The Untamed: World Of Darkness

The Mesmerized Lan Zhan

Wei Wuxian

As soon as they landed over the huge wide border of the floating island, Wei Wuxian and the Wen siblings watched at the unmistakable Twin Jades of the Gusu Lan Clan, stood at the foot of the long stairs that leaded to the Clan, to welcome them as they had to all the students.

As  Wei Ying look at them, walk toward them, he thought that the rumors had proven to be completely true, because he had never seen a pair of men as beautiful as the two brothers in front of them. They were tall, yet their movements were refined and dignify and although most of the Clan dressed in white, like one of them, the clothes were elegant and fitted perfectly to their owners. They were pristine white and blue, and there was even a certain radiance about them that make them look even more surreal.

One of the brothers, had a very gentle and charming smile. He was wearing a white and blue robe that really seems to suit him. He had an air of been the caring warm type, which he assumed was the elder brother and current Leader of the Lan Clan. The other was dressed all in white of fine robes, the best quality and he really seems to catch the light from their surroundings. He was handsome, with a beautiful face that looked to be pop out of a masterpiece painting of  what should be the perfect youth that many woman dream about, yet with an unreadable expression and penetrating gaze. Certainly, the younger Jade.

He could understand why women fantasize about the brothers so much, they were extraordinary fine men, with straight posture, graceful movements and proper manners. They were the Prince Charming of any women fairy tale, but that was for them. For Wei Wuxian the impact about the brothers was different, as his eyes fixated over the younger Lan, almost in a staring contest with the serious young man. There was something about him that picked Wei Ying's curiosity and make his heart beat faster with anticipation. It was like the younger Jade was casting silent challenge that Wei Ying knew he would not be able to resit.

He could tell, the young man was strong, very strong, which was a kind of challenge he wanted to test when given the time and opportunity. He had always wanted to test his abilities, his inventions and mastery of the sword with others that may be stronger than him. It was not like there wasn't anyone in the east capable to defeat him, because he had been beaten by two in multiple times, but then again Zilin was not exactly normal (he was damn ancient, a legend of his own) and Wen Qing... well, she was a healer monster that knew inside out every single bone and muscle of your body, not to mention all your acupuncture points to make you suffer in endless ways. He suddenly shudder as Wen Qing slide down her eagle while staring at him.

"And you said I was going to melt? Look at you, Oh great Wei Wuxian, you are drooling at the sight of the younger Jade. Is it love at first sight?" Wen Qing whisper to him, as the brothers approached them and Wei Ying smirked.

"You wish... he is my new challenge." He whispered back.

"Oh, so it's called like that these days? Good luck, love bird." Wen Qing insisted, smiling.

"Hey, it's not like that..." Wei Wuxian begin to refute, but at that moment the two brothers reached them and bowed formerly to greet them, thus they bowed back in return as per the common courtesy, ending their small bickering.

"Welcome to our Gusu Lan Clan, we are glad you made it in time. It must have been a long trip from all the way to the east, you can have some rest and refreshment now, before the initiation ceremony." Xichen said first, with a gentle voice that make Wen Ning smile. It felt like a kindred spirit and Wen Qing feel it like that as well.

"Thank you, Lord Lan Xichen. We have the invitation you sent us. I am Clan Leader Wen Siyu's daughter, Wen Qing and the one by my left side is my brother Wen Ning. We are most grateful for your kindness." Wen Qing said, while presenting the Wen's invitation to the gathering, although it wasn't necessary, because only those with the invitation could cross the Lan Clan's shield, yet Xichen took it gracefully.

"I am Wei Ying, also known as Wei Wuxian, son of Clan Leader Wei Lao. I present you with my invitation, I'm grateful, for giving us a chance to study under the guidance of the immortals." Wei Ying said offering his invitation that Xichen also took with a smile.

"We welcome all those who are willing to learn no matter from where they may be and the people from the east certainly had it hard with the dark energy concentration, stronger in the area. Perhaps we too can learn some things from your Clans." Xichen said, making Wei Ying smile wide. He liked the elder one already, quite righteous and kind, yet his gaze turned to the younger one, who still have that unchanging expression pasted on his beautiful face.

Xichen notice Wei Ying's gaze and looked back to glance at his brother. The new students may think his brother was cold and arrogant, because of his lack of expression, but he could tell that Wangji was actually unusually pleased, because his body was relaxed, as if only he was there, which was a good sign that Wangji will actually open up with someone other than him.

"Ah, this is my brother Lan Wangji, Second Master of the Lan Clan. He will escort you to your resting rooms, please follow him. When it's time for the initiation ceremony, one of our Clan members will notify you, so you can attend it.... But before that, please indulge my curiosity... those eagles are magnificent. We don't see them often in the north..." Xichen said.

"Of course my Lord, you can come and touch them if you wish. They will not harm you if you try it. We use eagles often in the east, we keep their nest protected with barriers and they help us to patrol all over the east lands in return." Wen Qing said and Xichen did as she offered, gently passing his hand over the soft shinning feathers.

"Truly magnificent, I will like for you to tell me how your Clans manage such beautiful companionship with the great eagles." Xichen said and Wen Ning promise to tell him all about them later. After they sent back all three eagles, they followed Lan Wangji around the beautiful grounds of the Gusu Lan Clan toward the resting rooms.

The Cloud Recesses was a place of beauty, with gardens that promoted harmony, peace and inspiration. There were many colorful koi ponds of different sizes, gardens with all kinds of flowers that give the air a nice fragrance, magical seeds that floated in the air like rainbows, elegant rooms as far as the eye could see and a light white mist that make you remember you were floating among clouds. Even when the night came, the place was a magical paradise illuminated by the full moon.

Coincidentally, their rooms were the closet to Wangji's own, so a few hours later, when it was time to begin the initiation ceremony, he was the one who escort them to his Clan training ground in the second island after crossing a long and beautiful bridge to the next floating island. Wei Wuxian had no idea of what this initiation ceremony was, but as he stared at the broad back of the Second Master Lan, he was exited to find out.

Lan Wangji

Lan Wangji guided the east Clans cultivators to the round training ground adorned with a huge glowing symbol of the Yin and Yang in the center, just like the white uniform they were provided with the same symbol on their backs. During their internship they were to use it inside the Cloud Recesses, but when they have a free period to visit the town bellow, the members of the gathering could use their usual robes with the colors of their respective Clans. It was easier to distinguish mischievous kids doing stupid things in town when away from home.

There were quite a few young cultivators, probably close to a hundred, already waiting for the ceremony to start and Lan Xichen was standing in the center of the Yin/Yang circle, with his usual calming aura keeping the kids in check. Most of the participants were already seated, thus the symbol was basically empty aside from the presence of Lan Xichen.

Wangji begin crossing the symbol, to greet his brother, but he stopped midway when he felt something strange coming from below his feet. He looked back, seen that Wei Wuxian had also stop, while he stared at the symbol he was standing on. He could tell that not only Wei Wuxian, but all three of them from the east could sense the power bellow and to his immense surprise, the power reacted back, with the white part of the symbol, turning deep indigo.

Xichen was visible stunned, been the first time any outsiders make the symbol react before been released. The last time it had happen was when Wangji's core was tested, many years ago and that had almost destroyed the floating island with the release of his core's power in full. To the others young cultivators that didn't knew the meaning of the change of color, the occurrence went by as odd, but to all the Lan Clan members, it meant the cultivators of the east were more advanced than they had first thought.

They had already reached the spiritual level of the insight, the six out of the seven levels in the spiritual path, which meant their core test will need to be made separately from the rest to avoid others to be harmed by accident, like it happen with Lan Wangji a few years back. Seen how things had turn out, Lan Wangji looked and nodded to his brother already knowing what needed to be done and turned back to the three soon to be students of his Clan he was escorting.

"Follow me." Wangji said simply,  while moving to the entrance once more.

"Wait, why? The others are already here. Why are we going back?" Wei Wuxian asked, yet Wangji ignore him.

"Follow me." He repeated.

"But..." Wei Ying protested, but Wen Qing elbow him in the ribs to stop his complaining. Behind them, the crowd of youths from the other Clans begin to murmur and mock about the way the east Clans had been turned around, a few even laughed. Some joked that they were too weak to attend the ceremony and were going to be sent back home, other joked that they were a bunch of rough cultivators that could not keep a rigorous training. Wei Ying heard some as he pass close to their seats, a guy with a red dot in his forehead was particularly harsh and he stop, feeling his anger rise.

"Wei Wuxian, ignore it." Wangji said, looking at Wei Ying with seriousness and then giving Jin Zixuan a cold stare. They just had no idea of whom they were making fun off, but the time will come when the others will learn to respect the people from the east, of that Wangji was completely sure.

"Please, Wei Ying... let's follow the Second Young Master Lan." Wen Ning said shyly, already knowing that his friend was pissed with the rude guys talking about their Clans as if they were not there and Wei Ying reluctantly did follow Lan Wangji's lead out of the second island to the main buildings.

"Hey, Lan Wangji, where are you taking us? Don't tell me you guys are really sending us back? I thought you were a righteous Clan..." Wangji stopped his advance in the act and looked back at Wei Wuxian with a deep penetration gaze that make Wei Wuxian halt as well. Wangji could understand Wei Wuxian's doubts about the Lan Clan he didn't know anything about, as they lived quite far from the north and only knew the rumors, but no one was allowed to say his Clan was unfair.

"Wei Wuxian, we don't care about rumors, our Clan is fair to all. I told you to ignore it." Wangji said to the young man in front of him a bit colder.

"Then why did you take us back?" Wei Ying asked in defiance.

"Because the symbol of balance reacted to you all just now, meaning your spiritual level is already high. You can't be tested in that island, otherwise a release of your cores may had destroy it." Wangji said, turning to walk again, expecting them to follow him. At that Wei Wuxian felt guilty for biting Wangji's head off just because he was angry, so he stick to him getting ahead of the other two to try to apologize.

"Ah... Lan Wangji... hey, Second Master Lan... Young Twin Jade..." But the cold guy didn't stop his graceful walking.

"You don't hold grudges, right? Oh come on... Lan Zhan..." Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan... Hearing his name been called in such a casual way, make Wangji stop his advance yet again. He looked back at Wuxian to correct him, but instead of getting angry, he was mesmerized by the sudden surreal sight.

It was just that they were now in the middle of the plum garden, with pink, red and white threes in full bloom. The fragrance was exquisite and under the moon rays, the trees seems to magically shine, bathing in the pure light. Wei Wuxian was also bathed in that magical light and as the night breeze moved the branches and blossoms, many petals scattered in the wind and fall over anything below the them. A few already manage to fall over the long black waterfall of satin hair Wei Wuxian had just half tied to the crown of his head, making him look... beautiful.

His heart skipped a beat, as he watched him under a vivid pink one, with a few petals over his long raven hair and under the moon rays, the young man looked stunning. However, Wei Ying may have think he was actually mad at him as he was staring at Wei Wuxian with a blank expression, when in reality he was too caught up in the beautiful sight, because he frowned, coming even closer.

"Hey, don't get that angry. I swear I was just trying to apologize." Wei Wuxian said, but he care not about that. To recover from his momentary loss of reality, Wangji turned back to resume his walk, while Wei Wuxian keep calling him by his given name instead of his courtesy one. He guessed perhaps his name has reached that far east. Despite himself, Wangji half smiled as he walked, if he was going to keep calling him Lan Zhan, then he would call him Wei Ying.

Behind both men, Wen Qing almost laughed. Wei Wuxian had accused her to melting under the beauty of the north cultivators, but instead, he had fell under the spell of the younger Jade, the same way apparently Lan Wangji had fell for the mischievous troublemaker at first sight. It seemed that their internship was going to be an interesting one, from the very start.

AN: Next will be the core challenge because this part take too long to include it here. Take care, until next time.