"LAN WANGJI!" Lan Qiren's voice boomed across the courtyard.

"For your crime of injuring your own elders and associating with evil, you shall be punished with the whip of discipline, and shall spend 3 years in seclusion!" He declared, giving Wangji a 'it's your fault' look.

A disciple with the whip stood behind him as he kneeled on the cold ground.

He braced himself for the impact-

"STOP"

All heads turned to a young woman who immediately threw herself in front of Wangji in a defensive stance with two wicked looking daggers in her hands.

"You will not hurt him under my watch!" She said fiercely, glaring at the elders to try and stop her.

Wangji was shocked when she finally turned to face him.

"I wasn't going to let them hurt you" she said giving him a soft look.

But what shocked him was the fact that she looked like a mini him with bright silver eyes and hair that made her look fiercer.

It swirled around here like a hurricane, hastily tied back with a-

A GUSU LAN HAIRBAND!

'Who is she??' He was sure he had never seen her before.

"You cannot stop us from punishing him for his wrongdoings young lady!"cried an elder. "He injured us for the sake of YILING PATRIARCH" another elder spat.

"Try me!" She hissed, waving her daggers around dangerously, the blades just missing Lan Qiren's beard.

"My beard!" Lan Qiren shrieked.

"Who cares about your beard at the moment you old goat?!"

"A compromise then!" She said, still glaring at them.

"He will not get whipped, and he will do the seclusion, and I won't kill you right here right now!"

"And believe me I want to!" She hissed, her eyes daring them to say something.

The elders went into a huddle to discuss their options, and the girl turned to Wangji. Again he was struck by their resemblance.

"Just trust me," she mouthed.

He didn't know who she was, but he already trusted her wholeheartedly, which was weird.

"FINE WE AGREE TO YOUR COMPROMISE YOUNG LADY" the elders said in unison, giving Wangji dirty looks.

"But who are you?" One elder questioned.

The girl just chuckled darkly,

"no one of importance," she said, smirking.

She snapped her fingers and disappeared into smoke.

The elders stepped back in shock.

"Wangji go" Xichen snapped Wangji out of his daze, pulling him to his feet. "Get your stuff" he said sadly, pulling Wangji into a tight hug.

Wangji just embraced him back just as tightly.

❤️🧡💚💙💜