Chapter Text
Wei Wuxian never considered the possibility of a time-twisted banquet. One moment, he was basking in the rare, peaceful gathering of the Sect Leaders and his precious juniors. Laughter and the clinking of rice bowls filled the Cloud Recesses' grand hall, a symphony of unexpected harmony. The next, a blinding crimson and gold light erupted from a hidden talisman strapped to his wrist – a talisman he swore he never purchased, let alone activated.
Panic clawed at his throat as the familiar warmth of the dining hall dissolved into a swirling vortex of energy. Disoriented yelps filled the air as they plummeted through the chaos. Wuxian instinctively reached for Lan Zhan, his hand finding the familiar reassurance of cool jade robes.
A bone-jarring impact sent them sprawling onto a cold stone floor. Wuxian blinked back spots, his eyes adjusting to reveal a scene straight out of a fever dream. Lan Qiren stood stiffly at the head of the room, mid-lecture, his brow furrowed in irritation. But it was the dozens of raised swords, gleaming inches from their startled faces, that truly stole the show.
Jiang Cheng, ever the fierce protector, stood with his back to Wuxian, his hand hovering over Zidian, its crackling electricity a stark contrast to the shocked silence. Even Nie Huaisang, ever the carefree fan-wielding enigma, dropped his usual nonchalance. His fan clattered to the floor, his wide eyes darting between the newcomers and the Lan disciples with a newfound fear.
Wuxian, ever the optimist, forced a sardonic smile. "Well, this," he drawled, his voice echoing in the tense silence, "is going to be a most interesting turn of events." He tightened his grip on Lan Zhan's hand, a silent promise of support amidst the chaos. The weight of a forgotten past, a past they had desperately fought to rewrite, pressed down on him. This was no ordinary mishap. This was a trap, and Wei Wuxian, ever the trouble magnet, was smack dab in the middle of it. A shiver ran down his spine, a chilling premonition that this was only the beginning.