A/N: So this chapter will be slightly longer than the previous ones
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Huaisang and Xue went to Wei Wuxian's room and Huaisang knocked in a pattern on the door which opened slightly "Wei-xiong we got snacks" Wei Wuxian looks around and grabbed the two. "Chun-jie?! You're already here?" the only female cultivator in the room already had a flushed face "She sneaked in the alcohol so what do you expect" Jiang Cheng was the one to reply "H-How much did she drink already?" Wei Wuxian pointed his lips at a corner where a few empty bottles of Emperor's Smile were placed.
"Come on and seat so we can get started" Chun mutters.
"Started? Then what have you been doing drinking since a while ago?" she shrugs "Warm-up?" Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes knowing that he wouldn't have a proper conversation with her when the three were around.
Huaisang sounded slightly slurred "This liquor is good" Xue nods "It's fragrant, smooth and mellow, not aggressive but has a subtle kick to it" Jiang Cheng shook his head "Just drink. You make it sound like it's a person" Chun puts down her cup "I disagree"
"You always disagree with me"
Huaisang just agrees with Chun before speaking "As a wise man said, Fine beauty is just like a great wine" the four clink their cups "If that's true, you shall find your partners by following the fragrance of liquor"
Wei Wuxian observes his drink "I'm fine as long as I have wine" Jiang Cheng almost chocked "Look, I don't even know why they put up with you" Chun squeezed Wei Wuxian's cheek "With this adorable face? Especially when it pouts, that's an extra point" The three almost spat their drinks out "Chun I think that's enough drinks for you. I'll bring her back to the female's resting quarters" Xue walks up to her "No, she's right. I am adorable. Unlike someone who's standards cant be matched"
Jiang Cheng subconsioucly glanced at Chun -who Xue was guiding to lay on the bed after a subtle arguement- but it went unoticed by the others "Wei-xiong, what standards?" Wei Wuxian smirks "I dare you!"
"Beauty....Natural Beauty!" he stood and used Xue as a shield "Virtuous and caring!" he runs around "And comes from a good family" Jiang Cheng chases after him "Must not be talkative and have a gentle voice" the two Nie disciples were beig dragged and pushed around by the two "Not too skilled and doesn't burn though money" the four ended up on a bed were they were pilled from either being chased or stopping the bantering duo.
The door suddenly opens and Lan Wangji walked in to witness an unsightly scene for him; a female cultivator slightly flushed and peacefully sleeping through the ruckus of four boys who were all obviously up past curfew drinking. When they caught sight if him, they immediately sat themselves properly and shut their mouth "What are you doing? And why is Lady Jie here?" all their eyes darted towards her as she hugs a pillow. Wei Wuxian knew he had to divert his attention "What a nice coincidence. Why not join us for a drink and have a talk"
"Alcohol is forbidden" Lan Wangji recited "Eh? Don't be too rigid and have fun with us" Wei Wuxian tugged his sleeve but he remained unfazed "All of you, go to the punishment chamber to be disciplined" Wei Wuxian looked at the three "Where" after getting the gist they pretended to be too drunk and fall asleep.
Wei Wuxian, "You see... they're to drunk to walk. What if you sit down with me? Have a few drinks and talk" Lan Wangji turns around "If you won't come with me, then I'll ask for help" Wei Wuxian halts him as he motion for the three to get out forgetting to bring along a certain someone who was completely asleep. Wei Wuxian attached a talisman on Lan Wangji and asked him to drink.
×××
Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen were discussing over a morning cup of tea when a disciple excused himself and saluted "What's the problem?" Xichen asked "Wei Wuxian and a couple of student got drunk last night, and got caught" Xichen had a small smile which Qiren didn't approve of "Lady Jie was the one that snuck in the liquor and slept in Wei Wuxian's room. Second Young Master Lan was also with them" Xichen had a double take "Wangji was with them?"
Qiren slammed his hand on the table "How dare they!"
At the Shongfeng Pavilion stood Qiren, Xichen, and 5 disciples holding the discipline rulers that had the GusuLan Sect's rules on it. Lan Wangji walks towards them followed by Chun, he immediately kneels "I am at fault Grandmaster, Zewu-jun, I shall be punished" she mimics his action but didn't know what to say since after she slept she was unaware of the fiasco that happened and Wangji just told her to follow him. The four finally arrived and kneeled as well.
"Grandmaster, Zewu-jun, it's true that we got drunk but Lan Zhan and Jie Chun-"
"Nonsense!"
"Your confinement as punishment has not even ended, yet here you are causing trouble again. How far are you going to take this? Are you trying to ruin Cloud Recesses? Don't think that because your mother is Cangse-..."
"You know my mother?"
"Shut up!"
Xichen finally decided to talk "Wangji. Young Master Wei is not a member of the Lan Clan, but you are. And you're fully aware of the rules" Wangji remained true to himself "I recognize the mistake that I've made" Wei Wuxian tried to speak the truth but Lan Wangji was adamant on acknowledging his wrong doing.
"You, Jie Chun! You are a woman and your body is sacred, how could you just get drunk with them and also dared to sleep in their quarters. Sneaking in the liquors as well, do you think this is something a woman should do? Where are your manners! As if you were raised-..." Qiren struck a chord as Chun and Xue obviously cringed at his incomplete accusation.
She stood her ground "I am aware of my wrong doings. I must receive the punishment" her heart shattered since she felt that she didn't raise Xue and herself well "..Chun.." Xue's lips quivered knowing that she took his words to heart.
"Wei Ying, as the leader of the group, you shall be hit 300 times, same goes for Lan Zhan. Jie Chun shall receive 200 hits. The rest shall be hit 50 times as a warning"
"300/200 times?" Wuxian and Xue spoke simultaneously even Xichen was at shock.
Xue moved forward "Chun would not be able to take such hits. Let me be the one to receive-" he was cut of by Chun "Xue. Get back to your position" he shook his head "That would be-"
"Now" her tone was demanding and he knew that he can't talk her out of it but threw a pleading look at Xichen "Uncle, I do think-" she just looked forward "Zewu-jun, your thoughtfulness is much appreciated but in life one must live and learn" it was the same quote he heard at Caiyi Town.
"Do it!" Qiren commands then yells of agony were heard.
After the beating finished, Lan Wangji silently stood up and walked outside after saluting, as if unaffected. Wei WuXian was the exact opposite who was being carried on Jiang Cheng's back "Slow down or I might fall"
"You should be grateful that I'm carrying you"
"I didn't ask you to" Wei Wuxian mumbled "And let you lay there? That would be embarassing even for me" he shook his head "Look at Lan Wangji and Jie Chu, they also got flogged a lot but they can still walk on their own. Get off me"
After walking for awhile, they saw a person in white robes talking to a senior disciple "Those zombies will be of help on training the other disciples. I'll have Wangji associate with their spirits for any final wish before they died" they overheard Lan Xichen "Yes, Second Master Lan is indeed excellect at it" the disciple left.
"Stop hiding and come out"
They awkwardly went up to him, not knowing how to reply. Huaisang greeted, "Xichen-ge" he just smiled softly "The flogging were severe, it would take more than a few days to recover"
"What? That serious? How can he be too hard on himself. He could have-" Wei Wuxian tugged Jiang Cheng
"Nevertheless, I can tell you a way for your injuries to be healed in just a few hours..." he finally took notice of the missing siblings "Where is Lady Jie and Young Master Jie?"
Huaisang was the one to answer "After the punishment they walked off saying they had something important to do" Xichen nods "Then would you also pass my words to her" they nodded.
It was nighttime, Huaisang ran into Jiang Cheng and Xue "Is it true that Chun-jie is going back to Qinghe?!" Jiang Cheng's attention immediately went to Xue "...Yeah, she said that the teaching here isn't for her" Huaisang slowly nods "Ah yeah, I remember she prefer more experience than lectures"
"Then would she give Yunmeng a try? I can write to my mother and father"
Xue smiles, "She's just waiting by the Cold Spring. Why don't you guys tell her, I still have things to do"
Roar/groans were heard not far from the cold spring of the Cloud Recesses "What was that? It sounded like zombies" Wei Wuxian asked "Uncle brought back fierce zombies and were locked at Meditating Hall...how come they came out"
"We don't have our weapons. This is gonna be hard..and Chun is just waiting out there" Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji ran up after getting fully dressed and went their seperate ways being chased by these creatures.
Wei Wuxian was running around the forest trying to lose the zombies "Chun!...Jie Chun!" he calls out to her as he jumped from tree to tree, moments later he got a response
"Wei Ying?!" she appeared not far from him and a few zombies were chasing her as well.
They were both back to back "I was worried when you weren't out the steps of the spring" he punched the zombie "Fight now, worry later" she kicks one on the chest. They kept pushing through but the zombies just got back up "We should put more spiritual energy into our.. advances" she noticed that Wei Wuxian was becoming tired and both of them got slammed on a tree.
Both jumped up "Without our swords, we can't kill them easily" he stated she nod but as she jumped for another tree she twisted her body to face the zombies and whip out her ribbons hitting them back to a good distance as they continue to escape "I can hold them back, look for help" Wei Wuxian shook his head "I can't let you on this alone" she was the only one that had something to actually hold them off "It's quicker this way" she whips them back again but this time there was less impact to it.
Wei Wuxian glanced at her and saw that she was trying to fight her tiredness and recalled that she haven't had time to heal at the spring, he wouldn't just leave to save himself "We can take them on, we just need a quick plan" she clicks her tounge as she fully unwraps one of the ribbons from her wrist and whip it out but this time it tangled itself with the zombies to a tree "Let's go, that won't hold them for long"
They only leaped down and before they can go any further, the tree collapsed. The cloud of dust limited their vision as the zombies approach them "Come on" Wei Wuxian pulls Chun from under the tree she staggers but pushed him to the side as she strikes at one.
He caught a sight of a white rabbit "You saved a rabbit? Then do me a favor and save yourself as well" Chun pulls back a zombie from almost biting him but both of them got scratches. It was slowly draining the two "Chun!!" her legs gave out but Wei Wuxian got in front of her with his hands up.
They saw black aura coming out of the zombie and into Wei Wuxian, Resentment. Chun mustered up the energy to pull him as they leaned on a tree. He grabbed the cloth over his chest as his expression continues to switch "Wei Ying!!" her heart almost dropped at the sight of his veins being so prominent and pulsating, he was fighting it off
"Y-You idiot" she stutters but the zombie wasn't reaching out for them but it was more towards Chun "Back off already" she lashes her ribbon and a surge of concentrated energy pushed them away.
"Wei Wuxien! Jie Chun!" both their swords got tossed near them as Jiang Cheng further fend off the undead. Chun held herself up with the sword, Jiang Cheng glanced at them "Are you too scared to hold your sword?" Wei Wuxian through his gritted teeth mutters a short "Nonsense" and both of them were still seeing the resentful energy.
The zombies only faced Chun and Jiang Cheng, she unsheathes her sword and got on a stance but as the deceased ran to them a sound resonated halting them on their tracks. Lan Wangji continues to play a calming melody.
The undead were captured and Wangji was instructing the disciples in charge of it but his gaze flew to Wei Wuxian who shakily got up with the help of Chun, his arm still had the evident veins that haven't subsided yet "Thank you for your help" Jiang Cheng covers it "It's late...we can thank you properly some other time" Chun added "No need" Lan Wangji left the three.
After a moment, Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei Wuxian and slammed him on the tree "Tell me! What the hell was that?!" Chun quickly intervenes and held on his wrist as she steadies Wei Wuxian "You..Are you out of your mind?!" she tightens her grip on both of them "It was unintentional!"
Jiang Cheng glares at her "Unintentional or not the dark arts will get you expelled by all the clans!" Chun was about to argue back but Wei Wuxian spoke with a soft voice "I know, how could I use such dark ways" he glanced at Chun then back at Jiang Cheng "It won't happen again"
Silence, the two were still catching their breath as Jiang Cheng waits for them "Chun you should head to the spring, Jiang Cheng and I are going to head back" she silently nod but walked the opposite direction "Where are you-"
"I'm just going to retrieve my ribbon" she pulls it off a tree and waved it for them to see "That was a great help for us" she nods but almost fell over but the two catches her "I think I'll pass on the Cold Spring and just rest"
Jiang Cheng looks at her "Are you sure, you're still wounded and you'vesorn yourself out. It's best if we can drop you off" she shook her head "I might get sleepy and drown myself. Tend on Wei Ying, but I don't want this incident reaching Huaisang or Xue...okay?"
"Your brother-" Wei Ying got cut off "Does not need to know. As long as I'm still alive something trivial isn't something to fuss about" Jiang Cheng fumed "Trivial?! You almost got killed by those creatures"
"I could've killed them if my back wasn't killing me! It was my fault for running off with nothing but these" she wraps the ribbon on her again.
"Is this why you're leaving Xue here at Cloud Recesses?" Wei Wuxian was taken aback "You're leaving?" she sighed "Cloud Recesses is a good place to be disciplined but it's just not for me so I requested to head back to Qinghe as Xue continues his study here"
"Xue and I talked. I suggested that you give Yunmeng a try instead of heading straight back to Qinghe. I'll write a letter to my parents to inform them of your arrival, if that's okay with you" she paused for a moment "I leave in two days..."
The three started walking "Wait, can you guys stay at the cold spring" she wasn't feeling well and she can't hide it anymore so why not just go. The two were beet red "What?"
"I just need an hour or so...that'll be a hassle. Forget it"
Wei Ying shook his head "Come on, with all that happened you definitely deserve to relax"
Extra: Cold Spring
The two male were slightly jittery since they had to be somewhere they can see Chun so if she falls asleep they can prevent her from drowning.
Chun hums a soft tune as she removes her outer clothing and left her with just a plain camisole and loose trouser "Woah, she has a nice body" Jiang Cheng hits Wei Wuxian "Don't stare at her too much and be disrespectful"
"How was that disrespectful? I just complemented her. Look how well built she is" this earned him another hit.
"Wei Ying! Did you get to properly soak in this cold water earlier? How about you join me" She calls out and it wasn't an offer he would pass up.
Jiang Cheng now sat on a rock not far from the spring's edge "I thought you were sleepy" Chun closes her eyes as she leans on a rock "I am, you two were just really tense, so I had to do something" Wei Wuxian pouted "But you shouldn't just be too comfortable with men you know"
"Yeah, but with my sword here, I can subdue you both if you tried anything" upon a closer look, her exposed soft pale white skin was decorated with a few scars and bruises "Do you get into a lot of fights?"
Chun shrugs "I don't even know anymore" she continues to hum the soft tune from earlier as they enjoyed the water.