#and then he's hanging off of your esteemed hanguang-jun | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

aurora077 · 3 years ago

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Ask not for whom the clarity bell chimes, it chimes for thee.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13913863/1/Ask-not-for-whom-the-clarity-bell-chimes-it-chimes-for-thee

Summary: What’s an esteemed sect leader to do when his nephew wants him to spend time with his estranged brother? He hides, of course. Unfortunately said nephew is stubborn... wonder who he got that from? Now he’s forced to talk about -ugh- feelings.

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“Uncle!” Jin Ling panted, moving apart the lapels of his tent to find him sitting there with a cup of tea, “There you are!”

Jiang Cheng snorted, “Where else would I be A-Ling?”

His nephew scowled. “You could be sitting with the rest of us.” He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Jin Ling had been setting him up. It was the third night hunt that he’d gone on with those friends of his that he’d actually invited Jiang Cheng to. Of course normally he’d follow Jin Ling anyway but Jin Ling used to scowl at him and pretend he was part of the scenery like the Ghost General who’d become his unwitting junior-stalking partner. He was surprised the first time he was actually invited. It wasn’t until this last time however that he realised what his nephew was trying to do. Because on every occasion that he was invited someone else was too. Someone who his nephew tried very hard to get him to interact with.

“Go back to your friends A-Ling. You don’t get much time with them as Sect Leader now do you? If you’re taking precious time away from your sect for this the least you can do is use it well.”

“How can I go back without you? I invited you, you know. Even Wen Ning is sitting around the fire with everyone and he doesn’t even need to warm up!”

“Don’t be stupid A-Ling you know very well that my presence will just make things awkward.” As it had the past two times. The juniors were more subdued when he was around and Lan Sizhui looked constantly anxious and alert because if an argument started he would inevitably land up playing peacemaker. The Ghost General seemed to have exhausted his anger in one shot the night he shouted at him in his own home no less, and now spent the time fidgeting around him like he was a bomb ready to explode whenever they weren’t busy spy-- protecting the kids. To say nothing of the other guest. Only the loudmouthed Lan seemed completely fine with his presence and he had to admit, the kid had guts.

Well, except when confronted with ghosts apparently. A matter that gave him no small source of amusement when he really thought about it. It made the last night hunt slightly tolerable because it put him in a good mood --a cultivator afraid of ghosts! Who ever heard of it? (He found out this little fact when the unorthodox Lan was faced with the ghost of a butcher and was apparently way more terrified of the ghost than of him, given that he screamed at the sight of it and clung to Jiang Cheng like a particularly large baby...a move that startled him enough for Zidian to lash out and banish the ghost without him even consciously doing it. Lan Jingyi couldn’t look at him for the rest of that hunt without turning beet red. It was hilarious. Contrary to popular belief, he did have a sense of humour. And if the action led to Jin Ling sticking closer to him than usual while petulantly glaring at the Lan all the while, well he wasn’t going to complain...much.)

His thoughts sobered as his nephew, already worked up from running around to find him only to realise he was just in his tent all along, lost his composure. “I’m not being stupid! Is it so bad to want you two to get along?”

“Aha! I knew it. So you admit you’ve been inviting me so that Wei Wuxian and I would what, fall into each other’s arms and cry and be bosom buddies again?”

Jin Ling flushed, “You don’t have to make it sound like that jiujiu!” Then he deflated and said in a smaller voice, “You’re the only two people I have left to call family.”

“And don’t say the Jins are my family, you know they’re not!” he snapped before Jiang Cheng could even open his mouth. Not that he would have said that anyway, the only other Jin he had considered family in that viper’s pit was Jin Zixuan who was cold in his grave.

“I just want the only family I have left to be on good terms, is that too much to ask?” his nephew continued, pouting slightly. A habit that he had been steadily leaving behind as he got accustomed to his role as Sect Leader Jin. He knew Jin Ling must have been incredibly upset to let it show. Indeed his eyes were starting to look shiny.

But Jiang Cheng was tired. Jin Ling was young enough to be optimistic. Jiang Cheng hadn’t been that way for a long, long time. He was prepared to be angry with his nephew for this when he finally confronted him about pushing him and Wei Wuxian together, but one look at that round pouty face made all the anger drain out of him suddenly as he was transported back to a young Jin Ling asking him about his parents after being bullied for being an orphan for the first time and being unable to answer without being choked up himself.

“A-Ling,” he said softer than usual, “Sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to.” “I should know,” he said bitterly, staring into his tea with a frown, recalling how the one thing he was most sure about all those uncertain years ago came back to bite him in the ass in the most horrible way possible. Even in the depths of his despair he had never regretted what he did to save Wei Wuxian. Now though...if he had only known what it would lead to... But how could he have ever even fathomed what would happen? Wei Wuxian did the impossible time and time again. His own sacrifice was rendered completely worthless. Just like him he supposed.

“But can’t you just try to get along with him?” his nephew continued, ignorant to his musings.

“I’m polite to him aren’t I? I don’t just flat out ignore him. And we haven’t even argued,” he said grumpily, still frowning at his tea like it personally wronged him. There was once a time when arguing would have solved everything. They’d air out their grievances and come out all the better for it. But Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to be inclined to do that any longer. That he’d attacked him instead of falling back into their routine that day in Lotus Pier’s ancestral hall was all the evidence he needed, even before Wei Wuxian said what he did in the temple.

His nephew huffed, “That’s not what I mean by get along and you know it!”

“It’s a two-way street A-Ling!” he bit out. Forcing himself to restrain his steadily rising temper he continued, “I’m aware you want us to act like a family but I don’t need to remind you of what happened on that horrible day do I? You were there. You heard him. He didn’t care for apologies. For him, it was a lifetime ago. He wants the past to stay the past. And it was all about repayment. Everything he did, he did because he felt he owed my parents and your mother.”

The bitterness crept back into his voice, “He wants nothing more to do with me or the Jiang sect. The least I can do is respect his wishes. After all, I’d be nothing without him, as his Ghost General took pleasure in reminding me. The only one who was foolish enough to hold onto things all this time was me. Besides, you weren’t there A-Ling, the first time around. I wasn’t enough for him then, what makes you think I’d be enough for him now? He has his Hanguang-Jun to hang off of, he has no need for a brother he never even considered one. And why would he? It’s not as if that accursed Jin Guangyao was entirely wrong anyway.”

“What exactly do you mean by that!?” came an offended voice. They both whipped around in shock.

“Wei Wuxian, were you eavesdropping?” he snarled, “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“I just came to see if Jin Ling found you, but never mind that! Explain yourself! How could you say a thing like that?” he said, outraged, pushing his way fully into the tent.

“Did I say anything wrong, Wei Wuxian? Please, do tell. What did I say that you didn’t say or imply yourself?” he said, angry that Wei Wuxian felt the need to intrude on his space and then had the nerve to get offended after eavesdropping on a private conversation.

Jiang Cheng wasn’t a total idiot despite being made a fool of time and time again by this man. If there was one thing he was particularly good at, it was knowing when he wasn’t wanted. He’d had a lifetime of practice after all.

The core in his body was given out of a sense of duty. After Guanyin Temple he recalled his parents’ last words to Wei Wuxian. Was it any wonder he felt like he had to give away the one thing that he cherished most if it would save Jiang Cheng? The people who brought him in from the streets and raised him had beseeched him with their last words to protect their children with his life, and so, he did. Maybe not in the way they would expect but in giving away his core, he also gave away his life as a cultivator. And debt paid, Wei Wuxian ran off to be with people who he chose for himself.

Jiang Cheng had slowly reconciled with the idea of having a core that wasn’t his because if he didn’t, what would be left of him? Yunmeng Jiang needed him and so did Jin Ling. He had no choice but to carry on like he had been doing for what felt like his whole life... for his sect and his nephew. The weight of responsibility that he had didn’t go away just because his once shixiong embodied his sect motto more than he did. His entire life revolved around duty; once again he recalled how the one thing he did that went against duty, that he did out of love, caused a chain reaction of misery.

Wei Wuxian seemed stunned, his mouth opening and closing like those fish he had liked to catch so many years ago.

“Do you really think like that?” he croaked, “After all we’ve been through, you think I don’t care for you?”

“All we’ve been through?” Jiang Cheng hissed, leaving his now cold tea and standing up to face him with a stormy look on his face,“Why are you now talking about all we've been through? What I know about all we’ve been through, Wei Wuxian, is that the one thing I wanted after losing my home, my parents, and the rest of my sect, was my second in command by my side. The second in command that my sister called her blood brother* in a way I was never allowed to. I had thought that despite the fact that we were unable to label our relationship thanks to my parents, that we understood what we were to each other. That he would do as he promised and stand with me. But what did he do instead of staying by my side? Out of a sense of duty to the sect, he mutilated himself to give me his precious golden core, his life force as a cultivator, without telling me! Without asking me if I would let him do that to himself for me. He made me believe that I regained my own and that the alcoholism and lazing around was because he didn’t respect me enough to support me as sect leader in a time where the leaders of the other sects would pounce at the first sign of weakness. He avoided meetings and banquets where he should have rightfully stood beside me and I wondered, what happened to his promise of support?”

Jiang Cheng’s body was heaving, having let out the words that had clogged up his chest for over thirteen years.

He continued, more softly now, resigned and tired, “He left out crucial information about himself that could have allowed me to see the situation for what it was. He let me think that he didn’t care if we lost face in front of the others, during a time when we couldn’t afford to lose face. Then he ran off to the Burial Mounds to save the rest of the Wens and refused my protection.”

(I'm afraid you don't know that the Wen cultivator whom Wei WuXian wanted to save was called Wen Ning. We owe him and his sister Wen Qing gratitude for what happened during the Sunshot Campaign he had said, in defense of Wei Wuxian. It wasn’t enough. The hatred for the Wens was too great, and they hadn’t been aware of the Jin sect’s machinations at that time. But if he couldn’t save them he could at least save Wei Wuxian. Except Wei Wuxian hadn’t wanted him to. Just another failure to add to his list. Jin Guangyao was right after all. Maybe... if he had insisted… But it wouldn’t have changed a thing would it? Since unbeknownst to them there was Jin Guangyao himself working against them. So in the end it was a lie wasn’t it… the idea that he could have kept Wei Wuxian safe was a lie. Because the Jin sect wanted his seal all along. Whether he was in the Burial Mounds or in Yunmeng that fact would not have changed. But knowing was one thing, and feeling was another. And Jin Guangyao had known this and taken advantage of it.)

“Jiang Cheng…” Wei Wuxian said, sounding pained, “I…”

“You wanted me to renounce you,” he said, interrupting brokenly, “That was your grand idea. You let me think that you didn’t respect me rather than telling me outright that you couldn’t do certain duties anymore. Even if you had to lie and say it was Wen Zhuliu’s fault it would have been better than making me think you didn’t care. Why...why didn’t you trust me?”

His voice cracked but he shakily continued, “That fight we feigned...why would you let me injure you like that? You had your Ghost General break my arm but you had no core. Had I known, do you think I would have stabbed you anyway? Was our relationship that poor? Just because we never labelled it does that mean it didn’t exist then Wei Wuxian? I thought that we understood…”

He broke off to choke back a sob.

“You said you could control the resentful energy...the seal. I trusted you. I may not have reacted very well when the sect leaders tried to drive a wedge between us but I trusted you regardless. I trusted you even though you had been acting unreliable. I trusted you up until the moment A-jie died to protect you. You think you’re the only one who lost it then? The only one who went mad with grief? Do you think if you hadn’t died from the seal’s backlash I would have killed you? Because even now I don’t know the answer to that question. But what I do know is that the two of you broke me; one after the other you died, just like that. We promised that it would always be us three didn’t we? If it wasn’t for A-Ling I might have joined you then and there sect be damned.”

He was too far in the past to notice the strangled sound his nephew made in the background on hearing his words. Wei Wuxian, though, was as stiff as one of his corpses (or even more accurately, his annoying husband). He couldn’t seem to make a sound if he tried. His heart was pounding, disbelieving of the words he was hearing. Shellshocked, he just let Jiang Cheng rant.

“Then, when our old school friend somehow manages to scheme his way into bringing you back to the land of the living and clears your name in the process, what do you say? Take it as repayment to the sect Jiang Cheng, let’s not mention it again. Forget it. It’s all in the past. As if I could ever forget it. As if I’ll ever get the image of A-Jie dying in my arms out of my mind. As if the image of you getting torn apart by corpses right in front of me hasn’t been seared into my brain for all these years. And you want me to forget it. You come back and run off with Lan Wangji. You come to Lotus Pier and what do you do? Go to make bows in the ancestral hall with freaking Lan Wangji. The man who we all thought hated your guts even before the whole Yiling Laozu schtick. It’s been easy for you to forget and move on hasn’t it? I’m the only one stuck with these memories. I’m the only one who held on to promises,” he scoffed self-deprecatingly, “Falling apart in front of everyone in that temple and claiming you owed the sect was all I could do given that you would never come back for me. But you abdicated yourself of that responsibility too so what else could I say? Don’t talk about all we’ve been through Wei Wuxian. In the end, I’m the only one left who cares about that.”

“You’re wrong!” Wei Wuxian yelled, the accusation of not caring seeming to strike a chord, breaking him out of his state of speechlessness, “How could anyone give up a core for duty? I said it was repayment because I didn’t want you to feel obligated to me. I know we have our differences but I still know you enough. Don’t tell me now that you know that you don’t see everything you did to rebuild the clan differently! You’ve always felt inferior because of me and I never wanted to put you in that position. How could I have told you what I did? I didn’t want to hurt you, and don’t say you wouldn’t have been hurt because you would have! How can you say I don’t see you as a brother? How can you not have known how much I…”

He trailed off and started again, eyes glossy, “In the end, your life was worth more than mine and I did promise your parents I would protect you. I cared about you much more than I cared about cultivation. I didn’t want you to give up, and you looked like you would. I wanted you to live and be the leader you were always meant to be. I found a method that would work and in the end it wasn’t a hard decision to save you. Even if I didn’t survive it, I would have been happy to have been of use to you. You could not be lost; you were Yunmeng Jiang’s last hope. I could be replaced. And I was right! Look how well you’ve done. The Jiang Sect is flourishing now, better than before and it’s all thanks to you. So if I had the choice to change whether I gave it to you or not, I wouldn’t. I’d do it again!”

“You really are arrogant aren’t you?” Jiang Cheng intended to sound harsh but instead he sounded closer to despair. “You think that because you think something is so then it must be. You think everyone else feels the same way about you as you do. You’re the only one who thought that you could afford to be sacrificed. Nobody who cared about you thought of you as disposable. Funnily enough I’m sure your irritating husband would actually agree with me for once.”

“Lan Zhan’s not--”

“Shut up! Who asked you to destroy yourself? Do you think I wanted this? Do you think A-Jie wanted this? It’s why you made sure we sent her away isn’t it? I only realised it later on. She would have put a stop to it. You did what you wanted to do as always. Mother and Father’s wishes came before my own with you didn’t it? So what if I was depressed? How was that worth your life? Do you think I would be happy that you lost your cultivation because of me? Whatever ‘inferiority’ I felt I’ve never once wished for you to be destroyed because of it. But you don’t seem to acknowledge other people’s feelings for you, do you? We loved you, you complete imbecile! How could you for one second think that we’d be okay with you dying to give me a core? You said you may not have survived it well that much I gathered on my own! Nobody ever did such a thing of course the risks were high. Did you ever consider what would happen if you did die? Would Wen Qing just bury you in secret and a-jie and I would be left wondering what happened?” he said, openly crying now and not even bothering to try and stop it. Not like Wei Wuxian hadn’t seen him look even worse than this. But he continued his rant nevertheless. A few tears couldn’t stop him now that he was on a roll.

“I would wake up with a brand new core and one brother less, which is exactly what happened except you came back from the Burial Mounds… but there would have been no coming back from dying then. You’re only here now because your famously ignominious death got you summoned as an evil spirit!” he paused to wipe his nose and continued, voice devastatingly melancholy,“Do you know how I felt when I found you missing? I came down that mountain expecting to see you waiting there with that annoying grin of yours, but you were gone. Vanished into thin air and nobody could tell me what happened to you. I feared the worst. And I was right to! Nobody’s ever walked out of the Burial Mounds. We had no idea where you were and everyone was whispering that you were dead. A-Jie and I refused to believe it; how could you be gone? All I could think of was that maybe if I hadn’t gone up that mountain you wouldn’t have been in a position to get captured in the first place. It was all my fault. What was the point of me getting back my core if you died because of it when in the first place I lost it to--”

He stopped. No. He couldn’t say that. He never meant for Wei Wuxian to find out what he did. After the events at the Guanyin Temple he’d considered coming clean but had held back. It would have seemed as if he was lamely throwing it out there. Like ‘ha it isn’t only you who can sacrifice’. It would just seem petty and like he was trying to one-up Wei Wuxian, and to him that would have diminished the worth of his actions. He’d done it without hesitation, expecting to die but preferring that to the alternative aka letting it be Wei Wuxian instead. He hadn’t done it to get acknowledgement. (He was man enough to admit --to himself at least after lots of time to think in the aftermath- that Wei Wuxian probably felt the same, except if the Wens had caught him, Wei Wuxian would have surely died, whereas without a core Jiang Cheng just felt like dying. So really in the end there was no need for Wei Wuxian to risk his life because Jiang Cheng would not have actually lost his.)

Surprisingly, Jin Ling had actually noticed his hesitation --which on later consideration made him realise his nephew was really growing up and he’d had some strong feelings about that-- but by that time it was too late even if he intended to say anything. It wasn’t as if Wei Wuxian had the time of day for him then anyway. He hadn’t even glanced Jiang Cheng’s way before making off with his stubborn donkey… and Lil Apple.

“When you lost it to what?” Wei Wuxian said hoarsely, still disbelievingly processing what was being said to him and latching on to the thing he actually knew instead, “I’ve never faulted you for wanting to retrieve your parents’ bodies. You were grieving.”

Jiang Cheng was flabbergasted. His tears stopped abruptly in his shock. He had never actually given much consideration to how Wei Wuxian determined he was in Lotus Pier and why. When he had woken up in Wen Qing’s domain all he’d been told was that Wen Ning helped Wei Wuxian save him. At the time he was too empty and hurt to think much about anything further than that he was alive and broken, and then all the other shit in his life happened and he hadn’t given that question a second thought. But to think, all this time and…

“That’s what you thought I was… Okay yes, that’s why I was in Lotus Pier,” he said decisively. He couldn’t believe Wei Wuxian thought he was that foolish but better he believed it was because Jiang Cheng was a grief stricken child that went back on his own. He wouldn’t blame himself then.

Except Wei Wuxian’s eyes narrowed. He may have been struggling with many complicated emotions but his mind was still sharp. “Jiang Cheng,” he said slowly.

“What!?”

“You went back for your parents’ bodies, right?”

“...”

“Right?” he said, stalking forward and clasping Jiang Cheng’s shoulders urgently. “Yes! That's what I said! Have you developed a hearing problem now?” Jiang Cheng barked defensively, half-heartedly struggling in his suddenly tight grip.

But Jiang Cheng hadn’t said that, he did.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing!”

“Jiang Cheng! Why were you in Lotus Pier?”

“It doesn’t matter! Let it go, Wei Wuxian. It’s all in the past like you said.”

But Wei Wuxian had a sick feeling in his gut.

“You didn’t go back on your own, did you?” he said, chest tightening as his certainty grew.

His grip went slack. “You didn’t choose to go back. So why…”

“But I did choose,” Jiang Cheng said, a rueful smile forming on his face. It was his choice to step out from where he was hidden and distract the Wen soldiers. Although arguably, in the moment, there was no choice at all because letting them take Wei Wuxian was never an option.

“No…. No, if it wasn’t for your parents then you wouldn’t leave shijie. You wouldn’t have chosen to go back. You’re not stupid. You wouldn’t have tried to take back Lotus Pier by yourself.”

“As you said, I was grieving. Maybe I was reckless. You were there, you would have taken care of a-jie.”

“No, shijie was sick, you wouldn’t have left!”

He remembered going out to buy some food and medication for Jiang Yanli, who was too ill to take care of herself. There was a moment when he’d been afraid he’d be caught by some Wen soldiers but then they’d been distracted and he’d breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the Wens had caught up too quickly and he had to get the others out of there asap. He’d gone back with the supplies intending to let them know only to find that Jiang Cheng was gone.

But… thinking of it… hadn’t they left him alone because someone shouted ‘I’ve got him’?

No!

It couldn’t be.

“Jiang Cheng… Tell me you didn’t.”

“I can’t tell you I didn’t leave Wei Wuxian, clearly I did,” Jiang Cheng said, rolling his eyes.

“No not that. You got caught on purpose. You…” his voice cracked.

“Why would you say that? Who would be foolish enough to get caught on purpose. You’re overthinking. Didn’t you just say I wasn’t stupid?” Jiang Cheng retorted.

“Didn’t you just say that maybe you were reckless?” he fired back, tearing up, “How could you… Why?? Why didn’t you just let them take me?”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, “Well aren’t you full of yourself. Not everything is about you, Wei Wuxian.” Why wouldn’t Wei Wuxian just drop it? Didn’t he know there was only pain going down this road?

He laughed, a broken hollow thing. “No, not everything is about me. But this is. My memory is full of holes but I remember that day. I remember how it felt to find you gone. And now, now I remember what happened before I found you missing. Why did you do it?”

He tightened his grip on Jiang Cheng once more and shook.

“You should have let them take me. How could you do such a foolish thing?” he almost screamed, tears leaking down his face.

“How could I do such a foolish thing? How could you carve out your core and give it to me?” Jiang Cheng growled.

“You were the new Sect Leader! Why would you give up your life like that? I promised that I would protect you with my life. Why would you throw it away for me? Your mother was right, it was all my fault. I wasn’t wor-- mmph!” Jiang Cheng covered his mouth.

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence! Were you not listening to a thing I said?!! Who gives a shit about worthiness? Do you think a-jie was thinking about worthiness when she threw herself in front of that blade for you? I certainly wasn’t thinking about worthiness when there were Wen soldiers about to capture you and take you to Wen Chao for his torturing pleasure. Who was going to let him take you? He dared?! Did I just stand aside when that Wang Lingjiao demanded your hand? And not in marriage! Why would I stand aside for some measly soldiers?”

He’d come to terms with the fact that taking the blade was his sister’s choice. He’d done the same after all, in a different way but nevertheless… he did. If this was a few years, heck months, ago he’d probably still be painfully in denial. Yanli’s death had unhinged him. And it had taken Jin freaking Guangyao to deliver a proverbial slap in the face for him to start to reflect on his own behaviour, as well as that of his siblings, with a clearer mind. Despite the fact that he’d come to the conclusion that Jin Guangyao was wrong about a great many things (given that he conveniently didn’t mention that he would have manipulated things in the Jin’s favour no matter what Jiang Cheng did), it had been the push he needed to work through his years of resentment. It had taken a while and was probably still going to take some more time, but he’d been learning a great deal about himself.

Which is why he was so mad at Wei Wuxian, whose tears were dripping onto the hand Jiang Cheng was using to cover his self-deprecating mouth. “How can it be that Lan Wangji hasn’t managed to get you to stop that? You’re sickeningly in love with each other and the entire cultivation world knows it, yet you have the nerve to come here and say you’re not worthy? To my face? A-Jie would be sad. Your sickening husband would be sad.” He was sad.

He grimaced as Wei Wuxian licked his hand in an attempt to dislodge it, possibly because he insulted Lan Wangji again and Wei Wuxian had a compulsive need to defend the man.

“Nice try,” he grinned, “But I’ve changed A-Ling’s dirty diapers, a little spit isn’t going to gross me out.”

His nephew, whose presence had been totally forgotten by both of his uncles, squawked in indignation. Jiang Cheng didn’t acknowledge it. If he had turned to look, he might have seen that the boy was shedding silent tears the whole time in solidarity with their emotional meltdowns. Jin Ling also briefly had the thought that Ouyang Zizhen would have loved to witness this spectacle and would definitely have declared it novel material.

Ignoring his nephew’s reactions, Jiang Cheng addressed Wei Wuxian, “Do you think that Lan Wangji would say you aren’t worth sacrificing for? Do you think he’d say you’re replaceable?”

Unable to speak, Wei Wuxian just shook his head. Lan Zhan would be hurt if he said those things.

“And why do you think that is Wei Wuxian? Why would Lan Wangji not think that?” He squished Wei Wuxian’s cheeks, forcing him to speak with fish lips. “B..cs e lv.s muh?”

“Exactly.” He finally let go of Wei Wuxian’s face.

“Jiang Cheeeng *hic*” cried Wei Wuxian.

“What!?” “I love you too,” Wei Wuxian said while sobbing some more and throwing himself at Jiang Cheng.

“Who said anything about love? Get off of me!”

“Y..*hic* youuuu did!” He clung to Jiang Cheng and refused to let go until Jiang Cheng gave in (but not before struggling a bit, had to at least look like he resisted) and hugged back just as fiercely. The two of them stood there holding each other and weeping for a solid quarter of an hour.

Wei Wuxian felt raw inside. He had never expected that Jiang Cheng would… It had never occurred to him that Jiang Cheng distracted their pursuers just to save him. Him. Jiang Cheng had let himself be taken instead. Jiang Cheng who was so prideful and who had blamed him for bringing ruin to Lotus Pier. That Jiang Cheng had been angry with him and yet saved him anyway. Saved him knowing that he was likely going to die for it. Saved him because he loved him. What else could he do now but cry? He felt wrung out. Like his world had shifted.

---

“Sooo…” said Jin Ling, clapping his hands together once decisively and smirking slightly (after drying his own tear-filled eyes), “Since you guys ended up falling into each other's arms and crying, that means that the only thing left is for you to become bosom buddies again.”

“Brat!” Jiang Cheng sniffed, pulling away from Wei Wuxian to threaten his nephew, “Are you looking to get your legs broken?!”

“No thank you!” he cried, rushing out of the tent quickly, only to bump squarely into Lan Sizhui who only managed to keep them both upright thanks to the infamous Lan arm strength that Jin Ling may or may not have been admiring surreptitiously the entire trip.

“What are you all doing out here?” Wei Wuxian asked, upon fixing his face and following Jin Ling out and seeing the rest of the juniors and Wen Ning nervously huddled outside of Jiang Cheng’s tent.

“Senior Wei!” fretted Lan Jingyi, “We were so worried!”

“Yeah, we thought something might have happened since you guys were taking so long to come back and we came to check it out but then we couldn’t get in! We had no idea what was going on inside,” said Ouyang Zizhen who had tear tracks on his face. He had clearly expected Wei Wuxian to come out as a corpse.

Wei Wuxian was stunned and looked at Wen Ning for confirmation.

“I would have tried to break in but A-Yuan stopped me,” said Wen Ning sheepishly and if he could blush his face would have been bright red.

“Are you all stupid?” snapped Jiang Cheng, “Am I a person that looks like I have a death wish? Who would take care of my sect if Hanguang-Jun murdered me?”

“A..ah I told them that Jin Ling would have come for help if anything was going on,” Sizhui piped up, “ I told you guys not to worry so much.”

Responsible as always, that Lan Sizhui. How someone like Lan Wangji raised a well spoken boy like that was a mystery to Jiang Cheng. Though he guessed Lan Xichen would have had a hand in it too. The boy did remind him very much of the Lan Sect Leader. Only in temperament however, looks-wise… well he stopped that train of thought before it could go too far. Some things were probably best left unacknowledged, though he was spending way too much time observing the juniors and the Ghost General on night hunts not to notice… well again, best to let sleeping dogs lie.

“Finally! Someone with sense,” was all Jiang Cheng muttered in the end.

“But how come you couldn’t come in?” Wei Wuxian asked curiously.

“Ah well…” Jin Ling rubbed the back of his head, “I kinda sorta maybe put up a privacy ward when you two started airing grievances. No need for the whole camp to hear about family business.”

“This kid…” Wei Wuxian laughed, secretly pleased that Jin Ling seemed to have accepted him. “Come here!” He slung his arm around Jin Ling’s neck and held him in a death grip to ruffle his hair. “Let go of me!” Jin Ling protested, pushing half heartedly at his arm. Two soft jingles followed the movement.

“Wait,” said Ouyang Zizhen, eyes widening, “Did you hear that?” “Is that…” queried Sizhui, also noticing the sound.

“It’s a clarity bell!” announced Jingyi, “ Senior Wei, why do you have a Jiang clarity bell?”

“Ah well.. It’s mine?”

“Huh, since when?!”

“Uh since I joined the Jiangs?”

“Why do you sound like you’re questioning it, idiot!?” said Jiang Cheng, barely refraining from whacking the back of his head. He did remember that his shixiong’s new body was frail.

“Ah hehe, I’m not, I’m not,” he raised his hands placatingly.

“But we’ve never seen you wear it, Senior Wei,” said Ouyang Zizhen innocently.

“That’s because I gave it back when I defected,” he said sheepishly.

“Then why do you have it now?” questioned Lan Jingyi, somewhat bluntly.

“Kid, has anyone ever told you you talk too much?” said Jiang Cheng.

“I’m not a kid!” he pouted, at the same time that Jin Ling said, “All the time!”

And well sure he technically wasn’t a kid anymore, at 21, but if Jiang Cheng admitted that then his 19 year old nephew wouldn’t be a kid either and Jiang Cheng wasn’t ready to accept that yet.

Lan Jingyi shot a rancid look at Jin Ling, who cheated and hid behind Sizhui, and turned back to Wei Wuxian like a dog with a bone. (Which was a hilarious analogy because, you know it’s a dog and they all knew what Wei Wuxian thought of dogs.)

“Does this mean you’re going back to the Jiangs then, Senior Wei?”

“As if his husband would ever let that happen,” Jiang Cheng snorted before he could answer.

“Hanguang-Jun lets Wei-qianbei do whatever he wants!” Lan Jingyi said, unable to hide the starstruck tone he used with Lan Wangji’s title.

Jiang Cheng sighed, “I forgot I was with the Hanguang-Jun fanclub.”

Lan Jingyi turned red and was ready to retort but Wei Wuxian cleared his throat and derailed the tirade before it could start. “Nobody’s going anywhere except to bed. As for the bell, Jiang Cheng just returned what was originally mine in the first place. It’s not a big deal.”

It absolutely was a big deal.

He couldn’t believe Jiang Cheng had held onto it all this time. He was sorely tempted to burst into tears again. Much like Chenqing, it was kept in pristine condition. Before they left the tent Jiang Cheng had shoved it at him like it was burning and told him to come home sometimes (“even if you have to bring your prissy husband with you”). It so was a big deal. Jiang Cheng and Lan Zhan did not like each other at all. He privately thought that as much as he loved Lan Zhan and wanted to show him Lotus Pier, he’d make the first few visits on his own. Best not to push Jiang Cheng too much.

“Well I’m happy for you, Young Master Wei,” said Wen Ning, smiling as much as his face allowed. He at least had an idea of what it meant. Not just in general, but to Wei Wuxian.

“Thank you, Wen Ning.” He smiled softly at his friend.

“Well, I’ve had enough talking for one day,” said Jiang Cheng, “I’m going to go to bed. If you’re all going to continue talking, please do it somewhere that’s not right in front of my quarters.” And with that he bid them all goodnight and ducked back into his tent.

“Ah yes, I think it is past your Lan bedtimes is it not? You two also need to skedaddle,” Wei Wuxian said to the little Lans.

“Of course Senior Wei, we’ll head in now,” said Sizhui who promptly did as he said and turned to step into a tent.

“Hey! Why are you going into the Young Mistress’ tent?” called Jingyi, “Weren’t we supposed to share?”

“Ah well Jin Ling offered,” Sizhui explained.

“You just want to take advantage of his very fancy sect leader tent,” accused Lan Jingyi.

“Hehe guilty as charged,” he said,“Goodnight Jingyi. And to you Wen-qianbei, Wei-qianbei, Zizhen.” He left all four of them standing there and went to bed.

“No fair, I want to sleep in a fancy sect leader tent too. Ours is not nearly as comfortable,” lamented Jingyi.

Wei Wuxian couldn’t share the sentiment because his Lan Zhan always made sure he was the most comfortable. But he also couldn’t resist teasing Jingyi.

“There’s a very fancy sect leader tent right here,” he smirked, “Enter at your own peril.”

Lan Jingyi blanched and squeaked, “Never mind!”

Zizhen laughed heartily at him, “Better luck next time buddy!”

---------

Author’s note: * Since I read the translation of MDZS I am not sure how Yanli refers to Wei Wuxian in the novel other than as a brother which in English does not convey as much as the Chinese text would. In The Untamed episode 25 however when she is defending him from Jin Zixun she refers to him as didi, which I have gathered is what you would call a younger blood related brother, rather than shidi which would be the term for a martial brother. Since I don’t know Chinese though correct me if I’m wrong ^^;

Also I don’t recall the novel mentioning if wwx had a clarity bell or not so I am working with the assumption that much like the Lans’ forehead ribbons, the Yunmeng Jiang disciples would have a clarity bell... in The Untamed, Yanli gives him one when she shows him her wedding dress but I am taking creative liberties and saying he already had one as a member of the clan. Maybe main family members and disciples have different ones like the Lan ribbons but I’m leaving that up to interpretation.

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unpeumacabre · 3 years ago

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soaring dragon dancing phoenix - 龙飞凤舞: prologue

Yunmeng is no longer home for Wei Wuxian, for he is no longer welcome. And so when he visits he can always count on Jiang Cheng descending upon his head with the full strength of heaven's fury, to chase him out. But one day when he sneaks into Yunmeng again, days go by without Jiang Cheng making an appearance. Something has happened to Wei Wuxian's prickly shi-di, something that - once they reunite - they will find is far greater than they could ever have anticipated. Accompanied also by Wei Wuxian's dear friend (?) Lan Zhan and a Lan Xichen who has only just reluctantly left isolation, the four of them set out on a journey that will bring them across the greater part of China to the mystical Kunlun mountains of mythology - and more importantly, may bring them love, healing, and reconciliation.

If only Wei Wuxian could take his head out of his oblivious arse and start putting himself in other people's shoes for once...

Rating: Mature

Relationships: Wangxian, Xicheng, Wei Wuxian & Jiang Cheng

Read on AO3 (bc tumblr might mess up the formatting + more extensive author’s notes on the story)

Count: 1.5k

next ->

One year after the events of the Guanyin Temple, and the death of former Chief Cultivator Lianfang-zun.

Lan Zhan!

I agree with what you said about Sect Leader Yao, that old fart. He wouldn’t know a good idea if it bit him on the arse. If I were you I’d have snuck into his room at night and shaved off his eyebrows – but then again, you’re Chief Cultivator, and you have to follow boring things like rules and protocol. Don’t worry, the next time I’m in Pingyang I’ll … It’s a secret! Look forward to the next time you have a discussion conference with that pig-headed old fool.

I’ve finally reached Yunmeng. Little Apple took such a long time to get started from the inn in Jiangling. I think he had a crush on one of the serving girls, to be honest. Even apples didn’t work to drag him away from her. I had to conjure a mirage of her all the way from Jiangling to Yunmeng to get him going – can you imagine that? One of these days I’ll have to find a nice little female ass to keep his little Little Apple happy … Hahaha! I can practically see you rolling your eyes at me now, Lan Zhan. You still can’t take a dirty joke after all.

Anyway, I digress. It’s nice to be back in Yunmeng and be able to pick all the lotus pods I want and to flirt with all the pretty Yunmeng girls, although none of them are as pretty as you are, of course. You’d make a big stir if you came to Yunmeng – you should visit with me one of these days when you’re free! Although I know of course you have responsibilities as Chief Cultivator etc etc but I promise you it’ll be fun! One of these days I’ll come kidnap you. Then Lan Qiren, that old man, would really have an aneurysm, ha! I’d kidnap you just to see his reaction.

Don’t worry about me, I’m talking nonsense as usual. I wouldn’t really kidnap you, unless I was really bored. And Jiang Cheng would probably beat my ass for trying. Honestly, it surprises me that I haven’t had the honour of Jiang Cheng’s company yet. Somehow, he always knows the moment I step into Yunmeng – it’s like he has a spell set up to go off whenever I’m in the vicinity??? And he never fails to turns up for an hour or two just to shout at me, thrash Zidian around a bit and tell me to go back to Gusu. Then he storms off somewhere to drink tea or something. I swear he’s going to die of high blood pressure one of these days.

Well, I expect I’ll see him around. He’s bound to turn up sometime or other. Looking forward to your reply, and counting every one of your twenty words,

Wei Wuxian

***

Lan Zhan!

Thank you for expressing your concern for Little Apple’s wellbeing. He’s eating well (as usual) and living happily in the city stables where I left him. He has a new crush on the stable boy though, but I’m not worried about that – it seems like his affections are as transient as floating smoke and passing clouds. He seems to be like his former master in the sense of being indiscriminate with regards to his choice of partner, which makes me wonder why he’s taken such an intense aversion to me. I guess it’s just the same old story with me and animals all over again.

It’s my third day in Yunmeng, and still no sign of Jiang Cheng anywhere. Perhaps he’s simply busy with some night hunt or other and can’t be bothered to whip my ass into shape. I’ve been visiting his favourite haunts the past few days but no luck – it seems like he’s really busy this time. I’m starting to worry, and although I never thought I’d ever say this, I miss his grumpy ass. It’s been the longest I’ve gone without hearing him call me a fucking idiot, haha!

Anyway I have a funny story to tell! Yesterday I went to investigate rumours of walking corpses at the base of Yunmeng Mountain. Apparently some farmers came across them and ran away but one of them was caught and eaten.

But guess what, Lan Zhan? Actually, it was nothing more than a group of hermits who’d come down from Yunmeng Mountain five days ago after meditating in seclusion for three years, and they were doing their Bagua ritual circle walk around one of the dove trees at the base of the mountain. They hadn’t bathed once in those three years, and so when the farmers came upon them and saw them chanting and moaning and pacing around the tree they were mistaken for walking corpses! Hahahaha how ridiculous is that??? Anyway I cleared up the misunderstanding. The farmer who was apparently eaten fell down a cliff when he was trying to escape from the “corpses” and broke his leg, so the hermits rescued him and patched him up. He was perfectly fine. I talked to them and they seemed like a pretty normal bunch to me – they were quite a big group when they came down the mountain at first apparently but then most of them decided to go down south and back home instead of lingering in Yunmeng. That’s about all the excitement I’ve had so far, I think.

Well, anyway, thank you for the twenty-one words you used in your reply. You have gotten quite adept at teasing me, haven’t you? Looking forward to how else you may surprise me next,

Wei Wuxian

***

Lan Zhan,

No, I don’t think Jiang Cheng fell off a cliff too. As much as you might wish for it to happen, he’s still my brother an important sect leader, you know! Anyway I already checked all the cliffs around the mountain before I received your letter so it couldn’t possibly be so.

Besides, I went to Lotus Pier earlier today – just to check on how things are going, you know, in case they need my help or something, nothing to do with Jiang Cheng. I just stayed outside the gates because I thought Jiang Cheng would probably descend from the heavens on a cloud and break my legs the moment I stepped foot into Lotus Pier, but some of the disciples spotted me and asked me what I was doing there. They said there have been people disappearing just outside Yunmeng, to the southwest and twenty li outside the main city, and when some of the Yunmeng Jiang cultivators went to investigate a few days ago some of them disappeared. So Jiang Cheng decided to take a few more of the Yunmeng Jiang disciples and investigate himself.

Since I have some free time, I’ve decided to help them out. They’ve been gone for four days already – the beast must truly be a handful indeed. It might be fun to go and help, although I think Jiang Cheng might spontaneously explode when he sees my face. Well, maybe the explosion will end up killing the monster, who knows.

It’s quite odd, though; some of the disciples who escaped even said they saw the spectre of Jin Guangyao, that wily old fox, hanging around the cave where they were attacked. Although of course that is impossible, for he is probably still trapped in Nie Mingjue’s coffin, fighting a battle till the end of time. Well, I guess I’ll see for myself if what they saw was true or not.

I had not known that you were capable of silk embroidery. Your skill is indeed fine – as expected of the esteemed Second Master Lan! I shall treasure your gift until the end of time. The cherry blossoms flowered today, and they made me think of you. I wonder if you still remember visiting Tanzhou with me when we were looking for the remaining pieces of the Yin metal? Was it your first time attending such a festival? You looked so surprised by the petals raining down on you then! I miss those times.

I will write to you again tomorrow when I have rescued Jiang Cheng from the human-eating monster. I will make sure to give you a good account of his face when he sees me there to interfere with his night hunt, ha!

***

Dear Lan Wangji Hanguang-jun Mr Chief Cultivator Sir,

I am writing this letter to you because I know you to be a good friend of Wei Wuxian. Just today, I visited Lotus Pier and found that my uncle has been missing for a week, and Wei Wuxian with him for two of those days. They have apparently gone in pursuit of a human-eating monster twenty li southwest of the main city limits of Yunmeng. It must have been a fierce creature indeed to have ensnared both my uncle and Wei Wuxian

Unfortunately, as I am currently extremely and regrettably tied up in Lanling Jin sect matters, this humble person would like to humbly request for your help in locating and possibly rescuing them. Thank you.

Best regards, yours sincerely and most humbly,

Sect Leader Jin Ling, Lanling Jin sect

#wangxian #xicheng #upm works #upm #cql #wwx #lwj #jiang cheng #lxc #jc #mdzs #mdzs fanfiction #cql fanfiction #wei wuxian x lan wangji #jiang cheng x lan xichen #wei wuxian #the untamed #lan wangji #lan xichen

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rosethornewrites · 3 years ago

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Friday’s T &G reading

Some of these are shorter because I found them while reading longer ones!

Finished

Teen:

This Brilliant Display (all for you), by Eliza (tenth in a series)

Nie Huaisang thinks the Jiang heir could use a friend.

My Sun One Early Morning Did Shine, by tangerinechar (2 chapters)

Wei Wuxian takes his hand and squeezes it, traces the dip of Lan Wangji’s wrist with his thumb, then drags him to a secluded corner of the gardens. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” he’s saying. Laughing. Somewhere in between the two. He tucks his head between Lan Wangji’s shoulder and neck, curling around Lan Wangji like an oversized cat. “Aren’t you proud of your Wei Ying? I acted so well, not even your brother could see that we’re already together — though I’m sure he suspects something, at least. So scary!”

The esteemed Hanguang-Jun, Wei Wuxian, and a secret garden rendezvous at the Winter Ball.

Ashes, by Snowberryrose

In which Wen Qing does not burn

Or: help from an unexpected source

only missed midnight, by Yuisaki

"So," Wei Wuxian begins, staring at the lone twin-sized mattress lying before them, "this is how it's going to work out. We are going to share a bed."

Beside him, Lan Wangji is also staring at the mattress with some expression that Wei Wuxian isn't brave enough to face yet. It could the neutral face of observation, as is the Lan Wangji trademark, or it could be, oh, utter disgust at the thought of having to share a bed with Wei Wuxian. Either way he's not brave enough to test it.

"Mm," Lan Wangji says after a moment, which really means, 'Go on.'

Wei Wuxian kicks off the new year in a dingy hotel room with Lan Wangji, boyfriend extraordinaire.

Little Moments, by Hades_the_Blingking

When he is visiting Yiling, Lan Zhan notices that Wei WuXian has not been taking care of himself as much as he should be. So after A-Yuan inadvertently discovers a hot spring, Lan Zhan decides that it is perfect place to tend to him. Even with chaos and uncertainty surrounding them, they can find a little peace.

(A scene inserted into Episode 29, after Lan Zhan is served tea (oop, water), but before Wei WuXian leads him down the mountain.)

teenaged, by everbrighter (second in a series)

Even the best parents fail sometimes. Five times Lan Zhan failed to be a perfect dad in the face of a complete and total hormonal teenager. And one time Lan Zhan realized how very much this complete and total hormonal teenager was like Wei Ying.

for a good night's sleep, by thefaceofno

Wei Wuxian has trouble sleeping. On the way back to Cloud Recesses, he has to share a bed with Lan Zhan and has the best nights sleep he's ever experienced.

Now he has to figure out what exactly made him sleep so well without telling Lan Zhan that he's been having trouble sleeping.

Step 1: steal Lan Zhan's outer robe.

General:

Lan Day Out, by Jin_Lings_Guncle (sixth in a series)

Xichen is having the most wonderful day with his little brother, full of all the best things.

Or is he?

Office Antics, by Jin_Lings_Guncle (seventh in a series)

Poor Wei Ying learns that maybe his husband isn't living exactly the life he'd always assumed. It is possible that the assumptions are entirely on him. Possibly.

Freefalling, by Jin_Lings_Guncle (eighth in a series)

Jiang Cheng always knew days that involved his brother and his brother-in-law were mixed bags. This one started with skydiving, and oddly enough, the danger only ramped up from there. Soulmates are the WORST.

Under the same snowy sky, by Lucky_Moonly (fourth in a series)

“Wei Ying, you did not answer my question. Where are you going?” Lan Wangji repeated as he fidgeted with his blanket.

“Don’t worry, Lan Zhan. I simply can’t sleep and I will go hang out in the common room for a bit,” Wei Wuxian pipped up.

“With your winter cloak on and your wand in your hair?” Lan Wangji asked, doubt clearly audible in his voice.

first contact, by everbrighter

“Shouldn’t I—” Aren’t there classes for this? Aren’t there books a person is supposed to read for this? Should he have done research? Shouldn’t he have prepared? But ah, it’s too late now, and there’s a baby in his arms, face to the shoulder of Lan Zhan’s cable-knit sweater.

curating, by everbrighter (third in a series)

Wei Ying died ten years ago today.

Axe on Leg, by Itszero

Wei Wuxian, in all his glorious dumbassery, convinces his boyfriend to go on a date with someone else.

At the Hour of Our Death, by NevillesGran

Jiang Yanli wasn't breathing anymore.

Wei Wuxian lifted the Stygian Tiger Seal above his head and raised every dead thing in Wen Ruohan’s thrice-damned Nightless City.

Every dead thing but one. His sister, he dropped to his knees beside and began drawing every talisman he had ever used on Wen Ning.

Unfinished

Teen:

To Play the King, by nirejseki

"That situation is not good," Lan Qiren said, and Wen Ruohan looked at him sidelong.

The other man looked perturbed as he watched the Lotus Pier’s training field where the Jiang sect's most junior disciples were playing around with the juniors from the other sects, including perhaps most notably his Wen sect’s juniors, led by his recognized eldest son. It had been dubbed training time by their host, but the children were too young for that to be true; they were really just fooling around.

The littlest one, round-faced Jiang Cheng, was struggling to keep up, his chubby little arms waving in the air as the other children ran ahead of him, and that was where Lan Qiren’s gaze was focused.

Once Again for Love., by sanjige

In their first lives, they were greatly suppressed.

Pressure coming from both outside and inside sources, having a will but no power to make a way, being pitted against the small amount of family they each have left, having to abide by politics, wanting to help but not being able too...

Then, they’re all gifted with a second life.

In this life, they have a chance. Anything that could go wrong, can be prevented. They can proudly stand and fight. They can stick by those they love. They can use the newfound power they have to help those they call their own. They can get the comfort that they themselves all so desperately need...

And they will not let the opportunity go to waste.

(Or, Sunshot Generation get reincarnated as their predecessors.)

Here We Go Again, by Alliandra

He looked over to where the swordswoman was still fighting, but her focus seemed entirely locked onto that fight so it was unlikely that she could have had anything to do with the energy drain. He was still wracking his brain for something else to do to assist, so this thing didn’t kill them both, but now he was feeling weak, dizzy and currently not far from helpless.

~~~~~~~~~~

It has been several months since the events at the Guanyin temple and Wei Wuxian is wandering around on his own. After he helps a stranger kill a very dangerous beast he uncovers what seems to be a conspiracy aimed at ending his life. He heads back to Cloud Recesses with his new companion in tow, looking to get Lan Wanji's help in working out what is involved.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling made a surprising discovery under Koi Tower that may well be linked to the threat against Wei Wuxian's life.

Can they all work together to find out what is going on and put a stop to it, before something disastrous occurs?

When I'm Gone, by qiankun_pouch

"Protect them," he whispers hoarsely.

Wei Wuxian looks at Wen Qing next, his voice wavering as he remorses, "Qing-jie… You weren't supposed to see this."

She sobs. Please, no, Wei Wuxian. Please don't do this.

"Thank you. For everything," he continues.

There's a smile on his face, small and sad, and he speaks his final words.

"And I'm sorry."

Or, the one where Lan Wangji never goes to the Burial Mounds, and after some disturbing events, Wei Wuxian dies (TW: suicide). Everyone learns the truth and has to deal with the consequences.

(Story diverges after Wei Wuxian learns that there is trouble at the Burial Mounds.)

General:

sweet lotus petals, unfolding in the sun, by stiltonbasket

In Wei Wuxian's defense, no one told him not to drink from the cold spring.

"In my defense," Lan Xichen groans, "I didn't think you would."

"We should put up a sign," Wei Wuxian says brightly. "'Consumption of these waters may result in a case of unexpected radish.' Lan Zhan can build it, and I'll do the calligraphy."

(Or, the one where Wangxian have a baby, and the lost love of a lifetime finds her way back home.)

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #chen qing ling #cql #mdzs #untamed fanfiction

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yilingradishfairy · 5 years ago

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Chasing Chaos (2631 words) by SakuraKage Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn Characters: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Lán Jǐngyí Summary:

This fic is about Wei Wuxian, Bringer of Chaos, and Lan Wangji, Chaser of Chaos. Or two times Wei Wuxian unintentionally calls the Chief Cultivator to his aid, and one time he did it intentionally. (Also, a Birthday Surprise for Lan Zhan ^_^)

Written for Wangji Week 2020

Day 4 – Wherever the Chaos Is

So, I recently learned what a 5+1 fic is! This … is not that. Well, I guess it is, if you squint at it and also you’re bad at math. But hey! Two plus one equals three which is always better than none, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It’s a little confused, but it’s got the spirit lol

The first time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Wuxian was stirring up trouble, he set off immediately to lend assistance. To which party, his Council was not privy to, but they could guess. “Wei Ying?” “Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying’s head popped out from the dirt mound, his hair tangled and clothes in disarray. Lan Wangji noted the way his eyes lit up upon recognizing his beloved and hoped that Wei Ying could recognize the same elation in him. Three months had truly been too long. Wei Ying led him behind the dirt pile, calling out, “Hang on, Lan Zhan! I’m almost done with this!” Lan Wangji watched patiently, interpreting each of the talismans that Wei Ying was arranging. The seal array was intricate, but not demonic in nature. As usual, the rumors appeared to be much nastier than the truth. Finally, Wei Ying fully emerged from the dirt heap and bounded over to Lan Wangji. “So, what is the illustrious Hanguang Jun doing in a place like this? Shouldn’t you be busy doing Chief Cultivator stuff?” “Am doing,” Lan Wangji agreed with a curt nod. “Investigating.” “Investigating what?” Wei Ying asked, leaning forward to bump his shoulder against his beloved’s. Lan Wangji looked down in surprise at where their shoulders had touched, amazed at the wave of longing that passed through him. How he missed the easy touching that Wei Ying always instigated. But his beloved must have misinterpreted the look, because he hastily pulled back, apologizing, “Sorry, Lan Zhan, I’m a mess right now.” He patted his clothes down and pushed his hair messily behind his shoulder, as if that would help. Lan Wangji felt his lips twitch into a fond half-smile, and he reached out to tug the twisted hair ribbon out of his beloved’s unruly hair. “Ridiculous,” he judged, as Wei Ying willingly turned around at Lan Wangji’s silent request. Wei Ying barked out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess I look pretty ridiculous.” He waved his arms around to encompass his disheveled form, from the ripped clothing to the layer of mud to the hair he was currently fixing. “No,” Lan Wangji clarified, carefully tugging the hair into his favored style. “Your words are ridiculous.” “My words?” he questioned. He tilted his head, unmindful of the ponytail Lan Wangji was trying to tame his hair into. “Wei Ying is always a mess,” he replied simply. “Ahahahaha!” Wei Ying doubled over in laughter, pulling away from the knot Lan Wangji had just finished tying his hair ribbon into. “Lan-er-gege has developed a sense of humor in the months I’ve been away. How unfair that I have missed it!” “Mn,” Lan Wangji murmured, ignoring the flush he could feel crawling up his ears. “I guess Chief Cultivator Lan needs it, having to deal with those old windbags all day!” Wei Ying straightened, and Lan Wangji’s eyes were drawn to the ponytail that was still defiantly askew. “Speaking of, I can’t believe your Council lets the Chief Cultivator come out to random night hunts, all alone and unprotected. Surely the cultivating world wouldn’t survive a day without you to lead it,” Wei Ying grinned impishly. “Can survive,” Lan Wangji assured him. “Needed to verify rumors about Wei Ying.” "So you dropped everything and traveled all this way for this small matter." Wei Ying shook his head. “So this is what they meant about chasing the chaos,” he muttered under his breath. "How did you hear about this?" "Lan Sizhui's report," Lan Wangji answered. "Oh, right. The Zhangs' servant probably…" Wei Ying trailed off, the gears in his mind turning rapidly in a way that had always uniquely enchanted Lan Wangji. "The whole thing got blown up out of proportion, anyway. You see, Lan Zhan, the daughter had run away, and the cousin got in a bit of a bad spot with a demonic cultivator, who somehow ended up finding…" Wei Ying rambled, detailing the convoluted Zhang family drama as he led Lan Wangji back to the Zhang Manor. After checking with the family and verifying that everything was taken care of, Lan Wangji asked where Wei Ying was headed to next. He hurriedly shook his head, assuring him, "Oh, Hanguang Jun doesn't have to worry about me! Your Wei Ying is safe and happy, traveling the world." Not as happy as I would be with you, goes unsaid, but they both understood. Lan Wangji disputed, “Always have to check on Wei Ying.” Wei Ying shook his head again and reiterated, “Lan Zhan, really, you don't have to trouble yourself anymore. You're the Chief Cultivator! You can't just hop Bichen for every far-flung rumor!" He playfully admonished. "Bichen is fast." Wei Ying just laughed sadly. "I know. Still, you have people for that! You need to go rest or attend to your thousands of duties or whatever you need to do. Don't you worry about me.” Lan Wangji stared into his earnest face. He hardly wanted to walk away from him after seeing him again for the first time in three months … but it looks like the Zhangs’ issues have been resolved, and he should probably head home to his piles of work. “Wei Ying is certain?” “Yeah,” Wei Ying smiled sadly. “Chief Cultivator is a big responsibility. Everyone else needs you more than I do.”

---

The second time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that the upstart Yiling Laozu was back at it again, he absently wondered if it was intentional. After all, night hunting is the only activity during which he, as Chief Cultivator, can come down from the Council and mingle with the common people. And it's the only activity during which he and Wei Ying get to see each other. His Council did not particularly care if the Yiling Laozu was baiting him or not, but they were certainly sending along chaperones bodyguards from now on. Even if the only volunteers they could get this time were Hanguang Jun’s own son and his best friend. "Wei-qianbei!" Lan Wangji watched his son jump up in the middle of their meal to rush through the crowded inn and greet Wei Ying. Lan Jingyi raced after his best friend, and Lan Wangji began rearranging the food on the table for a fourth person. “A-Yuan! Lan Jingyi! What are you two doing here?” he heard his beloved ask them. “Are yo- Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying finally spotted Lan Wangji at the corner table. Time seemed to slow down as they drank in the sight of each other. Wei Ying recovered his speech almost immediately though. "Oh, Lan Zhan, it's so good to see you out and about again! How did the busy Chief Cultivator get out of his duties this time?" He teased, rushing over to sit by him. "Looks like the Elders wisened up and sent along some fierce bodyguards to protect you. Not that the mighty Hanguang Jun needs protecting." "Mn," Lan Wangji agreed absently, busily fixing Wei Ying a cup of tea. "Did not like my being alone last time." "So now you've got help," Wei Ying accepted his tea with a smile before turning to appraise the juniors curiously. "What are they helping you with?" "Ah, we're chasing the chaos, Wei-qianbei!" Lan Sizhui happily announced, sitting next to Wei Ying. "And it looks like you're the chaos!" "Who, me?" Wei Ying widened his eyes comically and set down his tea cup in mock affront. "Why, that doesn't sound anything like me! I haven't caused any chaos in a whole day!" Lan Wangji raised a single eyebrow. "Oi, don't be like that, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying pouted, bumping his shoulder into his. "Lan-er-gege is too cruel. Has the esteemed Hanguang Jun really come all this way to hunt down the wicked Yiling Laozu?" He teased, the words spilling out in an effusive rush. Lan Wangji wondered how he had gotten used to not hearing his name a thousand different times, a thousand different ways all in one breath. He absently wished he could always hear himself being called thus by Wei Ying. Lan Sizhui hid an amused smile behind his sleeve, but Lan Jingyi pressed forward. "So it really was you? You have been harvesting souls and forcing them to wreak havoc here?" "That was most definitely not me!” protested Wei Ying indignantly. “That’s my brainless copycat." Wei Ying scowled. "I caught him this morning. Jerk. He’s been parading around as the Yiling Patriarch and sullying my good name." “What good name?” Lan Jingyi asked dubiously. “Ah, why are you so mean! Don’t be so blunt!” Wei Ying leaned away from Lan Jingyi and turned beseeching eyes on Lan Wangji. “Lan Zhan, defend me!” “No talking while eating,” Lan Wangji dutifully responded, pushing some food toward his beloved. However, Lan Sizhui, who had already finished eating, was able to ask, “Wei-qianbei? Did you say you caught him already?" Wei Ying nodded seriously and motioned toward the stables. “He’s out there with Little Apple.” "Should we take him back to Gusu now?" Lan Jingyi asked reluctantly, looking toward Lan Wangji. "Ah, if you have to go quickly, I can go fetch him right now,” Wei Ying set the food back on the table and began to stand. "You must be so busy…" Lan Wangji reflexively grabbed his hand to stop him from getting up. "Not busy," he refuted. He motioned toward the untouched food with his other hand. "Eat." "It's really no trouble," Wei Ying protested weakly, but he settled back into his seat. The hand that was caught under Lan Wangji's turned in its grasp to squeeze back. "No talking while eating," Lan Wangji repeated, heaping food onto Lan Sizhui's empty plate and pushing it toward Wei Ying.

---

The third time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Ying was making mischief, he left without notifying his Council. They have been exceptionally needy lately. They disapproved whenever he left for a nighthunt, even the ones that were not related to the Yiling Laozu. They didn't seem to understand that he always offered his help unequivocally, and he liked to be present for the particularly tricky nighthunts. But he did take particular care to always be on hand for matters relating to Wei Ying. “Lan Zhan.” Lan Wangji turned around to see Wei Ying walking up behind him on the busy street. He granted him a beatific smile, and Lan Wangji could not keep delight from turning up the corners of his mouth. “I knew you would come for me.” “What is the danger?” Lan Wangji asked, scanning him for signs of distress. “Always straight to the point,” Wei Ying laughed. “Don’t worry; there’s no danger today!” Lan Wangji furrowed his brow. “The reports…” “Ahaha, you can’t believe everything that you read, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying admonished playfully. “Those reports may have been a teensy bit exaggerated,” he admitted. “I swear to you, I pose no danger to anyone here.” Lan Wangji considered him pensively. “And Wei Ying is not in danger?” he confirmed. Wei Ying nodded earnestly, pledging, “I am neither in danger nor a danger to others. You, however, are.” “Me,” Lan Wangji repeated dumbly. “Yes, you. Look at yourself,” Wei Ying chided. “You need to take proper care of yourself! That must be one of your three thousand and some rules, right? If it isn’t, it surely needs to be. You’re not getting nearly enough rest! What happened to the strict nine-to-five? When was the last time you took a break?” “A break?” Lan Wangji echoed, still surprised by the turn of events. “Oh, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” He sighed, turning serious. He reached out to graze the dark circles under his eyes. “You look so tired. What is it like? To carry the whole world on your shoulders.” Lan Wangji instinctively leaned into his beloved’s touch, and he reached up to grasp the hand that so gently stroked his face. Wei Ying unthinkingly tangled their fingers together and continued on. “I have it on good authority that you’ve been unreasonably busy recently. What is your Council thinking? How can they expect yo-” Wei Ying rambled on, inadvertently riling himself up with each successive thought. “Authority? Who?” Lan Wangji interjected, latching onto the possible security breach. He tried not to feel flattered about the implication that Wei Ying cared enough to place an informant to update him about Lan Wangji, but a potential spy in the Cloud Recesses cannot be tolerated. “Ah, he asked for you to not be mad at him,” Wei Ying prefaced. “But I told him since he just wants to take care of you, you couldn’t possibly get mad at him.” “Lan Sizhui,” Lan Wangji realized. “He ran into you during a night hunt.” “He’s been so worried about you,” Wei Ying admitted, smiling fondly. “You raised such a good son. A-Yuan told me about the birthday treat he was trying to arrange for you, but …” “Your son, too,” Lan Wangji interrupted. His caring heart, he doesn’t say, is yours. Wei Ying grins, “Yeah. Our son.” “But why?” Lan Wangji pointedly glanced around the street and at the space between them. Why are you here? He doesn’t say. Why am I here? “I know we agreed to part ways for the moment, so you could take care of your duties as Chief Cultivator,” Wei Ying began hesitantly. “But I couldn’t watch you work yourself into the ground.” He looked up stubbornly. “The Council asks too much of you, too much for any human to handle. They couldn’t spare you even a day to celebrate your birthday.” “So you orchestrated … this?” Lan Wangji repeated, dumbfounded. “Well, if there’s no other way to get you to take a break, I had to improvise,” Wei Ying grinned impishly. “I’m rather good at that.” He handed him a hand drawn map. “This leads to a little abandoned farm house. I’ve been repairing it off and on, but I want you to use it for the day.” Lan Wangji took the map, still silently waiting for him to continue. “Take the day off. For your birthday. No clan, no council, no cultivation world. Just a relaxing retreat,” Wei Ying explained. “Surely the world can spare you… for one day. For this day.” He smiled hopefully up at his beloved.

Lan Wangji was just about to nod, to give in and accept this thoughtful birthday gift, when Wei Ying started to walk away. “Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked in bewilderment. Why would he craft the most elaborate plan to get them alone together and then walk away? Wei Ying paused, turning back to him. “Will you not stay?” Wei Ying gave a slight laugh. “Only if Lan Zhan wants me to.” He fidgeted and looked away. “I know I’m not really relaxing…” “Stay.” He interrupted forcefully. “Please.” Lan Wangji stared intently into his beloved’s eyes, hoping his own beseeching eyes would communicate what his words could not. “Oh, Lan Zhan.” He nodded in understanding and smiled blissfully, crinkling his eyes at the corners. “Okay, Wei Ying will stay with you, but you have to rest. Do you hear me?” he ordered playfully. “This is a restful birthday retreat, and I want nothing but resting from you.” Lan Wangji felt his mouth twitch into an answering smile at the sight of stern and protective Wei Ying. He knew that tomorrow he would have to return to Gusu and give account to the Council. He knew he probably would not see Wei Ying again until the next time he caused some chaos (or conveniently happened to be there anyway). But this day, this perfect day, was a birthday gift he would treasure until the time he can lay down his Chief Cultivator title. Then, maybe, everyday will be like this. The first time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Wuxian was stirring up trouble, he set off immediately to lend assistance. To which party, his Council was not privy to, but they could guess. “Wei Ying?” “Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying’s head popped out from the dirt mound, his hair tangled and clothes in disarray. Lan Wangji noted the way his eyes lit up upon recognizing his beloved and hoped that Wei Ying could recognize the same elation in him. Three months had truly been too long. Wei Ying led him behind the dirt pile, calling out, “Hang on, Lan Zhan! I’m almost done with this!” Lan Wangji watched patiently, interpreting each of the talismans that Wei Ying was arranging. The seal array was intricate, but not demonic in nature. As usual, the rumors appeared to be much nastier than the truth. Finally, Wei Ying fully emerged from the dirt heap and bounded over to Lan Wangji. “So, what is the illustrious Hanguang Jun doing in a place like this? Shouldn’t you be busy doing Chief Cultivator stuff?” “Am doing,” Lan Wangji agreed with a curt nod. “Investigating.” “Investigating what?” Wei Ying asked, leaning forward to bump his shoulder against his beloved’s. Lan Wangji looked down in surprise at where their shoulders had touched, amazed at the wave of longing that passed through him. How he missed the easy touching that Wei Ying always instigated. But his beloved must have misinterpreted the look, because he hastily pulled back, apologizing, “Sorry, Lan Zhan, I’m a mess right now.” He patted his clothes down and pushed his hair messily behind his shoulder, as if that would help. Lan Wangji felt his lips twitch into a fond half-smile, and he reached out to tug the twisted hair ribbon out of his beloved’s unruly hair. “Ridiculous,” he judged, as Wei Ying willingly turned around at Lan Wangji’s silent request. Wei Ying barked out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess I look pretty ridiculous.” He waved his arms around to encompass his disheveled form, from the ripped clothing to the layer of mud to the hair he was currently fixing. “No,” Lan Wangji clarified, carefully tugging the hair into his favored style. “Your words are ridiculous.” “My words?” he questioned. He tilted his head, unmindful of the ponytail Lan Wangji was trying to tame his hair into. “Wei Ying is always a mess,” he replied simply. “Ahahahaha!” Wei Ying doubled over in laughter, pulling away from the knot Lan Wangji had just finished tying his hair ribbon into. “Lan-er-gege has developed a sense of humor in the months I’ve been away. How unfair that I have missed it!”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji murmured, ignoring the flush he could feel crawling up his ears. “I guess Chief Cultivator Lan needs it, having to deal with those old windbags all day!” Wei Ying straightened, and Lan Wangji’s eyes were drawn to the ponytail that was still defiantly askew. “Speaking of, I can’t believe your Council lets the Chief Cultivator come out to random night hunts, all alone and unprotected. Surely the cultivating world wouldn’t survive a day without you to lead it,” Wei Ying grinned impishly. “Can survive,” Lan Wangji assured him. “Needed to verify rumors about Wei Ying.” "So you dropped everything and traveled all this way for this small matter." Wei Ying shook his head. “So this is what they meant about chasing the chaos,” he muttered under his breath. "How did you hear about this?" "Lan Sizhui's report," Lan Wangji answered. "Oh, right. The Zhangs' servant probably…" Wei Ying trailed off, the gears in his mind turning rapidly in a way that had always uniquely enchanted Lan Wangji. "The whole thing got blown up out of proportion, anyway. You see, Lan Zhan, the daughter had run away, and the cousin got in a bit of a bad spot with a demonic cultivator, who somehow ended up finding…" Wei Ying rambled, detailing the convoluted Zhang family drama as he led Lan Wangji back to the Zhang Manor. After checking with the family and verifying that everything was taken care of, Lan Wangji asked where Wei Ying was headed to next. He hurriedly shook his head, assuring him, "Oh, Hanguang Jun doesn't have to worry about me! Your Wei Ying is safe and happy, traveling the world." Not as happy as I would be with you, goes unsaid, but they both understood. Lan Wangji disputed, “Always have to check on Wei Ying.” Wei Ying shook his head again and reiterated, “Lan Zhan, really, you don't have to trouble yourself anymore. You're the Chief Cultivator! You can't just hop Bichen for every far-flung rumor!" He playfully admonished. "Bichen is fast." Wei Ying just laughed sadly. "I know. Still, you have people for that! You need to go rest or attend to your thousands of duties or whatever you need to do. Don't you worry about me.” Lan Wangji stared into his earnest face. He hardly wanted to walk away from him after seeing him again for the first time in three months … but it looks like the Zhangs’ issues have been resolved, and he should probably head home to his piles of work. “Wei Ying is certain?” “Yeah,” Wei Ying smiled sadly. “Chief Cultivator is a big responsibility. Everyone else needs you more than I do.”

---

It’s so weird because Lan Wangji was the hardest character for me to, like, get in the mind of while watching MDZS, but my first three fics in this fandom have been from his pov. Irony.

If you enjoyed this, please let me know what you thought!

#wangjiweek2020 #happybdaylwj2020 #cql #cql fic #mdzs fic #lan wangji #fictional birthday #wei wuxian #post-canon #my writing

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