Chapter Text
"Good grief..."
As the connection between the consciousness of Kunlun Mirror and the Divine Artifact was broken, the three of them could finally tinker and reveal the real form of the artifact.
Currently, Lan ShuangBi and Wei Wuxian had already climbed out from the depths of the gorge, returning to the cliff where they had first begun.
Dawn had arrived.
The sun rose slowly from the eastern horizon, its light stretching into long, golden rays. Though the cliff was still veiled in mist, the drifting clouds gradually parted, revealing what lay beneath. A large expanse of translucent, almost illusory-,
—colossal mirror.
The first time Wei Wuxian had ever been struck by the sheer scale of Being was when he had seen the enormous form of Xuanwu. If the tortoiseshell of the Xuanwu of Carnage could rival the large training grounds of a Major sect, then this mirror was no longer just one corner of a Major Sect dwelling-,
—It could be compared to the entire scope of a Major Sect itself!
The colossus mirror suspended endlessly, covering the entire canyon in the Kunlun Mountain Range.
Its edges were shaped by the swirl of pristine white clouds, curling on the rims of the artifact, forming the mirror's borders.
The center of the mirror flickered slightly, reflecting the faint rays of the Morning Sun, alternating between reality and illusory.
It was mesmerizing.
The three Cultivators were silent for a long time, immersed in this magnificent moment, a view of mystical wonder.
The Legacy of Immortality.
It was Wei Wuxian who finally exhaled, breaking the silence. "...Immortals, huh..."
Both Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were quiet. However, they also felt a similar tightness in their hearts. An indescribable feeling.
It was like those who had never seen the vastness of the sea, only to behold it for the first time. The feelings they had at the moment were exactly, the realization of how grand the Universe was. Likewise, just how long the journey of Immortality was in truth.
Mortals called them "Immortal Cultivators", but they were, in fact, far from being any Immortal.
It was just a figure of speech.
Even the revered Baoshan Sanren, the oldest known senior, had not truly attained immortality, nor ascended to the Immortal Realm.
Immortality wasn't just living longer lifespans. Neither was it attained by being exempted from dying. The meaning of Immortal in Cultivation was turning into a whole brand new Being.
Becoming a Deity. Obtaining a Godhood. Becoming a God wasn't to prove purity, but to prove oneself. To attain enlightenment within one’s Dao, and step beyond the mortal world.
The Kunlun Mirror was one such remnant of that higher realm.
It silently reminded the people that the world of Immortality did exist.
It's there. Waiting for the Cultivators to ascend.
These few acres of land of the Cultivation World, which they had been fighting and guarding for years, were, in truth, just a small corner of the entire Universe.
The status, power, and reputation that the Cultivation Clans had been pursuing, seemed so fleeting compared to the real goal of Cultivation: Ascension to the Higher Realm.
"Tsk tsk, such a Giant Baby. When we descended that cliff, we practically walked straight into its belly." Wei Wuxian caressed his chin and thought out loud in amusement.
"Giant Baby?" Lan Xichen stifled a peal of laughter.
"Isn't it?" Wei Wuxian grinned. "The Consciousness isn't that old compared to the age of the Mirror itself. It's practically a Giant Baby luring travelers inside."
The mirror was a Treasure (Bǎo), and the consciousness was still a Baby (BǎoBǎo). Therefore, it's a literal and metaphorical Giant Baby.
"…When you put it that way, it does seem fitting." Lan Xichen thought about the pun and chuckled. "That being said, how about fellow Cultivator Bai? Have you found out the reason for his death?"
Lan Wangji, who had been silent until now, spoke at last, "He was likely chosen as a vessel before us. The Kunlun Mirror amplifies one’s heart, magnifying obsession at the moment before death, which led to the rise of his corpse."
Seeing Wei Wuxian nodding in agreement, Lan Xichen sighed, "So that was the case...But why Bai Lian, and not the others?"
Wei Wuxian laughed at this before explaining, "It's simple! Because Brother Bai was the most handsome among the other visitors!"
When it came to "Handsome Brothers" and "Pretty Ladies", Wei Wuxian's aesthetic had never been wrong.
He knew from the start that Bai Lian was the most handsome among the other corpses there. The Kunlun Mirror was awfully picky about deciding which vessel it would occupy. Naturally, it wanted to pick the best, including the appearance.
"Just because...he was the most good-looking?" Lan Xichen felt a little incredulous at this thought.
"Well, not just due to appearance." Wei Wuxian smiled and guessed, "His soul was likely the purest as well...something the mirror took a liking to. Look at his final obsession: wishing for his family to be happy. Such a person...don't you think he must have such an innocent heart?"
Lan Xichen nodded his head in understanding and sighed once more. "In any case, it is unfortunate for him to be..."
Wei Wuxian glanced at Lan Double Jades, a quiet sigh echoing in his heart. It was indeed unfortunate. If either one of them were to be occupied by the Mirror, how depressing would it be for him?
Lan Wangji asked, "The other people, what happened to them?"
"The others..." Lan Xichen turned to look at Wei Wuxian. "Wei-Gongzi has mentioned earlier the true origin of those howls. Combine that with their cause of death, poisoning, I suppose the answer becomes clear."
Lan Wangji thought for a second and seemed to understand. "Volcanic poisonous gas."
The Kunlun Mountain Range was famed for its hot springs. In certain conditions, such springs released highly toxic gases, odorless and colorless, capable of killing a person the moment they were inhaled. Often, the victim would not even realize what had happened before collapsing at death’s door.
Even Cultivators would not be spared. After all, they had yet to cultivate Iron Muscles and Bronze Bones in their bodies. They were still vulnerable to Natural hazards, especially in a gaseous state, which they couldn't detect.
Lan Xichen sighed, lamenting their bad luck. "It was unfortunate. Regardless of whether their deaths were caused by natural hazards, Kunlun Mountain remains a sacred place for cultivators."
It could only be said as a misfortune, and even if they died here, no one could fault the Kunlun Mountain itself.
KunlunShan itself, after all, was the Axis of the World. The Mountain Range pointed directly to the Northern Constellation, the Seven Stars, the Big Dippers, the anchor in every array and ritual in Taoism. Its seventh star was called Tiānguān (天關), Heavenly Pass, which opened up the way to the Heavenly Realm. Kunlun Mountain Range represented the direction towards the north celestial pole and the communication channel between Earth and Heaven.
"...Whenever there is opportunity, there lurks danger," Lan Wangji said, his gaze fixed upon the celestial mirror before them.
"Indeed." Lan Xichen smiled faintly.
His eyes shifted, noticing that at some point, Wei Wuxian had wandered off to another corner of the cliff.
Wei Wuxian had been looking around when the two of them were talking.
With the mist now dispersed, the terrain had become far clearer than before. Wei Wuxian moved about, observing the surroundings with interest. What he had not been able to see the previous night was now laid bare before him.
Wei Wuxian noticed the two Jades had finished talking and were looking at him silently.
"So," He asked upon returning, "Should we just leave it here? Or bring the Mirror back to Gusu?"
He turned to Lan Xichen and continued, "The Kunlun Mirror appeared here, the source of all Qi. But Gusu Mountain itself has excellent Feng Shui. A lush, vibrant mountain shrouded in natural mists all year round, rich in Earthly and Heavenly Qi. If you're willing, the Cloud Recesses could certainly accommodate this...Big Baby."
"About that..." Lan Xichen hummed for a while and didn't immediately reply.
The matter was far from simple.
He had to consider a lot of things before deciding what to do with this Divine Artifact.
Lan Wangji voiced another concern. "How would we move it?"
"If you ask me..." Wei Wuxian mused with interest, marveling at the colossus Mirror.
He thought for a moment, and spoke, "Teleportation?"
"Can the talisman be used for an inanimate object?" Lan Wangji glanced at him.
"Not exactly the talisman." Wei Wuxian's eyes sparkled. Those who knew him well would immediately recognize that look. This person must be about to bring forth a bizarre idea once again.
As expected, he continued to suggest, "If we examine and tinker with the runes used in the teleportation talisman, we might discover some way to teleport objects as well. It's a Divine Mirror, a Spiritual Artifact. In essence, it shouldn’t be too difficult to adjust the runes so it can transfer Spiritual Objects, just as they do with cultivators."
Lan Wangji considered it briefly. The idea was not without merit. It was, in fact, feasible.
The problem of how to move it was solved.
The only thing left would be...
Whether they'd bring the Mirror back or not.
Both of them turned their gaze toward Lan Xichen, waiting.
Lan Xichen felt the weight of their gazes and let out a helpless chuckle. "Do not give me such a look. You two are giving me too much pressure."
"Don't mind us, Zewu-Jun." Wei Wuxian grinned, patting his shoulder with exaggerated solemnity, as though encouraging a junior disciple. "Take your time. Go ahead and think slowly."
Lan Xichen clasped his grabby paws and apprehended it securely.
He pondered for a while and eventually spoke, "We could leave it as it is. But a Divine Artifact of such power… left unattended in the middle of nowhere..." his words halted, and he looked at the other two.
"It will inevitably lead to various consequences." Lan Wangji reacted.
"Indeed. Both of you should understand that well enough." Lan Xichen nodded and continued, "Besides, we are not the only ones who travel these lands. Now that the Mirror lies exposed, and its consciousness is gone, it will only be a matter of time before others discover it."
“Then we bring it back?” Wei Wuxian asked at once, eyes bright.
Lan Xichen glanced at him and smiled. "If we bring it back, the two of you should also understand what this leads to."
"Uproar." Lan Wangji uttered quietly.
Lan Xichen, "Exactly."
What did it mean to bring a Kunlun Mirror, back to the Cloud Recesses?
The implication was more than just employing Xuanwu of Slaughter as their Sect's Guardian.
It's a Divine Artifact! A prehistoric treasure. The legendary relic of the Immortal Realm.
The impact of possessing such laurels was more than obtaining the coveted Yin Tiger Tally. If the Tally showcased the unadulterated power many people had seen, the Kunlun Mirror represented both prestige and supremacy. It elevated the sovereignty of Cultivators from the truest essence of their identity, of an Immortal Cultivator.
It would put GusuLan at the forefront of the public's attention.
"Hey...look at us." Wei Wuxian chuckled. "Lan Zhan, back then, we camped in a cave for a few days and ended up slaying the Xuanwu of Slaughter. Now the three of us wander a mountain, and we somehow obtain a Kunlun Mirror.'
He tilted his head, smiling. “Next time we go out… what do you think we’ll run into?”
Lan Wangji lowered his eyelids. "...That remains to be seen."
Wei Wuxian laughed softly. "You're right. Still, the aftermath of this will be troublesome. It’ll take quite some time before things settle down."
He paused, then added lightly,
"Next time… once everything quiets down, let’s go out again together. What do you think...Lan Zhan?"
Lan Xichen remained silent.
Lan Wangji pressed his lips tightly for a while before releasing them and replied, similarly softly, "...Mn."
He had not spoken it plainly during the confession in the gorge, or even just now.
But Wei Wuxian could not leave Lan Xichen.
It was more than just being unable to betray his spouse, but he also understood—Lan Wangji had never truly meant those words of elopement.
Those words had been spoken in a moment of vulnerability to express his grievance, selfishly wanting to know the chance to be chosen over someone else.
But it was not Lan Wangji's true desire.
Then, what was his wish?
Wasn't that obvious?
To let Wei Wuxian understand his feelings and accept them.
"The song I sang for you, it has a name. WangXian."
WangXian.
From Wangji to Wuxian.
I hope that someday this overflowing feeling will reach you.
And it's been finally conveyed.
Wei Wuxian had responded,
"The name of the song. I like it."
"Next time...won't you sing it for me? Sing it properly so I can hear you."
Lan Xichen shifted his eyes to look somewhere else.
The clench on his palms unfurled.
Followed by the unfurling of a smile on the corner of his lips that he couldn't stop.
He said,
"Let's bring it back."
Hearing this, Wei Wuxian raised a brow slightly. "Are you certain?"
Lan Wangji also looked at him, seeking confirmation.
Lan Xichen considered the words he ought to speak, and finally explained seriously,
"Wangji, Wei-Gongzi, both of you understand the weight of this decision. What I choose today will shape the future of our sect. What will our Sect become. In which direction will we go. Not merely for years to come, but for generations beyond."
His gaze swept over the two the other two, "...If either of you has reservations, speak now. Let us discuss it and reach a conclusion together."
The discovery and revelation of the Kunlun Mirror would undoubtedly spark countless impacts across the Cultivation World.
It was a relic of Immortality.
A testament to something beyond this realm.
It would remind the Cultivators of their true journey in Cultivation.
It would alter the course of the Cultivators' pursuit.
A few months ago, Lan Xichen envisioned Wei Wuxian's inventions and their correlation with the probability of future trajectories.
With tools that enabled greater exploration, and now the appearance of the Kunlun Mirror, it would mean the resurgence to seek, explore, and venture into every corner of the Cultivation World. People's interests would change. As their mindset transformed, the future of the Cultivation World would have to undergo huge reformation.
The question would be, are they, GusuLan, prepared to stand at the center of that storm?
Will he, Lan Xichen, be able and dare to face such an important turning point and be That Person who brings change in history?
Wei Wuxian was, for once, genuinely surprised at Lan Xichen's decision.
The gentle Zewu-Jun should have preferred tranquility. Should have embraced cordiality. Should have been someone who stood in the middle ground, a peacemaker, promoting harmony and stability.
If there's someone bold enough to take on this chance, it should be Wei Wuxian. It would never be Lan Xichen. It should have been that way.
Since when had it been changed?
When did Lan Xichen start to change?
Lan Xichen met the unspoken question in his brother’s eyes and the undisguised wonder in Wei Wuxian’s gaze.
He smiled and suddenly uttered a question, "Wuxian, Wangji, don't you think...it is time to open up a new era?"
Sunshot Campaign had ended.
It brought down the towering dominance of the Wen Clan that had stood unshaken for nearly six hundred years.
It would be a lie to say this change didn't bring any transition in the Cultivation World.
What kind of transformation?
Who would start the metamorphosis?
Previously, perhaps even just a few months ago, Lan Xichen had been nothing more than a passive bystander.
A Major Sect Leader in name, yet content to follow the current.
He would just passively be a participant in the Hundreds of Cultivation Clans.
Peacefully following the crowds.
He would have stood quietly within the flow of the world, allowing others to decide their world destiny.
Maintaining peace and harmony, just being the Zewu-Jun who smiled and radiated kindness to every being.
Whatever happened in the turbulence of the World itself had nothing to do with him. Neither was he willing to partake of it, nor did he have a desire to be the one leading it. Just there, exist, drifting in the river of fate.
But all of it changed after that one night in Jinlintai.
His life had been turned upside down; it was revised from top to bottom. It wasn't just him as a person who had been affected. It was no longer about his private life. Everything about Lan Xichen, his view, his stance, his aspirations, his thinking, every part of him had to be rectified.
Lan Xichen was still Lan Xichen.
He still loved Peace and stability.
But he was no longer a Passive Bystander.
He would not let others decide his destiny.
He would not allow others to decide his path and be led blindly.
Neither would he allow others to toy with the fates of those around him.
Because Lan Xichen understood something now.
Even if he chose to remain still, would the world do the same?
Just because he had no desire or avarice, did it mean others would be content to live their current life?
Just because he had no wicked intention, would others also be free of malice in their hearts?
When those who declined to remain decorous pursued their desires and ambitions, would Lan Xichen be spared from the turbulence they might create in the process?
People were sleeping innocently, but disaster fell from the sky.
No one could predict the hearts of others.
His plight in Jinlintai was the sole example.
Back then, even if by chance, he was to be exempted from falling into the pit accidentally, would he truly have remained untouched?
Let's say, if it had been Wei Wuxian solely who was framed, would that mean Lan Xichen could stay on the sidelines?
Impossible.
Considering Wei Wuxian's personality, he was not one to endure injustice in silence. Wei Wuxian wouldn't have been obedient and complied with LanlingJin's wish. A confrontation would have been inevitable.
A fight, perhaps a bloody one, might break out.
Once conflict began, it was no longer important what the cause of the fight was.
Their attention would be occupied mostly by Wei Wuxian's audaciousness to start a fight with a banquet Host, still on the grounds of other people's Sect.
In that case, as a Sworn Brother of Jin Guangyao, would Lan Xichen be able to stay passively aside? No, he wouldn't. He would be dragged to the side of LanlingJin. To condemn Wei Wuxian, who was hateful and arrogant enough to flaunt his power and injure others indiscriminately.
And if the conflict escalated further, death would have been inevitable.
See?
Even if it wasn't Lan Xichen who had an ulterior motive — even if the pit was directed at someone else — even if he didn't want to be a busybody who poked in others' business — even if he didn't mistakenly fall into the pit — Lan Xichen would still be implicated in the turbulence.
The Lan Cultivators that Lan Xichen brought to the banquet might have lost their lives...
because of someone else's problem, due to someone else's ambition.
Lan Xichen was not a Fool.
He was one of the prodigies exalted in his generation. His mind had always been flexible—open, perceptive, willing to accept differences. He was no ignorant man blind to reality.
The very proof of it was the fact that the Sunshot Campaign was first put forward by the 20-year-old Lan Xichen, who had just lost his father and their Sect's Pride, the Library Pavilion.
Back then, he'd understood the current affairs and wasn't foolish enough to just lie in wait.
He had stepped forward and urged change, resulting in—The Sunshot Campaign.
Experience is the Greatest Teacher.
After experiencing firsthand the unpredictable nature of fate, it's to be expected for Lan Xichen to also learn and be enlightened about the inevitable outcome.
He had the power, the ability, the capital, the reputation, the prestige, and the unwavering support of those who stood behind him.
Therefore,
Why should he let others do whatever they want and decide the destiny of himself and those he cherishes?
Don't you think...it is time to usher in a new era?
Upon hearing Lan Xichen's seemingly abrupt question, Wei Wuxian quickly grasped all the meaning and implications beyond, and afterward-,
—He burst into laughter.
He had been wondering just now, since when had Lan Xichen changed?
But now he understood.
Lan Xichen had not changed.
He was evolving.
As a Sect Leader and as a person.
As a Sect Leader, he had begun to think beyond stability, toward growth, toward advancement, to improve his entire Sect further.
As a person, he had come to better understand his own identity, a Cultivator.
What he sought was no longer status prestige, but the very essence of Cultivation itself.
That's why he would not only contemplate how to bring his entire Sect ahead, but also how to reform the Cultivation World, to once again bring the glory of Cultivation to flourish.
'Ah...how mesmerizing...'
The illusion in the Kunlun Mirror was wrong about one thing.
Lan Wangji had never been the lesser Jade.
Truthfully speaking, in Wei Wuxian’s eyes, Lan Wangji had always been someone who shone brilliantly. The brightest star in the night sky. The very embodiment of his title, Hanguang-Jun, the Light Bearer.
Wei Wuxian admired and respected Lan Wangji from the bottom of his heart.
An individual who stayed true to himself. Holding on tight to his conscience. Steadfast. Worthy of his Heart, Worthy of the world.
A quality that, unfortunately, the former Lan Xichen had not been able to embody entirely.
But now, in front of him, there was no longer one star dimming the radiance of another,
Only Two Illustrious Jades remained.
Each shone brightly with its own brilliance.