Mischief in Gusu

Chapter 1: The Whisper of Smoke

The morning mist settled gently over the Cloud Recesses, weaving through the serene landscape like a soft veil. Disciples moved about in their pristine white robes, tending to their duties with the quiet precision that defined the Gusu Lan Sect. Everything seemed as it always had—peaceful, orderly, and steeped in tradition. Yet, beneath the calm surface, something unusual was about to stir.

Lan Wangji, known for his unwavering stoicism, walked the familiar paths with his usual composed grace. Yet today, a peculiar feeling gnawed at him, a tug in his chest he could not ignore. He glanced over at Wei Wuxian, who was a few steps ahead, humming an old tune under his breath with a sly smile that promised mischief. Wei Wuxian had recently returned to the Cloud Recesses, and while his presence was now accepted, he still retained the playful irreverence that had always set him apart.

Wei Wuxian paused, his gaze lingering on a forgotten corner of the Cloud Recesses, one often shrouded in shadows and left unvisited. "Lan Zhan," he called, turning his head slightly, "have you ever wondered what’s hidden in places like that?" He pointed to a small, overgrown path that wound its way toward the secluded depths of the mountainside.

Lan Wangji followed his gaze. "There is nothing of value there," he replied, but his voice lacked conviction. Wei Wuxian's curiosity was infectious, and even Lan Wangji could not completely ignore the strange pull he felt.

Wei Wuxian grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Nothing of value, or nothing discovered yet?" He tilted his head playfully, the suggestion of an adventure already gleaming in his expression.

Lan Wangji hesitated, torn between his sense of duty and the silent allure of the unknown. He knew the stories—whispers of artifacts and old magics that lay dormant, untouched by time. The Lan Sect was meticulous in its maintenance of order, yet even here, there were secrets.

With a resigned sigh, Lan Wangji gave a small nod. Wei Wuxian's face lit up, and he grabbed Lan Wangji’s hand, pulling him toward the path with an eagerness that was almost childlike. Lan Wangji followed, his expression unreadable but his eyes watchful. They stepped carefully, the path narrowing and becoming more obscured by the thickening foliage. The air grew cooler, the silence deepening around them as if they were entering a place removed from the rest of the world.

As they ventured further, a strange, sweet scent began to permeate the air, faint at first but growing stronger with each step. Wei Wuxian’s pace slowed as the path opened into a small clearing, half-hidden by the overhanging branches of ancient trees. In the center stood an ornate incense burner, its design intricate and unfamiliar, unlike anything either of them had seen before in the Cloud Recesses.

Wei Wuxian approached it cautiously, his fingers hovering above the delicate carvings that adorned its surface. "This is no ordinary incense burner," he murmured, his voice filled with a mix of awe and suspicion. "The craftsmanship... it's old, very old. How could something like this be hidden here all this time?"

Lan Wangji examined the burner with a critical eye, noting the symbols etched into the metal—patterns that seemed to shift and shimmer in the dappled light. He felt a faint hum of spiritual energy, almost imperceptible, as if the object were alive with a dormant power. "This should not be here," Lan Wangji said softly, his brow furrowing. "It is not recorded in the sect’s archives."

Wei Wuxian’s fingers brushed lightly against the burner, and a sudden chill ran through him. He pulled his hand back, a flicker of unease crossing his face. "I’ve read about something like this," he said, his tone shifting to one of cautious excitement. "The Mysterious Incense Burner—it's said to manipulate time, illusions... even reality itself."

Lan Wangji’s expression darkened. "Dangerous. It should not be disturbed." Yet, even as he spoke, he couldn’t deny the strange magnetism of the object. A part of him was drawn to it, an inexplicable pull that whispered of hidden truths and ancient secrets.

Wei Wuxian, ever the curious soul, gave Lan Wangji a sidelong glance. "Come on, Lan Zhan. Don’t you want to know what it does?" He took a step closer, the incense burner’s allure growing stronger, a silent call that resonated deep within him.

"Wei Ying, no." Lan Wangji's voice was firm, but his gaze betrayed a flicker of doubt. It was not the first time Wei Wuxian had led him into unknown dangers, and while his instincts screamed caution, the bond they shared made him hesitate.

Wei Wuxian turned to face him fully, his smile softening. "A little peek won’t hurt. Besides, aren’t you just a bit curious?" He reached out once more, his fingers grazing the rim of the burner.

Before Lan Wangji could react, a sudden burst of light erupted from the burner, enveloping them both in a swirling mist. The air grew thick, and the sweet scent intensified, filling their senses with a heady, disorienting fog. They tried to step back, but the ground beneath them seemed to shift, the world tilting and spinning around them.

Lan Wangji reached for Wei Wuxian, but his vision blurred, the shapes and colors around them warping into a kaleidoscope of light. He felt a weightless sensation, as though they were being pulled through time and space, reality bending and folding in on itself.

And then, as abruptly as it had begun, the light vanished. The clearing was still once more, the incense burner silent and unchanged. But where two grown cultivators had stood moments before, there now lay two small, bewildered children, blinking up at the world with wide, confused eyes.

Wei Wuxian, now a tiny figure with chubby cheeks and wide gray eyes, looked around in surprise, while Lan Wangji, a miniature version of his stoic self, sat dazed beside him, the ribbon that usually graced his forehead now comically oversized.

The Mysterious Incense Burner, it seemed, had worked its magic in a way neither of them could have anticipated. As the fog of confusion lifted, one thing was clear: the Cloud Recesses were about to face a new kind of chaos, the likes of which it had never seen before.

And somewhere, in the shadow of the trees, the faint scent of incense lingered, as if chuckling softly at the mischief it had wrought.