Transcendent

Chapter VII: Return

Winter in Gusu was especially cold. At the Cloud Recesses sitting high on the mountain, snow would fall sooner compared to the rest of the region, enveloping the hundred years old establishment and its beautiful garden in a pure color of white. It had always been a quiet, tranquil place. Yet in this season, the Gusu Lan Sect's residence looked almost heavenly as if one could ascend by cultivating here through meditation alone.

Such was not the case with the water town of Caiyi and its neighboring areas, however. The streets remained bustling, boats passing on the partly frozen river, breaking through the thin layer of ice on the surface. People came and left, voices low and high buzzing through the air amidst the chilling weather.

A young child walked along the snow-covered street. Dressed in an elegant white robe embroidered with patterns of cloud, the visage of his small figure made even the most well-dressed passersby around him look pale in comparison. He was a dazzling little child; his jet black hair hiding his sect's distinguished forehead ribbon, the tail slightly flowing behind him with each small step he took. His skin was fair and his cheeks rosy; the tip of his tiny nose turning a little bit red from the cold.

There was a hint of happiness on his otherwise rigid, frozen expression. In his hand, he was carrying a rattle drum, a pretty little toy that his mother had just gifted to him. The child twisted and turned the trinket as he walked. The thumping sound it made was rhythmical and pleasant to his ears. This was his treasure - the boy thought, for it was a present from his beloved mother and one of the very few toys he possessed.

Yet his mind changed when his eyes inadvertently travelled to one corner of the street he was passing through.

A little tramp sat down all by himself at a narrow dead end; broken carts and tools were scattered carelessly around him, making the white snow on the ground look dull and filthy. In this cold weather that could freeze even a jar of Emperor's Smile, the tramp was dressed in rags that clearly did not provide any sort of warmth to his worn out body full of cuts and bruises. The two of them must be close of age, the child in white thought, and he wondered why nobody came to offer a helping hand to this boy.

The tramp was fully immersed in putting together a stack of straws in his hands, making three human-shaped dolls which he later placed on the ground. The child did not understand why that boy smiled upon casting his large, bright eyes on the puppets, only for an obvious disappointment and regret to cloud his otherwise sweet smile. And it was regrettable for him, too, who was watching by the sideline.

He wanted to see this boy truly smiling from the bottom of his heart.

The child quietly approached the dim dead end corner. At first, the little tramp did not notice his arrival but soon lifted his face upon seeing his shadow cast onto the three dolls of straw. Their eyes met at that moment, and the child in white thought he was a beautiful person - despite being covered in wounds and dressed in tattered clothes, the spheres in his eyes were clear and endearing, full with sparks of life and unrelenting spirit.

It was the first time the child encountered such a person, and then he held out his hand, giving him the rattle drum that is his treasure.

There was confusion pooling in the other's face. However, not long afterwards, a tint of rosy pink blossomed on the boy's pale, dirty cheeks. It was the brightest smile the child had ever seen in his entire life.

***

"Lanzhan!"

Peering into the other's face, Wei Wuxian smiled widely, a small giggle escaped his lips as he waved his hand in front of him. Lan Wangji blinked once and met his eyes. It looked as though his mind was elsewhere and only now had he regained focus.