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lwjsbedtime · 25 days ago

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Star-crossed Lovers Wangxian (Warriorxian x Courtesanji) Pt 01

When Wei Wuxian had freshly turned fifteen, on the cusp of manhood, yet still a child, he was sent to the Cloud Recesses alongside his shidi to learn from the masters there.

He did not expect the rules to be so strict, nor the food so bland - something he made efforts to complain about in every spare moment.

Most of all, he did not expect Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji was second nephew to the Lan grandmaster - proficient in the six arts, as befit his station. He was also an icy cold beauty - lovelier than any other Wei Wuxian had thus far seen, but deadly in that loveliness.

Wei Wuxian's heart, whether he knew so or not, was instantly ensnared.

For the first month in Gusu, no matter what Wei Wuxian did, he could not convince Lan Wangji to look his way.

During the second month, however, his frequent flouting of the rules saw him punished, with Lan Wangji the one sent to ensure he learned the error of his ways.

At last, Wei Wuxian had the beautiful Lan er gongzi's attention all to himself. He could laugh loudly, and speak out of turn, and otherwise cause a fuss - and Lan Wangji would have no choice but to send a glare his way, set aside his work, and order Wei Wuxian back into place.

Wei Wuxian did not always obey him, but that only made the game between them all the more fun.

Until, one day, Lan Wangji did not come to observe Wei Wuxian's punishments. Instead, he was watched over by one of the clan's senior disciples - a dour man with a stern expression, and a beard not unlike Lan Qiren's.

Wei Wuxian attempted to ask him where Lan Wangji had gone to - if he was well, or had some other duties to attend - but no matter what, the man only looked at him and told him to get back to work.

In a word, this man thought that whatever had happened to waylay Lan Wangji was none of Wei Wuxian's business.

Wei Wuxian, of course, took much issue with that.

When night fell, and the bells signalling curfew sounded, Wei Wuxian slipped away from the dorm room he shared with his shidi and took to wandering the Cloud Recesses' grounds.

It took longer than he expected to reach the wards surrounding the homes of the inner clan members - the sentries' eyes being particularly sharp that night, with the full moon having risen high above.

It took significantly less time to hunt out Lan Wangji's own home - a small residence that smelled vaguely of sandalwood, even from outside its gates.

Wei Wuxian jumped the wall ringing the courtyard and rushed over to the chamber doors...only to find no one there.

Lan Wangji's home was empty; disturbingly so - even the bed had been stripped bare. And in the air lingered a strange scent, underneath the overpowering sandalwood to which he was accustomed - the faint fragrance of gentians.

A chill ran up Wei Wuxian's spine.

Just what had happened to make Lan Wangji disappear?

Cloaked in the moon-shadow, the empty house reminded Wei Wuxian of the tales sometimes told in teahouses - ones of horror, where a person would disappear, only to never be found again.

Or found far too late.

Feeling himself growing increasingly agitated, Wei Wuxian left the house in a rush, less careful of his path through the darkened Cloud Recesses than he could have been.

He only paused once - upon catching another whiff of that faint, floral scent - and changed his heading to follow it.

The trail was thin, and stretched far into the deep, forbidden parts of Cloud Recesses.

But eventually, the scent grew stronger, the overgrown path Wei Wuxian had been following opening up into a clearing, lit by moonlight.

And in that clearing stood a house. A house surrounded by gentians.

There was the sizzle of something else in the air, too; the lingering aftershocks of a freshly applied ward.

Wei Wuxian scoped the boundaries of it out before approaching with caution. It would be difficult to break, but simple enough to slip through, should one know the correct methods.

Wei Wuxian, of course, did.

Circulating qi through his meridians, he quickened his heart rate, coalescing the whole of his power down into a circuit no larger than the average hare.

And, as he passed through the wards with little ado, that was exactly what he was taken for.

He walked slowly to the cottage's front door, a strange feeling of unease growing in him the longer he was assaulted by the scent of gentians.

The feeling made no sense, and so he pushed on, until he was standing on the stoop - staring, his heart in his throat, at the closed door.

Somehow, he *knew* Lan Wangji was inside.

He raised his fist to knock; thought better of it and moved to a side window - slid open a little to let in the summer night air.

It was only as his feet landed upon the polished wood of the cottage's floor, did he see Lan Wangji.

The boy was curled up in his bed - not in rest, but rather the way one in agony might curl into themselves, seeking to ease the pain. In the glow cast from the window, Wei Wuxian could see the slickness of sweat coating his brow; the discomforted pinch of his lips.

"Lan Zhan?" he murmured, but the only reply he received was a low groan and the thrash of a leg. The movement threw the blanket from Lan Wangji's body, which seemed to make him even more uncomfortable, and so - carefully - Wei Wuxian crept forward to right it.

As he reached the bedside, he almost had to cover his nose. That *smell* - so faint and then so strong - grew overpowering the closer Wei Wuxian came to Lan Wangji.

Almost as if it was coming *from* Lan Wangji, himself.

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened in disbelief, his hands stilling upon the blanket - upon Lan Wangji's hip resting just beneath it.

But...that would mean Lan Wangji was an omega, and omegas...

Omegas were many things, but most importantly at that moment, omegas were not allowed to cultivate in Gusu - nor anywhere else, for that matter.

If they were lucky - born to nobility, or a cultivation clan - they were locked away in highly secured houses and tended to by a select few trustworthy servants until an appropriate marriage could be arranged.

Were they not so lucky... Wei Wuxian hated to think of it. He'd lived on the streets - seen things a child shouldn't.

Without realising it, his fists clenched into the blanket covering Lan Wangji. If he'd been strong enough, he would have seen such men dead whenever their kind crossed his path.

Lan Wangji shuddered in his sleep, once more drawing Wei Wuxian's attention. His face was set in a frown, his fingertips clinging tightly to a stray end of his pillowcase.

It made Wei Wuxian want to take his hand, and so - against every bit of propriety drummed into him since becoming a Jiang cultivator - he did.

It hardly mattered, he thought. He was a beta, after all. It wasn't like he was an alpha with designs on Lan er gongzi's virtue.

The contact, slight as it was, seemed to settle Lan Wangji somewhat, who nuzzled his nose into Wei Wuxian's wrist with a level of shamelessness his conscious self would balk at.

It made something in Wei Wuxian's chest swell; made something...heat.

But mostly, he was still too confused to notice. An omega was born an omega, as an alpha was born an alpha - both marked in ways that made it obvious what they were.

For omegas, they each had a beauty mark, like a drop of heavenly elixir, painting a part of their skin signalling they were heaven blessed.

Lan Wangji had one too, he noticed now, unfolded like the petals of a flower upon his brow, right where his clan ribbon would usually sit.

There was no way it could have been missed.

Just as there was no way the sweet scent of flowers clinging to his skin could ever have gone unnoticed - not without someone painstakingly applying a masking fragrance to each inch of Lan Wangji's body day after day.

Wei Wuxian could hardly believe it, but there was only one conclusion to be reached: the Lans had always known their second heir was an omega - a powerful one at that, good for breeding, judging by the strength of the sandalwood needed to overpower his natural scent.

And for some reason, rather than take advantage of what could have resulted in a profitable alliance for their clan, had decided to hide this knowledge from the world.

Wei Wuxian would almost respect them for it, had he not suspected many of the Lans *also* didn't know their second young master's little secret.

Again, he couldn't help but wonder *why*.

He was distracted momentarily by the fluttering of eyelashes tickling over his wrist, drawing his attention back down to the omega clinging to him so sweetly.

Lan Wangji's eyes slipped open a breath - then, upon realising he had company, widened further.

"Wei Ying?" he mumbled, his expression still fogged with sleep; pupils blown abnormally wide.

It gave the impression he wasn't quite there - was still slumbering deep inside himself, as his body acted of its own accord.

Wei Wuxian smiled down at him gently; patted his hand.

"It's me, Lan Zhan."

Contrary to how he usually acted when confronted with Wei Wuxian's presence, Lan Wangji instantly relaxed, growing limp and lazy in Wei Wuxian's hold.

He nuzzled deeper into the palm of Wei Wuxian's hand, inhaling deeply till his ribs could be seen moving from under the blankets.

"Good."

The words came out slurred, but stirred something in Wei Wuxian's heart nevertheless.

Right there in that moment, he vowed - whatever was going on with Lan Wangji, he would keep him safe. Even if he had to protect him from his own family to do so.

Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian found sadly few opportunities to again sneak away to Lan Wangji's abode. The patrols at night seemed to have increased of late, and there was no question he'd be caught, should he slip away during the day.

To JC's increasing ire, he found himself prowling - pent up with a furious energy that crackled under his skin like the sting of Madam Yu's whip.

"What on earth is going on with you?" his shidi complained.

But Wei Wuxian didn't have an answer, and growling would be impolite, so he kept silent.

There was one blissful night when he again managed to cross the border of the wards keeping Lan Wangji safe. Lan Wangji, as was expected, had already fallen asleep, limp under his pure white covers.

This time, he seemed to not be in any pain, and Wei Wuxian found himself watching him a long while, before dropping the two struggling rabbits held in his arms to the floor and leaving - again, through the window.

He snickered the next day, wondering how Lan Wangji had reacted upon seeing them; wondering if he liked them.

He daydreamed a little of returning one subsequent night - a little earlier than usual - just to ask for himself.

But then suddenly, his time in the Cloud Recesses was over, far earlier than it should have been.

The next night he dared sneak up to Lan Wangji's cottage, he found an unwelcome sight waiting for him.

Standing on the porch stood Lan Xichen, his face placid as ever, but eyes stormy with fury.

"Wei gongzi," he greeted, pointing out towards the garden surrounding the cottage. "I believe we need to speak."

Wei Wuxian followed Lan Xichen on stiff limbs, his muscles bunched as if to flee - or fight.

Which again, made no sense. He had no feud against ZWJ. He just wanted to ensure Lan Wangji was looked after - at least until he was sold into a marriage with one of the other clans' alpha heirs.

But even the idea of Lan Wangji going to another - someone who might not treat him as well as Wei Wuxian would - made him grow restless.

By the time Lan Xichen whirled on him, out in the middle of the garden, he'd managed to work himself into a foul mood.

"Wei gongzi," Lan Xichen said, quietly enough his voice would not carry, but with the authority of an alpha behind it. "What exactly do you think you're in my brother's private home?"

Wei Wuxian couldn't help it. He snarled.

"You mean his *prison*?"

If Lan Xichen was taken aback by his out-of-character actions, he didn't show it. Instead, he drew himself taller, stepping closer to Wei Wuxian as if to loom over him; to intimidate.

"Wangji is safe here," he said, a furrow lining his brow. "Wei gongzi, if that is truly what inspires you to seek my brother out, it is to your merit, but you must not return."

He reached out, his hand grasping around Wei Wuxian's bicep. "And you must tell no one of what you've seen."

His expression was deathly serious, to the point Wei Wuxian would have capitulated to his request regarding any other matter. Anything but Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji who was...

Talented.

Stunning.

Everything.

*...His.*

"No!" he growled, leaning into Lan Xichen's grip, his teeth bared like a wild animal. "You can't keep him caged like this, just withering away inside until you find some wealthy cad to marry him off to! He deserves better! He-"

"And do you think you deserve him?!"

Lan Xichen's snarl sent a shock through Wei Wuxian, breaking through the fugue that had taken over his mind.

"I-" he whispered, voice hoarse as if he'd been yelling.

Lan Xichen shot him a scathing glare; sighed.

"Wei gongzi," he said, his face smoothing out - calmer now. "I believe I understand your stance."

Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to interrupt - even *he* didn't know his stance. He didn't know what had come over him - but Lan Xichen cut him off.

"You care for Wangji; worry for him. For that, I am grateful. But" - his gaze once again turned razor sharp, like the edge of a blade - "you can no longer see him."

Out of nowhere, Wei Wuxian's heart picked up, his breath speeding. He couldn't be separated from Lan Zhan. Couldn't-

"Breathe, Wei gongzi!" Lan Xichen ordered, and Wei Wuxian growled.

It made Lan Xichen sigh.

"This is why you must be separated," he said, as if explaining something to a small child. "Wei gongzi, do you truly see yourself as capable of controlling yourself around my brother?"

Wei Wuxian glared at him. "I would *never* hurt LZ! I've been coming here for so long, surely you know that!" Here, his voice turned small; pleading. "Please, ZWJ. I know you have the power to keep me away, but I'll do anything. Just let me tend to LZ's needs, I won't ask for anything else. I'll never tell his secret to anyone. Just don't send me away."

Silence greeted his words. Oddly, Wei Wuxian found tears stinging the corners of his eyes. "He needs someone. I- You could trade with the Jiangs for me. They won't mind losing a disciple, if the price is right. I'm only a beta so it won't cost you mu-"

"Wei gongzi, you are presenting."

Wei Wuxian's head whipped up, his eyes wide as he looked at Lan Xichen as if he'd grown a second head. "Wha- Zewu-jun, that's impossible. I assure you, I'm a beta!"

Lan Xichen bowed his head in acknowledgement - of Wei Wuxian's words, if not their meaning.

"It has become clear to me you are not," he said calmly, like he wasn't spouting the most insane tripe Wei Wuxian had ever heard. "I had wondered why Wangji went into heat, after all this time-"

He cut himself off, lips pressed together until they turned white. "So much effort was spent to save him from this...this fate." Here, he looks Wei Wuxian in the eyes, probing. "Regardless, I believe I've come to understand the issue."

And then, without so much as a pause, he dealt a blow Wei Wuxian would not recover from until many years later, when he once again found himself facing down the prison housing Lan Wangji.

"You have triggered my brother's dormant tendencies, Wei gongzi, and he has triggered yours in kind. This is why you may not see him again; not unless you wish to see him consigned to the fate faced by other omegas."

His words were stern, with a frank finality to them.

The next day, Wei Wuxian was shipped off back to Yunmeng with the explanation he'd caused a fight amongst the other clans' heirs. As he stood in the boat ferrying him back home, Lan Xichen's words rang inside his head.

He didn't know how the man could be so certain - about him being an alpha; about Lan Wangji's presentation consigning him to a life caged, kept for some strange alpha's pleasure. The very idea of it made him sick; made his skin itch and canines ache in his mouth.

By the time he reached Lotus Pier, he was in too much of an aggravated state to even care about the whip falling upon the flesh of his back.

That night, he experienced his first rut.

When he came to, days later, it was to a room destroyed and immortal binding cable wrapping every inch of his body.

According to his shixiong, it had taken eleven men to keep him down, and another two to bind him.

According to the physician - called at Jiang Fengmian's order, much to Madam Yu's fury - the years on the streets had taken their toll.

"Sometimes a mark will lighten in times of great famine or struggle," the man explained, pressing his fingertips to Wei Wuxian's wrist, then his throat.

"There are many theories as to why this might happen. I personally believe it to be a defence mechanism - as we know, alphas require more nourishment than betas to retain the same amount of function."

Wei Wuxian in fact did not know that.

"But the potential to present remains, and as we can see here" - he clapped his hands together and faced the Jiangs - "we have a perfectly healthy alpha, if a bit thin."

Madam Yu sneered. "And what is he good for then?"

"My lady..." Jiang Fengmian chided softly.

She turned on him, then. "The little bastard was bad enough as a beta, strutting around like he owns the place. Now you expect me to deal with him marking his territory like a *mutt*?!"

She glared at Wei Wuxian like he was less than nothing; less than dirt. "He cannot be around Yanli! I will not abide by it!"

Jiang Fengmian argued in his favour, but in the end, it mattered little.

Three months later, Lotus Pier was attacked, leaving half their forces devastated. A month after that, war broke out across the Jianghu. Wei Wuxian, as an able-bodied alpha, found himself conscripted as a soldier in the resistance, fighting to free the land from the influence of the power-hungry Wen Ruohan.

By the time he heard of the burning of the Cloud Recesses, it was already too late. The attack was long over, and Lan Wangji - sweet, precious, Lan Wangji; the reason Wei Wuxian's heart still pumped in his chest despite the terror and uncertainty of each passing day - had disappeared.

Some said he'd been taken captive. Some said he'd been made an example of, and hung from the walls of Wen Ruohan's palace.

Each rumour was more ghastly than the last; each managing to slice under Wei Wuxian's skin like a thousand tiny knives, calling him to leave and seek out the truth for himself.

But a deserter was as good as dead, with the iron subjugation collars that had been affixed to those conscripted, ensuring they never strayed too far from their commanding officer, lest they wished their head to fall from their neck.

And so it was years passed until that collar was removed, and Wei Wuxian found himself free once more.

The Jiangs expected him to retake his position at Lotus Pier, but Wei Wuxian felt listless; lifeless.

He returned his sword to them, and left their service, a deep scar around his neck the only reminder of his servitude - of the nights when he could take uncertainty no longer, and attempted escape despite knowing the pain to come.

He travelled for a time - through Gusu, newly rebuilt and beautiful, but devoid of what he sought; through Lanling, with its gold spires and abundance of pleasure houses; through the hills of Qinghe and the ruins of Qishan - and still, there was nothing to bind him to this world.

There was also nothing to send him from it, however many ghosts he came across, or vicious yao he fought.

And so, Wei Wuxian continued to wander until one day, in the middle of spring, he came upon a bustling city in a region far outside the jianghu's control.

The people there were bright and loud, and heckled him in a way he'd long since forgotten how to deal with.

In an effort to escape the ruckus, he headed for the first inn he could find, and took a table inside. The inn was gaudy, and smelled of something so familiar yet wrong - like perfume gone stale - but it was better than facing the masses outside, and so he decided to take his chances with the service.

It was only as a scantily clad maid came to attend him, did he realise he'd stumbled into a pleasure house.

"A courtesan's house, gongzi," the woman giggled shyly. "Not to say some of us won't bed you" - her hand slithered up his forearm, sending shivers across his skin - "but mostly we're taught in entertainment and conversation - skills a gentleman might appreciate."

From the predatory look in her eyes, he could gather what said 'entertainment' consisted of, and could hardly tell the difference between this establishment and a whorehouse.

But the woman - who indeed was well-versed in conversation - continued to explain. She, for example preferred to dance. One of her sisters in the house was a fine flute player, and yet another proficient in weiqi.

"Some men come here to listen to poetry," she giggled, as if finding it funny. "Though personally, I like the ones who come for the music the most. When they sing along, it's so delightful!"

Wei Wuxian could almost believe her, if not for the fact she'd admitted she *did* bed patrons at the house madam's order, much as the other women did.

Either not noticing his discomfort, or pretending not to see it, she leaned in close to whisper. "There's a real treat tonight gongzi, if you're interested. One of our most stubborn flowers has finally bloomed."

Wei Wuxian felt his brow crease. "Flowers, jiejie?"

"Oh yes!" she said. "He's a male omega. Been here for a long while, but as he hasn't gone into heat..." She sighed. "The madam likes to ensure the first night is a heat night. And he's a good enough zither player, so she didn't mind holding off for him to bloom."

She spread her hands like the petals of a flower, her mouth curved up into an impish grin. But Wei Wuxian could barely make out her face, his heart hammering with hope and terror.

Hope it could be Lan Wangji.

Terror it would not be. Terror of the injustices Lan Wangji must have suffered if it was.

*And the scent pervading the halls... It was so familiar.*

His eyes widened as he realised the scent was gentians - fetid, decaying gentians.

Downing his cup in one swig, he turned to the maid at his side. "Show me to him."

The maid backed up a little, a contrite expression taking over her face. "Oh, no, gongzi. I'm afraid he's still being made ready to be auctioned. No one will see him till tonight."

Wei Wuxian snarled, tossing a single golden tael from his money pouch on the table top.

"Show me to him," he snarled. "Or I will find him for myself."

Shaking, the maid snatched up the coin and led him up a set of stairs hidden behind a hanging curtain.

At the top of the stairs, she paused, looking back. Another snarl from Wei Wuxian sent her scurrying down the hallway to an ornate door painted with lilies.

Wei Wuxian stared at it, remembering how the Lan Wangji in his memories smelled of fresh gentians; how he seemed to like the flowers, too. If it was Lan Wangji inside this room Wei Wuxian swore he would have all the gentians he wanted; would never have to endure the sight another lily ever again.

He was broken from his thoughts by the maid rapping on the door; the door opening.

At first, he couldn't see anything but the backs of three women, working together to press a third, slender figure into an outfit that seemed altogether too impractical to exist.

And then that familiar scent - the one that haunted his dreams, along with the hall downstairs, hit him in full; rancid and over-sweet, but so obviously Lan Wangji's - and Wei Wuxian was tearing through the group, heedless of their startled cries.

With trembling hands, he took hold of the slender figure's shoulders, turning them around to face him ever so gently.

What met him was a set of familiar golden-brown eyes, wide with shock; a pert nose; full, petal soft lips set above a slender chin.

*It was-*

"Lan Zhan..." he whispered, feeling his eyes burn in a way they hadn't for years now.

*It was truly him. The one he'd been looking for.*

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji breathed, his voice low and soft - seeming equally moved by Wei Wuxian's presence.

"What is going on here?!"

In the doorway, there stood a stout woman - older than the others Wei Wuxian had seen thus far, but so clearly belonging to this place, by dress and demeanor alone.

"Who is this?" she pointed at Wei Wuxian, her bangles clanging against one another. "Who let him in here? Get him out before someone sees! He could ruin A-Ji's price!"

Wei Wuxian only held on tighter, letting his arm snake around Lan Wangji's waist as he threw the rest of his coin purse - heavy with his winnings from the war - towards the woman.

The maid who'd led him upstairs gasped. "All that for a first night?! Gongzi, you're rich!"

"For his contract," Wei Wuxian said, not taking his eyes off the older woman - she seemed to be the one in charge. "I'm buying him from this place."

The woman crossed her arms, eyeing him shrewdly. "And why should I let him go?" she asked, picking up the coin purse and weighing it in her hand. "This is a lot of money, gongzi, but A-Ji's young yet. He can make a lot with that body of his."

Wei Wuxian unsheathed his sword, pushing Lan Wangji behind him.

"If you don't sell his contract to me, I will run you through," he said, his voice low but carrying. "Will your riches follow you to the afterlife?"

Face paling, the woman pocketed the purse and bowed her head. "Of course, gongzi is most welcome to purchase whomever he likes from this house."

With a pointed glance at one of the other women, she led Wei Wuxian - his arm still around Lan Wangji - to her office, and brought out Lan Wangji's contract.

"All yours," she said, pushing it across the table for Wei Wuxian to inspect.

Seeing it was a true contract, he nodded to her. "My thanks, madam."

The woman smiled a false smile. "The pleasure is mine."

"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji tugged on Wei Wuxian's sleeve urgently, trying to get his attention without alerting the madam.

"I know," he whispered back, just loud enough for a cultivator to hear.

That was enough for Lan Wangji to relax against him.

Wei Wuxian made a big deal of folding the contract and placing it inside his qiankun pouch. As he was about to retie the bag's strings, a loud commotion broke out downstairs, and soon the sound of feet thudding up the stairwell followed.

Across the table, the madam looked smug, like she thought she'd caught Wei Wuxian in her net.

But when Wei Wuxian only shot her a grin, her own expression faltered.

"Thanking madam for the hospitality," he said with a sharp salute, "But we really must be going."

And with that, he drew Lan Wangji into his arms and threw them both out the window - drawing his sword midair.

There was a shriek from the windowsill behind them; an exclamation of shock from someone who'd never met with a cultivator before.

All Wei Wuxian could do was laugh, bringing Lan Wangji closer to his chest.

The knot that had tied itself in his heart back in Gusu when he was fifteen seemed to loosen a little, as the scent of gentians hit him - growing sharper and sweeter the further they flew away from that wretched place with its wretched owner.

He'd found him - *his Lan Zhan* - at long last, and now there was nothing that could come between them, nor prevent Wei Wuxian from caring for what was *his*.

Around them, the day was glorious - the sun shone bright; the air blowing crisp in their lungs.

Wei Wuxian glanced down at the omega in his arms - so light, and yet so precious.

*This was it,* he thought, joy bounding in his chest. *This was what he'd spent so long looking for.*

I started posting this on bsky, but this is a slightly cleaned up/edited version of the first act for archiving purposes. I'm planning on expanding parts of it, but probably only when the fic's actually finished 😁 There are likely still some errors left over from autocorrect. (The eternal struggle of having hands that are too small to reach across your phone's keyboard properly 🥲)

If you're interested in reading on from this point, the link to the next part is here, but I will eventually be cleaning up and re-posting that as well.

#wangxian #wangxian fic #omegaverse #courtesan lan wangji #warrior wei wuxian #lan wangji #wei wuxian #cross posted from bluesky

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