The journey back to the Cloud Recesses was heavy with unease. The ominous warning from the shadowy figure lingered in Wei Wuxian's mind, stirring memories of battles fought and enemies defeated. Yet, this felt different. This enemy wasn’t just malicious—it was calculated, deliberate, and disturbingly familiar.
As they passed through a thicket of trees, Lan Wangji’s quiet voice broke the silence. “Wei Ying, did you sense the same energy in this village as the last?”
Wei Wuxian nodded, his brows furrowed. “Yes, but it was... denser. More concentrated. It felt like the figure was drawing power directly from the darkness surrounding the village. Whoever this enemy is, they’re evolving—and quickly.”
Lan Wangji’s gaze remained focused on the path ahead, but Wei Wuxian could see the tension in his jaw. “Then we must act before it grows too strong.”
“Agreed,” Wei Wuxian said, his tone serious. Then, with a teasing grin, he added, “But let’s not forget to sleep, Lan Zhan. Even the mighty Hanguang-jun needs rest.”
Lan Wangji’s lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t respond, earning a chuckle from Wei Wuxian.
---
Back at the Cloud Recesses, they regrouped with the sect leaders, who had been waiting anxiously for their return. Jiang Cheng was the first to speak, his sharp voice cutting through the tension. “Well? What did you find?”
Wei Wuxian leaned against the doorframe, his usual smirk absent. “An enemy, Jiang Cheng. A real one this time. It’s not just curses or resentful energy—it’s a being with a purpose.”
Nie Huaisang’s fan stilled mid-swish. “A being? Do you mean... like a demonic cultivator?”
Wei Wuxian shook his head. “No, this is beyond human. It’s like the energy itself is alive and manifesting through someone—or something.”
The room fell silent, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Jiang Yanli, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. “A-Xian, does this remind you of anything from the past?”
Wei Wuxian hesitated, his gaze drifting. “It does, A-Jie. It reminds me of Wen Ruohan’s experiments with spiritual energy and his attempts to control resentful spirits. But this… it’s far more sophisticated. Whoever—or whatever—is behind this is on another level.”
Lan Wangji added, “This entity appears to be probing. Testing us.”
Jiang Cheng’s expression darkened. “If that’s true, then we’re already at a disadvantage. We don’t know their next move.”
Wei Wuxian straightened, his playful demeanor creeping back. “Which is why we need to take the fight to them. Sitting around waiting won’t help.”
Before anyone could respond, a junior disciple burst into the room, breathless and pale. “Hanguang-jun, Senior Wei! There’s been another sighting—this time near the Burial Mounds.”
Wei Wuxian froze, his heart skipping a beat. The Burial Mounds. His former home, the place where he had built a haven for the Wen remnants, was now being drawn into this dark web.
Lan Wangji’s voice was calm but firm. “We leave immediately.”
---
As they approached the Burial Mounds, memories flooded Wei Wuxian’s mind. The craggy peaks, the oppressive fog, and the faint echoes of a time when this place had been his refuge. Now, it felt tainted. The air was thick with resentful energy, but there was something else—something colder and more menacing.
Lan Wangji walked beside him, his presence grounding Wei Wuxian. “Are you ready?” he asked softly.
Wei Wuxian nodded, gripping Chenqing tightly. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
They ventured deeper into the mists, the path winding and treacherous. As they neared the heart of the Burial Mounds, a sudden gust of wind swept through, carrying whispers that seemed to come from all directions.
“You cannot escape your past, Yiling Patriarch.”
Wei Wuxian’s blood ran cold. The voice was low, mocking, and filled with malice. It seemed to know him, to understand the burdens he carried.
Lan Wangji’s grip on Bichen tightened. “Show yourself.”
The whispers grew louder, and then, from the shadows, a figure emerged. It was cloaked in black, its face obscured by a veil of darkness. The air around it shimmered with malevolent energy.
“Why do you fight?” the figure taunted. “You, who have danced with darkness, should understand. The light cannot exist without us.”
Wei Wuxian stepped forward, his voice defiant. “Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you hurt innocent people. Who are you? What do you want?”
The figure chuckled, a sound that echoed like broken glass. “I am no one, and I am everyone. I am the shadow that follows, the fear that lingers. You will learn in time.”
With a wave of its hand, the figure summoned a torrent of resentful energy, which swirled and coalesced into monstrous forms. The ground trembled as the creatures lunged at Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji moved with precision, his blade slicing through the creatures like a flash of light. Wei Wuxian played Chenqing, his melody weaving through the air and controlling the spirits to turn against their master.
The battle was fierce, but the figure remained still, watching them with an almost amused air.
As the last creature fell, the figure spoke again. “You are strong, but strength alone will not save you. The darkness is already spreading, and soon, it will consume everything.”
Before Wei Wuxian or Lan Wangji could respond, the figure dissolved into the mist, leaving behind a haunting silence.
Wei Wuxian lowered Chenqing, his chest heaving. “Lan Zhan, this is bad. This enemy isn’t just playing games—they’re setting the stage for something big.”
Lan Wangji sheathed Bichen, his expression as steady as ever. “Then we must act quickly. Together.”
Wei Wuxian looked at him, a small smile breaking through his worry. “Always together.”
As they turned to leave, Wei Wuxian couldn’t shake the feeling that the Burial Mounds held more secrets—secrets that could either save them or doom them all.
YOU ARE READING
Mischief in Gusu
Historical FictionSummary: When a mishap with the Mysterious Incense Burner transforms Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian into three-year-old toddlers, chaos ensues in the Cloud Recesses. The usually serene and disciplined Gusu Lan Sect is turned upside down as the two tiny...
