his entire soul in it."

Cale frowns, grumbling pathetically inside his mind by how boring it is.

"Now for the remaining time we have left, please create an epigram that shows how art was made into such an ethereal piece."

The redhead just sighs before pulling out a piece of paper and brush, writing bold strokes of Chinese characters and let it dry under the sun.

"Psst, Xun-ge. Do you have any ideas left?"

Cale looks apathetically at Wei Ying, pitying him since he's still too young to think such broad words to use.

The redhead leans closer to Wei Ying and whispered, "Goodluck, A-Ying."

Wei Ying's face paled, his expression screaming of betrayal as Cale stood up and gave his paper to the teacher.

Even though Jiang Cheng couldn't quite hear what they talked about, he could get the gist of it making him snort to himself.

Wei Ying grabbed another piece of paper filled with doodles and started writing while muttering the words, Jiang Cheng laughing hysterically making the teacher scold him.

"Dear diary, today marks the day that my ever so flawless Xun-ge abandoned me. The betrayal felt bitter in my tongue, like an unripe loquat with its seeds crushed out of its life. But alas, I still adore him as my elder brother."

Cale, who saw the scribbles from Wei Ying since they're seated side by side, couldn't help but frown at how dramatic the younger is. 

"Wei Xun! Please get your paper, you can leave to your cultivation training next!" 

Cale stands up once again but this time, with his books tuck in his arm. 

"Excellent epigram, Wei Xun." The teacher praised, but Cale just nodded, uninterested. 

Looking at his paper once again with a one hundred mark in the upper right area, Cale left the pavilion. 

The paper crumpled under his hold, but his grip soon softened as he stopped walking in the middle of a pathway inside the Lotus Pier. 

Cale looked at his epigram for one last time and recited it to himself out loud.

"You were like a small dot in a white canvas, full of opportunities to be made into a masterpiece with the right brush strokes."

The redhead doesn't know where he heard such phrase even when he still have his record ability, though the way every word was constructed like how smoothly weaving yarn to be made into clothes, it was all too familiar to him.

As Cale softly tucked away his paper, he could hear a distant yell from the pavilion he was in just minutes ago.

"Xun-ge! Wait for us!"

"Lower your voice, there are other disciples taking classes right now dumbass."

But Wei Ying still screamed his lungs out when Cale didn't looked back at them, "Xun-ge!!!"

"A-Xian is being lively today." Jiang Yanli says after arriving beside Cale.

"Children should be lively, Shijie. Good morning."

"A pleasant morning too, A-Xun."

Wei Ying who immediately sees Yanli, proceeds to feign sad and started rambling.

"Shijie! Waaaahhhh, Xun-ge didn't give XianXian ideas in our epigram! Waaaahhhh!"

Couldn't contain his second hand embarrassment, Cale left without talking.

Seeing this unusual behavior, Wei Ying couldn't help but worry as he ran and clutched Cale's left hand before looking up at him.

Now that Wei Ying thinks, his Xun-ge seems to have grown taller the last time they have seen each other before he became a disciple of Yunmeng Sect.

"Xun-ge, are you okay?" Wei Ying asks as he tugged Cale's hand, noticing a small detail. 

His hands are decorated with scars, although not that visible, he can still feel it when he held Cale's hand. 

Wei Ying wonders where did he get such lines. 

"I'm alright, just feeling sleepy. No need to worry." Cale says and patted Wei Ying's head. 

Wei Ying wasn't convinced, but he knows better to not pry about it. He's sure his gege would tell him himself if it gets worse, right? 

But he remembers, they only just became brothers out of Cale's goodwill back in the alleyways of Yiling. So who was he before he became his Xun-ge? 

Wei Ying is too smart for his age. 

"Xun-ge, you are my brother...right?" Wei Ying asks, his hold against the redhead's hand weakened. 

He wants to make sure if Cale also sees him as his own brother. 

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Cale says in a stoic manner, making Wei Ying flinch. 

'Ah, did I get too ahead with calling him gege? Maybe he's annoyed but just didn't talk about itㅡ' 

"Of course you're my little brother. Why else would I let you call me gege?" 

"Butㅡ" 

"Stop thinking such useless things A-Ying. If I hate something, I would tell you about it."

After that, Cale held Wei Ying and carried him up in his arms, surprising the younger but welcomed the sensation. 

"Let's go to Sect Leader Jiang now." Cale says before looking back at the Jiang siblings who were watching them from behind. 

"Aren't I too heavy for your lanky arms to carry, gege?" 

Jiang Cheng almost choked on his spit while Yanli giggled. 

"For your information, you weigh lighter than a haystack. You should eat more since you're still a growing child."

Yanli then also carried Jiang Cheng in her arms since the other looks jealous of Wei Ying, she then says, "But you're still also a child, A-Xun."

Cale blinks for a while as if he just remembered that just now( he did). 

"I am indeed a child, that's why I need sleep and photosynthesize if that's what it mean for me to grow."

Jiang Cheng then snorts, "Just say that you want to slack off."

Cale then admits shamelessly, "Indeed, I want to be a slacker while being rich at the same time."

Yanli chuckles, "What a beautiful dream that is, A-Xun."

The redhead smiles, finally happy that someone gets how beautiful slacker life is.

"Then, can we give gege his courtesy name now? I just thought of something though it's still incomplete."

Wei Ying, as if remembering something, asks Cale, "Is that alright to you gege?"

"Go ahead, as long as it's usable."

"Then Huan(1)!" Jiang Cheng immediately says, grinning in victory as Wei Ying gasped.

Yanli laughs again, "Don't be angry XianXian, A-Cheng and I thought about it too."

"If Shijie says so, then how about Xiang(2)? Xianghuan...Wei Xianghuan! Do you like it gege?" 

Cale smiles, ruffling Wei Ying's hair as he teased him. 

"I don't like it, A-Ying." The redhead says solemnly that he could see Wei Ying turning into stone and started cracking. 

"I love it, A-Ying, A-Cheng, Shijie. Thank you for giving me a courtesy name."

Of course Cale couldn't help but love the name they gave him, since it was made with such ambience fitting for a person like him. And for one, it does suit him. 

"Let's go."

The four of them walked, Wei Ying being happy that he lifted his gege's mood together with his Shijie and shidi. 

And he hopes that he would bask in such life like this for a long time. 

The redhead discreetly looks behind him with a menacing glare while he let Wei Ying and the Jiang siblings talk, his jaw clenching as he stared at the eyes that were looking at him from afar. 

Chapter Text

Cale once again sighs, he doesn't know how many times he sighed for today.

'Peaceful happiness? Xianghuan? Hah! Don't make me laugh!'

"Focus more on creating a pathway, Wei Xun!" Jiang Fengmian says, making Cale want to screw all the plans he have and just run away.

'Pathway! Fuck everything! I want to escape!'

What was it he said when he accepted Jiang Fengmian's condition back then? Right, he was very very sure that he wouldn't cultivate since he wasn't from this world. 

Cale wants to strangle the God of Death when he sees him next time. 

"Wei Xun! Don't let your mind wander around and focus!" 

"I'm trying alright!"

Though the redhead can easily stop and lie that he couldnt do it, that he's too weak to cultivate his golden core, he didn't  say anything to Jiang Fengmian. 

The eyes that were observing him from afar, he annoyingly know those eyes from everywhere. 

There was another God watching him aside from the God of Death. But he doesn't know if it was a God from this world or from the previous one. 

"Keep it up, you're doing great."

The other disciples whispered amongst themselves. Some were scared as some were in awe as they watched the Sect Leader guide the redhead. 

There were gold-rose wisps coming from the redhead as he continued to meditate, it was wild at first but soon became calmer when Sect Leader Jiang started teaching Cale. 

"You have a golden core, it was small but strong." Was what Jiang Fengmian said after letting go of the redhead's shoulders. 

Cale sighs again in exasperation, his imaginary slacker life officially waving him goodbye as he laments. 

The smile on Jiang Fengmian's face ominously looked very much like Ron's, making Cale shiver as he cried internally. 

Cale then whipped his head around again, his eyes squinting as he looked at the eyes of the God that was watching him. 

"Sect Leader Jiang, is it possible for martial gods to take interest in mortals?" Cale asks. 

He was no stranger to the Gods in the cultivation world, much less to those in this world as he practically recorded every information he can find in the library. 

'I need to broaden my scope and read other books in other libraries.'

"It is possible and it was rare at times. In most cases, it's those mortals that had made a sin that the Heaven Realm couldn't ever forgive."

"What was the other reason?" 

As Cale stretched his stiff body for sitting too long, the redhead almost fell off from his feet when Jiang Fengmian said the other reason. 

"You have the qualifications to become a Martial God and ascend to the Heaven Realm."

Now this information isn't where you can find anywhere in a deserted library. Cale couldn't help but curse and prayed to the God of Death that it wasn't a Martial God. 

"A-die! Gege!" A hoarse voice screamed, making Cale stand up in alarm as he looked at Jiang Cheng. 

"A-Cheng? What's wrongㅡ!" 

"A-niang! Please stop A-niang! Wei Wuxian will die at this rate!" 

The word die and Wei Wuxian shouldn't belong together in a sentence. Everything around Cale's range of hearing deafened as he instantly put Sound of the Wind in his ankles and started walking away. 

Cale's breath hitched in his throat, the red pigment on the floor was all he could see, and Wei Ying kneeling on the ground while bleeding was all he could witness. 

"My Lady!" 

Zidian came, but it didn't inflict pain to Wei Ying, but to Cale who stood in front of the bleeding child. 

"A-Xun!" Jiang Yanli screams who were being held by the servants since she wanted to defend Wei Ying earlier. 

'So this is why that bastard God wanted me to set the two of them up.'

If Cale knew that this was what Wei Ying would face in this Sect, he wouldn't have let the child become a disciple and just raise him by himself. 

Cale looks down, his bleeding eye twitching from the pain the whip inflicted earlier. 

The wound didn't heal even after a few seconds when it should've been. 

"What is it that he did wrong now...Madam Yu? Is it really necessary to punish him to this extent?" Cale calmly asks, his reddish-brown eye staring straight to Madam Yu's own. 

"Endangering other disciples, running around with no care for his surroundings, it is only right for me to constrain his childish and wild acts."

Cale's pale fingertips twitched, a sarcastic gasp escaping from him. 

"A-Niang! It's not his fault! I am in the wrong too! So please stop, he didn't do anything! A-Niangㅡ!" 

"Silence! I will deal with you later!" 

Jiang Fengmian then tries to reason too as he stood in front of Cale who was protecting Wei Ying from Zidian, "My Lady, I'm sure we can talk about this! You! Get a physician!" 

"Almost killing a disciple because of his rash acts! Don't tell me you're protecting him too just because he's Cangse Sangren's son?! They're already dead, Jiang Fengmian! So don't try to be a father to him and start acting like one to your own children!" 

The wound in Cale's eyes finally closed as he wiped it away with his hands, making him look like he was shedding tears from another people's perspectives. 

"Almost killing a disciple, is that why you're punishing him near death too?" 

The bone-chilling voice reverberated throughout, the reddish-brown eyes looking at them with animosity. 

"I shouldn't have let him live here." Cale states before turning away, walking closer to Wei Ying who still continued to bleed on the ground. 

"Don't you dare lecture meㅡ" 

An ominous aura shot out of Cale, making the other disciples tremble in fear as the Jiangs looked in agitation to the redhead. 

"I am his father, his brother, his best friend, his family. I think I have every right to lecture you since you are abusing him out of jealousy towards his deceased parents. The Sect Leader and Madam should try communicating sometimes, it helps you gain a healthy relationship and attain close relationship with your children."

Cale kneels as he cradled Wei Ying's head in his lap, the younger's eyelids fluttering as he looked at his gege with a blurry eyesight. 

A lone tear then fell to his cheek. 

Of course he knows his gege, considering that the vibrant red hair was one of Cale's uniqueness to this world. 

"G-Gege...don't cry...I'm alright."

"I'm not crying, brat."

Wei Ying let out a hoarse laugh before saying, "Gege is s-such a l-liar."

Cale also doesn't know why there are tears falling from his eyes, considering the emotions he's feeling are only rage and emptiness. 

"You should sleep for a while, Shijie will cook you your favorite lotus pork rib soup once you wake up."

Wei Ying just hums before closing his eyes tiredly. 

"Gege...don't be angry too much..." 

'Forgive? And possibly even forget what they did? No, fuck this and fuck them.'

Wisps of rose-gold rose from Cale's shoulders once again as he regulated his spiritual powers, bwfore those said wisps started to move around and danced around Wei Ying. 

"Wei Xun...please stop...you might hurt yourself in the process tooㅡ" 

"Stay away, Sect Leader Jiang. I don't know what I'll do to you if you come close even just a half of a li to us." Cale says when the Sect Leader tried to come close to the two of them. 

The dominating aura subsided, but Cale's piercing gaze is still there etched on his stoic face. 

-Close his wounds using your spiritual powers, though it wouldn't let him fully recover, atleast he won't be knocking to my door anytime soon. 

The God of Death tried to joke in Cale's head, which he only received a silent treatment. 

After several minutes, the rose-gold wisps had started to dissappear, the same as the whip marks in Wei Ying's body. 

The physician couldn't help but exclaim, "My goodness! Such amazing healing mastery for a child!" 

Cale couldn't care less about what the old physician was blabbering about, he's just relieved that Wei Ying is out of danger anymore. 

-It's a good thing that you managed to resuscitate his weak pulse. Congratulations, Cale...you can rest now too. I'm sure your Shijie and the little grape would take care of you two. 

After the God of Death said that, Cale started coughing out chunks of blood, earning worried screams to those he couldn't recognize with his state anymore. 

Blood continued to seep out from his mouth, his nose, his eyes, and his ears. All from overusing his untrained golden core and using his ancient power at the same time. 

"You were like a small dot in a white canvas, full of opportunities to be made into a masterpiece with the right brush strokes." 

 

"I'm sorry that I was the one who held the handle and painted your fate."

Chapter Text

"Shijie! He's awake!" 

Wei Ying blearily opens his heavy eyes, the smell of herbs wafting through his nose as he sees a blurry figure of Jiang Cheng. 

"A-Xian, can you hear me?" 

He grunts, his throat aching from being parched. 

"Wa...ter..."

"Here, drink it slowly." 

Jiang Cheng guides Wei Ying as he inched the cup closer to his mouth, some trickled down his chin and choked. 

"I said slowly you idiot."

Wei Ying just laughs hoarsely. 

Jiang Yanli stands up as she went to the doorway, "I'll reheat some soup." 

"What happened?" Wei Ying asks when Yanli left. 

"You almost died because of your hero complex. As simple as that." Jiang Cheng says emotionlessly before sighing in exasperation. 

"Aiya. It's my job as your shixiong to take the blame. Besides, I've always wanted to do it if I really have a younger brother."

"Your job...Xie Lian please forgive me for what I'll do but he deserves it."

"Huhㅡwait! Ow A-Cheng! I'm an injured patientㅡow ow ow!" 

"Your job? Who the hell employed you to be my shixiong anyways?! Who the hell asked you to take the blame?! I was the one at fault, Wei Wuxian! So stop your hero complex before I kill you myself!" 

"Alright! Just...stop twisting my ear!" 

Thankfully, Jiang Cheng did stop as he plopped down to a nearby chair. 

Wei Ying tries to soothe his red ear, "Where is Xun-ge anyways?" 

Jiang Cheng looks at him before shaking his head, "You should sleep again."

"What do you mean? I just woke up?" 

"Clearly you are still half-awake from the question you're asking. Who the hell is Xun-ge?" 

Wei Ying felt like he was thrown into the coldest river in Yunmeng. 

"Hey...stop joking. Where is Xun-ge?" 

"And I'm telling you, I don't know who and where this Xun-ge is."

The once friendly aura Wei Ying was emanating became onimous in a matter of seconds. Standing up, he didn't mind how his knees weakly trembled as he backed away from the child whom he should know as Jiang Cheng. 

"Who are you?"

Wei Ying is a smart child for an age of eight. 

"What nonsenseㅡ" 

"A-Cheng? A-Xian? What's going onㅡ" 

"Stay away! Who are you people?!" 

"Wei Wuxian!" 

"Where is Xun-ge?! Please stop joking!" 

A clarity bell then resounded and at the same time, his surroundings became dark. 

"You're an interesting little human. No wonder he treats you as one of his."

Wei Ying could see a man in front of him wearing such atypical clothes, his hair white like an old man's but he has a youthful face. 

"Who are you?" 

The man then smiled as if teasing, "Your gege's guardian angel."

Wei Ying perked, "Do you know where gege is?" 

The man chuckles, "He's alright, don't worry. Besides, I want to know more about you."

"Uhmm...okay...?"

The man then plops down, and Wei Ying reluctantly follows the older's actions. 

"For beginners, did you know that CalㅡWei Xun will be pissed at you?" 

"Huh?" Was Wei Ying's immediate answer. 

"First rule about him. He cares about those who are under his care. Those who hurt his people will face certain death. But saying that you were hurt by taking the blame, he'll be angry at you."

Wei Ying visibly gulps, "It won't be that bad...right?"

"Oh believe me. It is that bad."

Wei Ying let out a sullen 'oh'. 

"Say, do you believe in reincarnation?" The man then asks. 

"Yes? It was taught to us."

"Oh right. It's a cultivation world." The man whispers under his breath. 

The man then smiles in clear amusement, "Do you want to see what your gege was like in his previous life?" 

Before Wei Ying could answer, the man dissappears as a bright light engulfed him. 

Opening his eyes, he looked at the sky that was clear without a single cloud, a silver shield stood as it proudly protects the soldiers inside.

"Where am I?"

Wei Ying looks around that seems like a battlefield, unknown clothes were worn with people who have the same unique color as his gege.

His gege who was beside him was standing in a battleship as he slowly opened his eyes, the wind then slowly died down as the redhead sighed. 

"Cale-nim." A raven then suddenly spoke, making Wei Ying look the same time his gege did. 

"Did you leave a mark?" 

Wei Ying looks in confusion, not understanding a thing. 

The redhead then started walking even though he was limping, smiling as if he heard some good news when the raven clearly didn't answer him. 

His gege then almost tripped, making Wei Ying try and catch him but only for his hands to pass through, making him flinch. 

But the redhead balanced himself in time before sighing, he then continued trudging in the same direction. 

Wei Ying just followed him silently while looking at his little hands. 

"Father."

"A-die."

Wei Ying's ears perked at the familiar language. Looking at his gege who was talking to an older man who have the same features as him despite the brown hair. 

His gege then helped the older man stand up, making the soldiers also stand up.

Every soldiers looked up at the clear sky, the silver shield that was protecting them was still there.

And at the same time, citizens started opening their doors as they all looked at the same scenery with their eyes.

"Father."

"A-die."

Wei Ying could see how fatigued his gege is, and he's sure that the older man could see it too.

Just then, another boy started running towards them while holding an orb in his arms.

He then started to shout.

"Enemy ships have been discovered at the first boundary of the northeastern ocean!"

Wei Ying could feel his blood run cold, finally understanding the unfamiliar language when it was translated for him to understand.

His gege is fighting a war in his previous life.

He could feel dread wash over him as he worriedly looked at the redhead who was surprisingly smiling.

'Isn't he too young to fight in a war?'

Wei Ying is too smart for his own age.

"Time to go hunting."

Wei Ying looks in horror, "No...don't...gege!"

Cale was still smiling.

"The shield did not break."

In the next time he blinks, Wei Ying found the white haired man standing in front of him once again.

The God of Death smiles gleefuly, "Wasn't your gege so coolㅡwhy are you crying?!"

Wei Ying hiccups while tears continued to stream down, still remembering how his gege looked in his previous life.

"Did he die while fighting in the war?" He asks with no hesitation, his eyes stern albeit it was filled with tears.

The God of Death was taken aback before smiling softly as he ruffled the young boy's hair that to Wei Ying, it felt like a parent's touch.

"I see he is already loved in his current life."

The God of Death was really glad. 

"He didn't die in the battle, don't worry. He was famed a hero because he was the one contributed the most and won the war."

The God of Death could see the little human's face relax, but there was still the underlying worry on how his gege had died in his previous life.

Perhaps he had died while living up to his old age, but that will be a story for another time. 

"Now, little Wei. Can you make me a promise?" 

It wasn't a vow of death like what he specializes in, but rather, it was really just a harmless promise. 

Wei Ying just hums while he wipes away his tears. 

"Can you make sure that your gege can live like what you gave him his courtesy name?"

Xianghuan. A peaceful happiness.

Wei Ying nods enthusiastically making the God of Death smile again. 

"Thank you, little Wei. It was nice to talk with you."

Wei Ying blarily opens his eyes, feeling something heavy in his arms as he slowly looked. 

"Ge...ge..."

He could see Jiang Cheng usher towards him with a relieved face. 

"Shijie! He's awake! Gege!" 

He's finally back, where his Shidi, Shijie, And Gege should be. 

Chapter Text

"He is such an interesting human."

Cale just looks apathetically at the God of Death who was busy scribbling something in his stack of papers.

"I meant Wei Ying."

Cale frowns at the simple name he heard. 

"What did you do now?" 

As if guilty, the God of Death shrugged the minute Cale asked his question, "I just conversed with him, nothing much."

The redhead just sighs, seemingly used to whatever nonsense the God was doing. 

"...How are they doing?" Cale asks reluctantly. 

The scritching of a quill pen came to a stop, a pair of dark eyes slowly looking at him with an unreadable look.

"They're...doing alright."

A small smile quirked on the redhead's lips.

"I see."

The God of Death sees the longing look in Cale's face once again.

"Do you want to see them?"

It was a harmless question, but Cale flinched nonetheless before shaking his head.

"I'd rather not. If they're doing alright, then I'm not in the position to see them."

It was because Cale might break if he sees his family living their lives without him.

The guilt continues to pile, a melancholic look evident on the God's face.

"You were like a small dot in a white canvas, full of opportunities to be made into a masterpiece with the right brush strokes." 

Cale looks at the God, another sigh coming out of him once again. 

"I'm sorry that I was the one who held the handle and painted your fate." 

The redhead just snorts before looking at the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the God of Death's office. 

"So you were the one who told me those lines."

It's the God's turn to snort, "No, it was just an imitation of the original. Rather, you were the one who said that to one of your family."

"What?"

The God hums as he started writing again. 

"It was just a glimpse, but I heard your voice clearly say those words to someone."

The God didn't say about how hoarse that voice is, like it was on the verge of crying out what he had bottled inside for the years that he had lived. 

The words Cale had uttered back then was much harsher.

"I'm sorry I was the one who dictated you on how to live your life. I'm sorry I ruined the life you should've had without me in it."

It was painful to hear, even for a God like him.

"I see...it must be connected to the reason why I can't remember how I died."

The God clenched his jaw as he looked at the redhead child in front of him once again.

"Wouldn't it be safer if you don't remember at all? Maybe there was a reason you forgot your death that even me as the God who governs eternal rest don't have any records of your demise."

Cale looks.

"I guess..."

Cale hums, but the God is sure that the redhead won't heed him. 

"You should wake up now. Wei Ying will be there to greet you."

The God of Death stands up as he went closer to Cale and patted his head. 

"I'm really glad that you found a place, Wei Xun."

That's right. He no longer bore the name Kim Rok Soo nor Cale Henituse. He's Wei Xun now, courtesy name, Wei Xianghuan. 

But the redhead wasn't sure if he's ready to give up those identities, maybe in the future he will. But right now? He just can't. 

When Cale opened his eyes, he could see Wei Ying blarily looking at him, the yells from Jiang Cheng deafening his already ringing ears as he groaned in annoyance. 

"Shijie! He's awake! Gege!" 

"A-Cheng, lower your voice. A-Xun is also a patient."

Cale just grunted in agreement, his joints stiff from sleeping beside Wei Ying's bed. 

"You're finally awake." He says rather coldly than intended, making Wei Ying blink profusely as if remembering something. 

"Ah...you're mad."

Cale frowns, "So you do know I'm mad."

"He did...say that you'll be mad..." Wei Ying whispers, in which Cale had heard it loud and clear. 

"He?" 

Though Cale asked, he already had an interesting thought on who that 'He' is. 

'That sonuvabich of a Godㅡ' 

"Then, can I be mad too?" Jiang Yanli asks with a smile, but it was a sinister look from the perspective of the three boys. 

"Shijㅡ" 

Cale winced out loud when Yanli wiped his nose harshly, his eyes tearing up from the pain. 

"You're still bleeding after five days, A-Xun. Why don't you rest in your bed, hmm?"

"Of course, gladly..." Cale says as he started to move towards his bed like a corpse who had already undergone its rigor mortis. 

Wei Ying just looks in confusion, finally realizing how pale his gege is and how the blood continued to trickle down from his nose. 

"What happened?" He asks, worried.

"Shit happened." Jiang Cheng rhetorically says, which earned a stare from Yanli making the two flinch. 

Jiang Cheng then leans in, "Long story short. After committing the act of your hero complex, I ran to gege and told all your dumb acts. Gege stormed in angrily and healed you, making him overuse his golden core and made him bleed from eyes, nose, ears, and lips."

Wei Ying choked from his dry throat, making him let out a shrill yell. 

"He what?!" 

Jiang Cheng just frowns, "Bleed. After he woke up yesterday, the physician started visiting saying that gege has the talent to become a healer."

"Please tell me you didn't agree to it."

Jiang Cheng just scoffed, "Of course we didn't. If healing someone turns him into a bleeding mess like he did back then, I'd rather just strangle the patient he's healing."

Wei Ying just let out a relieved sigh. And Cale who was listening once again to their gossiping, couldn't help but shudder at how brutal their way of thinking is. 

Cale sits up from his bed and tried to pour himself a glass of water, but Yanli beaten him to it. 

"Wei Xianghuan, lay down on your bed. You too, Wei Wuxian. Stop talking with A-Cheng."

The three just shivered at how scary their shijie is. 

A pair of dark eyes slowly turned into crescents, a relieved smile etched on his face. 

"I'm really, really glad that you found your place within them." 

The God of Death then looks at the paper he's holding, his decision becoming more firm. 

"I guess it's time."

The letter then crumbled to dust, slowly scattering through the winds as the former God let out a sigh. 

"Let it be known that the God of Death is relieving himself of his position. Choi Jung Gun will be the next to govern the realm of eternal rest."

Chapter Text

"A-Cheng, Shijie. Madam Yu wants to talk to you."

Although Cale's name wasn't included, he let out a confused 'huh?' as he looked at Wei Ying who's in high spirits.

"You talked with A-Niang?!" Jiang Cheng screams, his worried expression masked with a scowling face.

Cale immediately twirls Wei Ying around, checking for any injury with a frown.

"I just talked with Madam Yu! Don't worry. She also apologized for her rash punishment."

Yanli just sighs before standing up, beckoning for Jiang Cheng to follow her.

"As long as everything is alright." Yanli says as she could see Cale also starting to stand up with an intention to follow the Jiang siblings.

Before Yanli could tease the redhead about his masked worry to them, Cale had already backed it up with a lie.

"A-Ying. Let's go take a walk at the river."

A preposterous lie for someone who claims to be too lazy to even lift a finger when he's cozy with his own chair. 

Jiang Yanli just giggles at his eldest little brother while Jiang Cheng just scoffs. 

"Double the layer of your clothes. It's chilly outside." Cale says as he looks outside the window. 

The season of winter is starting soon, and the first snow will commemorate its beginning. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Puffs of white smoke continued to come out from both Cale and Wei Ying's lips, the younger shivering the most despite Cale fattening him up with three, thickest layers of clothes. 

"Gege...I can't move and it's cold even with all this clothes."

Wei Ying thinks his Xun-ge is exaggerating, but he didn't complain earlier when Cale was dressing him up because it feels nice to have the redhead worry about his well-being in the winter season. 

Though Wei Ying is more worried when the redhead only wore one set of clothes, seemingly unbothered by the cold weather. 

Wei Ying then hears a sigh coming from the redhead, before he could see Cale kneel and remove the two layers of the younger's clothes and drop it on the cold ground. 

The younger shivered even more so, to the point that Wei Ying could just let his teeth chatter from the bitter cold. 

Cale removes the outer robe of his hanfu, only leaving a white layer of the cloth before draping the robe to Wei Ying's small shoulders, the younger slowly ceasing to tremble. 

The redhead let his lips curl up into an amused smile when he saw how big his robe is to his little brother. 

"Do you still feel cold?" 

Wei Ying blinks in confusion as he welcomed the warm feeling emanating from his gege's clothes. 

"It's...warm..." Wei Ying says as he slowly snuggled to Cale's outer robe. 

"I'm glad." Cale says and slowly stands up. 

Wei Ying continued to snuggle to the robe that smells of sweet apples in autumn. 

He doesn't have any fond memories of winter season, considering that he fought against the dogs and the bitter cold when he was still living in the slums. 

To Wei Ying, winter to him is considered emptiness. While others may celebrate it like the family he sees in every warm house with a warm fire and candlelights, it just reminds him how painful it is and how hard the mantou he held for his life to survive. 

How his fingers would color into purples, how hard it is for him to breath in the cold weather until another beggar who is kind enough to let him warm in their small lamp. 

Wei Ying could see how Cale looked behind him in a stoic manner, but he could see how his gege's reddish-brown eyes soften. 

"Gege! A-Niang wants to talk to you too!" 

Wei Ying saw how Jiang Cheng dashed towards the redhead while the latter panics on how to catch the youngest in his lanky arms, resulting to the two of them to fall with the redhead as the cushion. 

Yanli just laughs at how childish Jiang Cheng is, and partly because how flustered Cale is. 

Wei Ying just cackles boisterously, his didi who also wears three layers of clothes was like a ball that hit a random sapling. 

"Aiya, A-Cheng! Xun-ge might really snap in two at how heavy you are."

Said man just scowls at Wei Ying before his eyes spotted the robe he's wearing, before looking at Cale and to Wei Ying again. 

"Why are you wearing his robe?!" Jiang Cheng yells in worry and a bit of jealousy. 

Cale, who was starting to get annoyed at how loud they are and how cold the floor he's laying on, just sighs in exasperation. 

"Here." Cale says as he hands a talisman to Jiang Cheng. 

As the youngest touched the talisman, he could already feel how warmth seeps through his fingers. 

"You can give it to jiejie." Jiang Cheng declares and stands up, running towards Wei Ying who let out an 'oof' as the former pulls a part of the robe and draped himself on it, letting out a contented sigh at how warm it feels and how sweet the robe smells. 

Wei Ying do understand the feeling, an epiphany rushing through. 

It feels like home. 

Maybe having winter is a good thing if it means Wei Ying can bask into the warmth of the new family he have. 

"A-Cheng says you can have it, nooㅡshijie." Cale says after he went close to Yanli, who was slightly trembling at the cold. 

Yanli then decides to tease the redhead, "My, what a gentleman."

Cale just scoffs at that remark before walking away to Lotus Pier's pagoda where Madam Yu is. 

"Human! This great and mighty dragon shall cast magic to warm your weak body!"

Cale's feet slowly came to a stop as records of the black dragon started resurfacing in his mind unwantedly. 

"Hey Raon, if you were here...would you still cast a spell to warm your weak human?"  Cale asks to no one in Rowoon language. 

Puffs of white smoke continued to come out from the redhead's lips, a melancholic smile was then placed. 

"Who am I kidding? Of course you will...you all would."

Raon would cast a warming spell, while Ohn and Hong would snuggle to his neck as Choi Han places a blanket over his shoulders even if it makes Cale start to sweat, and even the vicious Ron would give a warm lemon tea to toy with him. 

Forcefully cutting off the memories being played, he immediately sets out to the pagoda and finds the woman sitting while sipping a warm tea. 

"Have a seat."

And so, Cale did it comfortably.

Madam Yu looks at him weirdly, noticing how the redhead wasn't shivering from the cold despite his outer robe missing. 

"I heard from Sect Leader Jiang that your birthday is coming soon?" 

Cale just looks at the tea that was being poured to his cup, sighing at the old man and his loose tongue. 

"So you've heard." The redhead says in a bored tone before drinking the tea that was served to him. 

Then came silence. 

"It's tomorrow." Cale says, casually dropping an information bomb as Madam Yu almost spat her tea. 

The woman then coughs as she wiped the liquid beside her lips, glaring at the redhead who looks smug. 

Yu Ziyuan just sighs, the ornaments in her hair dangled loudly making Cale wince internally. 

"I did as what you have advised."

"Then good." Was Cale's immediate answer. 

People make actions they will regret when their judgment is clouded with anger and jealousy, Cale had said to Madam Yu when the woman visited him after he woke up. 

Yu Ziyuan did admit her mistakes, after having a clear conversation with Jiang Fengmian that day. She reflected of course, but the guilt of hurting a child was too much that all she could do was apologize. 

Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren's little boy is such a sweet child, she realized when he called for Wei Ying and apologized repeatedly for her actions. 

Madam Yu knows that apologizing won't heal the scars she had inflicted to Wei Ying, both physically and mentally. 

In fact, Yu Ziyuan doesn't want to be forgiven at all. 

"It's fine." Cale says as he finished drinking his tea. 

"As long as you admit to your mistakes, then it's fine."

Wei Ying did forgive Madam Yu even after all the whips he received. And it wasn't Cale's place to have the right to forgive someone. 

"But please remember this. It was never the child's fault, it was on you adults."

Wei Ying was just unlucky enough to be the receiving end of the jealousy Madam Yu had for his husband's friends. 

"You talk as if you were an adult once." Madam Yu says as she refilled Cale's cup and hers. 

'I was an adult twice.' Cale thinks as a matter of fact. 

"Here." Madam Yu says as she places a pouch on the table, creating a familiar sound that makes the redhead's ears perk up.

"Money?" 

Yu Ziyuan just scoffs when Cale's focus was diverted to the money pouch she placed, "Funds, since you'll celebrate your birth tomorrow."

Madam Yu then sips again on her cup, "You can take A-Cheng and A-Li if you want."

Cale then decides to activate his glib tongue, "My, aren't you very generous Madam Yu? Surely with this amount, I can run away from this place and even build my own Sect that could rival Yunmeng Jiang?" 

"Go ahead and try, let's see if you can leave the three on their own."

Cale then puts the pouch on his pocket, "I can always Kidnap them and make a run for it."

The cup Madam Yu was holding dropped with a loud clang that Cale shivered on how the hell is the cup still intact. 

"Go and try then, let's see if you can run with two legs unattached."

'Vicious woman.' Cale thought. 

'Scary bastard.' Madam Yu also thought. 

Chapter Text

Cale looks at the sword Jiang Fengmian was handing to him, a foreboding sensation washing over. 

'Why the hell is he giving me a sword?' 

The redhead, even he himself is sure that one swing would result to a catastrophic event such as Cale injuring himself because the weapon is too heavy for him. 

"Every disciples of Yunmeng Jiang should receive their spiritual weapon once the Sect Leader deems them worthy."

'In which aspect do I have for you to give me a goddamn heavy weaponㅡ' 

"It's also because it's your birthday today."

Cale just looks at the older man deadpan. 

"I'd rather have money."

Jiang Fengmian just chuckles. 

"My Lady had already gave you money, as far as I'm concerned."

"Well I'd rather have more money than a blade I'll never use."

Jiang Fengmian had the audacity to even laugh at the redhead's statement. 

"Don't worry too much. I searched for the lightest sword to give you."

Cale could feel a vein throb in his temples. 

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" 

"I would dare not, Little Genius of Yunmeng." Jiang Fengmian says before shoving the sword to Cale's feeble arms. 

Despite the sword being the lightest Jiang Fengmian ever found, it still fell to the floor with a loud thud as Cale almost got his face planted. 

Before Cale could scowl at the Sect Leader, Jiang Fengmian had already talked as he managed to contain his laughs from the redhead's misery, "Give it a name."

'He's really enjoying it.'

Cale just groaned as he relented. Looking at the sword in his arms, he could sense something cold but a comforting feeling coming from it. 

The redhead just clicks his tongue. 

'It's just like that bastard of a God whenever I'm with him.'

Even annoyingly so, the design of the sword reminds him of the said God. 

"Xiao Wang(1)." Cale simply utters before removing the sword from its scabbard. 

"What a scary name you gave it."

"You told me to name it." Cale says, not sparing a glance to the Sect Leader as he continued to stare at the chinese characters were being engraved to the sword.

"I did say that but you make it sound like a cursed weapon or something." 

Before Cale could answer, something caught his attention. 

As Jiang Fengmian looks at the redhead whose face was starting to contort into what seems like anger, he heard Cale speak in a scary manner. 

"Should I just throw this thing in the river?"

"Now why would you do that?!" 

- Yeah Cale! Listen to him! Why would you throw me in a river?! 

Cale could feel his head ache from the voice that continued to reverberate in his mind. 

"Let's not throw it then..."

- Oh thank heavㅡ

"I'll just sell it."

- Are you for real?! 

Jiang Fengmian, to say the least, was not impressed. 

"I guess happy birthday, A-Huan. I'll leave you to it."

Even the Sect Leader had already gave up on reasoning to the redhead. 

- Wait no! Hey! Don't let this punk throw meㅡhey! 

Before the screaming continues, Cale slammed the sword to the floor as he glared at it. 

"Shut up you sonuvabich. You have a lot of explanation to do." 

For the first time after he retired as the God of Death, Cale had managed to instill fear to the sword's entire being. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"How warm." Wei Ying sighs in contentment as he bury himself in his clothes stitched with his gege's talisman.

Jiang Cheng just hums in agreement as he let himself melt. 

"A-Xian, A-Cheng. It's time to go."

The two slowly stands up before jolting away when the door was slammed open, Cale on the doorway with a tired but scowling face and a sword scraping the floorboard. 

As if Cale noticed his behavior, he immediately fixed himself to stop scaring the two. 

"Should we go?" He says with a smile, but it still looks terrifying to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng that the two couldn't help but just nod to their gege. 

"A-Xun, stop scaring the two."

Cale just muttered a small sorry as he sighed, before then looking at the sword he's holding. 

"What should I do with this?" He whispers to himself before sighing again. 

- Bring me with you! 

"Yeah I'll just leave it here." Was Cale's immediate answer to his own question then threw the sword somewhere in his bed using his full strength. 

"Woah gege! You received your spiritual weapon! So cool!" 

Cale just looks at Jiang Cheng who stares at him with awe. 

"Spiritual weapon?" Wei Ying decides to ask. 

"Yeah! You'll receive it when A-Die thinks you're ready enough to wield one!" Jiang Cheng explains in a fit of excitement. 

Cale just grunts, uncomfortable from the attention he's receiving. 

"Let's go. We'll go to Gusu." Cale says instead to divert their attention. 

"Traveling to Gusu takes three to four days gege!" 

The redhead does know that, but he'll do something that his past self will surely scorn him. 

"I can fly, remember." 

Even without physical contact, Cale could clearly hear the sword talking in his head. 

- Are you out of your damn mind?! Are you really that eager to kill yourself?! Cale! 

Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying looked towards the sword at the same time. 

- Take me with you! Atleast I can regulate your golden core and ancient powers so that you won't blow to pieces! 

Jiang Yanli looks at Cale who started shuddering at the words he kept hearing in his head. 

"Gege, the swords seems to want to go with us." Wei Ying says as he easily carried Cale's sword and offered it to the redhead. 

Cale made eye contact with the younger as the redhead just blankly looked before realization dawned. 

"What the actual fuㅡ"

"Language, A-Xun." Jiang Yanli says in a warning tone. 

The redhead's lips became sealed tight when Yanli looks at him with a threatening smile on her face. Though Cale was still flabbergasted on how the hell did Wei Ying carried the sword when he himself as the owner even had a hard time carrying it around. 

- I made myself lighter to accommodate your weak body. 

'Well thank you then.' Cale thought sarcastically as he held the sword rather easily in his hands. 

"Let's just go." He says, already tired so early in the morning. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

The usually three-day trip to Gusu was shortened to two hours thanks to Cale's wind ancient powers. Though the result was him being severely hungry, making the street vendors smile gleefully at how Cale throws his money around for food to replenish his energy. 

"Is It just me or it's colder in Gusu?" Jiang Cheng asks Wei Ying who was slightly shivering. 

"It wasn't just you. It's freezing here."

Cale who heard all the younger ones' ordeals fished out talismans and put them in their little hands. 

"Better? Or do you need more?" 

"Mm, better."

The redhead just sighs and patted both of their heads before looking outside. 

"Let's go have a walk around." Cale says before looking Yanli who was smiling softly at them. 

"Shijie? Let's go." The redhead says before billing the older girl's hand and interlocked his own. 

"What a gentleman, A-Xun."

Cale grins in return which earned a chuckle from the girl, "Only for shijie."

The four of them continued to wander around, Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng laughing boisterously when they found something interesting or the other faces a misery. 

"Gege! They say it snows here!" 

Cale just hums as he looked at the dark sky above. 

"I heard A-Niang and A-Die talking about your birthday coming soon. When is it?" 

Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli immediately looks at Jiang Cheng who spoke those words before looking at the redhead for answers. 

"It'sㅡ" 

Cale immediately stops himself when he saw snowflakes fall to Wei Ying's hair. 

There was then a smile, "It's when the first snow fall in winter."

"First snow? How'd we know when? It doesn't snow in Yunmeng!" 

Amused at the two's little problem, Cale just shut up while Yanli giggled to herself before speaking. 

"Look A-Cheng, A-Xian...it's snowing."

"Oh? It really is! Gege it's snow!" 

Wei Ying blinks in confusion at first, before yelling the words unnecessarily. 

"It's today?! Your birthday is today?!" 

"Why would I take you all to Gusu then?" Cale says teasingly as he held out his pale hand to catch some of the snow. 

At the same time, Jiang Cheng looks in horror when the realization hits him before looking at Wei Ying and shook his shoulders forcefully. 

"Wei Wuxian! Gift! We don't have a gift!" 

Wei Ying then screams, earning attention from the passersby on the streets. 

"I don't really need a giftㅡ" 

"We do. We do need a gift to give you." Jiang Yanli says, cutting off Cale's monologue. 

"Butㅡ" 

"No buts gege!" 

Cale just sighs, "Fine."

Its not like he would still refuse free stuff when they're all ready to give something to him. 

"Who buys the best present will have all shijie's soup!" Wei Ying declares before running off somewhere. 

"Hey! Wei Wuxian you cheater! HEY!" 

- What lively children they are. 

Cale just sighs tiredly and held the sword that was wrapped around his hips, "Find a way to know that they're safe."

- I already did. 

"A-Xun, I'll go find a gift too."

Cale hums, "Stay safe."

Soon enough, he was all alone again. 

The people who walks around him were not acknowledged, their idle talks were deafened as Cale continued to look at the snowing sky with a melancholic feeling. 

He then started walking with no direction in mind. 

"Hey, maybe it wasn't too late to take back your decision." He  mutters, particularly to no one. 

Having someone make a big decision like stepping down from the position they have for eons is a heavy burden for someone like Cale. He wasn't used to be the reason to have a former God to create such choice that big. 

- No, I'm quite sure about the choice I made. 

Relieving his status as the God of Death in exchange to be with a mortal, it was romantic in an aspect but surely not to Cale. 

His status was given up so that he can interfere and help Cale in his life in the cultivation world...by becoming a spiritual weapon. 

Cale's thought process came to an abrupt stop when he felt a hand encircle around his stomach and his feet slipping on the pavement. 

"Careful, the streets of Gusu becomes slippery on winter."

The voice was gentle, and Cale couldn't help but look at the teenager who helped him not to fall on one of the freezing river in Gusu. 

"Many thanks." Cale says as he slightly bowed when the boy let go of him. 

"It appears you're here on an official business? Or just a simple visitor?" 

Cale managed to stop himself from frowning when the stranger is asking too many questions at once. 

"I'm just a visitor. I was waiting for my siblings to come back, per se."

As he said that, the redhead only looked a glance at the teenager to know that he's part of the famed Gusu Lan Sect, considering the white robes, cloud like embroidery and the forehead ribbon attached. 

- Cale, you need to go. 

The redhead's eyebrows creased when he heard the urgent voice. 

"Then, please be careful around the streets."

- Take the guy with you! Wei Ying was saved by a little boy who wears the same clothes!

Cale froze when he heard the statement. 

"What do you mean saved?!" 

The teenager who helped him only looked in confusion. 

- I don't know! I only looked away for one minute and he was already chased by dogs! 

"Is everything alrigㅡ" 

"No, and I'll need you to come with me!" 

Though the Lans are supposed to be stronger than the average people considering their handstand trainings, the latter just let the redhead drag him around. 

He even had the audacity to think how weak Cale's grip is. 

"Am I being kidnapped now?" The man says in a soft yet teasing voice. 

But Cale didn't bother to grace him an answer. 

- Turn left! 

And Cale did, scraping his knees on the ground in the process. 

"Wei Ying!" 

Two children turned to look at him when he yelled, one teary-eyed and one stoic. 

"A-Zhan?" 

Cale then let go of the confused man's hand. 

"Gege!" Wei Ying also says as he started running towards the redhead crying. 

"The d-dogs kept following m-me! S-sorry I w-wandered a-around too mucㅡ" 

"It's alright...it's alright...as long as you're fine...don't apologize."

Cale could still clearly hear how loud his heart is beating. 

"Let's go back to Shijie and A-Cheng, hmm?" Cale asks as he carried the crying Wei Ying in his arms, noticing a bruising bite mark in Wei Ying's elbow. 

Cale just discreetly sent a small amount of his spiritual powers to heal the bite as he hugged the small frame of his little brother. 

The redhead then felt a tug at the hem of his hanfu, seeing the other child clad in white robes hand him something. 

"Hiding this...away from the dogs."

The child held two hair ribbons made in silk, one in black and one in red. 

"It was m-my gift for you...gege..." Wei Ying utters, as if shy. 

Noticing now, Wei Ying's usual hair was gone. So Cale settled Wei Ying on his lap and held the red ribbon in his fingers, weaving it to the younger's hair with ease. 

"You can have the red, then I'll have the black so that we match each other's hair. What do you think?" 

Wei Ying just sent out a bright smile. 

"Now, what do you say to them?" The redhead says and made Wei Ying face the little child and the teenager who saved Cale earlier. 

"Thank you very much!" Wei Ying says and bows, whom Cale aslo followed as thanks to the two. 

"Mn. Here, gift. Don't cry anymore."

The little child then handed Wei Ying a rattledrum as the latter twisted it back and forth, creating a playful drumming sound. 

"Thank you for saving him..."

"Lan Zhan." The child introduces. 

"A-Zhan, thank you."

"Mn."

Waving goodbye to the Lans, Cale and Wei Ying went and search for the Jiang siblings who ran to them with worry on how the younger's grip was too tight on the redhead's neck. 

That day, Cale received a hair ribbon, a tassel for his sword's hilt, and an embroidered qiankun pouch(with a little bit of scolding from Shijie) as gifts from the three of them. 

And until the present day, Cale had held to those gifts in utmost value, always carrying it wherever he go. 

The redhead let go of the quiver, the sound of pheasant dying from his arrow resounded through the forest. 

"Gege! Don't steal my mark!" 

Cale lands on the ground in one graceful jump, smirking at the man who continues to whine while he held the dead animal by its neck. 

"Well next time don't flirt with every female cultivator you see." Cale snarks. 

Jiang Cheng then soon came in, the sound of clarity bell rang to signify his presence.

"Let's go, Shijie is waiting for us."

"Aiay Cheng Cheng! Grand entrance as always!" Wei Ying snarks a tease, which only made Jiang Cheng blush as he threw Sandu to his shixiong. 

"How obnoxiously loud. You'll attract ghosts with that screaming."

Cale then hands Jiang Cheng something. It was a nine-petal lotus made in an amethyst gem. 

"Happy birthday, A-Cheng."

Jiang Cheng just snorts, "It's also your birthday in three days, gege."

Cale just smiles as he looked at the horizon where the sun is starting to set. 

"How fast time flies." Wei Ying says in a nostalgic manner as the three of them looked at the same scenery Cale was looking on. 

And whenever the first snow falls to commemorate the start of winter, they'll be always together in the present and even in the future.

Chapter Text

"Gege! Uncle Jiang says we'll go to Gusu as guest disciples!"

Looking outside the window of his room, Cale just groans in annoyance before covering himself with his blanket.

"Come on gege! We need to pack our things!"

Cale grumbles, already pulling Jiang Fengmian's hair in his imagination, "The sun hasn't even risen yet, A-Ying."

"But Uncle Jiang says we'll depart as soon as the sun rises."

The redhead groans, "I hope he'd stub his toe real hard for fuck's sake."

Wei Ying just laughs while the newly arrived Jiang Cheng looks at him in confusion.

"You can sleep again while we're traveling, Gege!" 

Cale just looks at him as if he was crazy. 

If this world have carriages that aren't as expensive as those who carries a bride in a wedding then sure, he'll sleep straight in those three days but no, this world only have yet horses and swords to ride on. 

'Or I can hop on to a cart full of bags and haystack.'

Yeah, no. 

- I can always carry you while you're sleeping? 

Cale just snorts before slowly rising from his bed, annoyed. 

'Yeah right, I don't trust you one inch when I'm sleeping on you remembering what you did last time.'

- That was an accident! 

'Oh yeah? Then I'll be a fool to believe that lie.'

"Will Shijie come with us too?" Cale asks as he yawns. 

Jiang Cheng then answers, "Yeah, but she'll be in another class since Gusu is strictly gender classified for those like Wei Wuxian."

Wei Ying just let out a gasp as Cale snorts, still half-asleep as he fixed his blanket and pulled out a bag for his clothes to be placed. 

"How about you two? Are you done packing?" 

Wei Ying just hums in affirmation while Jiang Cheng grunts. 

"I already prepared your bath gege!" Wei Ying then enthusiastically says. 

"I see. I'll just go to bath then." Cale utters, touched at the younger's thoughtful act. 

Not even a minute later when Cale dips his entire right leg in the tub, he started shivering as a menacing glare was sent towards the other side of the door. 

"Jiang Cheng! Get that brat!" 

And Cale didn't even take a while to realize that Jiang Cheng was included in the prank. 

So the redhead slammed the door open with only a small towel covering his hips, shivering as his snot is threatening to fall off his nose. 

"What are you doing there standing naked?" The man clad in gray hanfu says, laying on the bed confused. 

"Get me hot water." Cale tells the white haired man who just huffs in return. 

"I'm just a measly sword with a ghastly form, surely I can't do what you're askiㅡ" 

"Xiao Wang I swear to whoever God this world has, get me hot water or I'll fucking throw you to a volcano this time."

"I'm on my way!" 

Before Xiao Wang closes the door, he could hear a sneeze coming from the redhead as he just snorts. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Achoo!" 

The disciples that will be a part of those who will study at Gusu could only look at the redhead with pity, as some looked nervously to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng who was shivering from fright. 

"Achoo!"

Cale sniffs the snot that was falling of from his nose as he hugged his sword more tightly, further making Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng shiver. 

"What happened to you?" Jiang Fengmian asks after he arrives, in which he only received a glare from the redhead before sneezing again. 

"If the Sect Leader should have been considerate enough to tell me that I'm gonna travel so early in the morning, then it would've have been so much appreciated...Achoo!"

Joang Fengmian just scoffs before patting Cale's back, "You'll get used to it. In Gusu, you sleep early and wake early too."

It was as if the Sect Leader was reminded of scary memories that he shuddered for a while before composing himself in front of the other disciples, Cale could even hear Madam Yu snort at his husband who started his speech to the disciples. 

"You should cover yourself more, especially that fragile neck of yours."

Cale started shivering when Madam Yu went close and covered him in a coat with fur neckline similar to what Wei Ying, Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Yanli was wearing. Though his sneezes slowly came to a stop when his neck was now covered. 

Cale ignored the warm feeling of her hands that were similar to a parent's touch. 

"You're talking as if you'll wring my neck any second now."

Madam Yu just smiles while Cale looked away with repeated thoughts of vicious woman. 

"I see they did something to you again." Madam Yu notes as he looked at his son and Wei Ying nervously looking at their way. 

Cale just clicks his tongue in annoyance and gripped is sword as tight as ever before looking away from the two. 

- Hey, I know I'm just a sword right now but can you stop choking me?! 

The redhead hisses to himself as he could still feel the phantom burn lingering in his face and chest area from earlier, even his ankle and hips are aching. 

- It was an accident! I tripped! 

'Why the hell would a spirit trip on something?!' 

Long story short, the former God did bring hot water earlier before 'accidentally tripping' and poured half of the bucket to Cale. 

And due to his weak strength in his trembling legs, he was pushed away before landing on the tub filled with cold water. 

"Achoo!" Cale sneezes as he scowled at the unfortunate moment he had earlier. 

"Too bad that I won't be seeing how they would ask their precious gege for forgiveness." Madam Yu says, cutting Cale's trip down memory lane as the redhead just scoffs before grinning when the older woman gave him a pouch of money. 

"Cheng Cheng! This is bad! Gege looks really hurt by our prank!" 

Jiang Cheng on the other hand, was regretting every decision he made to help Wei Wuxian in his pranks. 

"You don't need to state the obvious you dumb prick." He says before scratching his head in annoyance. 

"Shijie! Please help us!" Wei Ying turns to their ever so helpful and beautiful Shijie, who just smiles at them before looking away, a sign saying that they're on their own. 

"Food! He likes food right?!" Wei Ying asks as he helplessly looks at Jiang Cheng who just glares at him. 

"The thing he wants the most right now is sleep."

There came silence, yet their eyes burned with passion as both ran towards the stables to get the most docile horse they can find. 

When it was time for them to leave, Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying was pushing each other away as they went closer to the redhead. 

"Gege! You can rest on my back! I'll be the one to take the reigns!" Jiang Cheng yells that surely caught the attention of many others as Wei Ying gasps. 

The Yunmeng disciples are enjoying the drama that was currently going as they all shared lotus seeds while they watched the two attempt to ask forgiveness. 

"No Gege! You can rest with me! I have food, water and other essentials you may need while traveling!" Wei Ying says as he shoves Jiang Cheng away. 

The disciples let out a series of cheery oh's as Cale only looked at the two dead in the eyes. 

Seeing as Jiang Cheng couldn't just give up, he revealed his pouch full of money. Hell, it was even bigger than what Madam Yu gave the redhead. 

"I'm rich!" Jiang Cheng boasts with red ears like a modern chaebol, earning another series of oh's from the disciples as they quickly munch their lotus seeds in anticipation. 

Even Madam Yu and the Sect Leader Jiang is amused on what is happening between the three. 

Jiang Cheng could feel his sweet victory coming to him when Cale started smiling, walking towards their way as the youngest could hear the Gods from the heavenly realm clap at his great success. 

"Gegeㅡ" 

"Shijie! Can I ride with you?" 

Jiang Cheng froze, his face stiff as Cale passed him by like it was nothing and proceeded to Jiang Yanli's way who was behind them. 

"Of course A-Xun."

Cale just smiles, saying the next words loudly, "Shijie really is the best."

Jiang Yanli then giggles, deciding to tease the two within earshot, "I'll even cook you lotus pork rib soup if you want, A-Xun. Since you've been sneezing when you first came out of your room."

Cale laughs boisterously, making sure they all heard it, "Shijie's lotus pork rib soup really is the best!" 

The disciples could only nod in confirmation as nothing does beat Jiang Yanli's soup. 

If you stare closely at Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, you would see their own souls leaving their own body. 

Cale just walks past them once again. 

Chapter Text

The bustling streets of Gusu slightly overwhelmed Cale who almost fell off his horse as a merchant yelled beside his ear. 

"Have a taste of Gusu's best wine, Emperor's Smile!" An old man says, offering a cup to Cale as the redhead drinks it in one go.

Cale hums, "It really taste good."

The merchant then smiles, "Isn't it good sir? I see you are from Yunmeng Jiang Sect?"

Considering they wear the crest in their clothes and the clarity bell wearing in their belts, it wouldn't surprise Cale if everyone would know who they are. 

Jiang Cheng then furrows his eyebrows before answering, "We are. Do you need anything from us?"

"I dare not to ask something, dear sir. We are just holding an event since disciples from different Sects are coming to Gusu Lan to study, just a simple event that includes drinking."

Cale's attention was focused back to the old man as Wei Ying also perked.

"A drinking contest, I suppose?" Cale says which surprised the old man.

"How smart of you, Young Master. Perhaps you want to join on to our little event?" 

Cale just chuckles, a feeling of melancholy washing over when the old man called him Young Master. 

"I am just but a mere disciple, they are the Young Master and Young Miss of Yunmeng Jiang Sect." Cale introduces Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, and if anyone noticed how proud his voice is, no one bothered to point it out. 

"But I will take your offer...ahjusㅡmister."

"Oh! Can I join? Gege!" 

Cale looks at Wei Ying who have his arm raised like he wanted to answer the question in a teacher's answer. 

'Aren't you too young to drink?' 

Though the redhead wasn't in the position to refuse since the original Cale Henituse started drinking at the age of fifteen, he just nodded hopelessly before looking at the Jiang siblings. 

"We're staying behind to look after you two." Jiang Yanli says after waving goodbye to the other disciples who went to find the inn they reserved in advance. 

"Young Master, Young Miss, will you join the contest too?" 

"We'll be spectators and look after this two." Jiang Cheng says to the old man. 

"A-Xian, A-Xun, the moment I see you become tipsy, I'm pulling you out." Yanli says with a smile, which only earned a nod from the nervous Wei Ying and stoic Cale. 

Cale was then seated into a table with four chairs. It was filled with men wearing yellow, white-red, brown and violet robes. 

'Ah, this guy...'

Seeing the familiar man in front of him, he could just sigh as he waited for the bartender to serve them their drinks. 

The host explained the mechanics of the said event, it was basically the survival of the fittest and whoever finishes a jar first would win. 

"Why am I even here?" Cale hears the man in brown robe mutter as he opens his fan, averagely the same as Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng's age. 

And there's this timid boy who looks around as if he was lost. 

"Then, young sirs. Let the game start!" 

A man that seems to be the referee in their table stood beside Cale and the timid boy before serving each a jar of Emperor's Smile. 

Cale didn't wait for the others as he have the gall to put a straw and take a sip of the drink leisurely, while the timid boy only choked before started drinking it more smoothly. 

He could feel how the man's eyes in front of him squint before drinking his own wine. 

Seeing as the jar was left empty, Cale looks at the referee with a stoic face before handing the jar. 

"I'm done." Cale says with a red face. 

He could hear how the host let out an awed exclaim at how fast he is. 

"How many fingers am I holding up, dear sir?" The referee in their table says, holding out eight fingers from both of his hands.

"Eight." Cale says plainly before looking at the man in front of him who slammed the jar on the table with a flushed face. 

"Wei Xianghuan had passed this round!" 

"Wei Wuxian had passed this round!" 

"Wen Chao had passed this round!" 

"Nie Mingjue jad passed this round!" 

"Jin Zixuan had passed this round!" 

"Wen Qing had passed this round!" 

Cale smiles teasingly to the man in front of him who was starting to space out. 

"Jin-gongzi, congratulations on passing through."

Jin Zixuan just scoffed before standing up and started walking away. 

Just then, the man who was holding a fan inched closer to the redhead as he starts talking to him, "You're the famous genius of Yunmeng Jiang I suppose? It is an honor to meet you, Wei-gongzi."

Cale just hums, twirling his cup filled with water before drinking it. 

"It is also an honor to meet you, Young Master. Nie Huaisang, I suppose is your name?" 

Nie Huaisang just opens his fan and covers the lower half of his face, "Oh? What gave it away, gongzi?" 

"Your fan, and the way you look like you're scared to talk with me earlier."

Huaisang just laughs before Cale looks at the timid boy who was starting to doze off. 

"Careful now." Cale says as he held the boy's head who was about to slam his head on the table. 

"O-oh...thank you...pretty...gege...hmmm...."

Cale just blinks, his face becoming more red as he looks at the drunk boy in confusion. 

"A-Ning, you're already this drunk?" 

The redhead looks at the woman who resembles the drunk man Cale was touching. 

"Oh! You're the famous Wei Xianghuan. Nice to meet you."

Though Cale doesn't know how on earth did he became famous, he just simply returned the greeting. 

"It is also nice to meet you."

The Qishan Wen Clan. It seems that some of the people within are not as bad as they are rumored to be, but Cale knew it was too early to judge so hell just shit up about it. 

"Gege, they're calling us for the next round." Wei Ying who discreetly went behind the redhead and held his shoulders, looked at Wen Qing who was helping Wen Ning get out of his seat. 

"Then, see you again if we ever meet again."

"Yes yes. See you later, gongzi."

As Cale walks away with Wei Ying beside him, he could feel how the younger's grip tighten around his arms as he glares at a Wen from afar. 

"Is there a problem?" He asked in a stoic manner, but his reddish-brown eyes were filled with worry. 

"No...just...stay away as much as possible...to the Wens."

Cale just looks at Wei Ying. 

"Are you already drunk?" Cale asks as a joke, though he's sure that he'll keep Wei Ying's warning in mind. 

Wei Ying scoffs, "I should be the one asking that considering your face, gege."

Cale then mutters off-handedly, "The only thing that is in my face is handsomeness."

Wei Ying just looks at him blankly before nodding to himself. 

"For the second round! Each have a competitor from four prestigious Sects!" 

Cale sat beside Wei Ying and the guy named Nie Mingjue, whom the redhead could almost see the comparison between the man and Tunka from his previous life. 

Looking at the larger jar of Emperor's Smile in front of him, Cale couldn't help but smile at how good the owner of the tavern is to throw around such large money to appease the representatives of each Sect and how it boost the sales of the said wine more. 

Cale just once again put his straw on the jar before sipping it again leisurely while the others immediately drank the wine like parched men in a desert. 

Wei Ying just looks at him funnily before drinking his own jar, the first to fall was Jin Zixuan, then next is Nie Mingjue who was beside him. 

The redhead just laughs internally at Jin Zixuan's misery before settling the jar comfortably on the table. 

"Oh gege, you're already done?" 

Cale just hums at Wei Ying's question. 

As the chairs were removed since there were two contestants out, Wen Chao and Wen Qing were each placed beside the two Weis as the younger is getting restless. 

So Cale just held Wei Ying's hands under the table before looking at the jar that was placed in front of him. 

"So, you're the redhead."

Cale just looks at the man beside him, a foreboding feeling washing over him when he met the latter's gaze. 

"Start!" Yells the host. 

Cale just bows as a formality before starting to drink on his own jar. 

'Please leave me alone.'

"And the Wei Brothers, win this round!" The host yells as the audience started clapping. 

Wen Chao and Wen Qing was dropped asleep on the table as Cale just sighed, the tension finally leaving him when the man became unconscious. 

Just as Cale was about to stand up, he could feel a hand painfully pull his hair as he cursed out loud. 

Looking at the perpetrator, Cale couldn't help but return the scowl Wen Chao was giving to him as he tried pulling his hair back. 

"Young Master Wen, let go of my hair."

The redhead didn't bother to plead for such humane action, he could feel the burning sensation making way through head as he hissed in annoyance. 

There was then a hand that pushed away Wen Chao's grip from Cale's hair, Wei Ying used his taller stature to hide the redhead from behind him who was fixing his hair with a black tie. 

"I believe my gege said to let of his hair." Wei Ying says blankly, before Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli came closer to them. 

"Let's go to the inn now, Wei Wuxian." Jiang Cheng says who was now beside Wei Ying, while Jiang Yanli softly caresses Cale's hair roots. 

"The sun would suit you the most than a lotus." Wen Chao suddenly says before looking at Cale with a serious look. 

The sword that was attached in Cale's hips suddenly started quivering. 

- Who the hell is this clown? 

'I know right.'

In answer, Cale just smiles as he feigned his best calm voice before answering Wen Chao. 

"I rather like lotuses more, Young Master Wen. Thank you for the offer though."

As the four of them started leaving after Wei Ying talked with the host about the prize, they could hear a mocking laugh coming from Wen Chao. 

"What a pity."

'Yeah I hope you fall in a manure then.' Cale thinks before leaving in a hurried manner, annoyed at having his hair suddenly pulled. 

Fixing his hair tie, he could feel that something was torn in his hair tie as he hurriedly removed it and take a look. 

The black hair tie that Wei Ying gifted him has a torn edge, making Cale seethe in anger as he glared back at the tavern. 

"Let's go to the inn, I need to sew this before committing genocide."

"Committing whatㅡ" 

To say the least, Jiang Cheng managed to stop the redhead from going back and pull all of Wen Chao's hair and possibly make him go bald(even though just the simplest thought of it is nice). 

Chapter Text

Cale really want to go back to Lotus Pier the moment he sees one of Gusu Lan's mountain. 

[Sleep at nine and rise at five.]

[No shouting in Cloud Recesses.]

[Do not fight without permission.]

[Alcohol is forbidden inside Cloud Recesses.]

There are many more rules written in the whole side of the mountain, that even Cale unconsciously recorded it with his own ability.

"How many rules are even there..." Cale mutters to himself, which Jiang Cheng gave the grace to answer him. 

"They say that it's three thousand rules."

Cale, for all the three lives he's lived, this is the first time he's seen an organization with many rules. 

'Which lunatic wrote these things? Was it Lan An? Hell, it's even more than the ten commandments back on Earth.'

The redhead just looks away before he could faint from reading such absurd rules.

"Gongzi, we meet again."

As Nie Huaisang folds his fan, he bows in greeting to the redhead and the two beside him.

"Young Master Nie, a pleasant day."

"Gege? Who is he?" Wei Ying asks as he looked at the redhead who was smiling politely at the latter.

"I am Nie Huaisang, and you must be Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin?"

"Oh! The foolㅡ"

In an instant, Cale immediately slams his palm to Wei Ying's mouth to stop him from uttering his statement.

"I'm sorry for my brother's rather brash mouth, Young Master Nie. I hope you forgive him."

In Cale's surprise, Nie Huaisang just laughed it off.

"It was quite alright, Wei-gongzi. In return, please just call me by my name instead of adding the Young Master."

"Alright, A-Sang." Cale says immediately, since calling him Young Master Nie is exhausting for him.

"W-whatㅡ" 

"Oh, was it too intimate?" Cale mutters to himself, since he's acting out of character. 

"No, it was alright gongzi. Then, is it possible to call you gege?" 

Cale just scoffs before walking away, "Do what you want. Just make sure that Sect Leader Nie won't come to behead me."

Wei Ying then lightly jabs Jiang Cheng in his ribs with the weakest strength as possible before leaning in to whisper at the younger's ear. 

"Is It just me or we suddenly acquired a new competition."

"What nonsenseㅡ" 

"Think about it! If Nie Huaisang is really a coward, won't gege spoil him more than us since he's weak?" 

Jiang Cheng became silent at that before scoffing, "What childish thoughts."

Though even when he said that, he is seriously contemplating what Wei Ying stated. 

"Surely not..." Jiang Cheng mutters to himself like the world will end in a matter of seconds. 

As Cale sighs to himself once again, he continued to kick the same pebble he's seen for the past minute he left the three on their own. 

"It looks like you have another cub to take care of, A-Xun."

Looking at Jiang Yanli, Cale just sighs once again. 

"I want to go back to Lotus Pier already." Cale whines as the girl chuckles. 

"You want to leave us here?" 

The redhead then frowns, "I'm kidnapping you three though?" 

Yanli then laughs, "What about your new cub? And besides, it wouldn't surprise me if A-Niang will be able track you down in just a day if you did kidnap us."

Just the mention of Madam Yu already brought shivers to Cale's spine as he shuddered while imagining the vicious look on her face. 

Cale just clicks his tongue before waving goodbye to Yanli, "Since the classes start tomorrow, I'll sleep for the whole day."

Yanli just chuckles before waving goodbye to the redhead. 

"Who the hell wrote the rule of sleeping at nine and wake up at five in the damn morning?" Cale mutters to himself once again before proceeding to his own room while torturing a no-face Lan in his mind. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Sleeping at one in the afternoon is a bad idea, considering that Cale can't sleep now at ten in the evening. 

Cale just scratches his head in annoyance before removing his blanket rather forcefully. He stands up then grabbed his outer robe and starts walking outside the hallways while fixing his ribbon. 

'Wait...what I'm doing is breaking their rule...'

He then shivered when he recalled the disciples doing their own punishments. 

'They were doing a handstand while writing the three thousand rules ten times.'

Now Cale really wants to go back to Lotus Pier. He'd rather talk with Madam Yu for a whole day than be in Cloud Recesses for the whole three months. 

Just as the redhead was about to go back to his own bed, he noticed an empty space where Wei Ying should be. 

Cale could definitely hear a crow cawing somewhere. 

- ...What a shrewd brat. 

The redhead could feel a decade of his life disappearing into thin air. 

"...Track him down...Xiao Wang."

- ...On it. 

Just as Cale was fixing his hanfu, he could hear Xiao Wang let out a gasp. 

- Hah! This brat is much more of a headache than you!

Cale scowls before going out of the shared room, "What the hell do you mean?"

- You should hurry...he's about to break three rules of Gusu. 

The redhead felt like he was thrown in the coldest river of Yunmeng. 

"Which rules?" Cale says as he put Sound of the Wind in his ankles, making him move faster to meet Wei Ying in between before he could see rain started to pour. 

- Wandering around after curfew, bringing alcohol, andㅡCale! 

Cale felt himself slipping on the ground before feeling a strong arm circle around his stomach to catch him, he was then swung around as he was carried out of his own will, his red hair flowing through the direction he was swung. 

A soft voice then resounded. 

"Careful, the ground is slippery since it's raining."

He could see how the end of his hanfu was starting to get wet from the pavement. 

"Ah, many thanksㅡ!" 

As the parasol leans in to cover him, the man who saved him could only smile gently before staring at Cale's reddish-brown eyes as the redhead just stares down at the man that was carrying him with only one arm. 

"You really have a knack of slipping around Gusu, don't you?" 

The same teenager he met back then was now carrying him is all grown up, helping him once again to prevent him from facing a miserable incident. 

As the man chuckles before settling Cale down on a more sturdy ground, the latter bows in greeting. 

"It was an honor to finally meet the famous redhead of Yunmeng, though it surprised me that you have the affinity to break the rules of Cloud Recesses."

Cale could feel like he was now indeed, thrown into one of the coldest rivers in Yunmeng. 

"I can explainㅡ" 

"Emperor's Smile! I'll give you a jar, so could you pretend you never saw me?" 

There came silence as Cale wants to strangle Wei Ying so hard and bash the jar on his head. 

- I guess I'll have Choi Jung Gun say hi to you for me in the afterlife. 

Cale and the man who saved him made eye contact once again before the redhead sighed in exasperation. 

"Should I just faint and say I was sleepwalking?" 

The man then chuckles, "You're brave saying that in front of Gusu's future Sect Leader."

Cale was silent again before closing his eyes, cursing in his mind that the man in front of him was Lan Xichen all along. 

"Faint it is."

The redhead then let himself fall as Xichen was able to catch him on time, making the latter just laugh to himself. 

"Ah! Gege?!" 

The jars that Wei Ying was carrying were left as he rushed to see his older brother in another man's arm. 

"Did something happened to him?" Wei Ying asks as he fussed around the redhead. 

Lan Xichen looked at his brother who was frowning with a knowing smile before talking. 

"Don't worry, he's just sleepwalking."

'Hah, I really want to go back to Yunmeng.' Cale thought to himself as he internally cried. 

Chapter Text

"No."

Cale crosses his arms as he continued to look at Wei Ying who was running around while fixing his robes.

"Why not? It'll be a good excuse!"

The redhead frowns, "It'll be a good excuse for you. And you two, go to class already."

Nie Huaisang just chuckles, "The elders currently have a meeting, so it's alright for us to go at a later time."

"What?!" Wei Ying yells, making Cale lightly slap his nape. 

"If you want to get punished that bad, don't include us." Cale says off handedly. 

Jiang Cheng just stuck out his tongue to Wei Ying before talking. 

"Yeah, it was fun seeing you running around." 

Cale just snorts at how devious Jiang Cheng is at times. 

"Then, we should still sleep!" 

That's not how it works but Cale agrees with Wei Ying this time. 

"Did I also say that the meeting of the Elders started at five? Who knows, maybe they are already finished." Nie Huaisang says while shrugging, making the three look at him horrendously. 

"Wei Wuxian, you better move fast or elseㅡ" 

"I am doing my best!" 

Cale just looks at them tiredly before imagining the handstands, "No shouting and running around in Cloud Recesses...haaahhh." 

"Aiya gege! You're talking like you were raised here in Gusu Lan!" 

Cale just shuddered as he glared at Wei Ying, "What nonsenseㅡ" 

"Let's go!" 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Cale munches on the Apple pie he bought before as he listened to the three talking. 

"Wei-xiong, here's a piece of sincere advice for you. During your time in Gusu, you must never provoke a certain person."

The redhead just frowns, since there all of the Lans can be provoked with just breaking a rule. 

"Who? Lan Qiren?" 

Cale immediately writes that name on his imaginary list of people to avoid. 

"Not the old man. The one you should watch out for is his proudest disciple, Lan Zhan."

At that moment, Cale stopped munching his pie before looking at Wei Ying with an unreadable look. 

Thinking back, wasn't Lan Zhan the one they met back when Wei Ying was chased by dogs? And now that Cale further pondered about it, Lan Zhan was the one Wei Ying met on the roofs while sneaking in some wine... 

"Lan Zhan of the two jades of Lan? Lan Wangji?"

"What other Lan Zhan could there be? Heaven's, he's the same age as you and I, yet he's got none of the energy that young people have. He's both stiff and strict!" 

Wei Ying then utters, "Is he a boy who looks quite handsome? Dressed in all white, wearing a ribbon on his forehead, carrying a silver sword on his back? The only is that, with his sour face, he looks like he's at a funeral." 

Cale just blankly laughs to himself, "Haha...haah..."

'Please shut up already, talking about someone behind their back is prohibited here.' 

Jiang Cheng just looks at Cale. 

Now Huaisang looks at Wei Ying in confusion before asking, "That's him. But we only came yesterday, how did you meet him?"

"By provoking him last night and offered him alcohol." Cale answers instead before sighing, since he's also doomed if he sees the two specific Lans. 

Jiang Cheng then seems surprised, "Last night? Wait, how did you knowㅡ" 

"Gege was also outside! Being held by someone who also looks like Lan Zhan but more expressive and more smiley!"

Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang then both looked at Cale in exasperation.

"You met Lan Xichen?!" Nie Huaisang shrieks, Jiang Cheng's mouth hanging.

It was quite laughable, the Weis meeting the Lan Brothers in a single night.

Jiang Cheng then started shaking the redhead's shoulders, making him nauseous as the younger spoke, "They have a curfew here! What are the two of you were thinking?!"

"Aiya Cheng Cheng! Gege's not at fault, since he found out that I was not in my bed and came out to look for me."

Cale just frowns, "Glad to know that you admit to your mistake."

"Besides, it was funny when gege pretended to sleep walk around and fall in the arms of the mighty Lan Xichen!"

Nie Huaisang could feel his own soul leaving his body at the two, "I'm sure that the both of them will be watching you two because of what you did."

"How sure are you?"

"A hundred percent, Jiang-xiong."

"Huh, makes sense."

Wei Ying just scoffs before putting his hands in his nape, "What's there to be afraid of? If he's always in seclusion, how will he have time to watch me?"

Cale just scowls before kicking a random pebble, "Good to be you then."

Just as they entered the class they'll be in, both Cale and Wei Ying felt two pairs of eyes watching them.

"They are watching you, gege...Wei Wuxian."

"Good luck, Wei-xiong...gege...take care."

Lan Zhan was looking at Wei Ying with an unreadable look while Lan Xichen who's in front is looking at Cale with an ominous(only to Cale since everyone who smiles at him is scary) looking smile.

The four of them walked to their respective seats, Cale was seated between Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang while being behind Wei Ying who was now seated beside Lan Zhan.

The most scary thing to the redhead was Lan Xichen seating behind him, making him shiver and not want to look at his back. 

"Good morning, gongzi." The voice behind Cale says, making him cry internally before looking back with a smile. 

"Good morning." The redhead says before looking back in front, making Lan Xichen chuckle. 

"Ahem. Everyone is here?" 

Cale's attention went to the old man who has a goatee. 

"I am Lan Qiren. Today, I will be talking about the rules of Lan Sect since nobody looks at them that was carved on the stone wall, I will repeat them one by one."

Cale just stares blankly, 'What.'

"Let us see if anybody uses still not knowing them as an excuse for violating them." Lan Qiren says as he looks at Wei Ying and Cale who was behind the younger. 

'What did I do now?!' 

- It seems that he's wary of those who have Wei in their names. 

"Ugh." He hears Wei Ying groan to himself. 

"Haaahhh." Cale also sighs. 

"Wei Xun." Lan Qiren calls, making Cale's hand flinch before he stands up. 

"Here."

Wei Ying just looks at his brother wryly which Cale returned the look. 

"Recite ten rules related to personal virtues."

'Fuck you, fuck this, fuck everything.'

- Calm down. You might accidentally blurt out your thoughts. 

"Be respectful. Arrogance is prohibited. Destroy the five poisons. Do not succumb to rage. Be peaceful when insulted. Be careful with your words. Do not be unreasonable. Do not be of two minds. Do not use coarse language. Be modest."

"Ten rules in appropriate behavior."

'Son of aㅡ' 

Cale's lips twitched for a short while before speaking. 

"Do not drink alcohol. Do not create damages. Do not stand incorrectly. Do not seat improperly. Do not make noise. Do not move arbitrarily. Do not consume meat. Do not be difficult with food. Do not smile for no reason. Do not fight without permission."

Lan Qiren then caressed his goatee, nodding to himself, "Good. You may sit down."

Cale did his utmost best to not just slump loudly and hunch over his table. 

"Good job, gongzi." Lan Xichen whispers to him, which surprised Cale since he didn't manage to get caught by the old man. 

"Since it seems that certain people disapprove of the material of my classes, then I'll talk about other things."

Lan Qiren's attention then was focused to Wei Ying who visibly flinched. 

"Wei Ying."

"Here."

- Fighting. 

'Yeah, fighting.'

"What was the profession of Qinghe Nie Sect's founder?" 

"Butcher."

"The heraldry of the Lanling Jin Sect is white peony; which white peony is it?" 

"Sparks amidst snow."

"Who was the first in the cultivation world to focus on the rise of his clan rather than his Sect?" 

"The founder of Qishan Wen Sect, Wen Mao." 

Cale applaused to himself internally before frowning when Lan Qiren spoke again. 

"As a disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, you should be able to recall such things like it's the back of your hand. It's nothing to take pride of when answering these questions."

Wei Ying just stood there silently while Cale raised his left eyebrow in question. 

"Then let me ask this. There lived an executioner who lacks neither parents..."

Cale's eyebrows furrow as he looked at Lan Qiren before looking at his surroundings. The old man keeps talking, but the redhead couldn't hear a sound coming from his mouth as Wei Ying answers him. 

- Cale! Shitㅡ

Even Xiao Wang's voice was cut off. 

The redhead looks around frantic, and he could see Jiang Cheng look at him with worry but he ignored it. 

It's like he was plunged deep into an abyss where no sound could reach him. 

Cale was then in a trance before he could hear a voice inside his head that is not Xiao Wang. 

- So, you were here all along.

It was a voice he doesn't whose owner is and as surprising as it is, the words it spoke were in Rowoon language. 

And before Cale could ask who it was, a book was sent flying to his face as pain washed over him, his sense of hearing returning to him before blood trickled down from his nose. 

He could even see Wei Ying with his body slightly twisted around to avoid the book that was supposed to be sent to him. 

Atleast the book that was thrown helped Cale cut off from his trance and return to reality. 

"Gege!" Jiang Cheng yells, forgetting that such act is prohibited in Cloud Recesses. 

- Cale! Are you okay! The connection suddenly disappeared before it came back when you were hit with the book! 

Cale felt nauseous with the sudden onslaught of the sounds he couldn't hear just minutes ago. The blood still continued to trickle down his nose as he looked at his sibling's worried faces with a stoic look. 

'I think I'm gonna faint.'

And he did faint before Jiang Cheng caught him in his arms, earning a worried shriek from Nie Huaisang and Wei Ying. 

Chapter Text

When Cale slowly opens his eyes, he could hear someone talking to themselves, but couldn't fully understand since he just woke up.

"...lusion...gize..."

The redhead exhales loudly, checking if he could still breath through his nose.

"...un-gongzi...hear me?"

'I thought I broke my nose, not my ears?'

Cale just groans, looking at Lan Xichen with a frown on his face.

"Don't force...self...gongz...should...rest...a while..."

The redhead easily follows Lan Xichen's words even though it's incomplete then closed his eyes again.

The next moment he opens his eyes, he could see the familiar figure of Raon sitting beside him.

"Human! Stop! Please stop!"

The black dragon continued to weep in his arms. Confused, Cale just simply soothed the child and rubbed his scaly back.

"I don't deserve it! So stop...I can love you enough for both of us...human...Cale...I beg you..."

Cale's lips moved on their own, and he could feel something trickle down his cheek but didn't bother to wipe it.

"Raon, how can I not love you hmm? How can I not when you are my child?"

The redhead wipes away the tears that fell to Raon's cheeks before continuing, "Everything will be all right."

"You know it wouldn't." Ohn intervenes, clenching her fist as she looks at their father figure.

Cale just smiles. The next time he blinks, he could another version of himself looking at him with tired eyes.

"I wonder, can we still trust ourselves after what happened?" 

His breath hitched on his own throat, confused on why his other version said that. 

"Why wouldn't we?" Cale asks. 

The other redhead looked at his hands that was now dyed in red, dried blood clinging to his palm. 

"It was our fault, after all." He says, and Cale could feel the sensation of having blood in his hands. 

He doesn't know if it was his or from someone else. Rather, he doesn't want to acknowledge whose blood it is. 

"What do you mean?" He asks, slowly becoming anxious. 

The other version of him just grabbed his hand and squeezed it, the blood that was previously coated in their palms were nowhere in sight. 

"In this third life, should we protect them still?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't ask such obvious things." Cale immediately says, which made the latter shut up. 

"I see."

The other knew that they are not strong, they are a weak and frail person to the point that they vomit blood once they used their abilities too much. 

"Our ancient powers..." The other trailed before continuing, "Get them back."

Cale's eyebrows creased into one of confusion, baffled at what the other was saying. 

"I always have them." He says. 

"No, you don't quite have them." The latter says before tapping his temples. 

"The God of Death was the only one talking in our head for the past eight years."

The other redhead then quirks his lips, "It was quite lonely for me you know, without others to talk to."

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Xiao Wang."

The said man looks at Cale, "What is it?"

The redhead looks around him for a while before speaking, "Did you found out how the connection was severed?" 

Xiao Wang was silent at first before answering Cale, "Yeah, you don't need to worry about it.

He sighed deeply to himself as he touched one of the spider lilies that was planted all around the realm they are currently in. The night sky full of luminary dots mirrored against the abysmal lake. 

Cale furrowed his eyebrows before calling the latter again, "Xiao Wang."

The white haired man just hums as he looks at the redhead who was behind him.

"I think I'm forgetting something about my ancient powers." Cale says, looking at his hands decorated with faint lines of scars he acquired when he was living back in the slums.

He will not tell him about his other self, nor the 'memories' he had seen earlier before talking to the man. 

"What do you mean?" Xiao Wang asks and this time, he faced Cale head on. 

The redhead coils his hand into a fist before opening it again, auburn eyes stared against abyssal ones. 

"For the past years that I lived in this world..." 

Cale unknowingly let out a shaky sigh before continuing, "Where were they...Xiao Wang?" 

The redhead clenched his jaw before plucking a spider lily and stared at it for a while, "Why was it only you that was talking in my head?"

Xiao Wang was silent at that before breaking the eye contact with Cale. 

"Xiao Wangㅡno, God of Death. What are you hiding from me?" 

The man just gazed at the stars in the sky with a tired look before sighing, "Find and help a small child that is named Wei Ying."

Cale looks, confused on why the latter would suddenly say such things he had already said when he was a ten year old child. 

"That was the first thing I said to you, isn't it? The first thing you heard when you regained the memories of your previous lives."

The redhead just remained silent. 

The man looks down at the spider lilies, feeling guilty to the actions he did back then. 

Cale was reincarnated in this world because he died in the previous. It was an act of pity and gratefulness back then. 

"Lure Jiang Fengmian to adopt Wei Ying, but make sure that he and his wife would clear all the misunderstandings between them."

He said those words to a child who was barely cognizant after the wave of memories he received. 

"I still don't get why you're telling me this when it's not related to the ancient powers I'm asking." Cale says with a stoic face, making the latter's sweat drop. 

"You were reincarnated for a reason. Live as Wei Xun, and slack off however you want."

'Don't dig up the past you can't remember.' Was what gone unsaid. 

Xiao Wang held Cale's shoulders and lightly squeezed it, a pleading look etched on his face. 

There was something that ached inside Cale's chest, like he was drowning into a sea that he couldn't get out of as it painfully suffocate his lungs. 

"And if it don't stop?"

It's not like Cale can avoid things like being hit by a damn book to shake his head.

"Then embrace it, I guess."

Cale just sighs, since he can't simply bash his head to remember.

Xiao Wang then taps Cale's forehead lightly, "Wake up."

As the redhead opens his eyes, he could faintly smell the scent of incense and could hear a soft tune being played through a flute.

It almost made Cale go back to sleep for such a serene setting if not for the flute that stopped playing.

"A pleasant morning, gongzi. It's good to have you back."

Lan Xichen smiles fondly at the redhead, burying the worries he had earlier inside his chest as he remembered the painful grunts Cale had made yesterday when he woke up for a while.

"Could you...continue playing?"

The older man nods before putting the edge of the flute back to his lips, his slender fingers moving through to play a melodic tune.

Cale sighs, feeling placid as he basks in such tranquility.

And at some point, he could see a shadow of Alver's presence beside Lan Xichen, humming a low tune to help Cale sleep in his previous life.

Perhaps Cale is still half-asleep, so an unknown word managed to slip.

"Hyung..."

Chapter Text

"I'll go into a thirty day seclusion to reflect on the atrocious things I've done."

Cale furrows his eyebrows, confused at the Elder's words. 

"I see?" The redhead says, still confused on why Lan Qiren was telling him this. 

"I also apologize for throwing a book on your face. I didn't know you have a weak constitution to the point you'll faint."

Cale doesn't know if the elder was ridiculing him or pitying him, so he just frowned instead.

"It is alright, Elder Lan. I have always been a frail one since I was a kid. Though if I may ask, what did you do to go into seclusion?"

If Lan Qiren was guilty at throwing a book on his face, it was quite alright for Cale to experience that pain since he learned something about his previous life. 

"As I have said, I am deeply sorry for throwing a book on your face. If your head still aches, please tell Xichen here."

So Lan Qiren was really going into seclusion because of a simple incident. 

Cale chuckles lightly, since being overly happy is forbidden in Cloud Recesses. 

"Elder Lan, you don't have to go into seclusion. Instead, I should be thanking you since I remembered something I have long forgotten."

The redhead then looks outside the window, his eyes unknowingly turns somber. 

Curiosity. Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen is curious about Wei Xun and how his mind works behind that unreal demeanor of his. 

"And besides, who will teach us guest disciples but you, Elder Lan?" Cale flatters. 

Lan Qiren just scoffs, hiding a smile by caressing his goatee. 

"If you say so."

Cale then stretches his arms before yawning, he then looks at the uncle and nephew pair once again. 

"If I may ask again, where is my little brother?" 

The redhead knew that Wei Ying should be beside him worrying on why he won't wake up just like Hong would, he knew that Jiang Cheng should be somewhere threatening the physician like Raon would, and Jiang Yanli would calm her two brothers just like Ohn would. 

Now that Cale ponders about it, their similarity was really uncanny when it comes to him. 

"He is with Wangji, currently writing Gusu Lan's rules for one month as a punishment from shushu." 

Cale once again furrows his eyebrows. 

"Then I will go now. I have another class to teach." Lan Qiren says before leaving the two alone. 

"What did he do now?" 

Lan Xichen just smiles, finding the Wei brothers amusing. 

"He angered my uncle, saying there's a fourth path which is controlling an undead."

Cale frowns before asking, "Demonic cultivation? He really said that in front of a Lan Elder?"

Lan Xichen simply nods, clearly amused at the redhead's expression.

The older man then teases, "What about you? What is your take on your brother's opinion?" 

Cale held out his hand before wearing a stoic face, "No, I'd rather not bother myself with such things."

He would rather live in ignorance than put his nose around something prohibited in the cultivation world. 

Lan Xichen smiles again, his curiosity still unanswered with the way Cale was replying. 

Though it seems that the redhead is either too lazy to even think about practicing demonic cultivation, or it's either he have no use of it. 

"Do you want to take a walk around? You were asleep for days."

Cale grumbles at the suggestion. Even though Lan Xichen doesn't show it, he was still confused at the words the latter was muttering. 

"I should just sit on a field and simply photosynthesize, that would be better."

It was the second time he heard another unfamiliar word, the first one would be the 'hyung'. 

Lan Xichen looks before shaking his head, deciding against the thought of asking the redhead what the words meant. 

"Let's go. Jiang-gongzi would be delighted to see you awake."

At the mention of Jiang Cheng, Cale easily perked up. 

"Let's goㅡ!" 

The moment Cale took a step away from his bedding, he immediately kneels making Lan Xichen catch him. 

"Do your legs feel weak?" He worriedly asks, making Cale grip to the latter's clothes. 

Rather than feeling weak, Cale feels quite pained. 

"Haha...I think so. Maybe because I haven't walked for days?" The redhead tries to joke, hiding the groan that almost escaped his throat. 

Cale could see Lan Xichen frown for the first time, the older guiding him to sit on his bed once again before taking a look at his lower limbs. 

"If you are in pain, you're in pain. There is no need to lie in order for others to stop worrying, Wei-gongzi."

The redhead could feel his heart thump rapidly, an unknown emotion circling through. 

Wei Xun, as Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse, he wasn't used to such affection of worry...and someone who easily caught up in his lie and say it to his face straightforwardly. 

Cale could feel Lan Xichen slowly knead the tense muscle in his knee, flinching every now and then when cramps started resurfacing before relaxing into the older's ministrations. 

He doesn't even know when did Lan Xichen got ahold of ankles, massaging in a circular motion that makes Cale want to sleep again. 

"Do you still feel pain?" Lan Xichen asks. 

As Cale looks down at the Lan's future Sect Leader who was kneeling, he couldn't help but feel rather stunned. 

"No...it's alright now. You should get up, Lan-gongzi."

"Xichen."

Cale looks at him, confused. 

"Huh?" 

"Xichen...or gege if you can. Lan-gongzi is too formal, don't you think?" 

The redhead almost cursed out loud, wondering on what the hell the older was thinking. 

Cale simply clicks his tongue, looking away before standing up and tested walking around. 

"Call me Xichen-ge."

"Call me hyung-nim."

As Lan Xichen continues to tease the redhead, Cale almost cussed in Rowoon language before zipping it in. 

"Then stop calling me gongzi too. As you may have heard, Wei Ying and me are merely disciples under Yunmeng Jiang Sect."

Lan Xichen hums, nodding like a cat that got what he wanted. 

'What's with me attracting weird people left and right?' 

Cale mustered his stoic face before speaking at the older, "Xichen-ge, please accompany me to Jiang Cheng. As the future Sect Leader, you must be busy yourself."

Lan Xichen just chuckles before holding out his hand, waiting for Cale to reach it. 

And Cale did. 

"I must say, this is the first time I talk to someone without being mindful of my words." 

The older looks outside calmly, feeling quite happy that he get to experience the relationships he sees outside Gusu Lan Sect. 

He have Lan Wangji as his little brother, so he should look after him like the older brother he is. 

But Lan Xichen sometimes long for a parent's warmth, or the company a friend would offer. 

When the time they had met each other again, Lan Xichen already wanted to offer friendship to the redhead. 

"Let's go, A-Huan."

It was kind of weird, calling another person with the same name albeit the different character. But in this way, he should be a bit more respectful than calling the redhead his common name. 

But atleast, he has someone who he can call a friend now. 

Chapter Text

As a week passes by with Cale watching all the horrendous acts of flirting from Wei Ying to Lan Wangji, the redhead could only sigh with Lan Xichen chuckling beside him.

A distant sound of something crashing was then heard.

Cale brushes his face with his own palm, sighing once again in exasperation as he watch the two run around each other.

"What did he do this time?"

The redhead could hear Huaisang lightly gasp under his breath, whining when he sees a book in Lan Wangji's hand getting crushed to dust. 

"What did you even give that idiot?" Jiang Cheng asks, even though he already have an idea about it. 

Before Huaisang could answer, they could hear Lan Wangji bellowing 'get lost!' that it shocked them, even Lan Xichen was flabbergasted at his brother. 

Lan Xichen then gasp in amusement, easily reading his brother's stoic face. 

"A-Huan, do Yunmeng Jiang disciples always catch water ghouls since you are close by in a river?" 

Cale looks in confusion, while Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang couldn't believe their ears for a second. 

The Zewu-Jun? Calling someone intimately by their courtesy name? And it's their gege nonetheless? 

And besides, why was Lan Xichen stuck to Cale like a glue? 

"Just them. I'm too lazy to catch one so I'm just watching all the time, Xichen-ge." Cale answers, making Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang whip their heads to the redhead. 

"Hold up, since when the two of you become this close?" Jiang Cheng asks, still baffled that his gege is calling someone gege too. 

Lan Xichen just smiles knowingly while Cale looks away, avoiding the younger's question. 

Nie Huaisang then whispers in Jiang Cheng's ear, "So suspicious."

"There are water ghouls that we needed to exterminate, so we are quite short of hands."

Cale then accusingly gasp before talking, "Ah, so you're asking them for help."

"Yes." Lan Xichen says, shamelessly. 

He then leaned in close to whisper, "You must've noticed it too, between Wangji and your brother."

Cale indeed noticed the atmosphere around the two, so he just shrugged and pointed at Lan Wangji. 

"Then, I'll be back. I'll just fetch Wangji."

As Lan Xichen hurriedly walks away, Wei Ying arrived and looked at the redhead in confusion. 

"You two are close?" He asks his gege, who instead answered off-handedly. 

"No, we're open."

"Huh?" 

"Huh." Cale then teasingly imitates. 

Nie Huaisang then coughs, hiding his laughter before bowing to the three of them. 

"I'll pass on your trip to a river, Dage is urging me to study more." 

Cale looks at Huaisang before nodding, patting the younger's head casually. 

"We'll be back, A-Sang."

Nie Huaisang felt his chest warm up at the affection. 

"Mn. Take care, gege, Wei-xiong, Jiang-xiong."

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Nie Huaisang is too weak to carry a saber, so he was called a fool who doesn't know anything."

No, Cale was sure Nie Huaisang is far from being a fool. 

"He is good at something." Cale says, looking at Jiang Cheng. 

"What is it?" 

"Arts and Literature."

Cale was too serious that Jiang Cheng couldn't even talk to him about it. 

"...If you say so."

The redhead just nods, doing his best to not look at Wei Ying who was calling Lan Wangji shamelessly. 

"Let's visit a blacksmith later." Cale says making Jiang Cheng look at him with surprise. 

Gege visiting a blacksmith? Is the world ending? 

In order to divert Jiang Cheng's shock, Cale decided to joke something to the younger. 

"If they see the people from Yunmeng arguing, they'd be scared to death, no?" 

Cale found it amusing how the people from Gusu argue in the softest tone possible. 

Before Jiang Cheng could answer, they heard Lan Wangji raising his voice once again. 

"How ridiculous!" 

Jiang Cheng just sighs as he looks away, Cale following the gesture a second later. 

Lan Wangji's boat was turned upside down and revealed the water ghouls that was clinging below, catching the Lan disciples off guard. 

They could see how Wei Ying boasts about his inspection, Cale ignoring his brother as he looks below the lake. 

A minute later, Wei Ying then slashes his Suibian to the water, killing the water ghouls that tried to attack him. 

Cale just watched his brother explain something to Lan Wangji before Xiao Wang spoke to his mind. 

- There's something else in the water. 

"Lan Zhan! Beside your boat!" 

After he sees Lan Wangji threw his sword on the lake before retrieving it, Cale eyes something inside the lake. 

"...This!"

The redhead shuddered as he made eye contact with the creature below them. 

"Why did the water of Biling Lake turn into a color like this?" Wei Ying mutters. 

"Mount your swords!" Cale yells in a hurried manner, Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying immediately follows their older brother's command. 

So the Lan disciples have no choice but to follow them too, except for one whose sword is missing. 

"Su She!" A Lan disciple says, earning the attention of others. 

In a blink of an eye, Wei Ying disappeared beside Cale and Jiang Cheng. 

"Hold on!" Wei Ying screams, holding out his hand to Su She. 

"Wei Yingㅡ!" 

The moment Su She held Wei Ying's hand, the both of them were sucked into a whirlpool. 

Cale could then feel his back run cold before a pounding headache washed over him, making him hold his head and groan. 

"Choi Han! No! Run away!" 

 

"RAON!" 

There was something that erupted from the redhead, making Jiang Cheng and the other Lans to look at him in fear. 

Cale then jumps straight to the whirlpool, earning a series of worried yells mainly from Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng. 

The moment Cale opens his eyes, he could clearly see Wei Ying bleeding and unconscious, while was Su She nowhere to be found under the lake. 

Cale held out his hand, the water around him turning into several whirlpools of his own as Wei Ying inched closer to him. 

He then eyed the monster that was watching him. 

- Do you want to kill it?

Cale couldn't answer Xiao Wang, but he put Sound of the Wind below his legs and resurfaced above. 

"Hold him." The redhead says the moment he came close to Lan Wangji, summoning his spiritual sword as he looked at the waterborne abyss below. 

The monster howled, threatened at the presence of the redhead as it showed itself above water. 

"A waterborne abyss!" 

"A-Huan! Let's retreat! You can't kill that!" 

Cale blinks before muttering to himself, "Is that so?" 

He then looks at the reflection in his sword before looking at the monster again below, the wind in his ankles making him stay afloat. 

He then let go of Xiao Wang as he stared coldly. 

"Kill it."

The sword started vibrating violently as it followed its master's wish, beheading the waterborne abyss in one go before coming back to Cale's hands. 

As Cale slowly sheaths his sword to his scabbard, the suffocating atmosphere disappeared around the redhead. 

He then could see Su She being guided as he coughs, seemingly uninjured while Wei Ying was dying in the lake for trying to save him. 

- Someone chased the Waterborne Abyss in Caiyi Town. 

"This lake...where does this lake connect to?" 

Lan Xichen points at the sun above them, making Cale grit his teeth in annoyance. 

"It seems like it's either they want the people here to die or they are picking a fight."

The other people that was with them are still flabbergasted on how easy it was for the redhead to kill a Waterborne Abyss when it's too difficult to exterminate one. 

"Gege! Wei Wuxian is losing a lot of blood!" 

As Cale hurriedly walked towards Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng, some of the disciples flinched and slowly walked away from the redhead. 

"Create a teleportation array immediately!" Cale says to Jiang Cheng as he checked Wei Ying's pulse. 

"A teleportation array?" 

"There's something like that?" 

As the disciples whispered to themselves, Cale put his palm above Wei Ying's wound and slowly pushed his spiritual power in it, slowly healing the younger. 

Cale didn't mind the blood that threatened to come out form his throat and instead, he swallowed it. 

"Gege!" Jiang Cheng says worriedly, seeing how pale the redhead is. 

"Jiang Cheng. Activate it." Cale says with a tired look on his face. 

The younger wants to refute, but he swallowed all his complains before activating the teleportation array. 

Jiang Cheng ignored the emotion that was swirling in his chest, already threatening Wei Ying in his mind that he'll strangle him when he wakes up. 

He did promise to strangle the people that Cale will heal back when they were still young. 

Chapter Text

"I already stopped the bleeding, so please dress the wound for now. He'll wake up any time."

As Cale continues to talk to the Elder, Jiang Cheng glares at Su She from afar as he grits his teeth. 

"A-Cheng." 

Jiang Cheng was cut off from his glare when he heard his older sister calling for him. 

"Shijie..."

Jiang Yanli sighs, relieved that atleast nothing happened to her younger brother. 

Though she was now worried to both Weis again, since they both have a knack for attracting problems left and right. 

"What happened?" Jiang Yanli asks, though there's a sharp tone at the end of her sentence. 

"That's what I wanted to ask him." Jiang Cheng answers before walking towards to where Su She is, grabbing him by the collar and glared. 

"Su She, is it? What happened inside that lake?" He threatened making the other Lans look at each other before speaking. 

"Fighting inside Cloud Recesses is forbidden!" 

Jiang Cheng scoffs, "Fighting? I haven't swung my fist yet, aren't I?!" 

"Jiang-xiong..." The newly arrived Nie Huaisang tries to reason. 

"Tell me what happened inside that lake!" 

Su She flinched, before sputtering words that were almost incomprehensible. 

"I don't k-know! After Wei Wuxian a-and I were plunged deep down the l-lake, the w-waterborne abyss o-only attacked him! I tried to pull him w-with me I s-swear!" 

Before Jiang Cheng could tell how absurd his claim, Cale had come closer and held the younger by the shoulder. 

"Calm down. It was my fault that the Waterborne Abyss attacked A-Ying."

Fault? How is that incident his fault? 

Jiang Cheng's fists were coiled, the ugly feeling inside him kept swirling that he's afraid it will burst out anytime. 

He let go of Su She's collar, burying his anger deep inside. 

"Return to your rooms." Lan Xichen then says, making the Lan disciples and Nie Huaisang follow him with no questions asked. 

"We should rest too." Cale says, which made the Jiang siblings frown as they eye how pale the redhead is. 

Jiang Yanli inched closer to Cale before forcefully slamming her fist on his back. 

"You should cough the blood out, A-Xun." She says with a menacing smile, making Cale choke from the rising blood on his throat and coughed painfully. 

Cale kept coughing as Jiang Yanli kept pounding her fist on the redhead's back, making Lan Xichen hesitant whether he should stop the two or even help the girl in patting Cale's back. 

"S-shijie spare me some slack." Cale pleads. 

"Is it all out now?" 

Cale feels like he should answer the question carefully. 

"...N-noㅡack!"

Who the hell was he kidding? Jiang Yanli would slap his back no matter what answer he gave! 

He coughed out the last chunk of blood that was peacefully resting in his chest before heaving a deep sigh, still shuddering at how vicious the girl is. 

"There."

Before Cale could speak, a pie was then shoved to his mouth. 

"Human! Have some apple pie, you must be hungry!" 

"Have some blueberry pie, gege. I bought it earlier before we exterminate the water ghouls. It's a little soggy but it's still tasty."

Cale's reddish-brown eyes started to shake as he stared at Jiang Cheng who was taller than him. 

The redhead started trembling unknowingly as he started chewing the soggy pie in his mouth. 

"Why are you looking at me like you saw a ghost?"

Maybe because Cale did. 

"Nothing. I was just caught off guard with you shoving a pie in my mouth."

He was also caught off guard on how similar Jiang Cheng and Raon is, even though he already knew their similarities and differences. 

"Well, get used to it."

Cale almost laughed out loud, "I'm looking forward to it."

Indeed, Cale is looking forward to it. 

"Shijie, A-Cheng, Xichen-ge." 

He looked towards the three of them, burying the memory that kept resurfacing in his mind as he stopped comparing these three people to the family he once had in his previous life as Cale Henituse. 

"Cover me? Just for two days."

It seems that Cale needs to prepare something in case they go into a full war with how the Qishan Wen is acting. He hopes it's just him overthinking, but there's nothing to lose if he prepares something regarding his people's safety. 

"Where are you going?" Lan Xichen asks. 

Cale looks away from afar, eyeing a certain land. 

"To Lotus Pier."

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"The Qishan Wen had always been acting high and mighty in the cultivation world."

As Cale sips his tea, he grimaced to himself at how bitter it is before looking at Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan.

"Now tell us why you're here and not taking classes in Gusu." Madam Yu demands.

Cale settles his cup with a thud, the chinaware creating a small sound of cracking.

"They have been too arrogant, I must say. So maybe it'll be alright if I build something in Lotus Pier to defend ourselves."

Madam Yu's left eyebrow was raised, quite surprised and not at the same time by seeing the face the redhead was making.

Jiang Fengmian sighs, "Who are you deceiveing this time?"

Cale places a hand above his chest and acted like he's hurt.

"Aiya Sect Leader, you wound me." Cale smiles before his gaze turned into a sharp one. 

"Of course it's the sun."

It's the Sect Leader's turn to have his eyebrow quirk up. 

"What did even the sun do to anger you, oh Little Genius of Yunmeng?" 

Cale scowls, "Quit it, old man. And for your information, those damn bastards chased away a Waterborne Abyss in Caiyi Town."

The air around Madam Yu and Sect Leader Jiang turned grim as they looked at the redhead. 

"Who was hurt?" 

The look on Cale's face turned grim before his lips turned into a lopsided smile, "My little brother."

The air around the three of them turned menacing as the servants backed away in fear. 

"What is your plan, Wei Xun?" Sect Leader Jiang asks. 

"If the sun's rays are scalding, we pray to the Gods to cover it with a cloud."

That was the common practice in the world they are living in. 

"But if it still managed to get through, let's extinguish it into the coldest river filled with lotuses. After all, that damn sun is just a feeble ball of gas that was showered with farcical flames of the past."

Madam Yu hums in agreement, "The sun has been up for far too long."

Then Sect Leader Jiang also nods before drinking his tea, "Should we place a moon in the sky instead?"

The look that was being shared between the couple felt ominous, making Cale shiver as he drank the remaining bitter tea in one go.

"Anyways, I'll send the blueprints as soon as I'm done making them. For now, let's see if the Wens are really trying to start something."

As he bows to the older people in front of him, he whipped out a teleprtation talisman and activated it.

By the time Cale opens his eyes, he was greeted by a sight that makes him want to walk away and just sleep in his room.

"Jiang Cheng, stop strangling your shixiong before I bash both of your heads to each other!" 

Chapter Text

"Huh. I'm surprised you're still alive by how much you are provoking the Second Jade of Lan."

Wei Ying places his hand above his chest, feigning a hurt expression.

"Is that how low you think of me Cheng Cheng?"

Cale who was beside them listening just grumbled.

'The way you act by giving him two male rabbits seems like you want to court him.'

Though that passage only remained in his train of thoughts.

"Now that I think of it, the founder of Gusu was a monk who loved someone dearly. So why was it that he produced such unromantic descendants?"

The redhead just grunts, 'You are just too dense.'

"Why are you changing the subject now?" Jiang Cheng accusingly asks.

Just then, the other guest disciples who was within the same room started to talk. 

"Speaking of, which girls from the other class do you think is the best?" 

There was silence for a short while before someone spoke. 

"Zixuan-xiong, what do you think?" 

Cale's focus was diverted to that question before staring at Jin Zixuan, waiting for his answer. 

"You shouldn't ask Jin-xiong about that since he already have a fiancée! So it's obvious that he'll choose his fiancée as the best cultivator girl!" 

"Woah! She must be beautiful then! Which Sect is she from?" 

Before the guest disciples could talk to themselves, Jin Zixuan had already stopped them. 

"Forget it."

Cale felt something tick in his forehead as he eyes Jin Zixuan. 

"What do you mean forget it?!" Both Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying yells. 

"Is the phrase 'forget it' too difficult to understand?" 

'This bastard must be out of his mind!' 

As Cale sandwiches himself between Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying, he glares up at Jin Zixuan (damn these kids and their tall stature!). 

"The phrase itself isn't that hard to understand. Rather, what's hard to comprehend is why you are dissatisfied with our Shijie!" 

Murmurs then started to unravel around the guest disciples who were watching them. 

"If it is indeed Jiang Yanli, then it's no wonder if Zixuan-xiong is not satisfied with her."

Just then, Jin Zixuan spoke as he stares down at Cale. 

"Why don't you ask me how in the world will I be satisfied with her?" 

As if a fuse was forcefully opened, Cale started speaking with no regards. 

The redhead scoffs before running his mouth, "You damn bastard must be really out of your mind."

Jin Zixuan's stare turned into a glare, "What did you say?" 

Cale snorts, "In what phrase 'You damn bastard must be really out of your mind' hard to understand?" 

He was then grabbed by his collar, yet he continued to sneer towards Jin Zixuan. 

Just before Cale could continue his verbal assault, Jiang Cheng came and grab Jin Zixuan's hand that was holding the redhead. 

"Surely the esteemed Young Master Jin Zixuan won't lay a hand on my feeble gege, won't you?" Jiang Cheng taunts, but his eyes are glaring at the latter with every inch of his life. 

'Yes yes, I'm weak.' Cale nods to himself, quite proud. 

Jin Zixuan clicked his tongue before letting go of Cale, dusting his palms off like he held a dirty thing.

"If you are that eager to say that your Shijie is oh so beautiful, then ask his father to break our engagement and get married with you instead. Since you are both classified with the same class or something."

As Wei Ying grits his teeth and was about to snark a retort, Jin Zixuan was pushed against the floor as he held his bruising cheek.

Both Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying stared in surprise, their mouths agaped.

"Gege?!" 

Wait, wasn't this too out of character for their gege? The gege they know only uses crude words and never violence. 

"Hey! Hey! They're fighting!" 

So who the hell is this? 

"Shouldn't we stop them?" 

"If you want to get hit then go ahead!" 

Jiang Cheng doesn't know if he should stop the redhead or cheer him on. Though the scale is slowly tilting to the latter choice. 

"Aiya Young Master Jin, you have quite the sharp tongue." Cale says, caressing the rock in his hand while wearing a crazed grin. 

"You crazy prickㅡ!" 

Cale then easily grabs Jin Zixuan by the collar, and the redhead could only laugh to himself how easily the tables have turned.

"Let's see which one is faster, your tongue or the mudrock I'm currently holding to break."

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Cale kneels on the ground, his face smeared with dried blood but his expression is stoic as if he didn't just beat up Jin Zixuan earlier. 

"Wei Xun."

The redhead looks at Sect Leader Jiang before shrugging like he didn't break someone's engagement.

"Let's go home." Cale says tiredly, patting his thighs repeatedly to relieve his swelling muscles. 

"Why did you punch Yanli's fiancé?" 

"Former."

Sect Leader Jiang sighs, feeling a headache surging.

"Former fiancé."

Jiang Fengmian could hear Cale click his tongue, "He implied that Shijie isn't good enough for him. Damn bastard thinks he's satisfying more than Yanli."

The older man could feel his eyebrow twitch, "Is that so?"

Cale hums before slowly standing up, kicking his legs to check since it became stiff from kneeling for an hour.

"I still need to talk with an artisan and a blacksmith back in Yunmeng." 

Jiang Fengmian tilts his head in curiosity, "I understand an artisan, but a blacksmith?"

The redhead nods as he sent an innocent smile towards the Sect Leader's way. 

"I plan to gift Nie Huaisang a weapon. And I also plan to create a defense weapon around the Lotus Pier in case of an invasion."

As Cale whips out an entire sheet of paper as he gave Jiang Fengmian a look at it. 

The Sect Leader stares in surprise, "You did this in one day? Did you even sleep?" 

At this point, Sect Leader Jiang already have a hunch that Wei Xun did it on purpose. He purposely punched Jin Zixuan in order for him to go back in Yunmeng, but he thinks it's also because Cale is already starting to get pissed at Jin Zixuan's attitude towards Jiang Yanli. 

"I haven't got the chance yet but I will once we get back to Lotus Pier. Let me just say a short goodbye to the three of them."

Jiang Fengmian huffs, feeling solemn at how fast they grow up when it feels like it was just yesterday when Wei Xun created a deal to take him in as a disciple. 

"Go on. Meet me at the entrance once you're done." He says softly, ruffling the redhead's hair before leaving. 

"Now then, where are they?" Cale mutters to himself before hiding the papers inside his hanfu once again. 

- To your northeast, exactly ten meters away from where you are standing. 

Cale snorts, finding it funny how Xiao Wang talked like a navigation system.

Once he arrived to where the two is, he couldn't help but snicker how obedient they are by kneeling. They were even bickering before they noticed the redhead at entrance. 

"Get up you two. Your punishments are over."

"Finally!" Wei Ying yells. 

Jiang Cheng just looks at him in confusion, "Where are you going?"

- This little grape really does have a good observation. 

Even Cale couldn't help but nod at Xiao Wang's opinion. 

"I am being sent back to Lotus Pier for beating a peacock." He says while shrugging. 

"Wait, you may be the one who punched first but you were the most battered up in your fight!" Jiang Cheng reasons, making  Wei Ying nod profusely. 

"As a member of GPS, I won't accept this!" Wei Ying huffs. 

"Huh? GPS?" 

- Puhahahahahahahaha

Xiao Wang continues to laugh inside his mind, wheezing to himself as he could feel the sword in his hand vibrate. 

"You damn WiFi, I didn't agree in that name!" 

"Well, Shijie did!" 

Cale massaged his temples first before stopping the two. 

"GPS? WiFi?" 

'What's with the modern words?'

Cale is seriously confused for the first time. 

"GPS as in Gege's Protection Squad." Wei Ying boasts, making Cale blank out. 

"And WiFi is this idiot's nickname I heard from the other guest disciples." Jiang Cheng then says. 

Cale could still hear the distant laughter coming from his spiritual weapon. 

The redhead could just sigh, "As I am saying, I'm going back to Lotus Pier to prepare some things."

The previous light atmosphere turned heavy as they both looked at the redhead who is wearing a firm expression. 

"So behave, you two. And see if there's something wrong going around here."

Both nodded, already know what the older is planning. 

"And bring Nie Huaisang to visit Yunmeng once you two, Shijie and the other disciples come back. I have a present for him."

As Cale walks towards to where Sect Leader Jiang is waiting, he met Lan Xichen along the way who grabbed him by his arm. 

"I heard you are leaving?" 

Cale just hums in a stoic manner, before fishing out a talisman and offered it to the older man. 

"A communication talisman, in case you need something to tell me."

Since Cale is planning to use the Gusu Lan Sect against Qishan Wen as the first step, he ought to have a communication with the future Sect Leader of Cloud Recesses. 

"Can I use it whenever I had a long day?" Lan Xichen asks, his expression one similar of solemn.

Oh.

So even the great Zewu-Jun is capable of feeling tired.

Even Cale couldn't but feel quite guilty.

"Of course. If you feel tired, lonely, or even simply finding someone to rant your day, you can use it however you please."

Cale smiles as he uttered the same phrase he did in his previous life, the only difference was the middle part. 

"I am your dongsaeng after all."

"I am your friend after all."

Chapter Text

Traveling to a foreign city is quite a drag for someone like Cale, considering he would rather stay holed in his room back in Yunmeng than to search for someone good enough to build all his ridiculous ideas.

"Excuse me, do you perhaps know the way to Yueyang Chang Clan?"

The redhead listened to the old man in giving him directions, thanking him after before walking away.

Going to the Yueyang Chang Clan is not a part of Cale's plan, but Jiang Fengmian had asked him to do him a favor and send some gifts for an acquaintance.

Standing in front of the entrance of Yueyang Chang Clan, Cale could only stare boringly as he knocked the wooden doors loudly.

Just then, a servant opened the door for him and inquired him the reason of his visit.

"I am a disciple from Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Sect Leader Jiang sent me to give Chang Ci'an some Lotus Flower Crisps."

The servant stares at him in awestruck before bowing and let him inside.

"I will call for Master Chang, feel free to look around for a while daozhang."

Cale just nods before looking around if there's any interesting inside the manor. 

"To what do I owe the pleasure of having the renowned genius from Yunmeng visit me?" 

As Cale whips his head to look at the source of the voice, he could hear several gasps coming from the servants and guards alike when they laid their eyes on the redhead. 

"I came here in Sect Leader Jiang's stead to personally give the pastry since he is currently busy back in Yunmeng. I pray the Master Chang isn't offended by my presence."

Only a dumb fool would be offended by his presence.

"No worries, daozhang. Would you like a cup of tea before you depart? I'm sure it's a long journey here in Yueyang."

Indeed it was a long journey, since he can't just use a teleportation talisman when he doesnt even know the coordinates of Yueyang. 

"Sure." Cale agrees, since he wasn't the one to reject free food. 

As the redhead and Chang Ci'an sat in front of each other with snacks in between, Cale just relishes the moon cakes that was prepared to remove the bitter taste from the tea that he was served. 

"I heard from Sect Leader Jiang that you import woods? Do you perhaps also import ropes?" 

As Cale waits for the latter to answer him, he eyes all the types of woods that can be found inside the pagoda. 

Maple wood, myrtle, sap wood, birch wood, and even a bamboo which is considered a type of grass. 

"Yes, we do import them. Would you like to see them as a thanks for the pastries you brought."

Cale stops himself from grinning like a crazy bastard, so he just smiled softly instead. 

"It is very much appreciated, Master Chang."

As Chang Ci'an guides him to their warehouse, he looks for a certain type of wood that can be used in creating a large weapon. 

'Mahogany or Pintobortri would be a good one.'

Cale isn't that adept in identifying types of woods, but he have quite the experience in identifying the one he know back when he was Team Leader Kim Rok Soo. 

"Please, help yourself daozhang."

As Cale bows to Chang Ci'an, he simply touched the sample of woods that were shown in front of him. He even tried to carry some to measure the weight of the woods. 

He even saw some scented ones. 

"Agarwood and sandalwood? Interesting."

"You have quite the sharp eye, daozhang."

Cale just hums as he smelled the scent, quite content at the comforting odor. 

"Do you have any ropes made in polyethylene?" 

Chang Ci'an laughs awkwardly, "Daozhang really is smart, but I'm afraid we don't know such kind of rope. May I recommend a fiber or a nylon type?" 

Cale's mouth immediately shuts up before he could spout modern words to a person living in a possible ancient times. 

"Much appreciated. If you have any mahogany types of wood, I would like to see it too."

He'd rather say mahogany than the pintobortri one. 

"We have them, daozhang."

Thank Xie Lian then. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

As Cale walks through the streets of Yueyang, he relishes the alcohol that ran down his throat before sighing loudly. 

'This is why I hate going out.'

Before Cale could refill his cup, he felt a tug at the hem of his hanfu. He looks down to see a scrawny kid with bruises decorating his face, arms and possibly even his whole body, making Cale frown. 

"What is it?" He says rather stoic. 

"Pretty gege, do you know where Master Chang's house is?" 

Huh, this punk have a way in his words. 

"Just go straight and turn right. If you see big doors with metal knobs, that's where Master Chang lives."

The child visibly brightens up despite his battered face, making Cale wince to himself. 

"Thank you, pretty gege!" 

Before the child could leave, Cale stopped him by his arm. 

"Can you even see your way with all the blood falling down to your eyes? Tsk."

As Cale says that, he grabs a handkerchief inside his sleeve and softly cleaned the child's face in order for him to see clearly. 

'Which bastard even beats up a scrawny kid like him?' 

The child was surprisingly quiet at first before talking. 

"You are a pretty gege and a kind one!" He chirps, making Cale just snort before putting the already red handkerchief on the table. 

"No, I'm not a kind gege. I am a bad gege." 

Just as he said that, he puts a lotus flower crisp that was fished out from his sleeve and fed the child one. 

"This is tasty! What is it called?" The child asks, munching greedily at the pastry in his mouth. 

"Lotus flower crisp. I'm glad you liked it."

The child just hums, visibly trembling at the taste. 

"Thank you for the sweet, pretty gege!" 

Cale just ruffles the child's dry hair before going back to his alcohol, and the kid left him alone just as agreed.

As the redhead runs through the plan he have in his mind, he immediately remembers something that he forgot. 

"Ah fuck, I forgot to ask if they also import steels."

Walking back through the doorway of Yueyang Chang Clan, he was quite baffled to see their doors open. 

(He was also wondering if he would see the scrawny kid from earlier.)

- You really have an affinity with children, aren't you. 

Cale just ignores Xiao Wang's statement as he freely enters the manor. 

The same servant who welcomed him earlier was there, albeit more anxious this time. 

"D-daozhang! Did you forget something h-here? I can fetch it f-for you."

- Suspicious. 

'So suspicious indeed.'

"I need to talk with Master Chang again regarding the steels this time."

The servant started fidgeting, as if he doesn't know whether he should call the Master of the clan or drive Cale away. 

Just then, the sound of whips could be heard as the bellowing of Chang Ci'an's voice reverberated. 

The smile in Cale's face became cold as he stared down at the servant that was trembling in front of him. 

"It seems that Master Chang is fond of whips?" 

It wasn't that hard to piece together the hints, a random kid searching for Chang Ci'an who is a merchant that holds power and money in the business industry. 

Cale didn't wait for the servant to answer him before walking towards to where the noise is, his ears ringing for some reason as hear the cries of a pitiful child. 

"You promised! I sent the letter and get beaten up for no reason at all! All I want is the sweet pastry like you promised, Master Chang!" 

The old man didn't listen as he rode his cart, whipping the ox as it started moving. 

The blood-curling scream echoed, making Cale stand there in shock and disbelief as he stares at the child whose hand is mangled and bleeding. 

"What the hell is happening here?" 

Wei Xun, even as Cale Henituse and Kim Rok Soo, knows that children shouldn't experience such horrible things that could taint their innocence just like he once had in his first life. 

With no regards of the blood that scattered to his hands and black hanfu, Cale held the weeping child in the most delicate manner. 

He looks at the child's hand that continued to bleed, the bones fractured as the skin was broken around it. 

"P-pretty gege?" 

The redhead just looks at the child, his eyes unknowingly softens. 

"D-daozhang!" 

Cale clicks his tongue as he stared coldly at Chang Ci'an. 

"Do you really want to die that badly?" He threatens with a smile, making the master and servants look at him with horror. 

The redhead discreetly holds the child's bleeding hand, sending a small amount of his spiritual powers to atleast recover the broken bones and tissues around his fingers. 

Cale carries the very much light child in his arms, slowly walking away since he might do something unsightly for a child to see. 

"I'll be back here tomorrow regarding the trade of woods and ropes, I hope that atleast you can provide that Chang Ci'an."

The redhead won't respect those who aren't worthy of the said value. 

Cale walks away from them, not missing the rage Chang Ci'an was showing him. 

"You said you are a bad person, so why did you save me?" The child asks, almost inaudible if not for Cale focusing all his attention to him. 

"I am a bad person, it's just that I can't stand adults abusing children who just wants sweets as they were promised."

The kid just laughs childishly, "Still, thank you."

Cale just hums, "What's your name?"

The child perks up before answering the redhead. 

"Xue Yang."

"Then you're welcome, Xue Yang." Cale says before plopping a lotus flower crisp on the child's mouth. 

The next day, the Yueyang Chang Clan went bankrupt when they sent low quality woods and ropes to Yunmeng Jiang. All their money and trade goods were looted by a certain redhead as he laughs at them mockingly. 

Chapter Text

"You should atleast take a rest." Jiang Fengmian says in exasperation before looking after Xue Yang who was training amongst the young disciples.

Cale just grunts, scanning over his papers once again.

Sect Leader Jiang sighs, grabbing the papers from the redhead's hands who glared at him in return.

"A-Cheng and A-Xian are returning any minute now. Go greet them at the port."

The redhead sighs defeatedly before standing up, slightly baffled at how much time had already passed since he kicked himself out from Gusu.

"Alright, just make sure that you won't destroy those papers. I spent sleepless nights on them." Cale grumbles, walking away like a corpse that has just been revived.

Xue Yang looks at Cale with confused eyes before he got caught and went back to his training.

Jiang Fengmian looks at one of the papers he grabbed earlier, his eyebrows scrunching as he scrutinized every detail that was written.

"A stone, a spear, a dome...and an underground pathway?"

Sect Leader Jiang paused, remembering something.

He then walks away briskly like he needs to see something for himself. And when he did found the thing he's been looking for, he couldn't help but curse out loud which is unfitting for someone like him.

"What the hell?! Wei Xianghuan!"

From afar, Cale could feel his ear getting itchy as he scratched it. 

"Is someone talking shit about me?" He mutters to himself, his feet dangling at the port's ledge. 

He sees a ripe lotus beside his feet. Picking it up and munching the seeds while he wait for them to arrive. 

"Gege!" 

His red hair swirled around when he felt some wind usher to his face, a small smile evident on his face as he waved to Wei Ying who was standing at the boat's very front. 

It's been a long time since he saw his little brother's face. 

Standing up to greet Wei Ying, he was surprised when Jiang Cheng came running and dived towards the redhead to hug him. 

"A-Cheng? Is there something wrong?" 

Of course Cale would be surprised, since it's not in Jiang Cheng's character to hug someone so suddenly with that tsundere behavior of his. 

"Is it wrong to hug my gege whom I missed dearly?"

Woah woah woah there. Who the hell is this?

"Is he drunk?" Cale blurted out, making Wei Ying wheeze as Jiang Yanli laughs.

"Damn it, this is why I hate showing affection." Jiang Cheng mutters, which Cale heard it all clearly.

Before the younger could detach himself from the redhead, Cale hugged Jiang Cheng back in a more tight manner and pats his back softly.

"Welcome home, A-Cheng."

Jiang Cheng just leans into the warmth coming from the redhead, relishing the affection he's receiving.

"Hey hey! Include us in the hug too!"

As Wei Ying said that, the redhead could see another figure looking at them only to find out it was Nie Huaisang.

Before Cale could call out to Nie Huaisang, his breath got knocked out from his lungs when he felt Wei Ying hugged him too(which was followed by Jiang Yanli who just hugs him in the lightest way possible).

"A-Sang...help...meㅡgah!"

Nie Huaisang just feigned ignorance to Cale's pleas, which the redhead felt a bitter betrayal. 

Just as Nie Huaisang could take pity on Cale and stop them from strangling him to death, a shrill voice could be heard. 

"HEY! Get away from my gege!" 

Cale froze, already sensing the rising bloodlust coming from Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying. 

Four pairs of eyes turned to look at a small child clad in Yunmeng disciple robes, his own eyes staring angrily at the bad men who was choking his gege to death. 

"Your gege?" Wei Ying asks in a scary manner, making Xue Yang flinch for a while before glaring at the latter more intensely.

"That's right! My gege! What's it to you?!" Xue Yang snarks back, emphasizing the 'my gege' part.

Wei Ying gasps as he looked at Cale who was spacing out. 

"Gege! Who is this punk that keeps yipping away, 'my gege'?!" 

"Punk? Who the fuck are you calling punk, dimwit?"

Both Jiang siblings stared in surprise while Nie Huaisang just watches in mirth. He even grabbed the lotus from Cale's hand and munched the seeds like he's watching one of his favorite paper theaters.

"You two, stop thatㅡ" Cale tries to stop them, but it was a failure it seems. 

"You! I'm calling you punk, dipshit! Which circle of hell did you came from?!"

"I came from the ninth circle you mutt! Shut your trap or I'll drag you to hell myself!"

"Don't compare me to those disgusting dogs you see in the streets you bastard!"

Just then, Jiang Cheng chirps his opinion.

"Dogs are cute you know. Spare them some slack."

Both Wei Ying and Xue Yang turned to look at Jiang Cheng before yelling, "Shut up!"

At this point, Jiang Cheng himself is pissed about the two as a migraine is taking over his sanity.

Before Xue Yang and Wei Ying could start bickering once again, they could feel their own hair being pulled as they yelled profanities at the perpetrator.

"Fuckㅡ!"

Seeing the redhead staring at them with a stoic look, both immediately shut their mouths as they started to rethink their life decisions.

"What are you gonna say? Go on, I dare you."

Jiang Yanli just chuckles in the background while Jiang Cheng joined Nie Huaisang eating the lotus he have. 

Wei Ying was the first one to speak, albeit reluctantly. 

"...Sorry."

Cale leans in, "What is that? I can't hear you."

Then Xue Yang also speaks, "...'m sorry."

If anyone sees them right now, they'd think that Cale is bullying some kids out of spite. 

"We're sorry, gege."

Huh, this bastards do know how to get along with one another.

Cale let go of their hairs, considering their scalps must be stinging in pain.

"No sweets for you two." The redhead says, and two looked like they witnessed the world ending right before their eyes.

"Nie Huaisang, come here. I have a gift for you."

The younger follows giddily, even having the audacity to smile teasingly at Wei Ying and Xue Yang.

"Of course, gege."

Both Jiang sibling also followed, Jiang Cheng sticking out a tongue to mock the two before getting slapped in the back by Jiang Yanli.

The girl bid goodbye to the four of them, as she wants to see her parents first and say hi to them since they've been apart for a while. 

As they all stare at Cale who was searching for something in his table's drawers, Nie Huaisang wonders what the redhead would give him.

"A-Sang, you like fans and painting them, right?"

Nie Huaisang stares in shock for a while before he hums in answer, quite curious on why the redhead would ask about one of his hobbies.

"I hope I'm not imposing, but I think you'll need a weapon to protect yourself."

Oh, so even him would want Nie Huaisang to wield such barbaric things.

Seeing the look of forlorn in Nie Huaisang, Cale knew that he misunderstood what he meant.

"Having talent in Arts and Literature is not a bad thing. Rather, I think it's quite admirable."

Nie Huaisang blurts in surprise, "What?"

"Finding amusement is one of the human's basic needs in their span of boring lives. For instance, I find it amusing enough to see Wei Ying and Xue Yang bicker for the first time they ever met. Though I need to work on their language, that is."

Jiang Cheng choked back a laugh, not wanting to ruin the warm atmosphere around them. While Wei Ying and Xue Yang just looks, offended at their gege's words but didn't whine about it.

"Here. I made it light and detachable so that you can weave your way through it." Cale says, handing Nie Huaisang a fan made in metal.

It was the most beautiful fan that Nie Huaisang saw, filled with incinerated designs of Qinghe Nie Sect's motif once opened. 

It was also indeed light to carry and Nie Huaisang tries to swish it around, creating swift movements. 

Cale smiles, proud that his hypothesis is correct. 

Nie Huaisang is someone who grew up with Nie Mingjue who kept pressuring him to use their clan's saber. Cale knew that Nie Huaisang should have accumulated enough strength to wield a fan that light. 

Even if it's just a little, that amount is already enough. 

"Try detaching all the blades with your spiritual powers."

And Nie Huaisang did, each blade floated around him like fireflies, glimmering each of its own light under the sun. 

The blades of the fan can be turned into a dagger, and can possibly be hidden in one's clothing to avoid suspicion. 

"How is it?" Cale asks, eager for the younger's verbal response. 

"It's beautiful. Thank you, gege."

"Thank you, Young Master-nim."

Cale blinks in surprise when he sees a shadow of Lark's presence beside Nie Huaisang. 

Lark admires the silver shield in his hands, while Nie Huaisang was in awe as he traces the designs in each blade. 

The redhead reached out his hand, wanting to caress the young wolf's head before the direction of his palm went to Nie Huaisang's instead. 

He uttered the words that he didn't get to say to Lark, to Nie Huaisang. 

"I'm proud of you."

"What? What language is that, gege?" 

Cale chuckles as he ruffles Nie Huaisang's hair, "Don't worry, it's just gibberish. I'm glad you liked it, A-Sang."

Yeah, no matter what, Cale is proud in all of his family in his three lives. 

Chapter Text

"Why the hell am I wearing black clothes when you all wear red robes?!"

Cale snarls, finding his outfit to be too extravagant to his liking.

"Pretty gege, it really suits you!" Xue Yang flatters, sending a thumbs up to the redhead who wants to scream his lungs out.

"That, I agree!" Wei Ying says, surprisingly. 

The golden headband in Cale's forehead felt heavy, it feels like he's that one monkey from Journey to the West, Sun Wukong. 

As his golden earrings dangled around his shoulders making him wince, he laments on how he wants to rip all the ornaments that was decorated on him.

"What's the use of this blue and red stones?" He asks in curiosity, eyeing Jiang Yanli who rummages around.

"It just suits you, A-Xun. So I put it there for additional decoration."

Sometimes, Cale thinks that his Shijie likes to doll him up for no reason at all and make his life harder than it is.

Out of nowhere, Nie Huaisang who acts like a judge from a contest raises a placard with the Chinese character ten in it.

"There, I think we're ready to go!" Wei Ying says in a bubbly manner.

"You think?" Cale asks in exasperation. 

For as far as Cale knows, they are attending an archery competition, not a beauty contest. 

Just then, Jiang Cheng enters the room before freezing in his spot when he saw whatever hell Cale was experiencing. 

"Woah gege, you look like a protagonist that came out of a novel." Jiang Cheng stiffly says, which only made Cale scowl at him. 

"I'd rather be a lazy villain than a damn protagonist." The redhead grumbles, which earned a chuckle from Jiang Yanli and Wei Ying. 

Nie Huaisang then spoke like a director you'd see in a movie set, "You'd also suit a villain, gege!" 

Xue Yang agrees in that statement, "Yeah! So cool and menacing while beating the hero's ass!" 

The child immediately shuts up when Cale looked him with a a warning glare. He still wants to eat thos lotus flower crisps, thank you very much. 

"Hah, whatever. Let's just get it done."

Oh boy, he should have not said those words seconds ago now that he sees the look in Jiang Yanli and Wei Ying's face.

"Let's add more, shall we Shijie?"

Jiang Yanli laughs viciously, "We really have the same wavelength, XianXian."

'Oh Your Highness Xie Lian, please help me wherever you are.'

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Madam Yu sent a letter that your order has been received back in Yunmeng." Jiang Fengmian says to the redhead who have a tired look.

"Please relay my message to her, do not open it unless you want to die. The package is quite dangerous, you see."

The Sect Leader immediately grabs a communication talisman from his sleeve and contacted Madam Yu in no time.

"My Lady! Do not open the package no matter what!" Jiang Fengmian almost screams.

The talisman vibrates, before Madam Yu's voice could be heard.

"Darling, Wei Xun had already instructed me on what to do with the parcel. It's currently tucked away safely in one of our warehouses."

Cale's face scrunched in disgust, already leaving since he couldn't bear to hear the pet names that were being exchanged between the couples.

Since the meeting between the leaders had already ended (which Cale doesn't how in the world did he get included in such meeting), he went to find Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng who might be wandering around.

They're still in Qishan Wen Sect's territory after all.

"Here you go...you can tie it back yourself..."

Cale could distinctly hear Wei Ying's voice as if he was terrified, making the redhead fasten his walk before seeing the scene.

Wei Ying and Lan Wangji, facing each other, with the Lan's forehead ribbon in his younger brother's hand.

Even from afar, it smells trouble.

Lan Wangji then grabs his forehead ribbon from Wei Ying, the other Lan disciples coaxing the Second Jade of Lan.

"It was an accident."

"The forehead ribbon, oh heavens."

All the Lans then turned to give Wei Ying a glare.

"What is happening here?" Cale asks, quite irked at the stares they're giving to his little brother.

"Gege..." Jiang Cheng trails, he didn't know what to tell.

"Wei Wuxian removed Wangji-xiong's headband!" One of the disciple blames.

"All I said that it was crooked and tried to fix it! I didn't even know why it was such a big deal!" Wei Ying defends himself.

Though Cale was also quite baffled, since it wasn't disclosed to him what was the meaning of the said forehead ribbon. 

"Of course it's a big deal! Our Sect's forehead ribbon are sacredㅡ!"

"Enough." Lan Wangji utters before turning his back away from them, walking stiffly.

Cale and Jiang Cheng just sighs, quite relieved that Lan Wangji didn't shoot Wei Ying in his head right then and there.

"Let's go. The archery competition is about to start." Jiang Cheng says.

Walking towards to where the archery competition is being held, the three got lost which befuddled Cale. Thankfully, they met someone from the Wen Clan who acts unlike the usual Wen they would know.

Hell, an arrow almost killed Cale for startling the guy. Thankfully, Wei Ying caught it.

The redhead could feel his old soul leaving his body when he stared at the arrowhead that almost pierced his skull.

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry I didn't mean to! I'm sorryㅡ"

Jiang Cheng then spoke, "That's enough apologizing."

The Wen immediately shuts his mouth, but he's still bowing to the three especially the redhead.

Now that Cale thinks about it, this guy is a bit familiar.

The guy who acts like Saint Jack, both in a drunken state and normal manner. And his sister who acts like Hannah, but a healer instead of a swordsman. 

"Wen Ning?"

Three pairs of eyes looked at Cale in confusion, while the redhead just smiled in mischief.

"Gege?" 

"You know him?"

"You know me?"

Cale's eyes turned into crescents, wanting to tease the little guy.

"Of course I know him. We were in the same table when we arrived to Gusu as guest disciples."

Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying tilted their heads. As far as they know, the Wen disciples were placed in another class.

As if Wei Ying remembered, he let out a loud gasp.

"Ah! From the drinking contest!"

Cale nods before deciding to tease Wen Ning again.

"O-oh...thank you...pretty...gege...hmmm..."

Wen Ning became red as a tomato in a split second before bowing aggressively again.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm really sorryㅡ" 

"Hey hey stop, your brain will be in shambles if you continue shaking your skull." Cale utters, slightly guilty. 

Thankfully, Wen Ning indeed stopped while he stands there, dizzy.

"The way to the archery competition is that way." Wen Ning whispers loud enough for them to hear, pointing at a certain direction.

Cale sent a small smile to Wen Ning, "Thank you very much, A-Ning."

Wen Ning became red once again.

The redhead stepped a little bit closer to the younger's space, making the latter flinch.

"Seeing that you are good at archery, are you joining the competition too?"

Wen Ning's eyes became wide in surprise, "Ah! No, I'm not."

Cale huffs, "With such low self-esteem, you'd blow everything the moment you let go the quiver."

Wen Ning looks down, quietly receiving the redhead's insults.

While Cale was indeed insulting the younger, he knew that Wen Ning needed those words to realize what's wrong.

"If you're scared of ruining everything in front of everybody, then think that it's only you alone in the range with your bow and arrow."

Cale didn't wait for Wen Ning to answer before speaking again, "Don't be afraid, focus and gather your confidence. Take a deep breath, calm yourself, and think about the most precious thing to you in the world."

At that moment, Wen Qing's smile flashed in Wen Ning's mind.

"Then hit the bullseye."

Wen Ning's arms unconsciously grabbed an arrow from his bag and connected it to his bow, Cale backing away to see the younger's performance.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying aslo watched.

"Focus." Wen Ning focused on the red dot of the target. 

"Take a deep breath." He heaves a deep intake of air before exhaling, but his hands still trembled. 

"Calm yourself."

There was something comforting about the redhead's voice, like a father who was guiding his son for his first ever night hunt.

Wen Ning's hands stopped trembling, his hold in his bow and quiver became more firm.

"Then think about that most precious thing."

Wen Qing's smile came to Wen Ning, making him smile softly like a child.

"Aim it, then let go of the arrow."

Wen Ning did.

The arrowhead easily pierces the target. Wen Ning did it, he didn't shy away, got scared, and ruined everything.

The younger looks at Cale with a bright smile that the redhead couldn't think that it rivals the sun that was in the sky.

"I-I did it! Gege I did it!"

The gege part may have caught Cale off guard, but what happened next may as well much worse since he got embarrassed with that red face of his.

Wen Ning runs towards him, hugging Cale suddenly in a fit of joy.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying squint their eyes, their eyebrows twitching.

"Y-yes...you did it. Good job, A-Ning." Cale says a bit awkwardly as he pats the taller man's back.

"At this point, we may have a whole battalion of brothers thanks to Xun-ge." Jiang Cheng grumbles, crossing his arms. 

Wei Ying scratches his cheek before speaking off-handedly, "Atleast the GPS have more members now?" 

Jiang Cheng just scowled at Wei Ying, still cringing at their group's name. 

Chapter Text

"The Sect Leaders of Yunmeng Jiang, Lanling Jin, Qinghe Nie, and Elder Lan Qiren of Gusu are entering!" 

The four prominent individuals started walking to their own seats, Nie Mingjue clicking his tongue when he sees the arrangement of the seats. 

"Calm your temper, Sect Leader Nie." Lan Qiren says while caressing his goatee. 

"He acts as if he was the leader of all Sects." Nie Mingjue spats, holding his temper in. 

"Indeed. But what can we do? He gobbled up all three Sects under his command. Maybe that's why he doesn't care about acting docile around us now." Lan Qiren spoke. 

"That's good then. I'm tired of his fake diplomacy after all." Sect Leader Nie says before sitting in one of the seats lower than the one in front. 

Just then, Jiang Fengmian walks beside Lan Qiren who just sighed. 

"At this point, it doesn't matter where we sit. But I'm quite curious to see who else is sitting at the seat of honor beside Wen Ruohan?"

The moment Jiang Fengmian finishes his statement and sat down beside Lan Qiren, Wen Chao's arrival was soon announced. 

"Second Young Master Wen has arrived!" 

Wen Chao walked towards the seat of honor with an air of arrogance around him. 

"Looks like that answered your question, Sect Leader Jiang." Nie Mingjue says before rolling his eyes. 

"But Sect Leader Nie, there are two seat of honor."

Everyone around them went silent at that remark. 

"Maybe it's for Wen Xu?" Jin Guangshan says. 

The subject was then dropped. 

"Such arrogance and indifference to courtesy only forecasts rebellion." Lan Qiren says, putting down his cup as he side eyes Wen Chao who smirks while looking down. 

"Our great leader has arrived!" 

Everyone looked at Wen Ruohan who showed himself, an air of authority and haughtiness around him. 

The disciples of Qishan Wen then kneeled. 

"The majesty of Sect Leader Wen shakes the four seas, and he will live as long as heaven and earth as he shines like the sun and moon!" 

The other disciples bowed in greeting before Wen Ruohan's voice could be heard. 

"All rise."

Amongst the disciples of Yunmeng, Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying were frantic. 

"Where the hell is gege?!" Jiang Cheng sharply whispered to Wei Ying, looking around in search for a certain redhead. 

"He just disappeared! How would I know?!" Wei Ying snarks back. 

Lan Wangji who was beside their lane sent a glare to the two, making them shut up. 

Just then, Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying's question were answered when hushed whispers started going around them. 

"Is thatㅡ" 

"That red hair..."

"It's the Genius of Yunmeng Jiang."

"The top disciple of Yunmeng, Wei Wuxian's older brother."

The announcer almost tripped himself before announcing the redhead's arrival. 

"The aide of Yunmeng Jiang, Wei Xianghuan has arrived!" 

The ornaments loudly dangled throughout, the crown-like decoration felt tight and heavy in the red hair as his black robes followed him like waves in an ocean. His footsteps light but it was exuding such sound that will make you look at him with no other choice. 

Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng almost detached their head from their necks by how hard they turned to look at Cale who was slowly walking beside Wen Ruohan. 

"What the fuㅡ" 

Before Wei Ying could complete his sentence, Jiang Cheng immediately covers the older's mouth as they stared at their gege with a baffled look. 

Even Jiang Fengmian almost spat out his tea in surprise when he saw Cale following Wen Ruohan in his seat. 

"A-Xun?" 

Lan Qiren coughed beside him, "Your mouth, Sect Leader Jiang. A fly might find its way to your throat."

Wen Ruohan nods at Cale's way, which the redhead returned with a gesture of bowing before stepping down the stairs. 

What happened next almost made the crowd clamor in confusion, especially from those in Yunmeng Jiang. 

Cale stood in front of the empty seat of honor and this time, Jiang Fengmian really spat out his tea in surprise. 

"Wei Xun. Courtesy name, Wei Xianghuan. This aide of Yunmeng Jiang greets the Sect Leaders of Qishan, Qinghe, Lanling, and Elder Lan of Gusu."

Cale bows in a graceful manner, exuding an aura of nobilty around him.

Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng stared agape, thinking of the same thought at the same time. 

'Since when did he became the aide of Yunmeng?!' 

"Such exquisite beauty just like the rumors! Even much more beautiful than the women in my Sect, I must say." Jin Guangshan utters his opinion.

The redhead felt weirded out by that statement alone, but he forced himself to smile nonetheless.

"Thank you for the compliment, Sect Leader Jin."

Wen Ruohan who seems to be starting to get annoyed by the long introductions, decided to speak.

"Sit down, Wei Xianghuan."

Cale bows again, this time to the Sect Leader of Qishan Wen before he sat down to the seat of honor comfortably, not sparing a glance to Wen Chao who was staring at him with his disgusting eyes.

"The archery competition of the Qishan Discussion Conference will now begin! Open the barrier!"

Cale could only stare at the barrier in a rather lazy manner before yawning discreetly, still annoyed at Wen Ruohan for making him sit in the seat of honor.

'Ah really. I should've strangled that old man earlier if not for Wen Ning.' He thought before drinking the bitter tea that was served in his table.

An hour earlier, Cale joined Wen Ning in finding his older sister without getting to say something to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, since the guy is too naive and stiff like he's a walking corpse.

(He's worried alright.)

"Ah! Qing-jie!"

Cale watches how the younger ran towards his sister like he haven't seen her for so many years, only stopping when he saw another figure beside Wen Qing.

At that point, Cale wants to run away as far as possible when he saw the man.

"Wei Xianghuan?" Wen Qing utters, making Cale sigh in defeat before bowing.

"The disciple of Yunmeng Jiang greets the sun's leader, Sect Leader Wen."

Cale almost activated his glib tongue but managed to stop it in time since his head might detached itself from his neck.

"Wei Xianghuan, you say?" Wen Ruohan asks Wen Qing, in which the girl just nodded.

"So you are the rumored genius of Yunmeng."

The redhead smiles as a formality but inside his mind, he wants to puke at the title he have.

"You flatter me, Sect Leader. I am by no means, just hardworking enough to attain such extravagant title."

Wen Ning looks at Cale and Wen Ruohan, a worried look etched on his face since he didn't know that their Sect Leader would be with his jiejie.

"Is that so?" Wen Ruohan hums, making Cale feel a foreboding sensation, "Would you like to play a game of chess later then?"

'A chess?'

As far as Cale knows, China should have some board games like Wei Qi or Mahjong. There's also Xiàngqí to be told since it translates to Chinese Chess, but a game of chess? As in the black and white pieces?

Seeing the look of confusion in Cale's face, Wen Ruohan just cackled which made the redhead scared shitless.

"It was a new game that is being famed in another continent. Since you are the genius of Yunmeng, you'll get the rules and how to play the game in no time. Here." Wen Ruohan says before giving a scroll to the redhead.

'Of course I'll get the rules! I know how to play that thing since my first life!'

Cale just smiles instead, "Thank you for the opportunity to play with you, Sect Leader Wen."

'I'll fucking annihilate your king for fun.'

The redhead did his best to maintain his peaceful smile.

"Let us play later in the archery competition. You can sit in one of the seat of honor."

Which goes back to the present. He reads the scroll that was given to him, making sure that he remembers the rules and techniques he know from his life as Kim Rok Soo.

"Hold on! You there! You! At the end of the line!" Wen Chao yells, making Cale hold himself in for not stabbing the man right then and there.

"It's Wen Ning." Someone whispers to Wen Chao's ears.

"Right! Wen Ning! What are you doing there? You're from the offshoot of the branch family!" 

Cale was starting to get annoyed at the barrage of question coming from Wen Chao. 

"Who chose you? Can you even draw a bow?!"

The redhead then spoke in a cold tone, "I chose him, Young Master Wen. Is there a problem with that?" 

The chatter that was happening between the Sect Leaders got quiet. 

"Is that so? He seems weak for me."

Cale chuckles, covering his mouth to hide the devilish grin he can't stop. His reddish-brown eyes glint under the light of the sun. 

"Just because he seems weak, doesn't mean he can't draw a bow. Who knows? Maybe the weak will overcome the strong one day."

Before Wen Chao could retaliate, Wen Ruohan had spoke. 

"Begin the archery competition. And you, bring out the chessboard." He says to one of the elders. 

As the competition amongst the disciples had started, and so is the game between Cale and Wen Ruohan. 

"Come here, Wei Xianghuan."

Cale easily follows, "As Sect Leader Wen wishes."

Jiang Fengmian looks at the redhead once again like he sees his son being taken away in front of him, "A-Xun?" 

The redhead just sent a smile to Sect Leader Jiang who seems like he's about to have Qi Deviation. 

The Sect Leaders looked at them with curiosity. 

"Have you gotten the hang of the game?" Wen Ruohan asks, sitting at the end side of his table while Cale sat at the other end, the chessboard in the middle of them. 

"I hope so, Sect Leader Wen."

The leaders from the different sects looked at the game that will be played, Jiang Fengmian recognizing it in an instant. 

"The game that was being hailed from another continent?" He asks to himself, which was heard by Lan Qiren and the others. 

"What kind of game?" Nie Mingjue asks. 

"It is similar to Xiàngqí, but the pieces represents a battle between the monarchs, black and white." Jiang Fengmian explains, since he have one sitting in his room to gift it to the redhead once they got back in Lotus Pier. 

"You can move first, Sect Leader Wen. Since you chose white."

Wen Ruohan smiles which sent shivers down to Cale's spine, "Very well."

A white pawn was then moved, and so did the black one. 

Just minutes later, a firework with Yunmeng Jiang's motif was lit up in the sky. 

"Wow, Sect Leader Jiang, your disciples have magnificent archery skills. I see the Yunmeng Jiang clan may be crowned victors once again." Jin Guangshan flatters. 

Jiang Fengmian smiles, proud. 

"Check." Wen Ruohan announces, making the other Sect Leaders turn to look at the other match that was happening in front of them. 

"You jest, Sect Leader Jin. The results of a match are never determined until it's over." Jiang Fengmian says loudly enough, making Cale who heard it smirk to himself before moving away his king. 

Cale's reddish-brown eyes looked around the board, calculating his every possible move to beat Wen Ruohan into humiliation. 

He then moves his bishop, cornering the white king, "Check."

Sect Leader Jiang grabs his cup, smiling before drinking his tea. 

The two motifs of Gusu Lan, one each for Lanling Jin and Qinghe Nie were lit up in the sky. 

The four raised their cups in a toast, making Wen Chao click his tongue before the motif of Wen Sect were lit up in the sky, making him smirk. 

But that smirk was only a fleeting one when five motifs of Qishan were lit up in a black hue. 

"Oh? Five was already eliminated?" Jin Guangshan utters, making Wen Chao glare at him. 

"Check." Wen Ruohan says once again. 

Out of annoyance, Cale decided to be petty and conquered the enemy's rook that was threatening his king. 

Wen Ruohan's eyebrow were raised in amusement, "You're pretty good for someone who just started playing."

The white pawn has reached the black piece's territory, turning into a queen. 

"You jest, Sect Leader Wen."

Different motifs were then lit up, but Cale couldn't care less as he moves his remaining last pawn in Wen Ruohan's side, also turning it into a queen and successfully trapping the white king. 

"The Yunmeng Jiang Sect has won the archery contest!" Someone from the Wen Sect announced, making Cale smirk.

He then sent a formal smile to Wen Ruohan, uttering his victory in one word. 

"Checkmate."

Chapter Text

"Xichen-ge, congratulations for making it to the top two who hunted the most in archery competition."

As Cale strides to where Lan Xichen is, those from the Wen could only look at their exchange.

"A-Huan, send my congratulations to your brother." The older smiles.

"Noted."

Before Lan Xichen could say more, Jiang Cheng's yells could be heard throughout the field.

"Gege!"

Cale almost met the ground if not for Lan Xichen supporting his back. The redhead looks at the younger who was hugging him.

"What's wrong?" Cale asks.

"You!" Jiang Cheng yells, glaring at the smaller man.

"Huh? Me? What did I do now?"

Suddenly missing, then reappears together with Wen Ruohan, sitting on the seat of honor, and playing a game with Qishan Wen's Sect Leader. Who wouldn't worry about such thing?

"Gege, Chengcheng came in third place because he was worried about you being left together with Sect Leader Wen. His actions also surprised me but it's not like I can blame him." Wei Ying explains, looking at the redhead with exasperation.

Jiang Cheng did continue to hit all of those spirit targets with urgency so that the competition would end early. 

"I see? You both did a good job, I'm proud of you two." Cale utters, since he doesn't know what to say. 

He could still feel Wen Ruohan's burning stare behind him, making him feel uncomfortable since he did beat him in his own game, both in the chess and the archery competition. 

Just then, Jiang Fengmian appears beside Cale and Lan Xichen. 

"Shall we go back to Lotus Pier?" The Sect Leader asks with a grim expression, eyeing Cale who just looks away from his stare. 

Lan Xichen then coughs, earning the attention from those in Yunmeng. 

"Congratulations on your victory once again, Wei-xiong, A-Huan." He says before bowing. 

The three disciples also bowed, Jiang Fengmian nodding at Lan Xichen's way. 

At that point, Cale remembered something he wanted to ask so he run to Lan Xichen who was leaving. 

"Xichen-ge! I have a question!" 

Lan Xichen hums, "What is it?" 

Cale made sure that only Lan Xichen would hear him before asking, "Your forehead ribbon, what does it mean if it was unwoven by someone else?" 

That question was supposed to be innocent, but Lan Xichen's face looked like he heard the most scandalous thing in the world. 

Lan Xichen's face was then relaxed, "Is this regarding to Wangji's ribbon being disentangled by Wei-xiong?" 

"Oh, so you've heard. Can you tell me? My brother is guilty fro doing something he doesn't know the meaning of." Cale says. 

The older man chuckles, putting a hand above Cale's head before softly ruffling his hair, "Considering you also didn't know, you brothers are both clueless about it."

Cale tilted his head in confusion, "Yes?" 

Lan Xichen leans in, making Cale flinch as his reddish-brown eyes shook while looking at the latter's dark ones. 

The deep voice just beside Cale's ears sent shivers down to his spine. 

"Our forehead ribbon means 'to regulate one's self'. The reason why Wangji got angry earlier, is because we can't let someone just touch them without our permission."

Cale blinks, His eyebrows knitted into confusion. 

'That's it?' 

"Of course, someone else can touch it besides us. The founder of Lan Sect taught that one can only let go of all their regulations if they are with their fated ones."

Oh, so this must be the reason why the other disciples back then said that Lan An is such a romantic person. 

Cale immediately whips his head and looked at Wei Ying who was flirting with a female cultivator with an expression of disbelief, before looking at Lan Xichen again who just smiles coyly. 

"Lan Wangji is doomed." He utters, taking pity at Lan Xichen's younger brother. 

"He is. It seems that he's also starting to fall for Wei-xiong."

The redhead could only laugh in misery, "And the bastard is flirting with a female cultivator while Lan Wangji is having an existential crisis."

Both could only feel their sweat drop at their younger brothers. 

Lan Xichen then asks, "What about you? Did you accidentally pulled a random Lan disciple their forehead ribbon?" 

Cale could only glare at the accusation, "I am rather a quiet person back when studying at Cloud Recesses, thank you very much."

The older huffs, deciding to tease the redhead further, "Quiet? As far as I remember, you picked a fight with Young Master Jin and won."

The redhead's face scrunched and before he could retaliate, Lan Qiren called them. 

"Xichen, congratulations on getting in second place." 

Lan Xichen bows, "Many thanks, shushu."

"And you too, Xianghuan, congratulations on winning on your match."

Cale's lips were trembling, trying his best to not smirk which was failed since both Lans could feel his mocking joy. 

"Thank you, Elder Lan."

Lan Qiren nods, caressing his goatee once again before bidding goodbye. 

"I, Xichen and Wangji will now get going. Thank you for the wonderful show."

"Take care on your way home, Elder Lan, Xichen-ge. 

Cale just nods before going back to where Jiang Fengmian and his son is. 

"Xichen-ge?" Lan Qiren asks, his eyes staring in suspicion. 

"Please don't look at me like that, shushu. We're just friends."

"I'm not saying anything though?" 

Lan Xichen laughs, "Your stare already says enough, shushu."

Lan Qiren just scoffs before walking away. 

Cale hums to himself when he arrived beside the father and son duo. 

"What do you think of having a cut sleeve as a son?" The redhead unknowingly blurts out, making Jiang Fengmian trip himself when he's perfectly standing still. 

Jiang Cheng then yells, "Why would I be a cut sleeve?!" 

Several disciples from other Sects turned to look, making Jiang Cheng immediately shut up. 

Cale immediately corrects his mistake, "Not you."

Jiang Fengmian then holds each of his shoulders, making Cale shudder at the vicious look he's receiving from the Sect Leader. 

"Why did you ask? Are you falling for that Lan Xichen?" Jiang Fengmian asks who looks like he's about have a Qi Deviation the second time in just a day. 

Even Jiang Cheng looked at him in shock. 

- Oh Cale, I accept your tastes in men no matter what. 

'What in the ever loving fuck?' 

"What nonsense are you talking about? I meant Wei Ying!" 

The disciples looked at them again, sensing some tea brewing around those in Yunmeng Jiang. 

"Me? What about me?" The newly arrived Wei Ying asks.

"Never mind."

Cale just sighs, scratching his head in annoyance before using a teleportation array to get him and the three(and disciples) away from the prying eyes.

"Welcome back." Madam Yu greets the moment they open their eyes, making Cale almost faint from surprise and see Xie Lian or Hua Cheng for the first time.

"A-Niang! We're home!" Jiang Cheng greets back, making Yu Ziyuan open her arms and beckon for his son to hug her.

"Xianxian, A-die. Welcome back." Jiang Yanli says, which made Wei Ying cry in tears of joy before hugging the girl.

And Cale was quietly staring at the scene.

"GEGE! YOU'RE BACK!" A child screams before Cale felt a jab in his abdomen. 

Looking down, he sees Xue Yang latching on him like a koala. 

"A-Yang...since w-when did you get this s-strong?" Cale asks, His voice trembling as he stopped himself from whining because of the pain.

"Aiya gege, you're just too weak." Xue Yang retorts, earning a smack on the head from Cale. 

Before Cale could speak, he felt a warm hand resting atop of his head. 

It was Yu Ziyuan's hand. 

"Did you have fun?" Madam Yu asks, making Cale's lips wobble as another record resurfaced in his mind. 

"Did you enjoy yourself from your trip?" 

 

"I did, mother."

 

"I'm glad. Let's go, Vicross has already cooked dinner for us."

 

"Mn."

 

"Human! Give me steaks!" 

 

"Yes yes, you deserve it."

 

"We want some too nya!" 

 

"Nya!" 

 

"Welcome home, orabuni."

 

"I'm glad you're back safe, hyung-nim."

 

"Welcome home, son."

 

"I'm home."

"Yeah, I had my fun, mother." Cale blurts out before realizing what he had said. 

"I mean Madam Yu, I had my fun! I beat Sect Leader Wen's ass in his own game!" 

This was the first time they saw the redhead flustered and rambling almost incoherent words that it surprised them. 

Madam Yu decides to tease him, "I'm glad you enjoyed beating someone's ass, son. Come, Jinzhu and Yinzhu had already cooked a feast."

If Cale didn't know any better, he'd think that Madam Yu is the reincarnation of Duchess Violan, the same goes for the others. 

Cale just hums, following them to Lotus Pier. 

"Oh, and Wei Xun." Madam Yu calls, like she remembered something she forgot. 

"Yes?" Cale answers, confused.

"The same for Wei Wuxian and A-Cheng."

The two looks, bearing the same confusion Cale have. 

"Welcome home, my sons."

Cale thought that his lungs were knocked out of breath as he let out a shuddered gasp, shivering at the unknown affection he's receiving.

Even to Wei Ying who never thought that the day would come that Madam Yu would call him as one of his sons.

And to Jiang Cheng who he never thought that he would receive such love openly.

Everything felt surreal. 

"My Lady, what about me? Won't you welcome me too?" Jiang Fengmian surprisingly whines, making Madam Yu look at him like he's out of his mind. 

"Welcome home, darling."

Jiang Fengmian visibly brightens up. 

"Hey, are you crying?" Xue Yang snarks at Wei Ying who have tears gathering in his eyes.

"Shut up you brat!" Wei Ying says, his eyes becoming puffy as he glares at the gremlin.

Jiang Cheng even joins the teasing, "Hah! You are crying!"

Wei Ying decides to retort back, "Yeah so what I'm crying? Call me gege then since Madam Yu called me as one of her sons!"

Realization dawned at Jiang Cheng, "In your dreams!"

As they were about to continue bickering, both the Jiang siblings saw something they thought they wouldn't get to see in their lifetime.

"Gege?"

"A-Xun?"

Cale looks when his name was called, "Yes?"

Xue Yang once again latches himself on Cale, while Wei Ying doesn't know what he should do.

There were tears falling from Cale's reddish-brown eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like thatㅡ"

The redhead just realized that his eyesight was blurry, and there's something wet running down to his cheeks.

"...I'm crying?" Cale asks himself, looking at his shaking hands.

His mind was being overwhelmed by the records that continued to play and the reality that he's currently seeing.

Cale chuckles, "Why am I crying? I should be happy."

The redhead could feel himself being hugged all over his sides. He looked to see Wei Ying, Xue Yang and Jiang Cheng with glistening eyes.

"Gege! It's alright to cry!" Xue Yang announces, even though he's on the verge of breaking down to sobs.

"The brat is right! If you want to cry then you can cry! If you want to laugh then laugh!" Wei Ying says this time, his arms tightening around the redhead's torso.

"We're always here, gege. So you can lean on us." Jiang Cheng says, burying his head in Cale's shoulder. 

The redhead took a few shuddering breaths, calming his heart from the onslaught of emotions. 

- Listen to them, Wei Xun. 

"I will do that, just let me breath firstㅡ!" 

The three tightened their hold to the redhead, leaving Cale with no choice but just to let it be as he sighed.

"I'm home, Madam Yu."

"I'm home, mother."

Chapter Text

Waking up, Cale yawns as he stretched his stiff limbs. 

Everything was peaceful, inhaling the scent of lotuses and river around him before he remembered what happened yesterday night. 

"God damn it." Cale says, the embarrassment overwhelming him. 

"Gege!" Wei Ying yells, making Cale flinch before looking at the doorway. 

"What now?" The redhead frowns. 

"Aiya gege, smile will you. Can I see the parcel? We didn't get to see you open it yesterday."

Cale sighs, waving his hand, "I will, just get out for a while."

"Yes sir!" 

The redhead groans, wanting to sleep a little more before he willed himself to get out of his room after dressing himself. 

"Gege! Good afternoon!" Xue Yang greets, latching on his waist once again. 

Cale looks outside, seeing the sun already up high in the sky. 

"Good afternoon, A-Yang. Did you already eat?" The redhead says before patting the child's head. 

"I did! Can I have some sweets?" 

Cale just sighs softly, pulling a candy in his sleeve and plopped it to Xue Yang's mouth. 

"Is It tasty?" 

Xue Yang quips, nodding his head in joy. 

"I'm glad. Go ahead, it's time for your training isn't it?" 

Xue Yang detached himself from Cale as the redhead waved him goodbye. 

Walking through the pathways in Lotus Pier, Cale took the time in sight seeing. 

The scene in front of his eyes never gets old. 

"Gege! You're finally awake." Jiang Cheng says. 

"Mn, good afternoon. Where is Wei Ying?" Cale asks, since he just saw him earlier and now he's gone. 

"He went to fetch Nie Huaisang, since he wanted to show you the fan you gave him."

Cale hums, rubbing his right eye, "Is that so."

Just as he said that, Wei Ying's voice could be heard from afar making the redhead look at the direction of his yell. 

"Gege, did you just wake up? Your eyes are puffy." Nie Huaisang asks in worry. 

Cale's eyes squinted when he he heard Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying snicker to themselves, making Nie Huaisang look at them in confusion. 

"Yeah, I just woke up." The redhead says in a stern voice, eyeing Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying who looked like they were about to die in stopping their laughter. 

Just before Cale could speak, he felt something quiver in his chest. 

The redhead grabbed the communication talisman that was hidden in his hanfu. 

"Xichen-ge?" Cale asks himself, confused on why Lan Xichen was calling him.

"Oya? I didn't know that you gave Zewu-Jun one of your communication talisman gege." Wei Ying teases, which earned a glare from the redhead. 

Before Nie Huaisang could ask about the communication talisman, Cale had already answered the call. 

"Xichen-ge, is there a reason why you suddenly calledㅡ" 

"A-Huan!" 

Cale furrows his eyebrows in confusion, Lan Xichen's voice seemed trembling and another noise was present in the background. 

"A-Huan! Please helㅡFather!"

The redhead felt like he was showered in iced water, his palms sweating as he gritted his teeth. 

"Evacuate the children first!" Lan Wangji's voice was then heard. 

"Lan Zhan? Gege, is there something wrong?" 

Before Cale could answer, another voice in the talisman had spoke first. 

"Run away! Cloud Recesses is burning!" 

Burning? 

At that point, Cale had already dropped the call and activated a teleportation array below them. 

"Gege! Let us come with you!" Jiang Cheng says before pulling the redhead's thin wrist. 

Cale looked at the three wearing a firm expression, making him sigh before nodding in defeat. 

"Get your weapons." The redhead says, finishing his incantations. 

"And get ready to fight. Don't hurt yourself or I'll strangle you myself."

It seems that Qishan Wen had already started moving. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Father! Please hold yourself together! We need to escape!" Lan Xichen yells, his words filled with urgency. 

Qingheng-Jun heaves a heavy breath, the stab wound already festering as Lan Xichen continued to pull his father with him. 

Just then, Lan Xichen could see figures of Wen running towards them with killing intent. 

"Xichen, you c-can leave me here. R-run away."

Perhaps due to the pressure he's feeling, he felt no regards in following the Sect's rules. 

"Stop spouting bullshit and pull yourself together!" 

Qingheng-Jun looks at his son in surprise, bit he didn't speak about it before warning Lan Xichen about the intruders. 

Lan Xichen pulls out his spiritual sword and fought with the Wens.

It was a total bloodbath around them.

Even with the help of their spiritual cores, the smoke still felt suffocating in their lungs.

"Zewu-Jun! Duck!"

Lan Xichen didn't know whose voice is that, but he followed it nonetheless.

The Wen that was about to stab him from behind fell into the ground with a loud thud. 

"Nie Huaisang?" Lan Xichen mutters, confused.

After all, Nie Huaisang actually killed someone. The difference is that he used a fan, and not a saber.

There are Wens that are running behind Nie Huaisang, and before Lan Xichen could warn the younger, he spoke one word before the fan detached itself on the Wen that was supposed to stab Lan Xichen earlier.

"Scatter."

The blades of the fan detached itself, creating fourteen daggers as it hit the Wens from behind.

Lan Xichen couldn't yet fathom what was happening, but he was cut out of his trance when Nie Huaisang grabbed a talisman and spoke to it.

"Gege, I found Zewu-Jun and Qingheng-Jun."

Just then, a bolt of gold rose lightning were struck somewhere in Cloud Recesses.

"Go to where the lightning landed. You'll find me there."

Nie Huaisang who have his eyes wide at the shock of the sudden lightning could only look at the talisman with disbelief. He just shook his head and followed the redhead's command.

"We'll be there."

Cale just hums at the other side.

"Zewu-Jun, Qingheng-Jun, please follow me and keep your breaths steady."

The three of them ran together, Lan Xichen Nad Nie Huaisang aiding the already unconscious Sect Leader of Gusu out of the burning pavilion.

"Huaisang! Do you know where gege is?" We Ying calls while panting, Lan Wangji following behind him with a child in his arms.

"He's where the lightning appeared." Nie Huaisang informs, swishing his hand when he saw Wens that were about to ambush them.

He killed them all in one swift.

"Oh, Huaisang. You look cool at your weapon." Wei Ying flatters, while Nie Huaisang just chuckles in embarrassment.

Lan Xichen furrows his eyebrows as he looked at his brother.

"Is that Jingyi?" He asks, which Lan Wangji hummed in affirmation.

"His parents were killed, and I didn't get to them in time."

Lan Wangji may have said that in a flat tone, but Lan Xichen could read his brother like an open book.

He felt guilty. And so is Lan Xichen.

"You sure are taking your time."

As they all looked at the source of that voice, Cale looked down at them while he is mounting his sword.

"A-Huan." Lan Xichen calls, relief was evident as the tense in his shoulders visibly lightens.

"Xichen-ge, do you know where intruders' leader is?" Cale asks, his eyes scanning around.

Someone from their group is missing, making Cale's expression grim.

"Where is Jiang Cheng?"

Just then, another voice were heard amidst the burning chaos in Cloud Recesses.

"He's here with me."

The way Cale turned in his back with an alarming expression caught the perpetrator off guard, his reddish-brown eyes looks like it was gleaming with the embers around them.

"You must be Wen Xu then."

Wen Xu returns the greeting, "And you must be Wei Xun."

"Hah! What's it to you?" Cale scowls before u mounting his sword.

Wen Xu just hums, the fire that was burning several pavilions and pagodas of Cloud Recesses sparked brighter and more wild than ever.

"Father said that I should bring you back to Qishan if I saw you." Wen Xu shrugs.

"Why burn the Cloud Recesses then?" Cale asks, eyeing Jiang Cheng who was roped beside Wen Xu. 

"To let the world know that the era of sun is coming."

Cale raised his eyebrow, continuing Wen Xu's phrase with a mocking tone. 

"That era you're waiting for is coming to an end before it'll begin, you damn fucking asshole." 

Just then, an overwhelming aura enveloped the redhead as gust of wind covered Jiang Cheng who was beside Wen Xu. 

Cale then whispers, letting his words get carried by the wind around Jiang Cheng. 

"Run towards me, the wind will never hurt you." He says, making eye contact with the younger inside the gale. 

And so, even if he was scared, Jiang Cheng ran to where Cale is. 

If his gege says so, then he will follow. 

Some Wens tried to catch Jiang Cheng, but Nie Huaisang, Lan Xichen, and Lan Wangji engaged in a fight while Wei Ying stayed behind to protect the sleeping Jingyi and apply first aid to the unconscious Qingheng-Jun. 

"Such strong spiritual energy!" One of the Wens exclaimed, overwhelmed by their fear of the redhead. 

- Cale. 

'I know.'

Cale needs to end it as soon as possible, the seering pain in his chest too much. 

His ancient powers and golden core is clashing to one another, creating an agonizing pain in his entire being. Thanks to Xiao Wang, he regulates every use of his ability to not let him explode then and there. 

It's surprising enough that he's still standing. 

"Wei Ying! Create a barrier around us!" He commands after Jiang Cheng stepped within their vicinity and snapped the ropes binding him. He discreetly coughs for a while before looking at Lan Xichen. 

"Where are the Elders?" He asks, particularly worried about an old man with a goatee. 

Lan Wangji was the one who answers then, "They have evacuated in time, while shushu is trying to save the remaining scrolls in the Library Pavilion."

Cale cursed to himself as he looked at the burning pavilion. 

"Ready a teleprtation array too!" He yells before slowly raising both of his hands, the sound of swords clanking on the background fell deaf in his ears. 

Just then, the earth tremored as some people fell because of the intensity. 

And finally, Cale started to cough out the blood that was being held in his throat. 

"A-Huan!"

"Gege!"

"Cale-nim!"

 

"Human!"

Several geysers were shot out from the ground, successfully quenching the fire that burns throughout the Cloud Recesses.

Cale then looks at Jiang Cheng who strode beside him, before saying his next words.

"Capture those bastards and lock them up, especially Wen Xu. Make sure that those who try to run away will die."

Jiang Cheng heeded those words. 

The redhead shudders, the geysers ceasing as Cale felt his eyesight go blurry.

"Bring the wounded back to Yunmeng Jiang." He mutters to no one as he let himself fall, his ears continued to ring. 

He felt someone catch him as he closes his eyes, but he could clearly hear the words that were spoken to him albeit his ears ringing. 

"You can rest now, A-Huan."

"You can leave the rest to me, dongsaeng."

Chapter Text

By the time that Cale had finally woke up in his room in Lotus Pier, a week and a half had already passed by since the burning of Cloud Recesses.

And apparently, the infant that was drooling in his stomach is called Jingyi.

"I'm glad you're finally awake." Someone says, making Cale look at the source of the voice as he slowly sat up, mindful of the infant that was playing his robes. 

"And I see that you've already healed, Qingheng-Jun." He retorts, looking at the infant and the old man. 

"If you're wondering why I let Jingyi wander around you, don't ask me. I'm just doing what Lan Xichen says."

Cale furrows his eyebrows, noticing what the man was doing. 

"Why are you peeling lotus seeds?" He couldn't help but ask. 

"My, what a good question. My sons have taken quite the liking to eating them you see, so I'm peeling some for them after their work."

Cale blinks, the sound of goo goo ga ga fell deaf to his ears as his arms encircled around the child in instinct.

"Work? What work?"

Qingheng-Jun just smiles, making Cale look at him in confusion.

"Hunting water ghouls with your brothers."

The redhead nods, though he doesn't know why there was still an unsettling feeling inside him.

Qingheng-Jun then continued, "Without using boats that is. They went manual."

Cale choked both in his spit and from Jingyi who pressed his weight against a weak muscle in his stomach.

"Manual? You couldn't perhaps mean that one?!"

By what Cale means as manual, is that you hunt water ghouls while only swimming around and holding your breath for as long as possible or you're dead the minute you lost your air underwater. 

It was one of the most vicious training methods of Yunmeng Jiang. Just remembering how he managed to finish that tutelage still surprises him until now. 

Qingheng-Jun just shrugs like he doesn't care about his sons, "I can't do anything if it is the Sect Leader's punishment to them. Isn't that right, Sect Leader Jiang?"

The redhead felt a presence behind, which is quite odd and not at the same time since a window is situated behind him. 

Cale felt a cold shiver run down his spine, cold sweat started running down from his forehead. 

"Look who decided to finally wake up." Jiang Fengmian says in an ominous tone, making Cale flinch as he robotically looks at the Sect Leader.

"Haha, good morning Sect Leader Jiang." Cale says, willing himself to not stutter and look away from the man.

Qingheng-Jun just smiles.

"It's already dusk, you brat." Jiang Fengmian corrects, making Cale continue to sweat cold. 

"A-anyways! What's for dinner then?" Cale tries to divert the topic. 

Keyword, tries. 

"Why did you barge into a battle without telling us first, hmm?" Jiang Fengmian smiles viciously, making Ron's face appear in Cale's mind. 

Before Cale could answer, Jiang Fengmian started barraging him with questions and statements, making the redhead have no time to interrupt the Sect Leader in his over thinking. 

"Is It because Lan Xichen called you? Or is it because you are worried about him that you didn't have the time to inform us? Do you like him? Who am I kidding, you do like him! How else will you just do waltzing in a burning Cloud Recesses and coming back in his arms, unconscious!"

Cale felt a headache forming, kneading the baby hands that was playing against his long ones in comfort. 

Qingheng-Jun, somehow noticing his discomfort, tries to alleviate Jiang Fengmian's worries. 

"Sect Leader Jiang, have mercy on the child. He just woke up after all."

Jiang Fengmian just sighs, heeding the other Sect Leader's words.

"Pwetty." Jingyi suddenly says, yanking Cale's hair as the redhead could only curse in his mind from the pain.

Looking at child, Cale found out that Jingyi is getting sleepy with a dead lock grip in his hair.

"Q-Qingheng-Jun, h-helpㅡ"

Sect Leader Lan just chuckles, while Jiang Fengmian lightly snorts to not disturb the infant that was now sleeping.

"I see he took a liking to you." Jiang Fengmian teases.

"Yes, I see that too but can you help me? My scalp is burning!" Cale whisper yells at the old men. 

"Replace your hair with your thumb." Sect Leader Lan says, which immediately made Cale follow him. 

He wiggled his thumb to the tiny fist, successfully making Jingyi let go of his hair. 

The infant let a series of sound similar to childish giggles, as if he was having a good dream. 

Cale just sighs before sitting comfortably, his back leaning against the wall as the child rested his head peacefully in his chest. 

"We'll excuse ourselves first, A-Xun. Rest here for a while." Jiang Fengmian says in a defeated tone, since the redhead have a reason to lay in his bed for a little longer. 

Cale just hums, also starting to feel drowsy from the even breathes of the child laying in his chest. 

In the end, he replaced his thumb with his red hair again, since he knew the moment he'll wake up, his entire arm would go numb. 

The two Sect Leaders quietly then left, the other pocketing the peeled lotus seeds in his sleeve.

"What an interesting disciple you have, Sect Leader Jiang."

The said man just sighs, "Interesting enough to have Wen Ruohan eye him."

Qingheng-Jun chuckles, "Who wouldn't be interested? He's someone who have a unique face and hair, and someone who have a spiritual energy that could rival the Heavenly Martial Gods."

Jiang Fengmian closed his eyes before sighing.

"It's not that he have strong spiritual energy considering he have a small golden core."

Sect Leader Jiang fears that there's another external factor that let Wei Xun harness such otherworldly powers.

If the world had found out about Wei Xun's ability, he fears that an unwanted responsibility would fall on the redhead's shoulders.

Jiang Fengmian then says, "That child looked like he carried a huge burden in his previous life. That back of his may be comforting to see, but it was lonely too."

Qingheng-Jun hums, agreeing at Sect Leader's Jiang statement.

"So the least you can do, was to atleast ease that loneliness by surrounding him with people who will stand beside him?" Sect Leader Lan inquires, making Jiang Fengmian nods.

"He wants to live a peaceful life, then I want to give it to him as much as possible. But the brat is throwing himself in a fire and started sparking attention to him." Jiang Fengmian groans, making Sect Leader Lan snort as he patted the latter's back.

"Uncle Jiang! Is gege awake now?" The newly arrived Wei Ying asks, his robes still dripping from the river's water.

Lan Xichen, Jiang Cheng, and Lan Wangji then came. All looked like they were dogs and cats that couldn't find shelter in a rainy day.

"He woke up earlier but slept again. Go bath, you'll get sick if you continue to be exposed in the cold wind." Jiang Fengmian says as he eyes the two Lan brothers that are shivering.

As the four of them took a bath in their respective rooms, Lan Xichen was the first one to finish. 

"Oh, Zewu-Jun. You're fast. Do you miss gege that much?" Wei Ying teased, where he was only answered with a smile. 

The younger gasp before looking at Lan Wangji, "Lan Er-gege! Your brother is such a romantic!" 

Lan Xichen just looks at his brother who have a stoic face but red ears. 

"I'll visit A-Huan and get Jingyi for him to rest comfortably." Lan Xichen reasons, in which Wei Ying just looked at him. 

"Go on. Chengcheng and I will visit him tomorrow instead." Wei Ying says and gave him a toothy grin. 

Walking towards to where the redhead is, Lan Xichen admired the night view of Lotus Pier.

It was filled with lights that if you look at the place from afar, they look like stars in land. 

Lan Xichen knocks lightly at Cale's door when he finally arrived.

As the man briskly walks to where the redhead is, he couldn't help but stop for a while as he took in the sight in front of him.

Cale, even when he sleeps, looks as elegant as ever like he was someone sent from the Heavenly Realm. He holds Jingyi like he was hugging the whole world in his feeble arms.

There was something that fluttered in Lan Xichen, making him knead the robes above his chest as he looked at the two sleeping figures.

"You're going to have a sore back with the way you sleep." He mutters to himself, shaking his head as he still looks at Cale who sleeps while seated.

Lan Xichen sat in Cale's bed inches away from him, brushing away the lone strands of red hair that fell to the redhead's face.

"Abwaa...pwetty." Jingyi says, visibly having a good dream.

"He is pretty, isn't it?" Lan Xichen couldn't help but agree at the sleeping child's mutters.

"Hyung."

Lan Xichen looks.

It was that word he can't understand again.

"Hyung-nim...cookies..."

Lan Xichen just chuckles, "Even you are capable of acting cute in your sleep."

Seeing that Jingyi and Cale won't be separated anytime soon, Lan Xichen figured that he should leave them alone.

Standing up, Lan Xichen turned his back and was about to walk away when his breath hitched in his throat.

His forehead ribbon covering half of his eyes, the end seems to be being pulled by someone before he looked at the source.

While Lan Wangji can be flustered with his red ears thanks to his stoic face, Lan Xichen will have his entire face become red since he is more expressive than his younger brother.

There it is, his forehead ribbon being held by the sleeping Cale who doesn't know what he's doing.

Lan Xichen grabs his forehead ribbon with no regards and immediately walks away from that room, hitting every corner of Lotus Pier due to his mind going haywire thanks to his rapid beating heart.

If there is a visible bruise that was formed behind his forehead ribbon the next day, no one bothered to ask except for the main root himself. 

Chapter Text

Cale looks down at the man that was kneeling in front of him with a menacing stare. 

He then sits down to stare at the latter in eye level before grabbing his jaw and grin at him.

"Should I burn you too like what you did in Gusu or you'll talk?"

Wen Xu started trembling as he did his best to not suffocate from the overwhelming force, like something was choking him the longer he look at the redhead.

"Y-Yunmeng will be the next one to be burned! As far as I-I know, it'll be my y-younger brother to lead together with t-the Core Melting Hand!"

Cale huffs, letting go of Wen Xu's jaw, "Now that doesn't seem hard, isn't it?"

Wen Xu's pupils shook before pleading, "S-spare me, p-please."

The redhead's eyes turned into crescents, the suffocating air around him further pressured Wen Xu as he stares at him in fear.

"Why should I? It's not like you spared those from the Gusu Lan when they begged for their lives."

Wen Xu did his best to give reason to Cale's words, "I was just following father's orders! I apologize, please please please please please!"

Cale was starting to get irked, so like a like an annoying fly that keeps buzzing around, he ought to shut it up.

It all happened fast, the way Cale unsheathed Xiao Wang and stabbed Wen Xu's right leg was like how you kill a mosquito the moment it lands on your skin.

Wen Xu's screams echoed throughout Yunmeng Jiang's new underground cell, a place where Cale had built in preparation just in case he captured some Wens trying to offend him.

And someone did try to offend him.

"The Cloud Recesses can't be easily invaded unless someone from the inside leaked information, or do you actually have someone smart amongst your ranks?"

Cale twisted the sword in Wen Xu's leg, earning another painful scream.

"S-someone leaked it! B-but I don't know who!"

Wen Xu screamed again, the sword in his leg were dragged down to tear a large portion of his skin and muscles.

"Wrong answer. It seems that you're brave enough to lie straight into my face, Wen Xu."

He looks at the redhead in horror, somehow wondering how Cale knew that he was lying.

Cale squeezed his bleeding leg as tears poured down from his eyes, the pain unbearable.

"Tell me who it is." He says in a threatening voice, his sword starting to move again.

"I-It's a disciple! I don't know his n-name but I'm s-sure it's someone f-from the Moling Su C-Clan!" 

The sword was then grabbed away in a swift motion, the blood dripping to the edge as Cale whisked it away.

If Vicross were to see him now, he would gush around saying how messy he is but clap anyways on the redhead's way of torturing.

"Thank you for cooperating." Cale smiles like he didn't open a flesh with a sword earlier.

It was surprising enough that he have the strength to actually stab someone and drag it down.

Cale sheaths back Xiao Wang before walking away from Wen Xu who had already fainted from the pain and fear towards the redhead.

Greeted by the warm sun and the nostalgic smell of river, Cale just sighs in content before walking away. 

- And here you are calling people vicious, when you're the scariest of them all. 

Before Cale could mutter shut up, someone called him and held him by his shoulders. 

"A-Huan?! Are you hurt? Why is there blood on you?" Lan Xichen gushes around, making Cale realize that he have Wen Xu's filthy blood on his face and hands. 

"It wasn't mine, Xichen-ge." 

Saying those words slightly spooked Lan Xichen but he relaxed in only a matter of seconds, realizing the blood must be one of the prisoners in Lotus Pier's cells. 

"Let's wipe it away first." Lan Xichen says absent-mindedly before pulling out a handkerchief and wiped Cale's face all by himself. 

As Lan Xichen busies himself, he discreetly stares at the redhead's face that was being held in his hands in a pliant manner. 

The Lan stiffens, his face slowly going red the longer he looks at the redhead in front of him. 

"T-there! I wiped it all bit it looks like you need to bathe to get rid of the blood's stench!" Lan Xichen says, his hand flinching every now and then.

'Huh.' Cale thinks, finding the older's actions weird. 

As the older turns his back, Cale noticed one thing about Lan Xichen.

Perhaps he is still confused on the older's action, he forgot something that should have been engraved in his mind the moment he learned about it. 

"Ah, Xichen-ge. Your ribbon is crookedㅡ!" 

At the same time, he held the forehead ribbon's tip to stop Lan Xichen from walking away. 

Lan Xichen froze, feeling a sudden deja vu as he looks at the redhead in horror. 

If the older was trying his best to not show his red face earlier, well he failed at it now. 

Red face and a forehead ribbon that was being held by someone else other than the owner itself, Cale had already realized his mistake. 

- Congratulations! You just got married and won a husband! 

Those words from Xiao Wang echoed constantly in his mind, his grip on the ribbon slowly loosening as he started sweating cold. 

"X-Xichen-ge...I'm sorry...?" 

The last sentence was spoke as a question, since Lan Xichen, the Zewu-Jun is looking at him with a constipated face and tears welling in his eyes. 

"You are driving me insane." Lan Xichen mutters, making Cale flinch. 

"You are driving me nuts!" 

Cale just laughs awkwardly before letting go the forehead ribbon. 

They both heard someone gasp comically just then.

It was Lan Wangji, looking at them like the world had ended in front of his eyes. A dead chicken in his hands were being crushed by the neck as he stares at his brother with shaking eyes. 

"Lan Zhan! Did you finally caught a chickeㅡgege?" 

As if Wei Ying was not enough, Qingheng-Jun arrived as he looks at them dumbfounded. 

"Ah, Xichen. You should run away before Sect Leader Jiang finds out about your misery."

Just then, Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng arrived (why is everyone suddenly arriving?!). 

"Hey!" Jiang Cheng screams, "What's taking you so long?! The soup is already boiling!" 

Jiang Yanli tilts her head, sensing something happening between her oldest little brother and the future Sect Leader of Gusu. 

Jiang Cheng's eyebrows then furrowed one into confusion, "What are y'all doing here as if a scandal just happened!"

A scandal just indeed happened. 

Both subject of the said scandal just stood there unmoving, one muddled with existential (gay) panic while the other was barraged with series of laughter coming from his sword. 

"...I'll go help Wangji water the chickens..." Lan Xichen says as he fix his forehead ribbon, blanking out as he walks away. 

Help Wangji but he's walking away from his younger brother. 

"I'll go bathe for a while." Cale mutters, before yelling. 

"Xichen-geㅡ!"

Too late, Lan Xichen hit his head in a wall, adding another bruise in his forehead. 

Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng just let out an exclaim of 'oof', feeling pained at Lan Xichen's situation. 

Qingheng-Jun and Jiang Yanli looked at each other, letting out a small chuckle realizing that they have the same wavelength when it comes to the two.

As days passed by in a blur, the two thankfully talked it out Cale told them about his plan.

He even showed his masterpiece of a parcel to them, making several eyes look at him in awe and some flabbergasted. He even showed the other disciples who are adept in using bow and arrow on how to use it in case an intruder attacked Lotus Pier.

And just like that, two weeks had passed when the Wen Clan had made an absurd claim that the other cultivation Sects have failed to teach their disciples, ordering them to send their heirs to Qishan as guest disciples.

"Wen Ruohan is agitated." Cale says as he sips his tea filled with honey, humming from the sweet taste.

"He's pushing his luck."

Cale chuckles, "He should be if he's worried about his eldest beloved son."

The redhead just hums together with Sect Leader Jiang, remembering the battered Wen Xu laying somewhere in the underground prison.

"What do you plan to do then?" Qingheng-Jun asks, sipping his own tea.

"Should we send our disciples, A-Xun?" Jiang Fengmian muses. 

"We should, to avoid suspicion that is. Though it depends on who you should send, then please remove me from that list Sect Leader Jiang."

Cale doesn't want to be bothered for the next few days, he wants to laze around in his bed while eating lotus seeds and stare into nothing, thank you very much. 

"You're not going?" Lan Xichen asks, his eyebrows furrowed. 

Cale just shrugs, "It's not like I'm an heir. Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying should do better since they're the top disciples of Yunmeng." He boasts proudly, making the two said men huff in pride. 

"Alright then." Madam Yu says. 

As the redhead was about to refill his cup with tea, he felt his ears ring before came silence. 

Everything became mute, even when he should hear his own cup breaking to pieces, he couldn't hear it. 

It was the same occurrence again. 

He could see the people he's with in the same room call to him worriedly, but he couldn't hear anything. 

It was as if the whole world went silent. 

"I can't hear..." He utters as he tries to fiddle with his earlobes, tapping his temples in attempt to reclaim his hearing. 

"Why can't I hear again?" He mutters in alarm, anxious. 

- Cale Henituse. 

There it is, the voice that spoke to him back in Cloud Recesses. The Rowoon dialect is till present. 

'What do you want?' He thinks, similar to how he answers Xiao Wang. 

- It's time we finally meet, don't you think? 

Chapter Text

In the end, Cale had no choice but to join his younger brothers in going to Qishan Wen thanks to some bastard that kept talking in his head. 

- Would you like to hear a story?

'No, please shut up.'

Killing the ghoul in one swift, Cale just groans in annoyance before sheathing his sword in his side.

"Xun-ge, do you feel alright? No ringing in your ears?" Wei Ying asks in worry.

"I'm fine. Rather, please tell Lan Wangji to stop glaring at me in every possible chance he have. The incident happened weeks ago!"

Cale is frightened on how Lan Wangji would look at him dead in the eyes, like he did something unforgivable(Cale knew what he did to Lan Xichen is indeed unforgivable, but it's not like he would stare in retaliation when Lan Wangji himself keeps glaring at Wei Ying, his younger brother!).

"Young Master Wei Xianghuan really is astounding as the rumors are saying! Surely with someone with your talent should be in Qishan Wen." A woman suddenly says, her chest swelling as Cale felt disgusted at the sight. 

Cale just scoffs, finding it funny how the Wens are provoking him more openly now. 

- Who is this whore? 

For once, Cale agrees with the voice in his head. 

The redhead laughs, as if mocking, "Surely you jest. I quite like my life in Yunmeng, thank you very much for the offer though."

Cale didn't have the leisure to look at the girl's face as he turns his back away, pulling the string of his bow and aimed it a ghoul. 

A sound of shrieking erupted before it died, making Cale sighs as he stretched his limbs that are starting to get sore. 

Cale then felt a hand caress his back, sending shivers before he scowled at the woman who was pestering him earlier.

"I am quite serious about my suggestion, Young Master Wei."

Before him and his brothers could intervene at the woman's coquetry, Lan Wangji steps in and grabs Cale by the arms.

"Huan-ge, there are corpses running around near us. Please help me exterminate them." Lan Wangji says with a straight face, albeit Cale could see the younger's red ears.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying blurts, dumbfounded.

Jiang Cheng then exclaims, "What the fuㅡ" 

Cale then smiles jovially, "Sure! Lead the way."

The four of them were pulled away from the woman, mainly thanks to Lan Wangji who was now frowning at Cale.

'What did I do now?!'

"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan! I didn't know you call Xun-ge, Huan-ge! What's with the sudden change of heart?"

Lan Wangji's lips turn into a thin line, continuing to glare at the redhead who was confused on why he was being given such gaze.

"Huan-ge should stay faithful to brother, he is married to Gusu Lan. Therefore, my brother-in-law."

Cale wants to run away and bury himself where the prying eyes won't get to see him.

"Wait wait wait wait, married?! To who?! Lan Xichen?! Since when?!" Jiang Cheng yells, waiting for his gege to tell them it's just a joke orchestrated to prank them.

"Wait, Wangji. Your brother and I already talked about it. It was just a one time incident and it happened weeks ago goddammit!" Cale tries to reason, in which the younger's stare just became sharper.

"One time incident?" Wei Ying mutters to himself, 'Is this about the forehead ribbon?' He thought to himself before remembering what he did to Lan Wangji in the archery competition. 

Wei Ying felt like someone threw him in Yunmeng's coldest river. 

Before he could ask if what he's thinking is what the two are bickering about, Lan Wangji spoke. 

"One? I found brother flustered two times, out of his mind and hitting a wall both times! Have you no shame?" Lan Wangji exclaims. 

"Well clearly I didn't do anything to him the second time!" 

No, Cale, you got the order wrong. It's first, not second. 

'Two times? Flustered?' Wei Ying thought, his brain brewing some bullshit story. 

If it wasn't about the forehead ribbon being touched by someone else, then it must be another thing considering it happened two times. 

Wei Ying felt something click in his mind, like he found the answer to the world's existence. 

He felt like a renowned genius at the moment before gasping in a scandalous way and gave his brother an accusatory look. 

"Gege, did you sleep with Zewu-Jun? Two times?! Hoh!"

Three pairs of eyes turned to look at Wei Ying before everyone shouted, except for Jiang Cheng who seems like he was withering away.

"Shameless!"

"Stop spouting nonsense and shut up! If I slept with Zewu-Jun, then it's the same that you slept with Lan Wangji one time here!" Cale shrieks, not managing to stop himself due to embarrassment. 

Just before Wei Ying could ask what was his gege was saying and why Lan Wangji have his ears similar to the redhead's hair, Jiang Cheng intervenes. 

"Wen Chao is approaching us." He warns, somehow thankful to the bastard because of his presence.

Jiang Cheng wouldn't have to deal with his rising blood pressure for a while as continued to remember the studies in his mother's anger management class. He'll have to grill out Lan Wangji later on what nonsense he was saying about his brothers being married. 

"We're going to the entrance of Mount Muxi to search for something. Maybe you'll learn something valuable with me leading you." Wen Chao boasts, Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying frowning while Lan Wangji and Cale just looks at him apathetically, mirroring each other's stoic face.

"The rising sun of Qishan, the next magnanimous heir, I am humbly disappㅡin disarray for being together with such a glorious prescense as yours, Young Master Wen!" 

What bullshit is their gege spouting now? Even Lan Wangji was baffled at the redhead's way of empty flattery to Wen Chao. 

Wen Chao just huffs in pride before turning his back away and started walking, the previous smile in Cale's face disappeared in an instant that made Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng shiver in fear. 

"Let's get this done with." Cale says and started walking behind Wen Chao. 

As soon as they arrived, they just kept their mouths shut. 

"The inside is filled with medicinal herbs, so it's both pretty and practical. I have a couple more, would you like one?" A girl from Lanling Jin says to the other female disciples the moment they regrouped with the others, earning the attention of Wei Ying. 

"Mianmian! Save one for me too!" Wei Ying hops to them like a rabbit. 

"Who are you?! Why are you calling me Mianmian?" The poor girl exclaims in surprise, making Cale sigh to himself and pity her. 

Wei Ying tilts his head, as if teasing, "Isn't that your name? I heard them calling you Mianmian so I thought it's your name." 

The way he say those words are too innocent as he intended. 

"Don't call me that!" The girl yells. 

Wei Ying then started acting coy, "Tell me your name then I won't call you that."

The girl then barks back much to Cale's amusement, "Why should I tell you?! Isn't it appropriate to give your name first before asking mine?" 

Wei Ying then smiles charmingly, "If that's what you want, my name is Wei Yuandao."

Cale knew where this is leading to as he and Jiang Cheng both sighed to themselves. 

"Wei Yuandao? I can't remember any Sects with a young master named Yuandao."

Lan Wangji, fed up with Wei Ying's flirtatious acts, decided to be blunt. 

"It's a wordplay."

As Cale diverts his attention from the clamor to Lan Wangji, he just patted the younger's back out of pity. 

"Do your best to win him over." Cale mutters loud enough for Lan Wangji to hear, making his ears go red once again. 

Wei Ying then comes back, a qiankun pouch in his hands as he hummed gleefully. 

"Leave your swords here at the entrance with my Sect's disciples. That way, you'll learn how to fight without relying to your spiritual weapons." Wen Chao reasons with absurdity, earning hushed clamor from the disciples before shutting up as Wen Zhuliu, the famous Core Melting Hand stares at them. 

- Cale.

Xiao Wang speaks in his mind in a worried manner, which the other voice just answers.

- I'll keep him safe! We still need to meet after all!

- As if a voice like you could keep him safe.

Xiao Wang retorts as Cale settles him near Suibian, Bichen and Sandu.

They all then entered the dark cave, one of the Wen disciple lighting up a torch.

They walked around for a while before meeting a dead end.

"Young Master Wen, this is how far we can go."

Cale, all the while they are wandering around the cave, could feel the hairs in his arms stand up, making him shiver at the familiar feeling emanating around.

"Have someone draw their blood. That would lure the beast out." Wen Chao says like it was the most sane suggestion.

Just then, the woman who was touching Cale earlier pointed at Mianmian.

"How about her?"

Cale raises his eyebrows at Wang Lingjiao, whom the redhead now unfortunately knows, is Wen Chao's mistress.

"Please help me!" Mianmian exclaims before running to the nearest male cultivator there is and hid behind him.

The said nearest cultivator is Cale.

'Your highness, Xie Lian, why is it always me?' The redhead laments, but he still covered for the girl behind him together with Jin Zixuan who went beside him. 

Ah right, Mianmian is still a disciple from Lanling Jin. 

"What are you doing? Didn't you hear what I just said? Or are you trying to play a hero and save a damsel in distress?" Wen Chao snarls, making Cale frown and Jin Zixuan scowl. 

"Wasnt it enough to use as human shields?! Now you want us to act like baits too?!" Jin Zixuan yells. 

If the peacock has always been like this from the start, maybe Cale wouldn't have to punch him in the face. 

"How dare you! Kill them!" Wen Chao bellows, visibly angry. 

'Now what, I'm going to get hit in their crossfire.'

Just as Cale was bout to deflect one of the Wen's sword with his bow, Jiang Cheng interferes with a stone stick in his hands. 

"Who gave you the right to aim that filthy sword to my gege?" Jiang Cheng onimously asks, remembering that his emotions(anger, frustration) from the marriage talk earlier haven't died down yet. 

"Those who oppress others and do evil while relying on the power of their clan should be executed. Moreover, they should be beheaded in public so that nobody would repeat their mistake." Wei Ying suddenly says, making the fight to cease.

"How dare you spout such rebellious bullshit?!" Wen Chao yells.

Wei Ying then laughs, finding the situation incredibly funny, "Rebellious bullshit? Wen Chao, you must've forgotten. Those words are quoted by your ancestor, Wen Mao!"

"What was the punishment again for insulting famous Wen Cultivators? Ah right! Execution! Bwahahaha!" Wei Ying continues, making Cale scrunch his nose at his younger brother. 

"You!" 

Out of rage, Wen Chao unsheathed his sword and ran towards Wei Ying. 

"Calling the Sect Founder's words bullshit, aren't you the one who should be killed?" Wei Ying continues, a crazed grin in his face. 

The moment Wen Chao came close to Wei Ying, his smile dropped before grabbing the latter's hands and stole his sword. 

"You said you wanted blood? I'll give you blood as payment for trying to stab my gege." Wei Ying ominously says, making Cale who was watching them shiver in fear. 

'Vicious!' He thought, like that same action wasn't made by him earlier when he flattered Wen Chao. 

Wei Ying aims the sword in Wen Chao's neck before backing away in an islet in the water. 

- Hm? What's this? 

"S-Save me!" Wen Chao commands, yet his face was showing immense fear. 

"Stop moving or I'll slit your Second Young Master's throat."

Just as Wei Ying had said that, the cave tremored as the islet where Wen Chao and him started moving. 

"Hey! Look out!" Jiang Cheng yells to Wei Ying as they all stabilized themselves. 

Cale was disturbingly peaceful and quietly standing still. 

Just then, a howl reverberated throughout, successfully instilling fear to everyone in the cave except for Cale. 

Rather than fear, he was overwhelmed with shock. And if there's a deeper word than that, then he'd choose that. 

- Would you like to listen to my story now? 

A snake-like head appeared from the water, its neck connecting to the islet where Wei Ying and Wen Chao are. 

"Wei Wuxian! Get away from that thing!" Jiang Cheng screams in worry. 

That scream cut off Cale's trance as he pulled Jiang Cheng to another area, avoiding the monster's attention. 

"Shush. It doesn't see well so it's relying to its hearing. That's why Wei Ying kept silent all the time." Cale says before looking at his brother with furrowed eyebrows. 

"Help me! What are you waiting for?!" 

There are literal idiots with them, Cale remembers. He digress. 

As Wei Ying pushed Wen Chao away, he started running towards the redhead as the monster bellows. 

Archers aimed their arrows to the snake-like turtle, but it didn't do any damage due to its thick skin. 

"Let go of me!" A familiar voice shrieks, only for Wei Ying to see it was Mianmian being held by Wang Lingjiao. 

"Let's see how cocky you are with your pretty face!" The woman says as she was about to burn the girl's face with a metal of Wen's insignia. 

"Stop!" Wei Ying yells as he reaches out, successfully grabbing the girl out of the harm's way. 

Cale's eyes went wide, his breath hitching in his throat as the sound of skin sizzled amidst the chaos. 

"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji calls. 

"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Cheng then yells, running to where the older is. 

'No...' Cale thinks, 'Don't scream...'

As the redhead looks to the snake-like turtle, he now remembered the familiar feeling he felt ever since they entered the cave. 

How could he ever forget? 

It was the feeling when he first met the Blood-drenched Rock. 

"Run away!" Wen Chao commands, the Wen disciples immediately retreating out of fear as they left the other Sect disciples on their own. 

They ran away by mounting their own swords and sealed the entrance to the cave. 

The beast then started nearing towards to where Wei Ying and the others. 

Cale needs to catch the monster's attention and redirect it to him. 

- There once was a turtle, it was born out of the metals and gold from another world. It was used to be a storage of something powerful that its owner couldn't even store. The turtle did its work, happy to appease its owner. 

Cale scratched his wrist to a sharp edge of a nearby rock, the smell of blood intoxicating the beast as its attention were now focused on him. 

- Everything was peaceful, until the owner was killed. 

"Hey!" Cale screams to the beast, earning the attention of his brothers along the way. 

- It seems we have finally met after centuries of me waiting, Young Master Cale Henituse. 

So it seems. 

"Gege!" A hoarse voice yells, but Cale didn't bother to find out who it was. 

He simply raised his already healed yet bleeding hand, asking them to not come near him. 

"What's your name?"  Cale asks in Rowoon language. 

The voice in his head then answered, while Cale maintained his eye contact with the beast. 

- Xuanwu of Slaughter. But I was formerly known as the Commander's Badge, yours. The Golden Turtle that was designed after the Henituse's family crest. 

Chapter Text

Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng couldn't believe what was happening right before their eyes.

The beast let out a low rumble, like how a whale would sound under the ocean. 

"Holy shit." One of the disciples say. 

Lan Wangji's eyes shook, remembering the features of the beast from a book he read back in Cloud Recesses. 

"That's Xuanwu of Slaughter. Not the real one, but a demi who fed on resentful energy throughout the centuries."

And now, that said beast is growling like a tamed animal in front of the redhead. 

The disciples let out a stifled gasp, still staring at the scene that was happening right before their eyes. 

Its head neared to Cale, as the redhead slowly reached to pat Xuanwu's head. 

The beast let out another low sound, like it was happy. 

"I'm not dreaming, aren't I?" Jin Zixuan suddenly asks, which where the others collectively agrees. 

"Do you want to check?" Wei Ying asks, still leaning on Jiang Cheng. 

Before Jin Zixuan could answer, he was slapped straight in his face by Wei Ying who asked that question then leans back again to Jiang Cheng with a triumphant smile. 

"There. This is reality, not a dream. Is it clear now?" Wei Ying says while snickering, which Jin Zixuan could only scowl at him when he sees Lan Wangji glaring at him, as if warning him to not do anything funny. 

"If that monster is really the Xuanwu of Slaughter as Second Young Master Lan says, then shouldn't we kill it before it kills us?" A disciple suddenly asks, who now they found that it was Su Minshan.

"Can't you see that Wei Xianghuan had already tamed it? The monster wasn't attacking him at all." A disciple from Ouyang reasons.

"Yeah? Then why isn't he saying a word at all? For all we know the monster have hypnotic ability or something!" Su Minshan, Su She retorts.

The reason why Cale wasn't speaking, is because he was talking to Xuanwu in his head.

- All I remember was chaos. The earth, seas, and sky were burning with unquenchable flames. Your pained cries echoed throughout the barren world with no one to listen to your pleas. Even the Gods who took interest to you, turned their backs on you when you had lost their attention to be their source of entertainment. 

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Jiang Cheng screams, glaring at Su She who have his bow drawn.

"Trying to save him if possible." Su She states, which earned a scowl from Wei Ying.

"You're gonna kill him! Lan Zhan! Stop hiㅡNO!"

- When you couldn't bear to live anymore, you asked a God to kill you.

The sound of an arrow echoed.

- And they did. You died while I couldn't do anything to protect you, as I was still an inanimate object back then.

Just before Cale could further listen, he felt something sharp hit him on his back.

Xuanwu howled, its head supporting Cale who staggered to him.

- Young Master! What happened? Why do I suddenly smell blood on you?! Young Master Cale!

Xuanwu couldn't see clearly in the cave after all, only relying to its remaining senses as it sharpened its hearing.

"You fucking bastard! Save him? You fucking shot him in the back you prick!" Jiang Cheng screams, not knowing if he should punch the bastard straight into his face or run to where their gege is, leaving Wei Ying.

Most of all, Xuanwu could smell another substance mixing with the redhead's blood as it let out a low growl.

Poison. The human who shot him deliberately smeared the arrowhead with a poison.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying looked at the beast who was growling, like it knew that its owner was injured.

It does know, when golden slitted eyes looked at the person who have their bow drawn.

Xuanwu bellowed, its snake-like head rushing forward to where Su She is.

The said man is starting to tremble in fear as Xuanwu is focused to him.

Out of fear, some disciples also had their bows aimed at the beast, forgetting what happened earlier with the redhead.

"Stand down." Jin Zixuan orders the disciples from his Sect, the same goes to Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang disciples.

"Gege! Jiang Cheng, we need to go to him..." Wei Ying yells, his conciusness flickering.

"No need to tell me." The younger says before Lan Wangji caught Wei Ying at the other side, helping the two to go towards the redhead.

As the three arrived to where the redhead is slump against a wall, they could see how Cale was writhing in pain as cold sweat started to fall on hid forehead.

"Who the hell shot me with a poisoned arrow?" Cale managed to say, scowling.

"It was poisoned?!" Wei Ying yells despite his blurry eyesight.

"It was Su Minsahan." Lan Wangji informs, his lips formed into a thin line as several thoughts ran through his mind.

Such several thoughts include; Brother would be hurt to see him like this, he would be restless and walk around him like a worried husband who have his wife delivering a baby, must save him so brother won't be sad.

What a caring brother he is.

"That bastard again?" Cale asks as he coughs out blood, starting to get annoyed.

While Xuanwu continued to glare at the human who hurt Cale, the four of them continued to talk like nothing was happening at the other side of the cave.

"A-Ying, you have the qiankun pouch from earlier right? Put some to your burn." Cale says as he groans. 

"What about you? You said the arrow was poisoned!" Jiang Cheng asks worriedly. 

"Then save some for me." Cale says, deadpanned. 

As Cale looks at Xuanwu, he grins in mischief. 

'Hey, make that shithead faint in fear as revenge for the arrow.'

Xuanwu tilts its head for a while, but the beast follows the redhead nonetheless. 

So it roared, loud enough that the whole cave shook with just the sound. 

Su She faints on the ground, his mouth bubbling as Xuanwu huffs in pride. 

The beast then started trudging its neck back to where the redhead is before letting out a low growl, waiting to be praised. 

Cale snorts, "You might have broken his eardrums in the process, but good job."

The redhead then pats Xuanwu's head, its small tail from behind wagging. 

Just then, something glowed between Cale's hands and the beast's head. 

The ball of light danced around the redhead for a while, like it was happy. 

"Can you remove the arrow in my back?" Cale asks Lan Wangji, since Lans are famous for their arm strength. 

The younger was reluctant at first. But when he saw the tired yet confident look coming from the redhead, he followed. 

He was similar to his older brother, Lan Wangji assess. But there's something about the redhead that makes you comply to all his words. 

Pulling the arrow in one swift, Cale had no time to groan in pain as he coughed out dark blood. The wound in his back slowly healing yet the poison in his system still remains. 

That is when the white orb went inside him, a warm feeling starting to spread out. 

Cale let out a shuddered breath before clutching his head. 

- Cale! 

- Oh thank God! 

- It's nice to see you again!

- Hell yeah! 

- Fucking finally! 

- Waaaaaahhhhh! Why is it that even in another world you're still injured?! Wait, you're poisoned?! 

- What?! 

- Who poisoned him?! 

- I'm gonna beat their ass and cripple their legs the moment I see the person who hurt our Cale. 

- Behave, all of you. 

The redhead felt dizzy at the sudden onslaught of voices inside his head. 

"Gege, are you alright?" Jiang Cheng asks, since Wei Ying had already fell unconscious.

Xuanwu growls softly, as if sorry.

"It's fine. Get ready, we're leaving this cave."

The beast froze, as if dreading a reality that it'll be alone again once the redhead leaves.

"Is there another exit on this cave?" Cale asks as he softly patted the beast's snout.

- There is.

- Holy shit! Is that a turtle?!

- Stop shouting you dipshit!

"Mount the islet in its back, we're going home." The redhead says to Jiang Cheng with a grin.

- Home? I'm coming?

Cale snorts, repeatedly patting Xuanwu, "Of course you are."

'You may no longer be the Henituse's golden turtle, but you'll be Yunmeng's Xuanwu as long as I'm here.'

It'll be nice to have a pet turtle back in Lotus Pier. Besides, there's a lot of rivers around Yunmeng Jiang. 

Chapter Text

Swimming around in Yunmeng Jiang's river atop Xuanwu's back is an exhilarating feeling, Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji both thought as Cale hums and enjoyed the breeze.

"Oh, right. Our swords." Wei Ying who was now awake, says loud enough.

Jiang Cheng just sighs loudly as he did his best to calm down, fixing his posture since the islet was too rocky for his own taste.

'Xiao Wang.'

Cale closed his eyes as he focused, the clamoring voices also went silent.

- What?

'Where are you?'

Xuanwu then just growls, far too mistrustful towards the former God.

- I'm here at Qishan Wen. Wen Chao is already here, what about you? Did he trapped you in that cave?!

'I'm fine. We're already here at Lotus Pier, so come here. Bring the other swords here too.'

Xiao Wang's voice was silent for a while before speaking again.

- I can't carry the others unless I alter my form.

'Then alter it.'

Cale could already imagine the scowl on Xiao Wang's face, so he just snorts while the others stare at at him with confusion.

- Don't blame me if someone calls you a God's messenㅡwhat the fuck?! 

"Hmm?" Cale hums, quite surprised on why the former God was cursing. 

"What is it?" Lan Wangji asks when he caught the redhead furrow his eyebrows. 

- Just wait for me at the Lotus Pier's wharf! 

Cale just shrugs before facing Lan Wangji with a knowing grin, "It's nothing, continue tending my brother."

At that statement alone, Lan Wangji became flustered. 

The face might not show anything, but Cale could see how red the younger's ears are. 

"Lan Zhan is such a gentleman! Who wouldn't fall for him when he's like this, isn't it gege?" Wei Ying swoons like a young maiden, making Jiang Cheng look at him in disgust.

Cale wants to squish the latter's face at the irony.

"We're here." Lan Wangji speaks in order to divert the topic, hiding his red ears as the redhead just snorts.

Lan Xichen's younger brother was really easy to read just like he said.

Stepping to Lorus Pier's wharf, Cale stretched his back for a while and sighed.

He failed to see the people who was gawking at him and the beast behind him, smiling at the nostalgic smell like he hadn't brought a large turtle with an islet as its shell.

"Let's wait here for a while." The redhead says before easily plucking a lotus stem and ate the seeds.

"Why? We need to tell A-Die to ask those Wen dogs for our swords back." Jiang Cheng says before munching the lotus seed Cale plopped to his mouth.

Before Cale could explain, he could feel Xiao Wang's prescence coming to him like a b meteor. 

"Take coㅡ!"

Cale's warning was late as Xiao Wang landed at the edge of the wharf with a pissed look, in his arms were the three swords. 

"I'm gonna stab that bastard to his neck repeatedly that he won't get to beg for help." Xiao Wang says with an ominous tone, the crowd that was gawking Cale earlier left hurriedly as it smells like a fight between the cultivators. 

Jiang Cheng went in front of Cale while Lan Wangji hid Wei Ying behind him. 

"Who the hell are you now?" Jiang Cheng asks in annoyance. 

Before Xiao Wang could introduce himself, Wei Ying speaks. 

"Oh! It's you! Gege's guardian angel!" 

It went silent in a matter of seconds after Wei Ying told that sentence, Xuanwu in the water isn't impressed even just a little bit. 

"Guardian angel?" Cale smiles in a sinister manner before continuing, "What nonsense are you talking about?" 

If Xiao Wang was about to talk earlier unti Cale's ears fall off, he zip his mouth shut before kneeling on the wooden floor of the wharf. 

"I-I got m-my fellow swords back..." Xiao Wang tries to explain, His white hair falling to his face to add a dramatic effect. 

Cale mirrored Xuanwu's apathetic look, not impressed in the slightest. 

"Fellow swords...?" Lan Wangji mutters to himself, confused as he eyed Bichen and the other weapons that were placed on the floor. 

"Continue what you're saying, A-Ying. What do you mean by guardian angel?" Cale asks with a smile, as if he wasn't imagining on strangling the former God in his mind. 

"You know, back when Madam Yu punished me. I thought I was dreaming that time but he showed himself when I was unconscious, with weird clothes and shorter hair." Wei Ying explains word per word, making Xiao Wang's face touch the floor of the wharf already. 

Xuanwu is now amused at the former God's misery. 

"Go on, continue." Cale smiles while he went near Xiao Wang with a scary grin. 

"He asked me if I believe and reincarnation." 

Cale feels like he know where this is going. 

"Of course we do. It's literally written in textbooks." Jiang Cheng says in a matter of fact tone. 

"Cheng Cheng is right, so I answered him yes."

Cale sighs, "And?" 

Before Wei Ying could answer, Xiao Wang jumped and spoke in a loud voice. 

"Master, oh my dear Master! I am humiliated! Degraded as that fake sun tried to strip me!" 

The four of them went silent for a while before Lan Wangji sharply muttered to himself as Wei Ying laughed at him, "Shameless!" 

"What bullcrap are you talking about now?!" Cale asks, trying his best to not drown the former God in the river.

- I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! 

- Huh, to think that the God of Death would apologize like this to Cale. 

- It's amusing enough. 

"That bastard Wen Chao tried to unsheathe me! He almost burned the other swords too out of spite!"

Cale could feel his head ache at Xiao Wang.

"Wait, so this man really is your sword? Xiao Wang?" Jiang Cheng asks, since a sword altering its appearance is practically impossible.

"Unfortunately." The redhead sighs.

"Hey! Why would you say it's unfortunate! I'm such a loyal subordinate...or sword of the famed Genius of Yunmeng!"

Cale's state became sharp in an instant as Xuanwu just huffs.

- You just won't stop pissing the Young Master, aren't you.

"Who...?!" Xiao Wang looks around for a while before seeing the giant turtle looking at him with a passive look.

Before Xiao Wang could yell profanities, Sect Leader Jiang, Madam Yu, and Qingheng-jun appeared at the entrance of the wharf.

"You're back. We heard you got trapped in a cave with the Xuanwu of Slaughter." Sect Leader Jiang asks worriedly, gushing around the three to check if there's any injuries.

Said Xuanwu Of Slaughter swam around Yunmeng Jiang's river, exploring his new habitat. 

"Word sure travel fast." Cale grumbles, tired at the whole ordeal.

"Uncle Jiang! Gege was shot by a poisoned arrow!" Wei Ying informs, since he didn't know the redhead was already healed by the time he went unconscious.

Jiang Fengmian gasped. 

Cale almost want to run away at the sharp gazes that were sent to him.

"Oh yeah? You got a Qishan Wen seal burned on your chest and damaged your meridians!" Hiang Cheng then retorts back, defending the redhead which Cale found it amiable.

Sect Leader Jiang gasped again.

Before everything escalates to Jiang Fengmian berating the Wei brothers once again, Qingheng-jun spoke. 

"Most of all, may I ask who is this gentleman?" Qingheng-jun asks, and he wanted to know which of them took this man home(hopefully not the two Weis, they're already married to his sons, thank you very much).

"I go by the name Xiao Wang that Master Wei had bestowed me." The white-haired man bows in a noble manner, making Cale sigh in exasperation. 

"Xiao Wang?" Madam Yu asks, "Did you really name him after your sword?" 

Cale felt wronged at that statement. 

"It is his sword." Lan Wangji says before picking Bichen and Suibian, giving the other sword to Wei Ying. 

Jiang Cheng's face just scrunched in disgust at the sight of Lan Wangji and Wei Ying before calling his sword to him. 

"What?" 

"Huh?" 

"Hmm, interesting." 

Before Madam Yu and Sect Leader Jiang could further ask, an islet appeared in the middle of the river. 

Xuanwu howls, happy at the abundant food(water ghouls) in the river as he munched on some. 

Sect Leader Jiang could feel his nape throb, his blood pressure rising as Madam Yu helped him stand up straight. 

"What the hell is that?!" Jiang Fengmian yells, and Cale could just snort at how similar the Sect Leader and Jiang Cheng is when they're getting caught off guard. 

"It's our new pet!" Wei Ying says, happy to share the information to the older people. 

Qingheng-jun blinks for a while before speaking, "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised with your term of pets."

Pets are supposed to be small and cute, not a turtle with a big ass rock islet as the shell and feeds on resentful energy. 

Chapter Text

"Safe travels on your way back to Gusu, Sect Leader Lan."

Bowing, Cale had sent his regards to Qingheng-Jun who was boarding a boat to Gusu.

Lan Xichen had already went back to Cloud Recesses to help Lan Qiren rebuilt their place. 

The redhead offered him a teleportation talisman in order for the Sect Leader to go back to his clan in a faster way, but Qingheng-Jun wanted to see many sights on his travel considering he was in seclusion for many years.

"Take care of Lotus Pier for a while, A-Xun." Sect Leader Jiang says.

He offered to guide Qingheng-Jun to his travels, as he have another business some place else to take care of.

"Why would I be the one to govern Lotus Pier while you're gone? Madam Yu can take care of it herself." Cale says, shivering at the amount of paperworks Sect Leader Jiang have on his table.

Sect Leader Jiang just shrugs before patting the redhead and boarded the boat.

Cale stood at the port for a while as he watched the boat get little by little at a distance.

"Gege, can we ride Xuanwu on our way back?" Xue Yang who was latching on his waist, asks.

"Alright." Cale agrees, since he's too tired to walk back.

Mounting Xuanwu's already smoothen islet(thanks to Madam Yu's hygienic care for the turtle), the two set sail through the rivers of Yunmeng Jiang.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

It has been three days since Jiang Fengmian left the Lotus Pier, and Cale sending Xuanwu to him to make sure that everything is alright.

And now, he's having dinner with Madam Yu and his siblings. Xue Yang snoring away in his room after a long day of training.

He listens to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng bickering, while Madam Yu just huffs from time to time when the two said something funny. Jiang Yanli talks with her mother too, ganging up to the two boys as they both whined.

Cale just listened to them, a small smile in his face as he munched the meat he's eating.

The redhead sometimes wonder, what would it be like if he didn't reincarnated in this world. Would the scene in front of him would be different? Or would it be the same? Cale have no way of knowing, so he just let himself bask in the present.

The redhead looks at the book situated beside his plate before looking at the four, a voice reverberating in his head.

- Interesting.

It was the young Jour Thames' voice.

Before Cale could ponder and ask what is interesting, the redhead could feel a surging headache as he choked on his food, his chest aching at the same time.

"A-Xun?" Cale could hear Madam Yu asks as her hand snaked around his shoulders to guide him.

"Gege!"

"A-Niang, what's wrong?"

"Gege! Where does it hurt?"

It wasn't that Cale couldn't hear them, he just couldn't focus because of the pain.

"I pray that somewhere, in another timeline or world, you would continue to exist."

Memories he couldn't remember appeared, his heart continued to ache.

It wasn't long before Cale realized that what he's feeling is longing.

"I'd rather not, hyung-nim. I'm already quite contented in my second life."

 

"Aigoo, you bastard really have way with your words."

 

"And after all, how can I live another life without you, the sun of Rowoon Kingdom and the one who lit up my darkest nights?"

Cale could feel his chest constrict at that memory.

"Pfft, I'll let it pass since you look like you're about to cringe from your words."

 

"Urgh."

 

The next memory caught Cale off guard.

Alver leans in towards the redhead, giving a small peck to Cale's forehead as he leans in to the soft lips in his head.

Alver Crossman was someone Cale had romantically loved in his previous life.

Why did he forget such important thing?

Before Cale could continue pondering, the doors opened as Wang Lingjiao strode in like she owned the place.

"Oh, everyone is here. Bring him out." The woman says, twirling her hair.

One of the Yunmeng disciples was then shoved to the floor, and it surprised Cale to see who it was.

"Xue Yang?!" Cale exclaims, trying to stand up before failing, the lingering pain still present as Jiang Yanli kept him in place.

As far as the redhead knows, Xue Yang should be sleeping in his quarters, not tied up and bruised in front of them.

"...Gege."

As if a fuse was blown, Cale glares at Wang Lingjiao who was busy snickering to herself.

"Madam Yu! It seems that you've been hiding evil intentions!" 

Bullshit. 

"Evil intentions?" Madam Yu asked, doing her best to hold her anger in. 

"What evil intentions would Xue Yang hide?" Jiang Cheng asks coldly, slowly inching closer to the child. 

"That brat may be a devil spawn, but he wouldn't hide evil intention or what bullcrap you're calling it." Wei Ying sneers, joining Jiang Cheng in checking Xue Yang if he's gravely injured. 

"Say what you want, but I have all the evidence right here." Wang Lingjiao says, ordering a Wen disciple to show a target mark. 

"I caught that brat in the training fields practicing his archery skills."

Xue Yang just looks down, making Cale grit his teeth. 

"Raise your head, Xue Yang. You did nothing wrong." Wei Ying says who was now beside him. 

Cale agrees with his younger brother's statement. 

They all looked at the archery target, noticing that there's nothing wrong. 

"What does this target resemble? A sun! To shoot such target is an act to dishonor the Qishan Wen!" 

Funnily enough, Cale started to laugh boisterously, as if mocking. 

"Why are you laughing?!" Wang Lingjiao shrieks. 

Cale's reddish-brown eyes turned sharp, "If I want to dishonor the Qishan Wen, I would burn them to ashes rather than hitting a damn target that resembles the sun."

At the same time, Wang Lingjiao's hair was pulled back as the woman screams in agony. 

Xiao Wang looked down at the woman who have tears welling on her eyes, the Wen disciples who was with her lay unconscious on the floor. 

"What should I do with her?" 

This time, Cale stood up perfectly, the pain long gone. 

Just as he thought he could remember the gaps in his memory, the Wens decided to attack them.

"You are quite bold to roam around my home and beating one of Yunmeng's disciple. Maybe Wen Chao would be pissed if I kill you as a revenge?"

Cale chuckles in a sinister manner, his right hand was covered with rose-gold lightning.

- Burn this woman to crisp!

Just before Cale could incinerate Wang Lingjiao, Madam Yu intervened and slapped the woman straight to her face.

That action caught Cale off guard, but he was glad nonetheless.

"Don't kill her yet, she'll make a good hostage." Madam Yu says, wiping her hand with a handkerchief and threw it away.

The redhead stares for a while before sighing, finishing his calculation in his head and deactivated his ancient power.

"Evacuate the children and elderly first, hide them in the basement at the southeast of Lotus Pier."

Madam Yu looks at Jinzhu and Yinzhu who both nodded, running out to follow the redhead's orders. 

"Join them, shijie. Apply first aids to those who are injured just in case."

Jiang Yanli easily follows him. 

Cale kneels down to take a look at Xue Yang who was slowly healing thanks to Jiang Cheng who was passing some of his spiritual energy to the child.

It surprised the redhead to say the least, but he quite know that Jiang Cheng would learn it sooner or later whether he liked it or not.

"Call the disciples I taught and ready the ballistae and catapults."

Wei Ying nods, since that part was his to take.

Cale looked at the mother and son, fishing out an enhanced communication talisman and connected it to his ear.

His voice was then heard by everyone in Lotus Pier.

"Mirror, sword, and shield. Follow my orders if you want to live another day."

Cale looks outside, the sky slowly turning red as Xiao Wang went beside him.

A purple dome then slowly enveloped the entire Lotus Pier, as the long ranged weapons aimed at a certain direction.

"Let them think that we're losing, so that they'll come to our territory." 

The mirror, a mirage that the sun would want to see. The swords, their offense. 

"After this day, the entire cultivation world will go into war with Qishan Wen. We are just the beginning."

The shield, the one who will protect Yunmeng Jiang.

- It's time to work again.

"The shield will never break."

Chapter Text

Jiang Fengmian looks at the moon up in the sky, the night breeze ushered to his face in a comforting manner.

Xuanwu rumbles below the boat, its golden eyes peeking at the Sect Leader every now and then.

Sect Leader Jiang leans in over the ledge, looking at Xuanwu with a tired face.

"Let's go home, Xuanwu."

The beast happily complies, swimming ahead of the boat to clear any water ghouls wandering the river.

Minutes later, a purple beam shot up to the sky as Jiang Fengmian takes a closer look.

Xuanwu howls, sensing other boats to warn the Sect Leader.

"Turn off all the lights!" Jiang Fengmian orders, the entire boat going dark as soon as he said that.

Looking from afar, he could see the flag of Qishan Wen in one of the boats.

Sect Leader Jiang's eyes squinted before looking down at Xuanwu who was waiting for his words.

What a smart beast, just like its owner.

Jiang Fengmian placed a finger on his lips, shushing as he looks at Lotus Pier with its shield activated.

At the same time, Xuanwu dives in to the deepest parts of Yunmeng Jiang's river.

The vessel and the beast approached Lotus Pier as silent as possible.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"Shijie, are you and the others safe?" Cale asks as he pressed his temples, his red hair flowing with every move of the wind.

"We're fine, A-Xun. How is the situation?" Jiang Yanli asks in his head.

Madam Yu then answers, "I'm currently fighting Wen Zhuliu at the northern part!" 

Cale clicks his tongue in annoyance, ruffling his hair as he sighs. 

"Make sure that he never touches you or I'll snap his hands in two the moment I see him." The redhead ominously says, looking down at the boats that was parked in front of Lotus Pier's docks. 

Cale raised his right hand before slamming it down, a rose-gold thunder striked one of Qishan Wen's boats. 

At the same time, ballistae and catapults were swung, further damaging Wen Chao's troops. 

The redhead grinned to himself as he wiped the blood off of his lips, a crazy look etched in his face. 

"Calm down, Cale." Xiao Wang, who was beside him, warns. 

The golden core and his ancient powers are clashing again. 

"I'm fine." Cale says, which made the former God frown to himself. 

Just then, arrows that were lit up in fire started raining down to the purple shield, creating cracks as the redhead clicked his tongue once again. 

"Jiang Cheng, what is the status of the shield?" Cale asks, coiling his fist before opening it again, checking. 

"If this continues, the shield will break, leaving us defenseless." The younger says, gritting his teeth as cold sweat started to trickle down to his head. 

He was the one who was tasked to govern their defense after all. 

"Hold on a bit more, just two minutes will suffice."

Just a little bit. 

That will be enough time for their reconnaissance to come.

Let the enemy think that they're winning, let them think that Yunmeng Jiang is doing its best yet it wasn't still enough.

The moment they let their guards down, they will smack them from behind.

"Shijie, ready a teleportation talisman to Gusu. Xue Yang needs immediate care."

Cale couldn't heal the child at such situation. Even though he's a bit guilty, he needs to reserve his energy just in case something wrong happens. 

It wasn't even a whole two minutes when the informant appeared, Cale looking at him from behind.

"G-gege."

Cale turns around, his reddish-brown eyes calculating as he kneels in front of him.

"Wen Ning." The redhead utters, waiting for the boy to speak.

Cale successfully managed to plant a mole amidst the Qishan Wen's troops. 

Wen Ning gulps at first before looking at Cale's eyes, visibly relaxing when he sees the confident look from the latter.

"Qing-jie is back at Qishan, evacuating those who are against W-Wen Ruohan's ruling just l-like you said. W-Wen Chao is frantic back in the b-boat, but he thinks Yunmeng Jiang Sect is losing just like you had predicted."

Good, everything is going well like his plan.

"Go back now before they notice. Remember, nothing happened here." Cale says as he grabs the unconscious Wang Lingjiao by the hair, dragging her by the edge of the tower. 

Xiao Wang was the one who sent Wen Ning back safely. 

Just then, the purple shield broke. The beam at the center flickering before it disappeared.

"Rest, you did good. Leave the rest to the adults." Cale says to Jiang Cheng before deactivating his communication talisman.

Without the shield, Wen Chao's men charged at Lotus Pier without hesitation.

Madam Yu and Wen Zhuliu then appears, Zidian flickering its violet color as the Core Melting Hand tried to reach her.

Cale then activates a talisman that makes his voice loud enough for everyone to hear as he spoke.

"Take one more step and this girl will have her neck wrung that you won't be able to twist it back."

Just then, Wen Chao looks up in horror that Cale basks in such emotion he's receiving from the latter.

"You bastard! Let go of her this instant!" Wen Chao bellows, his entire face going red in anger.

Cale then leans Wang Lingjiao more to the ledge, earning a scream from Wen Chao as the redhead smiles, "I'll let her go if that's what you want."

The fingers around Wang Lingjiao's hair slowly let go, her unconscious body slowly falling down from the tower.

"Stop! Don't let her go!"

Cale quirks an eyebrow up, coiling his fist once again to the girls hair, "You should only choose if I hold on or let go, fucking bastard."

Wei Ying couldn't help but huff, masking his laugh with a cough.

Just then, Xiao Wang appears with Wen Xu in chokehold.

Ah really, hostage situation really is the best.

"Hey Wen Chao! Look who else I got!"

The look in Wen Chao's face was enough to make Cale laugh like a psychopath.

Revealing Wen Xu all battered up with his wounds slowly rotting and festering, Cale made sure that Wen Chao would think twice before attacking Yunmeng Jiang Sect.

"Now, do you want to negotiate?" Cale says, giving a toothy grin.

Wen Chao scowls as he looks at Wen Zhuliu, which the latter just bowed before attacking Madam Yu again.

Thankfully, Yu Ziyuan have her guard raised as she deflected Wen Zhuliu.

"That's a no then."

Just then, the archers aimed towards to where Cale is.

The redhead just sighs before swishing his hand, the wind knocking the arrows out of their trajectory.

He then wakes up Wang Lingjiao as he pulled her hair again.

"Look at the Young Master you're so proud of, abandoning you since you no longer interest him."

Before Wang Lingjiao could utter a word, her neck was wrung as Cale let go of her.

Her lifeless body fell to the ground with a splat.

Wen Chao let out a horrified scream.

Cale held Wen Xu next, his eyebrows furrowing as he looks at Xiao Wang.

"This bastard is already dead?" The redhead says, slapping Wen Xu's face.

"And who's fault do you think is that? You left him to rot in the prison after all." Xiao Wang says. 

Cale tilts his head innocently, "Is that so. What a pity then."

He then throws Wen Xu's body to the ground where Wang Lingjiao's body is.

Wen Chao could only stare, as Cale smiles at him like he did nothing wrong.

"Go help Madam Yu first, and see if we can beat Wen Zhuliu to obedience." Cale orders, which Xiao Wang just sighs before flying towards where Yu Ziyuan is. 

If the core melting hand sides with them, he'll melt Wen Chao's core first then Wen Ruohan's.

The fight had started once again, Wei Ying killing those who try to attack Madam Yu from behind. 

There was then a distinct howl, the boats that were anchored were ruined as Xuanwu bites into one of the vessels.

Cale hums, already praising the turtle in his mind.

At some point, Cale could hear Wen Chao laugh in insanity. His eyes red as he glares at the redhead with scorn.

"Did you really think Wen Zhuliu is the only card that I have up in my sleeve?"

That statement alone was enough to make Cale's spine shiver, so he activated the Silver Shield around the pier in retaliation.

The silver dome glowed after Jiang Fengmian and the rest of Yunmeng Jiang's elders entered Lotus Pier.

Cale could see a shadow pass beside him as if it was mocking him, or to see if he was easy enough to be killed.

Jiang Cheng enters the battle, Sandu in his hands as he killed all those who tried to run to where the redhead is.

"Kill that bastard and bring his dead body to me!" Wen Chao bellows.

A figure suddenly appears in front of Cale that he have no time to block the attack. 

Looking down, a white spear was impaled to where the redhead's heart is. 

He then eyes the man in front of him, his breath hitching before slowly going labored as he tried to speak. 

Cale could feel various emotions overwhelming him. 

Pain. Grief. Confusion.

His ears constantly rings, the pain in his chest continued to ache.

"Gege!" A hoarse voice bellows, making Cale look at Wei Ying for a short while before looking in front of him again.

His reddish-brown eyes continued to shake as he stared against the blue ones, the mouthful of a blood continued to rise from his throat making him choke. 

There were tears gathering in his eyes, whether from pain or disbelief, he didn't know. 

He tried, he tried to reach the man's face...to see if it was real and he wasn't hallucinating. 

His cold fingers touched the latter's cheeks. 

Then, he uttered a word he never thought he'd get to say again.

"Hyung...nim...?"

Chapter Text

"Who are you?"

Alver stares at him with no recognition evident in his eyes, making Cale shudder in disbelief.

The blonde further pushed the spear on the redhead's chest, making Cale cough the blood again as tears fell down.

It hurts.

"How do you know that language?"

Everything hurts. 

Cale wants to scream, but all he could do was let out several pained gasps as he held on.

He gripped Taerang albeit weakly, gritting his teeth before pulling the spear to him.

"Your Highness Alver Crossman. How the hell are you here?"

There's no point for Cale to introduce himself when Alver couldn't even recognize him anymore.

"Youㅡ!"

"The crown prince I know doesn't follow someone's orders by killing people. The crown prince I know! The crown prince that I knew, wouldn't aim his spear to someone who didn't do anything wrong!"

'Hyung-nim...' Cale wants to cry out, but he buried such emotions deep inside.

"Was it blackmailing? Does Wen Ruohan have something that you need?!"

Alver grits his teeth, overwhelmed by the words that are coming from the redhead.

"Shut up! You don't know anything! How would you know me when I don't even know you!"

Cale let out a scream, the pain in his chest becoming worse the more Taerang stays pierced.

"Gege!" Jiang Cheng screams, his eyes red like he was crying. 

Both of his younger brothers ran towards the two of them, but Cale simply reactivated the Silver Shield around him and Alver. 

They were going to kill Alver, who was slowly killing Cale. 

"My Lady!" 

Cale's reddish-brown eyes shook as he looked down despite his eyesight going blurry. 

How did everything fell apart in just a minute? 

"A-Niang!" 

Madam Yu fell to the ground with a thud, Zidian flickering before its light went out. 

Wen Zhuliu retracts his hand, looking apathetically at the sight before him. 

He successfully melted Yu Ziyuan's core. 

Just as Wen Zhuliu was about to attack Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng, Xiao Wang intervened as he activated a teleportation talisman, sending the two out of the burning Lotus Pier. 

Cale just smiles weakly, his lips wobbling as he let out another shuddered sigh. 

Alver stares at the redhead in front of him, his chest aching unknowingly as he let out a gasp. 

The blonde was unaware on how his hold over his spear started loosening, his rationality and need fighting over. 

"Is It because you need to go back?" 

That statement alone was enough for Alver to let his rationality win. 

"I want to go home."

Once upon time, Cale had wanted that to. To go back home where his children are, to where his people are. 

But as the years pass by, that hope of his started dimming. Like a candlelight that had lost its wax. 

"Then I'll send you home."

Looking at Alver who was now crying, Cale's focus started to go haywire. 

This, perhaps was the first time Cale had seen Alver so vulnerable that he simply wants to hug him despite the spear in his chest. 

Yet he still did. He did hugged him before his consciousness came lost, blurting his thoughts without regard. 

"You...are fated to be in your kingdom where you should be ruling...not in this world...that you don't know..."

As Cale let himself fall, Alver followed him like a drawn moth to a flame. 

The two of them started descending from the tower of Lotus Pier, Alver looked at the pale redhead who have his eyes closed. 

Just as the blonde could see the river, he switched their positions to let him be the one to meet the cold water of Lotus Pier. 

He hugged the redhead in his arms like there's no tomorrow, Taerang dissappearing to thin air. 

"Wei Xun!"

Looking at the Sect Leader of Yunmeng Jiang who tried to reach for the redhead albeit holding his unconscious wife still, Alver stares for a while before closing his eyes, bracing for the impact of their fall. 

They both plunged in the dark abysmal river, the only light to guide the blonde was the Lotus Pier that was slowly burning to ashes.

"A-Xun!"

Even in the river where no sound should be able to penetrate, Alver could still hear the worried voices and sound of swords clashing together on the surface.

From afar, Alver could see bubbles erupting. A white-haired man clad in gray hanfu was swimming towards them.

The blonde summoned Taerang once again and transformed it into a gun, aiming the weapon to where the man is.

- Alver Crossman.

The said man visibly flinched, furrowing his eyebrows as he glared at the man. 

Xiao Wang flicks his hand, a bubble filled with oxygen appeared around Alver and Cale's head to let them breath underwater. 

- I have a favor to ask. 

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Jiang Fengmian continues to evade every attacks that are coming from all directions, his weight much heavier due to his wife laying unconscious in his arms. 

He let out a shaky breath, the pain and fatigue wearing out his adrenaline as he kneels. 

He watches Lotus Pier, his home get burned to nothing by those who call themselves a righteous Sect. 

If this was the case of Qishan Wen's way of unifying the Cultivation World, Jiang Fengmian would rather get called a rebel than join such frivolous acts. 

"You should give up and submit to our Clan, Sect Leader Jiang." Wen Chao utters, his eyes empty considering he had just lost his lover and his brother. 

If he was capable of loving someone, then he should also know the feeling of losing someone because of his destructive nature. 

Jiang Fengmian grits his teeth, hugging his wife closer to his embrace. 

"Yunmeng Jiang will never bow down to the likes of you."

Xuanwu howls, as if agreeing to the Sect Leader's statement as it continued to rampage. 

"Suit yourself." Wen Chao says, looking at Wen Zhuliu. 

Before the said man could melt Sect Leader Jiang's core, someone else intervened. 

His gray hanfu fluttered against the wind, his white hair darting to the direction of the wind. 

Xiao Wang pushed Wen Zhuliu away before fishing out a talisman from his sleeve, activating it before slapping the incantations against Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. 

He successfully teleported the two of them away to Gusu, their safety bringing a relieved sigh from the former God. 

"It's you." Wen Chao utters, remembering how the sword transformed into a man the moment he was about to unsheathe it. 

Xiao Wang just chuckles darkly, "Why? Do you still covet me?" 

Such scandalous words for a bastard like him. 

Surprisingly, Wen Chao laughs. 

"I still do. But if I can't have you, then it's better for you to die instead."

Funnily enough, Xiao Wang who was the former God of Death, wanted such demise since he already lived for many eons. 

But that was a long ago. 

Looking at the present he have now, he just simply swallowed the blood in mouth before grinning. 

"I would like that too but I still need to do something, so goodbye for now."

Xiao Wang dissappeared into thin air, Xuanwu howling before swimming away from the Lotus Pier like it was instructed to. 

As the former God reappears into one of Cloud Recesses' pavilion, he was greeted by many swords aimed at him, particularly Shuoyue. 

"I'm an ally, Zewu-Jun." He says, not managing to stop a trickle of blood in his lips. 

"Xiao Wang!" Sect Leader Jiang calls, Madam Yu laying into one of the beds while a Lan Elder was checking her vitals. 

There was clamor around them, the infamous Xiao Wang of Wei Xun was in front of them in a human figure. 

"Where are they?" 

Xiao Wang understands such emotions from a human, considering he watched them live and die for many millennia. 

"Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying are in the outskirts, I meant to send them here but uttered the wrong incantations."

Xiao Wang feels like he's already growing old by how many times he's already slipping from his prime. 

"What about Wei Xun?! Goddammit where is he?!" Jiang Fengmian yells as he grabbed the former God's collar, in which Xiao Wang just smiles in the irony. 

"I would love to know that too, Sect Leader Jiang."

Xiao Wang could feel his fingers twitch, the energy he's using to stay in his current form is slowly going out. 

"How wouldn't you know?! He was stabbed! Xiao Wang!" 

He wouldn't know because he no longer governs the realm of eternal rest. He won't ever know how many died and lived every second passing by since he have no more power to do so. 

He was not the God of Death anymore. He's just Xiao Wang now, someone who accompanies the human he adores and felt guilty to. 

"Stabbed? What do you mean stabbed?" Lan Xichen asks, starting to get agitated as he lowers his blade that was soon followed by everyone else. 

Xiao Wang looks at Lan Xichen before slowly closing his eyes, the energy slipping out of him. 

"You're the third one..."

The next time everyone blinks, the once human being turned into a glistening sword, its gray and black marks shimmering under the light of the moon. 

Jiang Fengmian held the sword with his trembling hands, dreading when couldn't feel anything around it.

Spiritual weapons are supposed to be full of the owner's spiritual energy, unless the owner died.

The Sect Leader could feel tears gather in his eyes. He gasped, and gasped again until it became harder to breathe.

He let it fall, yet he didn't accept the possible fact of Wei Xun's situation.

"Jiangshuai(1)-zun will return. I'll make sure of it." Jiang Fengmian utters as he grits his teeth.

The moment he finds Wei Xun, he'll erase Wen Ruohan from the face of the world.

Chapter Text

The sound of bells echoed throughout every corners of the bustling city, citizens talking to themselves as children laughed amongst themselves.

It was quite common, since it's a coronation for the next king.

Their prince will become a king the moment he takes the oath, festivals will erupt and lanterns will light up the night sky.

Such joyous occasion befitting for the sun of Rowoon Kingdom.

Alver smiled to himself as he checked his reflection through the mirror, Choi Han nodding behind him as the coronation clothes really suit the blonde.

The doors to his room then opened, revealing Cale with a scowling face but donning the most formal clothes he ever wore ever since he transmigrated.

"You owe me a gold plaque for this, hyung-nim."

Alver sighs in exasperation, stopping himself from ruffling his hair and possibly ruin the hard work of his aunt.

"At this point, you'll be more rich than the king."

Cale shrugs, actually liking such idea.

"So what? You're going to be the king, the one who will rule the Rowoon Kingdom."

Choi Han just chuckles before bowing, "I'll excuse myself for a while, I will tend to Raon-nim."

It was the swordsman's way of saying that he'll leave the two to themselves for a short while. 

"Aigoo, my dear dongsaeng is looking good for the first time."

Cale scoffs, inching closer to where the blonde is before speaking, "I always look good, hyung-nim."

Alver then huffs, finding it quite admirable that the bastard couldn't feel any embarrassment when he's being narcissistic.

But then again, he's also like that most of the times.

"I hope that everyday is my coronation, so that I'll see you wear such clothes that you find uncomfortable."

Truly, the most difficult clothes that were made look the most beautiful to someone like Cale Henituse.

His clothes were similar to his Commander suit, the only difference was the acanthus leaves that design the edges of the leaves and the very much excessive use of silken ropes around his chest.

And if you move away his coat, you can see a corset already hugging his tiny waist over his usual white blouse. 

"For all the things you have to wish for, you want it everyday to be your coronation? It's too tiring." Cale says, frowning.

"A man can only wish, dongsaeng." Alver says before closing his eyes, humming gleefully to himself before opening it again. 

The moment he did, he sees the redhead kneeling in front of him before his hand was held by the younger. 

"This citizen offers you my utmost devotion and loyalty to the future king of Rowoon Kingdom. May the Gods look over you and the people of this country."

Cale then pressed his lips against Alver's knuckles.

"This sworn brother of yours, offers you my faith and trust. I will do my best to give you my service whenever deemed necessary, unless I'm too lazy."

Alver laughs in disbelief before he felt Cale's lips brush over his knuckles once again.

"How many days did you practice your speech?" Alver teases, but he melts at the affection he's receiving.

Cale decides not to grace him an answer. But instead, he curled his fingers against the blonde's own and spoke.

"May this kingdom prosper, may you be happy, and long live the next King of Rowoon Kingdom." The redhead says before planting a final kiss to Alver's knuckles and stands up. 

Alver basks in the emotions he's currently feeling.

"Cale."

The redhead hums, stretching his legs since it became stiff from kneeling too much.

"What is it?"

Alver stares, before he pulled their intertwined hands and hugged the redhead.

"I pray that somewhere, in another timeline or world, you would continue to exist."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

"I'd rather not, hyung-nim. I'm already quite contented in my second life." The redhead says, returning the hug.

Alver laughs, making Cale feel the vibration from the blonde's chest as he buries his face on the latter's neck.

"Aigoo, you bastard really have way with your words."

It was Cale's turn to laugh.

"Like you're the one to talk, hyung-nim."

Alver just snorts, and Cale spoke again after several seconds.

"And after all, how can I live another life without you, the sun of Rowoon Kingdom and the one who lit up my darkest nights?"

Alver could feel how Cale started quivering, like he was embarrassed.

Indeed, he was.

"Pfft, I'll let it pass since you look like you're about to cringe from your words."

"Urgh."

Seeing how adorable his dongsaeng is, he cupped the redhead's cheeks as he squished it for a while. 

Alver then leans in towards the redhead, giving a small peck to Cale's forehead as the latter leans in to the soft lips in his head.

Such a warm and joyous atmosphere, if not only for Choi Han waltzing in the room with no knowledge of what's happening.

Cale and Alver broke free from each other, looking everything at the room as long as it's not Choi Han's judging look.

"I'll go to where Raon, Ohn and Hong are." Cale says, His eyes scanning around to search for an exit before bowing, "Then, goodbye."

Choi Han raised his eyebrows before looking at Alver like he just eloped with his daughter.

"Aigoo Instructor-nim, let's get you dressed for today's banquet." Alver says, his heart beating irregularly because of the swordsman.

As Cale opened a door and slumps in a nearest chair he found in his room, he fanned his face as he tried his best to calm his rapid beating heart.

Cale breathes in, before exhaling through a sigh.

Just as his heart was finally about to calm down, the doors were slammed opened as a weeping Raon barged in and zoomed towards to where Cale is, Ohn and Hong following suit with an uncomfortable air around them.

"Human! Is it true?!" Raon says, nuzzling his snout to Cale's coat.

'True? What is exactly?'

"That you love the cookie prince!"

Cale blinks dumbly, before letting out a smart, "Huh?" 

"Then what about me? You don't love me anymore?" 

Before Cale could ask what nonsense the black dragon is talking about, Raon continued to run his mouth without any intentions of stopping anytime soon. 

"Human! Stop! Please stop!"

The black dragon continued to weep in his arms. Confused, Cale just simply soothed the child and rubbed his scaly back.

"I don't deserve it! So stop...I can love you enough for both of us...human...Cale...I beg you..."

What's with everyone suddenly being dramatic, even including him?

"You can love the cookie prince, then I can love you for both of us!"

Cale felt something prick his eyes, making him tear up a little bit while holding back a laughter.

Since they are gonna be like this, Cale decides to be dramatic too, albeit his words contains verity.

"Raon, how can I not love you hmm? How can I not when you are my child?"

The redhead then wipes away the tears that fell to Raon's cheeks before continuing, "Everything will be all right."