#first disciple of yunmeng jiang… the yllz

[teleport-warning]

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

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1. Hello! Hope you all are doing well! I hope I’m not confusing this fic for another fandom again, but I was reading the extras and the Yunmeng extra with the ring toss reminded me of a scene in a fic where something like that happened, I think LWJ even went beyond the “boundaries” so to speak?(like there was an area cordoned off with rope) He basically did the ring toss in an even more spectacular fashion than WWX. Wondering if that reminds you of any fics? @betafibiiiiiivviiixiiixxixxxiv

FOUND? 🧡 a stone to break your soul, a song to save it by rikke (M, 179k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage) it has the ring toss and LWJ throwing a ring around WWX

ps: on that topic, can't stop myself from a small rec of a short funny fic. WangXian troll the jrs with the turtle figurine they won: The Turtle in the Lanshi by Brierilee (G, 1k, WangXian, Post-Canon, POV LJY)

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2. looking for a wangxian fic on ao3 where a non-canon character, I think a disciple from another small clan, comes to Gusu and declares his intention to court LWJ. WWX is also living at Gusu at the time. They sorta compete to court LWJ and of course WWX wins and the disciple gracefully gives up. @whaleyou

FOUND! The Proposal by LFMH021 (T, 93k, WangXian, One-sided LWJ/OMC, Post-Canon, Mutual Pining, Marriage Proposal, Marriage, Courtship, WWX denying his feelings until he can't, LWJ and WWX are dumb idiots in love, Love Triangles, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Attempt at Humor, Light Angst, Eventual Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort)

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3.  Hi! I’m looking for this wangxian fic either rated M or E where it was discontinued (the author decided not to write anymore but keep what was already there). Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji dual cultivate together so wwx can develop a golden core. The exact words being like “lwj fxcks a golden core into wwx.”

(this part added to itmf)

Thank you so much for your page! I love your recommendations

NOT FOUND! Truth Will Out (when caught on video) by KizuKatana (E, 41k, WIP, WangXian, WN & WWX & WQ, Canon Divergence, Modern Cultivators, YZY abuses WWX, WWX is expelled from the Jiang Sect, partial core removal, meet ugly, Dual Cultivation, WWX goes viral, LWJ has a Big Dick, no war) KizuKatana's "Truth Will Out (When Caught on Video)" is not discontinued, just not complete yet, but it does use that phrasing for a tag.

NOT FOUND! intents and in tents by mexicantt (E, 12k, WangXian, Explicit sexual material, Canon Divergence - War Time, Dubious Consent, two fucking idiots fucking a fucking lot, Rimming, Fingering, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, wwx's canonical self-lubing asshole, Dual Cultivation, fucking a new golden core into wwx As A Treat, Exhibitionism) it's a one shot but it still has the right tag?

NOT FOUND! A Cup of Tea by Silvers_Hidden_Corner (Silver_Flame_2724) (E, 4k, WangXian, Dubious Consent, Aphrodisiacs, Rough Sex, Rough Oral Sex, First Time, Consensual Somnophilia, Sort Of, YLLZ WWX, Face-Fucking, Canon Divergence, Fix-It of Sorts, Porn with Feelings, Porn With Plot, Golden Core Reveal, Dual Cultivation, WWX Has a New Golden Core, well the beginnings of one, because LWJ fucks one into him, Flustered WWX, Dirty Talk, just a little though, Protective WQ, (implied), Communication, Love Confessions, Virginity Kink) Also, another one shot with the right tag for 3

FOUND! i had to abandon myself (you took all of me) by justdoityoufucker (E, 27k, wangxian, discontinued, canon divergence, burial mounds settlement days, philosophy, demonic cultivation, illness, chronic pain, politics, dual cultivation, LWJ fucks a core into WWX) Number 3 on the most recent fic post is most likely a fic by justdoityoufucker. longer fic in which Lan Wangji dual cultivates a new core with Wei Wuxian, first on hiatus, then abandoned.

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4. Hi! I've been looking for a fanfiction where wwx time traveled in the past but he didn't know and he just woke up in lotus pier and he roamed around for a bit and noticed a crack or something on the floor which wasn't there before because lotus pier was renovated and then jiang cheng called him and the he hugged him cause apparently he died in a night hunt and i can't remember the next. Can you help me find it? Thank you

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5. Hello, I'm looking for a wangxian fic in A-Yuan's POV where Wen Xu is WWX's abusive ex-husband IIRC and in the story Wen Xu was just released from prison and he hurt WWX. I also remember a bit where WWX's pronoun was they/them. Sorry that's all I remember about it T_T. @ksoostrauma

FOUND? how to make your dad fall in love with your high school teacher in five steps; the complete and bulletproof guide by ravenditefairylights (T, 90k, wangxian, modern, coffee shop au, nonbinary LSZ, hurt/comfort, trauma, past abuse, past domestic violence, healing, hurt WWX, found family, hospitalization, therapy, single parent WWX, pining, teacher LWJ, unreliable narrator, chronic pain, queer platonic relationship, genderfluid WWX, autistic LWJ, fluff & angst)

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6. Hi! I'm looking for a fic where basically everything is the same, but Wei Wuxian was a ghost for the thirteen/ sixteen years and he remembers being kinda tortured by the other ghosts (Wen Chao and gang), but the Wen Remnants protect him (Wen Qing specifically, I remember). And Lan Wangji finds out about this during the Guanyin temple showdown because Jin Guangyao knows about it and talks about why Wei Wuxian doesn't talk about those thirteen/ sixteen years with anyone. Thank you for your amazing work on this blog! @istgidek1234

FOUND! whispers of a time (long forgotten) by theninjacat (T, 2k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Implied/Referenced Torture, Canon Divergence, Revelations, Mid-Canon, Angst)

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7. hello again! looking for a fic where in one scene i believe a-yuan or maybe it was jin ling was with i think wwx and lwj and wwx had alcohol. a-yuan/jin ling was a toddler or something and was learning how to pour tea/wine, and wwx told them that to pour wine you had to pour all the way to the brim and then let them try a little knowing they wouldn't like it @betafibiiiiiivviiixiiixxixxxiv

FOUND! Rotten Work by ShanaStoryteller (Not rated, 64k, JL & WWX, wangxian, post-canon, protective WWX, protective JL, JC & WWX reconciliation, reluctant matchmaker JL, pre-JL/LJY) For #7: are you sure it wasn't Jin Ling the one teaching a child how to pour? Because there's a scene exactly like that in Rotten Work, chapter 6 | the scene is with jin ling but he is having mianmian’s daughter pour wine for him and jingyi. but it has the detail of filling the cup all the way to the top and he lets her have a sip when she asks because he knows she won’t like it

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8. Hello! Can you please help me find this series?

It's a dark WWX and dark Nie fic. JFM, CSR & WCZ are in a relationship. Jiangs are sirens. Nies are beasts (i think wolves?) CSR likes to kill people. WCZ is also something like this? In a fic of the series QHJ is described using songbird as a metaphor. WWX is a mix of JFM, CSR & WCZ because they did an ancient BSSR secret ritual or something. @utxqia

FOUND! Monster in Human Skin Series by Nika_Raven_Celeste (T/M, 20k, WCZ/CSSR/JFM, NiecestXu, QHJ/WWX, WRH/WWX, Dark Jiāngs, dark au, grey morality, Implied/Referenced Cheating, Happy Murder Family, Dehumanization, Dark NHS, Dark NMJ, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Non-human characters, Morally Gray WWX, Gūsū Lán Elders Bashing, Dark Gūsū Lán Sect, Solitary Confinement, Touch-Starved, Gaslighting, Victim Blaming, Mental Health Issues, Emotional Manipulation, Mind Break, Mental Coercion, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Age Difference, no WangXian, Literal monster in human skin, Rape/Non-con Elements, Non-Consensual Somnophilia, Imprisonment, Mind Manipulation, Verbal Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Incest, Stockholm Syndrome, Power Imbalance, Captivity, spoil of war, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Conditioning, Master/Pet, Fairytale elements, Eldritch)

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9. Hi I follow your blog it's been a very great source of amazing wangxian fics , I need help finding a fic . One where lan zhan takes Jiang yanil's place and he gets stabbed instead . Wei Ying doesn't notice for a while but when he does he gives himself up to he disciplined at cloud recess thinking that he's the reason lan wangi is dead but in reality he's alive and being hidden by his brother somewhere . Please help I can't get it off my mind 😭 @b-rabbitsposts

FOUND? If I Could Go Back in Time by Runningbarefoot (M, 122k, wangxian, JC & WWX & JYL, NMJ/LXC, LXC & LWJ, LXC & WWX, canon divergence, role reversal, not everyone dies, pining, angst w happy ending, grief/mourning, loss, YLLZ WWX, hurt/comfort, healing, slow burn, twin prides of yunmeng dynamics)

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10. Fic Finder: The story has WWX wheelchair-bound (because his legs are weak from his days being a street orphan) he eventually makes himself some cool mech legs (inspiration from past Jiang elders, in this story the Jiangs have a lot of disabled leaders. I remember there's a blind elder using war fans and another using something similar like an assassination chord, another also lost their fingers/limbs thus made themselves mechparts). I know i said mech a lot but it's not mech, i remember the story said it's made of wood or something else.

Xue Yang is also in the family as WWX's brother/guide/bodyguard and they went to CR for the teachings, the Biling Lake still happens and WWX (like a true diver he is) went for a swim and his mech legs kinda absorbs the resentful energy? The details were that his mech legs has glowing yellow runes, and it turned red after that incident.

FOUND? Injuries Won't Hold Him Back by Cinder46231 (T, 32k, WangXian, WIP, Wheelchairs, WWX is in a wheelchair, XY is WWX's brother too, Paternal YZY, We have genius children)

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11. Hi! Love your blog, thanks for your hard work! I've been looking for a fic (I think it was on AO3) in which LWJ was an art conservator and WWX started working at the same museum, years after they broke up (I think they were together during college?). They pretend not to recognise each other at the beginning. Towards the end WWX gets injured at work. Could you please help me find it? @blippity-bloop​

FOUND? Pretty sure this one is 💖 Pentimento. by orange_crushed (E, 73k, wangxian, modern, college/university au, art conservation, museums, pining, not actually unrequited love, angst w/ happy ending, misunderstandings, smut, major character injury, hospitalization, hurt/comfort, past incarceration, forgery)

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12. hello! for the next Fic Finder, I have been looking for a while for a fic in which Wei Wuxian is reincarnated in Qin Su's body and he is also pregnant when he is brought back, I know there's a couple like that but I can not find them. I need help :(

FOUND? Everyanything by deliciousblizzardshark, lingeringdust (E, 46k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Franken-canon, Gender Identity, Gender Dysphoria, Trans WWX, Protective LWJ, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Canon-Typical Misogyny, Fluff and Angst, Vaginal Sex, Canon-Typical Major Character Death) WWX isn't pregnant when he comes back, but the birth happened soon before Qin Su did the ritual

FOUND? So You Want to Start a War by JaenysBloodcourt (T, 41k, WIP, MY/QS, MY/WWX, WangXian, Reincarnation, Half-Sibling Incest Mention!, QS does the ritual instead of MXY, WWX as a woman, MY Is His Own Warning, Canon Divergence, Impersonation, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Please check the notes before reading a chapter, Timeline What Timeline, WWX Has PTSD)

FOUND? QinSu!WWX by stiltonbasket

@shanastoryteller has one that is not 12 but along similar lines. It’s on tumblr tho

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13. hello great mods. i come in need again. this time it's a fic where lwj takes a hit for wwx and is dying so wwx jams the tiger seal into his chest to stop the bleeding or smth. i love y'all so much for all that you do ♥️

FOUND! A Narrow Bridge by FrameofMind, Jo Lasalle (Jo_Lasalle) (E, 700k, wangxian, time travel fix-it, canon divergence, slow burn, getting together, pining while fucking, first time, Burial Mounds settlement days, angst w happy ending, almost everyone lives, epistolary)

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14. Hello, I'm looking for a fic where at the beginning of the story LZ met WWX and Wen Yuan in yiling then they came to Burial Mounds because Wen Ning is waking up and WWX got injured by Wen Ning and i believe he was paralyzed from waist down. Then, when JC and JY met up with him to show her wedding dress, he was in a cart being pushed by WN. WWX didn't get to attend Jin Ling one month anniversary but sent Wen Yuan with Song Lan instead and gave him a letter to be read in the gathering. When SL delivered the letter, WY woke up and saw lanling clothes (gold) around/near him he started crying hysterical and called for LZ. WY was telling eveyone that he is Wei Yuan and he told LZ that WWX said his goodbye to him like his parents and sister and LZ realize that what Wei Yuan meant is he is dead when JY and JZ read the letter of WWX exposing the truth and saying goodbye. JGY showed everyone that what WWX said is true and exposed Jin Clans' true colors to appeal his wrongdoings, and there's a scene in the underground where he called XY with his pipa and when he discovered JGY betrayed him he told eveyone they are too late and WWX is dead. They went to Burial Mounds and saw the truth of Dafan Wen situation and realized that they did wrong them and WQ was almost in coma due to trying to save wwx. I remember later on wei yuan lived with LZ and they tried bringing back Wwx but because of his shattered soul they are having difficulty. LZ and Wen Qing became Chief Cultivators and i believed WQ also married JC. The rest of Dafan Wen lived in Lotus Pier except for Wei Yuan and as punishment for JGY he had to help them bring back WWX. I cannot remember the title of the Fic and i think the author deleted the story in Ao3. I really want to reread this fic whether it's finished or not. @aycee0806

FOUND! bluekittenfire said: #14 is the deleted "When I'm gone" by qiankun_pouch. I have a copy, if you need one.

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15. I just read "After All I Drift Ashore" (wip) and now I'm looking for ANOTHER fic I remember reading last year where WWX gives the Tiger Seal to the sects and runs away with the Wen Remnants. But instead of Indonesia/south, they had north somewhere? I'm pretty sure LZ finds them eventually, and I think maybe the Jianghu was also in trouble from Jin tyranny? I'm hoping the fic finders find this fic... Thank you so much! @mreisse

#15 is not it, but oh, what a find! Subscribing to that one indeed! I'm almost certain WWX took the Wen Remnants northward and that the Tiger Seal was given to the sects before they ran...

NOT FOUND! Debts to be repaid by marhikit (T, 6k, NHS & WWX, wangxian, good friend NHS, hurt WWX, not cultivation world friendly, not Jiang family friendly, dafan wen is WWX 's family now, Wen Yuan is WWX's son, good uncle WWX, WIP)

FOUND! When the World Comes Crumbling Down, you Will Call my Name by pft_a_Frog22 (Not Rated, 5k, WangXian, stygian tiger seal, BAMF WWX, Demonic cultivation, Cultivation world Bashing, Lan Sect Bashing, Happy Ending, for wwx, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Canon Divergence)

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16. Hello! Thank you for all that you do! I was hoping for help looking for two fits.

A) WWX was married(?) to WRH but it was from NMJ's pov. WWX helped the SSC secretly, but still thought he would be killed.

B) one where LQR time travels and he tries to set up WWX and LWJ. Sorry I don't remember much I exited out before I could read much. I do know that LQR tried to set them up bc he wanted a grandchild

Thank you!

16A)

FOUND? burning camellias by AvoOwO (M, 284k, JC & WWX, WangXian, WWX & WQ, WWX & WN, JC & JYL & WWX, JGY & WWX, WWX & WRH, WWX & WC, Canon Divergence, Sunshot Campaign, Prisoner of War, WWX is a Mess, Genius WWX, Revenge, Torture, Aftermath of Torture, Blood and Violence, Blood and Injury, BAMF WQ, BAMF WWX, BAMF WN, POV WWX, Hurt WWX, Crying, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Tired JGY, Tired WWX, Resentful Energy, Sentient Burial Mounds, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Attempted Sexual Assault, No Golden Core Transfer, WWX Has No Golden Core, Golden Core Destruction | Golden Core Melting, WWX is a Little Shit, Poisoning, Smart WWX, Protective WQ, WWX & WQ Friendship, WWX is Not Okay, WWX is a Tease, WWX Loves LWJ, Medical Torture, JGY is a Mess, WC Being an Asshole, Cannibalism, WWX & WN Friendship, PTSD, Dubious Consent, Consent Issues, Heavy Angst)

16B)

FOUND? Lessons relearned by Iamnotawriter (T, 44k, WangXian, LQR & WWX, Not Madam Yu Friendly, Time Travel Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Inventor WWX, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, No Golden Core Transfer, YZY Bashing) 

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17. Hello. I can’t remember what is the title of the fanfic that I had read.

I remember some parts such as it being a MDZS and TGCF crossover. It is where Wei Ying died from the siege. He ends up meeting with HuaLian couple and works for them. He somehow meets with Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli along with Jin Zixuan. Later on Wei Ying meets Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng in the forms of dreams separately. Then Wei Ying along with Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan meets up with Jiang Cheng in a dream taking care of Jin Ling. Later on they solve conspiracies and somehow bring cultivators of different clans to some void with doors that shows the punishments for people’s sins after they die and it scared the cultivators so bad that they are afraid for their lives/afterlives. The almost ending part is when Meng Yao decides to pay for his sins by being a wondering monk and do good deeds.

I think that is all I could remember. Please help me find this. @sakurashineuniverse-blog

FOUND? Of Destruction and Rebirth by demoniqt (M, 88k, wangxian, major character death, rape/non-con, underage, graphic depictions of violence, canon divergence, slow burn, canonical character death, god WWX, BAMF WWX, gods & goddesses au, JC & WWX reconciliation, rabbits, Fix-it, attempted sexual assault, attempted rape/non-con, blood & gore, castration, punishment, hell)

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18. hiiii i’ve been looking for a fic i believe it was omegaverse but im not completely sure

all i remember was that wei ying was betrothed to JC but then their engagement was dissolved and eventually wangxian got engaged

i remember there was a scene in which wei ying was staying at lotus pier and jiang cheng and madame yu try to burn wei ying alive because they don’t like that he got engaged to someone else.

thank u for all ur help🫶🏼

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19. Hi! There's a fic I know I've read but I can't seem to find and I'm hoping you can help? It's a twoshot where Lan Wangji dies from his punishment and when Wei Wuxian finds out after coming back to life he goes to destroy Cloud Recesses but is convinced not to by Sizhui and they leave together. Then in the second chapter they're found by Lan Wangji who's been reincarnated the old fashioned way (it's a few years later I think) and they live happily ever after @aro-ace-from-outer-space22

FOUND? The Second Siege of Cloud Recesses by Cerusee (G, 4k, wangxian, WN & WWX, LSZ & WWX, major character death, LWJ dies, pining, regret, YLLZ WWX) #19 is probably The Second Siege of Cloud Recesses by Cerusee although LWJ's reincarnation is mentioned in the author's notes, not in the story itself

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20. Hello there, sorry to bother all of you again, but I'm searching for this one fic

It's set in modern time. So it tells the story of like WY was in a abusive relationship with someone who's older than him and he got out of it.

The story begins like how he was jn the hospital because of it. Lan xichen was his doctor. And i remember that he was admitted because he was hit with a wine bottle i think.

In the story WY was like not allowed to go outside of his abusive boyfriend apartment and there's a little bit grooming.

And this boyfriend was JYL friend, he's an original character i think.

And the story continues with the recovery and there's this scene where Su She grab his hand at a supermarket? and it reminded him of his ex and i think he panicked.

If you can help me I'll be really happy. Thank you @lil-dusty-rose

FOUND! daffodils to ambrosia by AvoOwO (M, 83k, WangXian, JC & WWX & JYL, WQ & WWX, NHS & WWX, WWX/OC, LXC & WWX, LXC & JC, WIP, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Modern, Florist WWX, Flowers, Language of Flowers, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Manipulation, Emotional Manipulation, Abuse, Past Abuse, Past Child Abuse, Grooming, Past Sexual Assault, Past Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, Tenderness, Blood, Violence, Crushes, Blushing, PTSD, Trauma, Hurt WWX, Soft WangXian, Gentleness, Recovery, Healing, Dissociation, Chronic Pain, Headaches & Migraines, WWX Has PTSD, WWX Has a Crush, LWJ Has a Crush, LWJ Has Feelings, Good Sibling JC, Protective JC, Good Sibling JYL, Forehead Kisses, Panic Attacks, Neck Kissing, Dubious Consent, Memories, Abusive Relationships, Kissing, the love of flowers, and healing with time)

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[travalerray]

I watched MDZS donghua during summer last year and then read the novel.

Noticing how the novel described the characters I wanted to try and draw the outfits to fit my vision of them in the novel.

This Wei Wuxian is specifically from the Sunshot Campaign, not including the time he first returns from the Burial Mounds.

Design notes:

> I kept the uneven bangs and general hairstyle from the donghua because of how classically YLLZ they feel to me. The unbound hair truly does showcase his unruly and untamed manner.

> In the novel, there is no particular mention of him wearing the colour red, only black during his first life DC times and the white inner robe he wears for the Xuanwu cave (+the white robes he is dressed in on the way to JL's 100 day celebration). However having grown used to multiple adaptations of him doing so, I couldn't help but add the red middle robe. He does still retain the white inner robe.

> The cape and shoulder guards are mainly to accentuate his figure and make him appear bigger than he is. My idea is that he suffered from grave malnutrition in the Burial Mounds (and, depending on how dark you want to go—subsisted purely on rotting corpses), and thus his figure has undergone a grave change. There's also the loss of his golden core to combat. So! Shoulders! Illusion of broad shoulders and layering to appear like He Is Okay Actually. (he is not). The cape is, of course, there for the drama and to match the silhouette that has been rattling in my head.

> The wrist guard. This is from the live action. Since I wanted more or less a similar design for the SSC-pre YLLZ and this is partly meant to be "formal"-ish clothing for various gatherings, the wrist guard was needed. Since it's the same one he unravels and puts on as a blindfold during the Phoenix Mountain Night Hunt.

> Belt. Tragically the sleeves covered up the intricate belt I had drawn.

> Clarity Bell. What is a disciple of Yunmeng Jiang without the trusty Clarity Bell?

“It’s because I’m on the verge of death that I’m happy! I was afraid I couldn’t die. Torture me if you dare! The more brutal, the better—that way, I’ll be sure to return as a malicious ghost and haunt everyone in the Wen Clan of Qishan. I’ll curse you all and not allow you a single hour of rest!”

— The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol 3

[curiosity-killed]

No offense, but why is Whipstitch tagged as Yunmeng Bros reconciliation? I found it through that tag, and I kept waiting for the actual reconciliation to happen, but it didn't. Jiang Cheng tossed him Chenqing, but he did that in canon too and I wouldn't consider them reconciled there. Maybe it was simply too subtle for me... I'm curious, did you originally plan to write a more overt reconciliation or was this always the plan?

The shortest answer is that whipstitch is tagged as yunmeng bro reconciliation because it features a form and level of reconciliation that I, as the author and target audience, find satisfying and cathartic.

The long answer:

Reconciliation can take a lot of forms—from wwx coming back and being a permanent facet of YMJ again to Jiang Cheng planning and hosting the wangxian wedding. I’m a glutton for fics about these bros and will gladly read every variation on this theme—but reconciliation also can be messy and tentative and slow. 

It can be saying “we have both hurt each other so much and I know going back to the way we were is impossible and won’t solve anything and I don’t know where to go but I know that I still love and care about you and so I will make that clear and open myself up and let you decide where to go next.”

You’re right that they don’t hug or overtly say I’m sorry I love you come back and be my brother. I.....have an extraordinarily hard time seeing either of them mustering that vulnerability, straightforwardness, or openness tbh. Instead Jiang Cheng gives back Chenqing (a symbol and tool both of wwx’s independent power and agency + an uh...emotionally complicated flute lol), and then offers him back his clarity bell and invites him both into Lotus Pier (Yunmeng Jiang sect) and the ancestral shrine (Jiang Cheng’s family) and then steps back and lets wwx decide what to do next.

For the vast majority of this story, wwx has been deprived of agency, choice, voice, and power—in part because of Jiang Cheng’s actions, even when those actions were in an effort to prevent worse things from happening. Jiang Cheng’s reaction at the end of the story is largely about not making choices for wwx: wwx is leaving and jc recognizes that he shouldn’t stop wwx (even if he has the power & in some views, the right to). In order for them to move forward together, jc first has to recognize and make clear to wwx that he can go his separate way and still return: when you get tired, come home to rest.

wwx is more than just the former head disciple of ymj/the second half of the Twin Heroes (he’s the yllz as embodied by chenqing, he’s chosen lwj as his person, he’s leaving the sect again to travel and do his own thing, etc.)—and jc acknowledges that and says that wwx is and has always been his family anyway (“it’s always been yours” is not just about a physical bell, to be clear.) and opens the door. and wwx chooses to walk through it. it would’ve been really easy for wwx to laugh off jc’s invitation or to toss the clarity bell back to him, reminding jc that wwx was kicked out of the sect almost 20 years ago. instead, wwx accepts the bell and turns to essentially reconcile his past with his future.

I recognize that this falls short for some people and that’s totally fine; there are myriad fics out there that may better suit your needs and I hope you enjoy them! But whipstitch was written for me, and for me, they’re at a point in the road of reconciliation where like, sure, you could have a big crying dramatic reconciliation fic (fair! love them! have teared up in some of them!) but to me, it’s much more likely that wwx will show up at lotus pier in a few months with some new wine he insists jc try or they’ll bump into each other on the road and give jin ling a terrible headache with their combination of snarkery and unwanted advice. at some point they’ll wind up sleeping near each other on a night hunt only instead of sleeping they’ll have mumbled, wine-soft, half-remembered conversations about yanli and their past and things that are too big to talk about in daylight and full consciousness.

So if you think I failed in that or you think that doesn’t count as reconciliation, then that’s fair, but I am satisfied with it and feel that it belongs in that category.