#anyway losing it at 'jin ling becomes his own uncle'

[wen-ning]

why did jin ling catch literally everyone’s flak like that everything that happened came back around to negatively impact Him, Specifically. ​all of his shitty uncles are buried too deep in their own egos to see how their weird acts of revenge ruin his life in some new, worse way. like jc smacking him to the ground because he’s having a fucking crisis? that’s basically ur kid dude. you just fucked up your precious sister’s baby. or jin ling losing one of his main caretakers and having to become sect leader at 14 because nhs needed some kind of agonizingly prolonged revenge? he couldn’t even go to lxc after that because he went into seclusion! wwx and lwj are too wrapped up in each other, not to mention they barely know the kid. anyways. justice for jl.

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

So I was reading this manhwa 'who made me a princess', idk if you know about it so brief description of it is a modern girl transmigrated into a book after her death, and its a princess who is disliked by her emperor/king? (forgot title) father and was eventually executed, anyway what i was trying to get at is that to show how terrible the father was there was entire scene where he killed all the concubines in cold blood after his wife's death (in webcomic there is no reason or readdressing of this fact afterwards, idk about the novel) so some of the fans were discussing that to show he changed as the comic was trying to portray, how powerful it would have been if he bowed down in front of those he killed, if he at least tried to make up for it. And idk looking at that discussion made me think if an attempt at post canon jiang cheng redemption (idk man maybe jiang yanlis ghost came to haunt him or some other reason where he tries i guess, maybe an older jin ling who is now stable in his position as the jin leader is the one who breakdowns and yells how much of a murderer/blood jiang cheng has of innocents on his hands after being approached by some poor family member of someone jiang cheng killed, the person is an old grandmother who asks 'my grandson was taken by sect leader jiang as a disciple he hasnt been back since, i hope he is well' and poor woman doesnt know the kids been tortured and killed and so jin ling says unless you apologize to them, unless you at least try to face your actions, dont call me your nephew again/i wont call you my uncle) jin ling (and just to be safe he tells wei wuxian all about the dates when they are going in case something goes wrong cause he trusts wei wuxian to help if things go south with jiang cheng) goes with him to prevent jiang cheng from lashing out if the families dont want to do shit with him, and to make sure he tells the truth of it and maybe its a finally wake up call for jiang cheng, because any time he even thinks of blaming wei wuxian he remembers how much of a clown he is ALA the temple scene and has no other choice but to face his actions if he wants to keep a relationship with jin ling. What are your thoughts on it?

I do think, in regards to Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng's relationship, his love for his nephew is to show that it isn't too late to show in actions, his own dedication to someone. Admittedly, I do not think Jin Ling has the heart to disown or think his uncle is a monster, as many do reasonably view him as readers. As he had said with his narration:

Somehow, there didn’t seem to be anyone he could blame or anyone he could hate. Wei Wuxian, Jin Guangyao, Wen Ning—he should hold every one of them responsible for his parents’ deaths. He had good reason to loathe each of them. But they all seemed like they’d had their reasons, and it left him unable to hate them.

But if he didn’t hate them, who could he hate? Had he deserved to lose both parents at such a young age? Was this how he would be forced to live—unable to seek revenge on his enemies, but also unable to loathe them without qualms?

He couldn’t take this lying down. He couldn’t help but feel aggrieved. How he yearned to perish with them and be done with it!

For many I don't think they see as Jiang Cheng being served enough of his own retribution. But not all of it is always putting someone in the worst possible situations to be reaped. The world of "demonic cultivation" is the realm of Xue Yang, not of Wei Wuxian, and is something that has been in underground existence even before Wei Wuxian. But don't know if Jin Ling would technically by these stories, as everyone has their reasons. It's about the healing over anything else that he eventually tries to grow with and become less ignorant through. This is already seen as he chooses night hunts with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji mentoring with no mention of Jiang Cheng kicking up a fuss. It is a very small thing, but small things are all that can be used to achieve a better world and life. Jin Ling, I feel at least, does not want anything to do with further condemnation that will only cycle a hate that will not be satisfied unless you as a person decide to move on from it.

Jin Ling does know what his uncle is like, horribleness and all, but, love is also trying to stay with them and having the fortitude to stay with that person to hope they can be for the better. Jiang Cheng, will never be kind or fully capable of initiating remorse, but his actions are enough for Jin Ling to comfortably and finally be allowed to flourish, without the weight of self-doubt. Support, in that, is really what Jin Ling needs over wanting further condemnations for those that he loves and cares for.

A lesson ironically learned from Wei Wuxian a man he stated to hate so much, yet learned to love.

[introvertpanda21]

MDZS Story Plot Rant

This is an rant for an story idea that I needed to get out of my head so I can focus on finishing some assignments for school. I don’t know why but, I have this thing where my brain just imagine an whole damn storyline which make me lose focus... And I already have the attention span of a turtle..

Here we go, the base of the story involves the junior trio minus Sizhui (There a reason for that) were sent to the past right when the Wens were about to launch an attack on Lotus Pier. Well, they aren’t exactly juniors since they are much older like in their twenties or mid-twenties but, I’m going to just call them the junior trio.

Okay, back to the story they suddenly show up in the middle of Yumeng and see the Wens army coming that they hurry and head to Lotus Pier to warn the Jiangs. The Jiangs along with the juniors don’t even have time to question anything about each other since they are trying to escape alive. Luckily the junior manage to do some quick thinking and Madam Yu is able to survive. (She and her husband deserve some redemption.) 

Don’t fully have a idea how the juniors were sent to the past but my brain decided that it got to do with some god or goddess using their power or ability to sent them to the past at the cost of the god or goddess getting punished by the heavens. (My brain is weird...) But, in my brain they only find out later in the story plot when the god or goddess shows up. Anyways the reason that the god or goddess sent them to the past was that the history was bound to repeat itself.

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Buckle up, because my brain comes up with weird story plot. 

Okay, so in the future like a couple of years after the truth was found out about Jin Guangyao, it appear peaceful on the outside but on the inside the cultivation world is still unstable. Since LanlingJin clan reputation is stain with the revelation of what happen with the Wens and all the dirty laundry of the previous sect leaders. Like they are still rich and powerful but many small sects find the Jins to be unworthy of being so powerful. (Honestly don’t fully have an idea on sect politics) Basically greedy and selfish cultivators jealous and wanting more power for themselves. (cough Jin Guangshan cough) 

Anyway, the juniors have become adults and are trying to navigate a world full of political intrigue among clans. They also become sworn brothers after a few years of knowing each, unaware of the trouble that was coming their way. As they were growing up they had been trying not to repeat the mistakes of the past generation along with healing from generation trauma... which they don’t exactly achieve... either one... 

Honestly I feel bad my brain decided to give these children their own set of generation trauma. 

Back to the point, Jin Ling had to handle being sect leader at such a young age and has to deal with corrupt officials and not getting the proper respect as sect leader. Also, dealing with the whispers of insults about his family name and all the sins his uncle and grandfather committed. Through all that Jin Ling has been trying to fix all damage his clan has cause. Which isn’t exactly easy since they all associated him to being like his uncle. (The poor boy also experience way to many people trying to murder him in his early years as sect leader, that he’s a little paranoid) Luckily he has his uncles to support him, and my brain decided this needed some Zhuling. So, Jin Ling and Sizhui had developed feelings for a while and are sort of dating but have to keep it as a secret or shit hits the fan. 

Oh funny thing, my brain decide to make the decision of making Jingyi the biological son of Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng. Don’t know how but something along the line of them sharing the same ying and yang that somehow made Jiang Cheng have Jingyi. (Sometime I question my brain decisions...) In my story, they ended sleep together around the time that the sunshot campaign was over or maybe after Wei Wuxian death. I don’t know but, in my story scenarios they had developed feelings for each other but kind got off the wrong start. Consume by alcohol or need for comfort brought them together but due to misunderstanding made them go their separate ways. My brain haven’t fully thought out the whole thing.

Poor Jingyi though, since Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng weren’t exactly perfect parents. When Jiang Cheng found out he was pregnant, he and Xichen decided to let Jingyi grow up in Gusu. And growing up Jingyi barely had any contact with his parents. Only being giving gifts on his birthday and brief visits by the sect leaders on those days. Even Jingyi always had to properly speak to them that he never called them his dads as a child. Not only that but he had to listen to the whispers of calling him a bastard son of two sect leaders who did not love each other. But, growing up he was more outgoing and behave differently that no one associated him with the two sect leaders given the different personality. He also grew distant with them and made excuses when they tried to talk to him. In my storyline, Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen do love their son but don’t really know how to express it unlike how they do with their nephews. (I imagine that their past selves feeling really guilty at seeing Jingyi acting cold towards them.) 

Anyways, Jingyi does feel some envy at Jing ling but bottle those emotions to the side seeing how Jin Ling had suffer through a lot. Jin Ling had confronted Jingyi about being cousins but, Jingyi would say they are but Jiang Cheng basically left him in Gusu so he is just Lan Jingyi, an disciple of Gusu clan. My brain decided that their relationship is sort of like Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. They feel this bond of family but, at the same time Jingyi had to deal with the occasion jabs of Jing ling greatness as sect leader and the attention he gets. While, Jingyi had to listen to subtle insults of the elders on his legitimate right as sect heir and how he was abandon by his fathers as one wallow in grief while the other attend to his nephew. And in a way growing up he becomes really attached to Lan Zhan and Sizhui who are basically like family to him. 

Zizhen also has to deal with the pressure of his father about getting ready to become sect leader in a few more years. He finds out that his father was involve in the encampment of the Wens and the extreme treatment that occur there. He tried to confront his old man, who denied and tried to say that the Wens deserve it. Later on, Zizhen’s mother gets brutally murder as retaliation from far-distant relatives of the murdered Wens that managed to somehow survived or had left the Wen sect before the war. Or from people wanting to avenge the atrocities that Zizhen’s father committed. Since that man was not completely innocent since he support Jin Guangshan. (Oh his past self is going to suffer from so much guilt for causing his son so much pain) Anyways Zizhen’s father basically wallows in guilt over his wife death and Zizhen force to become sect leader. He becomes the second youngest sect leader after Jin Ling. 

So, Zizhen is fill with rage at his mother’s brutal death that he take revenge which ends in a brutal manner. And has to deal with the amount of acts his father committed after the war. Now, Zizhen’s hands are cover in blood that Zizhen basically abandon the one of the things that brought him happiness which was writing. And he feels that he had done nothing but repeat the same actions that his ancestors had done. Oh, and he becomes more cold towards others in order to get them to respect him and can barely stand staying in the same room with his father. 

Sizhui has to deal with learning about his Wen heritage and the heavy burden on being one of the last survivor. I imagine he deals with guilt and has to listen to the whispers related to the Wens. But, still manage to smile through the whole ordeal. (I guess he’s the one who trauma happen mostly in his childhood.) He does have to deal with the expectations of being Lan Zhan’s adopted son and prodigy.

Anyways, the juniors had their own burdens throughout the years but were still sworn brothers until a tragedy occur a few years before they were sent to the past. 

Haven’t fully thought it out but, I imagine that it involve a siege or a coup or maybe like an attempt at war again. Personally I feel like the clans probably never learn since they always fear each other or don’t like when one clan starts to grow more stronger. 

But, during this event Sizhui ends up dying. (I swear I love my child, but it was necessary for my storyline) One of the scenario, is Jin Ling being responsible for the death of Sizhui, like he accidently ends up killing him because he corrupt by resentment energy or something. The potential angst for this since it remind me of what happen to Yanli. (similar parallel between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian..) But, Jin Ling doesn’t died and has to live with the guilt. And Jingyi grows to hate Jin Ling and tries to fight him before he face punishment by the Lan elders for attacking a sect leader. While, the Lan elders are upset over the death of Sizhui, they aren’t willing to ruin relationship with the Jins and cause another fight. 

A scenario of mine, is that Jingyi has to endure the disciple whips like Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan object to the punishment but, Jingyi tells him that it is necessary since the Lan elders would place blame on Wei Wuxian over Sizhui’s death.(The Lan Elders are petty a-holes) Given that resentment energy was involve, Jingyi doesn’t want Wei Wuxian to suffer anymore after losing his son once again. I imagine he kowtow to lan zhan and beg him to let him do this as Lan Zhan, Sizhui, and Wei Wuxian had treated him with kindness. 

He ends up getting like he get fifteen strikes on his back since he fought a sect leader but also refuses to acknowledge his mistake. Further enrage the Lan elders, who wanted a more stronger punishment but Lan Zhan refuses. After the last strike, he ends up in the clinic as he’s getting treated.

Lan Xichen temporarily left seclusion after hearing what happen to his nephew and son. However, Jingyi refuses to acknowledge him as a concern parent and only as sect leader. Xichen would remain from a distance and would leave the clinic to visit his brother and his brother-in-law. 

Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan would visit Jingyi at the clinic, causing Jingyi to hug Wei Wuxian as he beg for forgiveness for Sizhui’s death. 

Even through tears Wei Wuxian comfort Jingyi and tell him it wasn’t his fault. However, scold him for accepting such a punishment. 

Another scenario is Jin Ling grieving over the death of his lover and the guilt that he isolate himself for a few days. That even his uncle was unable to visit him, until Zizhen forcefully manage to enter and see Jin Ling. Even through his grief of losing his sworn brother, Zizhen had to knock some sense into Jin Ling given the political instability among the clans. Jin Ling knowing Zizhen is right, force himself to return back to his position and try to fix the politically instability among the clans. 

Haven’t though more on the storyline but, I imagine the god or goddess decided to sent the juniors back in time with some sort of requirement in hopes that the past generation realized the trauma they past down to the future generation. They would have to deal with the war and at the same time tried to connect with the juniors and bond with them in order for them to heal their souls. While, the juniors deal with changing the past to ensure that no one dies. 

Another thought involving this storyline was that in the end, the juniors from the future would disappear since the past has change so much. And it this sort of bittersweet but happy ending since the Juniors from the future would disappear from the timeline but at the same time they have some comfort knowing that they would not have to experience any of the suffering and they will always become sworn brothers in this new timeline. Along with helping ensure everyone could be happy in this new timeline. I imagine in one of my scenario that before they disappear, the people of the past see this vision of like Jiang Cheng, Lan Xichen, Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan, Wen Ning and Sizhui waiting for the juniors. And like Sizhui is waving at them with his gentle smile as the juniors rush towards him. And then it changes to them when they were still teenagers and had big smiles before they disappear completely. 

[ruensroad]

Catching Lightning

I had this stuck in my head and it wouldn’t leave, so I wrote it down.

tbh, I like this pairing. Maybe sometime I’ll go more in depth.

---

There was a point, some time ago, that these meetings with the Jiang Sect Leader had become a bit of a tradition, though if he were pressed, Lan Qiren knew he wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the moment. It’d just simply been meetings between teacher and student, with fragrant Lotus Pier tea as a gift and a go board between them that simply hadn’t stopped, not from the first time when Jiang Cheng had been sixteen and one of the top in his class, willing to indulge Lan Qiren in a test of his strategy, the way he tested all the sect leader heirs that he taught.

But unlike the others, Jiang Cheng had kept coming back. Through war, through tragedy. Through rebirth and rebuilding. The boy that had been had transformed before his eyes, angrier, sadder, lonelier, but still just as willing to indulge Lan Qiren’s love of go and bring him tea.

Lan Qiren would never admit it, but the lightly spiced tea was his favorite, though he didn’t know if it was the flavor or his feelings in regards to the man that made it so.

This game felt like a privilege. The dead of winter was not a time Jiang Cheng ventured out of his sect, given it was his time with Jin Ling. Traveling with a five year old child, and into a cold place, was not advisable, even if the boy was not heir of all LanLing. But Jiang Cheng had braved it, and for no other reason than to show Jin Ling snowfall, and then to sequester himself in Lan Qiren’s state room, serving the spiced tea, face not smiling but relaxed, their game of go continuing on from the months’ hiatus.

Jin Ling was babbling at Jiang Cheng’s back, messing with his uncle’s hair, and that was the beginning of all of Lan Qiren’s problems, right there.

Because the man’s hair was down, loose and straight and long, moving like a veil each time he leaned forward to place another piece. Lan Qiren was at a loss as to why the sight stole his breath, but it did. Perhaps it was because he’d never before seen it.

His patience and love for Jin Ling was obvious, even if his face didn’t always show it, and Lan Qiren felt like he was intruding, even though these were his rooms, and Jiang Cheng the guest. He said nothing, however, and listened as Jiang Cheng talked of Lotus Pier, of training his disciples in their water cultivation techniques during the annual floods. It wasn’t particularly interesting news, but Lan Qiren listened raptly to every word, even the soft ones aimed at Jin Ling when the boy got too overzealous with pulling and braiding.

Some part of his heart was hard with logic, that he enjoyed these times with Jiang Cheng because he’d been friends with Jiang Fengmian. His friend, too, had sat with him like this, sharing tea and losing at go. They’d laughed and talked for hours, each memory golden and light in Lan Qiren’s mind. 

But the other part of his heart, the more troublesome part, pointed out Jiang Cheng’s beauty was too sharp, his face too scowly, his eyes too flinty, to be a mere echo of that friendship. Jiang Cheng was his mother’s child through and through, but also better, softer in his hard way. Jin Ling was utterly fearless of him, even with that impressive frown, which spoke to a gentleness only Jiang Cheng could give. A gentleness he had not gotten in his own childhood.

A voice in his head delighted in torturing him with each tiny smile, each lowered word as Jin Ling was talked to and the easy trust and love between uncle and nephew. Jiang Cheng was beautiful and tired and strong. He cut through every moment like a thunderstorm, electrifying the air. Seeing him like this was just as humbling as when he was between the world and danger, eyes bright with lightning, body poised with power. Perhaps even more so, because this was a Jiang Cheng only Jin Ling got to see, and for some reason, he’d deigned Lan Qiren important enough to see it too.

“You’re as cutthroat as ever, Old Master,” Jiang Cheng said, voice low and even as he moved his black piece. It would be sacrificed to Lan Qiren’s, just as he’d planned, and Lan Qiren smiled at that slight turn of the man’s mouth. 

“I will not simply let you win, Sect Leader.” The tease was easy, so easy, and in many ways this was a side of himself he too only shared with his nephews. Jiang Cheng was important enough to share it with, and he felt his heart do a worrying drop at the way Jiang Cheng huffed a laugh, the black piece removed form the board.

“I’d be insulted if you did,” Jiang Chen agreed, and it wasn’t even a tease, really. Lan Qiren knew him enough to know he would be insulted to be allowed to win. He wanted fair competition, thrived on it, and Lan Qiren knew himself well enough to know he thrived on the same. 

He thrived on everything about these meetings, if he were fully honest with himself, but he worried about the reason why. It was there, of course, in the corners of Jiang Cheng’s lips, the faint crinkle in his eyes, the way his throat flashed each time he swallowed. It’d been a long time since Lan Qiren had felt a stirring of desire, but this impossible storm of a man made him feel it and he wasn’t sure how to move forward.

Never speaking of it seemed the appropriate response, and yet sometimes, when those dark eyes flicked up to his, a smirk forming, the man’s body at ease and relaxed, Lan Qiren wished he were braver, or far more reckless. More selfish. Jiang Cheng made him want to be very selfish indeed.

It was a fool’s dream, but one he’d carry with gladness if it meant he could sit here, at the heart of the storm, and earn a smile no one else would get to see. Love didn’t have to be a romance, out in the open. Sometimes it was simply quiet, stolen glances and whispered hopes inside his heart, which shouldn’t be whispering for anyone, let alone Jiang Cheng.

It wasn’t for Lans to deny their love, but it was their way of temperance. There was no way it would go anywhere but here, with each non-touch between rounds of go, with Jin Ling giggling and making Jiang Cheng so impossibly soft. It shouldn’t, it couldn’t. It wouldn’t.

Striving to bottle lightning was more for the Jiang to attempt anyway, with their aim for the impossible. He would take what was offered and pray his heart did not give out.

By that smile he got as another piece was blocked, he feared he knew his own demise, and it was right there in Jiang Cheng’s tired, amused gaze.

What a way to go.

[crossdressingdeath]

I know a lot of people refuse to believe/forget that JC did canonically torture people to death for 13 years, so I gathered some proof directly from the novel that basically proves that JC did indeed do those things:

“Jiang Cheng spoke grimly, ‘Break his legs? Haven’t I told you? If you see this sort of evil and crooked practice, kill the cultivator and feed him to your dogs!’.”- Chapter 7, Arrogance Part Two

As soon as JC sees someone who uses even the tiniest bit of resentful energy, and for this reason:

“The boy’s movements were already fast, but Wei WuXian had done a lot of “tripping someone while slapping a talisman onto their back”, which meant that he was faster. The boy suddenly felt his torso become numb, his back weakening, and he unwillingly collapsed onto the ground, with his sword also falling to the side with a clunk. He couldn’t get up no matter how hard he tried, as if a mountain was on top of him. On his back, there was a ghost who had died from gluttony, crushing him to the point that he couldn’t even breathe. Although the ghost was weak, it was completely capable of dealing with brats like this one. Wei WuXian picked up his sword, weighed it in his hands, and swung toward the direction of the deity-binding net, splitting it in half.”- Chapter 7, Arrogance Part Two

So as soon as WWX defends himself from JL, and keeps him pinned to the ground, and obviously not going to harm JL, JC says this. Kinda sketchy.

Another thing;

“After a moment, the corners of Jiang Cheng’s lips pulled into a twisted smile. His left hand started to unconsciously stroke the ring again. He spoke softly, ‘... Well, well. So you’re back?’”-Chapter 10 Arrogance Part 5

All because WWX just summoned a corpse to save JL. Remember, at this time, everyone thinks WWX is actually MXY. All the disciple says is that ‘MXY’ was the one who summoned WWX. What if it had been an accident? ‘MXY’ was only trying to save JL, and WN had been the first corpse to pop up. JC doesn’t say anything in thanks for saving JL, and instead does this;

“Sure enough, as if eyes grew on his back, Jiang Cheng saw that he went outside Lan WangJi’s area of protection, and was determined to grasp the chance. With a slanting crack of his whip, Zidian slashed out with the semblance of a poisonous dragon, precisely landing on the center of his back!”

He whips WWX immediately. Doesn’t seem like the actions of someone who didn’t torture people to death for years, simply because he believed they were WWX. Immediately. Let that sink in. And even if you want to argue that JC probably only whips him because of WN; here’s another thing.

“A moment ago, Jiang Cheng was certain that this person was Wei WuXian, and all of the blood in his body started to boil. Yet, now, Zidian was clearly telling him that he wasn’t. Zidian definitely wouldn’t deceive him or make a mistake, so he quickly calmed himself and thought, this doesn’t mean anything. I should first find an excuse to take him back and use every possible method to get information out of him. It’s impossible for him to not confess anything or give himself away. I’ve done things like this in the past anyways. After thinking it through, he made a gesture. The disciples understood his intention and came over.”-Chapter 10, Arrogance Part 5

We’re currently in JC’s POV. He has no reason to make things up in his head. His disciples also clearly help him capture demonic cultivators. HE LITERALLY FUCKING ADMITS TO HAVING DONE THIS BEFORE, TO THE POINT WHERE NO ONE WOULD CARE IF HE TOOK ‘MXY’ BACK TO LP, AND DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO HIM. But if people still need more proof.

“Everyone in the cultivation world knew that the young leader of the Jiang Clan watched out for Wei WuXian in an almost crazed manner. He would rather catch the wrong person than let go of any possibility, and took anyone who seemed like they held the soul of Wei WuXian away to the YunmengJiang Sect, inflicting severe torture on his victim. If he wanted to take someone back, the opposition would surely lose half of their life.” Chapter 10, Arrogance Part 5.

JC is a powerful sect leader! No one would dare spread false rumors about him! So why do these exist? Some more;

“Lan SiZhui tried to reason with him, “Young Master Mo, it was for your sake that HanGuang-Jun brought you here. If you do not follow us, Sect Leader Jiang will not be willing to let the matter go. During these years, there were countless people whom he caught and took back to Lotus Pier, and none of those people were ever let out.’... “Lan JingYi spoke, “That is right. You have seen Sect Leader Jiang’s methods, have you not? They are quite cruel…’”-Chapter 11, Refinement Part One

These are GusuLan disciples. Speaking about things that are false/spreading false rumors is forbidden! A strict no-no! As much as I love Petty!LWJ, even if it was about someone he hated, LWJ would correct the juniors if he believed/knew they were false! That’s his nature. But he doesn’t. Some more proof;

“Jin Ling replied with an ‘oh,’ and his footsteps faded into the distance. Seeing Jiang Cheng turn around, Wei WuXian immediately pulled a mixed expression of “I’m so shocked,” “my secret has been disclosed,” and “what do I do now that Wen Ning had been found.” Jin Ling was actually quite clever. Knowing that Jiang Cheng hated Wen Ning more than anything, he made up such a smooth lie with the previous knowledge he had. Jiang Cheng knew that the YiLing Patriarch and the Ghost General often appeared together, so he already suspected that Wen Ning was in the area. Having heard Jin Ling’s words, he was already mostly convinced, and Wei WuXian’s expression convinced him even further. On top of that, he burst into fury whenever he heard the mention of Wen Ning’s name. With his eyes blinded by wrath, how could he still have doubted?”

If JC really didn’t torture people to death, why the hell would JL feel the need to save ‘MXY’? This is JC’s own fucking nephew, why the hell would JL doubt him? Oh wait, let me guess. Maybe it’s because he actually does do that!

Some more, if they still don’t believe;

“Jin Ling, ‘It’s not the first time my uncle did such a thing. He has never let any of them go, even if it was possible that he caught the wrong ones.’”

What is not clicking? JC tortures them so badly, JL feels the need to save him!!! This is JC’s own motherfucking nephew. Someone who knows JC, and spends time at LP. He’s very clearly heard JC do this before.

Some more proof;

Here, I couldn’t find the actual chapter, but when JC’s own people are afraid of him, and genuinely believe he tortures demonic cultivators. (If you know the chapter, would you mind listing which it is?). But anyway, there’s also a quote where the screams of the tortured people can be heard in LP. People are so scared of JC, they can’t even ask the sect for help with reeenful energy problems! Quite telling, no?

Thus, this concludes my ‘JC really did torture people for 13 years’.

Yeah, it’s a whole thing. It’s quite a study in willful blindness, seeing people insist that it was just rumours and JC never did anything like torturing people to death. Like... they have to be actively ignoring every scene where the matter comes up to say with such confidence that JC is innocent of the thing that every piece of evidence we get says he’s guilty of.

[alessandriana]

For @missximagination​! This may or may not be precisely what you wanted, haha. I got shoved under an unexpected truckload of feels when I started thinking about Jin Ling having to go back and forth between the Jin and the Jiang all the time, and added in the mix was also this absolutely gorgeous art by @yutaan​, and-- yeah. So this is mostly a large dose of Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling feels, with some added JGY & JC interaction.

***

Jin Ling was bawling by the time Jiang Cheng crossed the border between Yunmeng and Lanling. Jiang Cheng was halfway to doing the same, though it manifested mostly as a fierce scowl that made his face ache and only got worse as the ridiculous excess that was Carp Tower came into view on the horizon.

"I don't wanna," Jin Ling sobbed, face red and miserable where it was pressed into Jiang Cheng's shoulder. At six years old, he was old enough to know what was happening and too young to understand why. "I want to go home, I want to go swimming and play with the fishes and--" he hiccuped, "and I don't like it there, no one likes me, I wanna stay with you, jiujiu."

Okay, fuck. Jiang Cheng's arms tightened around Jin Ling and he descended abruptly out of the air to land in someone's field. Grass rose knee-high, nearly swallowing Jin Ling entirely as Jiang Cheng set him down and he flopped onto his stomach to cry into the dirt. Jiang Cheng crouched down in front of him, then sat down in the dirt himself, ignoring what it would do to his clothing and the way Jin Guangyao would very politely refrain from commenting on it while the rest of his retinue giggled behind their hands.

"Hey, hey, A-Ling," he said, putting a hand on Jin Ling's back, and then wincing as Jin Ling flinched away. "I'm sorry. I know you want to stay at Lotus Pier-- I want you to stay at Lotus Pier--" god, did he-- "but I don't have a choice."

Jin Ling lifted his face, smeared with tears, and said, "Don't you want me?"

Fuck! Jiang Cheng reached out and gathered Jin Ling into his lap until Jin Ling finally turned and wrapped his arms tightly around his jiujiu's neck. Jiang Cheng buried his face against Jin Ling's hair and closed his eyes against the hot press of tears. His jaw felt like it was going to crack, he was clenching it so hard. "I want you a lot, A-Ling," he managed. "You have no idea how much."

The compromise he had made with Lanling Jin had been simple. By all rights, A-Ling belonged with his father's side of the family. They could have shut him up in Carp Tower and only allowed Jiang Cheng to visit once a year, had they been so inclined. But Jin Guangshan had seen an opportunity in the depths of Jiang Cheng's grief, and he'd offered a deal: Jin Ling would spend six months of the year in Yunmeng, and six months of the year in Lanling. In exchange, Jiang Cheng had promised to make Jin Ling his heir, and neither marry nor sire any children of his own.

It was a nearly ruinous deal. If Jin Ling inherited, Lanling Jin would gain significant control over the Jiang. They would lose their independence, becoming little more than another subordinate sect-- albeit a wealthy one. Jiang Cheng's mother would have called him a sentimental fool for even contemplating it.

Faced with losing the only remaining member of his family, Jiang Cheng had taken the deal in a heartbeat.

Jin Ling, of course, being six years old, was aware of none of this. All he knew was that every six months like clockwork, Jiang Cheng dropped him off at Carp Tower and didn't look back.

Jiang Cheng rubbed Jin Ling's back and let him cry until he'd exhausted himself. They were going to be late, but that didn't matter. Jiang Cheng's head was pounding with the effort of not giving into his own emotions.

Once Jin Ling's crying had tapered off except for the occasional wet sniffle, Jiang Cheng took out a handkerchief and began methodically wiping off his face until it was clean again. The mud on both their clothes mostly came off with some brushing and a quick spell A-Jie had taught him, though there wasn't much he could do about the wrinkles. It would do.

Then Jiang Cheng lifted Jin Ling into his arms, pulled out Sandu, and lifted back into the air.

Jin Guangyao was waiting for them at the top of the staircase at Carp Tower, as always. The ladies who were in charge of taking care of Jin Ling at Lanling-- Jin Guangyao himself did not, of course, take care of children on his own-- were standing behind him; they bowed with utmost respect, but Jiang Cheng could see the covert glances they were throwing at his clothing.

"Jiang-zongzhu," Jin Guangyao said, ever-polite. "I'm so glad you made it safely. I trust your trip was uneventful?"

"Jin-zongzhu," Jiang Cheng greeted in return. He'd managed to reduce his scowl to something more neutral, though the effort had been considerable. It would do neither of them any good for him to appear visibly distressed-- Jin Guangyao might be less of an outright bastard than his father, but he would have no compunctions about using it to wring more concessions out of the Jiang. "It was fine. My apologies for being late. The weather was good, so we stopped to look at some animals A-Ling wanted to see."

Well, Jin Ling had probably seen some bugs when he'd had his face in the dirt, anyways.

"It's no trouble, I assure you. I'm sure he enjoyed that. Clearly he's very tired out!" Jin Guangyao smiled at where Jin Ling was practically passed out in Jiang Cheng's arms.

That was Jiang Cheng's cue; he lifted Jin Ling off his shoulder. One of the ladies stepped forward, as if to take him, but Jiang Cheng set Jin Ling on his feet instead and knelt down in front of him with a hand under his arm until he was awake enough to support himself.

"A-Ling, it's time for me to go," Jiang Cheng said seriously. "Are you going to be good for your xiao-shushu?"

Jin Ling rubbed his eyes with the back of his wrist, yawning. He looked back and forth between Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao. For a moment Jiang Cheng thought he was going to start crying again, but then he just nodded, downcast.

"A-Ling," Jin Guangyao said, as he bent down as well and reached into his sleeve to pull something out, "do you want to see what I brought you?" It was a shining metal carp, enameled in orange and yellow, with articulated joints that caused it to wiggle like a real fish when you moved it. Jin Ling's eyes brightened and he reached for it with grasping hands, completely and utterly distracted.

"Say thank you to your uncle first," Jiang Cheng snapped. On the one hand, he was more than a little aggravated by Jin Guangyao's obvious attempt at bribing his way into Jin Ling's affections-- it was not the first time, and Jin Ling was starting to show signs of being spoiled. On the other hand, if it took that sad look off his face, Jiang Cheng would have bought a hundred more fish just like it.

Jin Ling dropped into a credible bow, and said, "Thank you, xiao-shushu."

"You're very welcome, A-Ling." Jin Guangyao handed over the fish, and Jin Ling started waving it around, delighted.

Jiang Cheng stood, hoping to get away while Jin Ling wasn't paying attention. Jin Guangyao rose as well, and walked with Jiang Cheng a few feet towards the stairs. "You're more than welcome to stay for dinner, or even a few days," he said. "We'd be happy to have you. Jin Ling could show you the new training field we put in in the south wing for him; the training master is going to start him learning how to shoot this time, I understand."

The last time Jiang Cheng had taken him up on that offer, Jiang Cheng had left having agreed to lower the tariffs they charged Lanling by five percent in exchange for having Jin Ling come home during the Spring Festival. So. Better to get out now, before he truly bargained away the rest of the Jiang Sect. "I appreciate your kind offer," he said, and with a tiny bit of malicious gladness added, "Actually, I started teaching him how to use a bow earlier this year. But I'm sure he'll benefit from Lanling Jin's expert instruction as well."

Jin Guangyao's pleasant expression flickered, then returned. He said, "How wonderful! I'm sure he could have no better teacher than yourself. Jiang-zongzhu is well known to be the best archer in Yunmeng."

A muscle in Jiang Cheng's jaw jumped as he read the unspoken coda: now that Wei Wuxian is dead. But there was no way to tell if that jab had been intentional or not. "You're too kind." He added, "I'll take my leave now."

"Jiujiu!"

Jiang Cheng turned, and caught Jin Ling just as he flung himself at Jiang Cheng, that stupid fish still clutched in his grubby hands. They clung to each other, and for a minute Jiang Cheng let himself not care what their audience thought.

But it couldn't last forever. Finally Jiang Cheng had to peel himself away. "Hey, A-Ling, no crying in public," he said, roughly.

Jin Ling sniffled. "Yes, jiujiu," he said, face solemn.

"Good kid." Jiang Cheng stood, ignoring Jin Guangyao, ignoring the stupid retainers who were probably laughing at him. "I'll see you in three months for the Spring Festival," he said. "Then you'll be back in Yunmeng for the summer. Got it?"

"Uh-huh."

And with that Jiang Cheng turned to go, because if he didn't leave right then he was going to start crying in public.

Carp Tower faded behind him.

Someday Jin Ling would grow used to this, to being shuttled between families, to spending half his life in one clan and the rest in another.

Jiang Cheng wasn't certain he ever would.

[zhuilingyizhen]

agents of shield x mdzs au

This is the qUaLitY content y’all get from this blog. Also see me spamming friend about this AU. It’s junior-centered, with a dash of wangxian. This is basically a more in-depth version of what I gave my friend lol

After getting kicked out of SHIELD for questionable experiments involving Kree blood, Wei Wuxian was spying on Hydra (lead by Wen Ruohan) by infiltrating them as a scientist. However, being Wei Wuxian, he neglected to tell anyone since he got kicked out, so everyone thought he betrayed them.

So he’s at Hydra, befriending Wen Qing & Ning, and realizes that they’re good people.

But he got caught giving info to Director LXC, so Wei Wuxian makes his grand escape. He may have accidentally knocked over a terrigenesis crystal while trying to escape the Nightless City.

The terrigenesis crystal may have turned a little boy into an Inhuman (the first time anyone went through terrigenesis) and that little boy (Wen Yuan) may have accidentally burnt down the entire Nightless City.

At least, that’s how WWX explains it to Lan Wangji when he gives LWJ a child to take care of.

So, with Wen Yuan in SHIELD custody, Lan Wangji adopts him & renames him Lan Sizhui. He’s still a child (I don’t know why I keep referring to him as a little boy?? He’s like 12-ish??).

So Wei Wuxian goes off to re-join the remnants of HYDRA because they let him experiment in peace & he gets to keep an eye on them for SHIELD (even though he’s an ex-agent).

But before that, he vouches for WQ & WN to join SHIELD. And though many people there are suspicious, they do have a vacant spot for a doctor now that Dr. Wei is gone & WQ is quite good. They bring WN along too.

Meanwhile: Lan Jingyi is getting abused my his mother & his dad is working across the country so life is quite sucky for him.

Thankfully, his family has connections to one Lan Xichen (who learns about the abuse eventually) and Jingyi gets into SHIELD Academy. What he doesn’t know is that he comes from a line of people with Inhumans genes.

Which may or may not how been why Xichen was visiting.

Anyways, Sizhui & Jingyi meet at SHIELD Academy (both around 13-14?) and Lan Qiren is about to get more headaches.

Eventually, he (now 16) gets told why he was accepted on the first place & asked if he’d like to go through terrigenesis. He’s like “ok” and boom vocal mind control.

That’s actually inaccurate; he has the power to manipulate people with his voice. He has to learn how to control it though.

Wei Wuxian rejoins SHIELD! Lan Sizhui meets the person who saved him all those years ago. yay.

Little did they know, Wei Wuxian was expieriemnting with terrigenesis while he was gone but shhhhhhh-

Now onto Jin Ling’s backstory, cause his is a doozy.

Jiang Yanli got Inhuman genes from her mother. So did jc, but his powers & stuff come into play later. Wwx is their adopted bro, but due to circumstances that will be explained later, Wwx & jc are estranged.

Jyl and jzx raise jl for most of his younger childhood (until he’s about 7-8) when evil HYDRA people come in & kill jzx and kidnap jyl for Inhuman experimentation. Note, she has the genes but isn’t an Inhuman (yet).

Ling is very sad and Jiang Cheng swoops in to take him in. Jc actually worked at as a SHEILD agent back from before lxc was Director (coughxichengcough) but left when his sister was kidnapped so he could try to track her down & save her. Instead he gets his nephew.

Jc also takes over his parents’ buisness to get a source of income.

And jc goes through the woes of being a parent up until he also gets kidnapped by HYDRA. Jl also gets nabbed, but HYDRA separates them

Wwx may have been expierimenting but he tries to do it without hurting any of them, and he validates it because he prevented many people from getting cut open by explaining to the HYDRA heads that they’re most useful alive. It somehow works.

In fact, wwx is assigned to jl. The HYDRA people know wwx’s relation to jc & jyl, so they don’t tell wwx that they kidnapped jc & jyl or that they’re literally in the same facility.

Since wwx was assigned to jl, he basically helps him undergo terrigenesis and tries to determine his power.

Wwx also doesn’t know that jl is kinda his nephew. But he pities him, so he maybe helps jl escape, but in a way so that no one realizes it because he still has his cover to maintain.

(also, I forgot to mention: jyl’s kidnapping caused jc & wwx to become estranged).

So wwx may have had a very loud conversation near jl’s cell about some of the exits and also teaches jl the basics on his Inhuman ability. maybe the device he uses to control jl’s powers happened to malfunction in the middle of the night.

Ling, not knowing that wwx is helping him, uses his power (energy manipulation) to break out and makes a run for it.

He manages to escape (wwx had a very detailed convo about the building’s layout) and gets the hell out of there.

Jl’s smart enough to realize that since HYDRA knows where he lives, that he probably shouldn’t go back home.

He really wants to get his uncle back (and maybe his mom, but he’s not sure she’s still alive) but has like no idea how to use his power to do anything except bomb stuff. & that only works like half the time.

Jin Ling is about to kill a bitch but then he remembers that his uncle gave him an address to go to if anything ever happened (remember, jc is an ex-SHIELD agent so bad things happen quite a lot).

Meanwhile, despite his carefulness, wwx got caught and HYDRA is deciding whether or not he will die. Wwx, being the genius he is, takes all his stuff and gets the fuck outta there.

He decides to go visit his kinda-boyfriend (that he may or may not have been ignoring for like 13 years), lwj back at SHIELD. He also wants to see how the Wen siblings are doing.

So WWX goes back to SHIELD, only about an hour before Ling arrives. In jl’s defense, he had no idea that the entrance to a secret government organization was a quaint little music shop.

He just kinda... walks in, and everyone is freaking bc they have been breached but sees him and thinks “huh he kinda looks like jc” and then lxc thinks “oh no what happened this time”

Lxc introduces himself and jl (being the second best matchmaker here, second to only lxc) accidentally reveals that jc talked about him before.

Lxc is pleasantly surprised (gay) and asks jl to come with him into his office so that they can... chat.

On their way, they pass by the science lab. Wei Wuxian, who just came back to base, is happily walking along with Lan Sizhui, when all hell breaks loose.

Remember when I said that wwx was quite secretive about helping? And that jl is still upset bc he never got his uncle back and he can’t lose another family member, not to them?

So obviously jl does what anyone would if you saw the guy who forced you to undergo a life-changing event and was involved in the organization that kidnapped two of his family members and killed his dad: he attaccs.

If you also remember, I mentioned that jl has no fucking clue what he’s doing. All he knows is energy and boom boom.

And the mini-explosions only work in close range, from what he’s seen. So in his anger, he unlocks a new skill: energy shots.

Wei Wuxian took cover like the second he realized who was attempting to kill him and screaming at the others not to kill his assailant no matter how annoying he was.

Lan Wangji sadly wasn’t at base, but Sizhui was, and he can certainly hold his own against Ling, especially since Sizhui has had more time to train with his power.

Luckily, Jingyi swoops in & uses his voice to force jl to stop. They handcuff him and lxc drags him away into his office.

It’s safe to say that the science lab corridor is fried.

That’s basically how jl got introduced to SHIELD (he eventually joins and learns the truth about wwx, which makes all their past interactions quite awkward).

Now we have Zizhen, who comes into the story after the two Lans have become agents but before the whole Jin Ling fiasco occurs.

Sizhui & Jingyi were sent to see if Agent Ouyang Xingyun (@yoitsamy’s oc older sis of oyzz)‘a family knew where she was because she was on a undercover mission & didn’t check in with her contact last week. + she didn’t contact SHIELD so Director LXC was worried.

They look through the window and everything is a mess, so they kick down the door and try to find anyone. The whole place is torn apart, like people were fighting there.

In the upstairs bedroom, they find Ouyang Zizhen & four of his younger siblings huddled together in a corner, protected by a forcefield-like shield. Once they realize the Lans aren’t a threat, the go back to SHIELD HQ and put in a room there until they can figure out wtf was going on.

Apparently, Zizhen unlocked his powers w/o terrigenesis when they got attacked by someone who was looking for his sister and used it to protect his siblings. They hadn’t seen their big sister in weeks.

So the Lans have a new case to solve, SHIELD has two new Inhumans with off circumstances, and Lan Wangji is one Xichen away from killing Jin Ling.

[bloody-bee-tea]

I am proud of you

Jiang Cheng should be praised every hour, and I’m here to get that started. Lan Xichen is totally on my side.

Lan Xichen hates cultivational conferences. The endless talking, the schmoozing, the blatant lies, the shifting blame; it’s tiresome and exhausting and Lan Xichen considers going back into seclusion, just to avoid these things.

The only enjoyable part of a conference is Jiang Cheng.

Lan Xichen loves seeing the other man, loves being reminded of just how far Jiang Cheng came in all this time.

He’s still as angry as ever, his words biting in a way no one else manages, but it’s clear that his people adore him and that he’s one of the most prestigious Sect Leaders they have.

And that’s not only because everything is in shambles right now. Jiang Cheng has always been the very best of all of them, and it’s a joy to watch him put Sect Leader Yao in his place for daring to question Jin Ling’s claim on the position of Sect Leader.

Lan Xichen hides his smile behind his cup of tea, because Lan Qiren is throwing him accusing looks already, but Lan Xichen can’t help it.

He admires Jiang Cheng, and it’s a joy to see him so reassured in his position.

Lan Xichen zones out when Sect Leader Yao dares to yet again throw accusations around, but he promises that this time he will tell Jiang Cheng how awed he is by him.

Lan Xichen still remembers the very first conference Jiang Cheng attended as a newly appointed Sect Leader, how he asked for guidance by Lan Xichen and the memory makes Lan Xichen smile again.

Jiang Cheng has never needed anyone’s guidance. He carved his own path in the world, and he did it so well, too, especially at such a young age and under the circumstances.

Lan Xichen knows that lesser men, him included, would have broken under the pressure of losing their family and taking over a destroyed sect in the middle of a war.

But not so Jiang Cheng. He thrived under the pressure, and is now the strongest and best among them, just like his sect.

Lan Xichen just wishes he could have achieved that under less dire circumstances.

Lan Xichen tunes back in on the still ongoing discussion if Jin Ling is really ready to be a Sect Leader, and Lan Xichen itches to remind them that Jiang Cheng took up the mantle of Sect Leader at an even younger age and no one cared to ask him then if he was ready.

Jiang Cheng was thrust into that position, and really, Jin Ling already has a better start into it, because Jiang Cheng made sure he would be ready.

Still, the question gets passed round and round again, differently phrased every time, and Lan Xichen just wishes for this whole farce to end. His thoughts drift off again and Lan Xichen finds himself thinking that it might be high time that someone tells Jiang Cheng that what he did was amazing, and once Lan Xichen had that thought he can barely sit still.

He wants to get it out there.

When the conference finally ends hours later, everyone looks tired, but Lan Xichen is still determined to talk to Jiang Cheng today.

But first he approaches Jin Ling.

“Sect Leader Jin,” he greets him and is somewhat unsurprised by the tired look he gets.

“You, too, Zewu-Jun?” Jin Ling asks. “Honestly, if you disapproved of me as well, you could have just joined in earlier. No need to do it personally like this.”

It seems like the words are enough to summon Jiang Cheng to his side, because suddenly the man appears behind Jin Ling, scowl already in place and hovering protectively.

“Actually, it’s quite the opposite,” Lan Xichen reassures him. “And I realize I should have done this in the discussion earlier, but you have my full support,” Lan Xichen tells him with a small bow. “If you should ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

There’s a stunned silence before Jin Ling bows in return.

“Thank you, Zewu-Jun,” he says, Jiang Cheng still watching over the whole exchange, even though his face has lost the scowl.

“Actually, I was wondering if I could speak to you for a second, Sect Leader Jiang?” Lan Xichen then asks and Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at Lan Xichen.

“With you being formal like this, it must be something serious. Come over here,” he orders and moves a little bit to the side, out of the way of most people that are still present.

“What?” he snaps out once Lan Xichen has followed him, clearly already on the defence, going by how straight he stands and how tense his shoulders seem.

Lan Xichen is lost for words for a few moments, because how to tell this man just how impressive he is, but then Lan Xichen decides to just go with honesty.

“I wanted to tell you what an amazing Sect Leader you are. I know circumstances weren’t easy for you, they never have been, but you’re one of the best Sect Leaders I have ever seen. Your people love you and you love your Sect, which is already more than most other Sect Leaders can say for themselves. You are a courageous fighter, and an honest person, and a wonderful uncle and support for Jin Ling and I know I had nothing to do with any of this, but I am very proud of what you did and who you have become.”

When Lan Xichen stops talking Jiang Cheng merely blinks at him several times, before he goes red in the face.

“Shut up!” he almost shouts and then he turns around on his heels and marches off.

Lan Xichen can do nothing but stare after him, wondering if he overstepped somehow, if he offended Jiang Cheng in any way, and the thought hurts his heart.

He just wanted to praise the man, not make him mad.

“Zewu-Jun,” Jin Ling says as he steps up next to Lan Xichen. “Maybe you should follow him,” he suggests.

“He’s angry. Wouldn’t it be best to let him cool off?”

“He’s not angry,” Jin Ling corrects. “He’s just—bad with emotions.”

“Oh,” Lan Xichen breathes out and then it really hits him.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t have any family left other than Jin Ling. It’s very likely that no one has told him how proud they are of him ever since his parents died. And from what little Lan Xichen remembers of them, he doubts even they did it regularly.

“Oh, okay,” he says again, and hurries after him once Jin Ling gave him a not so subtle nudge.

Lan Xichen finds Jiang Cheng a few corridors down, far away from prying eyes, and it’s clear that Jiang Cheng is still agitated, because he’s pacing around.

When he moves to slam his fist into the wall, Lan Xichen rushes forward to stop him.

“Don’t,” Lan Xichen says and only lets go of Jiang Cheng when he relaxes in his grip. “I’m sorry if I upset you,” Lan Xichen tells him and he means it, even if he would never take back the words.

He didn’t mean to cause an emotional uproar for Jiang Cheng.

“Don’t,” Jiang Cheng rushes out and then presses his hands to his eyes. “Don’t take it back,” he rasps out and Lan Xichen’s heart breaks at how desperate and pleading he sounds.

“I won’t,” Lan Xichen reassures him. “I can’t, anyway, because lying is forbidden. And I am proud of you,” he says, again, because he figures it won’t hurt Jiang Cheng to hear it more than once.

Jiang Cheng takes his hands from his face at that and Lan Xichen is surprised to see the tears in his eyes.

“I always admired you,” Jiang Cheng admits, even though he can’t meet Lan Xichen’s eyes. “I always tried to be like you, calm and collected, the best my Sect could wish for, but I could never manage.”

“No, you’re not like me,” Lan Xichen agrees. “You’re so much better,” he then goes on and it must be surprising enough for Jiang Cheng to look at him again.

“You might not be calm and collected, but you are the very best your Sect could wish for. You’re fierce in your protection and upright about what you expect from people, but you also expect the same from yourself. You would never ask anything of your disciples you wouldn’t do yourself. You don’t turn your eyes away from injustice and you love your people. You truly are what every Sect Leader should aspire to be.”

Jiang Cheng clenches his jaw at that, and it looks a lot like he’s going to run again. Lan Xichen doesn’t want him to.

“Can I hug you?” Lan Xichen gently asks and is surprised when Jiang Cheng flinches at that.

“Can you what?” he asks, voice rough and hands clenched at his side, and Lan Xichen smiles at him.

“I would like to hug you,” he says again, but he doesn’t move.

It has to be Jiang Cheng’s decision.

Jiang Cheng seems to be fighting with himself, but eventually he nods once.

Lan Xichen doesn’t give him time to overthink his decision, he just moves in and carefully pulls Jiang Cheng close, until their chests are pressed together and Lan Xichen can slide his arms around Jiang Cheng’s back.

Jiang Cheng is stiff for the first few seconds, but he gradually melts into Lan Xichen’s embrace and finally his arms sling around Lan Xichen’s back as well.

Lan Xichen isn’t sure if it’s the right thing to do, but he refuses to swallow the words down and he suspects that Jiang Cheng needs to hear them a lot more often before he really believes them anyway.

“I’m really proud of you,” Lan Xichen whispers, and he can feel Jiang Cheng shudder against him, as the arms around his back tighten almost painfully.

Neither of them mention the tears that stain Lan Xichen’s robes when they finally do part after long minutes. It only strengthens Lan Xichen’s resolve to tell those words to Jiang Cheng every time they meet, anyway.

[satonthelotuspier]

🐰 Untamed Spring Fest 2020 🐰

Day 15 - Growth - 1.6k

More Jiang-Wei family feels, back in the main timeline though. It’s not easy being the youngest sibling in the newest relationship.

CW for implied past manipulative relationships.

With Patience Comes Growth

Jiang Cheng was always particularly fast out of the changing rooms and into the swimming pool; if the three Jiang-Wei siblings hadn’t been such water babies and had a requirement to be submerged in water at least three times a week there would have been no way anyone would be able to coax him out of his clothes in public.

Wei Wuxian trailed more slowly behind him, accompanied by a chattering Jin Ling and a carefully listening Lan Yuan.

It was early and the pool was reasonably quiet, only a few other people swimming careful lengths and one or two with children around the same age as the 8 year old boys.

Jiang Yanli was already in the pool too, she completed her current length with quick, strong strokes, and came to hang off the side next to Jiang Cheng while Wei Wuxian and the boys climbed in.

She waited until their excited chatter drowned out her quietly spoken words, before she reached over to press at the bruise on Jiang Cheng’s collar bone.

Wei Wuxian grinned, he’d already been told to mind his own fucking business when he took the opportunity to tease the other about it, but Jiang Cheng wouldn’t dare tell Jiang Yanli anything of the kind

“I was going to ask how you’re doing, A-Cheng, but I don’t think I need to” she teased, and as expected a look of half-embarrassment, half-frustration crossed the other’s face, along with the hot flush, as he clapped a hand over the telltale mark.

“A-jie” he exclaimed, a soft whine in his voice. How frustrating for Jiang Cheng to not be able to respond with his usual vitriol.

She chuckled softly, then patted his cheek, “I can’t believe you still get so easily embarrassed A-Cheng, do you think we don’t know what happens between adults in a relationship?”

“I would think you’ve both been married for so long you’ve forgotten” was his quip, to which Jiang Yanli slapped him on the shoulder with a look of surprised amusement on her face, one which Wei Wuxian mirrored. Honestly, if he wasn’t a respectable parent now he would have taken great amusement in disabusing Jiang Cheng of that notion, to the point his flush turned ten times brighter. Unfortunately Lan Wangji had trained him to respectable fatherhood.

They chatted and swam while the boys fooled around and had mini races and competitions, then after they had tired themselves out Jin Ling called out, “It’s time for your race, uncles”

A staple of their swimming sessions.

Wei Wuxian swam over to the edge of the pool.

“Ready to lose again Jiang Cheng?” he teased as the other joined him on the edge.

“In your dreams Wei Wuxian. A-jie is referee and has final say”

“Agreed, but it won’t help you”

They were fairly evenly matched in the water but Wei Wuxian was probably ahead on overall wins, and today went true to form with him hitting the side half a second before Jiang Cheng, who reacted with his usual drama of just sinking below the water.

Jiang Yanli dived after him and dragged him back to the surface.

“So dramatic, Jiang Cheng, such a sore loser” Wei Wuxian mocked.

***

They followed up their swimming session with a trip to the park, and Jiang Cheng collected coffees from the shop on the corner across the road.

“I don’t know where they get all their energy from” Jiang Cheng murmured as he sat between them on the bench while they watched the children scamper over the climbing frames and sipped at their drinks.

“You were twice as energetic” Jiang Yanli teased him, “if we didn’t bring you and A-Xian to the park every day to run your energy down none of us used to get any sleep” she patted his knee. “Anyway, Jiang Cheng, tell us how things are really going with Xichen-ge”

“What? Why?” Wei Wuxian had to admire how Jiang Yanli pinned him down on the subject, she was a master at getting information out of the pair of them. They’d never been able to keep secrets from her.

“Because we’re your family, and we want to know you’re happy”

Several expressions crossed Jiang Cheng’s face. He had never been able to verbalise or demonstrate tender feelings well, and it made him just as uncomfortable to be on the receiving end. He liked being babied, he just didn’t like being told he was loved or cared about.

“It’s OK” he said tentatively, then he glanced at Wei Wuxian, chewing his lip thoughtfully, “it’s good” he added, then; “Lan Xichen made a couple of decisions without deferring to me this week, and he actually said he didn’t really feel up to it when I asked him if he wanted to go to the cinema”

Things that didn’t mean much in the course of a normal relationship, but actions that for Lan Xichen were quite momentous, considering the relationship he had come from.

“Nice” Wei Wuxian gave him a quick pat on the shoulder, then, because he knew that was probably about all Jiang Cheng could take on the sharing front, and after checking A-Yuan was still out of earshot, “No need to ask whether the physical side is any good at least” he flicked Jiang Cheng’s t-shirt, right over the spot where they’d noticed the love bite earlier that day.

“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng launched himself at Wei Wuxian, and they fell over the bench and into the grass, as Wei Wuxian laughed helplessly at the expression on Jiang Cheng’s face.

***

Lan Wangji zipped the last of his equipment away in his sports bag as Lan Xichen hefted his own. There was a soft smile on Lan Xichen’s face, one that warmed his eyes gently. It was the look Lan Wangji hadn’t seen on his brother’s face for too long, something real and warm and genuine.

“You’re happy” it wasn’t a question; it didn’t need to be with that look offering all the proof needed.

Lan Xichen startled, like he’d been lost in a particularly happy thought that Lan Wangji had interrupted.

“Yes, Wangji, I am” Lan Xichen took a drink from his sports bottle as he waited for Wangji to pick up his own bag.

“I’m glad, brother” Lan Wangji did so, and followed him out of the changing rooms. They met a couple of times a week, sometimes with Lan Qiren and some other board members, to play squash. “Are you going to Jiang Wanyin’s apartment tonight?”

Lan Xichen shook his head, “Not tonight, he’s having dinner with some old university friends. Tomorrow though” that soft smile again.

Although privately Lan Wangji still held some concerns for his brother, he was glad things were so obviously going well for him. Lan Xichen’s previous relationship had been terrible, and although Lan Wangji accepted that his brother-in-law wasn’t a bad person, Jiang Wanyin came with many complications; ones Lan Wangji really hoped wouldn’t hurt either of them as they tried to build their relationship together.

“Wanyin smiled at me yesterday, Wangji, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Have you ever seen Wanyin smile?”

Lan Wangji wracked his memory, and he could probably count on the fingers of one hand the times he’d seen his brother-in-law smile with anything other than self-mockery or sarcasm.

“He realised I was looking, and he didn’t kill it dead like he usually does when you catch him out. He just carried on. Then he hugged me”

Jiang Cheng initiating tenderness was also something worthy of note.

“I’m truly happy for you, brother” he said sincerely.

***

Later that evening as Lan Wangji held Wei Ying spooned against his front as they settled to sleep Lan Wangji passed on the good news.

“Brother told me this evening that Wanyin initiated a hug, and smiled at him without pretending he hadn’t afterwards” he nuzzled at Wei Ying’s ear and the other hummed in contentment.

“That’s good. We all agreed the person to take Jiang Cheng on would have to be patient with him. He’s a good man, just damaged”

“Like brother” Lan Wangji agreed, squeezing Wei Ying. The other held onto one of his forearms gently.

“If it soothes some of your worry, Lan Zhan, Jiang Cheng said Xichen-ge hasn’t automatically deferred to him on all decisions this week, and he expressed a preference without being pushed on it”

That was very soothing; he hadn’t realised how groomed his brother had become until Wei Ying reported how utterly deferential to Jiang Cheng’s decision making he had been in the earlier days of their relationship.

It highlighted how little they knew of what happened behind closed doors when both parties kept their secrets; Lan Xichen otherwise was proactive, a decision-maker, and leader; he had even been the pursuer in the two’s relationship, but as soon as he and Jiang Cheng had settled into dating seriously he had turned into a completely different person. Although Jiang Cheng wasn’t the most patient person in the world it had seemed something he was willing to extend to Lan Xichen.

He was glad his brother-in-law was having such a positive effect on his brother’s happiness.

“It seems they’re being very good for each other, Lan Zhan, enabling the growth the other needed” Wei Wuxian murmured, “they’re doing each other the world of good”

“Mn” Lan Wangji couldn’t argue with that assessment at all.

[mamichigo]

There is a rough edge to the preparations that speaks of uncertainty, a vague imitation that doesn't quite do its job. Koi Tower is opulent as always, as nothing else can be expected of the elegant, golden walls, even with Jin Guangyao gone. Nie Huaisang takes it all in with a careful smile, and decides there's a charm to it, too. After all, he can see the subtle signs where Jin Ling had tried not to mimic his uncle, but didn't quite know what to do otherwise.

He can appreciate the sentiment, if nothing else.

He sweeps the room with his gaze to find that, in the crowd, there's no sign of their young sect leader. Jiang Cheng is in a corner deep in conversation, but his eyes shift and he frowns in a way that is indicative that Jin Ling's absence hasn't gone unnoticed. Their eyes meet and Jiang Cheng scowls further, but Huaisang simply raises his eyebrows and turns the other way.

It's nothing other than curiosity that brings him outside in search of Jin Ling. The boy has been trying so hard to be taken seriously, there's certainly a story to why he'd abandon a celebration he's hosting himself.

It's at least bound to be more interesting than the wavering stares his own presence causes.

He finds him at the courtyard, seated in the grass with his cheek on his palm, the other hand absentmindedly petting the fur of his spiritual dog. Huaisang lingers on the dog for a bit, but shakes his head and lets it be, hoping the smiling face that pops up in his mind will disappear (it has never worked before, but it doesn't hurt to hope, sometimes).

It's clear that Jin Ling is not expecting to be found here, or at least to be sought out, which feels like a bit of an oversight, with Jiang Cheng keeping an eye on his nephew like a hawk. Huaisang slides to the boy's side, and Jin Ling startles when his shadow falls over him. He looks up with a scowl, but whatever he is about to say dies on his tongue when he sees who it is.

"...Sect Leader Nie," Jin Ling greets, part respectful, part suspicious. Huaisang has to hide his amusement behind his fan.

"Sect Leader Jin," he says back, tone light. "Fancy meeting you here. I didn't think anyone else would be ditching the celebration!"

"I'm not ditching," Jin Ling grumbled. "I'll be back in a moment."

"Oh? Then, I really need to ask, why are did you leave?"

"Do you?" Huaisang cocks his head. "Need to ask."

Huaisang taps his fan to his chin and hums. "I suppose not, but I want to. Consider it a show of concern. From one sect leader to another."

Jin Ling narrowed his eyes. "And if I don't consider it that, then what would you call it?"

"Morbid curiosity."

The simple, straightforward answer seems to reassure Him Ling more than anything else. Some of his guard lowers and his shoulders lose part of their tension. Huaisang stashes that reaction away for future reference.

"I need a breather," Jin Ling says. "That's all."

"Is it suffocating?" Huaisang can't help but prod. Jin Ling frowns in question. "Playing their game, like this."

They both know exactly what Huaisang is referring to. Why else would the cultivation world push for a celebration for better, more peaceful times, a "warm welcoming to the new generation", and then make the Jin Sect host it? It has barely been three months since Jin Guangyao. Even Huaisang has to admit it's a disingenuous joke, but who is he to say that to the kid he used in his own game of chess?

He implies it anyway.

"They'll keep doing stuff like that," Jin Ling replies with no small amount of bitterness. "I'll always have to play someone's game."

It has been true for his entire life, he doesn't say.

"I suppose you'll just have to learn how to play."

A look of disgust passes Jin Ling's face, but he squashes it down and refuses to add anything. He has no intention of becoming his uncle, is it?

Huaisang chuckles to himself.

"Then, I wish you luck," Huaisang offers with a smile.

Jin Ling bows his head in acknowledgement, but his eyes are burning when he straightens up, meeting Huaisang's without fear. There's an honesty to it that almost hurts.

Huaisang grins behind his fan.

He always had an appreciation for the ones that burnt with sincere fire.

[isawjamfirst]

Jiang Cheng is Alone

Jiang Cheng knew he shouldn’t have gone there all by himself.

But that was beyond his control now. Alone. He was never able to halter the notion itself, never once could he snap its rein and steer it, instead he had it cloak him with despondency. He had long since fallen prey to seclusion, shepherded by an invisible rope that bound him to nothing but his own internal despair. Throughout his life -- perhaps more to come, he could guarantee that -- Jiang Cheng was constantly dragged around, hurled into situations that didn’t deem him mature enough to handle. 

Everything mostly consisted of a blur of movements, each and one of the elements hurrying by way too fast, leaving as soon as his fingers brushed them. In the end, he had no choice but to pump up his gears in order to match their pace. It turned into a race, and he wasn’t equipped with anything other than an insurmountable rage.

Ever since the siege, he thought he had reached a real, concrete purpose in his life. That he had finally made it and be in step with everyone else. Finally, the youngest sect leader, having only reached adulthood, could actually be in a similar viewpoint as the rest of them without the need to tap on someone’s shoulder to ask what the hell is going on.

Except that he was still far behind. Either the people around him were too fast or he was too slow.

Either way, Jiang Cheng is alone.

Sure, there were those he could talk to. Hell, he was a sect leader. He had all the privilege; young, fit with decent features, highly trained in the martial arts, wealthy. Company should be the least of his worries. It should. 

It isn’t.

He was beginning to regret the glare he had sent at his nephew earlier on. The boy, barely three years old, was merely curious as to why his uncle had a sudden urge to leave. The infant had done nothing wrong.

Maybe it was the day itself. He couldn't bear sitting in that hall for a second longer, enduring the chatters -- the celebration. There was nothing conventional about it. At least, not to him anyway. Far from bringing hope and joy and a sense of content, Jiang Cheng was instead plunged into a whirlwind of trauma, caught in an onslaught of memories -- both bad and good. He couldn’t decide which one he preferred.

“Is everything okay, Sect Leader Jiang?” Zewu Jun, solicitous as ever, had asked then, having noticed him lower his bowl with more force than necessary.

The two clan leaders had sat beside each other in the Glamorous Hall during the banquet, so it wasn’t hard for an attentive person as Zewu Jun to miss a shift in Jiang Cheng’s demeanor -- it wasn’t like he was being subtle about it anyway. If Zewu Jun could read his stoic brother’s face clear as day, then Jiang Cheng was an open book. 

“I think I’m feeling a little ill today,” he lied. Well, half lied. He did feel nausea crawl into his stomach when his ears caught the mention of his deceased brother’s name. It didn’t help at all that the sentence was followed by “Jiang Yanli”.

“It seems like that with everyone these days,” Zewu Jun smiled warmly.

Jiang Cheng looked at him then. Beside Zewu Jun was an empty table at which his brother, the other half of the Twin Jades of Lan, would normally occupy. Come to think of it, Hanguang Jun hadn't shown up to any Discussion Conferences nowadays. Rumour had it that the man was being confined at the Cloud Recesses as a form of punishment.

Jiang Cheng scoffed internally at the mere prospect of it.

It wasn’t fair that he decided to leave, he knew that. It especially wasn’t fair for Jin Ling. He knew he wasn’t being petty about it, not to mention dramatic. After all, he wasn’t the only one who had lost his family.

He sighed. Too late to go back now.

Quite honestly, he was never really keen on the Lanling Jin Sect. Maybe it was all in his head, but they had a dodgy way of handling matters.

Still, now that he was back at Lotus Pier, he should have known better than leave. Because now, walking into his room his chest grew heavy. He might as well start his own Emotionally Tormented club with Lan Wangji -- whatever the hell is up with that guy -- and be done with it. 

A year had passed since the siege, yet he doubted he would get used to this. The overwhelming silence; too foreign, whether he liked it or not. What he had rebuilt felt far from home. Everything was the same, yet nothing remained of what he had grown so accustomed to. The particular absence of the waft of lotus pork rib soup felt so wrong, as though he had stepped into another dimension where this was normal. 

He should be somewhere else. He should be scolding someone. He should be catching up on something. 

There was nothing.

Maybe he was way too quick all along. Maybe he’d left everything behind and now there was nothing left in front of him.

Maybe he’d reached a dead end.

His eyes roamed around until they fell on the empty bed behind the screen. How long it had been empty for, he’d lost count. Before, he had taken the vacancy for granted, believing it was only temporary, that surely things would go back to the way they were, that Wei Wuxian would come barging in after the world had a full account of his actions, twirling that cursed flute -- his Chenqing -- in his hand.

But just like his a-jie, Wei Wuxian was dead.

And the bed’s emptiness grew more tangible the more he looked at it. It had become a game he played with himself; who would look away first?

His loses every time.

Dead or alive, Wei Wuxian always wins. That bastard is always one step ahead.

He should feel a sliver of satisfaction. Should he not? The Yiling Laozu had died. Gone for good, having received the backlash of his own cultivation methods. The world is at peace at last. Jiang Cheng didn’t have to worry about Wei Wuxian leaving destruction in his wake anymore. No-one else had died.

He should be glad.

I hate Wei Wuxian.

But the statement needed more convincing. 

He brought about my family’s death. I should hate him.

It felt weak.

There was a voice at the back of his head, asking Isn’t he family too?

He ignored the voice. I miss a-jie. I miss--

He couldn’t even begin to decipher the tight ache in his chest. It was another foreign matter, speaking another language and demanding he translate them without anyone’s help. The people he held dear to, crammed inside his heart however he forced them to be, were beginning to dissipate.

His mind loved torturing him like this whenever he was all by himself, delivering him constant reminders of how he was also behind the reason of his brother’s demise, how his brother was also somehow responsible for a-jie’s death, how he had no other family left for his nephew.

But Jin Ling didn’t even reside at Lotus Pier. Besides, the boy had a far more functional uncle than him. Who would dare be raised by a young sect leader who was constantly in a barrage of emotions? Jin Ling could have it all at Carp Tower -- he didn’t have to go through a pain like this. He shouldn’t go through any of that.

Jiang Cheng is alone.

[antiquecompass]

Untamed Spring Fest Day 24: Gentle

Ouyang Zizhen was a gentle soul. He was sweet, kind, and good; loved with his whole heart, romantic, overly sentimental, wonderful. It would’ve been so easy for the entire world to break him or take advantage of him, but that gentle soul came with an absolute backbone of steel. Zizhen didn’t act gentle or sweet or kind or good for praise or to try and show himself up--it was just who he was at his very core.

Business had a way of destroying gentle souls.

And that was perhaps why Jin Ling had turned into--probably--the harshest, most arrogant, most mouthy ‘trophy’ spouse on the entirety of the East Coast. He was determined that his good, kind, gentle, Zizhen would stay that way; had promised Zizhen’s father as much before Mr. Ouyang stopped attending all these functions, and nothing was going to keep him from failing that mission.

“So much for America’s Sweetheart,” Zizhen murmured into Jin Ling’s ear after Jin Ling had loudly scoffed at the group that had just suggested Ouyang Transport was losing their hold at the top of that particular business mountain. “They’re going to take away your Wheaties Box.”

“Never ate a bowl of them in my life anyway,” Jin Ling said with a shrug. He glared daggers at the group until they collectively backed off, disappearing to another corner of this massive garden party in the Hamptons.

He knew when he acted like the spoiled, arrogant, peacock prince it always brought out the questions of why Zizhen stayed with him, but Jin Ling would gladly weather those rumors if it kept the assholes at bay. The one good thing about the Jin’s reputation was that it was almost expected of him to be an arrogant jackass. And he was fine with that reputation, would gladly play into it, as long as it kept the worst of the hovering masses away from his sweet prince.

At least in Boston, or general New England, most people knew to respect them or give them a wide berth. Jin Ling was related to far too many prominent families--either by blood, marriage, or business ties--for little shits eager to dig their claws in or try to pitch their business to bother them. All Jin Ling had to do was mention an uncle--any uncle--or a grandmother--any grandmother--and the little pests scurried back into the dark.

New York was a different place and a different society.

The Zizhens were well known because of their yachts and transport company and their various Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey connections.

Jin Ling was that Olympic archer who became the face of Gucci sportswear for a season.

Those things made people want to talk to them or drag them into their social media posts and it was just so exhausting when they were supposed to be here on vacation. They’d only stopped into this little gathering to be polite to their neighbors.

“Next year we’re going to Maine,” Jin Ling said. He looked around the white tent. “I swear they must all go to the same plastic surgeon because every other one has the same exact nose.”

Zizhen laughed as his arm tightened around Jin Ling’s waist. “They can hear you.”

“Good,” Jin Ling said. He nodded, considered his job here well done, and turned in his boyfriend’s arms. “You made nice with the neighbors, now can we please go home to the dogs? They’re far, far better company.”

“When have I ever denied you anything?”

Jin Ling opened his mouth to respond only to have Zizhen place a soft finger against his lips to silence him.

“And the years of waiting don’t count. We both had to be ready and at the right place in life.”

Jin Ling knew Zizhen was right, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t forever grumble over those years. And the brief appearance of that Scottish lord. He still couldn’t look at tartan or salmon without becoming irrationally annoyed.

Zizhen laughed, his bright, genuine, beautiful one, that carried above the murmurs of the crowd. It was clear from the shake of his head he knew exactly what Jin Ling was thinking about.

“It was always you,” Zizhen said as he leaned down to capture Jin Ling’s lips in a sweet, soft kiss.

Jin Ling flexed up onto his tiptoes to meet him and didn’t care if it was too much for this crowd; didn’t care if there were going to be photos everywhere in the next twenty minutes; Zizhen was one of the few real and honest people here, brave enough to be himself at all times, and Jin Ling basked in that strength and love and care.

They were cuddled as close as they could be on the walk back to the Ouyang summer home, walking past dunes and beach grass, exchanging small laughs and little kisses as the sun started to set. It was a relief to see their back porch where Daisy and Luna were already pawing at the sliding glass door to get to them.

Inside it was their sanctuary. They’d given the staff two weeks off so they could enjoy their own time and their own vacations. Behind these walls it was just them. And Jin Ling, who had spent most of his life with a house full, found he actually loved when it was just them and the dogs.

But that didn’t mean he’d always want it to be that way.

He smiled as Zizhen greeted their puppies, hugging them both tight in spite of the white fur that was bound to go everywhere. He was gentle and sweet with them as he was with everyone else.

Zizhen would be an outstanding father.

Jin Ling knew that was years ahead in their future, but it settled something in him, right there, as he stood and watched him.

They would have a house full one day. And Zizhen would come home from work with arms open to give hugs to their children and would be pressing kisses to everyone’s foreheads, and asking after homework and how their days went. Jin Ling could see it--perfectly--and it made him grin.

“What’s that smile for?” Zizhen asked as he stood up, one hand still on each of the dogs’ heads.

“Just you,” Jin Ling said. “Just us.”

[razberryyum]

My Two Cents on the Ending of The Untamed/陈情令

From chapter 111 of MDZS (novel translation by Exiled Rebels Scanlations):

“It was what he hoped all this time. Each to their own path. But now that the day really came, watching Wen Ning and Lan SiZhui’s figures walk slowly, slowly away until they finally disappeared, he felt somewhat dejected.

Lan WangJi was now the only one who stood by his side. Luckily, Lan WangJi was also the only one he wished to have by his side.”

(spoilers for novel, episode 50 and ending of Guardian, Eternal Love, I Will Never Let You Go, and Story of Minglan)

If I’m going to be honest, part of me wishes the show had ended with that scene above. That would have been, imho, a PERFECT ending because it would have been an obvious one. We wouldn’t have to think any further about if they actually did reunite at the end, if that white glimmer in Wei Wuxian’s eyes is indeed the figure of Lan Wangji, etc etc.  

Now before I say anything further, for the record, I am freaking GRATEFUL we got the ending we got…especially the original Tencent version. Even though the WeTV version is a little more questionable, fact remains things could have been so much worse. I mean, God, imagine if we were left with THIS as the last image we ever see of The Untamed.

Or this:

The fact that Team 陈情令 took it one step further and gave us Lan Zhan’s “Wei Ying” followed by WWX’s glorious, teary-eyed smile is already a straight-up miracle. But, because I’m a lazy ass by nature, I wish I could have shut off my brain and just be spoon-fed a definitive ending that would have left me completely satiated, and that’s really the only reason why I wish they had ended the show at the scene where WWX and LWJ sad their goodbyes to Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui. Plus, there’s just something a little more satisfying about seeing our two leads together as a couple on screen one last time.  A teeny tiny bitter part of me knows that had WangXian been a m/f couple, we would’ve undoubtedly gotten that last shot of them together, much like we did for the main couple in shows like Eternal Love or I Will Never Let You Go or Story of Ming Lan or basically any other c-dramas with happy endings and a hetero couple at its core (which is like, what 99% of the c-dramas anyway? And sorry for spoiling those shows). But I know, censorship, I understand, so I should stop beating that dead horse and just be glad what we got. I mean, I’m still suffering from PTSD due to Guardian’s ending so trust me when I say I am entirely thankful.  

After all, from a thematic point of view, it���s not like the ending doesn’t make sense; it actually does. The idea of both WWX and LWJ living clear of conscience has been reiterated time and again throughout the show, so the fact that LWJ would decide to abide by his duties instead of going off and having fun with WWX does indeed go along with the values established for him. In fact, one might say that during the 16 years of WWX’s absence, he was probably acting the most out of character since he seemed to have more or less shirked his duties as Gusulan Sect’s esteemed Hanguan-Jun. As Jiang Cheng mentioned in the second episode, LWJ has spent most of the past 16 years time just wandering the world, looking for someone, which of course we know who. Even Jin Guangyao mentioned that he never attended any of the big cultivation meetings. So for the past decade and a half Lan Zhan’s really been just living his own life, off on his own quest, and probably leaving all the major responsibilities of his sect to his brother and uncle. Now that WWX is back and the main villain is conquered, I can see how his guilt at abandoning his duties might have finally caught up with him and he realizes he might have some amends to make. After all, his uncle’s old and constantly spitting up blood, and his brother—dear poor Xichen who just makes my heart HURT when I think about him—is definitely in no condition to become Chief Cultivator. I thought about Jiang Cheng briefly, but he’s probably in the same unstable emotional state as Lan Xichen at this point. Hell, Lan XiChen, Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling should probably all sign up for some intense group therapy; can’t imagine how they could even function otherwise considering the emotional battering they just went through.  

Anyway, getting back to the role of Chief Cultivator, in the novel, it was implied that Nie Huaisang was gunning for that position, but honestly, I actually thought that was a bit odd in the book because even though we know he’s the mastermind behind everything, it’s hard to imagine that he would want to step up to the plate and be in the limelight instead of staying in the shadows as he has been doing. I actually think the drama’s change to his ending made more sense.  Not to mention, since most of the cultivation world has known him as the know-nothing coward, if he were to suddenly do a 180 and become this strong, intelligent, assertive person, wouldn’t people be pretty suspicious of him as a person and be too wary to follow him? For better or worse, LWJ IS indeed the best candidate for that position at this specific moment in time. The scene at Lotus Pier where the other sects found out about Jin Guangyao’s heinous activities was illuminating in more ways than one since it also showed how wishy-washy and easily influenced the majority of the other sects were. Those guys are a bunch of dumbasses who need to be led, otherwise, if left to their own devices, the cultivation world would be in total chaos.  

I also appreciated the fact that even though WWX looked downright heart-broken when he realized LWJ wasn’t going to explore the world with him (yet), it seems like he had actually stayed with Lan Zhan until he became Chief Cultivator, which probably didn’t happen overnight. I’m assuming this based on WWX’s wardrobe change from their scene with Sizhui and Wen Ning. I think it’s sweet that despite his disappointment, he still stayed with him for a bit.

The logic part of their parting holds water, but it’s the emotional part that I’m not entirely sold on. I mean, what the show is essentially trying to tell me is that a man who looks at Wei Ying like this:

And this…

And this….

…would actually be ok with being separated from him? Again? Yeah. Right. Siubian.

Just the thought of Wei Ying having no one to protect him now from all the scary fluffy puppies of the world is probably enough to keep Lan Zhan up at nights. In terms of the bond between WWX and LWJ as it was established in the show—not even getting into how they are in the novel because then the notion of them separating would be downright ridiculous—it is pretty hard to accept that LWJ would be ok being away from Wei Ying. Even if the call of duty is loud, the siren song of WangXian has to eventually overpower everything else. The question is when, of course, and even though Wei Ying goes through yet another wardrobe change by the last scene, I can’t imagine that much time passed…I would like to think no more than just a year or two. At a certain point, LXC, being the generous, loving, understanding older brother that he always is, would probably realize how much LWJ misses WWX and offer to take over the Chief Cultivator role from him. But big bro does need time to emotionally recover so I think a year or two is a fair timespan. It’s not enough time for LXC to heal completely of course, God knows a decade probably would still not be enough for that, but a year or two probably would allow him to at least be able to pretend to be fine enough to function somewhat normally again. Ugh. Again, poor big bro.

Actually, if I think about it, one thing good about Wei Ying and Lan Zhan being separated for a short time is that this time around, WWX can be the one missing and pining after LWJ instead.  I can easily imagine him making detailed mental notes of every place he has visited and everything he’s done that is fun for when he finally reunites with Lan Zhan, he can take him through all of his journeys so that they can then experience together what he had to experience alone during their time apart.  

I also like that when Wei Ying hears his name being called, he actually looks shocked…

…which clearly indicates he never expected Lan Zhan to appear at all, which means they didn’t plan this reunion, that Lan Zhan just magically found Wei Ying again. That is seriously so romantic. I’m sure Lan Zhan kept tabs on Wei Ying’s whereabouts all the time, I refuse to believe that he wouldn’t at least do that, but still, that hilltop looked pretty out there in the wilderness so it’s truly beautiful that he still managed to pinpoint where Wei Ying was to surprise him. Or maybe the energy he shared with Wei Ying acts as a sort of GPS now so he can always easily find the other man no matter where he is? That’s romantic too.  

So at the end of the day, I feel pretty satisfied and content. Since I fell in love with the show, I’ve literally been on pins and needles worrying about how the show will end, if Team CQL would somehow lose their minds and just screw everything up or be forced to screw everything up because of censorship. I can finally breathe easy now…well, somewhat…there’s still movies to worry about, but I’m just a worrywart by nature. With their splendid track record so far, I’m sure Team CQL will continue to deliver and make us happy in terms of WangXian.

“After we went to travel the world together everything was spread into the world as ‘rumors say’”.- from WWX’ character song 曲尽陈情 (“Songs end with Chen Qing”)

“With you by my side, I hope you’ve been well since the last time we’ve met”.  -from LWJ’s character song 不忘 (“Won’t Forget”).

[marzaid]

Could you imagine if after Lan Wangji visits the Burial Mounds he hoes straight to Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren and is like “look I know you don’t trust Wei Ying but you are coming with me back to the Burial Mounds.” So they take a family trip to the Burial Mounds, unexpectedly, and are greeted by Wen Ning, the Ghost General, who seems harmless. They ask to speak with We Wuxian, who is very anxious because he might trust Lan Wangji but he isn’t sure about the rest of his family. The Lans find how they’re just trying to farm and make do with what they have.

Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren are very confused because they were told by a Jin Guangshan that Wei Wuxian was forming an evil army but apparently he picked up fatherhood and farming instead? A-Yuan calls Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren uncle and great uncle respectively because he just assumes that they’re family. Lan Xichen takes it in stride because honestly A-Yuan is the most adorable child and I headcanon that Lan Xichen adores children. Lan Qiren is conflicted because on one hand this child is adorable and he probably secretly likes kids but on the other this child is apparently Wei Wuxian’s??

Anyway so the Lans all collectively lose their shit and go to Jiang Cheng because they want to know if he was aware of this, which he was but he had no power to take care of his brother. Lan Xichen is like “hmmm I will call my sworn brothers here” and Jiang Cheng is having a hard time because Jiang Yanli’s wedding is probably in a day or so so he’s STRESSED. They agree to let Jiang Yanli get married first even because trying to clear Wei Wuxian’s name will be a long arduous process that might delay their wedding. Plus the marriage will give them another Jin to persuade. So they get married and the Jiang siblings tell Wei Wuxian the plan.

About a week or so after the wedding everyone is called to Lotus Pier and the situation is explained. Nie Mingjue refuses to believe without seeing it first, so suddenly there are group tours of the Burial Mounds. Wei Wuxian and the Wens are tired and confused and they just want to live in peace maybe find a better place to reside that doesn’t have resentful energy and dead bodies but they’ll take what they’re given. Nie Mingjue might have hated the Wens but he’s a fair man (y’all can fight me on this one he is fair and kind fuck you), so he also backs the campaign to bring justice because he doesn’t believe in involving civilians in the fight. He also has a long conversation with Wen Qing because he wanted to understand why she never came forward if she didn’t agree with her uncle and cousins and learns that her younger brother’s life was what she was trying to protect. He thinks of Nie Huaisang and understands immediately as he would do anything to protect his brother as well.

Jin Zixuan and Jin Guangyao also go on one of the tours of the Burial Mounds and their reactions are very different. Jin Zixuan is horrified are the implications of what his family has done and vows as heir apparent to the Jin sect to do something about it. His father refuses to go, no surprise there, but Madam Jin and some of the elders go on one and they are equally as horrified, vowing to help in whatever way they can. Jin Guangyao, on the other hand, sees his plan falling apart and is freaking out. If everyone sides with Wei Wuxian and the Wens then he, Jin Guangyao, won’t be able to use him as a scapegoat and a means to help himself rise to power. He tries to frame Wei Wuxian by setting out traps around the Burial Mounds for people coming in on tours. The problem is that they catch some innocent civilians instead and Wei Wuxian is furious threatening to put up a barrier to stop anyone from coming in at all.

The other issue for Jin Guangyao was that he had promised Jin Guangshan that he would get the Yin Tiger Seal but was unable to convince anyone that the chief cultivator should have it. One of the agreements between Wei Wuxian and everyone else was that he would give half the seal to the Lan and the other half to the Nie. This way they could have it destroyed publicly. He originally wanted to hand it over to Jiang Cheng but other cultivators especially from smaller sects were wary of this and thought that the Jiang would use it to take over. So the Lan and Nie split it since they are considered the most fair of the major sects.

The Yin Tiger Seal is destroyed and the crimes of Jin Guangshan and crew are revealed. The rest of the sects, especially the smaller ones, want Jin Guangshan to step down both as chief cultivator and sect leader but he refuses. Even within the Jin sect there’s a rift. Half the sect wants him to step down and the other half support him for various reasons. The half that want him to step down rally behind Jin Zixuan and nominate him as their sect leader refusing to acknowledge Jin Guangshan. They work together with the other sects to rectify the wrongs their sect committed. However, there’s the part of the sect that still supports Jin Guangshan and they won’t go down without a fight.

Surprisingly, there are people from other sects that also rally behind Jin Guangshan and the remnants of his sect that stayed with him. They form an army hellbent on taking down Wei Wuxian and the rest of the Wen and anyone that gets in their way. Jin Guangyao, who has been vying for his fathers approval his entire life, stays by his fathers side despite the evidence and knowing that it’s wrong. He tries to convince Lan Xichen of this but is unsuccessful. The trust and affection he built up from Lan Xichen is gone and maybe he’s devastated but he convinces himself that once he has his fathers approval and then once he is chief cultivator and the most powerful that Lan Xichen will come crawling back. He won’t but Jin Guangyao keeps trying to convince himself otherwise.

A battle at the Burial Mounds ensues and Wei Wuxian is only just able to ensure that the Wens are taken to safety. The other sects back Wei Wuxian and there is another long, exhausting series of bloody battles just like those of the Sunshot campaign. Wei Wuxian uses resentful energy as best as he can but at some point realizes that he’s been regrowing a golden core (this is a thing in my mind let me dream). He uses a combination of spiritual and resentful energy and teaches Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, and the rest of the Jiangi how to do it. They don’t have to use it to the extent that he used to but they still understand how to control it when needed (new Jiang technique besides what Jiang Cheng eventually develops too).

Jin Guangshan falls and his supporters lose. Some of them abandon him as they start seeing his side losing the war, others abandon him right after his death. There are still those who are extremely loyal to Jin Guangshan even after the man’s death but they become a small minority. Maybe they for, their own sect under Jin Guangyao. He can’t take the Jin name anymore because Jin Zixuan is still alive and rightfully claims that name. Maybe he goes back to Meng Yao, who knows, but he is still the face of that small group that want justice for their cause even if their cause means death to innocent people.

After the war is finally through, the position of chief cultivator is abolished, as none of the sects like the idea of one man having that much power. They saw it with Wen Ruohan, with Jin a Guangshan, and arguably with Wei Wuxian. They opt for a democratic panel where representatives from each sect regardless of their size have regular discussions to sort out problems arise. These discussions are not set in one spot and regularly move so that each sect regardless of size takes a turn at hosting everyone.

Wei Wuxian is reinstated as head disciple and right hand man of Jiang though if anyone asks Jiang Cheng he stubbornly says that it was a temporary hiatus. The rest of the Wen settle in Yunmeng because they liked being close to We Wuxian as they see him and now by extension the Jiang as their family. Uncle Four opens the best liquor shop in all of Yunmeng that has people from all over coming to it for a try of all his different brews. Wen Qing and Wen Ning because the official doctors of the Jiang but also regularly take people from anywhere and occasionally travel if needed. Granny and A-Yuan live in Lotus Pier with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng and Granny becomes everyone’s Granny. She cares for the young disciples and also always makes sure that Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng are taking care of themselves. How can they deny her anything anyway? Are you going to disappoint Granny? Plus she has Jiang Yanli on speed dial and they would die rather than make their big sister sad. A-Yuan becomes a new disciple of the Jiang.

It’s decided at one of the discussion conferences that it would be good for young disciples as they near adulthood to learn from other sects. Not necessarily all their techniques but to meet new people gain more knowledge. Some sects have occasional workshops while some of the bigger sects invite disciples to have an extended stay. A-Yuan, who’s already best friends with His cousin Jin Ling at this point, becomes good friends with the other juniors his age as well, Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen. The four of them form an unbreakable group.

The Jiang under Jiang Cheng grow exponentially because he takes in people that remind him of Wei Wuxian. People in bad situations and in bad spots and gives them a safe haven. There’s a running joke among the disciples to see which brother, Jiang Cheng or Wei Wuxian, adopts more kids to take care of.

Somewhere along the way Wangxian probably elopes. Maybe right in the middle of the war. Jiang Cheng loses his shit because he’s been planning Wei Wuxian’s wedding since he moved to Lotus Pier when they were kids. So they have a ceremony when things settled down that neither Wei Wuxian nor Lan Wangji could say no to because their respective brothers had been so excited at the prospect of a wedding.

In the end, things are finally peaceful. Occasionally, some tries to rise up and gain power and hurt others but they’ve got a pretty good handle on things.

Everyone lives and is happy. The end.

[ruensroad]

120 xicheng?

This is an au I was toying with at work, where Wei Wuxian has time-wielding powers and Jiang Cheng is responsible for sewing the clothing he wears during these time jumps. It’s set in a similar timeline to the orignial story, though the Jiangs and Lans are not close allies. The Jiang have still fallen, but Jiang Cheng does not rebuild, and because the Jins are judgemental pricks, Jin Zixuan follows Jiang Yanli and the two crazy brothers with Jin Ling in tow into the unknown.

This also maybe got out of hand word-count wise, whoops.

Prompt is from this list here! (yes I’m still taking these lol, oh boy)

Prompt 120 | “I can’t stay long.” | Xicheng

He wasn’t sure who had been more surprised, in the end: Wei Wuxian, who’d managed to strong-arm his way into the patronage of the most prestigious and rich Clans in the country, or the Lans themselves, who’d taken his claims of time-wielding magic with thinly veiled disdain and had been utterly - and magnificently - proven wrong.

For Jiang Cheng, it didn’t matter much, only that Elder Sister and her husband and son had a warm, safe place to live and Wei Wuxian had his chance to itch that heroic itch he’d never been able to fully scratch. His brother lived to exceed expectations and he was very much doing that here, with the eyes of the most important mages, shamans, and scholars in the world now dependent on his skills.

Jiang Cheng lived for quiet, for moments where he could sit and sew and soak in the sound of Elder Sister’s singing, or Wei Wuxian practicing his flute, or his nephew giggling from under the coil of priceless silk he’d turned into an impromptu tent. Even his brother-in-law’s artful work with a blade and a sharpening stone had started to become the perfect background noise, not that Jiang Cheng would ever admit such a thing to that preening peacock’s face. Jin Zixuan had earned his place of respect in Jiang Cheng’s life as Elder Sister’s love, husband, and protector. If it weren’t for the way he looked at her like she’d hung the moon, even so many years on, Jiang Cheng would have left him far behind long ago and encouraged Elder Sister to do the same.

But they were all they had now, each other. No great family lands to inherit. No family ties to claim. They’d left tragedy and judgment behind them to live as they wanted, and that had led them here.

It wasn’t easy work, but not difficult either. Elder Sister’s job was arguably the hardest of all of them, having to coach Wei Wuxian on his speech and mannerisms to better fit in during his time jumps, all while teaching Jin Ling his letters and numbers. Jin Zixuan, a former heir and still a gentleman, spent his days overseeing the imported goods coming into GusuLan, and those going out.

Wei Wuxian’s was the easiest, of course. He just had to be a hero. And to do that, Jiang Cheng’s had to clothe him properly and do it fast enough that the Lan’s did not lose patience and remove them. (Not that he thought they would. They prided themselves with patience, but they also prided themselves as above greed and he’d seen the way they’d stared at Wei Wuxian in clear avarice, so he wasn’t taking any chances.)

Tedious, monotonous, boring. But it was work, honest work, and it meant food for his nephew as well as a warm bed for Elder Sister, and that was all that mattered to him.

He was generally left alone in the rooms given to him by the Lan for him to sew and live in. Jin Ling was his most usual visitor after Wei Wuxian and that morning was no different. As Jiang Cheng sewed down a line of stitches in the collar of Wei Wuxian’s newest garment, the train-end had been overtaken by a giggling five year old, who occasionally peeked out at him under the hem, only to disappear with a squeal.

It was moments like this that made it all worth it. Not rebuilding his father’s legacy, not claiming his rightful place as a leader. Here, he was just an uncle, a brother, a mage. A tailor. And a damn good one, too.

“I hear a mouse,” Jiang Cheng mused, as though to himself, and waved a hand for his measuring string to uncoil from the desk and fly over. He triple-checked the measurements, calculated perfectly to Wei Wuxian’s shoulders and chest, and tucked in the next line of fabric that needed pinning. “I thought I was entertaining my nephew, not a rodent.”

“Not a rodent, jiu-jiu,” Jin Ling argued from under the silk. Priceless silk in patterns of black and red. Jiang Cheng should really not be allowing the boy to jostle it so, but it wasn’t his expense to spend, so he let Jin Ling do what he wanted with it, short of letting him put any inch of it in his mouth, or tearing it. All other damage he could fix and Jin Ling’s messes were nothing compared to the chaos he called brother.

“No? Then who is hiding under there?” Jiang Cheng took a moment to stretch and crack his neck, before kneeling down to pull up the hem. “A mouse, or a nephew?”

“Jiu-jiu!” He was leapt on with a cheerful giggle. “See? Not a mouse.”

“Not a mouse,” Jiang Cheng agreed and poked the boy’s nose. His mother’s nose and a very dear shape at that. “Did you find anything fun under there?”

Jin Ling thought on that a moment. “A dragon,” he decided.

“A dragon?” Jiang Cheng glanced down at the very same creature printed into the silk with a small smile. “Was it a big dragon?”

“Big,” Jin Ling nodded and flung his arms out wide. “This big, jiu-jiu.”

“Oh, a very big dragon then,” Jiang Cheng nodded too, like that was some great wisdom. “A prince of dragons, surely.”

“King of dragons,” Jin Ling countered, nose in the air. “Prince dragons are small dragons, jiu-jiu.”

It was a physical pain, some times, just how much he loved this boy. He chucked Jin Ling’s chin and stood again, fingers tugging at the end of the boy’s braid, woven to match his own. “Of course, of course. How could I forget?”

“Master Jiang? Is this perhaps a bad time?”

Jiang Cheng turned to the voice and was startled to see the First Jade of Lan standing in the doorway of his work space. Like some painted god from Elder Sister’s scrolls, he seemed ethereal and so poorly out of place amidst the chaos of fabric on the floor that Jiang Cheng wanted to snort at his lost expression. He settled for a much safer bow, low and proper.

“Zewu-jun, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked, surprised that Lan Xichen actually returned the bow, as though Jiang Cheng were anyone worth bowing to anymore. “If you’re looking for Wei Wuxian -”

“Ah, no, no,” Lan Xichen said hurriedly, smiling a sweet smile when Jin Ling hid behind Jiang Cheng and peeked out at him, eyes wide. “Master Wei is with my brother, at present. I cannot stay for long, but I was hoping to see…”

He trailed off and a new light lit his eyes, boyish almost, hopeful, and truly awed. Jiang Cheng had never seen anyone give such a look to his clothing before and he felt heat crawling up his neck almost immediately. Ridiculous. “Hoping to see what, Zewu-jun?”

Lan Xichen glanced back his way, but did not lose any of that wonder. If anything, he looked at Jiang Cheng like he was just as special as the beautiful robes beside him.

“The garments,” Lan Xichen admitted, gesturing almost shyly at them. “I have never seen their like. I’ve been curious about you since the moment I first saw Master Wei in that first dynasty robe. Your work is… truly exquisite.”

Jiang Cheng stared at him in disbelief and felt a pleased, if mortifying, flush start from the top of his head and go straight down to his toes. Thankfully, he was saved from having to find some sort of answer to that by Jin Ling, ever coming to his rescue. “Jiu-jiu,” he whispered, which meant it was barely hushed. “What does that word mean?”

“It means beautiful, little one,” Lan XIchen answered in his stead, dark eyes roving Jiang Cheng up and down and flustering him further. “Beautiful and intricate and absolutely lovely.”

“Oh.” Jin Ling looked up at Jiang Cheng’s red face, then back to Lan Xichen. He grinned. “You are exquisite too,” he told the man, because five year olds had no sense of shame, apparently.

A gentle laugh, like the First Jade of Lan was truly flattered by such a statement, barely even pronounced correctly as it was. What a madman. “I thank you, Young Master Jin.”

“Did you want a robe?” Jiang Cheng managed to breathe out before Jin Ling could fully adopt Lan Xichen right then and there, torn between wanting the man to leave and wanting him to stay so Jiang Cheng could get his hands all over him in the name of making him something beautiful to wear. “A first century one?”

“I- oh.” Lan Xichen seemed to be the thrown one now, which felt like a victory. A fetching red bit at his ears and neck, stark against the brilliant white and blue robes he wore. “I… I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

These Lans, so hesitant to want things. Jiang Cheng snorted and snapped back to himself, waving his hand for a new coil of measuring knots to fly into. “No trouble. Just need to get your measurements.”

“Oh…” Lan Xichen looked him over like he was a true wonder, which was hardly the case. It was just a bit of fabric, after all. “I have a meeting I must go to, but perhaps… I can come later tonight?”

It wasn’t a proposition, but Jiang Cheng felt a curious want lit inside him, to take the time to fluster this man, see under that perfect Lan serenity and beauty. It was in his nature to build beautiful things from scratch, after all, and to deconstruct a garment from outside to inside was a talent Jiang Cheng had cultivated well over the years. In many ways, Lan Xichen was no different from the clothes he’d sewn, lovely in form, delicate in movement. He wondered, suddenly, what he would see in Lan Xichen’s underneath, in the stitches holding the seams together, the hidden folds and creases and colors. He wondered if Lan Xichen would let him.

It wasn’t a proposition, but Jiang Cheng felt the challenge anyway, and smiled a smile he hoped was invitation enough. “Tonight. I’ll be waiting.”

[pawsnread]

Untamed Fest Day 10: Clothing

Summary: Wei Wuxian has little choice but to spend the day wearing the Gusu Lan Sect’s distinct robes.

Also posted at AO3.

“I refuse!”

“You can’t refuse! What are you supposed to wear all day?!”

Wei Wuxian uncrossed his arms long enough to wave vaguely at his person. “This is fine.”

“You can’t just wear that around Cloud Recesses!” Lan Jingyi protested in a loud voice that was quite unbecoming of a Lan Sect disciple. He looked as if he were about to stamp his foot in frustration but refrained. “The Lan Principles state that all persons must be properly dressed.” He gave an indignant huff at the casual shrug Wei Wuxian gave. “Senior Wei!”

Wei Wuxian was standing in the middle of the main room of the Cultivation Chamber, dressed only in a red under-robe, and glaring at Lan Jingyi and another junior disciple hovering behind him. The younger disciple looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but Jingyi was defiantly staring down Wei Wuxian. On the floor between the two of them was a large pile of black fabric that vaguely resembled clothing beneath the mud caking it.

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Wei Wuxian protested. He narrowed his eyes in an attempt to be intimidating. It seemed to have worked on the younger disciple but Lan Jingyi wasn’t falling for the stunt; he had been on enough night-hunts with him to know how Wei WuXian operated. He made a dismissive noise, resting his fists on his hips.

“What’s wrong?” Jingyi asked incredulously. “They are unkempt is what’s wrong! Moreover, aren’t you part of the Lan Clan now? Old Master Lan says you should be wearing the formal dress of our sect.”

“I’m not wearing your sect’s uniform. It looks like mourning clothes!”

“You…!”

“Senior Wei.” 

Both Wei Wuxian and Jingyi turned at the calm voice and the approach of a light footstep. Lan Sizhui made his way up the winding gravel path, a gentle smile on his face. Another younger disciple followed behind him, carrying a carefully folded bundle of white cloth. The pair of them stopped beside Jingyi and saluted Wei Wuxian.

“Senior Wei,” Sizhui repeated in his gentle tone, “it is the designated day for laundry. You returned from night-hunting in clothes covered in dust and mud; your other garments are in need of repair. As HanGuang-Jun’s cultivator partner, it would be remiss of us to allow you to roam around in such disarray.”

At his gracefully said and well reasoned words, Wei Wuxian could only blink in momentary confusion. After a fraction of a second, a smile stretched across his face. “A-Yuan, you really did grow up into an astonishingly polite young gentleman.”

Sizhui could only smile. With a flick of his wrist, he beckoned the disciple beside him forward. “These garments were prepared for you to wear until your clothing has been cleaned.”

“Fine fine, since you asked so nicely.” With a resigned sigh, Wei Wuxian ran a hand through his hair before he took the bundle from the disciple. Darting behind a folding screen, he removed his under-robe and tossed it to the awaiting disciple. He dressed quickly having already become familiar with Lan Wangji’s morning clothing routine. A few moments later Wei Wuxian stepped from behind the screen, the Gusu Lan Sect robes rustling faintly with his movements.

Sizhui, Jingyi, and the two juniors - with their arms full of clothes - turned to him, their eyes widening slightly at the sight. Although they were all well familiar with their sect’s uniform in its various styles, it was altogether a different sight to see them on the normally dark clad Wei Wuxian. At their scrutinizing gazes and Jingyi’s slack jawed expression, he fidgeted uncomfortably.

“Wh-what?” Wei Wuxian asked nervously. He smoothed a hand down the cloud embroidered collar, one arm waving back and forth and setting the long Qiankun sleeve fluttering. Although the uniform consisted of three separate layers, the fabric was light, hems fluttering in a faint breeze.

He felt…odd. The clothes weren’t uncomfortable - quite the opposite, in fact - but Wei Wuxian hadn’t worn so much white since he was a teenager coming to attend the Lan Sect lectures. He had always preferred his darker colors and had continued to wear them even after properly marrying into the Lan Clan. Wei Wuxian did it partly out of stubbornness and to irritate Lan Qiren and his traditional ways. But, even he had to admit that he looked pretty good in the sect’s uniform - even if he still thought of them as mourning clothes.

“Now you look like a proper Lan Clan member,” Jingyi said with a triumphant smirk.

“It is very becoming on you, Senior Wei,” Sizhui agreed.

A warm swell of pride and happiness bubbled in Wei Wuxian’s chest, but he hid it with a cough and a nonchalant wave of his hand. “Yes, well, I still want my own clothes back.”

“We will return them once they have been cleaned and mended,” one of the young disciples replied. He gathered up the remaining clothing before all four boys gave Wei Wuxian a salute and departed.

With a resigned sigh, Wei Wuxian tucked Chenqing into his sash belt and began to follow the boys down the path.

* * * * *

It had been an odd morning. 

Save for the red ribbon in his hair and Chenqing at his side, Wei Wuxian had been frequently mistaken for a Lan disciple. It was the salute ceremony day for that year’s Lan lectures; there were dozens of young disciples from the various clans, many finding themselves easily lost in the seemingly endless corridors of Cloud Recesses. Wei Wuxian had, on more than one stammering inquiry, directed them to the lecture hall. He had found amusement in shouting what sounded like encouraging phrases but were more intended to make the disciples even more nervous.

“Good luck!” he called after some Yao Sect disciples. “Try not to upset Old Master Lan or he will punish you with copying the principles a hundred times while doing handstands!”

“Stop being so shameless,” came a disgusted tone from behind Wei Wuxian.

With a sigh, Wei Wuxian flicked his wrists, setting his sleeves aflutter, as he turned to see the irritated face of his nephew. 

“Jin Ling,” he admonished, “is that any way to speak to your uncle?”

“Hmph,” Jin Ling sounded with an annoyed scrunch of his nose. “Who’s going to call you uncle?” Although he said it dismissively, there was a slight uplifting tilt to the corner of Jin Ling’s lips. He wore the standard white uniform for the Lan lectures with the Lanling Jin Sect’s peony embroidered on both shoulders and the Yunmeng bell tassel chiming at his waist. He had grown some in the year since Wei Wuxian had last seen him, losing a little of the boyish roundness in his face. Although technically the clan leader since Jin Guangyao passed, Jin Ling was still able to attend the lectures as a disciple while Jiang Cheng and some trusted officials ran the management of the Lanling Jin Sect until Jin Ling returned.

“What are you doing anyway?” Jin Ling asked. His eyes slowly roamed over Wei Wuxian’s person. “And what are you wearing?”

Despite his protests from earlier, Wei Wuxian looked offended. “Hey, this is the formal attire of the Gusu Lan Sect. I married into the Lan Clan. Why wouldn’t I wear it?”

“You look so…”

“Handsome? Graceful? Refined?”

“Creepy. Like a ghost.” Jin Ling gave a mock shiver, laughing as he ducked Wei Wuxian’s offended swipe. Grinning, he made his escape as the bells indicating the beginning of the salute chimed. Wei Wuxian watched after him, shaking his head in exasperation although there was a good-natured grin on his face. 

As the lecture began and the courtyards grew quiet, Wei Wuxian made his way slowly towards the back hills. He deftly twirled Chenqing in his fingers, boots crunching lightly as he traversed the well-worn pathways. Now and again he would encounter one of the disciples, nodding his head in acknowledgement at their polite salutes before continuing on his way. It wasn’t until he had come to a familiar hill that he stopped.

Wei Wuxian had expected to be alone and thus was pleasantly surprised to find Lan Wangji sitting amongst the green grass of the hillside while dozens of white rabbits hopped around him and Lil’ Apple grazed nearby. Due to his position as Chief Cultivator, Lan Wangji was often busy from the moment he rose until late evening. There were some days in which Wei Wuxian hardly ever saw his partner; thus it was an unexpected turn to find him in the back hills, looking quietly contemplative while petting a fluffy rabbit in his arms.

With a soft smile, Wei Wuxian plucked up a handful of robes to prevent himself from tripping before picking his way through the grass to Lan Wangji’s side. He settled next to him in a rustle of white cloth, his shoulder brushing against his partner’s.

“Lan Zhan,” he said, his voice soft.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan replied in an equally soft tone.

“Are you hiding?” Sometimes, Wei Ying couldn’t help but tease Lan Zhan. An affectionate smile was on his face as he reached over, stroking the rabbit who seemed to have fallen asleep.

“No.” He didn’t clarify further, but that was Lan Zhan’s way. Instead, he reached over, tugging at Wei Ying’s collar to straighten it. “It looks good on you.”

“I look good in everything.” Wei Ying couldn’t help but grin even as he was given a slightly irritated look regarding his vanity.  Leaning forward, he rested his chin on Lan Zhan’s shoulder; a quiet, almost inaudible sigh escaped him as he felt Lan Zhan press a whisper of a kiss against his temple. “Can we stay here a while? Just us.”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Reaching over, Wei Ying interlinked his fingers with Lan Zhan’s, their hands hidden in the large folds of their matching white sleeves. 

Together, they sat quietly, saying little as they took in each other’s company. It wasn’t until hours later when Lan Sizhui came looking for them before the pair stood, dusting off their robes and heading back to the courtyards hand-in-hand.