#There's no way he told her he was going out to duel Jiang Cheng. For several reasons.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Bonus 13: Beware the Grapes of Wrath.

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[incarnadinedreams]

This isn't really new, but it's actually really interesting to me what a sticking point the 'enemy of the cultivation world' line is for people who have a less favorable interpretation of Jiang Cheng's character.

When I first read the novel, it honestly just seemed obvious to me that it was part of The Plan with their staged falling out/defection from the Yunmeng Jiang clan. Whether it was a good or likely to succeed long-term plan or not is up for debate, but considering that we know the entire duel and 'falling out' was staged, I thought it was a given that was just part of it.

So I was actually pretty surprised to see so many people adamant that even if the duel was staged, that statement was a specific lie/betrayal on Jiang Cheng's part. Because of the duel/defection situation being generally light on description in the novel, there's not enough detail to say conclusively and definitely either way.

The first time we hear about the 'enemy of the cultivation world' declaration is actually in the prologue, where some dude is telling the "citation needed" summary version of the Yiling Patriarch's life story (7S version):

"[...] The former Jiang sect leader raised him like his own son, eh? But look at him: publicly defecting from the clan, making himself an enemy of the world. He’s embarrassed the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng utterly and almost doomed them to the same fate of extermination. [...]"

Of course it's not until the end of ch. 73 that we really know the circumstances of this defection. Where the duel is described the style of narration shifts noticeably to that very detached, third-party narration, the tone shift that indicates throughout the novel that this is the story the public believes.

The ExR translation phrases it this way:

They fought quite a fight in Yiling. Negotiations failed. Both resorted to violence.

Under Wei WuXian's command, the fierce corpse Wen Ning struck Jiang Cheng once, breaking one of his arms. Jiang Cheng stabbed Wei WuXian once. Both sides suffered losses. Each spat out a mouthful of blood and left cursing the other. They had finally fallen out with each other.

After the fight, Jiang Cheng told the outside that Wei WuXian defected from the sect and was an enemy to the entire cultivation world. The YunmengJiang Sect had already cast him out. From then on, no ties remained between them—a clear line was drawn. Henceforth, no matter what he did, they'd have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang Sect!

The official translation from 7S makes it even clearer that this is the 'what the public is meant to believe' type of thing by formatting it this way (including the italics):

Following the duel, Jiang Cheng made this public statement: "Wei Wuxian has defected from our clan and become a public enemy. The Jiang Clan of Yunmeng expelled him and has broken all ties with him, drawing a clear line between his deeds and our own. No matter what this man does going forward, his actions have nothing to do with the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng!"

Whether it's a verbatim quote or not doesn't particularly matter for my interpretation (I don't particularly doubt the statement itself happened), but I would be interested in how it's presented originally; unfortunately I can't read it, so as always there's the 'going off translations' caveat here.

Immediately in the next chapter we see the aftermath of the duel and Wei Wuxian's nonchalant attitude to it, and then later in ch. 75, when Jiang Cheng brings Jiang Yanli to visit Yiling and show off her wedding robes and she reveals he suggested she have Wei Wuxian pick her son's courtesy name.

That's where we really realize just how staged it was (bolding mine):

Jiang Cheng raised up his bowl, "To the YiLing Patriarch."

Hearing this, Wei WuXian remembered the proudly fluttering banner again. All that was in his head was the ten golden words ''all hail the supreme Lord of Evil Patriarch of YiLing', "Shut up!"

After he drank a mouthful, Jiang Cheng spoke, "How's your wound from last time?"

Wei WuXian, "It healed a long time ago."

Jiang Cheng, "Mn." With a pause, he continued, "How many days?"

Wei WuXian, "Less than seven. I told you before. With Wen Qing, it was nothing difficult. But you really did fucking stab me."

Jiang Cheng ate a piece of lotus root, "You were the one who smashed my arm first. You took seven days, while I had to hang my arm up for an entire month."

Wei WuXian grinned, "How could it seem realistic if it wasn't hard enough? It was your left hand anyways. It didn't hinder you from writing. It takes a hundred days to heal a wound to the bone. It wouldn't be too much even if you hung it up for three months."

[...]

Before they parted, Jiang Cheng spoke, "We won't see you off. It wouldn't be good if someone saw us."

Wei WuXian nodded. He understood that it wasn't easy for the Jiang siblings to have come out here. If someone else saw them, all those things they did for the public to believe would be wasted. He spoke, "We'll go first."

We don't actually know, exactly, to the letter, what the plan was. Everything after Wei Wuxian says they could cut ties to protect the Jiang sect and Jiang Cheng saying they should have a duel is very light on the actual details.

Even with that wiggle room, I just don't buy the interpretation that the 'enemy of the cultivation world'/'public enemy' line was some extra betrayal behind Wei Wuxian's back, totally unknown to him, some sort of sneaky move meant to simply make everyone hate him even more for no reason.

They were clearly concerned with the possibility that nobody would truly believe that they'd actually fallen out, and felt they needed to go to fairly extreme lengths to sell this story to the public. While there were definitely some hurt feelings (on both sides) at this point, there was definitely still some hope that things would work out in the end, somehow.

I think this part of the novel works better with them both clinging to a thread of tenuous hope, a desperate last-ditch effort to somehow figure out a way to keep both the Yunmeng Jiang sect and the Wens safe because neither one of them can back down but neither can really let go yet.

If anything I'd say it would be a bit weird to take the public statement made after an event we know is staged to deceive the public... and assuming that for some reason, that specific line of it should just be taken at face value.

As with many aspects of the novel, the public story and what actually happened are just not the same thing.

[stiltonbasket]

Soulmate AU where you receive the same injuries as your soulmate (whether or not healing goes both ways is up to you)

Yu Ziyuan lives in fear of her children being tied to a soulmate.

Every mother does, to some extent. Soulmates are rare among cultivators, with only two or three in every hundred having one—or worse, multiple soulmates, for those perilously lucky individuals fated to be loved by multiple people. Soulmate bonds usually appear within a month or two of the pair’s first meeting, and express themselves in only a single way: the sharing of the two halves’ bodily injuries, whatever they might be.

Her A-Li and A-Cheng have reached the ages of eight and four without manifesting a single unexplained wound, and Ziyuan’s relief is outweighed only by her apprehension. Jiang Cheng is constantly covered in scratches and scrapes from the rough-and-tumble play that most of the children at Lotus Pier participate in, and Yanli sometimes sports oil-burns and needle-pricks on her fingers: but there was nothing the healers could not determine the cause of, like the small night-hunting injuries from Wei Changze that sometimes dot her husband’s arms and legs.

And then Yu Ziyuan wakes one morning to hear Jiang Fengmian’s manservant screaming, and A-Cheng wailing at the top of his lungs from the children’s side of the compound.

Fengmian had suffered a near-mortal wound in the night, an deep, ugly slash up his thigh from whence he nearly bled to death, and Yanli’s nightgown was covered in crimson stains from what looked like dog bites on her calves.

As for Wei Changze, his death is announced two days later, and Fengmian sets off with a full retinue and a crutch to support his leg as he travels throughout the Hubei countryside in search of Wei Changze’s son.

“You should look for A-Li’s zhiyin first!” Yu Ziyuan cries, for Yanli’s injuries have only become more severe since the hour they first appeared, and the Jiang sect healers are with her day and night lest a cut should go too deep or become infected. “How could Wei Changze’s child have lived, if his father died and there has been no word from his mother?”

"I will look for her fated one on the way,” Jiang Fengmian says hoarsely. “And if I find them, I shall send them back to safety at once. But I must find Wei Ying, too, or at least find out what happened to him.”

He does not say that he suspects Wei Ying is the zhiyin in question, perhaps for fear of what Yu Ziyuan might think about it—but he is proven right, as he has been about so many other things, when the bites covering Wei Ying’s little body match perfectly to A-Li’s.

“I will not hear of breaking her engagement to A-Xuan for this,” she says fiercely, after Wei Ying and A-Li have both fully recovered. “Do you hear me, Fengmian? You promised me that I could settle our daughter’s marriage, you—"

“San-niang,” her husband sighs, glancing at the three children playing together in the courtyard. “A lovers’ bond is much rarer than the kind I shared with Changze. If it turns out to be the former, we will think about it then, but I am certain that Wei Ying is only bound to A-Li as I was bound to A-Ze.”

Wei Ying will not leave her, as his father left me, is the promise left unspoken. And she will not fail him as I failed Changze.

__

“Don’t!” is the first thing the reprobate on the roof shouts, when Lan Wangji unsheathes his sword to duel him for drinking in plain sight without even listening when Lan Wangji told him it was forbidden. “You can’t fight me!”

Lan Wangji presses on, undeterred. “Why not?” he asks, before stopping in confusion when the Jiang sect disciple leaps onto his jian and takes refuge in a nearby tree. “Put your wine down!”

The mysterious disciple obeys in a flash. “Master Lan, you really can’t fight me,” he says urgently. “My shijie is my sworn zhiyin, and if I get hurt, so will she. I can’t cross blades with anyone who hasn’t had a blocking ward applied to their weapons, so don’t chase me anymore, all right? I’ll listen.”

Despite Lan Wangji’s dislike for gossip, he has actually heard about Jiang Fengmian’s ward, who was taught cultivation but never permitted to night-hunt or do anything even remotely dangerous for fear of harming Jiang-zongzhu’s daughter. “You are Wei Wuxian,” he recollects, sliding Bichen back into its scabbard. “Jiang-zongzhu’s adopted son.”

“That’s me!” the Jiang disciple chirps, before unstoppering his second wine jar and emptying it into his mouth. “Manners, Lan-gongzi, manners! You can’t hit me to punish me, either!”

If Lan Wangji were a teapot, he would have long since boiled over with rage and embarrassment—because how could anyone mock the clan principles, and in such a way! He doesn’t think he’ll be able to keep hold of Wei Wuxian if he catches him, and using any kind of force is obviously out of the question; so Lan Wangji is forced to watch as his quarry dances off into the night, trailing bright laughter and the scent of Emperor’s Smile behind him.

Lan Wangji has never excused an offender before, even when the offender happened to be himself, so he spends the rest of his patrol shift sulking and pays a visit to his Xiongzhang early the next morning.

But Lan Xichen only laughs at him. “A-Zhan, don’t pout,” he coos, pinching Lan Wangji’s cheeks as if he were still a baby. “Why don’t you try to make friends with Wei-gongzi, hmm? Neither of you will be joining the night-hunts as often as your classmates, so you can keep each other company.”

And then Xiongzhang tells him to apologize for being harsh, and to let Wei-gongzi know that any further rule-breaking during their lecture courses will be punished with lines under Wangji’s supervision if he can’t be struck with the discipline rods.

Lan Wangji has never been more miserable in his life.

[wangxianficrecs]

Follower Recs

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Hi! First of all, thank you so much for running this blog, It's become one of three reasons why I haven't yet committed arson (I jest but the Feeling is true). [Hee, hee, hee.] I have a rec for you! It's called "wholesome life usurp immediately" by comfect on ao3 and it's. So good. It's unfinished but the author updates it literally every other day if not faster! It's a lovely fic, I hope you enjoy it. 🌻

Wholesome Life Usurp Immediately

by Comfect (T, 55k, yunmeng sibs, qingli, wangxian, WIP)

Summary: Wen Qing examines Jiang Yanli at Cloud Recesses and has a cure for her poor cultivation.

Now there are Three Prides of Yunmeng.

Everything kind of fixes itself from there.

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hello mojo!! I would really like to recommend standing still (but we keep going) by lwjromantics!! it's really good!!

standing still (but we keep going)

by lwjromantics (justfantaestic) (T, 5k, wangxian)

Summary: Lan Wangji supposed that if having to take care of little A-Yuan and Mo Xuanyu and having to look at the reminders of Wei Ying in their habits and mannerisms was punishment for his actions, he would willingly take it and flay his own back open.

— There are children in the Burial Mounds.

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hii mojo! I just read this cute fic and I loved it so I wanted to rec it :) 

Word Up, Talk the Talk

by Larryissocute (G, 2k, wangxian)

Summary:  It wouldn’t have been a problem (it really wouldn’t) if they weren’t best friends. Wei Wuxian doesn’t know what good deeds he did in his past life to be blessed with Lan Wangji as a friend nor does he know what evil things he did to be cursed with being only a friend to Lan Wangji.

Or the one where Wei Wuxian kisses Lan Wangji and then runs away.

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Hey! Love your account — and proud of you for taking the hiatus you needed.  [Lol - it was really nice!]  Idk if you take fic recommendations, but I'd love to rec Roots by ardenrabbit. Fantastic characterization, I really love it!

Roots

by ardenrabbit (E, 46k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  After Wei Wuxian's duel with Jiang Cheng, he finds that stab wounds aren't so trivial when he doesn't have a core to heal them. He wakes to find Lan Zhan in the Burial Mounds with him, already beloved by the Wens and making himself at home. When Lan Zhan tells him that he wants to stay and offers more help than Wei Wuxian knows how to accept, he fears that it's only too good to be true.

Lan Wangji knows that Wei Ying is doing the right thing, and he couldn't live with himself if he let him do it alone. For everything Wei Ying has sacrificed, Lan Wangji is determined to give something back to him.

Hanguang-Jun has turned his back on the clans to join the Yiling Wens and their demonic cultivator leader, and every clan has a different opinion on the matter.

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Hello! I wanted to rec a fic on ao3 called "Restoration" by jelenedra. It's complete, an alternate universe of the sunshot campaign told nonlinearly. It has strong fairy tale and fae elements, with a touch of mystery. Bit of a fix it. Some delightful one liners, and the final ending imagery is just LOVELY. The fic deserves much more love. There's also some YilingWei, wwx not raised by Jiang, and sentient Burial Mounds elements. Enchanting read that keeps you enthralled and curious and intrigued.

Restoration

by jelenedra (M, 85k, wangxian)

Summary:  They say he was thrown into Luanzang Gang by the man who killed his parents; they say that he is an immortal cultivator who had been in a deep trance until the Wen sect disturbed his rest and incurred his wrath; they say that he is the fierce corpse of a cultivator who had somehow regained his mind and his spiritual powers.

When Lan Wangji sees him for the first time, he understands why people talk.

Meng Yao wants safety. Xue Yang wants vengeance. The Sunshot Campaign wants victory. Yiling Laozu provides, for a price.

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I usually read all your recommendations. Thanks for gathering all good recs of wangxian. I am in love with every single story your recommend especially the favorites. [I’m so glad!]  I just wanted to suggest a fic i came across while searching for phoenix!wwx. Its a new story I think as author has published it today. The first chapter was very interesting that i thought ill recommend it you and know your opinion. The legendary phoenix and his dragon -Devipriya and Hidden Path to Love by ShadowTenshiV

Hidden Path to Love

by ShadowTenshiV (G, 78k, wangxian)

Summary:  Wei Ying is a servant working at the Gusu Lan castle. One day he enters through a secret passage way connected to the library where he meets a Lan for the first time. He may have left quite an impression, gaining the other´s attention and slowly becoming friends. They would like to become something more, but a servant can´t be with a prince, but maybe his secret can change that.

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hello mojo! i was wondering if I could make a fic rec? it’s called “and the calm is deep where the quiet waters flow” by izanyas. it used to be on ao3 but the author has since moved it to eir own website and has started posting updates there. i was wondering if this could also act as a signal boost bc some old readers on ao3 might not have known that it is now on another website.   Author's been through a tough time so I think it deserves a lot more love.

For new readers, please mind the warnings in the prologue and the beginning of each chapter! it’s omegaverse and a very heavy read as it deals with (possible spoiler) off-screen rape that results in an unwanted pregnancy, as well as secondary gender oppression which runs deep, but for people who can bear it the writing, worldbuilding, and emotions are truly spectacular.

and the calm is deep where the quiet waters flow

by izanyas (E, 270k, wangxian, WIP, link is to WordPress rather than AO3)

Summary: Cangse Sanren was the first of her kind to become a cultivator. Talented, passionate, free-spirited, she bested everything that ever came her way until the very end.

Jiang Fengmian refuses to see her son deprived of that same freedom.

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Hello Mojo! I dunno if this's been recced before, but here's another ficrec for you? It's complete, on ao3, "The Third Young Master of Qishan Wen" by KouriArashi. It's 'if wwx was raised by dafan wen, but gets recognized as 3rd heir due to his skill' scenario. Some really nice banter and characterization. Wwx and lz get together before the sunshot campaign. Story follows the live action but diverges into au, and does some cool callbacks to original canon. Love Meng Yao in this!  [Oh, I know KouriArashi from my last fandom, I love her works!]

❤️The Third Young Master of the Qishan Wen

by KouriArashi (T, 139k, wangxian, my post)

Summary:  The fic where Wei Wuxian is adopted by the Dafan Mountain Wens instead of the Yunmeng Jiang.

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Hi Mojo! I can count the number of times I’ve spoken on Tumblr on one hand (I’m shy heh) but I found this fic that I think you and others would really like? I’m a sucker for emotional hurt/comfort and this was just too sweet for me not to share (did I go through 20 pages of bookmarks just to make sure you don’t already have it? Maybe …) [Aww, you can do a sidebar search in the bookmarks for the author’s name.  But I hope you found other good fics by carding through the whole catalog!]  It’s “Close Your Soft Eyes” by timetoboldlygo! I also wanna say thank you for all the hard work you put into this blog! It’s a treasure beyond compare. :D [Thank you so much!]

Close Your Soft Eyes

by timetoboldlygo (G, 12k, wangxian)

Summary:  When Lan Wangji woke, the first thing he noticed was the slip of paper, folded and tucked between his index and middle fingers, not Wei Wuxian’s absence. His fingers trembled as he unfurled the paper. A donkey with a little smile beamed down at him.

-

On the nights that Wei Wuxian was gone, Lan Wangji woke to gifts on his pillow.

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Hey Mojo! I love your blog it is beyond awesome! [Thank you!]  I was wondering if you would consider reading JaenysBloodcourt series "A Bond to Takes us home"? The summary is weird but I like the fics and would love to hear your opinion on LWJ POV (it's part 2). Part one is Mingxian but part two (Wangxian) reads as a standalone for the most part. Anyways, thank you for all your hard work! <3 [I’ll put it on my list!]

A Bond to Take Us Home

by JaenysBloodcourt (T, 10k, mingxian - nmj/wwx, wangxian, series in progress)

Summary:  Wei Wuxian has two soulmarks. He has two soulmates that seem to be the opposite of him. During his first life he meets both of them, loves only one and longs for the other. In his second life, the one he loved first is dead, and the one he pined after is pining after him.

These are the many tales of his soulmates and the raucous they made across the cultivation world.

Some are dark, some are light. Beware.

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I forgot to send this in for Mother's Day a few weeks ago, but have you read dragongirlG's "into the light of a dark black night"? It's a short canon divergence where Mama Lan escapes the Cloud Recesses after spending one last, heartbreaking night with her sons. It's so beautiful and bittersweet! [Oh, ouch.  I just read this author’s time travelling juniors au, but hadn’t seen this one.]

into the light of a dark black night

by dragongirlG (T, 3k, Madam Lan & sons)

Summary:  The night that Wu Yuhua, formerly known as Madam Lan, plans to escape from the Cloud Recesses, she runs into an unexpected complication.

That complication comes in the form of her younger son A-Zhan running up to her door and kneeling in front of it, hushed whimpers escaping from his throat.

Wu Yuhua knows it's not the full moon, knows that it's not the one day a month she's allowed to see her children—but like hell is she going to leave her six-year-old son out there trying to stifle sobs in the snow.

She opens the door. "A-Zhan," she says, bending down and reaching out a hand. "Come in, my sweet boy."

On a snowy night in the dead of winter, Wu Yuhua, formerly known as Madam Lan, unexpectedly spends one last night with her sons before escaping from the Cloud Recesses.

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Hello queen I’d like to recommend for ur follower rec posts Avatar: The Untamed Waterbender by KouriArashi. Banger of an ATLA au, def the best one I’ve seen. It’s a WIP but the author updates pretty regularly and it’s all around an A+ fic [Oh, yes, I’ve been waiting for this one to finish before I jump in.]

Avatar: The Untamed Waterbender

by KouriArashi (T, 123k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  You know the drill. Long ago, the four nations lived in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

100 years later, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli find Wei Wuxian sealed in an iceberg.

Featuring: avatar WWX, waterbending JC, firebending Wens, airbending Lans, earthbending Nies and Jins, Jiang Yanli in possession of the brain cell, et cetera.

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[My ko-fi.]

[theownerofshuanghua]

How about a Nie Huaisang, Jain Cheng, Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian s/o defected from the Wen clan to help them, but gets treated badly at the LanlingJin feast during the Sunspot events. How would they react?

A/N: I’ve actually had these written for while so hope you enjoy! (Also I wasn't sure what title Jin Zixun holds so i just wrote him as third young master)(Ps. I only wrote NHS, JC and LXC, hope you don't mind)

Nie Huaisang:

Nie Huaisang would never be the one to openly start a public riot, or any public confrontation at all, but when it comes to you, he’ll go all out

He won’t start a duel, or anything physical, although he will use his words

The one throwing accusations is Jin Zixun (of course cuz he’s a bitch)

During the SunShot campaign, you sided with the great gentry clans, even though you where a Wen

You held no high rank in the Wen clan, in fact, you were simply a disciple born into Qishan Wen

So when you’d seen what they where doing was evil and wrong, you’d deflected

On your way out of Qishan, you’d run into Nie Mingjue who’d allowed you to live, if you fought by their side

Since that's already what you’d been planning to do, you gladly accepted and joined their ranks

By then you already knew Huaisang (from the Lan clan lectures), and where already courting (which also sorta started at cloud recesses), so Nie Mingjue already knew of you

And he made sure to keep you safe

When you returned to the Unclean Realm with Mingjue, Huaisang was ecstatic to see you

And they invited you to join their clan, for fear of prosecution by the Jin clan, so you were now technically a Nie (Which ofc would be solidified when the two of you got married)

But for some reason, this didnt sit well with Jin Zixun who decided to call  you out at the flower banquet in Lanling

He walked over to where you were sitting, behind  Huaisang, and demanded to know why you left the Wen clan when they were still winning, claiming that such actions were very suspicious and that you were probably a spy

Before you could retort, Huaisang’s gentle voice interrupted you

“Of what exactly are you accusing my fiancee third young master Jin?”

Several badly hidden gasps filled the room

Due to your status, you hadn’t told the cultivation world about your courtship, let alone your betrothal

The only people who knew were 3Zun, one of which (Nie Mingjue) gave his brother a reproachful look

But Huaisang took no notice, and proceeded to get up to properly match Jin Zixun

“Perhaps you have drunken too much,” he said with a fake smile, as he removed the cup from Jin Zixun’s fingers

“You should go sit down”

In all your days you had never heard such menace in your beloved’s voice

And Zixun seemed to get the message since he left you alone

Then Huaisang turned to you, and with the sweetest and cutest smile, proceeded to ask if you were alright

Jiang Cheng:

With Jiang Cheng, it was different

We all know that this young sect leader has an explosive anger

And as you were his betrothed, he would do everything in his power to protect you

It had been Yanli’s idea for the two of you to get married, since you were very close to her (her best friend), you would be safe with Jiang Cheng, even if you were an ex-Wen

Similarly to with Huaisang, you had escaped when you had seen what the clan had been doing, and had joined the gentry clan, and had helped them win the SunShot Campaign

But your relations to the Wen Clan were no secret, and it bothered many people that such an influential member of the Wen Clan was still allowed to live

Which is what Jin Zixun seemed to want to know

Already parties and feasts where not your safe place, but with him trying to cause a scene, there was no doubt that you were no comfortable

“You are the niece of Wen Ruohan are you not? Why are you here? The Jin clan dishonours themselves letting a Wen wine and dine with them after all that's happened.

From beside you, you could almost feel the anger radiating from you beloved

“I mean no trouble” You said, in the kindest voice you could muster, but it did nothing, as Jin Zixun continued his verbal assault, not taking a second to hear what you were saying

After a while, it became too much for Jiang Cheng and he stood up abruptly, towering over Jin Zixun

“Shut up before I do something I may regret.” He growled, voice full of venom

This clearly rattled Jin Zixun since he backed away

But before he returned to his spot entirely, he spilled his drink beside you, muttering a “Wen Scum”

This sent Jiang Cheng into a fit of anger and without thinking about it, he unsheathed his sword and in an instant, he had it at Jin Zixun’s throat

This was when Jin Guangyao decided to intervene

“Sect leader Jiang you must forgive the third young master for his harsh words, we all lost much in the war, it is normal to have some reservations after what they did.”

But his angelic smile did nothing to calm your betrothed

“She is no longer part of the Wen clan, she is of the Jiang Clan now, and if anyone else dares to say another ill word on her behalf, I will not hesitate.”

And with that he re sheathed his sword and returned to sit beside you

After a bit everyone went back to their chatter, and the issue was forgotten

But Jiang Cheng would never hesitate to defend you against anyone if the occasion where to arise again

Lan Xichen

Similarly to the other two, you were also a deserter of the Wen Clan, but you had met Xichen when he’d been escaping cloud recesses

Instead of Jin Guagyao, you were the one who saved him and let him stay with you, in a little cabin deep in the woods in the mountains that you’d found and had decided to live in until this all blew over

But when it was time for him to leave, he’d wanted to take you with him, for he’d fallen in love with you, and he wanted to be the one to protect you from now on

You’d agreed and together had returned to cloud recesses and had fought in the war

And you had plans to get married soon after

But for now the two of you were attending the festivities in Lanling, more specifically the flower banquet

It had been problematic enough when Jin Zixun had asked your fiance and his brother to drink, but when he started talking ill about you, you could tell that Lan Xichen was on the verge of snapping

The generally kind and gentle sect leader was tense and rigid, and it was clear that he was not going to retain his air of elegance for much longer if the third young master did not shut up

“Third young master Jin, my betrothed is no longer part of the Wen Clan and fought valiantly by our side during the war. She was with me at every moment, so as such it is very improbable that she was trying to do any under cover work for the Wen Clan. I would appreciate it if you left her alone.”

The passive aggressive in his voice was striking and it was visible to all that Lan Xichen was in no mood to play

Jin Zixun gave him a look, but before leaving, he had a cup poured for you, asking you to join him in a toast

“To the destruction of the dreadful Wen Clan, and all of its fighters. Isn't that right Lady Y/N?”

The look you gave him was deadly, but you brought the cup to your lips never the less, until Xichen stood up, almost knocking Jin Zixun over

“That is enough third young master Jin. The family matters of my beloved are of no concern of yours. I will now ask you to please leave my betrothed and I alone.”

It was clear to all that he’d crossed the line, and Jin Guangyao came to your rescue at last, asking Jin Zixun to stop

He scoffed, but left you alone

As soon as everyone had calmed down, your lover turned to you, and kindly asked you if you were alright and if you wanted to leave

Although you did, you told him that it was alright, but he was by your side for the rest of the night and the next few days as well, defending you against anyone who dared insult you or your family

Thank you for reading!

[rainiedeforest]

If you're still doing wangxian requests, I had this idea the other day. What if Jiang Yanli wasn't betrothed to Jin Zixuan, but to Lan Wangji? Wei Wuxian would do AnyThing for his sister, but what does he do when he discovers he's falling in love with her fiance?

Hi! Yes, I’m taking requests and my inbox is open :3 You know? I have been suffering a lot with this ask because it’s so sad, because we all know that he will do, as you said, anything for his sister, her happiness is more important than his. So I cannot think in anything but pain. Because even if he has the chance to be happy with his beloved, he will decline it. So, I really hope you like it and that it was what you have had in mind, and if not, feel free to tell me :3

“What do you think?” Jiang Cheng asked him when his eyes fell on the two figures who were taking a walk through the garden at that moment.

“About?”

Jiang Cheng looked at Wei Wuxian with a frown, as if he really believed it was a joke.

“About them. Do you think it will be a harmonious marriage?”

Wei Wuxian took his time to reply. His eyes were fixed on the couple, who seemed to be conversing amiably on some very interesting topic. Jiang Yanli laughed at something before placing her hand on the man's forearm and Wei Wuxian felt his heart twist in pain at the scene. Not for his sister; He loved her, he wanted her to be happy, there was nothing he wanted more, but the man with whom she would have to be happy... He was the same man for whom he felt something completely forbidden.

Lan Wangji. 

Why him of all the possible candidates? Why not Jin Zixuan, who had shown a certain attraction to her even though he cried out loud that he was not? Why not Nie Mingjue, who was always kind and even chivalrous every time they exchanged a word?

But not. Every night, unfortunately, he was able to reminisce about that night he had met him. It hadn’t been the best of encounters, he knew it himself: they were almost killed by each other in the sword duel that had arisen unplanned, and it had become clear to Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji didn’t find his presence acceptable. It didn't take a genius to see it, even if he took it as a joke.

Because everything was always much easier if he masked it between smiles and good humor. Thus the others didn’t influence much and didn’t get to the bottom of everything.

But, after that, they had formed a kind of special relationship, or so Wei Wuxian believed. It was something like friendship but doesn’t feel like friendship. Does that even have any sense? He can say that Lan Wangji tolerated him more than something else. He kept giving him those serious, cold looks that seemed to ask if he was being serious, but there was no longer that killer instinct every time he said his birth name. 

It was a miracle. 

Although, now he was beginning to understand why it was like that.

He knew that his Shijie was betrothed to one of the sons of the Lan clan leader and he, in his innocence, always believed that she would be with the eldest. Lan Xichen was the epithet for a gentleman; He was kind, intelligent, attractive, skilled in the sword, in drawing, with a love for music, with a high level of cultivation and had a charm that allowed him to dazzle anyone.

That's why when he heard her talk about Lan Wangji at dinner, Wei Wuxian looked at her excitedly, thinking everything else but that.

“Have you met him? Lan Zhan is amazing, isn’t he?” He asked because, despite everything, he admired him more than he wanted to admit. Lan Wangji was his equal, the only one who could stop him, that could let him be.

Jiang Cheng looked at him in surprise, as his Shijie did, and her words were far kinder than those of the future heir to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect.

“Yes, A-Xian. My fiancé is a bit quiet, but he's nice and kind in his own way,” she replied softly before looking down at the bowl of soup they were having for dinner.

“Your... your fiancé?” he asked as if someone had grabbed him by the neck and they were squeezing hard.

“Of course his fiancé! Who else?” Jiang Cheng rudely replied, rolling his eyes.

Whenever they had spoken of Jiang Yanli's fiancé, it had been in terms that could easily fit with Lan Xichen. In fact, they were known as the Jade Twins. That mistake on his part was allowed, right?

“A-Cheng,” his sister soothed, smiling at Wei Wuxian sweetly, as she always did. “Lan Wangji is the man I'm going to marry A-Xian. You didn’t know it?”

Of course not. 

He was just the son of a servant. He wasn’t a real member of the family although his shijie and Jiang Cheng tried hard to make him believe.

“Uh... Yes... Of course I do. I just thought…” His shijie’s worried look was enough to make him shake his head and smile. “Never mind, Shijie. Has he been nice to you?” Jiang Yanli nodded smiling and Wei Wuxian felt a pang in his heart that he perfectly masked with another smile. “That's the only thing that matters. And if he doesn’t make you happy, I myself will kill him with my own hands.”

After that, it wasn’t uncommon for him to cry night after night, trying to stifle his sobs against his pillow because, without him considering it, he had fallen in love with him. 

He had fallen in love with Lan Wangji, with Lan Zhan. He had fallen in love with someone already engaged. He had fallen in love with the fiancé of his beloved Shijie. He had fallen in love with someone forbidden.

He was living in a nightmare and so it was going to continue. 

Because he would hide his feelings as best he could and would be watching them from afar, cheering on his Shijie because, for the first time in many years, she seemed genuinely happy.

That's why, with that question from Jiang Cheng, he turned and smiled at him.

“Of course. They will be the most harmonious couple that has ever existed on the face of the earth,” he answered before laughing. “Too bad I can't say the same for you and your fiancée.”

“What fiancee?”

“Exactly.”

“WEI WUXIAN!” He yelled before chasing after him, not realizing the furtive look Lan Wangji had given him.

A few nights later, just the day before Lan Wangji left Lotus Pier to go home to prepare for the long-awaited wedding, Wei Wuxian went to town with the clear intention of getting drunk. Too drunk.

He bought all the pots of alcohol he could and put them in his room, hiding them under the bed like someone hiding a treasure.

And when the night arised and thought that everybody was sleeping, he was enjoying them in her own way when she heard the noise of knuckles against her bedroom door. He got up, staggering like a newborn deer, and opened the door.

”Lan Zhan!” he said, leaning against the door with a goofy grin on his face that didn't reach his eyes at all.

“Wei Ying...”

Lang Wangji's eyes took in Wei Wuxian's appearance and concern seized him. His hair was disheveled and only a few strands remained in the high ponytail that he seemed to find so flattering, his clothes were rumpled and misplaced and his eyes were red from the tears that were wetting his cheeks.

Wei Wuxian lifted the pot with some alcohol remaining and looked at him smilingly.

“Are you alrigh-?”

“What are you doing here, Lan Zhan?” he asked, cutting him off because he didn't want to hear his voice too much. Not because he didn't want to, because he adored it, but because he couldn't. Because just hearing his voice was like a dagger in his heart. Because he won’t have him ever. “You should be sleeping. It's already past nine.”

Lan Wangji closed his mouth and stepped inside with that security and grace that describes him perfectly, closing the door behind him. He grabbed Wei Wuxian by the arm and led him to the bed, where he sat him down.

“Wei Ying, we need to talk.”

Wei Wuxian laughed sardonically.

“About what? That you are the fiancé of my beloved shijie and you didn't tell me anything?” The question came out as if it were a poisoned dart before he raised the jar to his lips. But as soon as it touched his lips, he pushed it away with a pout. “Why is the wine always gone?”

“Wei Ying, stop drinking.”

“No. Drinking is the only thing that keeps me from going crazy,” he replied, bending down to pick up another pot, but he got dizzy before his knees touched his chest. “I think I'm going to throw out.”

It was like he didn't need to be told twice. Lan Wangji hurriedly held out one of the empty jars so that he could throw out if he needed it, but instead met the watery, crystallized gaze of Wei Wuxian.

"Wei Ying, are you okay?"

"Why are you so good to me? I am just the adopted son of the Jiang family, a nobody, the son of a servant. And still... You have always cared about me even if you look at me with hatred-”

“I don’t hate you.”

"Yes, you do. Because I annoy you. But it's normal you know? Who would want to be by my side when you can have someone as amazing as my shijie? Because she's amazing, you know? She is the best woman on the world.”

“I know,” Lan Wangji muttered. “But I want you by my side.”

Wei Wuxian laughed so bitterly that tears spilled out of his eyes again.

“Don’t lie, Lan Zhan. Today you are very transgressive with your own rules, right?” He said trying to find something funny to hold onto to laugh, but all he did was make a sigh escape his lips. “It doesn't matter what we want. It doesn’t matter...”

“No, Wei Ying-”

“It doesn't matter, Lan Zhan” He shook his head and looked down. “You are going to marry Shijie and you are going to be very happy. I know... I've seen how she looks at you.”

Lan Wangji said nothing but remained silent. Wei Wuxian took the silence as an affirmation that his feelings were going in the same direction.

“And I… I'll be at the side, cheering and supporting you whenever you need it.” A sad and bitter smile spread across his face. “Always in the shadows.”

“Wei Ying, I…” He cleared his throat and looked at him, lifting him by the chin to meet his eyes. “What do you feel for me?”

Wei Ying cupped his cheeks and shrugged.

“It doesn't matter how or what I feel, Lan Zhan. It is my shijie's feelings that are at stake and I will never, ever, put my own happiness above hers,” he replied seriously as if the entire state of alcohol intoxication had been a facade. He got up from the bed and pulled Lan Wangji toward the door. “You'd better go. I don't want the disciples on duty to catch you leaving my bedroom,” he opened the door and pushed him out, feeling a treacherous tear run down his face before closing. “Be happy, A-Zhan.”

I have the song Satisfied of Hamilton in my head all time when I wrote this and, maybe, I will continue this so they have a happy ending... But, it’s all at your choice :3

[theuntamednarrator]

Shenanigans on the High Seas

from @trensu​, the blog that brought you WangXiantics, and from that other blog that just, like, screams a lot in the tags, comes the AU that we all desperately need because, frankly, we’re a little dehydrated from crying over the Nie Bros (drumroll please)

PIRATE AU!!!

You know you want it

the Zidian is Jiang Cheng’s ship. he inherited it from his mother, who was known as the Violet Spider, Scourge of the Seven Seas

before she retired, Captain Yu had two first mates she’d trained since childhood, Wen Qing and Luo Qingyang

after Captain Yu retired they got married and are now Pirate Wives with an-all female crew aboard the Yiling Matriarch

her bright red sails are just as feared as the purple sails of Zidian or the sable sails of Ghost General

any man who sets foot on the Matriarch best be prepared to lose it, and the leg it’s attached to

rumour has it that every carpenter from beijing to budapest pays the Matriarch a commission, for keeping them in work making peg legs, but that’s just a rumour

JC captains the Zidian alongside his first mate Jiang Yanli

the rumours about her say that she’s the reason there’s so little murdering done by those aboard the Zidian

but the crew know she once ordered a captive tied to a chunk of bait and thrown overboard near Shark Reef Bay

granted, she let the crew fish him back out after the first bite, and Jin Zixun never said another word about Captain Wei Wuxian until he was ransomed

but still

speaking of WWX, he captains the Ghost General, though far from doing any actual captaining he’s usually to be found up in the crow’s nest with a bottle of rum and his flute

luckily, his trusted first mate Wen Ning is more than capable of handling the General

his very favourite targets are the Jin Company’s slave traders, and most of his crew are former captives who chose to stay with him after their rescue

regardless of how drunk he might be, no one can fight like Captain WWX, except perhaps JC and JYL, they did grow up together after all!

because WWX was a foundling fished from the wreckage of a vanquished merchant ship by the Violet Spider at age 6 and taken to the island hideaway where her lover, former merchant sailor turned stay-at-home-dad Jiang Fengmian, is raising their two children

because this is a HAPPY AU DANGIT, and we deserve ONE AU where these two don’t traumatise their children

Captain Yu and JFM are in fact very, very happy together and raise little WWX together alongside JYL and JC

Captain Yu and JFM met when she raided his ship

he offered himself and all the gold aboard in return for his crew’s lives

she thought him rather striking and went about setting him up on a little island she knew, very out of the way, where she can visit as often as she likes

JFM is DELIGHTED by this turn of events, which he loudly denies has anything to do with Captain Yu’s famed skill with a whip

while JFM was settling into his sugar baby life, his crew were returning back to their home port to report to JFM’s business partner, Lan Qiren, that the Violet Spider had killed JFM and taken all their gold

LQR, who had secretly been in love with his best friend and business partner for years, declares the Violet Spider his ARCH NEMESIS and sets about trying to destroy her

when his brother and sister-in-law die and leave his two nephews in his care he ropes them into the feud

the Lan Brothers both join the merchant navy and are the very most eligible bachelors polite society has to offer

they hate all pirates of course but especially the unholy trio of Zidian, Ghost General, and the Yiling Matriarch

this makes it VERY awkward when Lan Wangji finds himself THROWN OVERBOARD during a terrible storm, rescued by WWX, and dragged aboard the General

at first, recognising the uniform, WWX keeps LWJ under his eye by tying their wrists together with a length of rope for absolutely no other reason definitely not cause he’s cute, nope, no sir

later, LWJ manages to snatch a sword and an EPIC DUEL ENSUES *cue he’s a pirate (main theme) from PotC here*

they’re in the rigging, they're sliding down the sails, they’re fighting up and down the deck

LWJ is HORRIFIED to realise at one point that WWX is laughing

even worse, he, LWJ, is having fun??? wtf he’s never had fun in his life how dare

after the fight ends in a draw LWJ and WWX come to an Understanding and have many deep and meaningful conversations as they sail back towards port

both of them fall madly in love of course, but Pirate!WWX and Midshipman!LWJ are just as emotionally dense as the OG varieties so there’s A LOT of pining

Seriously- so. much. pining

they probably battle a sea monster at some point because that’d be sick

finally, they arrive back at the port and WWX asks (sadly, because pining) where he should leave him and LWJ says (sadly, because pining) that any of the Gusu Cloud piers is fine

and WWX laughs because how funny! my dad used to be a merchant sailor for the Gusu Cloud Company

which is how LWJ discovers that the ‘dad’ WWX has been telling stories about for literal WEEKS is actually his uncle's now not-so-long-lost-love!because they are both Disaster Drama Gays™ they decide they simply MUST do this Right. After all, it’s an Epic Reunion™!!!

LWJ convinces his uncle to come out sailing with him (even though LQR has not boarded a ship since JFM was lost, cue sweeping nostalgic music and distant stare into montage of the two of them in their Youth)

they row him blindfolded out to the island where JFM and Captain Yu live and the moment LQR sees JFM it’s jaws to the floor.

there are tears

JFM puts his hands on LQR’s shoulders and says ‘my old friend. you never said’

they hug

it’s adorable

don’t roll your eyes it’s adorable and you know it

Captain Yu and LQR still Do Not Get Along

their Epic Rivalry™ continues but now it’s just morphed into them trying to outdo each other in displays of affection

JFM’s little island house soon holds more jewels, gold, fine silk, and artwork than half the royal coffers of europe

family dinners are a DELIGHT

JC freaking runs whenever his father hosts Captain Yu and LQR for dinner

because 1) god dad, you're so embarrassing, and 2) HE DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING THEY GET UP TO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THANKS

JYL thinks it's sweet and loves seeing her dad so happy

WWX does the pirate-time equivalent of a bro fistbump with JFM, like, NICE.

LWJ is very quiet but secretly loves it because he, as we all know, is That Bitch

‘A wedding! I love it! drinks all round!’ – WWX, probably, when the three finally announce they’re getting married

the wedding is WILD

there’s a whole lot of dancing, WWX is in the thick of it of course

LWJ wants so badly to ask him to dance but he still hasn’t told him how he feels (because emotionally dense disaster gays, remember?)

he finally has to go outside after WWX somehow convinces LQR to dance a jig with him which means WWX has officially asked everyone to dance except him

he goes and sits in the tidal rockpool, and his billowy white shirt is all wet and see through when WWX comes stumbling out of the party calling for him

WWX sees LWJ silhouetted by an endless horizon of ocean and stars and dies. he's quiet for the first time in his whole life

then LWJ turns and sees him so of course WWX has to go down and talk to him. he may be a pirate but he’s not a barbarian (unlike some certain nies we could name but won’t he’s definitely not still salty about the arm wrestle incident with Captain Nie’s ‘little brother’ eh he’s not much of a fighter but he’s great with languages yeah right his wrist still hurts sometimes bloody barbarians)

‘ah lan zhan lan zhan! you aren’t allowed to run away; we haven’t had a dance yet. even your uncle danced with me surely you can’t say no!’ *pouts*

lwj.exe has stopped working

but of course he can’t deny WWX anything so he makes to head back inside

now wwx.exe has stopped working

because to HELL if he’s sharing wet LWJ in a see though white shirt with the rest of those imbeciles

‘ah, um lan zhan lan zhan we can hear the music from here just fine can’t we? let’s just dance right here?’

and of course LWJ says yes

so the two of them just dance together on the edge of the ocean, waves lapping over their bare feet

until a particularly big one knocks them flat (listen, it’s a trope for a REASON dagnabbit)

WWX ends up sprawled over LWJ’s chest and he’s laughing and apologizing

but LWJ is just looking at him, wreathed in stars, eyelashes so wet and glittering, the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen

WWX notices how still he is and they just pause for a moment and stare at each other

doesn’t really matter who kisses who but they are kissing and it’s wet and salty, there is sand in their teeth, and they absolutely do not give a flying dutchman

they don’t even register the cheers and catcalling until JC runs up and dumps a bucket of water over their heads

because dammit he hasn’t spent months running out of every room his parents and LQR are in just to watch his big brother pop his cherry get it on on the beach

the rest of the gang are all watching from the porch

WN and LXC look very awkward and embarrassed

JYL looks fond and is shaking her head

JC meanwhile is having a heated argument with WQ because there were bets on you see

WQ ‘pouring a bucket of water over them is cheating I’m not paying you one penny JC’

JC ‘I’m a pirate why on earth would you expect me to play by the rules pay up Captain’

WWX and LWJ sneak away while they’re all arguing

The General has one new crew member when she next sails out

ANYWAY married gay pirates wangxian having adventures AU is what we’re saying

Also for your consideration other delightful Pirate!AU options include:

naval officer!lwj chasing down pirate!wwx (think norrington/sparrow if Disney weren’t COWARDS);

high society!lwj in love with blacksmith-turned-pirate!wwx (the Elizabeth Swann/Will Turner dynamic, except with Swann in the forge fight because we said so);

davy jones!lwj pining for calypso!wwx (carving your heart out = chest brand anyone? seriously, just imagine LWJ setting foot on dry land for the first time in 13, 16, 10 YEARS, playing the song he’s composed for his love and WWX IS NOT THERE!!!!) 

[curiosity-killed]

a bow for the bad decisions: 21

prev | start | next

(on ao3)

Jin Ling and Ruxia arrive to breakfast dressed for the trip to Lanling and looking, respectively, somewhat contrite and as if they’d already fought about whether to apologize or not. Jiang Cheng allows himself one surreptitious sigh before settling in for whatever’s about to happen. They don’t get in trouble all that often, but as they’ve gotten older, they’ve gotten more precocious. He’s convinced it’s Lanling’s gold spoiling them, but jie says they’ll grow out of it. She always grins, a little mischievous, and pokes his cheek when she says it, like he’s proof. He’s pretty sure he’s not, and Wei Wuxian certainly wasn’t. Isn’t. He’s going to have a headache before the day has even started. “Uncle, Auntie Qing,” Jin Ling starts as he and a-Mu both fold their hands before themselves to bow, “we are sorry for our behavior on Dafan Mountain and to have caused you worry.” There’s a noise like a-Mu starting to protest before a-Ling unsubtly shifts his foot to press down on her toes. She shoots him a sideways glare and wrenches her foot out from under his. Left unchecked, the two of them will devolve into a wrestling match here on the pavilion floor, their apology completely forgotten.

“That’s enough,” Jiang Cheng says. “Sit down.”

They shuffle into their seats with Jin Ling sitting nearest a-Lu, who promptly beams up at him and pushes a bowl of dry noodles his way. Jin Ling is still frowning, but his expression softens and he gives her the tiniest corner of a smile. One of his hands has slipped over to worry at the bracelet around his wrist, the dark beads stretched along a longer band than the original. Jiang Cheng remembers, still, the feeling of them as he hunched over his desk to carefully piece them back in place on the new band. There had been power in each of the beads, the result of all Wei Wuxian’s extraordinary intent coming to bear on the delicate carvings and careful lacquer. Separate, they had been remarkable; together, they hum like a soft echo of the shields around Lotus Pier. “Do you two understand what you did wrong?” he asks. “We shouldn’t have gone after the fairy statue without you,” Jin Ling says, toneless. “And we should have sent off our flares before the Ghost General appeared. I shouldn’t have tried to attack it on my own and a-Mu should’ve stayed with the juniors. And we shouldn’t have attacked Mo Xuanyu, I guess.” It’s not the most heartfelt admission, but at least he’s picked out what he did wrong. Jiang Cheng remembers Father asking him the same question when he was a child and the dog-eared disappointment when he didn’t answer correctly. He’d hated that look so much, hated it more once Wei Wuxian was there to give the right answer and get such warm approval. “Do you know why it was wrong?” Wen Qing asks, tapping a-Lu’s hand absently to remind her to eat instead of gawking at her older cousins. Jin Ling shifts a little, eyes skating sideways toward his sister, but Ruxia is busy scowling down at her noodles and not eating them. “It could have gotten us hurt or the other disciples?” he offers. “Since we didn’t have complete information and went ahead anyway.” “And you shouldn’t attack strangers without being provoked,” Jiang Cheng says pointedly. It’s one thing if the kids want to start dueling. They’re too young for it, but at least that would be a controlled setting. If they go around picking fights with any adult that happens to look at them funny, they’re going to get hurt. Cultivators should know better than to be goaded into a fight by kids, but that isn’t always true and there are plenty of rogues out there who abide by no rules. “He wasn’t a stranger!” Ruxia finally bursts out. “Mo Xuanyu’s a — a demented lunatic. He attacked Qin-shenshen and he uses the dark arts. You go around punishing anyone who uses demonic cultivation, why should he be spared? Just because you think he’s actually the Yiling laozu returned? Doesn’t that mean he deserves to die even more?” “Jin Ruxia!” Wen Qing snaps. Ruxia cuts off, hands balled up into fists and jaw quivering with tightly-clenched anger. Jin Ling stares stubbornly at his breakfast, half-eaten, while a-Lu gapes at her. “Jin Ruxia, you know better than to speak to your uncle like that,” Wen Qing scolds. “If you have a question, you may ask it civilly. There is no yelling at meals.” If Wen Qing had it her way, there wouldn’t be yelling at all. Even when she disciplines, it’s with a firm and even voice. She rarely snaps except when pushed to the limits of her temper, and even then, her voice is more cutting than raised. “Do you understand?” Wen Qing prompts. “Yes, jiumu,” Ruxia mutters. “Do you have a question?” Jiang Cheng asks. He’s always a little skeptical of this whole process, even now. It had worked well when they were little, around a-Lu’s age, and he could turn all their nonsensical questions on themselves. Now that they’re older, they’re both less willing to actually ask questions and more likely to bring up convoluted topics when they do. If either of them ask about Wei Wuxian on the mountainside, he doesn’t know what he’ll say. How can he tell them that their da-jiujiu is back from the dead and running about as someone else? It’s not like it actually makes any sense to him to begin with. “No, jiujiu,” Ruxia says, still scowling down at her breakfast. He waits a beat in case she decides to speak up. When she doesn’t, he sighs and shakes his head. “Eat your breakfast,” he says. “You better not fall asleep on the way to Lanling.” She nods mutely and finally starts in on her noodles. For a few minutes, the room is as quiet as a Lan dining hall. Finally, a-Lu breaks the peace by announcing the lessons she’s supposed to have today, and as Jin Ling lets her regale him, the room settles into something like normalcy. “What will you be up to while we’re gone?” Jiang Cheng asks after breakfast, when they’ve both stopped by his office to pick up what they need for the day. “Lai Yuanxing just returned from the west,” Wen Qing says, eyeing a report as if to determine whether it’s the one she wants. “I imagine they’ll have plenty to report.” Jiang Cheng frowns as he tugs closed a giankun pouch. Both Yunmeng Wen resettlement camps are in the western quarter, one closer to Meishan and the other bordering Qishan itself. “Bujue left for Xiaodanshui this morning,” he says. “There’ve been reports of some kind of fierce corpse nearby.” Looking up from the report, Wen Qing frowns. “Fierce corpses? The cultivators stationed there oversee all the burials,” she says. “There haven’t been any murders or suspicious deaths, either.” Ostensibly the guards to ensure the Wens stay docile, the cultivators in charge of both resettlement camps have been hand-picked by Jiang Cheng and Bujue, along with Wen Qing’s input at times. All of them are strong cultivators with a stubborn sense of duty, ones who couldn’t be bribed into looking the other way if someone were to try to attack the refugees under their watch. He frowns and picks Sandu up from the sword rack. “There were reports of disappearances a few years ago, weren’t there?” he asks. “Around a-Lu’s first birthday.” Pursing her lips, Wen Qing tucks the papers into her stack and crosses her arm under them. After a moment, she nods. “I’d forgotten,” she admits. “I’ll take a look over those reports before Yuanxing comes in. They may have some insight.” They leave together, walking side-by-side toward the main wings. “Is Suichun back as well? He was in the north this year, wasn’t he?” he asks. “His last letter suggested he’d be back in the next week or so,” Wen Qing answers. Jiang Cheng warms at the quiet smile in her voice. She’ll never admit it, but she’s always proud of her two favorite apprentices. The both of them have grown into skilled physicians and dedicated disciples. Jiang Cheng would be proud of them even if Wen Qing weren’t so obviously fond. “How long do you think it’ll take for them to be inseparable again?” he asks. Shooting him a sidelong look, Wen Qing shakes her head in disbelief but there’s a smile curling the corners of her lips. “You just want them to marry so you can have another wedding at Lotus Pier,” she teases. He scoffs, and she laughs. Having reached the infirmary door, they pause. Wen Qing’s smile has turned a little mischievous, her eyes narrowing. “They’ll volunteer to take the same assignment first,” she wagers, “then come back to settle here for at least a year. There won’t be an engagement before Yuanxing turns thirty.” Jiang Cheng laughs at the precision and shakes his head before leaning in to drop a kiss on her lips. “I bow to my wife’s superior insight,” he jokes. Rolling her eyes, Wen Qing swats his arm with the back of her hand before tugging him back down for a proper goodbye kiss. “Be safe,” she says when they part. “Come home to me.” “Always,” he promises. The trip to Jinlintai is quiet and easy. Ruxia doesn’t fall asleep on the sword, and she doesn’t protest being bundled with Xingtao. Normally, Jiang Cheng would split the trip so that Jin Ling could fly on his own partway for practice, but he doesn’t want to delay today. Jin Ling frowns a little when he’s told to step onto Sandu, but he settles in with minimal pouting. As they near the edges of Carp Tower, a pulse of spiritual energy brushes against them, and Jiang Cheng frowns. It’s powerful, dense — the result of many cores working in tandem. “Zongzhu, look,” Xingtao says, nodding down. Cultivators are spaced out along the wall, swords drawn as they activate a complex array. Golden energy surges up in a dome, and Jiang Cheng pulls back. They hover there, just out of range, as the shield settles over the tower and then disperses. Establishing it, then, not activating it. They descend into the central receiving courtyard and find Jin Guangyao standing there already, supervising the shielding. “Jin Guangyao,” Jiang Cheng greets with a salute. “Jiang-zongzhu,” Jin Guangyao answers with a smile. “And a-Ling and Ruxia, back from the hunt.” The kids dismount and salute. For the first time since Dafan Mountain, Ruxia wears something almost approaching a smile. “Good morning, xiao-shushu,” they chorus. Smiling, he looks over the both of them briefly. “I’m sure you’ll have stories to tell me of the hunt,” he says, “but why don’t you go wash up and rest after your journey?” Bobbing in acceptance, the two head off to their own chambers. Ruxia shoves Jin Ling as they near the end of the hall, almost out of sight, and Jin Ling immediately retaliates by trying to hook her into a headlock. Watching them, Jiang Cheng does his best not to sigh. He turns back to Jin Guangyao. “What’s with the shield?” he asks as they start off toward Jin Zixuan’s study. “Expecting someone?” Jin Guangyao makes a little humming noise, noncommittal. “We did hear reports of Dafan Mountain,” he says, and Jiang Cheng’s eyebrows raise. “You’re that worried about one demonic cultivator showing up?” he scoffs. “I thought this Mo Xuanyu was supposed to be weak anyway.” Maybe if he downplays it, if he acts like this was just some errant stranger, it will help. He’s not sure he believes Jin Guangyao’s really involved in all this, but — well, giving himself a little time to figure it out isn’t going to hurt any. Jin Guangyao gives him a curious look from the corner of his eyes. “We heard the Ghost General had been sighted as well,” he says mildly. “With his return and the unrest in some of the Wen settlements, some worry that there may be a greater conspiracy at work.” Scowling, Jiang Cheng crosses his arms. “What unrest?” he demands. “Oh, apologies, Jiang-zongzhu,” Jin Guangyao says. “The Lan sect has had two minor uprisings in the last year, and just a few months ago, there was a violent attack in a settlement camp in Qinghe.” Irritation tugs at Jiang Cheng’s skin. Lan Xichen is perfectly polite when they encounter each other, but there’s a gulf between Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang that everyone carefully talks around. Early on after Wei Wuxian’s death, he might have tried to bridge the gap, but he no longer cares. Let them think themselves superior, let them hide in their austere mountains. Their trade relationships have remained steady, but he has no interest in deepening relations between their sects. Naturally, they wouldn’t mention anything about resettlement issues to him. It’s not improper, after all: Jin Guangyao is the chief cultivator, in charge of handling such intersect issues, and he’s Lan Xichen’s sworn brother. It’s not wrong of him to pass that information through the official channels — but it still grates. “Please don’t trouble yourself over this, Jiang-zongzhu,” Jin Guanyao says. “I know how you and Madam Jiang have worked to promote peaceful resettlement. You mustn’t think these troubles reflect on your work.” He knows it doesn’t reflect on them — what authority do they have in any other sect? But it makes things more difficult, makes it harder for Wen Qing to fight for better medicine in the camps and easier for the smaller sects to make snide asides about a Wen as the lady of a Great Sect. They part halfway between the courtyard and study, Jin Guangyao called away by some urgent matter for the chief cultivator. Frustration has worked knots into Jiang Cheng’s shoulders, and he fumes as he continues through the opulent maze of the tower. It’s all stupid and petty, these old squabbles and personal tiffs. It doesn’t matter that Wei Wuxian was dead by the time they started, he’s fine pinning the blame on him right now. After all, if Wei Wuxian’s beloved Lan Zhan wasn’t such a prick, then maybe Lan Xichen would think to include Jiang Cheng in news of unrest. Maybe Wei Wuxian should have kept Lan Wangji close enough that he was caught up in the same backlash that ripped Wei Wuxian apart, maybe if he were— He stops short and forces himself to exhale, scrunching his eyes shut. No. Lan Wangji wouldn’t have gotten close enough if Jiang Cheng had spotted him sooner, caught up to Wei Wuxian before he did. Wei Wuxian wouldn’t have needed to use the Seal if Jiang Cheng had acted faster, smuggled the remnants into Yunmeng so he had no one there to protect. No one would have been there at all if Jiang Cheng had just gone and gotten his brother himself, made sure he made it to Jin Ling’s celebrations. There’s plenty of blame to go around. Drawing in a breath, he forces himself to set aside the memories and move forward. He finds jie and Jin Zixuan in their shared study, and jie rises as soon as she spies him, delight drawing out a broad smile. “A-Cheng,” she greets, reaching out for both his hands. “Jie,” he greets and nods toward Jin Zixuan. “Zixuan.” Jie frowns, delicate brow furrowing. “A-Cheng, what’s wrong?” she asks. “Has something happened?” Jin Zixuan glances between them with a frown. As much as he and Jin Guangyao have become friendly over the years, he’s never seemed to quite understand the closeness of his wife’s family. “Yes.” Jiang Cheng pauses, swallows. “You may want to sit down.” “A-Cheng?” Worry blooms in jie’s tone, but she draws him to sit before her at her desk. Jin Zixuan crosses the room, standing behind her and resting a hand on her shoulder. “Wei Wuxian is back,” Jiang Cheng says. “He appeared on Dafan Mountain and summoned Wen Ning. It’s him.” Jie breathes in sharply, hands tightening around his. Behind her, Jin Zixuan’s frown has deepened. “Wei Wuxian died thirteen years ago. You—” He pauses, seeming to redirect his words. “—You saw it.” “Are you sure?” jie asks. It’s not quite hope in her eyes, not yet. She won’t let herself hope unless he’s certain. For as gentle as jie is, she’s always been the most pragmatic of their trio. He nods. “A-Ling and a-Mu ran into him first and thought he was some Mo Xuanyu,” he says, “but he protected them against the dancing fairy statue and summoned Wen Ning on a dizi. And—” He hates this part. He swallows and forces the words out. “Lan Wangji protected him,” he says, “and took him back to Gusu.” This time, even Jin Zixuan’s eyes widen. Everyone’s heard stories of Lan Wangji’s exploits over the years — how he appears wherever the chaos is, never shies from night hunts with neither glory nor renown. He always fights alone and is never seen with anyone but his own brother or junior disciples. There have been rumors over the years, whispers that he’s little more than a rogue cultivator, strong enough to think himself outside law or tradition. “Oh,” jie breathes out. Tears have gathered in her eyes, and her lips tremble. “Oh, a-Cheng, a-Xian’s alive.” Jin Zixuan’s hand tightens on her shoulder, but Jiang Cheng can’t tell if it’s to comfort her or because of his own stress. The last time Jin Zixuan saw his elder brother-in-law… “Lan Wangji has him now,” Jiang Cheng says. A watery smile pulls up jie’s lips, making a few tears slip down her cheek. She reaches up to brush her palm against his cheek. “Oh, a-Cheng, he’ll come home,” she says. “He’ll come home.” She says it with such gentle conviction, like a truth she knows as surely as her heartbeat. He doesn’t want to disappoint her, doesn’t want to tell her that he doesn’t think that’s true this time. “Did he — did he seem alright?” jie asks, hopeful. He pauses, tries to think over the few moments he saw his brother — both when he knew it was Wei Wuxian and before, when he thought it was some meddling uncle on the kids’ other side. It’s not like he has much comparison; his last memories of Wei Wuxian before are hardly a picture of health. “Skinny,” he says, but Wei Wuxian had always been thin since the war, hollowed out, stretched thin. “We didn’t exactly talk.” Jie gives him a knowing look, like she can read exactly what he isn’t saying: that they didn’t talk because Jiang Cheng reacted the way he always did and then everything was too messy to get a word in. “Right,” she says briskly, swiping away her tears. “We’ll have to get him back to Lotus Pier and eating plenty. He never did take care of himself without a reminder. I can write to Lan Wangji and remind him of a-Xian’s place in Lotus Pier.” She pauses, amends, “Politely.” Jiang Cheng frowns, briefly bewildered by the efficiency of the women in his life before refocusing on his current consternation. “You write to Lan Wangji?” he asks. Jie’s expression softens, and she gives his hand a little squeeze.

“I know you two don’t get along,” she admits gently, “but he lost a-Xian, too.” Looking away, Jiang Cheng feels something like betrayal itching up the back of his neck. Oh, he knows Lan Wangji lost Wei Wuxian, too. Lan Wangji has made that very clear. “A-Cheng,” jie coaxes. He breathes out, gives a tight nod. It’s stupid to feel betrayed. He never told jie what happened with Lan Wangji, after all. He only confessed about the core, about Wei Wuxian’s terrible gift and his own pointless sacrifice. Jie’s always been kind and welcoming; there’s no reason for her to suspect anything behind his and Lan Wangji’s bitter animosity other than Jiang Cheng’s own personality. “I don’t understand how he and the gh— Wen Qionglin can be alive,” Jin Zixuan says. “He’s been missing since Wei Wuxian’s death; everyone thought he was destroyed when the Stygian Tiger Seal was.” Jiang Cheng hesitates. Wen Qing was so sure last night, but he isn’t. Accusing Jin Guangyao with no proof will get them nowhere — not when he’s the chief cultivator and Jin Zixuan’s own brother. “Could it have to do with the Wen rebellion?” Startling, he gapes at jie. She frowns and taps the back of his hand. “A-Cheng, don’t give me that look,” she scolds. “Of course I know Wen Qing isn’t plotting to seize power. But it seems an awful coincidence that there is such worry about the Wen refugees and now a-Xian and Wen Ning reappearing, doesn’t it?” Jin Zixuan purses his lips. “You think someone in one of the camps summoned them?” he asks. Thinning her lips, jie hesitates. There’s a rare frown creasing her brows, giving her a more serious look than she often wears. Even now as Madam Jin, she wears her customary sweetness like a favorite robe. He’d thought that her new rank might make her more upfront with her shrewdness, but perhaps Lanling teaches every resident to hide their skill. “I’m not sure,” she says finally. “I think, if the sects thought that the Wens were raising Wei Wuxian and the Ghost General, it could quickly cause panic and penalties for the refugees.” “But why now?” Jin Zixuan presses. “It’s been thirteen years, and the major sects all agreed to the relocation plan.” He’s frowning fully now, lips tight and brow wrinkled. Over the last few years, he’s started to show hints of lines by his eyes and mouth, the first suggestions of aging. By the age of twenty, Jin Zixuan had cultivated a strong enough golden core to slow his own aging. Now, permanently damaged, that accomplishment is long gone. “If someone wanted an excuse to punish the Wen refugees,” he says slowly, “summoning Wei Wuxian would be…dangerous. He was capable even before the Burial Mounds.” Jiang Cheng wonders, a little, who Jin Zixuan is thinking of, which Wei Wuxian. Is he remembering the loud-mouthed boy who punched him in the face in Gusu or the haunted general who laid waste to hundreds in the war? Before he can say anything, there’s a soft burn against his wrist, and a spark bursts into a single scarlet flame. It burns up, revealing the soft yellow paper of a Wen message talisman. Wen Qing’s handwriting is a familiar comfort, even if he’s uneasy with the news it brings. “What is it?” jie asks. “Lan Wangji is headed to Qinghe,” he says. “There’s some night hunt he’s following for the Lan sect.” Where he goes, Wei Wuxian is surely following. It’s the inverse of their old habit. Jie nods and gives his hand a gentle squeeze. “Go on, then,” she says. “I imagine a-Ling will go racing after you if you don’t take him.” Jiang Cheng flushes a little in surprise, but jie only smiles a little as if she had read his thoughts before he’d had the chance to think them. “Are you sure?” Jin Zixuan asks. Tilting her head up to smile at him, she pats his hand. “It will be alright, a-Xuan,” she soothes. “A-Cheng will watch out for him.” He relents as quickly as that, smiling down at her as if on instinct. Jie’s smile widens, turns her eyes to crescents. “Anyway,” she says, turning back to Jiang Cheng with something softer and a little sadder in her eyes, “it seems it may be time for a-Ling to meet his da-jiujiu.” Drawing in a breath, Jiang Cheng nods. They’ve always walked such a careful line with the kids. They’ve all grown up with stories of their da-jiujiu, of the Twin Prides of Yunmeng, but they’ve also grown up hearing stories of the Yiling laozu, Wei Wuxian. They’d talked it over back when Jin Ling was young and a-Mu just a baby. Wei Wuxian is their brother — would always be their brother in death or life — and neither of them could imagine raising children without him in their lives at all. If he could not be there in person, at least they would know stories of his laughter and bravery and love. But the world is far larger than their family, and even as they’ve done their best to keep these two tales separate, they’ve always known the day would come when one of them put it together. The Yiling laozu would become Wei Wuxian, would become Sandu Shengshou’s shixiong — and all at once, the fairytale would crumble. They’ve always known it was coming. He had just hoped they had a little longer. “We’ll be careful,” he promises. He pauses before looking up to meet Jin Zixuan’s eyes. “And it should stay between us.” Immediately, Jin Zixuan’s brow furrows in both consternation and displeasure. “You think a-Yao has something to do with this?” he asks. “No,” Jiang Cheng says, then winces. He’s not sure. He hates uncertainty. “I don’t know.” Jie squeezes Jin Zixuan’s hand, draws his focus to her. “A secret becomes less the more people know it,” she says. Grudging acceptance seems to cross his face, and he sighs, rubbing his temple. Jie smiles, a little tired, a little sad. Jiang Cheng’s had almost three days to come to terms with these revelations, and he’s still overwhelmed. He can only imagine the waves now buffeting her. “Right,” Jin Zixuan says. “Until we know why they’re back, it’s better to contain it. Once we know, though — a-Yao is clever and resourceful. It would be good to have his help.” Wen Qing’s sure condemnation echoes in Jiang Cheng’s ears, but jie just gives an easy nod. “Once we have a clearer picture, we’ll want all the help we can get,” she says. Her tone firms, smile slipping into something more set, a flicker of their mother’s iron will. “We’re going to keep a-Xian safe this time.”

[eyeslikefoxglove]

Episode 3 - Wei Wuxian is a Gremlin & Lan WangJi has a crush

Hi, welcome to episode three. I slept like absolute shit last night I am both short tempered and kind of... floaty? You know that feeling you get when you’re really tired and nothing seems quite real? That one.

Are the Jins the Malfoys of the cultivation world? Am I reaching?

IT’S MY WIFE MIANMIAN.

WWX you’re a troll. But you’re a cute troll so you’re forgiven. Aw man, what a sweet talker, also, look at her. She clearly knows he’s a gremlin but he’s a charming one.

MianMian and her friend are super sweet and they need to make friends with Shijie.

Don’t complain JC, I’d like to see you try.

... or not. Can y’all imagine Jiang “I can only emote in anger” Cheng trying to sweet talk anyone? Nightmares.

Take a shot every time JC rolls his eyes! (Don’t do it, you’ll get liver failure and die)

Oh my god this is really fucking awkward and Shijie doesn’t deserve this bullshit. STFU random Jin disclipe.

Oooooohhh the Peacock needs some ice for that burn.

Oh hey, WWX issues rearing their head here for a second. With the “whatever bullshit I pull, I pull alone, don’t mix the Jiangs in this.” I’m pretty sure all his life people have been telling him that he is responsible for his failures and Yunmeng Jiang the reason for his achievements. No one ends up with such pummelling self-worth otherwise. And that then leads to not believing the people who actually support you for yourself and just living in terror for the moment you finally disappoint them.

(This a very long-winded way of saying the Jiangs suck at parenting and a lot of trauma could’ve been avoided if the Yunmeng sibs had told them where to stick their bs)

FUCK ME UP I JUST WANT TO ROLL SHIJIE IN A BLANKET AND PLY HER WITH CHOCOLATE AND KITTENS.

Although the shot of the Peacock unexpectedly running into her is very well done and clearly conveys how much of an awkward potato he actually is.

That dual “adults are weird man” shrug from the Yunmeng bros is adorable.

OH MAN. ITS HAPPENING. HE’S HERE. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY IS FUCKING STUNNING. BECAUSE THIS MAN CLEARLY NEEDS HELP TO LOOK OTHERWORLDLY BEAUTIFUL.

And then he proceeds to get the tiniest “holy shit people are talking to me abort abort” panicked expression and it’s hilarious.

Stupid hc of mine: LWJ swears constantly in his head.

One, I find the thought hilarious. And two, he can be cheeky/sarcastic when he wants to be and I need more of it.

Wait, so Cloud Recesses is 32km away from the town. Up a mountain. On foot. Lol fuck off.

I really want to make a dirty joke about LWJ shutting WWX up other way but I’m going to be good and just not do it.

“Who’s to say he’s not having fun with some MianMian or some Yuandao right now”

... record scratch.

Back the fuck up for a second. I might be reaching. I know absolutely nothing about the culture so I’m going to make assumptions here.

WWX introduced himself as “YuanDao” to MianMian and although her friend caught on the joke quick it didn’t seem off to her. So I’m going to go out on a limb and assume YuanDao is a male name, or a boy nickname or sounds like something you’d call a boy.

Now, what fun was WWX having with MianMian? In the words of his own brother he was being a flirty playboy.

And then JC says to Shijie that WWX might be off having flirty fun (again inferred from the names he uses) with a [girl’s nickname] or a [possibly boy’s name]. Like this is normal. Did JC just give us proper confirmation, in a drama supposed to be censored all to hell, of WWX’s status of Disaster Bi? Did that just fucking happen?

And there we have LWJ being an actual prince.

I need a voice over with LWJ’s thoughts about that rooftop scene. I mean you’re being all grave and dramatic under the moonlight and then you see this (very cute) boy just... climb the wall? Onto the roof? Right by you? Like what the fuck.

Because you know he noticed the whole thing. So why didn’t he drop kick the guy right back out? (Cause the guy is cute and he’s weak for that gremlin).

There’s nothing suggestive about sliding a sword back into its sheath with a couple of fingers. Absolutely nothing at all.

I fully believe LWJ decided to duel WWX because his first instinct was to slam the boy into a wall and snog him. But he panicked because he’s never kissed anyone so he’s not sure he knows how to do it properly.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE SCENERY FOR A SECOND?

You’ve got a dark night with a full moon. And two figures in white dancing on a dark rooftop. WangXian/WuJi is playing very softly. The breeze is ruffling their hair and clothes. And I’m weak for the camera work. My god all those stunning angles.

Wei “let me be damn sexy when taking a drink” Wuxian strikes again.

“Relentless, unreasonable and rigid.” Holy shit tell us how you really feel.

And tbh you deserve that silencing spell, I would’ve slapped you stupid if you were badmouthing me to my face.

So they keep Zewu Jun but not HanGuan Jun? I demand compensation.

LQR is sooooo not impressed with this bullshit.

LXC caught up SO FUCKING FAST THO. Like it took him five seconds to see that his baby brother had a feeling for this other disaster boy (maybe he realised LWJ already has the biggest crush, maybe he hopes it’ll get to that point) and just went in guns blazing to get his brother into a favourable light with WWX.

And LWJ was suuuuper embarrassed because he doesn’t have a crush, that’s ridiculous.

LWJ: *Bichen Grip*

IT’S BEST GIRL WQ.

Fuck you that jump scare got me.

So the Yin Iron is a dementor.

Also, WWX proving once again that’s he’s ridiculously clever.

LWJ: *Bichen Grip*

The Lan Bros give me all the feels.

LXC: so... WWX is pretty cool isn’t he?

LWJ: *Bichen Grip* *Exit stage right*

So I had my worries about Xue Yang. Because let’s be honest. He’s really really pretty. And he’s supposed to be charismatic and have a tragic past and be a bit of an asshole. Those are usually my fave characters. But he’s also a psycho, so the last thing I wanted to do is give myself That headache. But no, he’s so fucking creepy anything else gets relegated to an afterthought.

That’s that for episode three. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading!

[whyamistillwatchingtheseshows]

You know one thing that always confused me in both book and show? The ages of A Yuan and Jin Ling. Because A Yuan should be like 20 but it’s implied that he’s a teenager? And Jin Ling makes more sense cause he really should be 16/17 but they seem to make him the same age as A Yuan sooooo

The ages will always confuse me when it comes to the Untamed (just within show- haven’t read book). I have this thing about Mo too. His body and his age must be nearly the same or if not Lan Zhan’s age too which by now is 30+ but I do also have this theory that age can show only if you want it to. Cultivators with strong golden cores have the option of living way passed 100 but looking like they are still 20. Basically, I don’t need the image of Wei Ying in the body of someone looking like a teenager when technically Lan Zhan is 30 years old. I also theorize that since YanLi had a child and that takes well 9 months- this means a year has nearly passed which for me I believe Wei Ying dies at 18, making Lan Zhan 17...plus sixteen years puts him at 33, but I think the aim was for him to be 15-16, add those years and he’d only be 30-31. There’s also a translation in the one ep with first time drink Lan Zhan and Wei Ying asks him to call him brother. The translation said “elder” which always confused me. So is Wei Ying older than Lan Zhan by just a year probably? It’s just with everything that happens it’s certainly a loooong ass year if they go learn at Cloud Recesses, Wen Clan attacks (say end first year), Wei Ying goes missing for three months, he saves Wen Clan and they are “banished” to Burial Mounds, 1/2 month after JC and WY duel LZ comes to tell WY Yanli is getting married and then finish that month with JC and Yanli visiting WY to say she is having a child (which means this next year would have to nearly pass after she has JinLing), oh shit another month sets the trap her husband died and then she died and Wei Ying throws himself from a cliff and then that’s when I am supposed to believe time starts to pass (16 years later), resurrection...

Ahhh so confused because in all honesty like with Mew Suppasit trying to play a 19 year old Tharn, I have trouble picturing the age of 16 on Xiao Zhan who I learned is my age of 28 as well. Sure, he’s got the young looks but 16? Let’s say nearly two years have passed and Wei Ying died at over the cliff side at 18. Then let’s hope Mo was at least a 25 year old. And that way it looks better beside a 33 year old Lan Zhan. And I think they did change his look enough to insinuate aging but it’s those tumultuous 16 years without Wei Ying that caused much of the strain. Truth be told, Lan Zhan will always (in my head) be the silent, stoic “wizard” you don’t ever want to piss off. Centuries later, “you ever hear the story of Lan Zhan, (long live his excellency) and the Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation his husband? Boy, do I have a tale for you? Sit, sit. Gather round. How old are they? Well, no one knows. Some say the grand master is stuck at the mere age of 18 because he died and then came back ever the same. As for his excellency? It’s been said he is nearly 50 years old but if you ever get to gaze upon his beautiful face one would never believe it. He is a master of core strength and can use it wisely for masking his true age. Sure, he could let himself grow a beard and look like his late Uncle but why?”

Okay, I will stop that rant. It’s just the age thing I’ve always considered moot (look at the Lan Clan leader in the ice cave. She trapped her spiritual essence there to control the Yin Iron but if it hadn’t injured her or drained her, technically that woman could still be alive?) It’s a fantasy world. I also theorize that if you’ve cultivated a strong enough core as they all did by 16-20 years of age then you can start using that to manipulate the way you look. Besides, everyone assumed that (before he gave it to Jiang Cheng) that Wei Ying used core strength to keep himself from getting too drunk. Sometimes he didn’t? I venture to say during that night he partied with JC and NieH. It seems he passed out pretty good after having to deal with LZ shenanigans.

As for the children, technically, Yuan wouldn’t be the same age JinLing. The kid was at the burial mounds when Wei Ying was invited to JinLing’s 1 month (basically think of him being just born?) and Yuan’s what 3? So they have a three year gap right? Give or take. I hate math. But you’d be right in saying Yuan is 20, making JinLing 16-17 when we see him again.

Like I say age in this story is a tricky thing because well we have magic. What’s the point in going on about real ages unless for some reason you’re someone like Mo who has a scarce core energy and cannot completely cultivate it? Theory I have as well: anyone who is “mediocre” can attempt to cultivate - core but you may not be successful or it is just slightly there. Though another theory: if Wei Ying can use his mind (though it’s not as strong as a core maintained/cultivated through swordsmanship) then who else could use their mind?

Make me shut up!! Ahh, I’m still head over heels in this world. Trust me. Ugh. I could go on and on. But hey anon, I’ll end it here. The point is, Yuan is older than JinLing.

[stiltonbasket]

chancellor of the morning sun: burdens, mingjue (youth)

In which being a woman in the cultivation world is difficult, and Nie Mingjue comforts a friend.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | | Part 8 | Part 9 | AO3

On the night after the welcoming banquet, Nie Mingjue wakes to the sound of someone crying outside his door. 

This was by no means unusual when he was younger; Huaisang often had night terrors after his mother died, and refused to sleep without Nie Mingjue for the next three or four years. But A-Sang is thirteen now, far too old to come crying to his da-ge after dark, and the person on the other side of his door seems to be a woman. 

“Who’s there?” he calls, lighting one of his dream lanterns before getting out of bed. “A-Sang, is that you?”

“No, it’s me!” a familiar voice shouts, nearly sending Nie Mingjue to the ground as he scrambles to keep his footing. “A-Jue, let me in!”

Nie Mingjue drops his lantern and tries not to panic. The crying is still going on, but the person who called his name was Lan Xichen, without a doubt; and if she had come to his chambers this late, with the Unclean Realm full of foreign cultivators who would gladly take any chance to see her reputation ruined, then she must have come to seek his help with some kind of emergency.

And Nie Mingjue has not forgotten that the son of his father’s murderer is sleeping under his roof, or that Wen Ruohan openly sought Xichen’s hand in marriage for Wen Xu, and would have forced the two to meet if Nie Mingjue’s own fuqin had not intervened.

“I’m coming!” he says frantically, throwing the door open and grasping Lan Xichen’s arm the moment she crosses the threshold. “Lan Huan, I’m—”

And then he looks over Lan Xichen’s shoulder, blinking at the miserable line of young maidens trailing down the corridor behind her. Jiang Yanli is standing at Xichen’s side, crying into her sleeves, and Qin Su and Jin Zixuan’s first shimei are there, too; and Wen Ruohan’s young niece is standing in the back, holding Qin Su’s arm to keep her from falling over. All five girls smell of liquor, even Xichen, and Nie Mingjue gapes at them in bewilderment as Xichen fists her hands in his tunic and shakes him from side to side.

“Jiang-jie won’t listen to us!” she complains, sobbing drunkenly into his chest: which sets Jiang Yanli off again, and then Luo Qingyang starts weeping, too. “A-Jue, tell her!”’

Mingjue frowns. “Tell her what, A-Huan?” he says gently, wiping his intended’s face. It will be ruin for them both if anyone spots her here in the middle of the night, let alone with four other girls in front of his private quarters, but Nie Mingjue would rather cut his own hands off than turn the girl he loves away in such distress. “What’s wrong?”

“Jiang-guniang thinks she’s not worthy of Zixuan,” Luo Qingyang wails. “But just look at him! He prances around like a prize stallion, and he keeps making a fool of himself everywhere he goes! It’s pathetic! And he keeps talking about how wonderful he is, almost as much as Zixun! Nie-zongzhu, I have to beat him up twice a month to keep him in line, and it’s not even working!”

“Not worthy of Jin Zixuan?” he snorts. “Jiang-guniang, it’s Jin-gongzi who isn’t worthy of you. A-Huan, didn’t you tell her so?”

Jiang Yanli only cries even harder, and Xichen gives him a reproachful look and pinches his stubbly cheek. “She won’t listen to us when we tell her she’s more than enough. Yanli thinks we have to say so, since we’re her friends, so I brought her to you so you could tell her instead!”

“Jin-gongzi should count himself lucky that a maiden like Lady Jiang would give him the time of day,” Nie Mingjue says promptly. “He’ll get over himself in time, and Luo-guniang will beat him into the ground if he doesn’t. Right, Luo-guniang?”

Luo Qingyang nods fervently before listing straight into one of the walls. “I will!” she yells, as Wen Qing reaches over and puts her back on her feet again. “‘N then I’ll put itching powder in Jin Zixun’s pants, and, and…”

“Steal his wine again,” Qin Su suggests, letting out a loud burp. “That peach-blossom brew was delicious. Don’t you feel any better after drinking it, A-Li?”

“No, I don’t,” Jiang Yanli murmurs. “Good night, Nie-zongzhu. I’m going back to bed now.”

“Yanli!” begs Xichen, throwing herself at the shorter girl and almost knocking both of them backwards onto the floor. “Yanli, don’t go! You’re worth a hundred of Jin-zongzi, you—A-Jue, help!”

“What am I supposed to say?” he asks, thoroughly bewildered. “I can go challenge Jin-gongzi to a duel myself, if you like. Would that cheer you up, Jiang-guniang!”

But to his surprise, Jiang Yanli only goes to her knees and trembles like a kitten left out in the cold, sobbing about her fears for her future at Koi Tower and her dread of being bound to a man who will never respect her, her terror at the prospect of having no allies past her wedding day save for her mother-in-law, and then about having to spend the rest of her life within reach of Jin Guangshan. 

“Mother keeps telling me that I should try to do better, so that Jin-gongzi likes me,” she chokes. “And one of my Yu aunties told me once that Jin-gongzi has to like me, since that’s going to be the only thing keeping me safe from—from—”

“Why haven’t you spoken to your parents about this?” Nie Mingjue demands, aghast. He knows very little about how his own engagement was settled on Xichen’s side; but not long after his ascension, he discovered that neither she nor her uncle were consulted on the matter, and that the sect elders only informed Lan Qiren of his niece’s engagement after the betrothal papers were sealed and signed and the bride price was already paid. 

Nie Mingjue’s father made the agreement believing that Lan Qiren was amenable, and would have dissolved the betrothal in a heartbeat if Lan Xichen ever said she was unhappy with it—even in the months just before his death, when his greatest regret was that he would likely not live long enough to see his grandchildren. But he never disapproved of Lan Xichen’s decision to remain unwed until Wangji was at least eighteen, though the wedding was originally set to take place just after Xichen turned eighteen, and he would even have accepted a divorce if his daughter-in-law initiated it. 

And Jiang Fengmian is widely known to dote upon his daughter, just as Nie Mingjue’s father doted on Lan Xichen, so why would he not offer the same choice to his child that Nie Huangyin gave to A-Huan?

“Father would break the engagement if I asked, but Jin-furen is mother’s best friend,” Jiang Yanli weeps, in answer to Nie Mingjue’s unspoken question. “It would make things so difficult between them if Jin-furen ever knew I felt this way. And A-Xian and A-Cheng already hate the idea of me marrying into Lanling, Nie-zongzhu. It would be so much worse for them both if they found out I was afraid.”

“It is better out now, than ten years from now, when you are wedded into that house and bound there by a husband and children,” Nie Mingjue says somberly. “Jin Zixuan is not a bad sort, but if he can look upon a maiden who spends her days tending to her family and teaching in orphanages and finding apprenticeships for street children, and call such a girl unworthy because of her looks and low cultivation—then he is not worthy of any wife, let alone one like you, and I pray he will come to recognize it without some great tragedy to bring him to his senses.”

“But—”

“If A-Huan were to lose her cultivation, I would still count myself as the luckiest man in the world to be her husband,” he declares. “And if she were not beautiful, that would be nothing to me. Whatever the strength of her golden core, and whatever she looks like—her heart has nothing to do with either her face or her jindan, and I love her for that above all things.”

Jiang Yanli’s jaw drops open, and she stares up at Nie Mingjue in open disbelief. Xichen is far too drunk to register what he just said, and Wen Qing seems to have stuffed bits of cloth into her ears to keep herself from listening to anything Jiang-guniang would not have confided while sober—but the word love still burns on his lips like the hot filling from Lan Xichen’s sweet bean cakes, flooding through every inch of his body until he can think of nothing else, and he spends a good two minutes in a kind of stricken trance before wondering if saying such a thing before Maiden Jiang might have hurt her feelings.

“It didn’t,” she says softly—because apparently, Nie Mingjue said that last aloud. “I think I see now, Nie-zongzhu.”

Nie Mingjue opens his mouth to ask what she means, but a small purple blur interrupts him before he can get the words out. The blur skids around the nearest corner, screeching in indignation at the sight of Yanli’s tearstained face, and then it turns upon Nie Mingjue and demands an explanation. 

“What did you say to my Shijie?” Wei Wuxian cries. “Shijie, did he bully you?”

“Silly A-Xian,” Jiang-guniang smiles, ruffling Wei Wuxian’s hair. “Nobody bullied me, but Nie-zongzhu made me feel much better.”

“By making you cry?” Wei Wuxian says doubtfully. “Should I get Suibian?”

“A-Xian, no!” Jiang Yanli is giggling now, kissing her brother all over his puffy cheeks. “Come on, let’s go back.”

Wei Wuxian drags her off down the hallway, casting suspicious glances over his shoulder, and Wen Qing charges herself with the duty of escorting Luo Qingyang and Maiden Qin back to their own quarters. However, she declares in no uncertain terms that managing three drunk girls is beyond her, and that leaves only Nie Mingjue to look after Lan Xichen. 

“Your uncle’s going to kill me if he finds us,” he whimpers, as he struggles up a flight of stairs with his betrothed yawning in his arms. “And then A-Sang will spend the rest of his life on birds and fans, and never catch up with his lessons in time to attend your clan lectures.”

“Shufu likes you,” Xichen assures him, patting the tip of his nose. “He would never do such a thing.”

“He would if he thought I’d been improper towards you,” Nie Mingjue groans. “A-Huan, have you had anything to eat after you started drinking?”

“Mm, A-Su brought snacks. And Wen Qing kept slipping headache medicine into my wine.”

Nie Mingjue sighs in relief and hugs her a little tighter. “Good. Will you try to drink a little water after we get back to your room?”

Xichen nods drowsily, nearly stopping Nie Mingjue’s heart as she nuzzles against his shoulder, but he manages to get her up to her bedroom in one piece and helps her get into bed, making sure she lies on her side to prevent choking in the morning. He also puts a few pieces of rice candy on her nightstand since he always carries a handful in his pocket for Huaisang, and fetches a glass of water for her to drink when she wakes. 

Lan Huan is fast asleep by then, breathing quietly in her nest of blankets with her hand tucked under her cheek, and Nie Mingjue makes it as far as the door before remembering that she is still too drunk to be left alone.

But she doesn’t have a maidservant, Nie Mingjue thinks desperately, staring wildly out of the room as if one might climb out of the nearest cupboard. And Wangji didn’t come along this time, and I can’t wake Lan Qiren—

Oh, no.

Oh, this is very bad. 

Anything could happen to Lan Xichen with so much alcohol in her blood, and she might even stop breathing during the night and smother. But there is no one to fetch except for Lan-xiansheng, and that means Nie Mingjue will have to stay with her until she wakes. And given the fact that Lan Qiren will be looking for his niece by mao hour tomorrow, while Lan Xichen will probably sleep a shichen longer than usual—

Nie Mingjue sinks down beside the bed and puts his head in his hands. 

Well, that settles it, he despairs, pulling the thick blankets away from Xichen’s face. Lan Qiren is definitely going to kill me. 

But he would be lying if he said that the sight of Xichen’s peaceful face was unworthy of death by uncle-in-law, so Nie Mingjue accepts his demise with grace and starts planning his funeral instead.

___

When Lan Xichen opens her eyes, the first thing she notices is the dull pain in her head. 

The second thing she notices (after gulping down the water and candy on the nightstand) is that someone seems to have left a heap of something dark near her bed; probably a bag, or a pile of clothes, though she can’t see well enough to tell what it could be. 

And the last thing is that her uncle is sitting on a chair by the door, tapping his foot loudly enough to make her head pound. 

“Shufu,” she croaks, struggling upright with the aid of one of her pillows. “What are you—”

“Disciples of the Lan clan must not consume alcohol,” he says, strangely calm despite the enormity of her transgression. Her clothes still smell like Baling mead, sweet and spicy and fruity all at once, and she nearly dies of shame at the thought of how shocked Shufu must have been when he found her. “They must not go out of doors after haishi. And they must never share chambers with any member of the opposite sex to whom they are not married, unless they are a relative.”

Lan Xichen freezes. “What?”

“Should I not be asking you that?” her uncle reminds her. “What is Nie-zongzhu doing in your bedchamber?”

Thunderstruck, Lan Xichen stumbles out of bed and stares at the dark heap on the floor, which yawns at her touch and stretches like a cat before springing up in horror. 

“Lan-xiansheng, it’s not what it looks like!” Nie Mingjue cries, making Lan Xichen shrivel at the memory of how shamefully she must have behaved last night. “I only wanted to make sure Xichen was safe, I would never—”

“And you did not think of waking me?” Lan Qiren lifts his eyebrows at them. “Even if you wanted to ensure that my niece was well, how could you risk being seen leaving her rooms in the morning? My own quarters are just on the other side of the hall.”

Mingjue ducks his head in shame, and Lan Xichen suddenly wants nothing more than the comfort of his hand in hers. “I didn’t want her to get in trouble, xiansheng,” he mumbles. “She only came out last night for someone else’s sake, and I couldn’t have borne to see her unhappy just for that.”

“You are a sect leader, Nie Mingjue. Don’t look down when you speak to me,” Shufu scolds. “As it is, I am glad that you did not leave her. But as her uncle, I must order you to go now before the breakfast bell, lest you ruin both of your reputations at once and force her to marry before she is ready.”

Mingjue takes the hint and flees, leaving Xichen and her uncle alone. Shufu says nothing more for a while, merely studying the ceiling as if the laws of the Lan sect were inscribed there, and then he clears his throat and points to the stack of parchment on her desk.

“Copy each precept you broke, a hundred times each. The tenth, eighteenth, and seventy-first laws. Go.”

And then, after a moment’s lull:

“I think he will be a good father someday, A-Huan,” Lan Qiren reflects. “Your little ones will want for nothing, what with how he cares for you and how much he coddles Huaisang. I could not have found you a better husband if I chose for you myself.”

Lan Xichen drops her paintbrush.

“Shufu!”

[curiosity-killed]

a bow for the bad decisions: 23

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(on ao3)

He’s going to kill him. No — he’s going to hunt down Jin Ling and Wei Wuxian, drag them back to Lotus Pier, and dunk them until they both decide they’re too tired to run around like absolute idiots giving Jiang Cheng accelerated risk of qi deviation. It started when they stopped for lunch at a teahouse in a little town just shy of the Qinghe border. As in every teahouse in every city, there were idiots running their mouths two tables over. Despite years of Wei Wuxian trying to teach him the benefits of teahouses for gathering intelligence, Jiang Cheng has never figured out the puzzle of pleasant small talk with strangers, and as the Jiang Sect leader, he’s too conspicuous to be subtle. Instead, he sets Sun Luzhou and Xingtao off at their own table; a-Hai will tease out any useful rumors while Xingtao keeps an eye out for the younger disciple. As much as Sun Luzhou has grown into a blade-sharp cultivator, she’s still only twenty-three and sometimes loses herself in the quest, an arrow shooting to her target with little mind for changing winds. Xingtao levels her out, ensures they stay on track and don’t offend any shop-owners. It also means Jiang Cheng can enjoy lunch without reaching for Zidian every time he hears some loudmouth blurt out moronic rumors and nonsense. Wen Qing has approved this strategy for the sake of preventing qi deviation; he suspects she employs something similar at formal banquets, though that’s harder to prove. He settles in to enjoy his chestnuts and pork and does not listen to anything outside their table beyond a background awareness. Jin Ling, sitting opposite him with an untouched plate of carp, clearly does not do the same.

One hand’s tightened into a fist on the table and the other is inching toward Suihua, where the sword’s leaning against the table. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Jiang Cheng sighs.

“Jin Ling, eat your lunch.” “Uncle, are you listening to them?” Jin Ling demands. “Don’t you care what they’re saying?” Frankly, Jiang Cheng could list on his hands the number of people he actually cares to hear speak. They begin with his family and end within his disciples. Layabouts in a teahouse far from home do not number among them. “They’re talking about Auntie Qing,” Jin Ling says. “They’re saying she’s going to take over with the Wen refugees.” This is why Jiang Cheng doesn’t listen to gossip in teahouses. Already, he can feel his calm slipping away to be replaced with old anger and fresh irritation. “Jin Ling, eat your food. It’s Sun Hai and Xingtao’s job to listen to the idiots talking too loud,” he says. If he knows anything, he knows Sun Luzhou will leave behind a few nasty surprises for the ones talking about Wen Qing. Orphaned before the war made orphans of them all, she’s viciously loyal to Yunmeng Jiang and as clever as she is stubborn. She wasn’t Wei Wuxian’s top student without reason. “Uncle—” Jin Ling starts. “Eat. Now.” He subsides at last, but there’s a scowl on his face that threatens future trouble. If Jiang Cheng were paying better attention in that moment, he wouldn’t be so surprised by the rest of the day. “Zongzhu?” Xingtao prompts now. Pinching the top of his nose, he exhales to the count of three. “Any sign of him?” “Not yet, zongzhu,” she says. “Nor Lan-er-gongzi and his…companion.” Despite her still expression, distaste drips from her tone. He’s not sure who told her about Wei Wuxian’s return or if she’s just making an educated guess. Whichever it is, she has clearly not forgiven him — or Lan Wangji. Absurdly, he’s a little pleased by her stubborn disdain for the pair of them. It’s lessened over the years, but there’s always a thin spike of guilt, like he’s somehow tricked her into choosing him over his sun-bright brother. He’s never joined in Bujue’s campaign to win her to Wei Wuxian’s side but only because it seemed inevitable. Wei Wuxian has always been the better pick. Still, Xingtao has stubbornly kept to her opinion. “What,” he snips, “is some other Lan disciple going around with a demonic cultivator just to lead us off their trail?” Part of him wouldn’t be surprised. He is eternally unsurprised by all the ways Lan Wangji finds to inconvenience him, or at least all the ones Jiang Cheng can blame him for: stealing his night hunts, making Jin Guangyao flutter anxiously at conferences to keep them apart, wearing all that white like a flag in Jiang Cheng’s face. This is his punishment for killing his brother: a lifetime of his so-called soulmate’s disapproval. “There is talk of trouble on Traverse Ridge,” Xingtao says. “Man-eating castles, apparently.” He squints at her for a moment, trying to guess if this is some of her wry humor, but she only arches a brow back at him and he grimaces. “We could have just gone on a normal night hunt, zongzhu,” she points out. “They’re bound to show up eventually.” Probably. Maybe. The cultivation world is small enough that he would probably run into Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian again even if he stopped searching right this instant. But there’s the chance he wouldn’t. There are a hundred thousand ways to disappear. The thought of turning his back and never seeing him again, never finding his brother, never getting him back, makes something tight and sticky squeeze around Jiang Cheng’s stomach. “We’re looking for Wen Qing’s brother, too,” he points out instead. Xingtao’s lips twist, expression scrunching up in annoyance. Despite her initial reluctance, she’s grown to respect Wen Qing and even, perhaps, like her. Now, she huffs out a breath through her nose and crosses her arms so that her sword’s pinned against her chest. “For Jiang-furen, then,” she grumbles. Her grudging acceptance draws a snort out of him, and he drops his arms. “Man-eating castles, you said?” She shrugs. “As long as there are no monkeys.” He doesn’t crack a smile, but his shoulders ease a little. Xingtao showed up a month into the war with broad knuckles clenched around a sword older than her and an unshakeable stance. She’d kicked Bujue’s ass in a friendly duel and told Jiang Cheng she was going to fight for him, and she’s continued to show that same staunch resolve in the face of everything since. “You’d really take man-eating castles over monkeys,” he scoffs as they turn to follow the road up toward the outer ridge. “Monkeys are bastards,” Xingtao says decisively. “At least monsters have the courtesy to look evil before ripping your face off.” He snorts, shaking his head. He doesn’t point out all the monsters that don’t have that courtesy, that wear children’s faces and cloak themselves in the laughter of loved ones and make you run your sword through your closest friend. “Zongzhu! Jiang-zongzhu!” Turning back the way they’d come, he finds a trio of juniors dashing down the street after them. They sketch hasty salutes, panting. “What is it?” he demands, hand tightening around Sandu. Jin Ling’s only been missing for a few hours, but a few hours in a strange land is enough time for anything to go wrong, for the worst to happen. If he’s hurt, if he got caught somewhere— “We found Jin-gongzi, zongzhu,” Duan Fang reports. “He’s alright!” Relief prickles through him like feeling returned to a limb as he looks past the trio to see the other disciples rounding a corner with Jin Ling in their midst. He’s scowling, arms crossed over Suihua against his chest, and a baffling amount of dirt stains his robes and face, but he’s walking straight and there isn’t any blood. “Uncle,” he grumbles, bowing. “Jin Ling,” Jiang Cheng says. “Done running off?” He huffs, looking away with a mulish set to his jaw. Despite his stubbornness, there’s a redness to his eyes like he’s been crying and a tremble in his lips. “We’ll stay here tonight,” Jiang Cheng says. “Get some rooms.” With another quick salute, the juniors turn and scurry back toward the inn they passed earlier. Jin Ling falls in at Jiang Cheng’s side, arms still crossed and expression stormy. Jiang Cheng doesn’t reach out, doesn’t loop an arm around his shoulders or muss his hair; he remembers too clearly what it was like to be that age, to have a horrifying well of emotions bubbling up at all times. Back then, he’d had Wei Wuxian to punch or chase after when he couldn’t stand the force of his own thoughts. A gentle touch would have brought him to tears. They walk in silence instead, their shadows blending with the night as they cross between pools of lantern light. By the time they reach the inn, rooms have been secured, and Jiang Cheng pushes Jin Ling into his by the back of his shoulder. The boy’s shoulders hitch up a little, and Jiang Cheng frowns as he pulls the doors closed. “Are you going to tell me where you’ve been?” he asks, turning around. Jin Ling’s already braced in the middle of the room, feet spread in a defensive stance. Distantly, Jiang Cheng is a little proud of his form; a strong base can make all the difference in a fight. “I followed a lead,” Jin Ling says stiffly. “Just like you always do.” Jiang Cheng’s eyes narrow. He is a thirty-four-year-old sect leader who fought in the worst war in generations. Jin Ling looks away, hunching down further into himself. It makes him look even younger, small and fragile. Forcing himself to exhale, Jiang Cheng crosses the room and sets to making tea. After he’s set it to steep, Jin Ling finally walks over and kneels across the table. Jiang Cheng gives him the time to compose himself. “Uncle,” he says after a moment, and his voice comes out small in a way he never lets it anymore, “will you tell me about da-jiujiu?” His hands freeze around the teapot. This is the opening. This is the time they’ve all been waiting for, to tell Jin Ling the truth. He’s old enough to know, now, old enough he might have a chance at understanding. Even if he weren’t, Wei Wuxian’s back regardless. He needs to know. But— But Jiang Cheng looks up, and his nephew looks small and tired and like he’s spent at least part of the day crying, and he can’t. He can’t tell him the hero he’s loved since infancy is the villain who damaged his father’s core. He can’t tell him the reason he’s never met his eldest uncle is because Jiang Cheng himself killed him before he could. He tells himself it’s for Jin Ling’s sake. The boy is still young and clearly went through some trial today. He’s looking for comfort, not earth-shaking revelations. He tells himself he’s just waiting till a better time, when it won’t be so hard for Jin Ling. Jiang Cheng’s never been a very good liar. “Your da-jiujiu,” he says, swallowing around familiar guilt, “was a genius and an idiot at the same time. He could modify talismans before half the class could even power a correct wind talisman, but he’d knock himself off the roof testing them.” He invented an entire cultivation path and still couldn’t tell Lan Wangji was in love with him from an arm’s length away. To be fair, Jiang Cheng hadn’t really understood until it was too late, either, but then, Wei Wuxian had been so adept at reading Lan Wangji in comparison. He wonders, briefly, if they’ve sorted that out now that Wei Wuxian’s suddenly back. Surely Lan Wangji’s finally said something, after thirteen years acting like a widower. Bitterness chokes up his throat like wisteria vines. Jin Ling frowns down at the table, his hands curled around tea he’s yet to drink. He’s not smiling yet, which was Jiang Cheng’s goal when he started. Instead, there’s a funny pinch to the corners of his lips like he’s studying something and finding it lacking. “He loved you,” Jiang Cheng says, because he’s not sure he ever has and it seems important. Jin Ling looks up, sharp. His brows draw together and he suddenly looks so much like his sister, Jiang Cheng could almost laugh. Jin Ling’s temper is a milder sort, but they both got it from the same side. “He didn’t get to meet you before he died,” Jiang Cheng says, because that much is true, “but he loved you before you were even born.” He lets himself wonder, just briefly, what it would have been like, if Jin Ling had grown up knowing Wei Wuxian. The laughter, the pranks, he and Zixuan and Wei Wuxian all competing to see who would teach him how to fly— Only, no. Wei Wuxian gave up his core long before Jin Ling was even a possibility. Would Jiang Cheng have shared that with Zixuan while his brother was stuck watching from the ground? The thought makes his stomach twist, those vines twining tight and blooming nauseous in the back of his throat. He sits down his tea and stands.

“You should bathe and get to bed,” he says. “We’re starting early tomorrow.” Jin Ling’s lips purse in frustration, like he’s about to protest, but he stands and picks up Suihua without a word. Giving a short bow, he leaves Jiang Cheng standing alone with guilt gnawing through his lungs like an old dog’s favorite bone. He’s spent a hundred endless nights trying to think of some way he could have fixed it. Some way he could have changed the outcome, adjusted the start enough that things didn’t end the way they did. He could have left Wei Wuxian in Lotus Pier for the Phoenix Mountain Hunt, just like Wei Wuxian kept requesting; if other sects asked, he could have made up some excuse about not leaving Lotus Pier unattended. It would have been strange, but everyone was on-edge after the war. They would have accepted it.

He could have dragged Wei Wuxian home from the Burial Mounds and left the Wen remnants to fend for themselves. Wei Wuxian would have been pissed, might have hated him for the rest of their lives, but he wouldn’t have had the chance to kill himself protecting them on that mountain. He could have gone to meet Wei Wuxian before Jin Ling’s hundred days’ celebration, sent Wen Ning home and carried Wei Wuxian on Sandu. They would have still had to figure out what to do with the Seal, how to stop Wei Wuxian from destroying it while appeasing Jin Guangshan, but they’d almost had Nie Mingjue on their side. If Wei Wuxian had just gotten there, seen jie with little a-Ling, seen Lan Wangji, maybe it would have been enough to convince him to stay. There were so many forks in the road where Jiang Cheng could have fixed it, and every time, he took the wrong turn. In the weeks after Wei Wuxian’s death, he’d catch himself looking out toward the lakes, half-expecting to see a familiar figure slouched at the end of a dock. Wei Wuxian had never had a spirit calming ceremony; his parents had been wanderers when he would have been of age and couldn’t have afforded the sacrifices necessary. Of the three of them, he was the only one who could have come back to haunt them. He could have come back with red eyes and snarling accusations, and Jiang Cheng knows he would have opened his arms wide. But no matter how many demonic cultivators claimed to be him, no matter how many nights Jiang Cheng found himself waiting on the edge of the docks, he never found a ghost with his brother’s laugh. Silence cut a shadow at his shoulder, and betrayal twined thorny vines through his marrow. He’d mastered death a hundred times. He’d been left for dead and crawled out grinning. If he wanted to stay, he would have found a way. Now his brother is back, and the silence hasn't lifted. Wei Wuxian's alive, out there somewhere with Lan Wangji, and Jiang Cheng is back to chasing after guesses and whispers. Tugging off his belt, he prepares for bed rotely. His robes are neatly folded, Sandu laid close to hand by his bed. He folds himself cross-legged on the mattress and closes his eyes, tries to center himself. Breathe in, feel the qi activate and rise; exhale, feel it settle and stabilize. When they were children, first starting their training, he and Wei Wuxian had both gotten reprimanded in their meditation class. Wei Wuxian had been too fidgety, constantly opening his eyes and twitching with the need for movement, but he'd found his own way to meditate, swimming or running through the woods or flopping full-bodied against the dirt and closing his eyes. Jiang Cheng had been so focused on trying to meditate perfectly that he'd been scolded for focusing on the wrong things, for fixating on the image of meditation rather than finding inner peace. He'd learned eventually, of course. Cultivation requires meditation, requires a steady center. Now, decades removed from his childhood, he meditates when he first wakes up and right before he sleeps. He's always been diligent. Sitting on an inn's stiff bed, his breaths long and deep, he finds himself turning over images from their childhood and chasing after the threads like golden butterflies. He's told Jin Ling and his siblings a thousand stories of their da-jiujiu, of childhood antics and later heroics. The stories now feel soft-worn, pages thumbed too many times to keep their crisp edges. When he's tried to call up Wei Wuxian's voice, he's found it mute. In his dreams, his brother loops an arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulders and tugs him along into trouble, and he knows what he means, but there are no words, only silence. He tries to call to mind Wei Wuxian's voice from Dafan Mountain, but the replication feels wrong. If Wei Wuxian had come back as a ghost, it would have been wrong, twisted, not the brother Jiang Cheng remembers. He would have been shot through with resentment, ink flooding fresh water, would have been incorporeal and frayed. If Wei Wuxian had come back as a ghost, would Jiang Cheng still remember his voice? Pressing his thumbtips into the center of his brow, Jiang Cheng exhales. It doesn't matter. His brother didn't come back as a ghost, and Jiang Cheng forgot his voice, and Wei Wuxian is back, and he's still not here. Jiang Cheng hasn't been alone these last thirteen years. He's had his sect and jie and Wen Qing and all his growing family. He has grown, in ways he would never have guessed when he was twenty-one. He's changed, like a stone worn into new shapes by the steady river of time. What if Wei Wuxian has, too? What if death has altered him, turned him into someone Jiang Cheng no longer knows, into someone who no longer wants to know Jiang Cheng? What if his spirit watched the world spin on and it grew and shifted in that time as well? What if he is a stranger with his brother’s face? Or, worse— what if he hasn’t changed at all? Jiang Cheng may not be able to recall his brother’s voice anymore, but he remembers with horrible clarity Wei Wuxian’s last moments. He remembers the bone-shard edges, the great weight of exhaustion eating away at his core. What if Wei Wuxian hasn't changed at all? What if these thirteen years have meant nothing and he's been brought back exactly as he was? What if Jiang Cheng catches up with him only in time to watch his brother die again? He tamps down on the fear spiraling in his chest, locks it away. It doesn't matter. He told Wen Qing he'd find their brothers. He'll find them. If Wei Wuxian never wants to see him again, then so be it. He owes nothing to Yunmeng Jiang. He owes nothing to Jiang Cheng. As long as he's — as long as he's alive and well, Jiang Cheng will let him walk away. He curls around his hurt and closes his eyes. Sleep is fleeting that night. In the morning, their party leaves the town to head up to Traverse Ridge, where Xingtao heard of the man-eating castles. Jiang Cheng isn't sure what he's expecting, but it certainly isn't to walk out of the forest and directly into Nie Huaisang standing in front of a long line of corpses. He stares, thoughts churning furiously in a futile effort to make sense of the scene. "Nie-zongzhu?" Ren Tian blurts out. Nie Huaisang whirls around in a flutter of sleeves and silk, his fan raised like a saber. His face is a little strained, eyes wide with as much stress as surprise. Jiang Cheng frowns. "Ah Jiang-zongzhu," Nie Huaisang says, his voice a little too high and tight. "What are you doing in Qinghe?" "I sent a message to the Unclean Realm," Jiang Cheng points out absently, stepping closer. "What happened?" For an instant, he thinks Nie Huaisang is going to snap at him, but then that strained expression vanishes behind a tittering laugh and wide eyes. Irritation starts creeping up his back preemptively, ingrained after this many years of watching Nie Huaisang throw himself helplessly on his brother's sworn brothers. "Nothing, nothing," he says, waving his fan. "It looks awful, doesn't it? But my cultivators say it's just a case of improper burial and will be cleaned up soon. I'm so glad they're fixing it and not me!" If he were a Nie disciple, Jiang Cheng's pretty sure he would have throttled their sect leader by now. He doesn't get what Nie Huaisang gets out of pretending to be so useless; he's never been a strong cultivator, but he wasn't an idiot when they were growing up. Even at Cloud Recesses, he'd pour plenty of effort into the right things: painting, following Wei Wuxian into mischief, even the stupid yin iron quest he wasn't supposed to join. Crossing his arms, he eyes the bodies laid out behind Nie Huaisang. There are...a lot. Different states of decay, too, though from the better-preserved ones, they all seem to be wearing the same drab clothing. Like criminals, maybe. He frowns. One of them is missing both its legs. "That's a lot of improper burial," he points out. "Ah, well, you know how overwhelmed I've been, Jiang-xiong," Nie Huaisang whines. "I can't keep track of everything that happens in Qinghe." He almost points out that he had the same responsibility at close to half Nie Huaisang's age, but he reins it in. "Haven't Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao been helping you?" he points out instead. Nie Huaisang flutters his fan, a saccharine smile on his lips. "Oh yes, er-ge and san-ge are so helpful," he says. Something doesn't feel quite right, but Jiang Cheng can't pin it down. At his shoulder, he can feel Jin Ling fidgeting, clearly bored. "I heard there was trouble at a Wen resettlement camp in Qinghe," Jiang Cheng says. Nie Huaisang's eyes narrow just slightly before he catches himself. Jiang Cheng's scowl tightens. "Oh, that?" Nie Huaisang says. "I don't know, really. Cousin Zhaoyu and san-ge help me with all of that." He's getting nowhere and all these non-answers are starting to itch under Jiang Cheng's skin. They used to be friends, back when they were growing up. That first year after the war, Nie Huaisang had come to Lotus Pier and the three of them had spent two weeks acting like they really were only twenty-year-olds and not exhausted and scarred. Nie Huaisang's the reason Wen Qing ever came to Lotus Pier, even if Jiang Cheng had been the one to suggest it. Clearly that doesn't matter anymore. "Whatever," Jiang Cheng says. "I'll leave you to your improper burial." The walk back is stiff and quiet, everyone shooting Jiang Cheng looks out of the corners of their eyes. He ignores them. The sooner they leave here, the sooner they can try to catch up to Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Maybe someone in the village saw them. Fifty paces from the castles, Duan Fang screams. "Ah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, young master!" That voice— Jiang Cheng pivots, already shooting to the flank where the junior was walking. It's been years since he's seen Wen Ning, but he recognizes those big eyes wide with alarm and the pale hands lifted close to his chest as if to guard his own undead body. There are heavy manacles around his wrists, broken bits of chain still dangling from them. Catching sight of Jiang Cheng, his eyes widen and he shrinks back in on himself. "Wen Qionglin?" Jiang Cheng demands. Swallowing, Wen Ning lifts his hands in a low, stiff salute. "Jiang-zongzhu, I'm sorry," he says. "Stop that, stand up," Jiang Cheng snaps, stepping closer. "What's with these chains? What are you doing here?" There are murmurs behind him, but he ignores them in favor of eyeing Wen Ning's shackles. The fierce corpse — the least fierce man Jiang Cheng had ever met before he died — still stares at him with wide, deer-like eyes. "Well?" Jiang Cheng demands. "Here, give me your wrist, I'll cut them off." "Jin-gongzi, no! Don't—" There's a yell, an unfamiliar bleat of anger. Jiang Cheng turns without thinking, lifting Sandu on instinct. Suihua's bared blade clashes down on the scabbard. Jin Ling's shaking, both hands around the handle and jaw clenched so tight Jiang Cheng's almost worried he'll crack his teeth. "A-Ling, what the hell are you doing?" he demands. Jin Ling pushes harder, as if he can break Jiang Cheng's stance. Twisting Sandu, he flicks Suihua out of his hands and presses down on his shoulder with the sheathed end of his own sword to pin him in place. Jin Ling stares at him, mouth parting slightly in shock. He shakes himself, stabbing his hand out toward Wen Ning. "I'm getting justice," he yells. "The Ghost General is evil! He tried to kill Father. What are you doing?" “Jin Ling,” Jiang Cheng warns. He can feel a headache building in the back of his skull. Maybe it’s a good thing he didn’t talk to him last night about Wei Wuxian. They’d only have more of a mess on their hands now. “Oh,” Wen Ning says softly. “Jin Rulan.” “Don’t call me that!” Jin Ling snaps. “He picked that name. I’m not— I won’t— You treat me like I’m a little kid, like I’m too dumb to figure it out.” There are tears gathering in his eyes, and Jiang Cheng feels a spike of dread jolt through his chest. “You’re always telling me stories about da-jiujiu, about — about your brother, the hero of Lotus Pier,” Jin Ling says, and his voice is shaking even as his face has gone livid. “Like I don’t know that he’s Wei Wuxian! I’m not an idiot, Uncle. You can call him whatever you like, but Wei Wuxian is evil. He’s the one who sicced this — this dog on my father, and I will avenge him.” Shit. Jiang Cheng swallows, feels the words like arrows in his chest. “All these years, you haven’t been looking to make sure Wei Wuxian’s demonic cultivation doesn’t spread, you’ve been trying to find him, haven’t you?” Jin Ling spits. “You act righteous but all you’re doing is chasing after Wei Wuxian!” “Jin Ling,” he says, “put your sword away. We’ll talk about this at home.” “No!” His fists have balled up at his sides, little spots of red appearing on his blanched knuckles from the force. He meets Jiang Cheng’s eyes, through the tears edging his. Jiang Cheng falters, fear a living thing in his chest. “No, I’m not going with you,” Jin Ling says. “Not if you’re protecting him. I’m the heir of Lanling Jin, Jin Zixuan’s son. I don’t want anything to do with — with Wei Wuxian and his attack dog.” His hand jerks down his left wrist, flinging the dark bracelet to the ground. He freezes up a little as soon as it hits the grass, as if realizing he’s made a mistake. He doesn’t reach for it, though. Swallowing tightly, he squares up his shoulders. “I’m leaving with my disciples,” he declares. “I won’t come back to Lotus Pier till that is gone.” Snatching Suihua from the dirt, he stalks off with the few Jin juniors who’d accompanied them slowly tailing after him. They cast uneasy glances back over their shoulders before hurrying to catch up. “Sun Hai, Yinliu, a-Fang,” Xingtao says, low, “go with him. Make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.” Jiang Cheng bends down, picking the bracelet up from the ground. The wards still hum, content and unaffected by being thrown aside. “He’ll want this back,” he says, stiff, pressing the bracelet into Sun Luzhou’s hand. She pauses, thumb running over the wards carved into the beads and flicking a curious look up at him. He doesn’t know if she recognizes the work, if she can feel the similarities between the bracelet and the wards she helps maintain back at Lotus Pier. She doesn’t say. Giving a polite salute, she leads her juniors off after Jin Ling. Left behind, Jiang Cheng forces himself to keep breathing. It’s just a fight. It’s just a kid having a bad day. He’ll calm down. He still has a tracking talisman with him, if Jiang Cheng needs to find him. If he realizes that’s from Wei Wuxian, too — well, all the Jiang disciples carry them as a precaution.   He turns back to Wen Ning and tells himself it doesn’t hurt to breathe. “Jiang-zongzhu, I-I-I am sorry,” Wen Ning says, sounding miserable. “I shouldn’t have — I didn’t mean to — I can go. I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble.” “Shut up,” Jiang Cheng says, tired. “What, you think I’m going to tell your sister I let you run off into the woods?” Wen Ning brightens — well, as much as a corpse can. His brown eyes go big, eyebrows lifting. His skin wrinkles funny when he moves, like it’s not quite flexible enough for expressions. Jiang Cheng carefully does not think about it. “Jie?” he asks, voice full of wonder. Jiang Cheng huffs and unsheathes Sandu. “I’m not bringing you to her with your hands like that. Hold them out,” he orders. Wen Ning bobs his head in a little nod, looking worryingly like he might start crying. Jiang Cheng pauses, wondering briefly if he can cry, before shaking his head. There’s a lot there he doesn’t really want to think about. “Is — is jie alright?” Wen Ning asks as Sandu bites through the metal. “Yes,” Jiang Cheng says. “She’d probably be here now but Xiong-daifu convinced her she’s too far along to travel by sword.” The shackles drop to the ground with a clank, and Jiang Cheng frowns at them before kicking them into the bushes with the side of his foot. They’ll have to figure out who put them on him, where he’s been all these years, but he’s not getting into it out here. Wen Qing will want to be part of that conversation anyway. “Jiang-zongzhu,” Wen Ning asks, voice a little funny, “what do you mean ‘too far along’?” Oh. He looks up, a small jolt of horror shooting through him. Oh no. Wen Ning’s brow is furrowed a little now, something like worry in his frown. Jiang Cheng’s always thought him a coward, but Wei Wuxian had pointed out how much resentment he carried. What if that extended to protecting his sister? “Perhaps we could fill Wen-gongzi in on our way,” Xingtao suggests. “Jiang-furen will be waiting.” “Right,” Jiang Cheng says, relieved at the distraction. He catches Wen Ning from the corner of his eye, lips moving as if to mouth ‘Jiang-furen’ to himself. Abruptly, he straightens, brown eyes going wide. “Jie married you?” he demands. Right, Jiang Cheng thinks, that’s it. He’s following Baoshan Sanren’s lead and moving off to some mountain where no one can find him. No brothers or cranky nephews or — well, he couldn’t leave Wen Qing to handle the entire sect even if it’d flourish under her care. “We’ll talk about it at home,” he says, a little more loudly than necessary. Wen Ning subsides, but there’s a look on his face that makes Jiang Cheng certain this isn’t the last of the conversation. It’s an awkward flight. Carrying another adult on sword is always a little too close for comfort, but it’s worse when Wen Ning is cold as a corpse and also his wife’s dead little brother. Jiang Cheng keeps his gaze fixed firmly ahead and does not acknowledge any of his disciples. Xingtao is going to give him shit for this for three weeks straight. They’re passing the border of Yunmeng when he finally clears his throat. “So. You’ve seen Wei Wuxian,” he states. Wen Ning is quiet long enough that Jiang Cheng thinks he hasn’t heard, that the wind snatches the words from his mouth. It wouldn’t be the worst thing. “I have,” Wen Ning finally says, slow. “And?” Jiang Cheng prompts. “What, is Lan Wangji running off with him?” He doesn’t have to check to feel the look Wen Ning is giving him: steady, evaluative, unimpressed. Jiang Cheng swallows down a hundred bitter retorts to tell him to mind his own business. “Master Wei seemed well,” Wen Ning says. “He and Lan-er-gongzi are working together.” Jiang Cheng grunts. Of course they are. Hanguang-jun and the Yiling laozu, the perfect little duo. He doesn’t acknowledge the first part or the way his shoulders ease a little to hear it. It’s not like he asked. They dismount outside the gates in the ink-dark of night. Lotus lanterns reflect off the lake waters, burnish the walls and floors a honey-gold. For the first time all day, Jiang Cheng draws in a full breath. “Oh,” Wen Ning says as if startled. He’s looking at the gates but not at them — like he’s seeing some other plane instead. One hand has lifted to the level of his waist, palm out and fingers flat as if against a wall. “This is Wei-gongzi’s work,” he says. He pulls his hand back down to his side. “I’m sorry, Jiang-zongzhu. I’m afraid I won’t be allowed to enter.” Oh. Right. Despite being pressed against him for the whole flight, Jiang Cheng had — not forgotten, exactly, but not thought about the logistics of bringing a fierce corpse to Lotus Pier. He hesitates now. “It doesn’t — recognize you?” he asks. He doesn’t say ‘as another of Wei Wuxian’s creations,’ but from the slow blink Wen Ning gives him, it comes across clearly enough. Turning back to the gates, he tries to think of any solution. He can’t grant Wen Ning permissions over the whole shielding system, and he doesn’t know enough about them to figure out a loophole. He’d thought Wei Wuxian would always be here to handle that, and then once he wasn’t, there were too many other things to worry about. After a long moment, he reaches toward his belt. “Here,” he says, a little gruff. “Try this.” Wen Ning takes the clarity bell as delicately as if it were a spring blossom or a paper sculpture. He gives Jiang Cheng a long look, searching, but he doesn’t ask if he’s sure. Jiang Cheng’s grateful for it. His hands itch to reach out and snag it back, to hold his bell close to him. He doesn’t have a lot left of his father. If this goes wrong… Holding the bell by its upper clasp, Wen Ning reaches one hand tentatively forward toward the boundary of the wards. Smart, Jiang Cheng thinks absently. If the shields reject him, at least it’ll only be an arm. He extends his arm carefully, and there’s a slight shimmer in the air like a single drop falling into still water. The bell rings one bright peal. His hand passes through. Jiang Cheng exhales and nods brusquely, starting down the walkway. It takes a beat before he hears the footsteps follow in behind him. His bell doesn’t ring again, and Jiang Cheng takes that as confirmation that this plan worked. It’s late enough that most the disciples have retired, though they pass two patrols: one pacing the inner walkways and another up on the roofs. Normally, he and Wen Qing would have retired to their shared desk, a jar of wine or a pot of tea split between them as they sifted through the last of the day’s work. Now, he turns left and leads Wen Ning to the infirmary. There’s a single candle still burning, throwing soft shadows long against the walls and floor. They dance in the breeze and turn the room to a night festival of shapes. Wen Qing sits alone at her desk, head bowed and thumb pressed into her temple. She glances up at the sound of the doors opening, an absent flick of her gaze, before she freezes. “A-Ning?” He steps into the room with his hands clasped before him, a little uncertain. “Hi, jie,” he says, voice wet and shaky. She’s across the room faster than Jiang Cheng’s seen except in emergencies, arms wrapped around her little brother. Wen Ning blinks, once, twice, before his arms lift and wrap around her back. “A-Ning,” Wen Qing repeats, voice breaking. Jiang Cheng looks away, to give them privacy and not because there are tears in his eyes or anything. There’s no reason for him to cry. His wife is getting her brother back. The heavy ache in his ribs is just for them, just for the years they’ve lost. He crosses his arms over his chest and does not think about any other brother, returned but not to him. “Let me look at you,” Wen Qing says, drawing back from Wen Ning. Her eyes are bright with tears, catching in the candle light. “Come. Here, take a seat.” She draws him across the room by his wrists, and Jiang Cheng follows. He flicks a hand up to light the rest of the lanterns in the room with a flick of spiritual energy. The room is flooded in soft light, catching on the examination bed Wen Qing leads Wen Ning to sit on and illuminating the sorry state of her brother. His hair’s tangled, matted, and his clothes look like he hasn’t changed them in years. Sitting him down, Wen Qing tsks and draws his wrist up to press two fingertips to the inside. Jiang Cheng leans his shoulder against the wall to watch. He never really gets tired of watching Wen Qing work; there’s something about her brusque efficiency and expertise that makes possessive pride rise up in him, all warm and fierce. She is the best at what she does, and she chooses to be here, be his. She checks his meridians, all three dantians, in standard procedure, and Jiang Cheng wonders a little if there’s anything to check in a corpse brought back to life. He does not say it aloud. As she steps to Wen Ning’s side, she frowns and thins her lips. “You’ve seen Wei Wuxian, then? Did he play anything for you?” she asks. Wen Ning’s eyes cut briefly toward Jiang Cheng before he gives a slight nod. “Mm,” he says. “He played the lullaby, I think. And took out the nails.” The room grows abruptly cold, Wen Qing freezing where she’s lifted her brother’s arm to check the articulation of his shoulder. She turns slowly to face him. “A-Ning,” she says, “what nails?”   Directed at anyone, that tone is a threat. Turned toward her baby brother, Jiang Cheng’s certain the threat isn’t for him but at whoever has hurt him. Still, Wen Ning quails a little under her gaze. “Ah, I-I’m not sure, a-jie,” he says. “Wei-gongzi removed them before I met Jiang-zongzhu.” Jiang Cheng’s breath catches. He was there. Wei Wuxian had been there. Had they crossed paths? Had they walked the same road and Jiang Cheng turned left where Wei Wuxian turned right? Wen Ning’s lifted a hand to gesture to the back of his head, and Wen Qing parts his hair there. She breathes in sharply, hands tensing where they’ve drawn back his hair. “I imagine Wei Wuxian didn’t offer any insight into what these nails were,” Wen Qing sighs, smoothing Wen Ning’s hair back down. Her hand cups the back of his head, and Wen Ning tilts his face up to meet her eyes. “He seemed unhappy about them,” he offers, and Jiang Cheng has to stifle a snort.

He can imagine Wei Wuxian’s reaction to finding out someone’s hammered nails into his friend’s head. ‘Unhappy’ doesn’t come close to covering the carnage. “Did he say anything useful?” Jiang Cheng asks. “Where they came from? If his and Lan Wangji’s — quest, whatever, has something to do with them?” “Um. We didn’t — we didn’t talk very much,” Wen Ning says, not looking at Jiang Cheng. “Wei-gongzi said he needed to meet Lan-er-gongzi. And he — he had curse marks on him.” All things considered, Jiang Cheng thinks he reacts fairly well to finding out his newly-resurrected brother already has not one but multiple curses on him. “Curse marks? How the fuck has that idiot already gotten himself cursed?” he demands. “Is he that eager to die again? One time wasn’t enough, he has to—” “Wanyin.” His mouth snaps shut, teeth clicking, and his hand tightens into a fist. Wen Qing’s watching him steadily, her hand resting on Wen Ning’s shoulder. Based on Wen Ning’s expression, it’s not just for comfort: his eyes are hard and openly angry. Jiang Cheng looks away. "A-Ning," Wen Qing says, "why don't you start from the beginning of what you can remember?"