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@Wei Wuxian Lan Wangji could only keep his eyes off of Wei Wuxian for so long. There was a silence that lingered between them after he shared what information that he knew, causing his unwavering gaze to shift upwards, landing on the other's frowning face. From that dissatisfied look on Wei Wuxian's face, Lan Wangji was getting a good idea of what the other was thinking. The way that the other seemed preoccupied with things on his mind, his immediate reaction not to question Lan Wangji further or to try and connect the pieces of evidence aloud, it all signaled that the smaller male was mourning for Xiao Xingchen, who was his mother's fellow cultivator, which would make him Wei Wuxian's uncle by title, and also mourning in general at the world's big loss of two respectable, goodhearted cultivators.

"Yet... things are so... no, the world is so…"

"The world is so impermanent." he finished for the other. Without warning, Lan Wangji reached for the cup of wine in the other's hand, swiftly snatching it from Wei Wuxian and bringing it to his lips, the alcohol burning his throat as he swallowed. Indeed, what Wei Wuxian was feeling for Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan was probably reminiscent of a sliver of what Lan Wangji felt sixteen years ago. His hand thudded harshly on the table, the cup between his fingers slipping out rather ungracefully for a man of the GuSu Lan Sect's upbringing. He wasn't upset, he didn't intend to use force. Rather, the alcohol was just taking its immediate effect.

Lan Wangji could feel his head already pounding, his vision that was normally nothing short of pristine already spinning. He balled his fists, closing his eyes and turning his head away from Wei Wuxian, as if trying to maintain his composure. There was a reason why drinking was not allowed in the Cloud Recesses. First, it would lead to this kind of downfall. One who indulges in alcohol will lost control of their actions and thoughts, which can lead to the violation of other rules. It was always a wonder to Lan Wangji how Wei Wuxian's tolerance was so high, such that he could maintain himself as a functioning person after so much alcohol intake. That led to the second reason. It was a hereditary trait. Lan Wangji was just like his brother, having inherited this trait of low (nonexistent) alcohol tolerance. If he did not consume alcohol, no one would know. If he did, the one sitting in front of him would see it immediately.

That being said, his composure was beginning to waver the longer he sat there. His eyelids couldn't even stay open all the way. Lan Wangji let out a sigh, knowing that this was one of the things he shouldn't do. But just like sixteen years ago, he knew, and did it anyway.

@Lan Wangji Wei Wuxian was not able to keep an expression of surprise forming, his brows drawing towards each other as he perked up. First and foremost, Lan Wangji decided not to ignore his ramblings and comments, which brought the tiniest bit of satisfaction to Wei Wuxian. Second, the mystery surrounding this whole Xue Yang thing was a huge headache. So, no one knew of Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen, /or/ Song Lan’s whereabouts? Xue Yang was acquitted? There were way too many little bits and pieces, and the bit of uncertainty Wei Wuxian was sensing from the other man was throwing him off.

Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian picked at a piece of vegetable, distracted as he tried to wrap his head around the facts he already had. It wasn’t enough. What was worse was that Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan were decent cultivators who were very much serious about their craft. They were both good men outside of their work, Xiao Xingchen especially, and Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but pity their fate a little. It was likely nothing good happened to either of them if no one’s heard or seen either of them in so long. After all, what good ever did come to cultivators such as them? Especially ones like Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan who had been meddling in others’ businesses.

Inexplicably, Wei Wuxian’s thoughts landed on the nature of the whip scars on Lan Wangji’s back. He shook the image away, his lips pressing together into a frown.

"I thought I would meet Song Lan again after we parted at YueYang," Wei Wuxian said, his expression hardening as he turned gaze down towards the table. “He was good. I liked him. But I never saw him again after that.” He paused to drain his cup of wine, downing the burning liquor without batting an eye, as if it were as mild as Lan Wangji’s preferred drink of tea. Taking the time to drink and refill his cup, Wei Wuxian let himself speak his thoughts freely, half a mournful feeling expressed in the slight shine of his eyes. "To tell you the truth, I admired Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan. They never had anything to do with everything. Yet... things are so... no, the world is so…"

Lan Wangji had passed by this inn a handful of times, but this would only be the second time that he had entered it. The first time was sixteen years ago. Where they had been sitting sixteen years ago, that exact spot was now occupied by other guests, but other than that, everything else appeared to be unchanged. There was the indistinguishable murmur of people talking from table to table and the occasional clinking of chopsticks against bowls and plates. He couldn't be bothered with other people's business, keeping to himself and making sure that he'd ordered a few spicy dishes that went well with wine when the waiter came around.

In front of him was a small ceramic pot filled with warm tea and to the side, its teacup counterpart. Lan Wangji poured himself a cup, brought it to his lips, and drank. He was still upholding his sect's rule of eating in silence, but there was only so much of a silence he could maintain when he was with Wei Wuxian. The smaller male, now that he had been brought back to life, had been by Lan Wangji's side since, and Lan Wangji was getting accustomed to hearing the other's chitter-chatter at any given point in time. Actually, he was happily getting accustomed to this, but Wei Wuxian would never know just from looking at his facial expression.

Something had caught Wei Wuxian's interest, which consequently attracted Lan Wangji's as well. He noticed the other's subtle shift in position, noting that there was a table of older men who were talking particularly loudly about an incident that happened sixteen years ago, one that involved the two of them. The Chang Sect's extermination was a thing of the past, yet it was still an unsolved case, at least according to the common people. "En." he replied, answers still very curt, "Xue Yang joined the Lanling Jin Sect as a guest disciple. Jin Guangshan insisted on his innocence. A few days later, the sole survivor of the Chang Sect declared that Xue Yang had nothing to do with the extermination of his sect. He was acquitted." he paused for a moment, not sure how to explain the rest, since he wasn't too sure of it himself either, "Song Lan has traveled far, Xiao Xingchen has disappeared. No one has seen or heard of them for the past few years."

@Lan Wangji Wei Wuxian glanced warily towards the group of men who gossiped loudly with the waiter, pouring himself another cup of wine in the politest fashion he could manage. Prior to his arrival to the inn, he’d been looking forward to a bit of quiet reminiscing time at the very same place he’d been to from a whole sixteen years ago. It amazed him to see the exterior of the inn was still as intact and polished as ever. Night was falling, and he used the excuse to convince Lan Wangji to call it a day with him. He had searched the other’s expression carefully after his suggestion, looking for the slightest of hints that Lan Wangji recognized the inn, too. To his (very slight) disappointment, the other revealed nothing in his very typical, cool expression. No matter. He was so sure Lan Wanji knew it, deep within himself. The man’s memory has got to be considerably better than his own if he was going to keep commenting on Wei Wuxian’s all the time.

As soon as they settled down for dinner, Wei Wuxian picked up on the conversation at the next table over. Coincidently, they were discussing in an animated way of the YueYang Chang Sect’s extermination. For a group of uncles, they sure seemed to enjoy gossiping. Still, Wei Wuxian listened intently as he ate, desperate to fill the gaps in his memories and put together everything that had happened in his sixteen years of disappearance. He’d prod Lan Wangji once in a while to clarify, but otherwise they sat in silence to eavesdrop.

“It’s Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan who caught Xue Yang, don’t you know?”

Wei Wuxian paused with his cup halfway to his mouth when he heard one of the uncles talk. His arm lowered slowly, and he leaned his weight onto his elbow over his knee, cocking his head toward the noise, hoping to hear more. However, they spoke no more of the situation, and Wei Wuxian was forced to turn to a very stoic looking Lan Wangji for answers. “Lan Zhan,” he prompted. “Xue Yang? That little jerk didn’t die? What happened? Come to think of it, where are Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan now? I’ve been… back for a few days, I haven’t heard anything of them until now.” Thoughtfully, he drained his cup of wine and poured another, not even bothering to offer any to Lan Wangji anymore at this point in time. It was always a very quick and cold ‘no’. These GusuLans, really.