All the way back to Cloud Recesses by sword flying, Lan Wangji's body was already at its absolute limit, but he could not afford to fall—A-Yuan was still waiting for him to be saved.
Cloud Recesses
Jingshi
A-Yuan lay quietly on the bed while a physician examined him.
Lan Wangji: "How is he?"
Physician: "Second Young Master, the child's fever has caused him to lose consciousness, and his body is also severely malnourished. I will brew some fever-reducing medicine to break the fever first, and the rest can be recovered slowly. With half a year or a year of proper care, he should be fine."
Lan Wangji: "Thank you."
Physician: "Second Young Master, let me examine you as well. Your injuries are very severe."
Lan Wangji: "No need, I am fine."
The physician left, and Lan Wangji sat by the bedside, watching A-Yuan. Lan Xichen walked in.
Lan Xichen: "Wangji, I heard disciples say you carried a child back?"
Lan Wangji: "Brother, he is an orphaned descendant of the Wen Clan, named A-Yuan."
Lan Xichen: "An orphaned descendant of the Wen Clan? Wangji, how do you plan to arrange for this child?"
Lan Wangji: "Brother, I want to raise him within the Lan Clan, enter him into the family registry under my name, and make him my legitimate son."
Hearing this, Lan Xichen was greatly startled. "Wangji, raising him in the Lan Clan, Brother can agree to. But entering him into the family registry as your legitimate son—that is improper."
Lan Wangji: "Brother, Wei Ying once said this child was born to him. Now that he is no longer here, it is only right that I raise A-Yuan. I ask Brother to grant this!"
Lan Xichen: "Wangji, how do you feel about Young Master Wei...?"
Lan Wangji pondered for a moment. "Brother, I... love Wei Ying."
Hearing Lan Wangji's words, Lan Xichen was extremely shocked. He had always known that Wangji felt a special way toward Young Master Wei, but he had never imagined it had reached this point. After a very long, long time, Lan Xichen spoke softly. "Very well, Brother agrees. Wangji, give him a name."
After thinking for a long time, Lan Wangji spoke. "Lan Yuan, with the 'yuan' of a wish, courtesy name Sizhui."
Lan Xichen: "Sizhui? Why name him Sizhui?"
Lan Wangji: "Yearning for my lord, yet unable to pursue; remembering my lord, when will he return?" As he said this, a trace of eager hope flickered across Lan Wangji's face.
Suddenly, a disciple's voice came from the doorway. "Second Young Master, the Teacher asks to see you in the Yashi."
Outside the Songfeng Shuiyue doorway
Lan Wangji knelt on the ground, his spine refusing to bend even slightly.
Lan Qiren: "Wangji, do you still remember the foundation of the Lan Clan sect rules?"
Lan Wangji: "Wangji remembers: Do not associate with evildoers!"
Lan Qiren: "Then why did you shield Wei Ying, injure cultivators of various sects and our own Lan Clan elders, and now go so far as to carry back a remnant of the Wen Clan?"
Lan Wangji: "May I ask Uncle: 'What is truly righteous, and what is truly evil? What is black, and what is white?'"
In a rage of fury, Lan Qiren snapped, "Fine! So this is the fine disciple I have trained. Thirty-three discipline whips, and face the wall in the Hantan Cave for three years. Strike him hard!"
Three hundred discipline whips fell. Lan Wangji did not utter a single sound, while Lan Xichen watched a brother so stubborn and suffered immense heartache.
Lan Wangji: "Brother, I ask you to temporarily take care of A-Yuan for me. Send me to the Hantan Cave."
For three years, Lan Wangji never stepped a single step out of the Hantan Cave—though in truth, his injuries were too severe for him to travel easily. Lan Xichen occasionally came to visit him, bringing him news of A-Yuan.
"Wangji, the child has woken up, only he has forgotten what happened before."
"Wangji, Uncle has agreed to let the child stay in the Lan Clan. Once you come out, we will enter him into the family registry."
"Wangji, the child is very well-behaved and we all like him dearly. Uncle is also very affectionate toward him and even lets him call him 'Grandfather'."
......
Three years later, Lan Wangji emerged from the Hantan Cave. By the edge of the cold spring, Lan Xichen was waiting there with Lan Sizhui.