Mischief in Gusu

Chapter 14: Allies Arrive

The next morning dawned with an eerie quiet that blanketed the Cloud Recesses. The usual chirping of birds seemed muted, and even the wind that whispered through the trees carried a sense of foreboding. Wei Wuxian stood at the entrance to the main hall, watching as disciples bustled around him, preparing for the arrival of their allies. His mind was restless with thoughts of the darkness approaching.

He and Lan Wangji had spent the night reviewing their plans, but no amount of preparation seemed to alleviate the tension creeping into his bones. Today, the first wave of reinforcements would arrive—the Jiang clan and a few smaller sects had promised their aid. But even with their combined forces, Wei Wuxian couldn’t shake the feeling that they were still unprepared for what was coming.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji’s soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to find Lan Wangji standing beside him, his calm demeanor reassuring as ever. “You haven’t eaten anything this morning.”

Wei Wuxian waved him off, though he appreciated the concern. “I’ll be fine, Lan Zhan. Too much to do, no time for food.”

Lan Wangji’s brow furrowed slightly, the tiniest hint of disapproval flickering across his usually composed face. “You need your strength.”

“Alright, alright,” Wei Wuxian relented, a small grin tugging at his lips. “I’ll grab something after we welcome our guests. Happy?”

Lan Wangji gave a single nod, his version of a victory.

The sound of hooves clattering against stone echoed through the courtyard, and the disciples rushed to the gates, eager to greet the arriving forces. Wei Wuxian felt a pang of nostalgia as he saw the familiar banner of the Jiang clan fluttering in the distance. He hadn’t seen Jiang Cheng in person for a while, though they’d exchanged messages frequently in recent days.

As the riders approached, Wei Wuxian straightened up, his gaze locking onto Jiang Cheng, who led the group with his usual commanding presence. Beside him was Jiang Yanli, her gentle smile visible even from a distance, and behind them rode several dozen disciples of the Jiang clan, their faces set with determination.

Jiang Cheng dismounted gracefully, his gaze sweeping the courtyard before it landed on Wei Wuxian. There was a brief moment of silence as the two brothers regarded each other, the tension of their past disagreements hanging between them like an unspoken weight.

“Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng said, his tone neutral but edged with something deeper. “We’ve come, as promised.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, taking a step forward to greet him. “Jiang Cheng. It’s good to see you.”

Jiang Cheng gave a curt nod, though his eyes softened just slightly. “Let’s not waste time with pleasantries. We have work to do.”

Wei Wuxian chuckled under his breath, recognizing the familiar gruffness of his brother. “Straight to business, as always.”

Jiang Yanli, ever the mediator, stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Wei Wuxian’s arm. “A-Xian, it’s been too long. I hope you’ve been taking care of yourself.” Her soft voice was like a balm to his frayed nerves.

Wei Wuxian smiled warmly at her. “A-Jie, you’re too kind. I’ve been doing alright, though I’m sure Lan Zhan here would argue that I haven’t been eating enough.”

Lan Wangji, who had been standing silently beside Wei Wuxian, gave a small, approving nod at Jiang Yanli’s words, as if in agreement with her concerns.

As more sects began to arrive, the courtyard filled with the clamor of voices and movement. The Nie clan, led by Nie Huaisang, was the next to enter, their sect members dressed in their traditional warrior attire. Despite Nie Huaisang’s usual laid-back attitude, his expression was unusually serious, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

“Brother Wei, Brother Lan,” Nie Huaisang greeted, giving a small bow. “I’ve brought as many of our best cultivators as I could spare.”

Wei Wuxian nodded in appreciation. “Thank you, Nie Huaisang. We’ll need every bit of strength we can muster.”

As the day wore on, representatives from several smaller sects arrived, each pledging their support in the battle to come. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji spent the afternoon meeting with the leaders of these clans, discussing strategies and coordinating their efforts.

Despite the steady influx of allies, Wei Wuxian couldn’t shake the feeling of unease growing within him. The more they prepared, the closer the darkness seemed to loom. Each report of strange happenings from the outer regions—villages plagued by shadowy figures, cultivators going missing—only heightened his sense of dread.

By late afternoon, the gathered sects had settled into the Cloud Recesses, setting up camps and organizing their forces. Wei Wuxian found a moment to slip away from the crowd, seeking a quiet spot near the lake at the edge of the compound. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of lotus flowers that reminded him of home.

Lan Wangji joined him moments later, his footsteps silent as always. He stood beside Wei Wuxian, gazing out over the still water. For a while, neither of them spoke, the quiet between them comfortable, familiar.

“I can feel it,” Wei Wuxian murmured, breaking the silence. “The darkness. It’s getting closer.”

Lan Wangji glanced at him, his expression unreadable but his eyes filled with understanding. “We will face it together.”

Wei Wuxian smiled softly, feeling the warmth of Lan Wangji’s presence ease some of the tension coiled in his chest. “I know. But I can’t help worrying. This time, it feels different.”

Lan Wangji didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment, he said, “You have always found a way. No matter how dark it seemed.”

Wei Wuxian looked at him, his heart swelling with affection. “And you’ve always been there to help me through it. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji’s gaze softened, and for a brief moment, Wei Wuxian thought he saw the flicker of a smile. “You will never have to find out.”

They stood in silence for a few more moments before Wei Wuxian finally spoke, his voice lighter. “Come on, let’s go back before the juniors think we’ve run off to avoid more work.”

Lan Wangji nodded, and together they made their way back toward the main hall, side by side.

As the evening descended, the sect leaders gathered once more to finalize their plans. The courtyard, now lit by lanterns, buzzed with activity as disciples moved between the camps. Wei Wuxian noticed how, despite the gravity of the situation, there was a sense of camaraderie among the cultivators. Old friends reunited, new alliances formed, and through it all, a spirit of hope flickered in the faces of those preparing for battle.

By the time the meeting concluded, the strategy was clear: they would defend the Cloud Recesses with everything they had, while sending small scouting teams to gather more information on the approaching darkness. The juniors—Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, and others—had volunteered for one of these scouting missions, much to Wei Wuxian’s initial hesitation.

“You’re sure you want to go?” Wei Wuxian asked them, his protective instincts flaring.

Sizhui nodded, his eyes bright with determination. “We want to help. We can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

“We’ll be careful, don’t worry,” Jingyi added, trying to reassure Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji placed a hand on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, a silent reminder that the juniors had grown and were capable of handling themselves.

“Alright,” Wei Wuxian finally relented. “But be safe. And report back as soon as you find anything.”

With the plans set and the night drawing to a close, Wei Wuxian felt the weight of the coming days pressing down on him. The darkness was approaching, but for now, they had allies by their side, a flicker of light in the growing shadow.

As he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, Wei Wuxian found himself thinking of Lan Wangji, of their bond, of the way they had always faced danger together. Whatever came next, he was ready—as long as Lan Wangji was with him.