#Cultivation Theory

[wangxianficrecs]

❤️Gentians in bloom by teawater

❤️Gentians in bloom

by teawater

M, 251k, wangxian

Summary: Lan Wanji was never told the details of his parents' story. Now that he has discovered his own desires, his life's goal is to keep Wei Wuxian from finding out. But life is cruel and truths get revealed at the worst possible times. Since I suck at summaries, here are some key features: - it's Wangxian mainly - plus some development of the prev generation Lans - plus going to war with the Wens - plus Wen Qing being totally badass - plus Jin family craziness - plus just about every character ever mentioned on the show and some assumed ones getting screentime and storylines And if you're still wondering, here's a taste: ------------------------------ “Ah, but there are other Wens here though,” Jin Guangshan gave an appraising look to Wen Ning and Wen Qing. “Who could say where they were last night.” “Where do you think I was,” Wen Qing retorted quickly, “on my wedding night?” [...] “What about him then?” a Jin pointed at Wen Ning. “He was with me,” Nie Mingjue said flatly. “All night?” Nie Huaisang peeked over his fan to stare at his brother. “What were you doing?” “Talking,” Nie Mingjue said in a threatening tone. The fan went back up.

Part 1 of Gentians garden

My comments: Really fascinating and entertaining, epic fix-it with depth and twists and just, wild and uninhibited creativity along the lines of Magical Marriage Ribbons and Fallen. In which wangxian get together (after awkward adolescent stumbling) as students - a relationship that begins to solidify as they study together and debate cultivation theory and invention. (Wwx is already a prolific inventor, and lwj is reluctantly fascinated.) When the Wens attack CR (and WQ turns coat to warn the Lans that it's going to happen) it is, of course, wangxian who save the day with an insane off-the-cuff invention through which they fool the wens into thinking they burned the sect and then quite literally bag them.

There are so many departures from canon! For example, wwx figures out how to call the other Yin pieces to them; wangxian learn to combine their qi and make a single big, extremely powerful entity out of their two selves; wwx never loses his core and while he uses demonic energy, it's not in the same way it is in canon, so he's not universally reviled. And, of course, he and lwj are paired up since their student days. There is heavy focus on his talismans and inventions (yay!) They save the Wens; and stumble over child mo xuanyu (whose sass blossoms once he understands he's safe with wangxian).

Story is loaded with plot and action and character interactions and transitions seamlessly between all of them so that when your teeth ache from fluff there's angst to cleanse your palate, and the same with action and relationships. Wwx's self-worth issues are ENORMOUS and don't seem much settled by the fact that every single other sect wants him and his genius, and there's digging into his past and why he's so fucked up, which gives room for lovely emotional h/c.

And I'm not even going to go into the possessed baby xuanwus (from eggs collected by young mxy), all the illegitimate Jin brothers, the whole province given to wwx by GusuLan as thanks for winning the war (he's SO unprepared to be the Lord of a city), lwj's foul-mouthed secret uncle, the meteor and the volcano. Just. It's epic, trust me.

In the sequel (nearly another 100k) you get wwx trying to face his fears via puppy therapy, a grand cultivation tournament (featuring a newly young adult mxy and his crush), a woman with a strange history, an incredibly awkward jc, wwx hiding a secret he doesn't feel is his to tell and lwj drinking vinegar. It's delicious.

part one: canon divergence, students at cloud recesses, gay panic lan wangji, crushes, teasing, genius wei wuxian, magic theory, cultivation theory, telepathy spell, getting to know each other, accidental bonding, fix-it, pov alternating, talismans, inventor wei wuxian, attack on cloud recesses that is successfully rebuffed, political marriage, emotional hurt/comfort, angst, madam yu's a+ parenting, blending qi, sharing a body, jiang cheng & jin zixuan prickly friends, brotherly feels, wei wuxian cannot feel pain, xuanwu babies, demonic cultivation, wei wuxian keeps his golden core, jealous jiang cheng, oblivious jiang cheng, dysfunctional family dynamics, the jiangs are so fucked up, self-worth issues, self-esteem issues, mo xuanyu is utterly charming, he speaks for all of us, mo xuanyu deserves better, bamf wei wuxian, bamf lan wangji, epic, sharing a brain, lan qiren is good-ish, jin zixuan is pretty cool, jiang cheng has a good character arc and improves himself eventually, madam yu is only mostly terrible, the political marriage couple is a secret, implied/referenced suicide, implied/referenced child abuse

part two: cynophobia, puppy therapy, cultivation tournament, mo xuanwu, reincarnation, misunderstandings, lack of communication, jealous lan wangji, drinking vinegar, happy ending

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[oh-another-dnd-blog]

"Cultivation or Bias?" 

I. Introduction Cultivation theory, by George Gerbner in 1969 in simple terms is the following, "to explain the way mass media and television, in particular, influences people over time" (Vinney, 2023). This theory being extremely relevant in our age of mass media, is seen a lot in how we interact with our modern world today. 

Two timely topics where Cultivation theory shows are "Violent Cartoons make Violent Children" and "Western Politics". But is Cultivation theory actually valid? Is it something that we, as a society, really fear and worry about in how we define our world?

II. Violent Cartoons make Violent Children. If children watch action-based media with superhero's and fighting, Cultivation Theory tells us that, over time, children will be influenced to see the world in the same black and white filter that these superhero shows tell us. But is this actually true? A 2020 study from the Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, entitled "Impact of Violent Cartoons on the Behaviour of Children: A Case Study of South Punjab" tell us a lot of information about this topic. Using their research methodology, the researchers were able to find out how kids thought after these violent cartoons. Their results tells us that, Yes, the cartoons do increase the figure of children who develop aggressive and anti-social behavior. Adding on to that, their results also tell us that children also develop fear in certain situations that mirror their superhero's circumstances. So that's it right? Cultivation theory is correct? Well that's not the whole picture.

Their study also discusses how children and their young minds,

"are not competent enough to filter out the bad information. It is the responsibility of the parents to counsel the children and guide them to consume the content of cartoon in a proper way. When this counselling is lacking, then children can learn anti-social behaviour".

This is where I wholeheartedly agree, since we cannot blame the growing mind of a child when the parents have the responsibility to filter out what they're watching and how they should interpret the media they are consuming. I personally think that the quote "Violent Cartoons make Violent Children" is often misconstrued as an attack to the youth, when it should be the obvious failure of the parental influence these children should have had in their lives.|

III. Western Politics. In October 25, 2014. Comedian and TV Host Russell Howard uploaded a video on his YouTube channel, entitled "The Difference Between US vs UK Ebola News Coverage". In this video, Howard explained how in 2014, when the Ebola news outbreak surfaced, the UK news outlets tackled it in a calm and measured tone, often giving positive messages to the public that the UK is on the forefront of tackling this outbreak and that everything is under control.

For the US news outlets however, it was shown that they were framing the entire outbreak as the next "Pandemonium", using terms like "spiraling out of control" and "spreading faster than efforts to contain it. Obviously made for comedic purposes, it shows us an important example of framing in the modern world. Since the main argument with Cultivation theory for politics is that consuming more media will lead you to consuming more of the same perspectives and develop a world view based on the same category of opinions. 

But is this true? Hypothetically it makes sense, consuming more media of something we agree on, leads to shaping our worldview towards it. But this sounds more like the Psychological Barrier of Confirmation Bias more than it is Cultivation theory. Britannica, 2023 defines Confirmation Bias as "people’s tendency to process information by looking for, or interpreting, information that is consistent with their existing beliefs" which sounds exactly what's happening here. Since with the ever-changing media platforms and their increasingly complex social media algorithms that shape what we watch based on what we interact with, this idea of Cultivation Theory seems to simple for us to make conclusions with.

IV. Confirmation or Bias. I personally think that Cultivation Theory is real. But it's only real because of how simple and basic it is as a premise. It fails to consider the numerous and seemingly uncountable amount of factors in our modern world that affect what we consume, understand, and share with the world around us. Going back to our examples earlier, if children do act more aggressively because of media, is that really cultivation from 'violent' cartoons or a failure of parental counseling on a child's developing mind? If someone consumes far-right politics because of their pre-conceited beliefs, is that really cultivation theory or their own personal biases that have run-amok and gone wild to the point that they can't tell if they really believe in it or just follow whatever the TV shows them. 

A smart professor in Journalism once told me,

"Whoever controls the narrative wins."

In this case, to answer the question "Is this fear justified?" My answer would be yes. But this fear is only justified if you have a narrow mind and let yourself be controlled by the narrative that the media wants you to believe in. We often forget that we are more than what our emotions and biases tells us who we are. Since we are beings with free will who can make our own narrative, for ourselves.

REFERENCES Casad, B. J., & Luebering, J. E. (2016). Confirmation Bias. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/confirmation-bias Mahmood, T., Iftikhar, U., & Bhatti, M. A. (2020). Impact of Violent Cartoons on the Behaviour of Children: A Case Study of South Punjab. Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, 6(2), 689–702. https://doi.org/10.26710/jbsee.v6i2.1212 The Difference Between US vs UK Ebola News Coverage. (2014, November 25). Www.youtube.com.

[lewstherintelescope]

okay wait absolute crackpot idea right now

but lemme lay out some quotes real quick

“So the night will reign, for the choice of honor is life . . .”

“Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broken One reigns.”

To separate the power from those who are attached to the Physical Realm… that should frighten you. It is not so terrible a thing for part of me to despise you. But for the power of a god to? Dangerous. For all of us.

....what if the Night was broken into the Unmade, reassembles herself through Ba-Ado-Mishram, and takes the Roshards?

perhaps the Night of Sorrows is actually the Night bearing Odium's sorrows....

[magpie-trove]

I just need to find an eccentric old billionaire who will pay me a lot of money to map ancient sea monster sightings to determine possible migratory patterns of now-extinct sea fauna around Norway

[theellipelli]

Hello, how are you doing?? Quick question, do you have anything in mind of why/how Yanqing's hair and eyes(?) glow? And how he can literally float?

unfortunately having glowing eyes and being able to float are kinda common traits among the xianzhou playables so i do not think they say much about yanqing alone. s' just spiritual energy, innit

[lewiscarrolatemybrain]

One more time

A Positive Change Arc -- often called a Hero's Journey -- is one possible shape a story can take. It is not the only or the best character arc, it's just one option. In a Positive Change Arc, the protagonist begins the story believing the Thematic Lie, and must learn and embrace the Thematic Truth over the course of their journey.

TGCF and MDZS are not Positive-Change Arcs. They are Flat Arcs.

(I have not read SVSSS)

A Flat-Arc is a story where the protagonist begins already knowing the Thematic Truth, while the world around them believes the lie. In a Flat Arc, the protagonist will have their knowledge of the Truth challenged and tested, they will be tempted by the Lie, and they will ultimately use their conviction to inspire the world around them to also embrace the Truth.

Flat Arc characters do not need to learn the Thematic Truth. They already know it. They may be seduced by the lie, they may falter, but they will always rally back to the Truth in the end.

(If they ARE successfully converted to the lie, then that isn't a Flat Arc anymore, it's a Corruption Arc, and it's usually a tragedy.)

"But Xie Lian and Wei Wuxian learned--" Nothing they learned impacted the Thematic Truth. Did they learn things? Yes! That's how Being A Person works. Both of them DID change and grow as people from the start of the series to the end. But neither of them learned anything that impacted the Thematic Truth. Because they already knew it.

Xie Lian was already kind, he already wanted to help people, he already believed that common people should be protected and uplifted. His suffering at the hands of BWX did not teach him any deep or important lessons. He already knew the Truth. BWX tried to tempt him to embrace the lie -- that people are undeserving, that you should never do anything for anyone who won't grovel with gratitude, that caring for other people is a waste -- and failed, because Xie Lian knew the truth and even when he was at his lowest he was searching for confirmation that he was right. Xie Lian only needed one single act of kindness to reassure himself that he was right and BWX was wrong. He did not learn anything new, he reaffirmed what he already knew and understood.

Wei Wuxian is good, and righteous, and morally upright. He is a character who does the right thing regardless of the consequences he might face. The sects collectively wanted to destroy him because he refused to bow to them, not because he ever at any point actually did anything wrong. Even the vengefulness he showed while actively at war is narratively justified, and it's key that the sects did not care about the desecration of bodies while it served them. He did not learn any valuable or important lessons when the Sects raided the Burial Mounds. The fact that Lan Sizhui exists at all is proof for us as the audience that everything Wei Wuxian did was worth it. All of it mattered, and all of it was the right choice, because a-Yuan is alive. He doesn't come back to life having learned anything new, he already understood the Truth.

Obviously neither of them are Omnipotent. They learn that there's dudes in love with them, they solve the mysteries of their respective true Big Bads, they uncover some other stuff. But the Thematic Truth, the core theme of the story, is not a lesson either of them needs to learn. It is a lesson they teach others by refusing to bend to the Lie the rest of the world believes.

[wolfcubx2]

For the sake of a child.

This is a mdzs plot idea based on the idea that aYuan get sick the day of Jin Ling 100 day celebration and thus stops Wei Wuxian from leaving. Instead he send Wen Ning with his gift and a handful of letters one for his shijie, one for Jiang Cheng, and one for Lan Wangji. Wen Ning still runs into the Jins at qilong (did I spell that right) pass, but no one dies. Instead he passes the letters and gift on to Jin Zuxuan? And rushes back to the burial mounds to warn the others. As soon as Lan Wangji gets from Jin Zuxuan who also tells him what happened at the pass and reads his letter which tells him aYuan is sick, he also rushes there where he catches Wei Wuxian arguing with Wen Qing. She's trying to stop him from doing something stupid and not knowing Lan Wangji is there ends up mentioning his lack of a golden core. After that Lan Wangji makes his presence know and after a bit of drama they end up coming up with a plan that will both strengthen the barrier around the mountain and potentially purify the tainted yin (resentment ). This plan basically ends with some of the most powerful and aware spirits in the mounds, ones that have been watching Wei Wuxian since the first time he entered the mounds chosing him as something of a successer because of his actions. Plus he ends up with a silver core, which is based in Yin energy. As for the barrier it works on the 8 symbol concept in Buddhism with there being six post on the edge of the mounds one in the center and Wei Wuxian as the control piece hence the new core. The barrier itself uses the resentment and and wills of the spirits around, it doesn't actually control them more gives them a job the can do to Chanel their resentment until they're able to move on. Because of this it's semi sentient and extremely sensitive to negative emotions or dangers and no one who is either can enter, unless otherwise instructed by Wei Wuxian. So people like Jiang Cheng (because he envys Wei Wuxian) and Lan Xichen (because by this point he thought Wei Wuxian was evil and couldn't trust hid brother) even if they don't mean to cause harm can't. semi sentient burial mounds in a multiple powerful creatures and cultivators died there and their resentful souls made a half conscious team, my theory on the mounds (based on the novel and comic) is that it was an extremely powerful and pure spiritual vein and there was a war over it, all the death and greed turn the blank or pure energy into resentment.

[aella081]

My sister has gotten back into reading mdzs and it's gotten to the point where I'm either straight up lying to her or giving half truths. Like she just got to the part where wwx was thrown into to burial mounds and she's like "did wwx get his core dissolved? It never says if it did" and I'm like "...it didn't get dissolved..."

[ceaselessims]

okay but what if the fears are not acting on desires per say, but giving people what they desire in order to feed on the fear that takes them when their wish is fulfilled?

the dark twist that every power/fear comes with a price, whether that is material/wealth power, social power, political power, etc ???

perhaps the fear is more potent and delicious when it is cultivated, when the person is so fearful of the power they once desired so much, as it destroys them

[daisywords]

wish I could get (and stay) in the zone with writing like I can with drawing

[creature-wizard]

BTW, Teal Swan is someone who used Satanic Panic mythology and cultivated false memories of SRA in her closest followers in order to make them feel like they needed her to heal them. This shit really does happen and people need to be aware of it.

[cloyingcadaver]

x

[oh-dameron]

... Oh shit what if Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan saved Wen Qing?

Seriously. The Jin took Wen Ning prisoner and definitely, totally, burned him to ash. The Jin took Xue Yang prisoner and 100% followed through with their agreement to execute him. There's better than 50% odds that famously-skilled doctor Wen Qing was alive in a dungeon somewhere for the events at Nightless City and the first seige of the Burial Mounds.

Which is, y'know, fucking tragic, because WWX never even considers it.

But Xiao Xingchen comes down from Baoshen Sanren's mountain only a year or so later-not explicitly for any reason to with with his martial sister's son, but boy howdy I'm sure he'd be interested to hear all about it, and those dreadful Wen dogs that he died trying to protect. Just how many of those super Ghost General-style fierce corpses were in the army of Wen demonic cultivators, anyway? That's so fascinating!

And when they caught up to Xue Yang he was very particular about taking him to Koi Tower to face justice. Probably not connected at all to the fate of the leaders of the Wen remnants.

But later, when Xue Yang razes the monastery and takes Song Lan's eyes they return to Baoshen Sanren's mountain and she transfers Xiao Xingchen's eyes to Song Lan.

Baoshen Sanren's mountain, to which you very famously cannot return. In a scheme that we have we have seen play out beat-for-beat with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. And the person who did that transfer was not Baoshen Sanren. And we don't hear that story from Xiao Xingchen or Song Lan: it's just what everyone says. It is a rumour, in the book about not believing rumours.

Wei Wuxian never has an opportunity to speak to Xiao Xingchen, and the conversation with Song Lan is... short. He's not in a great headspace, obviously, and if Xiao Xingchen and Wen Qing did the ol' Baoshen Sanren switcheroo on him he might not even know there's anything to tell. We see Xiao Xingchen almost exclusively through A'Qing's empathy, and while he tells a story about Cangse Sanren he's got no reason to share anything about a jailbreak with his teenage ward, particularly not one he's sworn to secrecy about.

There's no way for Wei Wuxian to learn this information. Until, eventually, news reaches the tiny village in Qishan, or Dongying, or actually-Baoshen Sanren's-mountain (hey, Wen Qing has never left that mountain, maybe she's allowed in) or wherever Wen Qing has been living her life that the Yiling Patriarch and the Ghost General are back from the dead and everyone is cool with them now.

I can see why it's not part of the story: there's really only so many times you can pull the "character who died tragically is actually still alive" card before it gets ridiculous and the deaths stop having the appropriate emotional impact, and I think using it on Wen Yuan was the right choice. But as far as I can tell, this is still canon-compliant so you can pry secretlyalive!Wen Qing from my cold, dead hands.

[brasideios]

The Portmanteau Theory

Whenever I see someone getting angry and upset about someone else’s interpretation of a piece of media, I wish that I could pass this idea on to them to think about:

Any piece of media, in English studies terms, is a text. A painting is a text. An advertisement is a text. A novel is a text. A fanfic is a text. A video game is a text. Anything that carries messages, stories, meanings is a text.

There was a theorist, Mikhael Bahktin (a personal fave of mine) who developed the idea of the portmanteau as a way of conceptualising how a creator and viewer approach a text.

Basically, people think of a text like a portmanteau (suitcase/trunk).

They think that a creator of a text has a series of messages or meanings that they can put into a text which the viewer of that text can then take out of the portmanteau complete.

In this view, a text would be something fixed; it can reach the viewer complete with its messages unadulterated - and this would mean that there’s a correct meaning that is easily taken from that text and it is always the same, and exactly what the author intended.

However, Bahktin (if I remember correctly) emphasised that this view of texts is false, because a text in reality isn’t a portmanteau.

An author doesn’t control the meanings they may insert into their text - one of the instances in which the phrase, the author is dead (another theorist said this - Deridas, I think?) is actually true.

A creator has ideas of their own about what they want to say, but they can’t foresee how the viewer of the text is going to understand what they see.

The most obvious example I can think of is romance writers who inadvertently write abusive relationships as romantic, or with glaring misogyny throughout. (I have been watching a long list of reviews of Colleen Hoover’s books - and good gods).

Consequently - without a portmanteau in which to convey fixed meanings, a text is always and forever open to interpretation, and there is no correct interpretation of that text, only multiple interpretations. As many interpretations as there are readers.

To get upset because your interpretation of any given text isn’t agreed with by everyone who engages with it means that you’re viewing that text as a portmanteau - but it isn’t.

That’s just not how texts work.

That’s the beauty of texts - and it seems to me, the source of a lot of fandom angst.

[ered]

alas, it seems the venn diagram of things I want to write & things other people want to read are just two separate circles

[wolfcubx2]

Until eternity ends

The Fountain of Youth - a beautiful clear mystic pool that can grant eternal life. A single priceless existence or a least that is what most believe. The True fountain of youth is not a singular existence and it most definitely has a price. Every Fountain has their curse.

One the curse of insanity.

One the curse of need.

Another the curse of blood.

A millennia ago a war was fought for one such existence. A millennia ago it's once clear waters bled crimson, and the land around filled with a perpetual resentment.

An age ago a young man was thrown in to this mound of resentment. Bathed in a power no other had controlled before, his mind on empathy instead of domination he drank from this cursed pool. In this he found both death and immortality.. he became a progenitor of a new race.

This is the story of the Yiling Wei Sect, of the Yiling Patriarch (Guāngyǐng-Mo.. Wei Wuxian) and his Husband the immortal Hanguang-jun (Lan Wangji).

Lan Wangji was the prodigie of the Lan Sect, one of it's precious jades, someone who knew the precepts of his ancestors by heart. In fact as a child he had spent many hours reciteing them. That was why he was absolutely certain he was breaking at least seven of those rules currently, most involving the invasion of another's privacy... the last having to do with the fact that he was technically running.

'But that is something that can not be helped',..

Or at least that was what Lan Wangji was telling himself. He was only following Wei Ying out of concern for his heath.

The day Lan Wangji and Jiang Wanyin had found Wei Wuxian, he had been all to thin and deathly pale. In the months since his return his condition had barely improved and in the recent days it seemed to have worsened. Which was why when Lan Wangji saw Wei Ying running into the forest outside of camp, he could not help but follow.

"*gag*"

By the time Lan Wangji caught up with Wei Wuxian, he was clinging to the side of a tree gaging and coughing up the small amount of food Lan Wangji had seen him eat that night. The thought flashed in his mind that this was likely an effect of the other's use of resentment, but he shook it off. Wei Ying's health was more important right now and he could not afford to fight with him if he had taken ill.

"Wei Ying."

Lan Wangji voice seemed to startle the other as he jumped backwards stumbling. Wei Wuxian would have crumbled to the ground completely had Lan Wangji not rushed forward to catch him.

"Lan zhan..?"

Wei Wuxian was freezing to the touch and his eyes unfocused in a way that reminded Lan Wangji all to keenly of his fever after their fight with the Xuanwu of Slaughter. It was worse than he had thought,..

"Wei Ying... "

"Lan Zhan your so.. warm."

The younger seemed almost dazed by their contact. It was almost ironic considering how he had acted in the past.

"Mn"

Lan Wangji adjusted the other in his arms as he made to stand, he would take Wei Ying to the healers immediately. However as he made to transfer him some of his spiritual energy he froze. Dread suddenly coursed through his veins, thoughts filling his mind were almost to much to bear.

'Was I to late?'

He felt sick... had his inability to express himself... Had he let his beloved ruin himself in his- it took everything in Lan Wangji to look down.

"Wei.. Ying"

But Wei Ying was staring back at him, mercury eyes watched Lan Wangji with the same emotions he felt. Then suddenly everything made a terrible sort of sense. Wei Ying had always been so sure he could pay any price that would come his new cultivation... but how could one be so sure..how could he be so sure unless... the price had already been paid.

"Hey Lan Zhan... can you put me down?"

Lan Wangji nodded and did as he was asked his mind realing.

"Wei Ying .. wha-"

The sentence stuck in his throat. In response Wei Wuxian let out a somewhat bitter laugh one hand coming up to rub his arm.

"I think you already know the answer to that, Lan Zhan."

Lan Wangji felt his heart sink, he didn't want to believe it, but how could he not when the proof was so obvious, so blaringly right infront of him in the shape of his beloved.

"Wei Ying"

There was a almost relived look on Wei Wuxian face. His grey eyes flickered over him, gauging him as he spoke.

"I always sort of figured it would be you, I mean you're you Lan Zhan and.. you'll make it quick right?.. *oh uh* if you want it to stick you should probably behead me so... *ah haha*."

Lan Wangji couldn't believe what he was hearing, what he was being asked to do. His mind felt muddled as he tried to processed everything. It hurt that Wei Ying would expect this of him.

"Will not kill Wei Ying."

He watched as a bit of hope flashed in the younger's silver eyes before Wei Ying's face darken and he gave another of those self-deprecating laughs.

"Right.. of course even if you do hate me, I'm a necessary tool for the campaign."

The words all but slapped Lan Wangji.

"Do not hate Wei Ying.. if- does"

Lan Wangji could not bring himself to finish the sentence, he promised himself that he would not let Wei Ying suffer, but only.. only if it was what the other truly wanted and that he would follow. On the other hand Wei Wuxian seemed frozen in shock.

"You don't? "

The question was quiet and hopeful but before Lan Wangji could answer Wei Wuxian came to his own conclusions.

"Ah right there was a rule about that wasn't there."

Wei Ying was correct but Lan Wangji couldn't help but dispises the way that caused the other to wilt.

"Not a Rule, like Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian brighten immediately and as much as the sight brought Lan Wangji joy it also hurt knowing that was it took to bring light back to his beloved. This was something he should have done months ago, but instead he.. he was being stubborn. In his worry Lan Wangji had never stopped to question why the other would go down such a path, because of that he had added to the suffering Wei Ying's condition and secret caused.

"Wei Ying I-!!!"

Lan Wangji's words once again caught in his throat, as he watched Wei Wuxian doubled over in pain. How could he think of anything else when his love was still clearly suffering.

"Wei Ying what is wrong?"

"Lan.. zhan"

Wei Wuxian's voice had a lisp to it that hadn't been there before and his body was still in a way that told Lan Wangji he was holding his breath

"Lan zhan you- you need.. To go."

He muttered pushing him away, his eyes were flickering red like they did in battle, like when he used Demonic cultivation.

"Wei Ying.."

Wei Wuxian forced himself further away, the corners of his eyes tinging black. Lan Wangji hated how small, how scared this made the usually confidence cutavator looked.

"Lan Zhan.. please Lan zhan.. your not safe.. I-Im... so hun... I'll hurt- . "

He seemed more pained with every word.

"Wei Ying would not hurt me."

The younger startled slightly at his words, but then he was shaking is his head as if to deny Lan Wangji's trust.

"Please Lan Zhan.. please just.."

"Wei Ying what do you need?"

Wei Wuxian scrunched his eyes shut and shook his head.

"What do you need?"

" I- blood... Lan Zhan it's.. I need blood "

Wei Ying started at the ground not daring to even glance at Lan Wangji, worse than that was the resigned look that flashed across Wei Ying's face when he reached for Bichen. How he once again just excepted that Lan Wangji would kill him,...

"Lan Zhan! What-what did you do?"

Lan Wangji started at Wei Ying as he held out his sliced palm. His eyes had gone a crimson almost blood red as ink-like tears ran down his cheeks. He looked somewhere between horrified and shocked but his eyes never left the blood welling up on Lan Wangji palm.

"Drink Wei Ying."

Those crimson eyes flickered up towards his face once more before the hunger in them took over. Wei Wuxian surged forward at a speed a lesser cultivator could have never seen much less stopped, but Lan Wangji could only think it suited him.

'Wei Ying has always been agile.'

The second Wei Ying's mouth made contact with his palm Lan Wangji felt the scrape of what must have been fangs, but instead of the pain he had been expecting at sort of comfortable warmth spread through him. It was almost nostalgic, it reminded him of a once warm house, and the woman who lived there. Lan Wangji couldn't help but think that anyone under this venom, because it couldn't be anything else; would die happily.

"Wei Ying is good."

Lan Wangji muttered softly his thumb rubbing softly on an ink stained cheek. Wei Wuxian sobbed slightly into his palm. By the time Wei Ying had finished drinking Lan Wangji was slightly light headed and he was vaguely aware that if his core was weaker it would have never kept up with the blood loss.

'Any other would have been much more greatly affected. '

It felt like fate that he would be the one strong enough to give his beloved what he needed.

"How.. how could you...how could you..? *sob* Lan Zhan"

Wei Ying still had his face buried in his palm his saliva having longsence healed the wound.

"Wei Ying?"

The responding sob was enough of an answer. Lan Wangji was at something of a loss as for what to do.

"L-an *sniff* Zhan "

Currently Lan Wangji though his beloved looked very young (a somewhat hypocritical thought considering he was only ten months older), but his cheeks were fuller and the color had even returned to them. He seemed more alive than he had in months.

"That wasn't fair."

Wei Wuxian muttered glancing up from where he had been trying to bury his face in Lan Wangji's palm.

"Mn?"

Lan Wangji didn't have a clue about what nonsense Wei Ying was spouting. He thought it was very fair.

"Lan Zhan! your being way to nice, it's not fair."

"Mn.. is fair."

"Lan Zhan!!!"

This was the Wei Wuxian he had been worried about losing, he had just been wrong about the cause. It wasn't his new cultivation style, at least not completely, no it was this war in general. It was eating away at the kind and mischievous boy he had met on the walls of his own home.

"Wei Ying comforted me.. it is fair that I do the same."

"I did?"

Wei Wuxian tilted his head in confusion getting a nod from the other.

"*Oh * I guess I forgot? "

"Mn"

Lan Wangji though for a moment before holding out his arms in invitation. Wei Ying's response was instantaneous, his whole face lighting up as if he had been offered the greatest treasure, like this single hug was worth more than all the riches of the cultivation world.

"Lan Zhan!!!"

Wei Ying all but tackled him ink-like tears once again dripping down his face and soon staining Lan Wangji white robes with the mutter of a thousand thank yous.

"Wei.. Ying?"

It took a second for Lan Wangji to understand what had happened. To understand why the other seemed so.. he didn't know how to describe his reaction, but then it clicked. Wei Wuxian had always been a tactile person in all the way Lan Wangji himself was not. Clinging to anyone who would let him, and even with those who wouldn't he would still be seen patting their sholders or back. That had changed in the months since his return, he seemed to avoid touch and the few times someone had managed to Wei Ying had startle almost violently. Lan Wangji didn't know what had happened during those months but it had left the other traumatized and scared to touch others less his secrets be found out. So it almost made since that Wei Ying would react like this having been staving himself of touch.

"Hey Lan Zhan.. does this mean we're friends now?"

Lan Wangji blinked a bit at the boy in his lap, Wei Ying could not be this dense right. After all in this position, he was relying on ever ounce of his own self control and possibly a blessing from the heavens not to react in a way that would embarrasse both of them.

"Not friends. "

Wei Wuxian's face dropped and he pouted a bit. His now blood colored lips pointing out in a way that was almost too much of a temptation.

"Eh Lan Zhan that's not what you're supposed to say when you like someone."

"Mn like Wei Ying"

And suddenly Wei Ying was smiling that sunlight smile. Lan Wangji couldn't help but feel like he was on the edge of something that could be very dangerous..

"Then we're friends right!"

Lan Wangji almost wanted to sigh. A small part of him thought Wei Ying must be messing with him at this point, but Wei Wuxian wasn't that cruel.

"Wei Ying is playing dumb?"

"Eh no I'm not look I'm very talk a- ohh.. Lan Zhan did you want to be best friends. "

It was then that something clicked and Lan Wangji felt almost incredulous.

"Wei Ying is very.. innocent?"

"I-i'm not!!"

Wei Ying sputtered, his hands flailing around as if he could wave away Lan Wangji's assumption.

"I'm not and Lan Zhan.. and-And even if I was you can't say anything, I mean remember what happened to that spring book, so you can't say anything, and I'm not 'cause I definitely flirt more than Jiang Cheng."

"So Wei Ying is aware?"

Lan Wangji felt almost amused as he watched the other's reaction. Wei Wuxian's face had turned slightly red, a need to prove Lan Wangji wrong flashing in his silver eyes.

"Of course I am, I know flirting is how you decide if you want to court someone or not, and if you do you get married and do the sort of thing they do in Nie-xiong's spring books right? But how else am I supposed to make friends and Lan Zhan I even get snacks out of it sometimes. "

Lan Wangji wonder slightly if he had lost more blood than he thought. The world didn't seem to be making the sense it should.

"Wei Ying flirts for food."

"Lan Zhan!! You can't say it like that it makes me sound like some sort of begger, I am not anymore so you can't say it like that."

And just like that Wei Ying had dropped something else on his head. He had known the Jiang sect had taken his beloved in at some point after his parents death but he had realized what that had ment for Wei Ying.

"*ah* we should head back shouldn't we, I don't think anyone will be looking for me but it would do to have them thinking their Hanguang-jun has been carried off by Wens right."

Wei Wuxian stated with a laugh. He dusted himself off after standing before holding out a hand to help Lan Wangji. It wasn't necessary but he excepted anyway.

"*Ah!* Lan Zhan you should have said something I completely ruined your robes!"

"Mn"

"Lan Zhan!!! You not supposed to agree"

Wei Wuxian shreaked. Seeing this Lan Wangji smiled softly.

"Wei Ying."

"Yeah? "

"Want to help Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian wilted slightly shrugging, they had argued over this topic just days ago.

"Ah Lan Zhan.."

"Wei Ying.."

"No Lan Zhan I need you to listen.. you felt it didn't you.. I'm not. I can't go back from this Lan Zhan. "

Wei Ying stated gesturing to himself.

"Mn"

"Don't Mn me, Lan Zhan... Don't you get it... I'm dead... I'm the same as the things I control.. I have been ever since Wen Cheo threw me in the Burial Mounds... your music can't change that, Lan Zhan. "

A sigh punctuated Wei Wuxian sentence. He stared at the ground once again not daring to look up.

"Wei Ying. "

"Hmm"

Lan Wangji moved slowly as he took the other's hand not wanting to startle him.

"Want to help Wei Ying, will not ask you to stop cultivating any more, and if my sect's music does not work then I am willing to try anything, whatever you need. Please just let me help, Wei Ying. "

A few seconds past before Wei Wuxian responded, but Lan Wangji saw the build up of black tears before they fell.

"Lan Zhan you fuddy-duddy."

He muttered wiping his arm across his eyes harshly. The black cloth of his sleeve didn't stain like the white of Lan silk.

"You keep making me cry you meany"

When Lan Zhan just blinked at him clearly unimpressed by his antics, Wei Wuxian let out a wet chuckle.

"Okay sure, but only if you promise to keep my secret... and.. maybe give me more hugs. "

It was odd to see the other look so shy.

"Mn promise. "

They both nodded, before the seriousness of the moment got Wei Wuxian and he began cackling.

"Haha sorry it's just your face looks so cute~ when you're serious, Lan Zhan. "

Wei Wuxian said wiping away the last of his tears.

"Does Wei Ying want more blood."

He blinked a bit.

"Huh?"

"Wei Ying flirts for food."

"Eh Lan Zhan~!!!"

.........

"A-Xian are you in there? "

Jiang Yanli asked as she pushed open the tent flap. Her A-Xian had changed since the war began, been hurt so much. Because unlike the many cultivators she could see how paper thin his smiles were, how the arrogance he exuded wasn't pride but protection... it had always been slightly so, but she was weak.

'If I was stronger then, maybe A-Xian wouldn't be carring the weight he does.'

Having never been the one to force A-Xian to tell her what or who was hurting him. She wasn't able to do so now, and it was becoming her greatest regret as she watched the boy she raised wither under the force of a war and its people who saw him as little more than a weapon.

"I'm here Shije. "

Wei Wuxian watched as his Shije nodded before glanceing at the bowl of broth she had brought. He hadn't been able to keep anything even remotely solid down since the Burial Mounds, Shije had picked up on that. Wei Wuxian suspected she suspected something, but his Shije was too kind to ask and he didn't have the heart to tell her.

'But now Lan Zhan knows so maybe it won't be so bad.'

"I was worried you'd made yourself sick again, but..."

Her hand made it's way up to his face. Jiang Yanli couldn't help the smile that made it's way onto her face at seeing the color returned to her A-Xian.

"My XiaoXian looks better. "

Wei Wuxian rubbed his face against her hand; it was a calming motion one he had done many times; before remembering something he wanted to tell her. It really wasn't his fault he was easily distracted, like when Lan Zhan caught him earlier he couldn't be blamed. After all Lan Zhan was very warm and he always sme- and he was getting distracted again.

"Shije I spoke with Lan Zhan earlier and do you want to know what that fuddy-duddy told me.."

Shije smirked.

"And what did he tell my A-Xian?"

"Shije!!!"

Her tone was teasing so if he pouted it was only fair.

" Anyway he said that he didn't hate me after all!!! and that he even liked me, but Shije!!"

"Hmm but what A-xian"

'Shije was really to good for that peacock, she was playing along with him and everything. '

"That fuddy-duddy still doesn't want to be my friend. "

"Well that is a problem.."

His Shije tapped a finger to her chin as if she was thinking, then she flashed him a smile.

"Perhaps he wants to be more than friends."

"That's what I said but he doesn't want to be best friends either... and Shije I have to figure something out because Lan Zhan must have magic healing hugs or something.."

"*pffft * is that why my A-Xian look so much better."

"Shije!!!"

Really Jiang Yanli felt quite bad for the second young master Lan, as smart as her A-Xian was years of living on the street and with her mother had made the poor boy very dense. But she shouldn't tease him too much.

..........

Lan Wangji made his way to his brother's tent with the same a surety he did with everything in his life; which right now wasn't as much as most believed.

"Brother"

"Yes Wangji?"

Lan Xichen asked looking up from the temporary desk he had been given. Lan Wangji paused seeing the amount of scrolls piled around his brother, as sect leader his brother had to do much more that just raise his sword.

"I'm almost done Didi you can tell me whatever you need to. "

"Mn"

Lan Wangji nodded but chose to make tea first, he should do at least this much for his brother, considering he was here for advice. Lan Xichen smiled seeing this.

"So what brings you to my tent Wangji, it seems like something more personal than information involveing the war?"

"Mn spoke with Wei Ying.."

Lan Xichen's smile brightened, Wangji didn't look angry meaning they hadn't fought. That was good, his brother had been hurt enough.

"That's great Didi, did you manage to tell him how you feel? "

"Yes"

Lan Wangji felt his brother was waiting for him to continue, he glanced at his brother before stating.

"Wei Ying is very innocent. "

An now Lan Xichen was blinking at his brother. He wasn't sure what to make of his brother's statement, especially considering the rumors he had heard about young master Wei, the ones that as a Lan he wasn't supposed to be hearing.

"I see?"

He didn't see he really didn't, and Lan Wangji just nodded as if he had gotten his point across.

"Wangji are you telling me you confessed to young master Wei?"

His brother nodded.

"And that instead of responding, young master Wei was confused? "

Lan Wangji shook his head.

"Wei Ying did not understand my words as a confession."

"Ah Didi.. that doesn't necessarily mean he is innocent. "

And now his brother was giving him a flat look. The one he gave him when he missed what Wangji considered a simple problem on one of their uncle's tests.

"Wei Ying flirts for food."

Lan Wangji stated as if that explained everything, it didn't but Lan Xichen went along with it. He was really beginning to wonder what went on in the conversation his brother had had with Wei Wuxian.

"Brother"

Lan Xichen couldn't help but feel his brother would sighing at him if he could.

"Yes?"

"Wei Ying is only vaguely aware of what he is inviting when he flirts."

After a moment in thought Lan Xichen nodded.

' if Wangji is sure as his brother I should believe him.'

"Then perhaps now would be a good time to begin courting him officially."

His didi startled a bit at his statement.

"Brother? "

"It will be very hard for Young master Wei to misunderstand if you state you intentions formally."

Lan Wangji though for a few seconds then nodded.

"Brother is wise."

He bowed respectfully then went to leave.

"Wangji. "

"Yes?"

"Be careful when you do so, Sect Leader Jiang seems to be of the same temperament as Nie Mingjue. I can only imagine how my friend would react if someone asked to court his brother."

Lan Wangji nodded.

"I will act accordingly."

.........

"What the h*ll"

Lan Wangji had gone to speak with Sect Leader Jiang the next morning.

"What the actual h*ll!"

Even Wei Ying who had join on Lan Wangji request had frozen out of shock when he heard his statement, so Lan Wangji could only think to repeat himself.

"I would like to court Wei Ying."

"What the hell! Why would you... he's not a cutsleave, he likes girls and only flirts with other guys on accident, and besides that You Hate Him... and You why aren't you rejecting him already?"

Jiang Wanyin questioned pointing at Wei Wuxian, who seemed to startle out of his daze.

"Oh!!! So that's.. Ohh!"

"Wei Ying? "

"I like you too!! Lan Zhan!!!"

And just as suddenly as his own words Wei Ying was in Lan Wangji's arms. Wei Ying may be freezing to the touch, but Lan Wangji though this moment was quite warm. He was even half considering this might be a dream.

"What the h*ll... you know what I'm getting A-jie."

Neither saw as Jiang Wanyin left to caught up in each other's gaze.

"Hey Lan Zhan, does your clan have some sort of rule against couples being friends? "

Lan Wangji blinked a bit, and thought of his parents.

"No?"

"Then why did you keep rejecting me, you were so mean about it too *sniff *"

"Wei Ying!"

Lan Wangji didn't know what to do, he hadn't meant to upset Wei Ying, but then the younger was chuckling into his chest.

"I'm just teasing Lan Zhan."

"Boring."

"Lan Zhan!!"

Lan Wangji wasn't sure he would ever understand what Wei Ying found so amusing about his face, but he was certain he didn't care.

"Wei Ying."

"Hmm?"

"Will not follow that rule."

"Huh what rule?"

"Will be Wei Ying friend.. but Wei Ying must be my partner as well."

"Lan Zhan!!!"

He blinked a bit at the younger's reaction, but then silver eyes were staring up at him again and Wei Ying was blushing that pale red he did.

"You can't say things like that Lan Zhan My Heart can't take it."

"Wei Ying? "

"I know, I know but Lan Zhan even like it is you make it go all fluttery and and... but yes, to your question I mean. "

Wei Ying was smiling that smile that wasn't good for His heart, and Lan Wangji was once again wondering if this might be a dream. When another voice came from the door.

"Oh my, am I interrupting something?"

Jiang Yanli voice was kind and unlike her brother's reaction she sounded vaguely amused, but Wei Ying still jumped away from him like they had be caught doing something much worse than hugging.

"Shije!!!"

"Oh so you'll listen to A-jie, but not your Sect Leader. Not that that matters A-jie will put an end to all this nonsense. "

She just chuckle softly, before turning to Lan Wangji.

"I glad the two of you finally figured things out, A-Xian was so upset when you fought."

"Shije! You can't tell him that!"

"She can tell him whatever she wants as long as she kicks the b**tard out when she done."

"Jiang Cheng you take that back!"

Lan Wangji could only watch as Wei Ying began squabbling with Jiang Wanyin.

"A-Cheng you're being rude."

"Eh but A-jie. "

"A-Cheng."

Sect Leader Jiang huffed but bowed slightly in apology.

"You always take his side."

Maiden Jiang rolled her eyes before turning back to him.

"I apologize A-Cheng is quite upset, he is very attached to A-Xian and he thinks you want to steal him away completely. "

"That..was not my intention."

"I am glad to hear that, and in my brother's place"

She shot Jiang Wanyin a look, who grumbled something under his breath an continued glaring at Lan Wangji.

" will agree to your courtship of our A-Xian."

As she spoke Jiang Yanli thought of the little boy who had come to the lotus Pier all those years ago. How small he had been then, and a promise she made to him, that first time she realized her father wasn't going to be much of a help. As kind as her father was, he was also indifferent to this little boy who smiled even though their healer told him he was broken.

" However for the sake of protecting my Didi"

Wei Ying lit up at the endearment.

" there are a few things I would like to speak with you about. I hope you will be amenable to joining me after dinner."

Lan Wangji nodded which earned him a soft smile.

.......

"Ah Wangji there you are.. how did it go?"

Lan Wangji paused and looked at his brother.

"Jiang Wanyin was distressed by my request. "

"I see, I could attempt to speak with him."

His brother shook his head.

"No need, after he informed their sister when Wei Ying did not reject me as he wish, she approved my request in his stead."

Lan Xichen was once again at a loss for words involving his brother's love life. Really it was to complicated for his tastes.

"I-i see that is good Didi."

"Mn, Madien Jiang expressed her wishes to speak with me at another time."

Really he was very worried for his Didi.

" I have made plans to eat with Wei Ying."

"Yes of course."

"Thank you Brother. "

Lan Xichen could only smile as his brother walked away. Sometimes he just wished Lan Wangji would tell him a bit more, maybe then he would understand what was going on a bit better.

..........

"Lan Zhan your here!!"

Wei Ying smiled at him so happly, he couldn't help but be glad as well. A small part of him the darker part had thought that with time to think Wei Ying would decide that he didn't in fact like him back.

"Here Lan Zhan."

Lan Wangji held the bowl he was handed, glancing Wei Ying he noted that his bowl had only broth.

"Ah yeah normal food doesn't really sit right since well you know,"

"Mn"

He frown slightly, but it did explain a few things.

"but I can still drink stuff so I'm good."

Lan Wangji nodded, he didn't like the sad look on Wei Ying's face, but the only thing he was sure would comfort him (a hug) wasn't viable while holding soup.

"So what do you think?"

Wei Wuxian asked gesturing to the area around them as they sat. The clearing was a little ways from the main camp, but someone had built up a suitable fire pit.

"It's sort of peaceful right?"

"Mn"

The other let out a laugh at Lan Wangji's response, before smiling at him.

"Lan Zhan you have to try Shije's soup she made it with tofu just for you.."

"Mn"

Lan Wangji blinked a bit after tasting said soup, it was very good, he could see why Wei Ying was always praising it. They were quiet after that. However Lan Wangji while used to quite meals knew something was off. Wei Wuxian was not one to be quiet.

"Wei Ying? "

The other startled.

"*ah* sorry Lan Zhan I was just thinking about something. "

Wei Wuxian stated as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Hey Lan Zhan.. I think I know what shijie wants to talk to you about, and it's sort of a secret so *um* well you know."

*Mn *

"But well it's something we plan- talked about a while.., me and Shijie I mean back when I first joined the Jiangs, anyway I should probably take you over there."

After that Wei Ying lead him back to the Jiang sect leader's tent. Jiang Yanli was standing by the entrance with a soft smile, while Jiang Wanyin stood there glaring.

"Good evening Second young master Lan"

"Maiden Jiang, Sect Leader Jiang. "

Lan Wangji bowed in greeting at which Jiang Wanyin snorted.

"I hope you don't mind but my brother is here for propriety's sake."

"Mn I understand"

Jiang Yanli nodded before directing them to a small table where she had prepared tea. She smiled softly at her Sect brother, before turning to Lan Wangji.

"I am glad you could join us Lan-er-gongse, I had a promise to keep after all."

Lan Wangji saw Jiang Yanli glance towards Wei Ying as she spoke.

"A promise? "

"Yes, one made to a certain young boy just a few months after my father brought him into the sect."

Watching his beloved, Lan Wangji felt the other looked nervous even as he shared a sentimental smile with Jiang Yanli.

"Where should I start.. it is a somewhat well known fact that my father was not brave enough to risk my mother's wrath by adopting A-Xian.."

Wei Ying cringe slightly at her words, and something about her words made Lan Wangji's protectiveness flare. A small part of him wanted to grab the other's hand comfertingly, but he wasn't sure Wei Ying would except.

"which is why I sit here infront of you now not as a sister, but as the person who raised A-Xian."

As soon as her words processed into Lan Wangji mind, he was making to bow. This ment the woman in front of him was basically his mother-law he should show her his respect.

"Lan Zhan!..Shije!!"

This of course flustered Wei Ying.

"What hell?"

And confused Jiang Wanyin.

"There is no need for that Lan-er-gongse, I am only telling you because I want you to understand how important Wei Wuxian is to me."

Lan Wangji nodded. Seeing that Jiang Yanli stopped to think, coming to a decision she said.

"Three months after A-Xian came to Lotus Pier our sect healers diagnosed him with Focus Scattering Disorder (Aka Adhd)"

He glanced a Wei Ying, who seemed to find something very interesting about his own robes.

"they determined it wasn't a result of a pre-natal curse, but instead infantile Qi syndrome. While common in the children of cultivators, A-Xian has a somewhat severe case causeing his focus disorder. "

She paused trying to gage his reaction. Lan Wangji wasn't sure how he felt, a part of him was almost happy to hear this information; that they shared another common ground, but the rest of him was upset to learn his Wei Ying was likely struggling even before the war.

"I have spoken with A-Xian before and we thought it was best we told his partner before we begin the official Marriage Talks."

Jiang Yanli stood as she finished, she squeezed Wei Wuxian's shoulder gently as she left taking Jiang Wanyin with her.

"I still have obligations to attend to, however I hope Lan-er-gongse is aware of the consequences he will face should he hurt my A-Xian. "

Her eyes flashed with what he suspected was a bit of her mother's temper, like lightning that threatened pain should he hurt her A-Xian.

"Wei Ying. "

A few minutes passed but Wei Ying still wasn't looking at him and Lan Wangji felt almost angry.

"Does Wei Ying think I will revoke our courtship?"

Whatever anger Lan Wangji had felt however fizzled out when Wei Ying flinched.

"I... lan zhan.."

At this point Lan Wangji was contemplating ruining anyone and everyone who had caused his beloved to be so unsure of himself, that was until he realized he was among them.

"Wei Ying..."

Thankfully Wei Ying glanced up at him when he spoke.

"I will not abandon Wei Ying. "

The flinch was even more obvious this time.

"I.. don't.. I didn't.. say that"

"Wei Ying does not have to be perfect, will take Wei Ying however he is."

Lan Wangji saw the argument in the other's stormy gray eyes before the words even finished leaving his mouth.

"But that's the problem Lan Zhan... you just keep excepting, maybe.. not when we were younger, but now..."

Wei Ying muttered, standing suddenly.

"Lan Zhan! anyone else would have ended me in those woods! But you..."

He was pacing now.

"You Lan Zhan you're so nice to me, and you act like nothing happened and and."

Their eyes met.

"You even chose to court me and everything,.. and I should be happy right."

Wei Ying seemed to be searching for something in Lan Wangji's eyes.

"And I am happy, so so very happy that I feel like I might just vibrate right out of my skin, but Lan Zhan."

He paused, his throat making swallowing motions.

"I just keep thinking what if this is the thing... you know the thing that makes me to much trouble... that will make you leave... and You say you won't but they all do Lan Z-zhan... *sob*"

Ink-like tears dripped down Wei Ying's face... and suddenly Lan Wangji was kneeling on the ground with him as rubbed harshly on his own cheeks.

"Lan Z--zhan! *sniff* they.. it's all my fault Lan Zhan.. my shidi.... everybody."

And then Lan Zhan was pulling him into one of those magic hugs, and everything felt just a little less overwhelming.

"Wei Ying."

"Hmm"

"I am not perfect. "

Wei Wuxian blinked not quite understanding what he was hearing.

"I.. have trouble with words."

"Lan Zhan? "

Lan Zhan was looking him straight in the eyes.

"As a child I did not truly speak until my third summer. My sect healers even suspected I was dumb (mute), "

Lan Wangji grabbed his hand gently.

"but my uncle did not believe them, he insisted I could learn... I was able to quote our sect's rules long before I ever called him uncle."

Wei Wuxian though Lan Zhan looked regretful as he spoke.

"I am not perfect Wei Ying..."

There was a pause.

"Will Wei Ying abandon me?"

He shook his head vehemently.

"No! Lan Zhan.. how could I..i"

"Mn.. Wei Ying is good. "

"But I'm not Lan zhan I'm.. I... It's my fault.."

Lan Zhan shook his head, bringing a hand up to wipe away Wei Wuxian's tears.

"Not Wei Ying's fault. Wei Ying is good. Love Wei Ying"

"Lan Zhan? You- "

Lan Wangji couldn't be blamed if he felt now was a good time to kiss his Wei Ying... and if Wei Wuxian lost his train of thought that really wasn't his fault. After all he did just have his first kiss stolen.

.......

A week had passed since Lan Wangji had learned his beloved's secret. He had watch as the color once again drained from Wei Ying's face and by the seventh day how he was beginning to look stretched all to thin.

"Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian's eyes still flickered red, dispite the battle being longsence over.

"Wei Ying needs to feed."

It was a statement not a question, and how could it be when his Wei Ying still lingered among the dead a hungry look in his eyes.

"*Ah* Lan Zhan, I'm fine."

"WEI YING."

The younger flinched slightly at the elder's tone.

"Okay Okay... I might be a little hungry... but there's a lot of blood around.. I will be fine."

"Wei Ying can feed from the dead? "

Lan Wangji wasn't entirely sure what he thought about that.

"*Ah* yeah.. But it doesn't last as long, in fact even animal blood is better than it, considering the dead have basically no Yang.. which means it does nothing to help with the su- I'm rambling aren't I."

Perhaps a bit but Lan Wangji didn't care, so he shook his head.

"Like hearing Wei Ying speak, want to understand what you.. Wei Ying's condition. "

Wei Ying blinked at him.

"Lan Zhan!!!~ *pffhaha *"

From an outside perspective the two of them made quite a sight. Standing there talking among the dead they appeared almost like two desended imortals surrounded by the carnage of the War.

"Wei Ying?"

"Yeah Lan Zhan?"

"Does Wei Ying require Qi as well?"

"Huh.. no? I mean all blood has a certain amount of spiritual energy, but I don't need Yang specificly.."

Wei Wuxian shuffled his feet, kicking at a rock.

"it helps sometimes, but that's mostly because the sun is one big ball of Yang so any weaker Yin has trouble with it.."

Lan Wangji nodded, beginning to understand what the other was implying.

"and since I'm basically Yin in human form right now, it's a little uncomfortable,"

He shrugged, before smiling softly at Lan Zhan.

"but I'm fine Lan Zhan. "

"Will feed Wei Ying. "

Just seeing his lovers baffled face made Lan Wangji's statement worth it.

"Huh... No Lan Zhan you know how dangerous that is."

"Wei Ying did not hurt me. Wei Ying requires blood with a strong Yang, mine is suitable. "

Lan Wangji stepped forward and grabbed Wei Wuxian's hands.

"I-i don't want you to see me like that Lan Zhan."

"I have seen Wei Ying feed..?"

Wei Ying chuckled but shook his head.

"Not everything.. I was planning to go hunting that day anyways.. so I had already prepared... Lan Zhan I- .. I don't want you to see."

"Wei Ying agreed to let me help."

"..."

They stared at each other for a long moment, silently trying to convince the other.

"*sigh* Fine Lan Zhan you win,.. but you have to promise that you won't get mad."

"Mn"

Seeing Lan Wangji nod Wei Wuxian's head bobbed a few times in thought.

"We should head back to my tent."

Wei Ying was subdued as they made their way back.

"Wei Ying? "

And Lan Wangji could not help but question as he watched the other do a full circle around his tent, checking both inside and out as if he was worried about being followed.

"*Ah-haha* sorry.."

Wei Wuxian muttered rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Hey Lan Zhan it's not as bad as it looks, and it really is necessary."

Kneeling as he pulled as small sliver dagger from under his bedding, Wei Wuxian stated. Lan Wangji didn't understand until the knife made contact with Wei Ying's wrist drawing black blood to the surface.

"Wei..Ying.?"

At Lan Wangji question Wei Ying glanced up from the bowl he had prepared to catch his blood. Flashing a nervous smile he continued.

"Just think of it like blood letting, I mean that's basically what it is... and I really wouldn't do this if I didn't need to. I promise Lan Zhan."

Lan Wangji watch as he trembled slightly, causing the blade to cut deeper.

"Wei Ying "

He knelt besides him, and Wei Ying chuckled as he took the knife.

"You know being dead is pretty annoying.. my body doesn't replace its own blood anymore, I think that's why I have to drink it..."

Wei Ying gave one of those self-deprecating laughs.

"but worse than that it can't get rid of the dead blood either, so..."

Lan Wangji felt the other shrug into him.

"I have to do this."

He nodded, and held the dagger steady. If it was necessary he would not let Wei Ying do this alone.

"It really is necessary, if I forget... the blood will start dripping out of my qiao.."

Wei Wuxian muttered as he leaned further into Lan Wangji's side.

"Wei Ying. "

"Ah sorry Lan Zhan."

"Unnecessary... How long?"

"*Oh umm* you can stop when the blood stops bleeding black."

Lan Zhan nodded.

"Mn, Wei Ying can continue."

"I- I don't..."

He was flattered that Wei Ying did want him to feel upset, but he would rather him be distracted in such circumstances.

"Wei Ying. "

"Okay sure where was I... I ... hey Lan Zhan did you know my nails have sharpen... that's actually how I did this the first time.. back in the Burial Mounds. "

"Mn"

Wei Ying's blood no longer bled black. Lan Wangji removed the blade from his lovers skin, blinking in awe as the wound sealed itself. Wiping the reminder of the blood away he brought the pale wrist to his own lips. Kissing it softly

"*Eep!* Lan~Zhan!!"

"Wei Ying can feed now."

Lan Wangji stated placing a second kiss, on Wei Wuxian's pale cheek.

"*A-ha* Y-yeah."

"Good"

He pulled Wei Ying further into his lap, before placing his own wrist infront of the younger's mouth.

"Wei Ying."

"You know you don't have to do this Lan Zhan. "

"Wei Ying."

That seemed to be the last straw in whatever it was holding Wei Ying back, a second later Lan Wangji felt a familiar warmth spread through his body. It was a very comfortable feeling, he was beginning to think he may become addicted feeding his Wei Ying.

"Wei Ying "

He muttered softly as the other melted even further into him, trailing sloppy kisses down his injured wrist once he finished. Lan Wangji had noticed this last time, but..

"Wei Ying is able to heal as well."

"Hmm"

Wei Wuxian looked up dazedly from where he was currently nuzzling into Lan Wangji chest.

"Oh-Yeah I haven't figured that one out either. "

"Mn"

Lan Wangji nodded placing a kiss behind his lovers ear. The part of him he often allotted to his father's blood wanted to go further, however the wiser part of himself reminded Lan Wangji of propriety (and a softer voice said to be careful lest he scare off his more innocent lover).

"Lan~Zhan"

Even if he and Wei Ying had come to an understanding on their relationship, the rest of the world was still at war, that put any sort of marriage bearing elopement off the table.

"What's on your mind?"

"Want to marry Wei Ying."

"Lan Zhan!!!~"

It would never cease to surprise him how easily he could make his Wei Ying a blushing mess. No matter what Lan Wangji loved seeing it, that flush of red told him his love was both healthy and fed.

.....

"Hey Lan Zhan"

"Mn?"

Lan Wangji glanced towards his beloved who lay proan on the floor beside him.

"I think I drowned... that day in the Burial Mounds... I don't think I was dead before then."

Wei Wuxian paused to steady his voice. He was looking at the tent ceiling he didn't dare look at Lan Wangji.

"At least not like I am now, I was just so thirsty Lan Zhan.. that was when I found it.. it was the first clean water I had seen in days.. I shouldn't have drank it..... nothing safe is the color of blood..."

Lan Wangji sat up from where they were laying.

"Wei Ying."

His voice was soft a he pulled the other close.

"I.. just didn't care, I think maybe I had figured I was going to die down there any ways... Not that I drown myself Lan Zhan, I wouldn't. "

"Mn"

He nodded as he ran a comforting hand down the younger's arm.

"That pool was made up of pure Yi, not resentment but something different.. similar.. I'm not sure, after I drank it, it was almost like what happens when Qi overloads."

Wei Ying shuttered in his arms.

"I don't remember how long I was down there, maybe minute, or hours, maybe even longer."

"Mn, Wei Ying is here now."

That sparked a laugh from his beloved.

"That's true."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence for a moment before Wei Ying was chatting about something else, a compass he was planning on making. They stay like that until morning, neither of them required much sleep.

.......

Many titles were given as the Sunshot Campain processed, however one was more of a rumor than a title to be used. A whisper no one dared say aloud.

"Guāngyǐng-Mo"

It was whispered among the Wens like a curse, muttered among the common people with fearful awe. For them it was one of a pair.. the completion of another's title. The Yin to a bright Yang.

"Hanguang-jun's Guāngyǐng-Mo."

How could it not be whispered as such when the two were so clearly in love. Together they were a symbol of balance, but alone the people whispered of a man who controlled the dead, of a demon who killed with its hands and dared not touch a sword.

When Wei Wuxian first heard the rumors he couldn't keep himself from laughing.

"Lan~Zhan!! Lan Zhan! Their calling me your shadow."

"Mn."

"The light's shadow for the light bearing lord.. *pffft hahaha*."

Lan Wangji had two reasons why he didn't like his lovers unofficial title. The first being his Wei Ying was not a demon and should not be called as such. The second was more possessive as only he was allowed to use Ying when it came to his fiancee even if it was a different ying.

"They say if you say the name to loud you will summon Guāngyǐng-Mo."

"If that's true then you should be more worried about Hanguang-jun."

"Eh why?"

"Well how would you feel if someone summoned your wife."

"S**t"

Soon the name was whispered not just for fear of it owner, but also for the light that it followed. Like this Wei Wuxian never officially received a title, after all who would dare use a title that would put them on the bad side of a man who was controlling a demon.

......

Mdzs vampire Au- is the blood pool was a corrupted version of the fountain of youth, and turn Wei Wuxian into a vampire. This is a story idea I wrote out partially but couldn't finish, so I'm posting it in the hopes someone else can.