#four days in lanling

[kaptainkoalaoshiz]

Wangxian plot bunny I may or may not write, but I encourage people to write as well 🫡

Wei Wuxian: I have an excellent idea for people to leave us alone.

Wen Qing: oh boy...

Wei Wuxian: don't you wanna know what I got?

Wen Qing: stupider?

Wei Wuxian: booo! Anyway. I'm gonna send this message at the Great Sects and they'll be so disgusted they'll leave us alone!

Wen Qing: "if you want to keep the Yilling Laozu from doing horrible, ghost cultivation, then send someone as a sacrifice to have nasty, disrespectful sex with him. Those who exceed his expectations will gain everything he owns".

Wei Wuxian: See? 100% guarantie of success! Nobody will take the offer and if they do, I just say it wasn't good enough! Win-win for me!

Wen Qing: so you got stupider. Alright. Scrape that idea

Wei Wuxian:...

Wen Qing: what. Did. You do.

Wei Wuxian: I already sent it to the major sects...

Wen Qing: I swear tO GOD!!

Meanwhile, at the big sects:

At Yunmeng jiang: the message was ripped apart by Jiang Cheng because he knows Wei Wuxian 's brand of stupid and isn't going to fall for it. Also, not willing to send someone to Yilling, like, think of their reputation!

At Qinghe Nie: the message was also ripped apart by Nie Mingju because he thinks Wei Wuxian is mocking them by calling out their righteousness. They're not sending anyone either, but Nie Huaisang 's brain is going "??.. !"

At Lanling Jing: there's a huge debate about which prostitute to send him, how much they'll have to pay said prostitute to keep the Yilling Laozu content and get their hand on the Yin Tiger Tally without sacrificing too much on their side. Everyone is shooting everyone in the foot. Nothing concrete is done.

At Gusu Lan: the message was ripped apart and everyone is shaking their heads at the shamelessness of the Yilling Laozu, they're too "above" to even consider sending anyone. Lan Qiren, knowing Wei Wuxian 's brand of stupid (same as his mother, hmpf!) is nearly ripping his beard off from how mocking the boy is! Lan Xichen is sighing at yet another proof Wei Wuxian has fallen because of his cultivation. He goes to tell his brother not to do anything rash but Lan Wangji is already gone. Oops.

A month later, Lan Wangji comes back with a gaggle of old people and a child. And the Yilling Laozu, dragging his feet and trying to escape. Lan Wangji says "excuse me." at the sentries before walking to the sides in the forest for.. about 45 minutes? and when he comes back, Wei Wuxian is disheveled and loopy. He looks like he's been mauled by a fierce beast. The rest of the Wen group look exhausted and used to it, wishing they could be set somewhere so they don't have to endure their Yilling Laozu being ravished (enthusiastically) by Hanguang-jun four times a day. Wen Yuan is just happy Wei-gege and Rich-gege made up.

[bloopitynoot]

10 + 1 Modern Day WangXian Cultivator Au’s

This is a rec list for @yiling-laozu-is-loml but she kindly gave permission for me to post and share! A little bit about the Rec parameters:

must be long fics (so I stuck to min 50K completed fics- I did include one banger as an exception)

if applicable BottomXian only

all fics must be modern/ish aus with cultivators

Please enjoy the list! All of these fics are tried and true, I've also included notes on each with my thoughts.

1 Wei Wuxian’s Guide to Hacking for Fun and Profit (150,301 words) by ArgentInferno

Chapters: 14/14 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, modern cultivation au, Hacker Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, neurodivergent wangxian, Therapy for the win, Fluff, Shenanigans, Lan Wangji isn't good with feelings, Fighting against corruption, Talisman-based tech, Getting Together, Slow Burn, shameless flirting Summary: When Lan Wangji is seconded to the Lanling branch of the Cultivation Bureau, he expects a boring rotation. Perhaps a lonely one, but he is accustomed to loneliness, and duty is duty. He doesn’t expect to be partnered with an over-exuberant ex-criminal with far too much enthusiasm for hacking, making mischief, and annoying Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian is everything Lan Wangji despises in a cultivator – he’s loud, unruly, and has no respect for anything. He’s even proud of what he did to get arrested in the first place. Unfortunately, he’s also very good at what he does. If Lan Wangji is going to figure out why someone with a talent for both hacking and talisman curses is targeting certain prominent members of Lanling’s high society, he’s going to need all the help he can get, for it’s far from a normal case. Solving it might put both him and Wei Wuxian in the crosshairs of some very powerful people on both sides of the law. Then again, given Wei Wuxian’s predilection for explosive experiments, working with him might be most dangerous part about the whole mess.

NOTES: This fic was honestly so cool! There are a couple techno-cultivator fics i've read and this casefic was light and wholesome with a unique plot. I love the idea of mixing tech and cultivation and this fic does a fantastic job with it. It also brings up some great themes around classism and power which is *chefs kiss *

2 Hear a song this deeply (87424 words) by so_shhy

Chapters: 16/16 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, modern cultivation au, Kind of academia AU, Music, Kid Fic, Canon-Typical Violence, Action/Adventure, To An Extent, Background XiYao - Freeform, canon-typical Meng Yao behaviour, Original Character(s), Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, we love us some tragic backstory, Happy Ending, for wangxian at least, [slaps fic] this baby can fit so much plot in it Summary: “I’m not here to help you with your work,�� said Lan Zhan, injecting frost into his voice to deter any further attempts at charm. “I’ll be focusing on my research.” Wei Ying cocked his head. “Research?” he said. “Mm. I’m a cultivation researcher, not a department employee. I’m reconstructing the ancient musical cultivation techniques of the Lan clan.” _ Lan Zhan’s new liaison at the Caiyi Municipal Cultivation Department is an enigma – ridiculously talented, yet somehow content with mopping up spiritual pests for barely above minimum wage. Wei Ying is slapdash and irresponsible, and Lan Zhan doesn’t like him at all… but then he meets A-Yuan, who loves music and longs for a piano his father can’t afford. Forced into cautious friendship by a four-year-old's music lessons, Lan Zhan soon realises Wei Ying is more than he seems. The single father is a man of many secrets – including, perhaps, the key to Lan Zhan's life's work. And in the meantime, the background resentment in Caiyi Town is rising to dangerous levels…

NOTES: Interesting take on modernish (fantasy modern?) rogue demonic cultivator WY protecting the Wens (also including Baba WY- which has my entire heart to begin with). A bonus is that this fic ft's a smitten Wangji. This fic is also lovely in the MDZS way in that characters go through a dramatic worldview shift via one messy man.

3 Hanlong (282550 words) by micratus

Chapters: 104/104 Rating: Explicit Additional Tags: Case Fic, Cloud Recesses Study Arc (Modao Zushi), But not only Cloud Recesses, Slow Burn, Oblivious Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Drunken Shenanigans, References to Drugs, Canon-Typical Violence, Action & Romance, WangXian, with non-explicit SangCheng, Eventual Smut, Alternate Universe - Reincarnation, Wei Wuxian Protests Too Much, Humor, This is a translation, Modern with Cultivation, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Some guys find redemption here Summary: This is a translation of Ханьлун by Alexandra Kreuz. Now includes the second EXTRA chapter! Modern China AU. Wei Wuxian's morning started not with a cup of coffee, but with a forced business trip to the outskirts of China to deal with a strange influx of walking dead. That alone would have been fine, if his case partner wasn't that cold fish Lan Wangji. Yes, the same boring stick-in-the-mud Lan Zhan, with whom he has had an uneasy relationship when they studied together at the Cultivation Academy and whom he hadn't seen for more then five years…

NOTES: This fic was a great modern casefic with oblivious WY and I loved that WangXian has a past together. I will say it feels a little OOC at times, but I think this is mostly due to it being a translated fic. I enjoyed the story though!

4 All Old Things are New Again (51656 words) by The Feels Whale

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Mature Additional Tags: Reincarnation, Modern Setting, canon still happened, extreme post canon, Sugar Daddy, Kink Negotiation, gentle dom!LWJ, canonical levels of consent play, Modern Cultivators, cultivators can recognize important people from previous lives, vaguely, this started out as a cute sugar fantasy and got just incredibly horny very fast, blame LWJ Series: Part 1 of All Old Things Are New Again Summary: Full-time necromancer and part-time cam boy, Wei Wuxian, finds himself unexpectedly homeless. An enthusiastic patron comes to his rescue. Conversely: Immortal Cultivator Lan Wangji has been waiting a long time for his deceased husband to be reincarnated again. In retrospect, he should have anticipated that this is how it would go.

Noted: Okay I LOVED this fic! Such a cool take on modern cultivation and Soulmate Au's. My heart for Lan Zhan in this fic- poor boy has been searching through time for his love's reincarnation. I also am a fan of sexworker/cam au's and this one is solid.

5 A Haunting Love (64621 words) by Selenay, omegas_m

Chapters: 8/8 Rating: Explicit Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Modern Cultivation, Writer Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Ghost Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, But Is He Really?, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Falling In Love, Angst with a Happy Ending, Self-Discovery, Family Secrets, Embedded Images Summary: When Lan Zhan moved into Gentian Cottage, he was looking for a quiet home and a fresh perspective on life. He didn't expect his new home to be occupied by a ghost who was anything but quiet, or to be pulled into a century-old mystery. Lan Zhan is about to discover that the world is stranger than he'd ever imagined and romance isn't just a genre on his bookshelf.

NOTES: This fic is a little more loosely modern day cultivator. There are cultivators but Lan Zhan does not know he is one- it'll make sense. Anyways! This is one of a couple ghost WangXian fics that I love. The backstory is tragic as hell, but the ending is happy I promise.

6 your love, unmoved (82820 words) by TheOtherAsianKid, ravenditefairylights

Chapters: 3/3 Rating: Mature Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Sickfic, Family Bonding, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Fake Marriage, Identity Porn, Age Difference, Hospitalization, Unreliable Narrator, Domestic Fluff, Mutual Pining, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Nonbinary Lan Yuan | Lan Sizhui, Hurt/Comfort, Single Parent Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Miscommunication, Canon-Typical Violence, slaps fic this bad boy can fit so many tropes into it, Implied Sexual Content Summary: Lan Wangi's life is very simple, and because of that it's also very predictable. He's a respected cultivator in his thirties, with a son and a class of Lan disciples to teach. And then he becomes Lan Wangji, a respected cultivator in his thirties, with a son, a class of Lan disciples to teach and a fake husband who thinks he doesn't remember their wedding because of the accident, and Lan Wangji doesn't quite know how to tell him that there was no wedding at all. Wei Ying is not predictable. Wei Ying is the farthest thing from predictable; which is only confirmed when it turns out that he's been doing some lying of his own. In Lan Wangji's opinion though, neither that nor the conspiracy Wei Ying is trying to uncover matter as much as how his eyes crinkle at the corners when he laughs.

NOTES: Okay what I love the most about this fic is that WangXian are disasters. The miscommunication is WILD. But it's worth it in the end! The fact that they are both hiding the same things from eachother and that the tropes are TROPING. So much in this fic, it truly is a wild ride.

7 Red Is Just Black Remembering (41272 words) by Zizzani

Chapters: 4/4 Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, No Archive Warnings Apply Additional Tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Fluff, Homophobia, Necromancy, Alternate Universe - Ghosts, Ghosts, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, all my modern fics are set in Canada just fyi, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sharing a Bed, this is really just very sweet and kinda sad Series: Part 1 of Post Ghost Summary: Which is why Wei Wuxian is severely annoyed that one the first day moving in, there's a translucent man staring out his bedroom window. "Are you kidding me?!" Wei Wuxian huffs, voice bouncing down the landing as he drops his bags with a thud at the top of the stairs. The man turns from where he's been staring through the dusty pane and looks directly at Wei Wuxian. Their gazes meet and the man's eyes widen like saucers. In a deep, disbelieving voice, he murmurs, "You can see me?" "Nope!" Wei Wuxian announces and turns around to march right back down the stairs. It’s stupid, really. The man is already waiting at the bottom of the staircase when Wei Wuxian gets there. Wei Wuxian stops dead, eyeing the spectre. The man's eyes narrow triumphantly. “You can see me," he states. Wei Wuxian turns around and marches back up the stairs. The man is already there at the top.

NOTES: Another ghost WangXian situation but this time Lan Zhan is dead. This fic is less focused on modern day cultivators but there is still cultivation. I did cry a bunch reading this fic because of homophobia in a historical context surrounding Lan Zhan and his death. It's a really beautiful story though 10/10 would read again.

8 Truth Will Out (when caught on video) - End_OTW_Racism! (178962 words) by KizuKatana

Chapters: 20/20 Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Found family Wei Wuxian & Wen Ning & Wen Qing Additional Tags: Yu Ziyuan Abuses Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, But this time it's caught on video, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Modern Cultivators, Cultivators wear body cameras for training, Partial core removal but Wen Qing makes sure there's a foundation left, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn is expelled from the Jiang Sect, And ends up making money live streaming his nighthunts, meet ugly, Dual Cultivation, Wei Wuxian goes viral, Pretty much all the bad stuff happens in the first 2 chapters, Top Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Bottom Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji Has a Big Dick, And fucks a new core into Wei Wuxian with it, While the Jiang Sect Crumbles, No war, Qi fucking, Found Family Series: Part 1 of Caught in 4k Summary: A night-hunt goes wrong, and Wei Wuxian is scapegoated for the death of the Jiang Sect Leader and the destroyed core of the Jiang Sect Heir. As punishment, his core is taken and given to Jiang Cheng, and he is stripped of his cultivation credentials and expelled from the sect. What everyone forgot was that Wei Wuxian was wearing the standard issue body camera that each cultivator wore on training missions and high-risk night-hunts. Struggling to make ends meet, Wei Wuxian finds his way to Caiyi Town with the doctor who performed the surgery, a partial core still secretly in place. His application to work at Cloud Recesses is summarily rejected by the hard-edged Second Jade of Lan after an unfortunate initial encounter. But things change when someone hacks into the Jiang systems and releases the footage of what happened. [First part of the title is a quote from Shakespeare, but this story is not based on that one!]

NOTES: I'm not going to lie this story was heartbreaking. Wei Wing goes THROUGH IT for most of it, but I promise a happy ending. This is a neat modern cultivator Au in which cultivation sects have their own laws outside of non cultivator governments but a terrible thing happens to WY because Madam Yu is actually incredibly awful which forces some things to happen. Anyways, it has found family, and a new golden core (of course created most consensually with Lan Zhan).

9 The Shade of Old Trees (363665 words) by Kryal

Chapters: 25/25 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Graphic Depictions Of Violence Additional Tags: Ridiculously Long Notes, Alternate Universe - History, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Slow Burn, 300k+ Words, Worldbuilding, Slow Life, Action/Adventure, Magic Returns, BAMF Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Summary: “We rest in the shade of trees our ancestors planted.” They called the man in the ice Yiling Laozu, after a folk hero associated with the town in the foothills of the mountains where he was found. No one expected him to be alive!

NOTES: This fic was so damn cool. Like both literally (magic ice man) and the most rad plot. It is sort of modern cultivator? They are no longer a thing but maybe might also be a thing, but the man in ice is definitely a cultivator. What really is exceptional with this fic are the author notes!!! So in depth, so many sources, I love it when I can see what shaped the authors choices.

10 Echoes of Love (212176 words) by Witch_Nova221

Chapters: 32/32 Rating: Mature Additional Tags: Romance, Eventual Romance, Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Friends to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, university lecturer Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Get a Happy Ending, Dark Baoshan Sanren, Amnesia, Memory Loss, 1980s music, Lan Zhan loves all things 80s, Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race, Canon-Typical Violence, References to Torture, Murder, Blood, Blood and Injury, Implied Sexual Content, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Mystery, Nova's Give Lan Zhan friends of his own agenda Series: Part 1 of A Never Ending Story Summary: 'Somehow I knew, that day back at Churchill, I knew you were someone essential to me. That part of you was reaching out to a part of me and now I know why.' When Wei Ying fell he was ready to die. To die and to let the world forget him but someone had other ideas. Now, stranded in 21st Century England, he finds himself without a common language, friends or even any memory of who he was before. Luck alone brings him to the steps of Churchill College and to the attention of a young Professor Lan Zhan; expert in ancient pottery and fine art, champion rower, and lover of all things 1980s. With his new friend at his side, Wei Ying begins to navigate his new world in the hope of finding his place in it but echoes of the past are never far behind.

NOTES: Dang this is another fic that has me sobbing but the story was very good! Sort of modern cultivators- they are there but also not... this fic has a bit of everything; amnesia, time travel, 80's music, dragon boat racing, reincarnation- literally whatever you'd like. I will wanr though- when the tag says Dark Baoshan Sanren they are not joking she was vile. This fic does have a happy ending but at what cost.

BONUS FIC!

+1 The Festival of the Yiling Patriarch (1059 words) by sami

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Relationships: Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Wēn Qíng/Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Lán Huàn | Lán Xīchén, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn & Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī - Relationship Additional Tags: stories about stories, a centuries-long game of telephone, best boy Lan Sizhui Series: Part 21 of The Same Moon Shines, Part 1 of ridiculous future bullshit Summary: Stories change over time. Sometimes they have help.

NOTES: Okay hear me out. This series is part of like 2 other series and there are so many fics in the multiple series that it totally hits the long form category. Anyways, this series follows immortal cultivators in modern day (also through time) and is a bunch of little glimpses into their lives. They are CHAOTIC and hilarious and joyous. I highly recommend starting at the very beginning of these with the time travel fix it and working through them all. you will not be disappointed.

[rosethornewrites]

Fic: this body yet survives, ch. 17

Relationship: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

Characters: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Lán Huàn | Lán Xīchén, Lán Qǐrén, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín, Jiāng Yànlí, Su She | Su Minshan, Madam Jin, Jin Zixuan, Wen Qing, Jiāng Fēngmián, Niè Huáisāng, Wen Ning | Wen Qionglin, Wen Ruohan

Tags: No War AU, Recovery, Trauma, Dissociation, Courtship, Courting Rituals, Near Death Experiences, Attempted Murder, Eventual Happy Ending, Panic Attacks, Vomiting, Siblings, Protective Siblings, Soup, Triggers, Protective Lan WangJi, Protective Lán Qǐrén, Yúnmèng Siblings Dynamics, Bad Parent Yú Zǐyuān, POV Third Person, POV Lan WangJi, reference to poisoning, reference to assassination, Reference to chronic illness, reference to infanticide, Depression, Minor Injuries, Painting, Gift Giving, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn Has a Fear of Dogs, Good Sibling Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín, Good Sibling Jiāng Yànlí, BAMF Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jealous Su She | Su Minshan, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Protection Squad

Summary: Birthdays and brotherhoods.

Notes: See end.

Parts 1 & 2

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

AO3 link

——————

Wei Ying’s birthday celebration was low-key, celebrated with Wen Ning, Wen Qing, and Nie Huaisang, who had bullied his brother until he was allowed to visit the Cloud Recesses for it under the care of a steward of the sect. The Nie heir showed up as they ate a late lunch and insisted on eating with them, even pulling out packages of food he’d purchased in town to supplement the lunch Jiang Yanli made.

Nie Huaisang pouted when he learned that Wei Ying was swearing brotherhood again with someone not him, and was only appeased by the offer to swear brotherhood with him as well.

It was appropriate, as the numerology of a two person brotherhood was “easy,” and Lan Wangji imagined such a brotherhood would be easy for Wei Ying. Similarly, a three-person brotherhood with the Wens was apt, with one aspect of the numerology being “health,” given Wen Qing was Wei Ying’s doctor.

A four-person brotherhood was unlucky, sounding like and associated with death, and out of the question.

Off and on all afternoon while they all visited, Jiang Yanli cooked up a feast to serve for dinner. Wei Ying successfully ate his longevity noodles without breaking them. The time passed quickly, with Wei Ying contributing to the conversations and even initiating them, so much more comfortable around people than he had been, and this was blessedly a good day.

By hai shi he was falling asleep, used to the Lan schedule now, and the Wens excused themselves, leaving a gift of copies of rare books on talismans from the Wen library.

“Unc—Uncle thought you might… might enjoy them,” Wen Ning said, clearly happy with Wei Ying’s enthused response.

“No other library in the jianghu has these books,” Wen Qing added. “He fully expects that you’ll build on these to create worthwhile talismans. Write a book yourself—you have the talent.”

Wei Ying could only blush at her kind words, if delivered brusquely.

“Ah, Qing-jie, I knew you liked me!”

“You grow on people like mold,” she sniffed, rolling her eyes, and Wei Ying laughed.

Nie Huaisang gave more art supplies, including some gold leaf paint he picked up in Lanling.

“I want to commission you more, once you finish Wen-zongzhu’s. I still use the fan you painted for me,” he added, brandishing the fan proudly. “Oh, I wonder if the Nie library has books on talismans? I should ask Dage!”

“Most sects do,” Wei Ying said, his voice a bit distant.

The Jiang had only had his contributions, Lan Wangji had learned, which had been sent with him to Gusu. And now Yunmeng had none.

Lan Wangji worried he might close off, but he shook off the dark emotions quickly as Jiang Yanli pushed a segment of orange into his hand, knowing the smell and taste would help.

“I have some fruit we can enjoy,” she said, distracting everyone effectively as Jiang Wanyin brought in a tray.

Nie Huaisang demurred and excused himself. Jiang Yanli and Lan Wangji kept fruit on Wei Ying’s plate until he protested that he was full.

He had handled having guests well, and Lan Wangji was proud of his fortitude, knowing only weeks ago, with all the stress, he may not have been able to endure. He would still sometimes struggle, but Lan Wangji would be there to help him when he needed it.

After they left, Lan Wangji gifted Wei Ying the blanket he had commissioned, the topside embroidered with panels of the seasons, topped by mountains and clouds, with romantic symbols like a pair of mandarin ducks, butterflies, and two dragons, as well as auspicious ones meant to show how he saw Wei Ying, including a tiger for his bravery and the Four Plants of Virtue. The blanket contained replaceable sachets scented orange and cinnamon so he might feel safe as well as warm. It was also large enough for their marital bed, a reminder that made Lan Wangji’s ears hot with a mixture of anticipation and excitement at his own audacity.

“I’ll use it tonight, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said softly after examining the scene. “It smells so good.”

“It’s beautiful, Wangji,” Jiang Yanli added, wrapping it around Wei Ying’s shoulders.

He was permitted to hug Wei Ying under the keen eyes of their chaperones before Jiang Wanyin shooed him out, citing his brother’s exhaustion.

Lan Wangji dreamt of holding him that night, just holding him close so he would feel safe and warm.

The next day they learned the disciples sent out found the hole-riddled body of Su She, which they took to Caiyi for a pauper’s burial, though the Cloud Recesses was closer—the man had backtracked for an attempt at revenge. The disciples had decided collectively (and correctly) that he should not be interred in the Lan compound after his transgressions. They had performed “Inquiry” to be sure his spirit didn’t linger; it didn’t, Su She being mediocre even at resentment.

Lan Wangji was relieved—the curse had no additional culprit, only a known actor. Wei Ying just sighed and shook his head, but he was clearly relieved not to have to worry about the vicious little man any longer. None of his co-conspirators were found with him, so he likely acted alone. Scouts found that the others had split up and largely already left Gusu, one already joining a remote temple to serve Guanyin, a good outcome out of a bad situation.

The news was balanced out by the swearing of brotherhood, first with the Wen siblings, and then with Nie Huaisang. They all skipped the banquet, but the kitchen insisted on sending a small one to the Jiang guest house to give Jiang Yanli a break from cooking. She was embarrassed, and insisted she didn’t need one, but it was good for her to be able to rest.

They provided more than simply Lan fare, having brought dishes from Qishan and Qinghe into the banquet, and Lan Wangji noticed Wei Ying stuck to those dishes, particularly enthused by a spicy soup dish Wen Qing identified as hulatang and a Qinghe specialty with braised chestnuts and pork. Also included were hot dry noodles popular in Yunmeng, among other dishes from that area.

He wondered if Jiang Yanli would teach him to prepare his favorites, as he had no desire to make Wei Ying eat what he did not enjoy, and resolved to ask her.

The beginning of the meal was silent, and involved tasting the various dishes, from mutton-stuffed baozi to yangrou paomo to pearl meatballs. Sweeter dishes included rose mirror cakes, tofu jelly, and red date soft candy. The spread was incredible in its array of flavors, and Lan Wangji found himself deviating from the traditional Lan fare in favor of some of them. It didn’t take too long for conversation to pick up as they ate.

Nie Huaisang made sure to point out that Wei Ying was his didi based on age.

“After all, it was my third time at the lectures and only your first when we met,” he said jovially.

“You just want me to call you Gege, Nie-xiong.”

“Of course!” he said, without shame. “And you get an extra gege with Dage! He really respects you.”

They were wonderfully distracted, speaking of happier days past, of the summer of their adolescence that had brought them together. Had brought Wei Ying into Lan Wangji’s life, tearing through his boundaries with his beautiful smile.

Again, Wei Ying handled having guests well, though he looked apologetically relieved when the Wen siblings excused themselves early, citing their plan to begin their travels back to Nightless City the next morning.

“I’m happy you came to celebrate with me, Didi,” Wei Ying said. “I didn’t expect you at all!”

“Shu… Shushu asked that it b-be kept secret in case I could… couldn’t.”

Nie Huaisang stayed only a bit longer, and Lan Wangji didn’t miss the surreptitious passing of a qiankun pouch, which undoubtedly contained more spring books.

“I’m so glad you look well; much better than my last visit,” the Nie heir said, patting Wei Ying’s arm. “I can’t stay longer—Meng Yao is my escort and he’s Dage’s right-hand man, so we need to get back to Qinghe.”

Wei Ying smiled at him, the pouch disappearing into his robes.

“I’m glad you came, Sang-ge, and I’m glad I can call you ge now.”

“Me too, Didi. You deserve more family, and now you almost have us in all the major sects,” he replied with a smile. “Except the Lan, but your future husband is here.”

He excused himself to return to his guest quarters.

“You do deserve more family, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli echoed after his departure. “More people to support you.”

Lan Wangji stayed until shortly before hai shi, when Wei Ying was visibly drooping from the busy and emotional day.

They saw their visitors off at the front gate the next day, and the next several weeks were spent in peace. The family held a small private celebration for Jiang Wanyin’s birthday, and Lan Wangji gifted him stationery to write with, including new, decent-quality brushes. Xiongzhang and Shufu gifted him a weiqi set and a book about historical sect leaders, respectively. Wei Ying found a book involving lotus farming at the Caiyi bookseller during one of their trips, and gifted that without reading it, unsure whether it was a guide, novel, or book of poetry—Jiang Wanyin hid it away in a qiankun bag immediately for Wei Ying’s comfort, and would only find out when he returned to Lotus Pier.

“It doesn’t matter—if it’s about lotuses you need to read it,” Wei Ying said. “You’ll be sect leader, after all.”

The auger provided Shufu with a list of auspicious dates, and one was chosen for after the new year, the soonest available. Lan Wangji was more excited than he could properly express—not only would Wei Ying be his husband, joining him in the Jingshi permanently, but he would be safer with the title of Lan-er-furen. It was title Lan Qiren had mentioned could be altered as it had not been used in more than a generation, but Wei Ying had insisted upon it happily and proclaimed he would fulfill the appropriate role with its associated responsibilities.

Lan Wangji’s ears were hot for quite some time at the implied sexual connotation, which Wei Ying didn’t seem to know he had made.

Wedding invitations were written, with the hiccup that it was not possible to avoid inviting Jiang Fengmian for political reasons, though Yu Ziyuan’s ban from the Cloud Recesses would stand. Lan Wangji knew it was because he was a high-ranking member of the Lan clan and thus his marriage was considered a major event, and he hated it.

“You don’t have to serve him tea,” Wei Ying said softly, trying to soothe him, he was so good. “He will just be a guest and we don’t have to talk to him. Lan-xiansheng can examine whatever gift he gives before it reaches us.”

He would serve tea to the Jiang siblings, and to the tablets of Wei Ying’s parents, and Wei Ying would serve Xiongzhang and Shufu, as well as his parents’ tablets. That was acceptable.

Wei Ying otherwise spent much of his time painting or working on talismans, going back to the quiet productivity he’d displayed consistently since he’d started to truly heal, and the four of them spent many quiet afternoons in his workshop. At times he tutored disciples in sword forms, always happy to teach any who asked. Jiang Wanyin, Shufu told him, had suggested over tea that Wei Ying would be an effective archery instructor, something he was considering asking of him after the wedding.

The relative quietude was only interrupted by his siblings taking him to the most renowned clothier in Caiyi to commission wedding robes—far less harrowing an event, considering. His siblings were being very secretive about them, even to Wei Ying.

“They won’t tell me anything about them,” Wei Ying groused over tea with Lan Tayi, who clearly found the whole thing amusing. “I’m to wear a blindfold when we get to fittings, even!”

In truth, Lan Wangji had heard only of the custom of the couple being unable to see each other’s robes prior to the wedding, not that oneself couldn’t see their own robes. He wondered if the Jiang siblings wanted Wei Ying to be as surprised by his appearance as he would be, perhaps to heighten the joy of the wedding.

When he said as much, Wei Ying smiled at the idea, and Lan Wangji honestly didn’t think they could possibly make him more beautiful than he already was.

Nearing the winter festival, Wei Ying had a breakthrough with the talismans Madam Jin had commissioned, completing one that lit up red when two people who were related held it when it was activated, and black when they were unrelated.

“Red for good fortune, black for neutrality,” he clarified when he demonstrated the talisman using the Jiang siblings and then Lan Zhan and Xiongzhang. “It would light up a dimmer red if Xiansheng held it with one of you, too.”

He was still working on one that would find relatives in the first place, hoping to modify the talisman he and Lan Tayi had created to reveal Su She.

“They would have to be very close by, and I guess that would be up to Jin-furen to arrange. It’d be easier if I could make something like a compass, but that wouldn’t work for blood… energy would be easier to detect that way…”

He presented the talisman to Jin Zixuan upon his next visit to Jiang Yanli and explained its use.

“Muqin has a list of people to verify already, so she’ll be very happy to have this talisman,” Jin Zixuan said with a smile.

Wei Ying looked a little surprised by the Jin heir’s happiness, and he clarified:

“I’ve always wished for siblings; I was jealous that everyone else seemed to have them but me. I don’t know that it will go well, but I want to try to do right by them.”

Jiang Yanli looked at him with love in her expression, clearly pleased with his desire to be a devoted brother. From what Lan Wangji had seen, she valued such devotion, and it certainly implied the sort of husband and father he would ultimately become.

Jin Zixuan blushed a bit under her gaze, but continued.

“I would have been happy to swear brotherhood with both of you, but you’ll be my jiuzimen soon enough. It’s good that you have ties to all the major clans, Wei Wuxian. You have more stability in terms of reputation and prestige.”

Lan Wangji understood he was referring to the rumors his father was a servant rather than a disciple, completely ignoring that Baoshan Sanren was his grandmaster through his mother. The jianghu gentry liked to tear down those with what they deemed inferior blood, despite the fact that Wei Wuxian was one of the most promising cultivators of their generation.

“You… really? Even though I punched you?” Wei Ying asked, baffled.

“I’ve said before that I deserved it,” Jin Zixuan said, flushing. “You’re the brother of my beloved’s heart, and you were defending her honor.”

Wei Ying rubbed his finger against his nose, a nervous habit, then nodded.

“I guess you’ll be my jiefu too, then, not just Jiang Cheng’s,” Wei Ying said with a smile, before changing the subject by explaining how he had come up with the talisman.

Most of the explanation clearly went over Jin Zixuan’s head, but he nodded along and asked pertinent, if rudimentary, questions.

They enjoyed a quiet meal thanks to Jiang Yanli before Jin Zixuan left for Lanling, promising that payment would be forthcoming, something that left Wei Ying looking perplexed.

“It’s weird to have people paying for my talismans,” he murmured as they walked back to the Jiang guest quarters. “I always just gave mine to Jiang… to Jiang-zongzhu.”

“I don’t think A-Die ever sold your talismans like the Lan have—he just put them in the library,” Jiang Yanli said after a minute. “Unless you trained disciples to use them, they simply sat on a shelf.”

“They should have been used and sold, and you should’ve gotten a percentage,” Jiang Wanyin said, his voice strained. “But Muqin…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but such a thing would have incensed Yu-furen and made Wei Ying even more of a target. For some reason, his success in anything was reason for her to punish him, he’d told Lan Wangji once.

“He sent them with Shufu when Wei Ying came to the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Wangji said. “They should be among the qiankun bags from Lotus Cove.”

“A-Xian should find them and let Lan-xiansheng help decide what to do with them, then,” Jiang Yanli said, taking Wei Ying’s arm in her own. “Xianxian will be a wealthy man.”

“Xianxian is only three,” he said, leaning against her like a child. “Xianxian doesn't know what to do with that much money.”

Shufu had shown him the summary of his earnings over tea the day before, and it had shocked him.

“Use it on what you want,” Jiang Wanyin said. “Spoil yourself. Buy all the books and trinkets you want, eat all the food you want, wear nice clothes.”

“Even with that, it’s a lot,” Wei Ying protested. “Just what Jin-furen is paying… And she insisted on the price, not me!”

He seemed overwhelmed, and Lan Wangji knew it was because he never had much money—the Jiang had paid for anything he picked up at market, but he wasn’t a spendthrift. Likely if he had been there would have been consequences.

“It’s a lot,” he said again. “How does one go from the streets to riches? If you told me back then…”

He let the thought trail off as they reached the guest house. Jiang Wanyin made tea while Jiang Yanli put together plates of snacks.

“You will eventually decide what to spend your money on,” Lan Wangji said as they sat together at the table, discreetly holding hands underneath.

“Knowing him, it’ll be food for street kids,” Jiang Wanyin commented as he set a tray with the teapot and cups on the table.

Wei Ying startled a little, then tapped his nose as he thought. It was clear Jiang Wanyin had suggested something that appealed to him.

“An orphanage,” he said finally, his voice a whisper. “Something to help street kids. Shelter and food. Safety.”

He paused, silent for a moment as though seeking the right words.

“A future.”

“Oh, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli breathed as she surged forward to embrace him. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

Lan Wangji’s heart ached for him, for his selflessness and beautiful desire to make the world a better place. This was the boy he’d fallen in love with.

“I will help. We will speak to Shufu. He will help, too. It is a righteous project.”

He squeezed Wei Ying’s hand under the table and received a return squeeze. He would support his husband in anything he wished to accomplish, for the rest of their lives.

—————

So this is 17 chapters just like “the thing with feathers,” which is funny. I intend to write a follow-up fic with the wedding at some point, but this is nearly the end of the series. Please feel free to check out my other fics while you wait.

I’m doing somewhat better health-wise. Healed from the gallbladder removal and infection, anyway. Still fatigued, but at least I’m writing.

a-die = dad

didi = younger brother

furen = madam

ge = older brother

hai shi = 9-11pm

hulatang = spicy/hot pepper soup

jiefu = elder sister’s husband

jiuzimen = plural of jiuzi, meaning wife’s younger brother

muqin = mother (formal)

shushu = uncle

xiansheng = teacher

xiong = brother

xiongzhang = older brother

yangrou paomo = flatbread soaked in mutton broth

zongzhu = sect leader

[aitchnkay]

Jiang Gunian Made A Change Part 20

Jiang YanLi read the first letter from her brother three times before folding it in her lap and sending a runner to find the Lan sect leader. "Lan ZongZhu," she sighed. "Would you please put up a silencing talisman? What this letter contains needs to be kept between us for the moment." He complied, and she handed the paper over.

"'Dearest ShiJie,'" Lan XiChen read out loud. "'I hope this letter finds you well and that not too many disciples are in the infirmary from fighting. Please let the peacock know we found his mother.'" Lan XiChen looked up. "They found Jin Furen? Excellent."

"Keep reading," Jiang YanLi admonished.

"'She's safe, as are the rest of the two hundred missing Jin women and disciples. They've been leaving Lanling a few at a time so as to not expose themselves to the Wen guarding the city gates. Most of the cultivators are headed to Lotus Pier while the civilians are supposed to go to the MeishanYu. Jin Furen insists that she will be in the last group heading out, so I think it will be over a month before she's safe in Lotus Pier.'

"'Please don't tell the peacock where I found Jin Furen: a brothel.'" Lan XiChen looked up again, ears and cheeks turning pink. "A brothel? What are our brothers doing in a brothel?"

Her cheeks were gaining color, too. "Keep reading."

"'I know you're going to ask why we're in a brothel. I'll explain later. Jin Furen made arrangements to hide the girls and women of Koi Tower immediately after the peacock took his people to hide with us. Jin ZongZhu thought they would evade any repercussions for the peacock not attending the Indoctrination session because he's an arrogant prick. Jin Furen was positive they would be attacked and subjugated next because of the insult. Jin Furen is much smarter than her husband; I quite like her. She made arrangements with various pleasure houses in Lanling to hide the women and their guards. Every day a group of three or four leave the city, different gates each time. A small family heading home after visiting their parents. Or newlyweds moving to a new home. So far, no one has been stopped. I think either the gate guards are unable to sense spiritual energy, or the Jin purposefully blocked their own spiritual energy to pass.'

"'Living in the brothel gives Jin Furen an incredible amount of information. She and some of the older women hide behind a thick veil and cheap skirts and ply the Wen soldiers with bad wine until they're drunk. Then they dig for information about troop movements. I'll include a map of where we think Wen troops are currently stationed. Wen Chao is leading troops towards Lotus Pier while Wen Xu is leading his troops to the Unclean Realm. Jin Furen thinks both sons are going to attack simultaneously.' If they do," Lan XiChen added, "That will make aiding each other impossible. On both sides."

"The Wen brothers can't leave to support each other's battles means... what? They are confident that they are each capable of overrunning the Jiang and Nie armies?"

"It certainly seems so." Lan XiChen returned to the letter. "Jin Furen hopes to have her people in Lotus Pier before Wen Chao attacks. She recommends that you send support to Nie ZongZhu. Wen RuoHan shouldn't know about us. She thinks he thinks all the heirs are hiding out together, but she thinks that he thinks there are only perhaps a hundred disciples with the heirs.'

"'Lan Zhan says his brother should send a letter to Cloud Recesses requesting their assistance at either Lotus Pier or the Unclean Realm. I advocate for hit-and-run attacks on the main armies or scouting parties.'" Lan XiChen put the letter down. "We should talk with the other heirs about what we should do."

Jiang YanLi nodded. "I'm sure Meng Yao will have suggestions worth listening to."

"Mmm. 'As for how Lan Zhan and I ended up in a brothel? We were in Lanling, and a pair of Wen soldiers looked like they were overly interested in us. The closest public building happened to be a brothel. We took refuge, flirting with the ladies there. Yes, Shijie, I flirted with the ladies; Lan Zhan just smirked and pretended to drink wine. He spilled it down the front of his robes. So, of course, he needed to change, and I wasn't going to let him wander around a pleasure house without me. Not the way he was acting.'

"Which leads me, us, to our current predicament. Not all the wine was wasted. He must have drank a few cups because he fell asleep at the table for a while. When he woke up, he got up and started exploring the place, saying he was dirty and needed to change. I asked the Madame for a room, and she sent us to one.... ShiJie... I have never been so embarrassed in my life.'

"'It was a room designed for men to pleasure each other! Lan Zhan wasn't embarrassed at all! He looked at the pictures on the walls and in the spring books as if they were art, and sniffed every bottle of oil to find one he liked.'" Lan XiChen folded the paper and fanned himself with it. "I should have warned Wei Gongzi that we Lan have almost no tolerance for alcohol. My apologies, Jiang Guniang, for my brother's actions."

She smiled. "No apologies are necessary. Keep reading."

"'He pocketed the oil, which apparently reminded him that he was wet from the spilled wine, and he proceeded to... I suppose I shouldn't tell you everything that he did. Let's just say he was not himself at all. No sense of propriety.'

"'I think we're engaged? At one point, he took his forehead ribbon out and tied it around my wrist. Can you ask Lan XiChen about that? Lan Zhan looked so embarrassed when he woke up this morning and saw my wrist still tied with his ribbon.' Engaged?" Lan XiChen moaned. "My uncle will kill him. There are...." His words trailed off.

"Yes, there are," Jiang YanLi agreed. "I will expect a marriage contract from you soon. I had thought we'd have time after they returned to make arrangements. When has A'Xian ever done anything in a proper manner?" She laughed. "It appears your brother is like that, too. It should make for an interesting start to their marriage."

"You aren't opposed to a cut sleeve marriage?"

"It is obvious that they care deeply for each other, Lan ZongZhu. I find that more important than their gender." She whisked the letter out of the sect leader's hands. "I can expect you to hold confidential matters confidential?" He nodded. "Good. Please end the silence spell, and I'll call for a sect heir meeting to discuss our next steps."

[truly-morgan]

[Kinktober 2021: NTR (18+)]

ZhanCheng | Mo Dao Zu Shi Modern AU 11-10-2021

Day 10: [NTR] / T̷e̷m̷p̷e̷r̷a̷t̷u̷r̷e̷ ̷P̷l̷a̷y̷ / S̷e̷l̷f̷c̷e̷s̷t

Lan Xichen is the best husband, but he cannot be rough enough in bed for Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian is all that he ever wanted, but he is not submissive enough in bed for Lan Zhan.

====

Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji truly wanted to stay true and loyal to their husbands, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. They both truly loved them, honestly, no one could have been better than them. But... Sometimes the best everyone where else was not so good when came time for bedroom fun. 

Jc was happy with how attentive and good lxc was to him, he felt like he had never been loved by anyone like that. Lxc was ready to do anything not to hurt him.

But sometimes when they were getting more passionate jc wanted for him to be... rougher. He wanted to be manhandled, he wants for someone to take control fully, to tell him what to do, to punish him if he doesn’t listen.

It took jc years to come to terms with the fact he was this submissive in bed, he truly like it, like how he could fall into a subspace and just forget about everything that made him anxious. He trusted lxc and would be more than happy to let him do whatever I wanted to.

But his husband was rather scared to be too rough, scared he would hurt him for real or that jc would not like it. He did try to be rougher, but the man couldn’t stop himself from being soft. Sure, jc could run with that, but sometimes the need to be dominated properly was heavily there.

Lwj was more than happy to have the person he has been in love with for so long as his husband now. He loved his creative mind, how he always helped him try out new things, how he was able to understand and read him so easily. But in bed, it was not always as he would love it to be. Wwx was not interested in BDSM much, unable to really submit to him. The most they did were roleplays that were not necessarily what lwj was looking for.

He wanted wwx to submit to him, to slowly turn pliant to his orders, begging for him when he was not giving him what he wanted, to punish him when he didn't listen.  But he did not do that because he wouldn't force wwx to do something he would not enjoy.

Then they both ended up attending the same four days business conference in Lanling. It was a big event so it was not surprising to see each other, although they didn't expect to be in the same hotel.

“What do you mean there is no room to my name" frowned lwj as he was told that his reservation was non-existent and that all their rooms were booked. He tried asking if it might be under his husband's name, but still nothing.

“Having room problem?” jc asked with a sneer. His smile didn’t die down even with the glare he received from lwj, as it was not a common sight to see either of the jade brother failing at organisation.

Yet lwj didn’t give him more attention, looking on his phone if any hotel had a free room, although the conference seemed to have caused everything to be booked.

Jc waited a bit, before sighing a bit. He had started to be on... friendlier terms with wwx after his sudden return. If he wanted to keep it up, he might as well do so by starting to not get annoyed at the very sight of his husband.

“If you do not mind taking the couch, I can let you stay in my room” jc suggested, already turning to the receptionist so she could give a key to lwj.

“I will be troubling you then,” lwj said with a slightly forced smile, not ready to refuse the suggestion, especially when he needed a room anyway and wasn’t necessarily wanted to go somewhere shady either.

Then they went all evening not talking to each other, only messaging and calling their husbands to say how the flight went and to pass the time. Same thing once the conference started, only a small good day when lwj went out before him in the morning and nothing more.

But when jc went back to the hotel room that night, it was another story. He had a bit too much to drink after following some seniors. Admittedly he should have stopped a bit earlier.

He greeted lwj, going to the other side of the room, fighting with his own clothing that wouldn’t open correctly. He started talking about his day, more out of habit than anything as he also cursed about the damn button on this shirt.

All the while lwj was trying to stop him to help (if he was going to be stuck with his husband's childhood friend, he might as well try to be on good terms). “Sit.” he said firmly, accidentally using the same ton he would use in the past when he would do scenes with subs.

He did /not/ expect for jc to suddenly drop to the ground at the sudden order, eyes growing suddenly wide at what he just did, blushing deeply. When he tried to stand up lwj stopped him, looking down at the blushing man. Something sparked in him. This is what he had been looking for in the past years. 

“kneel,” he asked this time, jc quickly moving to kneel in front of him, looking up at him, something in his eyes telling him he was waiting for more.

Lwj went to touch his cheek, his thumb running over his lips. “Who would have thought that my brother’s husband was so obedient when you use the correct tone” he said, gaining a quiet whine from jc who tried looking away, only for his jaw to be grabbed, forcing him to look up again.

“I don’t hate it, being on your knee like this suits you well,” he said, making the other man react again. 

They both knew they should snap out of it right now, they were both married.

But lwj missed someone being submissive to him; 

But jc wanted to know what it was really like to let someone dom him. 

“The safeword?” lwj asked before he would go further, “Red” was the answer he received, nodding as it seemed good to him. Now they could go.

Soon his fingers were holding onto jc hair, the man's pretty lips around his dick, happily letting him fuck his mouth like he wanted to, jc’s hips moving as he tried to grind against his own hand through his now too tight slack.

“No touching” lwj ordered, feeling more than hearing the whine and moan of jc protesting his order, yet his hands still moved away, trying to keep his hips from moving. “Good boy” he praised, jc moaning again at this, the look in his eyes simply too great. So praising, was it?

“a-yin is doing a great job, if he keeps being a good boy I will reward him, you are a good boy aren’t you?”. Jc tried nodding while sucking him eagerly, wanting to be called a good boy again and be rewarded for being a good boy. “Then be a good boy and swallow everything, then I’ll reward you”.

And jc did it, swallowing every drop that was given to him, showing him that nothing was left. He was then looking up expectantly at lwj, wanting his reward and praise after doing what he was told to do. And he got it, lwj getting caressing his cheek calling him a good boy again, helping him up and trapping him between his body and the wall. “Now you can cum” he says, his legs going up between his leg, jc quickly starts to grind against him. He would probably need to get his clothes cleaned before going home, but it was alright.

He was quick to come too, especially with the sweet praises whispered directly into his ear, not used to this kind of feeling. “Please fuck me” he begged, hips still stuttering against him, firm hand on them making him stop. He truly wanted those strong hands and arms to simply manhandle him as he wished.

And he got what he asked for. Lwj lifted him without effort, his legs wrapping around his waist by reflex, being carried quickly to the bed. His clothes were quickly taken away (he will probably be able to thank him later for not ruining) them and was soon under the mercy of those hands, searching for anything that would make him moan sweetly under lwj who was still very much clothed.

But soon his teasing became too much, jc wanting more than some teasing, yet those large hands wouldn’t let him try to get what he wanted. He quickly started whining, begging again to be fucked. He did receive a slap on his ass, quieting him down after a moan.

“Gege, please~~” he whined, the name coming to him unconsciously after hearing wwx tease him so many times like this. His breath nearly caught at the look he was given by lwj, not realising he had hit the right place.

Lwj decided it was time to move a bit more, going to his luggage (not without jc begging him to come back) to see if he had some lube they could use (thankfully he always has some in them, a habit of him travelling with wwx).

“Show me how you prepare yourself,” he says, pouring some lube on him and teasing his rim a bit, catching his hand to also lube them. Jc was a bit shy from the request, squeaking a bit when lwj spread his leg to see better, large hand forcing him like this as he simply kneels between them. Yet jc wasn’t going to ignore the order, starting to finger himself, moaning under all the attention he was given, trying to give him a show.

But soon it was starting to be too much, knowing he was getting pretty ready for it not to hurt, lwj was apparently around the same size as his husband and he knew his body well. “Gege pleeease” he whined again, catching onto what would make him cave in.

He had a pleased expression when lwj did so, only to have his smirk whipped away by the sudden intrusion into him, lwj not really giving him time to laugh at his victory.

This is what he had been waiting for. Being fucked into roughly and quickly, large hands on his hips holding him strongly enough to leave behind marks, not being given a chance to catch a breath as lwj seemed to find the perfect angle to torture his prostate.

He didn’t know if the walls were soundproof, but right now he didn’t really care, moaning like he probably never did before, pleasure building off as he was used like this, even enjoying the lips and teeth against his neck, marking him low enough to be hidden, but still high enough that someone could see if he wasn’t careful with his clothes.

When he finally came it came strongly, making him cling onto lwj, tightening around him and receiving all his cum. He felt light and fuzzy afterwards, trying to hide against lwj as he enjoys the feeling.

Lwj pulled out, moving them around so he could hold jc in his arms, keeping him close as he slowly came down from his high, patting his hair as he was whispering how good he did.

Maybe he was never close to jc before (heck they probably hated each other at some point), but he would never skip aftercare or even just make his partner for the night comfortable.

He had also discovered a new facet of jc he did not know about and something in him wanted more of this.

The next morning was a bit awkward, but despite the fact they knew they should feel guilty for cheating on their respective husband, neither of them actually regretted it: this is the thing they had been looking for for so long.

They decided to do it again until the end of the conference, where they silently agreed to never do such a thing before, to let this die. 

They both knew they wouldn’t keep that promise.

====

(I really like this one tbh sdjfihbfd I feel like I might wanna make a mini-series of "The times where they broke their promise" >:3)

Original - AO3

[ssuminshan-official]

Yao: *runs and hugs Zixuan*

Zixuan: Yaoyao.

Yao: Zishie.

Can you believe what that guangstate did?

Zixuan: oh my, did he hurt you?

Yao: no. He was trying to kidnap A-Song.

Zixuan: the audacity!

Yao: just to hold him at ransom.

Zixuan: our Song'er isn't an object with a price.

Yao: right!

He's a psycho!

Zixuan: do you have a plan to deal with him.

Yao: actually I do.

Let me tell you.

Zixuan: ooo. How mischievous, A-Yao!

Should I go call him?

Yao: nah. I'll ask team dimple.

Zixuan: lol, they will bully him.

Yao: exactly.

Su she: Huangdi!

Xue yang: you called, Jiggy?

Mo xuanyu: wassup Yao gege. Who should we beat up.

Zixuan: aww they came so quick.

Yao: they're always right around the corner.

Xue yang: and stalking you!

We must see you in real time, for scientific reasons.

Yao: *laughing* oh guys.

Yao: can you go call guangshan.

Su she: yea, we'll drag him here!

Yao: lol do whatever. I know that team D hate him.

Xue yang: yea he's the human stress ball.

Yao: oh my. I love it!

.....

Jgs: *scrubbing a pot*

These two evil emperors. They have me working all day like some servant!

Team dimple: *enters*

Xue yang: *grabs his rag*

Su she: *kicked away the pot* oops.

Jgs: oh great! The three terrors. Let me guess, your emperor wants his shoe polished or to serve his tea.

Mo xuanyu: *dumped soy sauce over the floor and on jgs's clothes.* old man.

Jgs: wait till I unalive you bastards!

Su she: you can't touch team dimple.

Xue yang: we can do whatever you want with you. *pulls a sword at his throat*

Jgs: *trembling* can you talk without your sword.

Xue yang: nop.

Su she: the emperors had summoned you.

Jgs: summoned? Do I look like a demon?!

Xue yang: yea, pretty much.

Su she: in JingJing, yes.

Mo xuanyu: they'll pay a lot of money to see the Lanling demon perform.

Jgs: it was sarcasm, you idiots!

Su she: don't keep Huangdi waiting.

Xue yang: the two Huangdis.

~~

On the other side.......

Zixuan and Yao: *sitting and having tea while their attendants fanned them.

Yao: this will definitely make him work harder for us.

This sure will scare him a bit.

Zixuan: correct. Our little plan will set him straight.

*laughing* we're so brilliant.

Yao: *laughing along with him* indeed we are, darling.

Zixuan: Yaoyao, do you want to go strolling later?

Yao: sure. That sounds lovely.

Zixuan: marvelous.

Jgs: *enters* bosses.

Zixuan: now why are you drenched in soy sauce?

Yao: were you having a soy sauce party?

Jgs: that evil team dimple.

Yao: ohh, team dimple. *laughing* they were just messing with you.

No hard feelings.

Do you want me to scold them. Bad team dimple. See, I just did.

Jgs: bosses, what do you want?

Zixuan: well since you didn't serve us to our liking.

Yao: and you're scheming, and backbiting us all the time.

Zixuan: we have decided to.

Jgs: to fire me? Well that's great news!

Yao: no. We're planning to sell you.

Jgs: WHAT?!! ,

Zixuan: we're planning to se--

Jgs: don't say it again!!!

Zixuan: so do you want to be sold to Yaoyao's hulijings? Or my peacocks?

Jgs: you two can't sell me! No! I won't let you sell me!

Yao: why no?!

Jgs: maybe because I'm not an object!

Xue yang: I would like to buy guangpee for 4 taels and a candy wrapper!

Yao: oh look! An auction has started!

*sips tea*

Zixuan: four taels and a candy wrapper. Anything higher?

Su she: I don't want him.

No, I want him in jail.

Mo xuanyu: I want half a billion dollars and therapy.

Yao: perfect!!

Jgs: no way!!

Xue yang: you can still come with me. I might turn you into a fierce corpse. Or maybe preserve your tongue for tea.

Jgs: get you hands off me, you creep!

Xue yang: ohh, I wasn't a creep when you wanted the Yin iron.

Jgs: shhh.

Su she: everyone knows your secret.

Yao: *sips tea*

Zixuan: who are we going to sell him to, Yaoyao.

Do you think the that the theatre wants him?

Yao: of course they would.

Jgs: ok fine emperors! I'll pay your rent ok! Without scamming you or complaining. Don't sell me to those creatures!

Yao: *fake cough*

Jgs: your hulijings!

Yao: fine. *sigh*

Su she: you're spared. Now get out!

Yao: the contract has come to an end

You can go back to Jinlintai. But please pay the rent. We're emperors and entrepreneurs, and the extra money helps with the finances of our empire.

Jgs: *rolls eyes*

Yao: I'll organize a caravan for you.

Zixuan: we have to do that too?

Yao: obviously.

Jgs: why are you nice to me?

I'm getting scared. 

Yao: because I'm happy that you're leaving.

Jgs: there it is.

Yao: good riddance.

Su she: there's the door.

Xue yang: yea! There's the door, b*tch!

Mo xuanyu: don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Xue yang: or clamp on your Dck!

Yao: *laughing* xue yang no. Lol.

Zixuan: *chokes on his tea*

Jgs: ah finally, I'm free from these two and team dimple.

Yes!!! *exits*

Yao: wait wait. You can always come back to sweep the halls. But you won't get paid.

Jgs: *rolls eyes*

Zixuan: and come yo my peacock palace too. You and Zixun will be great gardeners.

Su she: I heard that Xuan Huangdi's garden is 2 acres long.

Mo xuanyu: yea he has the largest garden in the Jianghu, while Yao gege us second largest.

Zixuan: yes of course! We peacocks love to be amongst nature. It's our culture.

Jgs: *sighs* me and my bad luck. *exits*

Zixuan: why is he always grumpy?

Yao: I don't really know.

Zixuan: anyways, Yaoyao. You know I have a teahouse on my garden compound. I renovated it recently

Yao: aww. That's a marvelous idea though. I think I should do the same.

Zixuan: yea Yaoyao. You deserve it.

I'll send some workers to do it for you.

Yao: thank you so much!

Zixuan: anything for my Yaoyao.

@verycatbluebird

[wei--wuxian]

So not so much of a “I wish you’d write” but if it were to tickle ur fancy- mxy/xy modern AU 👀 similar to ur teen wangxian fic but maybe a little older 🤔 brat4brat vibes.

oh HELLO BRAINWORMS

Mo Xuanyu's first week at Lanling High is, in a word, boring.

He's been placed in one of the upper-middle sets for most subjects, full of sensible kids who do the set work and not much else and stop talking the first time they're told off for it. And it's not like he's disruptive -- he'd rather die than draw attention to himself right now, actually -- but it's hilarious to watch another kid rile up the teacher to screaming-shouting-breaking point or shred a worksheet into tiny confetti-pieces on the floor or flick shards of broken ruler across the room into other students' hair --

The point is, the first week is boring.

On the first day of the second week, the whisper at the start of first period is did you hear Xue Yang's back?

Didn't he get kicked out?

No, they sent him to that other school on one of those placements --

I heard he got kicked out of there and that's why he's back --

I saw him in the exclusion room this morning --

Do you think he'll be in lessons?

"Quiet," says the teacher sharply, and right as the whispers begin to settle the door flies open with a bang against the wall that makes Xuanyu startle with a twitch he tries unsuccessfully to hide.

"Did you miss me?" says the boy lounging on the doorframe with his shirt untucked and tie hanging loose around his neck without even an attempt at a knot. He tips his head back against the wall with an insouciant smirk.

Mo Xuanyu slowly pushes his bangs out of his eyes and leans back in his chair, tipping just a little onto two legs instead of four.

"Xue Yang," says the teacher with a smile. "It's good to see you. We have a new seating plan; you'll find your book in the back left corner."

Xue Yang wanders down the central aisle of the classroom with a deliberately careless lack of speed as twenty-nine pairs of eyes track him all the way there. As he passes the corner of the final row he plucks a pen from the unsuspecting pencil case of the girl sitting on the end.

She doesn't say anything. Xue Yang smiles a little wider as he finishes walking to his seat and tips back on it far enough to knock his head against the wall as soon as he's seated.

The teacher makes a silent gesture with her hand after three loud knocks against the back wall of the classroom; a put the chair down movement every student understands.

Xue Yang blinks at her with deliberate lack of comprehension, then turns his face up to stare at the ceiling instead.

The teacher sighs and begins to take the register.

"Hey," says Xue Yang loudly when she's less than halfway through, "are you new?"

He's looking right at Mo Xuanyu -- and now, so is everyone else in the room. The attention prickles on his skin like that one time he discovered he was allergic to the stupid little hairs on kiwi fruits, except at least seventeen times worse.

He nods, because if he speaks it'll definitely come out with something embarrassingly wrong with it, and lets his bangs fall across his face again.

"No speaking during the register," says the teacher. "This is your warning -"

"But what if I want to?"

"...what?"

Xue Yang smiles. "What if I want to speak during the register? I want to say hi to the new kid, it's polite."

A scattering of giggles spreads across the class.

"You have break time for that," says the teacher, and continues with the next name on the list.

[allmydokkuns]

Gonna add real quick too, I agree with all of your points here about both of their perspectives, but I'd like to add also that as little choice WWX and Jiang Cheng have, Jiang Yanli has even less. As an orphaned daughter from a massacred clan, the only non-Jiang support she has is from her mother's sworn sister Madame Jin (and maybe Meishan Yu, depending) re: her past failed betrothal with Jin Zixuan, and I wouldn't put it past Jin Guangshan to immediately nix their eventual marriage if

1) they didn't love each other and Zixuan (and his mother!) wouldn't stand for it,

2) she failed to successfully birth Jin Ling, or

3) the apparent lack of marriageable women in the remaining Great Four main families.

Jiang Cheng has to project the image of compliance and keep his head down not only to keep his sect safe, but both of the two remaining family he has left! And as much shit as WWX may have caused, he loves his shijie and even he would have to know that a temporary (staged) separation is the best way to protect Jiang Yanli, no matter what trauma he might be struggling with re: Jiang Cheng and the golden core incident.

Given Jiang Cheng's political savvy (subtle, but still more effective than Wei "never met a situation that couldn't be escalated" Wuxian), I assume he also thought of this fight as a facade (since he didn't know WWX couldn't recover as fast as he should), and was planning on Jin Zixuan's help re: Lanling Jin to help bring back WWX in the future, which is why Jiang Cheng snuck their sister out in her wedding finery for WWX, because they both! still! considered! him! family!! And it worked since WWX was welcomed to Jin Ling's (100-day) party, at least until Zixuan, uh, you know, got got.

Haha sorry I'm not sure how old this post is, but I just have a lot of feelings on Jiang Cheng always being stuck between a rock and a hard place. He can't protect one sibling without abandoning the other in this situation, and neither can WWX or JYL. Also even if Zixuan didn't die, they would have to somehow convince the rest of the great sects that WWX and the power he controls is no longer a threat to the rest of the jianghu! But that's a post for another time when I'm not rambling on someone else's post (lol).

does jiang cheng have a choice?

antis hate Jiang Cheng for ‘abandoning’ Wei Wuxian, but did he realistically have any other options available? 

for my money, the non-negotiable goals for Jiang Cheng in this situation are

keep Wei Wuxian alive and not in the custody of another clan

ease the pressure from the other clans to take responsibility for/act against Wei Wuxian 

maintain the Jiang clan’s autonomy and standing amongst the clans

and the non-negotiable goals for Wei Wuxian in this situation are

keep Jiang Cheng and the Jiang clan safe, alive, and out of the direct control of other clans (especially the Jin) 

undermine Jiang Cheng’s authority as clan leader as little as possible 

keep the Wen safe, alive, and free (ish– at least as free as they are now) 

continue trying to save Wen Ning/keep him ‘alive’ once he’s revived 

do not reveal to anyone that he has lost his golden core 

do not give anyone the Yin Tiger Tally 

Wei Wuxian returning to the Jiang is off the table because he won’t leave the Wen. Wei Wuxian AND the Wen somehow coming into the custody of the Jiang isn’t possible because Jiang Cheng doesn’t have that much clout, and it’s hard to believe that Wei Wuxian would accept a situation that would necessarily have to look a lot like imprisonment for the Wen if the other clans were going to accept it. so already, the only way for Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian to both achieve some of their key goals is for Wei Wuxian to stay in the Burial Mounds with the Wen somehow– which means the only goals remaining to both of them are ensuring that the Jiang clan doesn’t get punished for that, or placed in a situation where they’re forced to act violently against Wei Wuxian/the Burial Mounds/the Wen (and yes, obviously it comes to that eventually anyway, but a lot changes first). and canon is explicitly clear that the other clans are absolutely not about to let the Jiang off the hook for what Wei Wuxian is doing. they want and need him to turn on Wei Wuxian, and if he won’t, they don’t really care about dragging this decimated, teenager-led clan down with Wei Wuxian. 

the Jiang clan has nothing at this point, barely even a home. even if the other clans were open to reaching a compromise in terms of the Wei Wuxian situation, who on earth is going to believe him if he says, I’ve got the Wei Wuxian situation handled, I’m going to leave him in the Burial Mounds and keep an eye on him, he’s my problem not yours? 

and that’s the final, essential element– Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian are not in a fair fight. the other clans are actively pushing them towards conflict, and won’t accept any outcome besides a complete break, or a complete capitulation by Wei Wuxian. 

maybe I’m just not feeling creative today, but I genuinely can’t come up with a single other solution beyond the one that the two of them find and implement in canon– a fake schism and staged fight. 

[itsyasyall]

a short comic for the amazing fic Four days in Lanling by halotolerant

[rabbitcrimes]

I am obsessed with SangCheng but it only makes sense to me when the dynamic is ‘Jiang Cheng looks too hard at Nie Huaisang’s carefully arranged wrists one time and proceeds to lose control of his life.’ Jc has to be absolutely at the fucking brink and ready to risk life/limb/dignity/the farm/specifically his left leg just to dick down nhs. Jiang Cheng needs to be one fan flick from fucking losing it. Man who has one primary emotion and is extremely set in his ways finally driven insane by hot boy torments. Man who has never experienced an uncomplicated pleasure in his life SURELY not about to start now. Man who has been emotionally vulnerable on only three terrible occasions about to try and play a game and get the stupidest sexy prize imaginable from the man who has rigged the game. Bc THAT is what makes Nie Huaisang into it. It’s the only way.

[delirious-dove]

wait wait I got it!! sangcheng good because same trauma!!! peak sangcheng is jc and nhs looking at each other like

😥👉 👈😥 "you get it"

[nezh4a]

oh my god.. nie huaisang is literally the smartest and cutthroat bitch alive.. he really fooled the entire cultivation world into thinking he was a dumb blond sect leader when in reality he had a multiple year long plan with so many different variables and he pulled that shit off and got his revenge and no one could pin anything on him 😳

[stiltonbasket]

Cultivation baby A-Yuan... Please let LQR talk to WWX. Infuriating as WWX might be, LQR should definitely be able to drag the truth out of him!

"No. No, this is madness," Lan Qiren groans. "What you ask is impossible. It cannot be done."

“I don’t see why not,” Wei Wuxian says obstinately. “You take A-Yuan back to the Cloud Recesses, never let anyone know he was my son, and have Lan Zhan bring him up as a ward. I will remain here and look after the Wens. What’s impossible about it?”

Lan Qiren pinches the bridge of his nose and wishes he could pinch Wei Wuxian’s ears instead. He blames himself for this dismal state of affairs; he was too harsh towards Wei Wuxian when they first met, and so the child had not thought to ask his marital family for help when he found Wen Ning slain at Qiongqi Dao. Jiang Wanyin could not be relied upon—for foolish though a marriage alliance with the Lanling Jin might be, Jiang Yanli was still in love with Jin Zixuan, and he had very little sway in his clan despite being the trueborn heir to it—but Lan Xichen has already announced his plans to bring the Wens back to Gusu, and returned all the gold Jin Guangyao sent to aid in the Cloud Recesses’ reconstruction. Nie Mingjue inspected the other camps, tallying up the dead and wounded there before denouncing Jin Guangshan before the whole jianghu; and the survivors are already recovering in Qinghe, with some already well enough to testify against the prison guards.

In short, Wei Wuxian is in no danger, and it is Lan Qiren’s fault that he ever believed otherwise.

“Your Wens will be safe. Xichen set four houses aside for them in the Cloud Recesses, and the Jin clan has been made aware that neither we nor the Nie will treat with them any further,” Lan Qiren argues. “You have my word, Wei Ying. Now go send word to Wen Qing, and have the Wens prepare to leave by the end of this week. Wangji and I will provide their food and medicines until they are ready to go.”

Wei Wuxian flinches. “You won’t send them back to Lanling? Truly?”

“Yes, truly!” roars Lan Qiren. “Look at you, you’re skin and bone! Even if you had come here with a gang of Wen Ruohan’s lieutenants, I would never let the mother of my nephew’s child languish on a hill of the dead alone—much less my own great-nephew! Has Wangji not cared for you well enough, that you would think so poorly of us? Shall I have words with him on the matter?”

“En. Shufu should,” says Wangji, lowering his head. “Wei Ying, this one has failed you.”

“Lan Zhan, what-no, of course you haven’t!” Wei Wuxian rushes to Wangji’s side and leaps into his arms, careless of the large black bundle on his back. “You haven’t. If I had known that you and Zewu-jun would value me this much, well—then I would never have come here.”

Lan Qiren sniffs at him. “Good. Now spend tonight with us at the inn, and every day hence until the Wens can be moved.”

“I will,” Wei Wuxian says, wringing his hands. “Now that I’m sure it’s safe, I will. But Lan Zhan, there’s something you and laoshi should know about first.”

Wangji tilts his head to the side and kisses Wei Wuxian’s nose. “What is it?”

In answer, Wei Wuxian reaches for the shapeless bundle on his back and unravels it, revealing the tousled black head of a child.

“Look at A-Yuan,” he says quietly, “and then you’ll understand.”

So they look, and at first, Lan Qiren can’t imagine what Wei Wuxian might mean. A-Yuan is still well-fed and healthy, despite the month he spent living here in the Burial Mounds before Wangji could finally track his family down, but...

But A-Yuan is bigger than he used to be. Considerably bigger, given the fact that children grow slowly after passing their first birthdays, and Wei Wuxian has only been gone for five weeks, if that. His little nails have grown long, too, and thicker than his father’s; and the pupils of his dark round eyes have contracted down to pinpricks, though the sunlight is weak for early autumn.

And the two teeth that emerged during his short absence are pointed, though both are in the wrong place to be eyeteeth.

“Wei Ying?” Wangji pleads. “Trust me, dearheart. I will not leave you, no matter what the matter is.”

That is how Lan Qiren discovers that his great-nephew was born of the resentment filling the Burial Mounds, for Wei Wuxian lost his jindan to the Wens before being thrown in to die. But Wei Wuxian lived, and A-Yuan did not yet have a body, so he used resentful energy to survive and emerged fully-formed three months after his conception, instead of nine.

“I don’t know what Yuan’er will grow up to be,” Wei Wuxian says at last, “or what he would have been, even before this last month in the Burial Mounds. Everyone thought he owed his reflexes to having exceptional parents, but that-that’s not the case, Lan Zhan. If A-Yuan goes back to the Cloud Recesses, and someone notices how different he is, then...”

“Then we will hide it. No matter what he is, or what he grows to be, he is ours, and he is precious,” vows Wangji. “You need never speak of his origins, save to say that he is your child and mine.”

Wei Wuxian gives him a sad, lost look, and pulls the child a little closer to his chest.

“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped,” he sighs. “A-Yuan is a Lan, and he should grow up with his family. If the world turns against him someday, so be it. We can run off into the wild again if we must, and find somewhere to live in peace. But until then, sweetheart, we’ll stay with you.”

He transfers the baby into Wangji’s lap, brushing his lips over his fluffy hair before rising to his feet; and then he bows to Lan Qiren and points towards the dark path leading back into the Burial Mounds.

“Stay here, Lan Zhan. Laoshi and I will go talk to the Wens, and then I’ll be back with you by dusk.”

Lan Qiren clears his throat.

“Very well,” he says gruffly. “Let’s go, then. And Wei Ying, let there be no more of this. We are your family, and we will stand by you in all things. You are ours.”

And with that, he storms off into the mist, and waits for Wei Wuxian to follow.

[aitchnkay]

Jiang Gunian Made A Change Part 26

She allowed herself a day to mourn. One day to cry over her father; she would mourn properly once the war was won.

And they would win. There was no alternative that was acceptable. Her brothers would live, and Wen RuoHan and his remaining son would die.

She washed her face of tears, dressed, and reported to her command tent. "Meng Yao, report."

"General," he bowed. "Lotus Pier is firmly in Jiang WanYin's control. Jiang Furen is in the infirmary; her condition is listed as 'stable', but no details of what occurred has been forwarded. Wen Xu's army is approximately five days out from the Unclean Realm. They must have received intel that Wen Chao's army was defeated as they have not moved in the last two days. We suspect that they are waiting for reinforcements from Qishan."

Yu FangSu glared at Meng Yao as he spoke. As soon as he took a breath, she interrupted. "We should move our camp to Lotus Pier. It will be more protection than what we have here, and it will free your brother to assist Nie ZongZhu."

"We are not going to Lotus Pier," Jiang YanLi stated. "We will continue as we have."

"Your esteemed mother needs you!" Yu FangSu spat. "It is your duty as her daughter to be with her in her time of grief."

"My duty?" Jiang YanLi wanted to cry again. Instead she stiffened her back, both physical and mental. "This is war. My duty is to keep my people alive."

"Your people are in Yunmeng. Not here."

Meng Yao smiled his 'I'm going to be polite because I have to' smile. "Jin Furen. Your people are in Lanling. My people are in Qinghe. And yet... we are here. Supporting General Jiang."

"General Jiang?" Jiang YanLi repeated. "Who is that?"

Yu FangSu sighed. "For some reason, the reports that came in starting yesterday, all referred to you as 'General Jiang'. "

"Not for some reason," Meng Yao snapped. "Jiang YanLi is just as much a General in this war as Nie Mingjue and Lan XiChen. She has earned the title."

"A woman General? Next will you petition for her to be Jiang ZongZhu instead of Jiang WangYin?"

"No."

"If she's capable, why not? She is the eldest."

"No," the young woman repeated. "My brother will inherit." Her hand buzzed: the new ring she wore indicating Wei WuXian had sent a letter. "Please excuse me. A'Xian sent me something."

The letter was short. 'ShiJi. Read when alone. Madame Yu's condition is not being disseminated. Even Jiang Cheng can't get the healers to tell him what's wrong. She's been seen walking, and does not have any obvious bandages on. What I do know is that she was injured in a fight with someone called Wen ZhuLiu. She tried to whip him with Zidian. He moved out of the way too quickly and he pushed her down. She screamed and was unable to stand again. His title is Core Melting Hand. Can you discretely find out if the title is because he can destroy someone's Core? He's dead. I killed him right after he hurt Madame Yu, so we can't ask him. The Wen aren't saying anything. Four buildings are fire damaged in the compound. A dozen in the town will need to be rebuilt. Twenty-three townspeople are dead. The rest followed our directions to leave. Initial count is forty-eight dead in the Sect. There are six or seven more who might yet succumb to their injuries.'

"Meng Yao... what do you know about a man called the Core Melting Hand? A'Xian killed him."

"He's dead? Good," he smiled a genuine smile. "Officially, he was Wen Chao's bodyguard. A nobody who worked his way up in the QishanWen ranks. In part it was because of his dog-like loyalty to Wen RuoHan. In part because of his little trick. As his title suggests, he did indeed have the ability to melt Cores."

Jiang YanLi kept her face still as she processed exactly what had happened to her mother. Her Core was melted? No wonder she doesn't want anyone to know what's happened to her. "It's good he's dead then. Just think of the damage he could have caused to our people.

"So." She took a deep breath, and shoved her concerns about her mother into a cabinet in her mind. She set Wei WuXian's letter over a flame and watched it burn. "We will concentrate our strike troops on Wen Xu's army. What news from the Unclean Realm."

[add1ctedt0you]

It seems to me that a lot of people confuse having anger issue with be irrational. These are two different things. You can have anger issue and not be irrational, you can be irrational and not have anger issue. I say that because jc has evidently anger issue, but he is not irrational! Jc is a very cautious and practical man, who doesn't do things if not sure of success.

Although he was quite unhappy, as the leader of a sect, there was much to consider. He couldn't be as impulsive as that brat Jin Ling. Ever since the decline of the Nie Clan of Qinghe, of the current three great clans, the Jin Clan of Lanling and the Lan Clan of Gusu had always been close due to the strong personal friendship shared by their clan leaders. Jiang Cheng ruled the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng alone, so it could have been said that he was in a state of isolation. Hanguang-jun - Lan WangJi - was a distinguished cultivator of great prestige. In addition, his elder brother Zewu-jun - Lan Xichen - was the Clan leader of the Lan Clan of Gusu, as the two brothers had always gotten along well. Overall, it was best if Jiang Cheng kept things peaceful instead of giving in to his violent urges.

[...]

Jiang Cheng loathed being at a disadvantage in a fight, so useless victory was absolutely certain, attacking Lan WangJi was not within the realm of consideration.

Chapter 3

jc is pissed because lwj casts a silencing spell on jl, and he has every right as a present guardian! ("You, Lan! What's the meaning of this? It's not up to you to discipline Jin Ling. Release the spell!"). In addition, lwj has destroyed the over four hundred nets jc sites for jl. And for all this time lwj doesn't explain himself to jc, letting that his Juniors speak for him.

So in this scene :

Lwj casts a silencing spell on jl, jc's kid

Lwj destroys four hundred nets that jc brought

Lwj doesn't acknowledge jc's presence, letting his Juniors speak for him ( something disprectful for an isolated clan leader)

Lwj is pretty much pushing all jc's buttons. And what does jc? He weights his options and, after understanding that he is in disadvantage, that in the line there is more than himself ( "Jiang Cheng ruled the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng alone, so it could have been said that he was in a state of isolation. [...] Overall, it was best if Jiang Cheng kept things peaceful instead of giving in to his violent urges" ) , he swallows his pride and rage and he goes on, because it's the most rational thing to do as clan leader. Because as a guardian he would have fought lwj on the spot ("When Jiang Cheng saw that Jin Ling's lips were now glued together, unable to part, anger clouded his face and all previous forced civility went out the window." ) , but as clan leader he has responsibilities.

But if it's not enough, there's another passage where we can understand in my opinion that jc in general is a rational person.

Jiang Cheng had known the YiLing Patriarch often appeared together with the Ghost General to wreak havoc, and he already suspected that Wen Ning was nearby. On hearing Jin Ling's story, he believed it 60 percent. After Wei WuXian's reaction, he believed another 20 percent. On top of that, he was engulfed with rage whenever he heard Wen Ning's name, his anger surging to his head, so he had no sense left in him to doubt.

Chapter 6

This man literally is weighting his options in percentage! And he decides his next move driven 80 percent by rationality and 20 percent by rage.

In general, jc takes a lot of low blows that he doesn't allow to control his actions.

Wei WuXian then added "Actually, I should have let you fight while I stood and spectated. Thst way, Jiang-shushu might not have had to come. But it can't be helped - I couldn't resist!"

Jiang Cheng humphed and said softly "You wish."

Wei WuXian had said what he said offhandedly, but inwardly, Jiang Cheng felt complicated. He knew down that it wasn't a lie. Jiang Fengmian had never once rushed to another clan within a day over any of Jiang Cheng's own affairs, whether they be good or bad, major or minor.

Never

Chapter 4

Wwx says to jc face that his own father neglects him, that jc isn't important enough for jfm to rush to another clan within one day over, and jc takes it because he knows that wwx has no malice and that it's the truth. Nicer people would have snapped but he just makes a miserable face knowing rationally that it's true.

Almost all of jc's choices are driven by rationality (he makes also mistakes! It's only human. I would also add that he hasn't the whole picture for like, the majority of the plot, but still).

There are only three moments where jc lets his emotions take control over him:

After the fall of Lotus Pier

After his sister dies

After knowing that his brother sacrifices himself for him

Moments where sane people with emotional support and no trauma would lose their shit! And jc isn't that kind of person!

Really, Jc was like twenty when his siblings died, leaving him alone with an orphaned nephew and a sect which was destroyed 3 years ago in a war. But, nonetheless : "no matter which clan you chose to offend, you shouldn't offend the Jiang clan. No matter which person you chose to offend, you shouldn't offend Jiang Cheng".

And I am pretty much sure that if he was an irrational jerk all the time, he wouldn't have achieved that.

[robininthelabyrinth]

Initiative - aka NMJ and JYL get engaged - ao3 or tumblr pt 1, pt 2, pt 3

Nie Mingjue was always glad for an excuse to leave a boring political meeting, although he was surprised that Jiang Yanli had been bold enough to send a note requesting his immediate presence before they were married.

Certain jibes had been made at his expense by his fellow sect leaders, of course, but he had shrugged them off. Let them think him overly indulgent; what did he care? He enjoyed having someone to dote on when he had the chance, and anyway he didn’t think Jiang Yanli would ask him to come out so quickly over nothing – though it was interesting she asked for him to join her, rather than asking for her brother.

“Mistress Jiang?” he said, walking into the room in Jinlin Tower where she was waiting for him. Her posture was tense, her hands clutched together under her sleeves. “What’s the matter?”

“Do you know where the Wen sect survivors were sent?” she asked. “It’s a matter of – some urgency. If you don’t know, we’ll have to find out another way.”

We, he thought. Wei Wuxian, no doubt, since Jiang Cheng was still inside the hall, enduring the politics that came with any meeting between sects. And Wei Wuxian did not, generally speaking, have the best ways of figuring things out.

“The Jin sect has not shared that information publicly,” he said slowly, and saw her shoulders slump in disappointment. “But that does not mean I don’t know it. What is the issue?”

Jiang Yanli explained in a few sentences: a woman looking for a brother, a young man who had helped rescue Wei Wuxian during the war, a doctor’s assistant, who’d even gone so far as to poison his own people to save members of the Jiang sect and then spent the majority of the war in a prison, and yet now they thought he had been trapped in a prison camp, being abused…a young man surnamed Wen.

A young man called Wen Ning, or Wen Qionglin. It was not a name Nie Mingjue remembered.

But the one searching for Wen Ning was his sister, Wen Qing - and that was a name he did remember.

Wen Ruohan’s favorite nurse.

Nie Mingjue’s jaw clenched at the thought. He’d spent more than half his life avenging his family, and had always assumed the Wen sect would do the same if they were allowed to live; he had never stinted on hating all of them without exception, without quarter. Wen Ruohan was a murderer and a tyrant, and his family supported him with nary a word in protest until the tables had turned and it was their own lives at stake – was it not evil to support evil? Could Wen Ruohan have done as much as he did without Wen Qing’s medicines and treatments, without Wen Qionglin’s silent compliance? Did it really matter that they had been threatened, as so many other people had been threatened?

No. Duress could explain many things, but it never excused standing aside in the face of murder. Wen Qionglin and Wen Qing were, at best, accessories to a hundred crimes, and deserved exactly none of his sympathy.

And yet.

It was not them that was making a request of him.

Patient, calm, gentle. Forgiving. These were all traits he wanted in his bloodline, traits he lacked and knew he lacked. Traits that Jiang Yanli possessed: matching strength to weakness, weakness to strength.

Nie Mingjue did not love Jiang Yanli, not yet, but if he was not willing to even trust her, it was better not to marry at all.

“Very well,” he said, deciding. “Are they waiting outside? We will go at once. Huaisang will make my excuses.”

“…Huaisang will?”

“He’ll stutter and obfuscate and make a tolerable mess of it,” Nie Mingjue said, not without a mixture of exasperation and fondness – he knew his brother too well. “And as a result they won’t know where or why we’ve gone for at least another half a shichen, if not more.”

(Knowing Nie Huaisang, he might ‘accidentally’ end up implying that Nie Mingjue had gone to enjoy some afternoon delight with his soon-to-be bride, but Nie Mingjue was too polite to mention something like that to Jiang Yanli.)

Jiang Yanli nodded, and slipped her hand into his, squeezing briefly. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I know what it all means to you.”

“I can only give you the benefit of the doubt,” he said, trying to be honest but probably coming off as harsh. “For the rest of it, I will decide when we are there.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t have his sword, as always these days, and Wen Qing, shivering behind him, had lost hers, but Nie Mingjue brought along four Nie sect cultivators and ordered two to act as escorts, with the other two trailing behind in the event of trouble. He rather liked Wei Wuxian, especially after that stunt he’d pulled in protest of the Jin sect’s little shooting ‘entertainment’, but demonic cultivation was dangerous and Wei Wuxian’s mentality was said to be unstable. Nie Mingjue had lost so many of his own already - he was taking no chances.

“How did you know where they’re located, Chifeng-zun?” Wei Wuxian asked from where he was balancing behind a long-suffering Nie Zonghui. “I wouldn’t have thought the Jin sect shared that information.”

“Are you not familiar with the concept of spies?” Nie Mingjue asked, voice dry. Jiang Yanli, in his arms, giggled – she’d planned to send them along without her, looking disappointed and worried and resigned, and she’d brightened like a flower exposed to the sun when he’d informed her that she was coming along with them. She was accustomed to being left behind, and he intended to change that.

Besides, they were only going to the Qiongqi Path, which was solidly in Jin territory, to a prisoner of war camp staffed by Jin cultivators. It was hardly a dangerous expedition, and he did not expect to encounter anything that might be a threat, excluding perhaps his own temper.

His temper did, in fact, make an appearance.

“Jin Guangshan swore to Lan Xichen that the Wen remnants would be resettled peacefully,” he snarled, eyes red with rage and Baxia in his hand as the Jin sect cultivators - which had been tormenting the civilians here and that had gotten into Wei Wuxian’s face when he’d charged over first to shout at them - cowered in front of him. They were willing to challenge Wei Wuxian, but it seemed that Nie Mingjue was a different story – bullying the weak and cowering before the strong. Pathetic! “I had not realized that our understanding of the word peaceful was so different. Clearly I will need to have words with Sect Leader Jin.”

A hand touched his arm, and he looked down, surprised; virtually no one approached him when he was in a rage.

Jiang Yanli stood beside him, looking up at him fearlessly. “As much as I’m sure you’d like to chop them into pieces, it’ll be more effective to present them as evidence,” she said, and even smiled, as if they were sharing a joke between the two of them. “We can save the chopping for later. Following the trial that I’m certain Sect Leader Jin will insist upon.”

The Jin cultivators paled, clearly realizing that the likelihood of Sect Leader Jin standing behind them rather than immediately making them scapegoats was very low. They would be much more likely to spill whatever secrets they might have now, knowing that their fates depended more on Nie Mingjue’s mercy than on Jin Guangshan’s, than they would have even in the face of his threats.

Baxia grumbled in reluctant approval, and all of a sudden Nie Mingjue could not wait for Jiang Yanli to have a saber of her own and to cultivate its spirit – he thought it would be a very fine spirit indeed.

“Very well,” he allowed, and put Baxia back on his back, noting but ignoring the respectful looks his cultivators were sending Jiang Yanli. It was nothing more than what ought to be, the proper role of a Nie furen: to incite when appropriate, to restrain when necessary. “Zonghui, return to Lanling and bring a larger force so that we can transport the Wen civilians to safety. And – there’s no need for subtlety.”

By which he meant that he wanted every cultivator who could fly their own sword to be tagging along out of curiosity, and Nie Zonghui knew it. He saluted and left at once.

“What do we do now, then?” Wei Wuxian asked, shifting from one foot to the other. He looked anxious and young, clearly startled by the abrupt lack of violence and worried about Wen Ning – the young man had some nasty injuries that hadn’t been treated by the Jin sect, his body tossed away like so much refuse, but they’d arrived early enough that his sister was avidly working to care for him. She had said that his chances were good, since they had arrived before his consciousness had slipped away.

If they’d arrived later…

If Nie Mingjue hadn’t had the information ready to hand from the spies he disliked using, if Wei Wuxian had had to get the information out of the Jin sect directly, if he had had to ride here from Lanling rather than fly a sword, if he’d gotten stuck in that thunderstorm that was rapidly heading their way…

Well, that hadn’t happened. There was no point in wondering what if.

“Now? Nothing. We wait. Nie Xizhe, Wu Shude, take some of the Wen civilians and have them help you tie up all the Jin sect cultivators; I don’t want anyone sneaking away, and there’s not enough of us to guard them while they’re free. Wei Wuxian, walk with me.” He glanced to his side. “With us, I mean.”

Wei Wuxian obediently trotted over to where Nie Mingjue and Jiang Yanli were waiting, and Nie Mingjue led the three of them over to a nearby ridge where they could have a little privacy. The storm was getting ever closer, he noticed.

“Very well,” he said finally. “It’s just us now. What debt do you owe the Wens?”

Wei Wuxian froze. “Debt? I don’t – I already said –”

“There’s something you’ve left out,” Nie Mingjue said. “The way you act with them…”

He didn’t know how to put it into words. It wasn’t merely chivalrous altruism, nor even friendship, that was driving Wei Wuxian – he was desperate to help, manic with the need to do something; there was something else there. Some secret. He knew, because Nie Mingjue knew secrets and what they did to a man, even if he was keeping it for the best reasons in the world.

“A-Xian?” Jiang Yanli asked when Wei Wuxian said nothing, when Nie Mingjue said no more. “You know you can tell me, right?”

His lips were pressed together, his hand tight on his flute until his knuckles were white. He shook his head. “Shijie,” he whispered. “Don’t ask, please. Don’t.”

At least he’d admitted there was something.

“Your conduct is causing trouble for Yunmeng Jiang,” Nie Mingjue said, and Wei Wuxian turned tormented eyes on him, even as Jiang Yanli’s hand tightened on his. “It’s a Great Sect, but your brother is young, untried, and sensitive to criticism. It will be difficult for him to deal with the issues you present, especially if you persist in your present path of continuing with demonic cultivation instead of returning to the orthodox path of sword cultivation.”

Wei Wuxian nodded, looking pained.

“Do you have a suggestion?” Jiang Yanli asked.

“Yes,” Nie Mingjue said. “Absent yourself before you are forced to leave in truth. Go to the Cloud Recesses the way Lan Wangji continues to pester you about – see if you can’t tell him what secret it is that’s weighing down your tongue, if you can’t tell any of us – and come visit the Unclean Realm when you’re done there.”

Wei Wuxian was staring. Nie Mingjue ignored him.

“When you’re done with that, assign yourself the job of checking up on the Jiang sect’s dependent sects, or even just go around to visit every sect listed as having fought in the war, building relationships with them,” he continued briskly. “As for the reason, you’re clever, you’ll think of something. Get Wangji to teach you some healing spells and come help those in my sect who need it. Say that you’re using your demonic cultivation to help ferret out resentful energy in need of cleansing. Something. It doesn’t really matter what. But whatever you do, go. Give Yunmeng Jiang time to become as strong as it needs to be to protect you.”

“But it shouldn’t be protecting me,” Wei Wuxian protested. “I should be the one protecting it!”

“A-Xian!” Jiang Yanli exclaimed, and her expression was suddenly fierce. “Are you the eldest? No. I am. You are my A-Xian, my didi, and that means you are part of Yunmeng Jiang – we have as much right to protect you as you us, and don’t you forget it.”

“But – shijie –”

“I won’t hear another word,” she said. “I won’t! Whatever it is, A-Xian, you need to tell us eventually, or else we’ll all fall apart. Didn’t you both promise me that we’d stay together, the three of us, always? You can’t break that promise now.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes were wet with tears. “All right, shijie. I’ll figure something out.”

“Start with Gusu,” Nie Mingjue said again, uncomfortable with the display of emotions. “If you tell Lan Wangji the truth, he may even be able to help – in one way or another. Or don’t, it’s up to you. Just get yourself out of the public view. Earn some merits that aren’t related to slaughter.”

Wei Wuxian nodded again, clearly overcome with feeling, and then promptly made up a flimsy excuse to leave, dashing away towards where Wen Qing was still working on her brother.

Jiang Yanli sighed. “Thank you,” she said. “Again. I just wish I knew what was wrong with him!”

“We’ll figure it out,” he promised her. “Even if I have to pick him up and shake the secret out of him.”

Jiang Yanli smiled up at him.

“Thank you,” she said, now a third time over.

“Thank you,” he corrected. “If you hadn’t brought this to my attention, I would be guilty of negligence in regard to the Wen sect remnants – and most of them civilians, no less. As for Wei Wuxian…he’s your didi, and so soon to be my brother-in-law. It’s nothing but what I should be doing.”

“Still,” she said. “I am grateful nonetheless.”

Nie Mingjue looked down at her, fierce and yet patient, kind and righteous in her own quietly determined way, fearless enough to stand by his side and trusting him enough to come to him for help.

His heart moved in his chest.

He decided to be daring, as it had always served him well in the past – he stepped forward, closer to Jiang Yanli, and leaned down to press his lips to the corner of her mouth.

“It is what I should be doing,” he murmured, voice low. “Nie furen.”

Jiang Yanli’s face turned bright red, but she was smiling.

Yes, Nie Mingjue thought – he might not be able to promise love, but accepting Jiang Yanli’s show of initiative was definitely one of the better decisions he’d made.