The Child of Immortals

Chapter 7: An Unsolved Mystery Manifested From Past Reminders

It had been several days since Lan Wangji and Jin Rulan had left the town where they had first resided in. Their pace was leisurely. However, compared to the cozy and lively laughter of Wei Wuxian that would surround Lan Wangji whenever the couple travelled together, an awkward and tense silence instead hung in the air for a majority of his, first, journey alone with his quietest uncle.

Jin Rulan wasn't Wei Wuxian. Able to start a conversation anytime he wanted without fear of the repercussions. Including the fact that Lan Wangji's cold countenance and his somewhat strict personality was still frightening to the younger immortal. To most of the younger immortals. With the exception of Lan Sizhui.

A conversation with such a respectable person—someone as amazing and powerful as his Uncle Wei—it was impossible. But it was the first time he had gone so long without someone to converse with, and it was beginning to drive him insane.

If only Lan Sizhui was here or Lan Jingyi had finished all his tasks and was allowed to accompany him to the mortal world. But alas, he was alone.

The only company he formerly had, his short-tempered uncle, Jiang Wanyin, had decided it was a good idea to spar with Wei Wuxian and live him alone with the only immortal in the mountain that was the very definition of silence.

Jin Rulan sighed softly as his eyes scanned their surroundings. "I wonder where those idiots are."

"One idiot is near." Lan Wangji replied without turning his head to acknowledge that he had heard what Jin Rulan had whispered under his breath after his seemingly defeated sigh.

It was abrupt enough that it caused Jin Rulan to freeze and scream in surprise. "Ha-ha-ha-hanguang-Jun? You—You heard?"

Lan Wangji stopped walking and looked at him. "Mn." His brows furrowed slightly, but it was a change that was left unnoticed by the still flustered Jin Rulan who quickly attempted to calm himself after his outburst.

Jin Rulan placed a hand on his chest and took a deep breath in order to regain his composure. However, despite how he managed to calm his breathing and control his expression, he was still incredibly panicked on the inside—screaming and practically tearing his hair out due to frustration. Because after all these years, he really should have remembered, that despite how soft his voice was, nothing could escape the ears of his uncles anymore.

Especially if said uncle was a mere three steps away from him.

"I apologize for my sudden outburst, Hanguang-Jun. It won't happen again." His eyes were lowered as he saluted, focused on the soil that crunched under his feet as he shuffled uneasily due to embarrassment from what had just happened.

It was because Jin Rulan refused to look at Lan Wangji after the embarrassing event that he failed to notice the frown that had appeared on the usually stoic expression of the beautiful Lan. Usually, not normally, stoic expression—as he had begun to smile more often in the presence of his beloved wife.

When Lan Wangji still refused to utter a sound even after several minutes had passed, Jin Rulan finally grew curious enough that he raised his head slightly and saw the frown that had formed on Lan Wangji's lips. That made the panic that had begun to settle within his chest explode and rage within him once again. "Ha-Hanguang-Jun? Is something wrong? Why, why are you frowning?"

"...Uncle Lan."

Jin Rulan's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"

Lan Wangji pursed his lips. "I prefer it. Uncle Lan."

When Jin Rulan continued to seem clueless of what he meant, he sighed and looked away so his troubled expression wouldn't be seen by the younger immortal.