Backlash Part 1

Chapter 63: Composing Talismans

'I don't think A-Ying knows how to take care of himself.' Wen Qing had told Lan Wangji that before. Only now was Lan Wangji realizing that he had not fully understood. In the context of the conversation he thought she met that Wei Wuxian neglected his emotional needs. Lan Wangji still believed this was true, but it was not the entirety. Wei Wuxian was not only someone who ignored his own emotional well being, he also ignored every other aspect of his well being.

For a little over three weeks Wei Wuxian had been completely engrossed in working on talismans. Lan Wangji was almost certain he had never seen Wei Wuxian work on something with so much enthusiasm. Lan Wangji had been completely enchanted. The chaos that spread around Wei Wuxian when he worked was like watching the brilliant energy of his mind spread around him into the real world. Watching him work was mesmerizing. Every brush stroke was sift, seeming haphazard and casual, yet the result was always beautiful and intricate.

Talismans were not something Lan Wangji had ever given a great deal of focus. There were standard talismans that every cultivator learned, and that was mostly the same between one sect and another. Sometimes a sect might have a few talismans that were different from another, but usually it was a case of using a different process to get the same result. New talismans were infrequent creations. Cultivators were usually more interested in perfecting sword techniques. Wards and boundaries were considered very important, but changes to them came slowly. Likely because it was more exciting to show a new sword technique or musical composition. It really wasn't a rule, or even a matter of importance, it was just the general popular opinion.

A prime example in Lan Wangji's mind was that GusuLan sect was known for cultivation through music. This was certainly an important feature of GusuLan sect and something they excelled in, but arguably the strength and intricacy of the spells woven into their uniforms was an equally impressive feat. GusuLan sect had specialized techniques for imbuing fabric with spells. Most sects did some of this, but none could achieve what GusuLan sect accomplished. Yet, Lan Wangji had never heard anyone ever speaking of this. Even within Cloud Recesses you wouldn't hear people talk about it much unless you happened by one of the classes teaching it, or needed to pass through the building where the disciples would work on this. It was considered a specialization within the sect, so disciples only started to learn it once they completed their general education.

The way Wei Wuxian's brilliant mind could manifest his ideas and thoughts. The way he worked to materialize them in the real world. Lan Wangji was completely enraptured in watching Wei Wuxian work. When Lan Wangji did manage to drag his attention away from what Wei Wuxian was working on, his attention was then captured by Wei Wuxian himself. The first time Lan Wangji saw it he forgot how to breathe. Wei Wuxian made faces.

The entire time Wei Wuxian worked he was in constant motion. Twisting in his seat, sporadically flopping onto the floor, and draping himself over his work space at odd angles that Lan Wangji could not understand. The entire time his facial expressions were just as active. His nose would scrunch up in adorable displeasure. His lip would jut out in an unhappy pout. His eyebrows would sporadically shoot up with inspiration. He'd chew on his bottom lip in thought. His mouth would move along making the shapes of words as he read or wrote something down. His tongue would stick out in concentration.

Lan Wangji could not get enough of it. It was a level of adorableness that Lan Wangji previously believed could not be achieved in the world of mortals. Except that Lan Wangi also realized that Wei Wuxian made noises while he worked. Humming in thought, groaning in annoyance, huffing in irritation, squealing in excitement. When he was particularly focused on a difficult process he would mutter under his breath, talking to what he was working on and scolding it to behave like it was a naughty pet. It was entirely too much for Lan Wangji's brain and he could be forgiven for spending the entire first day completely lost in observing the source of all joy in his life.