The Turtle in the Lánshì

Cold, late-morning sunlight filtered through the windows into the Lanshi, where neat rows of Lan disciples were seated. Lan Jingyi sat beside Lan Sizhui, while Hanguang-Jun, who had returned from travelling just a few days ago, lectured from the front of the room.

Soft music filled the Lanshi, as Hanguang-Jun played his guqin, Wangji, in demonstration of a song for soothing restless spirits. When he finished his demonstration, the last notes echoing through the room, Hanguang-Jun continued his lecture, in that clear, concise way of his, talking about… well, talking about something on the topic of soothing resentful spirits with music, which was surely informed by Hanguang-Jun’s extensive experience night hunting. His words were drifting somewhat meaninglessly over Jingyi’s head.

Hanguang-Jun was an excellent teacher, really. Easily Jingyi’s favourite. And normally he really, really would be paying attention. It’s just… today, he just could not focus.

He kept getting distracted by the turtle sitting on the desk behind Hanguang-Jun.

It was white, and, from what Jingyi could see, made of porcelain. Its head was oversized, its eyes dull and beady, and its expression almost cross-eyed. The whole thing was roughly made, and clearly lopsided. It was, to put it simply, the worst crafted object Jingyi had ever seen inside the Cloud Recesses. He couldn’t take his eyes off it.

Just… where had that object come from, and what was it doing there? It must have some value, right? Some purpose? After all, people didn’t just put ugly decorations up around the Cloud Recesses. Everything must have either aesthetic or practical value; ideally both. Given the turtle so clearly lacked aesthetic value, it must have some practical value, right?

Only, Jingyi could not for the life of him figure out what practical value the ugly porcelain turtle could possibly have. It was, to all appearances, just an ugly, useless, turtle figurine.

Jingyi knew he wasn’t the only one distracted by the turtle; besides him, Sizhui, ever the diligent student, also kept stealing glances at it. Clearly, if Hanguang-Jun had some explanation for the turtle, he hadn’t shared it with Sizhui, either.

Jingyi just hoped Sizhui wasn’t so distracted as to neglect his note taking; Jingyi was going to need those notes later.

The lesson continued around Jingyi, while Jingyi continued to stare at the mysterious turtle. The ugly thing stared mockingly back.

When their lesson finished, the disciples left the Lanshi in as quiet, and orderly a manner as any group of teenagers can leave their classroom. For a few metres, Jingyi walked silently besides Sizhui.

Only for a few metres.

“That turtle…” Jingyi said,

Sizhui shook his head, “I don’t know, I’ve never seen it before,”

“It’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen! Who allowed it in the Cloud Recesses?”

“Hm…” Sizhui mused, “well, it appeared at about the same time Hanguang-Jun arrived home…”

“Really?” Jingyi said. That would suggest that Hanguang-Jun allowed it in the Cloud Recesses. Which could explain why he seemed so unphased by its presence. Then again, Hanguang-Jun seemed unphased by most things. “Maybe he got it while he was travelling, then.” This was odd, considering the turtle did not seem like the sort of thing Hanguang-Jun would pick out for himself. “Do you think it was a gift?”

“Perhaps,” Sizhui replied.

Then again, it could at times be hard to predict what Hanguang-Jun would choose to bring home with him. He had, after all, brought Lil Apple home with him, entirely of his own volition, and insisted on housing her in the back hills of the Cloud Recesses, where she was eating the grass, and disturbing the rabbits as they spoke. The loud and stubborn donkey was hardly the sort of company one would expect Hanguang-Jun to enjoy.

“Well, if it is his, he must have a reason for putting it there,” Jingyi said,

“Mn,” Sizhui agreed.

The reason Hanguang-Jun had brought Lil Apple home was because he loved Wei Wuxian, and Wei Wuxian was for some reason attached to the donkey.

As if summoned by his thoughts, they soon crossed paths with Wei Wuxian himself.

“Senior Wei!” Jingyi, and Sizhui greeted him,

“Sizhui, Jingyi!” Wei Wuxian smiled, and waved at the pair of them, “What are you up to this morning?”

Jingyi was fairly certain it was past midday? He tried surreptitiously glancing up at the sky, to see if the suns position would confirm or deny this.

The sun’s bright glare just hurt his eyes.

“We’ve just come out of a lecture,” Sizhui said,

“Ah, of course, the one Lan Zhan was teaching!” Wei Wuxian said, “So, tell me, did the two of you learn a lot from the illustrious Hanguang-Jun?”

“Oh, of course, Senior Wei!” Sizhui replied,

Wei Wuxian laughed, and ruffled Sizhui’s hair.

It occurred to Jingyi that Wei Wuxian had been travelling with Hanguang-Jun just before the turtle had appeared.

Should… should he ask Wei Wuxian about the turtle? But then, when it came to frivolous things like turtle figurines, he felt that Wei Wuxian was as likely to make a joke about it as to give an actual explanation. But then again, what were his other options? Asking Hanguang-Jun? Jingyi tried to imagine it, ‘Hey, Hanguang-Jun, were you the one to put that ugly turtle in the Lanshi? If so, what were you thinking? Just curious.’ Yeah, no. Jingyi did not think he was going to do that.

He glanced over at Sizhui, who was apparently paying enough attention in class to make small talk about it with Wei Wuxian. Good, that boded well for the note taking.

Jingyi tried to guess Sizhui’s thoughts on asking Wei Wuxian about the turtle.

“…and what about you, Lan Jingyi?” Wei Wuxian asked,

“What, um, good, yes, very interesting,” Jingyi was fairly certain they were still talking about the lesson.

Wei Wuxian laughed, “Oh? Something distracting you, today?”

“Um…” you know what, that was enough of an invitation for Jingyi, “Yes, actually, that weird turtle,”

“Hm?” Wei Wuxian tilted his head and made an inquisitive sound,

“Oh, there was this turtle figuring sitting in the Lanshi today, and neither of us have ever seen it before, so we were wondering where it came from?” Sizhui elaborated,

“Ah, of course,” Wei Wuxian said, a twinkle in his eyes, “That turtle, of course, was a gift. While travelling, we met a craftsman, who made it in memory of Hanguang-Jun’s heroic defeat of the Black Tortoise of Slaughter. It holds deep meaning, and should inspire you to strive forwards in your cultivation. After all, even though the Black Tortoise of Slaughter is gone, there are of course still the Vermilion Bird of Carnage, the White Tiger of Brutality, and the Azure Dragon of Bloodlust out there waiting for you. So, you must go out there, perform great deeds, surpass your predecessors, and amaze the world,”

“Is that so?” Sizhui asked,

“Of course! Why would I lie to you?” Wei Wuxian said, hand over his heart.

Part of Jingyi was convinced Wei Wuxian was messing with them. Part of him was trembling at the thought of having to fight a White Tiger of Brutality. Jingyi was very much not prepared for that sort of threat!

“Ah, here’s Lan Zhan now, he’ll confirm it!” Wei Wuxian said,

Jingyi turned, and saw that Hanguang-Jun was indeed walking up the path towards them, his white clothing drifting about him as it was caught in a breeze.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian called, waving at Hanguang-Jun,

“Wei Ying,” Hanguang-Jun replied, coming to stand beside Wei Wuxian.

“I was just telling our disciples here about the mysterious craftsman who made the porcelain turtle to commemorate your defeat of the Black Tortoise of Slaughter,” Wei Wuxian said, wrapping his arm around Hanguang-Jun’s waist.

“Our,” Hanguang-Jun said,

“Hm? Aiya, I just sat in the Black Tortoise’s mouth, and almost passed out! You were the one to kill it!” Wei Wuxian protested,

“Entering the shell of the Black Tortoise of Slaughter and injuring it from the inside was instrumental in its defeat,” Hanguang-Jun said,

“Alright, well, maybe it was a joint effort,” Wei Wuxian conceded, “anyway, as I was saying, you put the turtle figurine in the Lanshi so the disciples could see it, and be inspired to equally great feats!”

“Mn,” Hanguang-Jun agreed.

And, well, Hanguang-Jun was the most reliable person Jingyi knew, so maybe Wei Wuxian’s story did have some truth to it.

“Well, we’re off to lunch,” Wei Wuxian said, “you’re still coming by for dinner tonight, right Sizhui?”

“Of course, Senior Wei,” Sizhui said,

“Good, we look forward to it! Don’t we, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian said,

“Mn,” Hanguang-Jun agreed,

“So, see you then. And see you around, Lan Jingyi!” Wei Wuxian said with a wave.

“See you around!” Jingyi replied,

“Come on, Lan Zhan, I’m starving,” Wei Wuxian said, already turned away,

“Mn,” Hanguang-Jun said.

With that, Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun headed off, soon just a pair of black and white silhouettes disappearing down the path together. And, well, Hanguang-Jun may be the most reliable person Jingyi knew, but that just meant he could be relied upon not to deny Wei Wuxian anything, no matter how ridiculous.

Perhaps the origins of the ugly porcelain turtle would remain a mystery.

“OK, but you don’t think the Azure Dragon of Bloodlust is real, right?” Jingyi asked, “right?”

“I’m hungry too, let’s go get lunch,” Sizhui said,

“I’m not going to have to fight a Vermilion Bird of Carnage, am I? Sizhui?”

Sizhui was already walking away down the path.

“Sizhui, tell me I’m not going to have to fight a Vermilion Bird of Carnage!” Jingyi did not run to catch up to Sizhui, because running is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses. No, he merely walked hastily.

“Sizhui!”