#this is not my beautiful house. this is not my beautiful wife (wei wuxian) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

stiltonbasket · 3 years ago

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Not really something you've done before, but I can't help but think madame Jin and wwx could have gone along pretty welll, in a different setting. They both really love and admire jyl and criticize jzx. They could have snarked at him and spoil jyl together!

Though the whole jianghu must long for the world the Qishan Wen took away from them, Quan Yuyan misses it more than most.

Before the war, her sworn sister was still living, still there to support Quan Yuyan through the endless indignities that came with being Jin Guangshan's wife, and Yuyan was there to do the same for her. Before the war, she had assurance that her son would remain the only lawful heir to Lanling Jin, no matter what depravities Guangshan committed when he was away from Koi Tower; but now her husband's bastard roams the courtyards of her son's house, and holds a Jin courtesy name of equal rank and standing.

The fact that he was given Guangshan's generational character did not matter, for he should never have been taken into the sect at all. And as a result, Quan Yuyan does not stay her hand when she punishes Jin Guangyao.

And why should she? The boy's very existence is the proof of her husband's countless affairs, the evidence of Quan Yuyan's humiliation laid out for the very heavens to see--for who does not know, now, that her beauty and cultivation were not enough to keep Jin Guangshan? Who has not learned of Jin Guangyao's age, and known that Guangshan strayed from her before even giving her a child?

As much as Ziyuan had to suffer, with her husband pining after that huli jing of a Cangse Sanren, even she was never faced with proof that Jiang Fengmian truly had an affair with her. And even if he had, that affair could not have resulted in Wei Wuxian: she was visiting the Lan sect at the time her son was conceived, and Jiang Fengmian was at Lotus Pier with A-Li.

Whatever Ziyuan has said about Jiang Fengmian, Quan Yuyan cannot deny that he was a good father until he began favoring Liu Cangse’s son over his own.

But that counts for very little to her, because he even stopped thinking of A-Li’s happiness by the end.

What was he doing, canceling A-Li’s betrothal to Zixuan? Yanli loves Zixuan--has always loved him--and how could her foolish son ever find such a good woman to marry, after losing the one who has known him and held him dear all her life?

“That’s why Jiang-shushu broke the betrothal, you know.”

Quan Yuyan gasps, pushing her two handmaidens behind her, and draws her sword. She chose not to venture into the more densely-baited spots on the mountain, since Xiao Mei and Xiao Yin wanted to come with her, so who--

She looks up.

Wei Wuxian is lying on a tree limb over her head, with a strip of black cloth wrapped around his eyes, and he had clearly been eavesdropping on her since before she mentioned A-Xuan’s broken engagement.

“What do you know about it?” Quan Yuyan says coldly. “Wasn’t it in your interests that it happened?”

“Of course it was,” Wei Wuxian agrees--not even bothering to deny it! “The Peacock didn’t love Shijie, and she deserves nothing less than a husband who worships the ground she walks on.”

Quan Yuyan’s eyebrow twitches.

“Like you?” she hisses. “Is that what you mean?”

“Oh, no. But Jin-furen, if you’d engaged Jin Zixuan to someone other than Shijie, and that girl made her displeasure with him known whenever she had the chance--you would have broken that engagement, wouldn’t you?”

“Girls are different. No girl worth marrying would ever do such a thing,” Quan Yuyan snaps back. “And A-Xuan was young. He would have learned in time, and you robbed him of the chance.”

Wei Wuxian unwinds his blindfold and props himself up on his elbow.

“My shijie is not any man’s chance,” he replies, suddenly sounding so threatening that Quan Yuyan takes a step backwards. “She is the best woman in the world, and you know it as well as I do. Since that is so, and since you love Jin-gongzi above all else--of course you want the best of wives for him, as you want the best for him in everything.

“But my Shijie is not a thing, Madam Jin. She is a person, under no power other than her own, and a marriage to Jin Zixuan would not make her happy, no matter how badly both you and she wanted it.”

With that, Wei Wuxian leaps down to the ground, and bows to Yuyan and her maids with such grace that she feels--despite all the embellishment on her robes, and the gold ornaments in her hair--somehow diminished in comparison.

Wei Wuxian smiles, a quick, mocking turn of his mouth and cheeks, and vanishes into the woods before she can call him back.

When she crosses paths with him again, a little more than half an hour later, she finds him standing between A-Xuan and Yanli with that terrible flute held out in threat, and turns to demand an explanation from Jin Guangyao.

My Shijie is not any man’s chance.

My sister is not a thing.

Suddenly, Quan Yuyan feels very tired.

Tormenting Jin Guangyao cannot resolve this new entanglement, or smooth over the times A-Xuan rejected Yanli when they were children, or keep him from saying whatever it was that made Wei Wuxian attack him in the Cloud Recesses, or help her son make up for the day he shamed A-Li before his regiment for bringing him something to eat.

It will not make her husband any more faithful, either. A-Xuan is already twenty-two, and his age might not even be greater than the number of his half-siblings.

She can beat Jin Guangyao all she likes, throw him down the stairs like Guangshan did when he had the nerve to come knocking on her doors on the day of A-Xuan’s birthday. She could arrange his death, if she wanted, and no one would care but for his sworn brothers, and perhaps her blockhead of a son.

But another bastard might appear in his place, and would. Guangshan likes his women stupid--and if not stupid, then too young to know better, or almost entirely unlearned--but if, one day, he met some noble beauty who was willing, and sired a child upon her, who could ensure that her family would not compel Guangshan to claim it?

After all, he once tried to seduce Wen Ruohan’s wife at a conference, though he was so drunk he could not remember who she was, and the exchange that followed that encounter was why Guangshan refused to join the war until the choice was taken from him.

“Young Master Wei,” Quan Yuyan hears herself say, “take A-Li back to the stands. She looks faint, and the day will only grow hotter before the hunt is called.”

“Mother--”

“And Zixuan, stay by Guangyao’s side. His cultivation is not high.”

Wei Wuxian gapes at her for a moment before hurrying away with A-Li, taking Jiang Cheng and Ziyuan’s snake of a nephew with him. Hanguang-jun follows, refusing to stray more than a couple of steps away from Wei Wuxian, and Lan Xichen (though clearly bewildered by whatever had just transpired) retreats a trifle more delicately, after asking A-Xuan and Jin Guangyao to show him a way to trap measuring snakes without killing them.

“Most of them die the moment Mingjue-xiong and I show up,” he laments, tucking a hand into Jin Guangyao’s elbow. “We’re too tall to capture them alive, you see.”

He sounds so regretful that Quan Yuyan bursts out laughing, and laughs until she begins to sob with her head on Xiao Mei’s shoulder.

Today has been a failure in every way imaginable; A-Xuan didn’t manage to propose to A-Li, and perhaps he never will.

But for some reason, it doesn’t matter nearly as much as she thought it would.

#mo dao zu shi #the untamed #madam jin #wei wuxian #prompt fill #my fic #not exactly what the prompt says but #*jazz hands*#here you go!

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robininthelabyrinth · 4 years ago

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Prompt: anything with Jiang Yanli, I’d love to see more of her PoV

part 2 of whumptober 20 (JYL/LXC field medicine)

ao3 link

It wasn’t that Jiang Yanli never thought about other men.

After all, she was a female cultivator, and her opinion was therefore one of the ones that was rather eagerly solicited when it came to naming the most attractive young masters in the cultivation world; it was only that it had never seemed to matter. After all, she was engaged, and always had been, to her mother’s dearest friend’s only son, and that, it had seemed at the time, was that.

Oh, her father spoke warmly about marrying for love and not for obligation, but Jiang Yanli had never quite understood what he meant. Even if she didn’t love Jin Zixuan, she loved her mother enough to want to respect her wishes, and it was easy enough to dismiss what negative things she’d heard about him – arrogant, self-centered, impetuous, but of course he was still young, and weren’t most teenage boys like that? – and instead daydream about the life she would have in the future.

When she was young, it was mostly daydreams of having some faceless man (she couldn’t imagine little Jin Zixuan, who at three years younger was barely more than a baby) bring her gifts and tease her and kiss her, then say she was the prettiest person he’d ever seen. The way she’d always heard was supposed to be how lovers talked, the way people said that a marriage ought to be like - the way her parents’ marriage had never been.

When she was a bit older, her thoughts drifted away from retreading romantic stories and to the actual work of being married, of being the mistress of Lanling Jin. In the beginning, her duty would be to first and foremost produce an heir and a spare, to remain healthy throughout the process, and to support her husband as he slowly began to take on the duties that would eventually become his, but later on it would get more interesting. A sect leader could not be everywhere, and his wife would often be left in charge when he was not at home – she would have to know everything about the sect, same as him, enough to make decisions in his absence; she would have to answer correspondence, make decisions, negotiate with traders, collect duties, enforce the peace, and she’d also have to manage the sect’s social scene on top of it all.

She probably wouldn’t have much time to cook, Jiang Yanli thought wistfully, thinking about how Lanling women prided themselves on never having to lift a finger for themselves, and threw herself into her favorite hobby now, while she still could. If she was clever about it, she might be able to get good enough at it that her future husband would find some dish of hers that he liked, something that only she could make, and then her cooking would be something done at his request – a charming idiosyncrasy, an indulgence of sweethearts.

When she got older still, and learned about Sect Leader Jin’s philandering and the iron grip of control Madame Jin imposed on Lanling in order to keep her position in the face of all the backstabbing and politics, she thought to herself that that sounded exhausting. But by that point, all of her childhood daydreams had Jin Zixuan’s name on them – although admittedly not his face, for all that he had grown up into one of the most handsome young men of his generation, and certainly not his mannerisms – and it was far too late to raise a fuss now. So Jiang Yanli studied willpower in addition to trade routes, learned how to exploit social norms in addition to how to manage a dinner party, taught herself how to play people just as well as she played the guqin, absorbed the lessons of both murder and mathematics, and above all figured out how to stand up for herself and what she believed in no matter what overwhelming pressure she might face.

Even though Jiang Yanli was pretty sure that Madame Jin wouldn’t appreciate that last part in a daughter-in-law, especially not one reputed to be as easygoing as her father.

(“Let her be upset,” her own mother had snorted when Jiang Yanli had tentatively raised the issue. “Are you supposed to ruin your own future because she’s a bitter old mother-in-law that’d rather not give up control so early? I may have agreed to marry you to her son, A-Li, but she agreed to marry him to my daughter. If she wanted easy and pliable, she should have thought again.”

“But she’s your friend,” Jiang Yanli had said, frowning a little. “Don’t you want her to be happy?”

Her mother had looked tired. “Once, more than anything,” she’d said. “But the chance for that passed long ago.”)

So it wasn’t that she didn’t notice other men. It was just that there was no point in allowing herself to look, and she knew enough of her parents’ marriage, and of Madame Jin’s, to not want to look.

And then, suddenly, there was.

Her engagement was broken. One could say that it happened at her own beloved brothers’ hands, at her father’s blind dislike of arrangements even when it was one his own daughter had long ago accepted and had even learned to long for, but in truth Jin Zixuan was a proper young master, old enough to make decisions for himself, to exercise some control over his own life, and the first bit of control he’d taken into his own hands was to decide that he didn’t want her.

It was – not fine, no. She spent some time crying over it, and yet more time comforting Wei Wuxian who was distraught at having caused her pain, and the most time of all quietly wondering what the point of her existence was now that she was no longer useful as a marriage tool. She’d never been much of a cultivator, never been especially pretty, never been anything more than average – what was the point of her?

Maybe that was when she’d decided to pick up medicine.

Field medicine was womanly enough to satisfy critics, and yet it was something useful in a practical sense: she could save people’s lives, if she only learned enough, and studying she could do.

Sometimes, she even got the chance to save the lives of very attractive people, like when the First Jade of Lan lay crumpled in the cot before her as she patched him up. So this is the one they ranked first, she thought, examining him with her eyes even as she kept her hands busy, and she was forced to admit that the other female cultivators of her generation had good taste. He was devastatingly handsome.

Kind, too, she soon learned; gentle and courteous in his mannerisms. He smiled often, which she appreciated in a person (if one interpreted Jiang Cheng’s scowls as smiles, he smiled nearly as much!), and he seemed to genuinely admire her efforts at medicine, however rudimentary. Over dinner, which he insisted on sharing with her even after he was well on his road to recovery, the conversation between them flowed easily and well: they both had brothers they loved, which was a conversation topic of which neither of them would ever tire, and they both enjoyed art and music. He didn’t know the first thing about cooking, but enjoyed asking questions (especially after she’d made him a meal he particularly enjoyed, which was often), while she enjoyed the way he blushed when she teased him.

She didn’t think much of it, of course. If she couldn’t keep the husband that had been promised to her since before she could walk – if she was too dull, too plain, too weak, too average to be worthy of an untried young man like him – then she definitely had no hope of catching the most attractive and capable young master of their generation, a dashing war hero and sect leader in his own right.

And then, when they were both laughing over an especially hair-brained scheme they’d concocted to try to get Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian to spend more time together – Jiang Yanli had noticed how much Wei Wuxian talked about Lan Wangji once he’d returned to the Lotus Pier, and Lan Xichen swore up and down that Lan Wangji had been no better – he turned to her and said, “If you were in Gusu, your brothers would be sure to come to visit you.”

“Me, in Gusu?” Jiang Yanli was startled into a laugh. “Why would I be in Gusu? As your guest?”

Lan Xichen coughed. “I had been hoping for something – a bit more permanent than that. If that would be something you would be open to.”

It actually took her a moment to understand, and then she had to raise her hands to cover her suddenly burning cheeks.

“You don’t have to say anything now,” he said hastily. “Just something to think about, if you’re interested…and of course, if your heart is elsewhere –”

“It isn’t,” she blurted out, and had to turn away.

“I’d hoped that was the case,” he said quietly, his voice warm. “I’ll take my leave, Mistress Jiang.”

Jiang Yanli had grown up thinking of herself as the future mistress of Lanling Jin, with its riches and its beauty and its poisonous heart, and then she’d assumed she’d be nothing at all, an old maid that helped Jiang Cheng manage his sect until he finally found a wife to suit him.

She’d never thought about being the mistress of Gusu Lan.

Gusu Lan, which was not as wealthy as Lanling Jin but just as complex – with its own trade routes and subordinate sects and business to manage – with its beautiful and serene landscape, its culture that emphasized harmony and unity rather than backstabbing – with no overbearing mother-in-law that would have barely been tolerable even when her own mother would have been there to hold her back, but would have been impossible without such protection –

She hadn’t dreamt of Lan Xichen as a child, or even as a teenager, but when she thought about all those dreams with a faceless man that she’d named Jin Zixuan regardless of any similarity to the real thing…

Lan Xichen fit in much better to the idea in her head than the real Jin Zixuan ever had.

“I won’t live separately,” she told him when he came over the next day, before he could even say a word; it had been just about the only problem she could see with his proposal. “In another house, certainly, but not an entirely different dwelling, and if I have any children, I would want them to live with me regardless of their gender.”

“I wouldn’t dream of having you so far away,” he said, and he was smiling again, broad and bright and – somehow, impossibly – hers. “Might I kiss you?”

“You may,” she said, and he did.

“Mistress Jiang,” Lan Xichen said a moment later, “you’re the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met.”

Remarkable, Jiang Yanli thought to herself, was better than pretty any day.

#mdzs #jiang yanli #lan xichen #field medicine #no. 20 #my fic #my fics #macgyvertape

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sincerelystranger · 4 years ago

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not enough 2

Jiang Fengmian falls into a fitful sleep. He dreams of Wei Changze. Dreams of one of their last conversations.

“I plan to marry Cangse Sanren,” Wei Changze says, a rare soft smile on his lips. His eyes are warm and his face is as handsome as ever.

Jiang Fengmian is so filled with rage and despair – he wants to hate him. How could you marry? He wants to ask. Sure, he’s never told Wei Changze that he loves him but… He must know… He must…

“I will prepare a house for you,” Jiang Fengmian says lowly, clenching his fist to keep his emotions at bay. A man needs a wife – of course. Wei Changze can marry. That’s fine. As long as he stays with Jiang Fengmian. That will be fine.

Wei Changze looks away then, the smile slipping off his face. “You’re too generous… but…”

Jiang Fengmian stares in disbelief. It can’t be, he thinks faintly. His heart beats loudly in his chest, disbelief claws at his throat. “Come now,” he says, a weak smile on his lips, “You plan to stay–” with me, he wants to say, “–here, yes?”

Wei Changze takes a step back and gives Jiang Fengmian a respectful bow.

Hurry, Jiang Fengmian wants to say. Hurry and tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that of course you will stay with me. Tell me!

“I will follow my future wife and cultivate freely,” Wei Changze says.

Jiang Fengmian thinks he stumbles back a few steps. The world seems wrong. That wretched woman, he thinks faintly. That wretched woman with her laughs and beauty and talent. Stealing away what was his…

“Have I not treated you well?” he asks faintly, and his question seems petty even to his own ears.

Wei Changze straightens up. He reaches a hand out and places it on Jiang Fengmian’s shoulder. His shoulder burns at the touch. He feels greedy and desperate and he wishes he could glue that hand onto his shoulder and keep it there forever.

“I could never want for a better master,” Wei Changze says earnestly, “It’s been my pride and honor to serve you.”

“Then why?” Jiang Fengmian asks, and his voice is weak and whiny and he hates himself at that moment.

“My future wife does not have the temperament to serve another,” Wei Changze says. He pauses then and brings his hand back to himself. “And as much as I have enjoyed serving you… I want something different for my future child. Something more.”

Something more, Jiang Fengmian thinks numbly.

Jiang Fengmian’s whole world was this man in front of him and he wanted…

Something more.

“Fine, do as you please,” Jiang Fengmian says tersely. He turns and walks away before Wei Changze can say anything else.

Something more, he thinks irritably. Jiang Fengmian had given him the best of everything he had to offer. The best room, the best clothes, the best hunts – whatever Wei Changze had wanted, Jiang Fengmian had given… But he wants more…

Jiang Fengmian awakes with a troubled mind and heavy heart.

He realizes now what Wei Changze had wanted for his child. He realizes now what he meant by something more.

A well-kept, well-loved servant was still just that – a servant.

A sob rips from his throat as guilt wracks through him. All these years he had fancied himself doing justice to his old love’s wishes. How foolish. How prideful.

And for his stupidity, he will never see that face again.

---

They stay in the hut a few days to regain their strength. His wife’s great aunt tends to them as secretly as she can, and when they are recovered enough, they take a small flat boat up the river to Lanling.

His old friend, Jin Guangshan welcomes them warmly.

The air about him is grave – an expression Jiang Fengmian has never seen sits on his face.

Sect and Clan leaders from all over are gathered in Lanling.

Nie Mingjue sits at the center, rage almost visibly rolling off him. “How fortunate that you and your family survived the Wen-dogs,” Nie Mingjue greets solemnly.

Jiang Fengmian bows in return. “Only by a great sacrifice,” he replies. His hands threaten to shake at the thought of Wei Wuxian. His heart threatens to fall out of his chest.

“Mm,” Nie Mingjue nods, “I heard about Wei Wuxian – I am sorry for your loss. I know he was a disciple you looked upon favorably.”

Like a son, Jiang Fengmian wants to reply. Like the only connection I had left to the only man I’ve ever loved. Like my only chance to right my wrongs.

“Yes,” he nods instead, afraid that he might admit too much if he says much else.

Jin Guangshan enters the hall then and the hall quiets.

It is of decided opinion that the attack on Lotus Pier is the final straw. The Wens must be stopped.

They talk of war.

---

War is a strangely normal as everything else – and without a sword, Jiang Fengmian finds himself with too much time to think.

He’s tormented by nightmares as of late – Cangse Sanren finds him every night and asks him how he could throw away her son like that.

Wei Wuxian begs for him to save him. “Uncle,” he cries, bloody and beaten, “Uncle, please.”

Wei Changze torments him by not appearing in his nightmares.

Yanli and A-Cheng are quiet when he is awake. They do not mention Wei Wuxian and Jiang Fengmian can’t tell if it’s because they’re too heartbroken to speak of him or if they’re afraid of their mother’s ire.

Jiang Fengmian finds that war suits his wife.

It suits her so well that the woman that fell to her knees and implored him to stay in the hut seems almost imaginary now.

“A-Cheng will join the Twin Jades in their attack of Qishan,” his wife says over breakfast. Her tone easy and uncaring, as if she’s talking about her son going on a night hunt, instead of preparing for battle. “They plan to retrieve their swords.”

“The Twin Jades?” Jiang Fengmian hums, “A-Cheng will be with good company.”

His wife nods her approval.

War is strangely normal.

---

One of the Twin Jades comes to find him after their successful attack on Qishan. The younger one, Jiang Fengmian deduces based off of his cold expression.

“I congratulate you on your successful mission,” Jiang Fengmian greets politely.

The Lan-er says nothing and just bows politely in return. He stands there for a long moment, his eyes down, looking pensive. It seems to Jiang Fengmian that the Lan-er has something to say to him but is having trouble finding the words.

It almost reminds Jiang Fengmian of…

“Wei Wuxian,” the Lan-er says finally and slowly raises a familiar sword to Jiang Fengmian.

“Oh,” Jiang Fengmian replies stupidly. He can’t seem to find it in himself to take the sword from the younger Twin Jade. His hands shake at his side and he’s reminded of how delighted young Wei Wuxian had been when Jiang Fengmian first gave him this sword – Suibian.

Seeing Suibian now seems to make Wei Wuxian’s death seem too real.

Take it away, Jiang Fengmian wants to say. Let me ignore it just a little longer. He can’t be gone from me – he can’t be.

The Lan-er seems to read Jiang Fengmian’s hesitance and brings the sword back to his side.

“The soldiers at Qishan informed me that Wei Wuxian was dropped into the Burial Mounds,” Lan-er says softly.

It takes everything he has not to stumble back or fall to the ground like some woman.

The Burial Mounds.

Oh god.

It would have been better if they just killed him at Lotus Pier.

The Burial Mounds.

“Thank you for the information,” Jiang Fengmian says numbly.

The Lan-er studies his face for a long moment and nods once before bowing and turning to leave.

He takes Suibian with him and Jiang Fengmian is too ashamed to be thankful.

His wife is furious with him when Jiang Cheng mentions the sword at dinner that evening.

“Get it from the Lan-er this instant!” she seethes. “You’re swordless and you let that Lan-er just walk off with one you bought yourself?”

“It’s Wei Wuxian’s,” he says softly, mechanically putting rice into his mouth to avoid eye contact with his wife.

“He’s dead,” she says coldly. “If he can no longer be of use to us, the least you can do is use his sword when he cannot.”

Use, Jiang Fengmian thinks faintly.

All this time, he had fancied himself raising Wei Wuxian like a son. Wei Changze would have wanted him raised like this, he had thought to himself.

He hadn’t realized that he was raising him like a cow for slaughter.

Suibian is by his side when he awakes the next morning.

He takes it in his hands and stares at it a long while before trying to unsheathe it.

It refuses to open in his hands.

“Ungrateful wretch,” his wife hisses.

“Thank you,” he whispers to Suibian, letting out a sigh of relief that he hadn’t known he was holding.

---

The war continues.

Nie Mingjue beheads Wen Xu at Hejian.

The Sunshot Campaign moves ever westward. Strange things begin to happen as they move closer to and closer to Wen Ruohan.

They easily pass towns where hundreds of Wen soldiers have already been killed. Strange energy surrounds them, dark and hungry.

“What could be doing this?” Jiang Cheng asks over dinner.

“Perhaps an immortal has come down to join us,” Yanli offers.

Doubtful, Jiang Fengmian thinks to himself. The only immortal he knows can’t even be bothered to come down to save her disciples. As selfish and proud as they are, it is doubtful that any one of them would come down to help their cause.

“Keep away from it, if possible,” his wife says sharply, “Whatever it is may be on our side for now… but I don’t trust it.”

Jiang Fengmian nods in agreement. The energy is dark and strange and the way it kills is…

“Well I hope it stays away from Wen Chao,” Jiang Cheng says, “I will not have it take away my satisfaction from killing that sniveling Wen-dog.”

His wife taps the table irritably. Her face betrays no worry, but strangely enough, Jiang Fengmian can read it on her. She’s nervous, he realizes. Scared.

He reaches a hand out and places it on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.

His son. His only son.

His son looks at him in surprise, something young and vulnerable in his eyes.

“Don’t do anything rash,” Jiang Fengmian says firmly, “If Wen Zhuliu is with Wen Chao, come back. Do not face him alone.”

His son looks at him for a silent moment before he turns his head and nods. “I won’t disappoint you, father,” he says quietly.

Just come back alive, Jiang Fengmian thinks tiredly. He isn’t built for war, he thinks. He’s already so tired of losing.

Jiang Fengmian has realized two things about war.

It’s strangely normal

and

there are no winners.

#mdzs #the untamed #wei changze #jiang fengmian #yu ziyuan #wei wuxian #sincerely: not enough

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ibijau · 4 years ago

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“Stop borrowing flowers out of my garden to woo people who don’t even treat you right.” said by Jiang Cheng! Hm, could you make this mingcheng???

This one got away from me so it’s a tiny bit longer than the usual, oops?

The problem was that strictly speaking, it wasn’t a garden. It was just a patch of dirt on the side of a long abandoned construction project that had never been completed due to lack of funds, or embezzlement, or some other bullshit that Jiang Cheng had never cared enough about to try and find out.

It wasn’t a garden.

But Jiang Cheng had been planting flowers there, out of sheer boredom, because he lived right next door and missed the greeneries of his parents’ house. Their garden had always been gorgeous, perfectly maintained by his mother, an absolute work of art. It was the only place she seemed happy. It was the only thing Jiang Cheng missed about his old life. Those quiet moments when his mother, in a fit of good mood, took him around her garden, her one true love, and explained to him about the plants and how to best care for them. People in their circle would sometimes joke that Zu Ziyuan loved her garden more than her family.

Jiang Cheng had never found it funny. Perhaps because he knew what it was like to envy mulberry leaves for the tenderness with which Yu Ziyuan would remove caterpillars from them, when she could hardly be near her son without pushing him around.

For a while, Jiang Cheng had hated gardens. That wasn’t the whole reason why he’d moved to the city, but it had probably impacted his choice anyway. He’d wanted to get as far away from his parents’ life as he could.

But in the end, something must have run in his blood. After months of walking by that abandoned patch of dirt, Jiang Cheng had given in one day. He’d bought some bulbs and seeds, a beginner’s guide to gardening, and set out to work.

It had surprised him when flowers actually started growing. Jiang Cheng was used to failure, and his mother used to tell him he had no skill for gardening. No skill for anything really, but gardening in particular seemed to piss her off.

But there were some wallflowers and geraniums to prove she’d been wrong about this.

About other things too, perhaps. For the time being, Jiang Cheng just clung to the gardening thing.

The entire first week after the flowers started growing, Jiang Cheng expected that whoever owned the plot of land would come to pour bleach on them. It was private property after all. But the plot appeared to be fully abandoned, and that meant Jiang Cheng was free to do as he pleased.

He got more flowers, making sure to pick varieties that were good for bees, because that would make his sister happy, if he ever got around to calling her. He also planted tomatoes, and after hesitation a few courgettes, because those grew like weeds and it wouldn’t matter if someone stole a few, or even all of them. It was the sort of things that’d make his brother happy, except he talked to him even less than to his sister, so Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure why that mattered.

What mattered was that the garden made him happy in a way he hadn’t been in a while. It gave him something to care about. To care for. Something to check on in the morning as he headed out to work, a place to spend a little time when he came home. It encouraged some of the neighbours to chat with him, when up until then they’d apparently half wondered if he was a serial killer with his constant angry face. The little old lady next door asked if she could borrow some of the vegetables growing, and gave him half the dish she made using them.

It felt like a homecooked meal, in a way the family gatherings he still occasionally attended never did.

“You should try planting daylilies,” she suggested. “Pretty and delicious, it’d be a win. My grandmother used to prepare them for us, I’m sure I can remember how to do it too.”

Jiang Cheng did as she asked, and sweet old madam Wen delivered on her promise when the flowers were ready. She invited Jiang Cheng to have lunch with him one Sunday, when her nephew and niece were there. It should have been awkward, but madam Wen was a cheerful old lady that managed to get all three of them chatting as if they’d always known each other.

Better than if they’d always known each other, in Jiang Cheng’s case.

He ended up trading phone numbers with both siblings. Not because he felt like flirting with either, as their aunt so clearly hoped for, but so he knew who to contact if something happened to the old lady. Wen Qing wasn’t very chatty, except to complain about their roommate from hell, but Wen Ning often asked for photos of the garden, and in exchange sent Jiang Cheng pictures of the dogs he got to see at the veterinary clinic where he worked.

For the first time in years, Jiang Cheng felt that things weren’t so bad.

So when one evening after work he dropped by his garden and saw a stranger in an expensive thought pacing by his courgettes, Jiang Cheng felt a familiar dread. If this was the plot’s owner, if he had come to ruin things…

Jiang Cheng rushed ahead, ready to plead his case.

Then stopped after a few steps when the man turned his way. He was handsome. Very handsome. The sort of handsome that belonged on the pages of a magazine, not in the middle of Jiang Cheng’s shitty illegal garden.

The man was also on the phone with someone, and apparently so deep in an argument that he didn’t even see Jiang Cheng just a few metres from him.

“You are the worst,” the man shouted at his phone, “and I swear I’m kicking you out this time. I will… no, don’t cry. Stop crying, it doesn’t work anymore! You…”

The handsome stranger started pacing nervously between the courgettes as whoever was on the other end of the conversation made their case.

“Listen, you are going to calm down, ok? I’m… hey, I’m bringing you flowers. How does that sound?”

He leaned down toward the daylilies, not yet picking one as he waited for the other person to reply.

“Of course real flowers. You… listen, I don’t have the energy for this. We’ll deal with it when I get home.”

The man hung up, and started tearing away Jiang Cheng’s flowers, roots and all, like a barbarian.

Jiang Cheng had always allowed everyone to take what they wanted or needed, but only if they showed some respect for his efforts.

“Stop borrowing flowers out of my garden to woo people who don’t even treat you right!” he barked, stomping toward the man.

The handsome stranger, startled, dropped the flowers.

“Your garden? What do you mean, your garden?”

“You think this got here on its own?” Jiang Cheng asked, gesturing at his garden. It wasn’t as beautiful as his mother’s, but it was his all the same and it loved his plants.

The man looked around with wide eyes, as if he hadn’t even noticed before where he was.

“Sorry, I thought they were just… wild flowers. Did you plant all of those?”

“Not the pumpkins, that’s the kids from down the streets who thought it’d be fun. And the herbs are madam Wen’s because she doesn’t like getting them from the store if she can get fresh ones. But the rest is mine.”

“Must have been a lot of work,” the man said with an admirative whistle. “I can make a cactus die of thirst, so I’m impressed, you must be really good. You’ve been at it for a while?”

“A couple months,” Jiang Cheng grumbled, refusing to let praise from a handsome man get to him. “I live next door and this place has been abandoned for ages apparently.”

“So it’s not your garden,” the stranger noted with a grin. “Well, if you’ve stolen the land, I feel less bad about stealing flowers. It’s not like you can call the cops on me.”

He bent down, ready to slaughter more flowers, so Jiang Cheng did the logical thing and pushed him to protect his daylilies. The handsome stranger fell in the dirt, which thankfully was dry and wouldn’t stain too badly. Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure he could afford to repay that suit.

“If you’re going to steal my flowers for your shitty manipulative wife, at least do it properly. Nobody wants a bouquet with roots.”

The man blinked a few times, a little disoriented after being pushed down. When he saw Jiang Cheng grab the torn daylilies and carefully cut the stems so he could replant the roots, the stranger laughed.

“You’re really passionate about this, uh,” he said, standing up and wiping the dirt from his suit. “That wasn’t my wife on the phone, by the way.”

“Your manipulative husband then,” Jiang Cheng retorted, cutting a few more flowers.

“Little brother,” the man corrected. “Apparently he got drunk last week, slept with my best friend, panicked, ghosted him, left town for five days to hide at his best friend’s house, and now he’s… ah, but you probably don’t care.”

Jiang Cheng shouldn’t care, no, but he couldn’t help laughing at the crazy story. It sounded like something right out of a shitty soap opera, or the kind of bullshit that Wei Wuxian used to pull all the time, back when he was still part of Jiang Cheng’s life.

“My brother’s the same,” Jiang Cheng said, handing out the small bouquet he’d managed to salvage. “Did you take those so he can go apologise to your friend?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if he’s going to give them to Xichen or if he just wants to keep them to feel spoiled. I’m not sure I’ll give them to him, anyway. It’s not every day a handsome man gives me a bouquet, I’ll be tempted to keep it.”

Jiang Cheng shrugged and rolled his eyes, and absolutely did not blush like a schoolgirl being complimented by her crush.

“Just go give those to your brother. And learn to cut flowers properly, asshole.”

“If I drop by again, will you teach me?”

Jiang Cheng shrugged again and turned away, so it wouldn’t be too obvious just how red his face was. He’d have slapped himself if he could have. It was ridiculous to react so strongly. His only excuse was that the man was really, really gorgeous and had a really, really nice voice… and that it had been a long while since anyone had flirted with him, even this badly.

“Maybe I will, if I can find the time. My life’s not a fucking soap opera but I have my own stuff to do.”

“Fair enough. Well, I hope I’ll see you around. It was nice talking to you.”

Jiang Cheng shrugged, and refused to turn around to watch that too handsome man go, though he might have been slightly tempted.

He’d lost enough time to that asshole already, and the tomatoes weren’t going to water themselves.

#mingcheng #jiang cheng #nie mingjue #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #jau writes #nmj probably owns that plot of land #tbh I'd be almost tempted to expand on this but blarg modern au...#Anonymous

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tt205 · 4 years ago

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- Love is a different book -

JIANG CHENG × READER

REQUESTED by softjisoo-exe :

Today you are not wearing your usual white colored dress .

WARNINGS: none, just pure fluff & some minor crack

•—————••—————••—————••—————•

You looked down to your purple dress as Yanli styled your hair in a tight bun , adding hairpins with rare gem stones on them .

Today you are dressed in purple , honoring the Yumeng Sect family & your soon - to - be husband.

You felt tears forming in your eyes as a knock on the door shooked you out of your thoughts and you know straight away who is it .

" Time will be up soon y/n you will have to rush !" Lan Xichen's excited voice entered the room .

" I'm finishing her hair Zewu Jun ! Tell my brother to wait 5 more minutes if needed!"

" Can I come in ?" Lan Wangji asked in a sad tone you expected , too afraid he will lose his twin sister for ever .

"A-ling go open the door sweetie !" Yanli told her 4 years old son as he went to do his mother task instantly.

"oh you are beautiful y/n !!! " said Wei Wuxian your brother in law both by him marrying your brother and be your husband's step one .

"Thank you Wei Ying !!" You said shyly.

You looked down your dress too afraid of what was going to happen .

For a moment you thought about giving up , the bamboo forest outside your window seeming too welcoming now .

Of course you loved Jiang Cheng, with you whole heart , but leaving your house was something you never dreamed of .

You loved you family and Clan members , you had friends here but at the same time your lover was a couple of miles away and the burden you felt was big .

He told you a thousand of times that you could visit your home daily but you know that you will miss them overly too much .

You felt Wangji hugging you from behind as his tears were wetting your collar.

" I'll miss you bunny!" He said as he sobbed harder .

You turned around hugging his head and shoulders with your shorter hands " I'll miss you too carrot !"

" Don't! Your makeup will be ruined!" Yanli told you before you could set a tear along with your brother .

From the other corner of the room you heard another sob and it was no other's but Lan Xichen's.

" Why don't I have a code name too? Am I not your brother ? Shame on you guys! Both of you are getting married and I'm here single and without a code name ! " he sobbed harder this time as all of you started to laugh at his cuteness.

" Don't worry uncle I'm here for you! " said Shizhui as he went hugging his uncle's leg .

"Thank you A-Yuan ! That's a precious person ! Nothing like you 2 punks ! " said the future Clan leader before hugging his niece and sitting up .

" We have a wedding to attend! Hurry up !" Wei wuxian said as he rushed his way through the long hallways of the Cloud recesses.

•—————••—————••—————••————•

You walked down the aisle with one of your brothers next to each one of your sides as they held onto your hands tightly.

You looked up on Xichen as he gave you a reassuring smile.

The lilac see-through satin fabric over your head made it a little harder to see around, but what it couldn't cover were the smiling faces of your clan and his own.

Looking at the end of the hallway you could see your uncle smiling proudly to you and then him .

The man you could sooner than soon claim as yours .

The man you were ready to build a family with,

And the boy you fell in love with years before he became a man .

He is Jiang Chen of Yumeng Sect , the little boy who became one of the greatest leaders .

But most importantly , your Jiang Cheng .

He reached his hand forwards to you once you arrived on the final step , welcoming you with one of his cutest smiles .

You took your place next to him as you bowed your head to your uncle.

The ceremony officially started and after everything important became complete, it was your turn to leave the place you called home for the past 18 years of your life .

He took your hand leading you inside the little ship that would lead you to Yumeng through the canals .

The water was decorated with floating white cherry blossoms the ones that Lan Clan threw in wishing you a safe and joyful life .

You looked back to your brothers and the rest of your family and Clan, waving at you as the boat took you a couple of meters away by each passing second .

"You look beautiful y/n " Jiang Cheng said moving an arm protectively behind your back , making sure there is no danger for you falling inside the water or get scared by the moving vehicle.

"Thank you Master Jiang " you bowed your head down making the fabric slip from its place .

You tried to move and catch it but it fell making you rush to put it back on .

" there is no need for you wearing it y/n I've already seen your pretty face over a thousand of times !" He spoke calmly.

" Sorry ma-" you tried to apologize

" why keeping formal with me my love so suddenly? I'm sure you knew my name years before .. it doesn't makes any difference calling me by it now ." He said a little irritated but still smiled at your cuteness and flushed cheeks .

" I sincerely apologize A-Cheng .. I'm just quite nervous right now .. " you confessed

" why darling is there anything you are afraid about ?" He asked clearly concerned by now .

" well .. to be honest there is a reason I'm acting like that .. I think your mother doesn't like me so much and I'm been awkward around you because of it ... I have no clue of how to act towards you around her . " you spoke each word with doubt, to anxious if your words would affect him negatively as he watched you the whole time closely .

" Y/n you don't have to be afraid of my mother , she indeed likes you pretty much and you were her most preferable choice between the brides that were meant for me .. act around her as you please . Both I and she love your true self so it's no need to hide yourself .. better now?"

" Partly.." you answered

" what's up now little minx ?" He asked full of curiosity.

" Where there other girls you could choose to marry ?" You asked pouting a little.

" definitely yes but to your reassurance .. even if I could marry 1.000 in my life i would just choose you over and over again. There is no other woman with such a spark in her eyes , so charming, so talented, so beautiful. There is no other like you , and I'm a pretty lucky person myself for having you here next to me .. as my wife " he spoke gently, his eyes honest and calm, full of love .

" I love you y/n " he spoke

" I know that " you said , teasing him

" YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO ANSWER LIKE THAT " he whined like a little child

" ok ok my mistake .. I love you too Jiang Cheng ! Happy now?" You asked

" Lots more than happy!!" He said taking your hands in his and kissing your temple.

The sun was disappearing in the horizon as the boats made their way through the full of lotus flower waters .

A book of your life just closed but a new one is already opening before your very eyes .

You are not alone on it this time , you are with someone that will love you a lot more than the meaning of love itself.

Because in this book two things are needed, his paper and your letters, in order to make a story that will be traveling from generation to generation again and again until you reunite through the centuries to make a new , better one .

•—————••—————••—————••—————•

THE END

Ok this cringed the living shit out of me BUT alright I still hope you enjoyed reading this ..

Like & follow !

Stay happy and healthy ♡♡♡

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sheadre · 4 years ago

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The Rogue Cultivator Part 2 (WWX x Reader x LWJ)

Summary: You’re a rogue cultivator who ran away from her home when they accused you of killing someone. You found yourself in Burial Mounds and accidentally in the Yiling Patriarch’s bed. After Wei Ying’s death, Lan Wangji took you to Gusu. What happens next?

Word count: 2577

Warnings: angst, sad ending

Lan Wangji sat across from you at the small table, his brown eyes piercing into your (e/c) ones. You wore your own hanfu, the last reminder of your clan as you sat. He was handsome, his delicate features stoic but held no malevolence. It took you a week to recover from your injuries. You were grateful that none of the sects knew anything about you but you were aware that once your brother arrives, you will have to run again until you’re far from civilisation. You didn’t want innocent people getting between you and your brother.

“Tell me” he said patiently. You could tell that he was barely keeping it together. Not that you were any better… yet you had to keep it together because your journey wasn’t ending here.

“I came from Guihai (L/N) shi, my brother, Haishen is the sect leader. He took a young maiden as his wife against her will, taking her away from her wedding when it was already arranged. He simply stated that he has the right as sect leader. He does as he pleases.” you sighed. “I ran away because his wife committed suicide when I was present. My brother accused me of killing her and I ran.”

“How did you meet?” he questioned his eyes boring into you, pressing you to answer. You could feel his coldness and you felt bad.

“I found myself at Burial Mounds after months of wandering… I thought that I could rest there for a while, that it is a place where no one goes to. That’s how he found me. I have no idea why he took me in… I was a stranger but he did. Wen Qing took care of my wounds… and they let me stay. Gave me shelter.” you smiled sadly.

“What was going on between you?” his question had an edge to it, his tone clipping like he was angry. No… he was jealous. You averted your gaze both out of embarrassment and out of guilt. It wasn’t hard for you to notice his feelings for your husband those months ago but this morning was confirmation.

“I became his wife” you replied firmly. You regretted nothing, Wei Ying was nothing but loving and he promised you his heart. He showed you his love on many occasions but there was always a place for Lan Wangji. Yet you never felt jealous… for why or how, you had no idea. You should’ve been jealous but you weren’t.

You lifted your gaze back up to meet Lan Wangji’s hurt expression. It was hard to read him but it was obvious now. He was in pain and you had no idea how to comfort him or if you should. He was at the verge of crying and your heart clenched in pain.

“I regret nothing… but I could never replace you” you reached out for his hand. At the sudden contact his hand twitched but your firm grip on his slender fingers kept him from pulling away. “He always loved you even when he was with me. I could never replace you, Hanguang-Jun.”

You sat there patiently, holding his hand, watching his handsome face show his emotions. He was beautiful, you couldn’t blame Wei Wuxian falling for him. You knew you wouldn’t be far behind if you let yourself. Wei Ying often talked about their time together at Gusu. He told you about every mischief he made, how Lan Zhan scolded him. Your favourite tale was when Lan Wangji got drunk. It must’ve been hilarious.

“I wish I could hate you” he said quietly after a long while. Lan Wangji pulled his hand away from yours and left you alone in a hurricane of white robes. You sighed heavily, tears rolling down your cheeks. You missed Wei Wuxian but you had to be strong. You couldn’t break down.

Later ~

A few hours later when the sun left the peak of the sky you leaned back with your hands on your hips. Your lips in a satisfied smirk. Your small hand made backpack was packed with your remaining things. Your sword was the last thing you needed to buckle on your side before you parted. You looked over the house with a sad and fond smile.

Lan Wangji was more than generous with only just taking you in and healing you. You couldn’t stay and be a nuisance. His coldness was easily noticed by anyone, yet he kept taking care of you and gave you food, even ate with you. Your eyes landed on the letter you left for him. Goodbyes were never your strength.

You hauled the backpack onto your shoulder and left the house quietly. You couldn’t help but admire the scenery. Back at Guihai you only had fortresses with grey stone walls everywhere. It was a labyrinth and meanwhile you found your way through the streets, other people tended to get lost in the city one too many times. You didn’t miss your supposed-to-be home. Once before you would’ve called it your home as a child even with your parents abusing you and your brother belittling you.

“(L/N) guniang” the gentle voice startled you making you jump a little in your place earning a chuckle from the Gusu Lan sect leader. You turned to Lan Xichen and bowed deeply in respect.

“Sect leader” you greeted.

“Where are you going?” he asked as he bobbed his head towards your backpack. You shot him a gentle but sad smile.

“It is time I depart” you started. “I cannot depend on Hanguang-Jun and cannot take advantage of his kindness. I am already in debt for he took care of my wounds and gave me shelter.”

“He took you to Cloud Recesses as his guest, (L/N) guniang” Zewu-Jun gave you a knowing smile. “He would be devastated if you left without him knowing.”

“It is not only because I wish not to overstep my boundaries but because my brother is coming after me and I would not want anyone to get caught in our fights.” you looked away with your heart heavy. You didn’t want anyone to get hurt when your brother would find you. No one deserved to die because of you. You must’ve wronged your family for them to treat you the way they always have done.

“Still… I have to ask you to think of my brother’s feelings… Wei Wuxian’s death took its toll on him” Lan Xichen looked sad for his brother making your heart clench in pain. Maybe there was a way for you to stay… maybe you would be able to be the shoulder Lan Wangji needed. You had no heart to leave him alone in these times. You heard rustling coming from your right side snapping your head to the sounds, you spotted Hanguang-Jun. His eyes widened when he noticed the backpack on your shoulder, his handsome face hardening as he quickly fled the scene.

“Excuse me, Zewu-Jun” you bowed to the older Lan brother before taking off after Lan Wangji calling out to him loudly so he would stop.

Five years later~

Your brother never came. No one knew you which meant rumours never spread about you. Therefore, your brother never found you because you changed your name and became Lady Qin, the wife of Hanguang-Jun. During the years you spent in Gusu, hiding, the two of you grew closer. At first, you had to be patient with Lan Zhan. He was mourning for years in seclusion. No one dared to bother him but you. You took his meals to his quarters, fetched warm water, took him to bed when he was drunk which happened at times and took care of his bunnies. The small rodents grew close to you and you often found yourself in the middle of the bunch of animals ranting about your problems to them.

One night, when you had enough of Lan Wangji moping about, you went out to the bunnies to clear your mind. The moon was full and shined brightly above you, lighting up the path in front of you. Your white robes brushed against the bushes, rustling the leaves as you took step by step. You sat down amongst the bunnies and opened up the basket full of vegetables feeding them carefully.

“I’m worried for Lan Zhan, you know?” you petted one of them with a sad smile. “He’s been mourning Wei Ying since years… I loved him too… more than I thought I could possibly love anyone. His heart was at the right place… and refused to stand in line with the monsters. Those people were kind to me… no one ever were kind to me back at Guihai. They were my family more than my real family ever was.”

You paused giving the bunnies from the large salad. You listened to them munching on it with a smile on your lips. You looked completely different from the way you did before. Your hair grew even longer and you untied the braids you had in it. Those braids once indicated your place in (L/N) clan but now you were nothing to them and they were nothing to you.

“And then… Hanguang-Jun took me in… I have no idea why… but I will always be grateful to him” you chuckled with a sob contorting it. Tears rolled down your cheeks. “He took me in and gave me a shoulder I could lean on when he needed it even more than I did.”

“I took you with me and A-Yuan because I needed you” his voice broke the silence of the night. Your heart skipped a beat as your head snapped up in surprise. You quickly wiped at your cheeks as he came closer. His steps were quiet but you felt him get closer. “You felt like a piece of Wei Ying… I felt like there was a piece of him lingering with you.”

“You hated me, didn’t you?” you chuckled as you kept your eyes on the horizon. You dared not to look at him.

“I did…” he admitted after a long silence. “But I learnt why he fell in love with you.”

“I never knew why he chose me when he could’ve chosen you” you chuckled brokenheartedly. You pulled your legs up so you could rest your chin on your knees, hugging them close to your chest. You didn’t care if it wasn’t appropriate for a lady to sit like that. It was just you and Lan Zhan. Nothing else mattered.

“He didn’t choose, A-(Name)” Lan Wangji sat down next to you as gracefully as a person can. No matter what he was doing, he was like a prince. His voice was gentle even when it sounded lost. “You were there when I couldn’t…”

“Nothing is impossible, Lan Zhan” you smiled as you turned to him. Your heart skipped a beat at the sight. His deep brown eyes bore into you as the moonlight turned his porcelain skin glistening like an ethereal creature’s.

That night was the first step for the two of you to grow closer. Each moment you shared brought you closer until one night, Hanguang-Jun kissed you. The night was dark that time, cold wind was blowing as it was about to turn winter. Lan Zhan asked you to stay with him and you did without a question. He should’ve been to bed already but he couldn’t sleep. You sat on his bedside pouring some calming tea when he kissed you. His lips felt so soft and sweet. Lan Wangji confessed to you his love and you agreed to be his bride.

The winter wedding was beautiful. Lan Qiren was the happiest even if he didn’t let it show. To your request, only few people were invited and those who attended agreed to spread the rumour that you were a young maiden from the village. Odes were singing about how the two of you looked like a god and a goddess. A prince and his princess in white. People expected you to be like Lan Wangji’s mother, to stay secluded in your own house. You had to make them disappointed. You followed Lan Zhan to nighthunts, travelled with him everywhere and when in Gusu, you taught the young female disciplines of cultivation.

Your first-born child conceived on a nighthunt. In Gusu, the two of you had no time for each other, but out there, in the inn, you only had time for each other. Your hand ran down his bare chest as your lips left a mark behind his ear. His slender fingers loosened your robes and the soft fabric fell down your shoulders to pool around your hips as you sat in his lap. You were a mess but Lan Zhan wasn’t far behind. His headband loosened by your hand and it slipped down his forehead.

“I miss him” you breathed against his skin as you rested your head on his chest. The morning sun was shining through the blinds but today was a lazy day.

“Every minute” Hanguang-Jun nodded as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

“Thank you” you smiled sadly up at him. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion making you chuckle. “That you’re so good to me.”

“You say that like it is a goodbye” he rumbled as his arm tightened around you. You just shook your head and closed your eyes.

Oh, but it was a goodbye. You always knew that your brother wouldn’t give up. His hatred was too deep to just let you go.

Lan Zhan,

I wish that I could give you more to reciprocate all the happiness you gave me. I wish there were words I could write down that express my gratitude and love for you. You gave me two beautiful children and gave me a third one in Sizhui. You gave me a new life, a new purpose. You saved me more than one way. I know that it is hard but it was time for me to meet my fate.

When you find Wei Ying, tell him that I never ceased to love him. I wish I could be there to greet him, to hold him. And when the time comes, I will be there to greet you. And we will never have to separate again.

With undying love ~

(Name)

Lan Wangji found her letter on his desk one morning. Almost ten years passed since he took her with him from Burial Mounds. Lan Zhan knew that her brother was getting closer and closer. The man even sent a letter to (Name) to warn her. Lan Wangji stood in the middle of the room with the letter hanging from his fingers before it limply fell onto the ground. His heart was broken all over again.

Time skip~

Wei Ying was holding the letter in his hands as tears rolled down his cheeks. His A-(Name) died because Jin Guangyao told her brother where she was and how to find her. Jin Guangyao feared her powers because she was strong and so she had to die. He remembered how bright her smile was, how beautiful she looked in the moonlight. He always wished that the three of them could be together.

Lan Wangji pulled him back into his chest, arms tightening around his waist as he pressed a soft kiss to his bare shoulder.

“We’ll see her again… when the time comes, Wei Ying”

#romance #angst #sad ending #the untamed #mo dao zu shi #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #lan wangji #wei wuxian #wei ying #lan zhan #reader-insert

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immacaria · 4 years ago

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Family

Hello there! So this for Sangchengber Day 5: Family and it brings as a jealous Nie Huaisang, a amused and overprotective Nie Mingjue and a tired Nie Zonghui. There are some OCs of mine in there and I ask for forgiveness right now if their names are horrible or shitty. I hope you enjoy this and have a nice day!

For almost two years, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng were living together now. Almost two years that Huaisang had to deal with his roommate’s beauty and stupid. Really, how come that he didn’t notice Huaisang’s pining over him? More than two years and Jiang Cheng didn’t ask or did a thing to acknowledge him for goodness’ sake! Not a thing at all! Now, he was here, attending to a fucking wedding party while his crush was back at their house doing God knows what!

“A-Sang!” An aunt of his father’s side sang on his ear, throwing an arm over his neck. “My little A-Sang! How big you are!” She laughed, taking a full gulp of her drink. “Another wife, do you believe it? Your uncle has no shame!”

“Auntie, I think you have drunk enough.” Huaisang said, getting the glass from her. Just because he didn’t remember that one, didn’t mean he wasn’t going to look after her. ‘Well, until she passes out or go pester someone else. Whatever comes first.’, Huaisang thought as she nodded in agreement.

“But it’s true, you know?” She said, leaning into him, looking at the recently married couple bitterly.

“What’s true, Auntie?” He sighed, looking around for a savior. Anyone would do, truly.

“The rumors. That your uncle is marrying again because the first one couldn’t have children.” She explained, looking at the groom strangely. “Poor Mei, that’s what I think.” She breathed deep. “Poor Mei didn’t deserve this. She loved this asshole too much.”

“What do you mean, Auntie?” Alright, even if Huaisang didn’t like being there, the last family gossip always lifted him up. Even if it was just a little. “Do tell more.”

“Please, sweetie.” The woman said, looking directly at him, strange and suddenly sober. “Everybody knows that your brother and the oldest of the twins Jades of Gusu are nothing but boyfriends. One’s already out for love.” She chuckled, looking around for Mingjue. “And you, everyone knows that you are way over hills for the youngest of the Jiangs.”

“What do you mean, Auntie?” Nie Huaisang turned fully to her, curious and intrigued.

“Oh, sweet and innocent A-Sang. Once your father is dead, Mingjue is going to take over the business. But after his death, what happens?”

“I will still be here?” Huaisang said quietly, not liking what was going to happen next already.

“Oh, dear…” She said, touching his cheeks, eyes filled with pain and pity. “Everybody knows that you know nothing about your family’s business.” She whispered, stroking his eyebrows sadly. “Nobody expects you to, A-Sang. That’s why your uncle is marrying that whore. Anyway, enjoy the party, A-Sang. While it lasts.” She disappeared in the crowd, leaving Huaisang alone with his thoughts. ‘Why? Why would that woman do that to me?’ He groaned, turning to the waiter passing by.

“Do you guys still have whiskey?” He asked.

“Plenty of it, young master.” The waiter smiled at him, before vanishing in the kitchen, chuckling with the gentle ‘thanks’ of Huaisang. “Here it is, younger master Nie.”

“Thank you, Wu.” Huaisang smiled at him. “Bring me the whole bottle, would you?”

“Of course, young master.” He smiled, simpatectelly. After he brought the bottle, Huaisang decided that nobody would ruin his already horrible night even more, not even his own family. Maybe that was the real reason why he went to the dance floor, maybe it was the alcohol, but the fact was that he went to the dance floor, fearing nothing.

As his favourite music blasted through the speakers, he let his body move on his own, not caring for what the others were saying, doing or thinking. His heart was already broken, his head still full of thoughts, horrible thoughts. ‘No!’, he thought. ‘Tonight nobody can hurt me!’ he smiled as Blackpink started to play. ‘Not anymore.’

“A-Sang!” A cousin of his called, waving at him. “Do you know the choreography?” She yelled, throwing her stilettos away, almost hitting a cousin of theirs.

“Of course!” Huaisang answered smiling widely as Kill This Love blew through the amplifiers. “Uhuu!” He laughed, dancing and singing along with the other girls at the wedding. He kept dancing and singing as all the playlist played out, drinking and joking around with everyone, caring even less if Jiang Cheng liked him or that girl in his class with every passing second. “Let’s kill this love!” He chanted, dropping a little of the whiskey on the floor.

“Huaisang!” Mingjue screamed over the noise. “What are you doing?”

“Dancing!” Huaisang laughed, drinking a little more. He didn’t care if he passed out, he was having the time of his life. And nobody would stop him.

“And drinking!” His cousin, TongTong, said beside him. “Do you know I love you?”

“Yes. And I love you too!” He yelled back as Mingjue threw him over a shoulder. “Da-Ge!” He turned to him, completely ultraged. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you home.” Mingjue retorted, putting the nearly empty bottle on a table nearby. “You are too drunk, Huaisang.”

“No! I was having fun!” He reached for the bottle. “Funkiller!” He screamed at the top of his lungs before dissolving in a mess of giggles.

“You’re absolutely wasted.” He sighed, dumping his little brother in the backseat of the car.

“No, I’m Huaisang.” Giggled as Mingjue started to leave the parking lot. “Da-ge…” He called, lifting a hand to him. “Auntie said that Uncle is marrying that whore so he could take over father’s business.”

“I’m still here.” Mingjue patted his head. “As long as I’m here, you will be fine. And father’s business too.”

“But, Da-Ge…” Huaisang groaned, turning to him.

“Go to sleep, A-Sang. No uncle of ours will take over father’s business.” The older one threw his own jacket over the other’s shoulders. “Da-Ge will resolve everything.” He stroked Huaisang’s hair, smiling sadly at his sleepy brother. “No need to worry.” Was the last thing that Nie Huaisang heard before dozing off to a dreamless sleep, the first of many nights since he moved on with Jiang Cheng.

Sincerely, he didn’t know the exact reason him and Cheng had moved in. At first thought, Jiang Cheng’s brother, Wei Ying, was moving in with his boyfriend, Lan Zhan, and Nie Huaisang needed a place near the Art Institute after he got accepted. At second thought, Da-Ge could always buy him an apartment, but he prefered to go living with his long-life crush and best friend.

Now, here he was, sleeping on his older brother’s backseat while he drove around the city, giving him time to think, sleep or do anything Huaisang wanted to. But, what Huaisang wanted to do right now was go home and hide from all the world for the rest of the weekend, just eating and watching Netflix with Jiang Cheng. And, yet, he really didn't want to deal with Jiang Cheng saying that he was irresponsible, that all he and Wei Wuxian knew was to party and just get themselves fucking wasted and a lot of other things. So, nah, not coming home tonight.

Because of that, when he woke up, Huaisang looked through the window in front of him, trying to calculate if they had already arrived at his apartment or not. He really didn’t want to deal with Jiang Cheng’s grumpiness and all of the Jiangs brothers’ dramas tonight (nor the rest of the weekend, to be true).

"Da-Ge…" He whispered, getting up slowly. "Where are we?" Huaisang asked, putting Mingjue’s jacket on.

"Almost at your home." Mingjue answered, making a soft turn. "Your husband called four times already." He smirked as his little brother came to sit on the seat next to him. “Apparently, you are two hours past your bedtime.”

"Who?" Huaisang asked, putting the seat belt on. “I don’t have a husband. Nor bedtime. I’m not living with you anymore.”

“If you say so…” The older smiled fully, stopping in front of a small building. “Here we are.”

“I don’t want to go in, Da-Ge.” He whined, turning to him slowly, after some time.

“Why not?” Mingjue asked, entering in the overprotective mood instinctively. “What did that Jiang do to you? And don’t you dare lie to me, Huaisang, because I know he did something to you. You never drank how you drank today, Huaisang! Actually you never drank anything stronger than… Than… I never saw you drinking before, Huaisang!” He waved around, looking terrified. “So, please, please, what happened? You can tell Da-Ge. Da-Ge will protect you from that monster!’ He held Huaisang’s hands, searching for the younger’s eyes.

“Da-Ge!” Huaisang looked up to him, exasperated. “Jiang Cheng did nothing wrong!” He huffed, feelling the little squish Minigjue gave to his hands. “It’s not Jiang Cheng’s fault I still have a crush on him, beside I got worried about you and dad…” But Mingjue wasn’t hearing anymore, too shocked to process anything else. “And you aren’t even listening.” He sighed, rolling his eyes, before yelling. “Da-Ge!”

“What do you mean ‘still have a crush’? When did you get a crush on that kid?!” Mingjue grabbed him, pulling him closer. “And he doesn’t love you back? Fuck business’ friendship, I’m going to commit a murder.” He whispered in Huaisang’s hair. “Don’t worry, A-Sang, Da-Ge is here.” He patted his back.

“Da-Ge!” Huaisang pushed him away. “He doesn’t know and neither do I want him to.” Huaisang murmured, leaning back into his seat. “Just… Just take me to another place, please.” He closed his eyes, not working the energy to talk with Mingjue or anyone else and, yet, expecting him to argue. But the older one just hummed in agreement and drove away (still shooting a murderous look at the small and beige building).

After that, the Nie brothers went to an old apartment of theirs. Even if Mingjue wanted to stay and take care of his younger brother, he had responsibilities with their dad’s enterprises, trips to do and new deals to make. Nie Huaisang didn’t blame him, he did all of it so he didn’t have to, that’s all. His Da-Ge only wanted him to be happy, doing what pleased him.

At first, he planned to pass only a day there, but then a day became two and, suddenly, it was Wednesday and Huaisang had even put a foot out of the loft since the party. Nie Mingjue came to visit him everyday, not commenting on what he was doing, nor saying what was happening in the world around them.

"You really didn't check on your phone since we got here?" Mingjue sighed after Huaisang asked how TongTong was doing along with Zonghui.

"No, it died three days ago. The only charge here is from my old one.” He shrugged, making coffee for them. "And I couldn't find my old one."

"I see." He took the mug from Huaisang's hand. "Have you explained why you didn't go to college this week?"

"Nope." He chuckled, popping the "p". "I didn't even manage to work up the courage to get out of here, Da-Ge, let alone actually talk to someone.”

"And what the hell were you doing here all this time?" Mingjue sighed, putting the mug down.

"I'm painting again. And drawing. I forgot how cool and relaxing it was, to just paint and don't worry about anything else." Huaisang smiled, playing with his cup. "Do you want to see them?"

"Yeah. I do, A-Sang."

“C’mon, they are in my room.” He led the way to his bedroom, even though it was usually the other one who used it in his freetime. Seriously, since he had moved in with Jiang Cheng the only places he went to was the college, Mingjue and Xichen’s house, Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan’s apartment and his own apartment, beside the shopping nearby. ‘When did I get so old?’, he thought as he showed some drawings he had made that week. ‘When did I get so domesticated? And A-Cheng still says that the only thing I do is partying.’

“These are pretty cool. Thinking about putting it in your portfolio?” Mingjue asked, smiling to the scenes of birds and bees, to the neighbour’s drooling dog smiling back at him and to the… “Wait, what’s this?” He squinted his eyes, not quite believing in himself. “Is it Jiang Cheng--”

“Nope, this is personal, Da-Ge!” Huaisang pulled the paper from his hands, hiding it beneath his pillow, breathing deeply. “What about the other ones? Did you like it?”

“Yes, but I’m more interested in the one beneath your pillow.” He crossed his arms, smirking at him. “Was the young Jiang here these days?”

“No, Da-Ge, A-Cheng is at home, studying and, probably, hitting on a girl in his class.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because he only talks about her! He’s always like Hua Mei this, Hua Mei that. She is gentle as a morning breeze and smooth as a petal.” He murmured, pouting. “That little shit didn’t even notice that it was always me, me, who was there for him. Not Hua Mei.”

“A-Sang, don’t take it wrong, but you should get back because your man asks me about you every single day!” Mingjue said, sitting on the bed. “Every single day, the Jiang boy asks where are you? Why aren’t you going to class?”

“He does?” Huaisang turned to him, momentarily forgetting his paintings.

“Of course, he does.” Mingjue huffed, rolling his eyes. “It’s getting annoying.”

“Oh!” He said, fidgeting his nails, stopping for a while. If it was true what Mingjue was saying, maybe, just maybe, Nie Huaisang had been a little bit too blind too, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He just had to muster up the courage to get out of the loft and actually talk to his crush. “Do you know if he is in class now? Or something like that?”

“For what I know, he is currently in class, sending you messages a mile per hour.” Mingjue fished the phone from his back pocket, looking at its screen for a second. “A cousin of us does the same classes as Jiang Cheng and said she would keep an eye on him for you.”

“Which cousin? A-Hua? I remember she wanted to be a veterinarian.” He said, laying behind him. “Or it was A-Liang?”

“A-Hua. Wang Hua Mei.” He smirked as realization came to his didi, his eyes widening with every minute. “Yes, our little cousin Wang Hua Mei who is a lesbian and a veterinary student.”

“I was jealous of A-Hua? The little A-Hua?! No!” He hid his face with his hands, howling dramatically. “I can’t believe this! Please, tell me TongTong don’t know this.”

“Of course I know this, sweet cousin. I know everything that happens in this crazy family, including the affairs and jealousy.” TongTong laughed, smiling. “Aaand you should thank me too. I made damage control on that video of us dancing. In the wedding.”

“What video?” Huaisang looked between his fingers, fear cradling at his insides.

“The one where you scream Fuck Jiang Wanyin so many times it became the name of the video.” Nie Mingjue said, smiling too.

“And to best everything, Let’s Kill This Love is blasting in full volume.” TongTong sat by his head, caressing his hair. “You really know the choreography, uhm?”

“Of course I do.” He mumbled, trying to hold the tears back. Now Jiang Cheng wouldn’t look at his face ever again. “I really screamed Fuck Jiang Wanyin?”

“It’s the name of the video, A-Sang, dear. What do you think?” She sighed, eyes looking fondly at him.

“Oh, gods! A-Cheng isn’t going to look at me ever again, Da-Ge!” Nie Huaisang groaned, trying to not scream too loudly. “What am I going to do?”

“I don’t know, fight back, try to talk with him, change your name and move to the USA.” Nie Mingjue shrugged, getting up. “Either way you choose, you will have to get out of this loft, get your things in your apartment and know that your family is by your side. Now, get up, hand me that painting of the Jiang kid and let me be the judge if it will go to your portfolio or not.”

“What painting?” TongTong said, perking up.

“Da-Ge!” Nie Huaisang screamed, but pulled the painting from beneath the pillow nevertheless. He may not know what he was going to do right now, but he knew that his family was going to be by his side at any circumstance. Because that’s what you do when you are part of the Nie family, you take care of each other and let yourself be taken care of.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Okay, maybe the idea of bringing Nie Mingjue, TongTong, Nie Zonghui and A-Hua wasn’t the greatest idea Nie Huaisang ever had in his life, but they were family and certainly would intervene in the talk he was about to have with Jiang Cheng. If they did, then he would accept Nie Mingjue’s advice and move to the USA as quickly as he could because they were going to start screaming with Jiang Cheng and one another and Nie Huaisang would be kicked out of his home. And if there were a few things that he couldn’t stand, being humiliated was on top of them all.

“Okay, listen. I’m going to talk to him, okay? No need to shout or intervene or pull any weapon I didn’t manage to find before we came here, alright?” He turned to them, trying to look like the personification of calm and collected. “It’s just a talk, nothing that I can’t handle. There’s nothing to panic over. Everything is fine.”

“A-Sang, dear, you look like you want to be everywhere minus here.” TongTong said, passing him a fan. “Here, you forgot this at the party.”

“Thank you.” He said, breathing deep as he looked for the spare key they usually let hidden on his plants. “Ah, here.” He pulled it out, shaking it a little. “Breathe, Huaisang, it’s very unlike that he is going to be home now.” He whispered, behind his fan, looking to the sides. “Everyth--”

“Nie Huaisang.” Jiang Cheng growled, coming out of the kitchen, hearing an apron and yielding a knife.

“Da-Ge!” He yelped, running to hide behind Nie Mingjue. “Help”

“Haven’t you said that you didn’t need our help?” Nie Mingjue snickered, looking at him over his shoulder. “It’s just a talk, nothing I can’t handle. It was something like that, right?”

“Shut up.” He murmured, making himself look smaller.

“Hold yourself, kiddo.” Nie Zonghui rolled his eyes, a hand inside his jacket. “Put the knife down, Young Master Jiang.”

“Why the hell didn’t you answer my calls?! Or my messages?!” He said, walking to him. “Excuse us. Can you leave?”

“Ooh, I like him. He has no brain cells, just pure and beautiful anger.” TongTong whispered to A-Hua, smiling like crazy.

“Jiang-xiong has brain cells, he is just too worried with Huaisang-gege and kind of angry too.” She whispered back, laughing behind her hands. “They are kind of cute together, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Good propaganda too.”

“TongTong!” She slapped her arm as the other just shrugged.

“Let go of the knife and I will step back.” Nie Mingjue said, looking amused at him. “Now, Wanyin.”

“Fine.” Jiang Cheng turned around, scowling as he put the knife on the small cafe table Jiang Yanli gave them. “Happy now?”

“Yeah…” The oldest Nie of the room stepped aside, smirking at him. "For now."

"Why didn't you respond to my messages, Huaisang? Just because of that video?" He said, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Yes?" Nie Huaisang said, hiding behind his fan.

"That's it? Yes?" He crossed his arms. "No more explanation?"

"I panicked, okay? I thought you weren’t going to look at my face ever again and hide.” Nie Huaisang started, knowing fully well that he would start rambling. “I was angry at you, okay? Every single time you opened your mouth, you would talk about Hua-Mei this, Hei-Mua that and I was getting jealous, alright? To worsen everything, when I arrived at the party, my fucking aunt simply glued on me and would let go, insisting that my uncle was marrying another woman so he could get children and usurp Dad’s company because Da-Ge insists that he is not dating Lan Xichen. But everybody knows that they are dating. And nobody believes that I could command it because I’m just the ‘poor and innocent A-Sang’!”

“Huaisang. Huaisang. NIE HUAISANG!” Jiang Cheng screamed, clapping his hands together. “Breathe!” He instructed when Nie Huaisang looked at him.

“No! Now that I started, I will finish. I was angry at you, I was angry at my poor Aunt who did nothing more than tell me gossip and I was angry at Hua-Mei without reason.” He pointed at her, fan furiously coming back and forth in front of him. “So, I started drinking and Wu brought me a bottle and I got another from who knows who and then TongTong asked if I knew how to dance Let’s Kill This Love. Of course I know how to dance it. I remember dancing, drinking and not caring even when Da-Ge put me on his shoulder and carried me out of there.”

“Why didn’t you come home?” Jiang Cheng crossed his arms again.

“Because I couldn’t look at your face, see you praising someone else and deal with the Jiang brother’s drama while drunk and dealing with my own drama and drinking. I was fucking wasted, A-Cheng, my hangover was horrible and I didn’t left the loft for nothing but do go get some groceries.” He answered, rubbing his face. "That 's it! Happy now?”

“So you're telling me that you got jealous over me and Hua-Mei, who is a lesbian and have a girlfriend…”

“And cousin.” The girl added, smiling.

“I didn’t know that at the time.” Nie Huaisang grumbled.

“And cousin, angered yourself in the wedding, got yourself drunk, started dancing with your another cousin and screamed Fuck Jiang Wanyin seventeen times in a row while singing Let’s Kill This Love?” Jiang Cheng carried on, lifting one finger to each action he quoted. “That’s why you didn’t answer my messages?”

“My phone died and I didn’t have a charger nearby.” He shrugged, still slowly fanning himself. “Sorry.” Jiang Cheng stayed silent, looking at him with furrowed eyebrows. Some moments passed and nobody said a thing, just looking at each other as if trying to determine what was going to help next.

“A-Cheng, say something, please.” Nie Huaisang begged, when it all got too much for him.

“So, you like me?” Jiang Cheng said, looking uncertain of himself.

“Yes, A-Cheng, I like you.” He smiled as TongTong groaned behind him and A-Hua chuckled.

“Good, don’t this again or last time I will break your legs.” He took the knife back, walking to the kitchen. “I’m making dinner, put the table.”

“Okay, okay.” Nie Huaisang smiled, following him, chuckling when he heard Nie Mingjue said begrudgingly.

“Did he just use my threat?”

“Yeah, he did.” Nie Zonghui said, chuckling too.

"I'm liking him even more." TongTong said as A-Hua agreed with her. "We are staying for dinner, aren't we?"

"Yeah. I'm fucking hungry." Nie Mingjue said and Nie Huaisangī wouldn’t be happier than he already was.

“Just so you know, I like you back. Since we were in school.” Jiang Cheng whispered to him, nudging his arm with his elbow.

“Does this mean we are dating?” He whispered back, a smile forming on his lips.

“I think so. What you think?” He smiled back, returning to where he was cutting the vegetables before.

“Yes! I love you!” Nie Huaisang jumped at him, kissing his face.

“Careful, you idiot, I’m holding a knife!” He screamed, but soon he was laughing too. And if Nie Mingjue and the others looked inside the kitchen and screamed at them for delaying dinner with their smooches, Nie Huaisang didn’t care because now he was truly happy! He was dating his childhood crush, his family were by his side and happy for him and even if there were things that were kind of bad in his life, it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Alone or not.

#sangcheng #sangchengber #sangchengmonth2020 #sangcheng month #nie huaisang #nie mingjue #nie zonghui #my ocs: nie tong and wang hua mei #im sorry if this names are shitty #i tried to be as accurate as possible #jiang cheng #drunking #this was kind of funny to write

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giraffeter · 5 years ago

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Thinking about Jin Zixuan tonight.

And like...first of all, let’s get this straight: the man was a jerk to my wife Jiang Yanli, on many occasions, for years, and that is not cool with me. He is not fit to kiss the hem of her perfect-for-the-occasion-whatever-the-occasion garment, but then again neither am I, and yet she is my wife.

But let’s think about my dude’s family life. His dad SUCKS. And sucks in a way that would be particularly awful for a dad, where he’s like smarmy and paternalistic (which is so much worse in your ACTUAL FATHER) and blatantly, repeatedly, unkindly unfaithful to Jin Zixuan’s mother, who actually seems like a pretty cool and thoughtful person. Jin Zixuan has no siblings, and at the same time has an ever-increasing number of siblings, and they keep COMING TO HIS HOUSE and his mom has to just, like, rise above it and oh my God no wonder she and Madam Yu are friends.

So that’s how my young dude grows up. On the one hand, he’s richer than God and Jin Guangshan is always like “One day, my son, all this will be yours,” and everyone is like “Oh Jin-gongxi, please let me kiss your ass so you’ll be nice to me when you’re the richest man in the world.” And on the other hand, your dad sucks and your mom is like, putting on a good face and suffering in silence and people say shit. Oh, people say shit.

And then your dad (WHO SUCKS) is like “Hey, one day you’re gonna marry this Jiang Yanli girl.”

Now let’s not forget that the first time we meet this fancy young lad he’s like, 16 years old. And if there’s one thing 16-year-olds are known for, it’s being like “fuck you Dad, you can’t tell me how to live, i-dont-want-your-life.mp4.”

So like, of COURSE he’s like “No, fuck now, I’m not marrying her, I don’t even know her and if she’s anything like her mom she’s scary AF, plus her brothers are constantly talking shit, who needs the drama.”

Now is he a FOOL for trying to turn down betrothal to my beautiful wife? Abso-fucking-lutely. But is it understandable, given where he’s coming from? I’d say yes. Why would he want to sign on for marriage, if the only real model he’s seen for it is Jin fucking Guangshan?

And like, kudos to him, because despite being unforgivably dickish to the radiant angel Jiang Yanli on multiple occasions, Jin Zixuan is otherwise pretty cool? He’s brave, even at Worst Summer Camp he’s Not Having it when Wen Chao tries to start shit with Wei Wuxian, whereas his dad is busily sitting on the sidelines of the actual civil war they’re in, just waiting for an opportunity to carpetbag his way to Chief Cultivator. He helps Jiang Cheng lead everyone to safety after they get sealed in the cave. He’s loyal to his fellow Jin Disciples.

And of course, he eventually realizes what a colossal fucking mistake he’s making. He seems like a decent husband to Jiang Yanli, and like he would have been a good dad. He overcomes a LOT of dickishness in his upbringing, to become Mostly Not a Dick by the time of his Untimely Demise, which is a credit to him and also of course to my his lovely wife.

#the untamed #jin zixuan #everything is terrible might as well get drunk and rant about the untamed on tumblr #jiang yanli #jiang yanli deserved so much better #jzx

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callunavulgari · 4 years ago

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Scrapbook 2021 | Part I

For anyone that’s new to this, this is how I keep track of all of the things I enjoy and/or create throughout the year. I have literally been doing this since I had a livejournal. I think the first one was 2011? Maybe? In which case, woohoo, ten years of scrapbooking!

It’s a nice little snippet of my life and helps to organize my brain.

A reminder:

Normal font - Indifferent/Neutral Italicized font - Enjoyed bold font - Loved with an asterisk* - All time favorite (bracketed titles) - Re-watches/Re-reads strikethough - Disliked

Goals are: read 80 books, finish five video games, write more than 20 fics or something larger than 20k, and write either an original short story or start a novel.

Past Years

MOVIES

January

(Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring)

(Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)

(Lord of the Rings: Return of the King)

Robin Hood

(Hook)

Wolfwalkers

February

(Age of Ultron)

From Up On Poppy Hill

(Tangled)

(Onward)

(The Mummy)

(Hercules)

(Promare)

March

Raya and the Last Dragon

(My Neighbor Totoro)

April

(Hunchback of Notre Dame)

(Tarzan)

(Beauty and the Beast)

Weathering With You

BOOKS

January

A Deadly Education | Naomi Novak [Fin]

Home Body | Rupi Kaur [Fin]

The Sunken Mall | K.D. Edwards [Fin]

Bloom | Kevin Panetta [Fin]

The Angel of Crows | Katherine Addison

All the Stars and Teeth | Adalyn Grace [Fin]

The Adventure Zone: Vol 1 | McElroys & Carey Pietsch [Fin]

I Hope You Stay | Courtney Peppernell [Fin]

Pillow Thoughts | Courtney Peppernell [Fin]

Piraneesi | Susanna Clarke [Fin]

The Ex Talk | Rachel Lynn Solomon [Fin]

February

The Adventure Zone: Vol 2 | McElroys & Carey Pietsch [Fin]

The Adventure Zone: Vol 3 | McElroys & Carey Pietsch [Fin]

The Angel of Crows | Katherine Addison

Alice Isn’t Dead | Joseph Fink

March

Winter’s Orbit | Everina Maxwell [Fin]

Fireheart Tiger | Aliette de Bodard [Fin]

Alice Isn’t Dead | Joseph Fink

Fire | Kristin Cashore [Fin]

Bitterblue | Kristin Cashore [Fin]

The Witch’s Heart | Genevieve Gornichec [Fin]

Winterkeep | Kristin Cashore

April

Alice Isn’t Dead | Joseph Fink [Fin]

Winterkeep | Kristin Cashore [Fin]

The Memory Theater | Karin Tidbeck [Fin]

These Violent Delights | Chloe Gong

(Red White and Royal Blue | Casey Mcquiston) [Fin]

Rule of Wolves | Leigh Bardugo [Fin]

Alice Isn’t Dead | Joseph Fink [Fin]

Not the Girl You Marry | Andie Christopher [Fin]

The Echo Wife | Sarah Gailey [Fin]

The Midnight Library | Matt Haig

Catherine House | Elisabeth Thomas [Fin]

Séance Tea Party | Reimena Yee [Fin]

Lumberjanes vol 1 | Noelle Stevenson [Fin]

PODCASTS

January

The Unseen, Christmas and New Year Special

The Penumbra Podcast, Juno Steel arc, Heart of It All and What Lies Beyond

The Penumbra Podcast, Second Citadel, Strong Arm of Justice and The Priestess’ Fortune

I Am In Eskew, Episode 16

Welcome to Night Vale, Episode 67, 68, and 69

The Magnus Archives, Episode 190 and 191

February

The Magnus Archives, Episode 192-194

The Adventure Zone, Episodes 15-60

March

The Magnus Archives, Episode 194-200 [Fin]

The Adventure Zone, Episodes 60-TAZ BALANCE ENDING

MBMBAM, Episode 1

I Am In Eskew, Episode 17-22

April

I Am In Eskew, Episode 23-END

Alice Isn’t Dead, Episode 18-END

TV SHOWS BY SEASON

January

His Dark Materials, s2 [Fin]

Watcher Entertainment

Buzzfeed Worth It

(Black Sails, s1)

The Queen’s Gambit**

February

Cherry Magic

Wandavision, s1

Watcher Entertainment

The Owl House

(Little Witch Academia)

Star vs the Forces of Evil, s3, s4

Bridgerton

Buzzfeed Unsolved: True Crime

Heaven’s Official Blessing

March

Wandavision, s1 [Fin]

Watcher Entertainment, Puppet History & Watcher Weekly

Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Word of Honor

April

Word of Honor, s1

Watcher Entertainment, Puppet History

Falcon and the Winter Soldier, s1

Kim’s Convenience, s1, 2, 3, 4

Leverage, s4

Shadow and Bone, s1

The Great, s1

VIDEO GAMES

January

Hades, 37 hours [Fin]

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, 35 hours

February

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, 35 hours

Hades, 75+ hours?

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, 16 hours

Persona 5 Royal

March

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, 45 hours

Persona 5 Royal, 141 hours

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, 35 hours

Concrete Genie, 3 hours

April

Concrete Genie, 6 hours [Fin]

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, 65 hours

Persona 5 Royal, 160 hours

Monster Hunter Rise, 2 hours

Civ, 5 hours

DELIGHTFUL FIC

January

Modern Rustic by beethechange | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 22k | “I think,” he says, finally, “that if we looked around this place hard enough, we’d find a rose underneath a—a glass thing, what’s it called—losing petals. Metaphorically.”

easy livin' by sarcasticfishes | Buzzfeed Unsolved (Fallout AU) | Ryan/Shane | 6k | The Wasteland - and Ryan - through Shane's eyes.

(in nocte consiliam by oxymoronic | Bartimaeus | Bartimaeus/Nathaniel | 4k | London, 2003. Britain is on the brink of war, and someone is trying rather hard to kill John Mandrake.)

made of glass the way you see through me by uneventfulhouses | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 19k | Will it always be like this? Ryan wonders, watching Shane lope up the snowy walkway and pushing his way through the front door, humming some jolly old tune in that way Shane’s prone to do. Theatrical, performing for an audience even though Ryan is the only one around.

All Your Stars In View by alpha_exodus | Harry Potter | Draco/Harry | 18k | Life after the war is difficult for Harry, especially when the only thing that makes him feel better is, oddly enough, being around Malfoy. So when Malfoy asks to paint his portrait, Harry can't refuse, even if it means baring himself in more ways than one.

13 Genuinely Awful Things About Steven by thefourthvine | Buzzfeed Worth It | Steven/Andrew | 10k | Andrew’s learned to like cake, he’s learned to like oysters, and he’s learned to like Steven.

we’ll make a brand new start of it (in old new york) by misantlery | Buzzfeed Worth It | Steven/Andrew | 10k | “Just to be clear,” Andrew says. “You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend at a party to spite your high school bully and your high school girlfriend and possibly the entire state of Ohio?”

Russian Roulette Croquembouche by misantlery | Buzzfeed Worth It | Andrew/Steven | 9k | “Get that on your business card,” Andrew advises. “Steven Lim, video producer, world traveler, fancy dessert boy. Human cream puff.”

rose-colored boy by juniperProse | Buzzfeed Worth It | Steven/Andrew | 2k | Andrew’s eyes are pink.

Like Wildfire by makemadej | Watcher Entertainment | Shane/Ryan | 20k | “Is this gonna be a thing with you?” Ryan demands. “You can’t keep committing to stuff that no one else knows about! When people online say they want you to be more open and vulnerable, this is not what they mean.”

Scratching the Itch by bendingsignpost | Doctor Who | Rose/Ten | 20k | Her mum had always told her that blokes had only one thing on their minds, but this was taking it to an entirely new level.

lie back and let me unlock you by Lise | The Untamed | Xiao Xingchen/Xue Yang | 7k | Xiao Xingchen, reluctantly, admits to certain fantasies that he has. His friend is happy to indulge him.

in our respective ways by Lise | The Untamed | Jiang Cheng & Lan Wangji | 6k | Jiang Cheng has his golden core back. But he seems to have lost Wei Wuxian.

By Proxy by Lise | The Untamed | Jiang Cheng/Lan Wangji | 12k | Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, looking for comfort in all the wrong places.

some good mistakes by Lise | The Untamed | Jiang Cheng & Lan Wangji | 18k | Or, the one where Wei Wuxian vanishes and Lan Wangji, reluctantly, asks for Jiang Cheng's help tracking him down.

efforts in a common cause by Lise | The Untamed | Xiao Xingchen/Xue Yang/Song Lan | 12k | Everybody's walked out of Yi City alive. Now it's just three badly adjusted adults (and one badly adjusted teenager) trying to make things work - a project somewhat derailed by a night hunt that turns out to be something else.

swinger of birches by astronicht | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 23k | Lan Zhan is a little witch in the house on the hill, whispering out a love curse. Wei Ying is a witch undead, undone.

let me desecrate you by hkafterdark | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 6k | “Dangerous words.” Wei Wuxian drew back. The flickering candlelight gave him an otherworldly appearance; that, and his beauty, unchanged since the first time Lan Wangji had seen him. “You aren’t afraid to be at the mercy of the fearsome Yiling laozu?”

The Demon Affair by stereobone | Yu Yu Hakusho | Hiei/Kurama | 9k | Kurama accidentally seduces Hiei into a relationship.

i came to win (and i won) by paperclipbitch | The Queen’s Gambit | Beth/Benny | 3k | They play chess, and they fuck.The two things are not the same.

February

Sylvain Gautier Would Love To Try To Solve All Your Problems Through Sex (Hey It Might Help) by Fall Out Boy by harriet_vane | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | Sylvain/Felix | 22k | In which Sylvain wakes up on the wrong tour bus, and refuses to be their sex therapist (unless Felix asks nicely)

μήτηρ, in the Greek by antistar_e (kaikamahine) | Hades | Nyx & Persephone, canon relationships | 37k | At the end of this recounting, she tilted her head and asked politely, Is this not how you have children?Uh, no, said Persephone.

that voodoo that you do so well by veterization | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 18k | Ryan buys a voodoo potion oil at Voodoo Authentica meant to attract Yummy Boys. Appropriately, things happen.

A Bridge Between by Runespoor | Spirited Away | Gen | 3k | Years later, Chihiro moves into a new apartment; her parents help.

the ghost king's bride by arahir | Tian Guan Ci Fu | Hua Cheng/Xie Lian | 10k | Ghosts won't stop giving Xie Lian flowers, Hua Cheng won't stop teasing, and Xie Lian is out here doing his best, man.

Side bitch out of your league by rohkeutta | Captain America | Steve/Bucky | 3k | “I tried to call Sam,” Captain America says, bewildered. He’s sprinting like Usain Bolt and doesn’t sound even a little out of breath. Fucker. “Who’re you?”

cause in your warmth (I forget how cold it can be) by madnessandbrilliance | Promare | Lio/Galo | 7k | Lio is always freezing. Galo is always warm. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the rest.

backdraft by broments | Promare | Lio/Galo | 32k | It happens in an instant, Galo gaping like an idiot while Lio presses forward to defend against the perceived threat, the weapon sparkling but not burning as it kisses Galo's throat.

Yosuke will now die for you! by DragonBandit | Persona 4 | Yosuke/Souji | 5k | ...This, causes problems.

dramamine by brawlite | The Untamed | Song Lan/Xue Yang | 7k | Song Lan is having a bad morning. Help comes from the last person he'd expect: Xue Yang.

Hearth and Home by lady_ragnell | Leverage | Alec/Eliot/Parker | 1k | When Eliot goes to a temple, or when he’s in one place long enough to build a shrine, he doesn’t do it for Ares. He does it for Hestia.

Where One Ends and the Other Begins by kalliopeia | Leverage | Alec/Parker/Eliot | 30k | Nobody’s particularly shocked when the job goes spectacularly sideways because their loot turns out to be magic. Parker and Eliot begin reading each other’s minds, accidental sharing happens, and shenanigans result.

Hungry Thirsty Roots by coolkidroland | Persona 5 | Akechi/Akira | 56k | In which Akira absolutely does not learn to leave well enough alone. **

Without Grasping Yet by Angelic_Ascent | Persona 5 | Akechi/Akira | 8k | Akechi and Akira end up far too cramped for comfort in the Morgana bus. And then they're left alone in Mementos.

Falling Up by KivaEmber | Persona 5 | Akechi/Akira | 2k | “If it helps…” Akira spoke up suddenly, his tone morbidly amused, “I forgive you, for shooting me in the face.”

March

Touch of Forbidden by tirsynni | LoZ | Ganondorf/Link | 2k | Nabooru warned him not to travel to the Spirit Temple. So of course Link went to the Spirit Temple.

breaking the same old heart by tardigradeschool | The Adventure Zone | Magnus/Taako | 11k | Taako and Magnus in triptych: before, during, and after the Bureau.**

your head is good, it’s loyal, it’s clean by Anonymous | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 4k | "Here, I do this all the time."Too quickly for him to react, Taako plucks away one of his golden rings and slips it onto the ring finger of Magnus' left hand.

bruising kisses, whispered confessions by tangerine_skye | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 3k | The trio stop over at an inn for the night. Taako and Magnus share a bed.

i can see what's coming (but i'm not saying it) by pansywaist | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 3k | His breath is still hot on Taako's lips, distracting enough he almost misses the strained whisper: “I thought I was gonna lose you.”

Emergency Consolation in the Pocket Spa by Anonymous | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 3k | If Magnus wants to hug a wizard, Magnus gets to hug a wizard.

together for the long haul by kismetNemesis | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 6k | Magnus and Taako were married on a bright spring day in the year after they saved the world.

thin skin, bruises, and a cold cup of tea by GayFrankensteinsMonster | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 3k | Sleep is for the weak, and Magnus has no weaknesses, except for his own natural curiosity.

tender is the night by dollylux | TAZ | Magnus/Taako | 10k | “It’s just…” He runs a hand through the thick bramble of his hair, gripping the crown of it to anchor himself. He sighs, slumping back against the footboard. “I guess I’m just not very good at one on one. Like, not… not in any way.”

a note is attached to the top of the vial by GayFrankensteinsMonster | TAZ | Kravitz/Taako, Magnus/Taako | 5k | Elves have a lifespan of up to six hundred years. The people that you know don't even come close to that.

Pieces of Memory and Heart by ellemaris | Raya and the Last Dragon | Raya/Namaari | 1k | Raya isn't sure how to heal everything between Heart and Fang, but returning something important to Namaari seems like a start.

the gods laugh by miss_aphelion | The Untamed | Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji | 11k+ | WIP | Wei Wuxian is just getting used to being alive again when he's ripped from the world he knows. He wakes in a place where his sister and her husband live, where his brother doesn't hate him, where the Wen remnants have all survived.

In Your Room, In Your Bed by giraffeter | The Untamed | Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji/Jiang Cheng | 25k | After Wei Ying is disowned, Yu Ziyuan forbids Jiang Cheng from letting Wei Ying live with him. Jiang Cheng lets him stay anyway because Fuck That. He tells his parents Lan Zhan is his new roommate instead.

in the blossom season (in the pouring rain) by varnes | The Untamed | Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji | 14k | “Doctor Flowers,” Lan Zhan repeats, pointing at the tiny plum tree, just to confirm that his son is suggesting a magical tree named Doctor Flowers sprouted overnight and made their tame family project turn into a verdant jungle.

34 years old - 5'8" - DL - no-BB by withpractice_ff | Ace Attorney | Edgeworth/Phoenix | 3k | Phoenix finds Edgeworth’s Grindr profile

spinning with the stars above by tardigradeschool | The Untamed | Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji | 7k | Wangji returns home to Vulcan for the first time since he left for Starfleet Academy, this time with Wei Ying at his side. He’s not expecting Wei Ying and his uncle to be fast friends, but things go poorly in a very different way than he was expecting.

every breath that comes before by tardigradeschool | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 10k | Or, what if that cup of wine Wei Wuxian drank for Lan Wangji after the Phoenix Mountain hunt wasn't just wine?

never love an anchor by tardigradeschool | Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji | 31k | A fisherman and a selkie fall in love beside the sea. Regretfully, things are never quite that simple.

Be Careful by giraffeter | The Untamed | Song Lan/Xue Yang | 5k | Song Lan and Xue Yang try to survive a week in their shared apartment without Xiao Xingchen as a buffer.

April

running for a soft place to fall by tardigradeschool | The Untamed | Lan Xichen & Lan Wangji | 10k | As he leaves for his coming of age test at age twelve, half-Vulcan Xichen has a goal in mind. The rules of the kahs-wan prohibit taking food, water, or weapons. In accordance, Xichen is bringing none of those things, but he does have a compass tucked into his pocket. He is going to find his father.

an act too often neglected by Ariaste | The Untamed | Lan Xichen/Meng Yao | 60k | The single faceless, anonymous photograph on the profile that catches his eye is shot in elegant black-and-white, and there’s something about the crispness of the focus and the markedly off-center composition that says art, for once, rather than mugshot.The caption below is equally sparse: “5’6. Demanding.”

where you go, I'm going (so jump and I'm jumping) by Aria | The Magnus Archives | Martin/Jonathan | 6k | "I don't think so," Alex said. She looked at Martin. "Is this really how it went?"

Morning, keep the streets empty for me by feyburner | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 6k | Ghosts were drawn to the ring roads.

2am on a saturday by detectorist | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 11k | In which Lan Zhan gets high, slides into Wei Ying's DMs, and somehow ends up having the harmonica played to him at 2am in the morning.

Grief Kindly Stopped by ShanaStoryteller | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 5k | Nothing leaves the Burial Mounds alive.

Boat Basin by downjune | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | 5k | He thought the 21st century now maybe suffered from an overabundance of classifications for all the different ways to fuck and/or romance a person, but the most important thing—and his therapist had emphasized this—the most important thing was connection.

my touch magnifies by isozyme | Word of Honor | Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu/Ye Baiyi | 7k | Wen Kexing gets hit with fuck-or-die sex pollen on the way to Longyuan cabinet. Everything would be fine, except Zhou Zishu’s been keeping an unfortunate secret: the nails in his chest mean he can’t get hard anymore.

DELIGHTFUL FANVIDS

January

2020 || Multifandom Mashup

Hades - Official Animated Trailer

Hades Mini-PMV: This Year

2020, I guess

MARVEL || Energy (ft. Easy McCoy + Black Hydra)

obi-wan || give it

2020 ll Multifandom Mashup

Multifandom | Goodbye 2020

Multifandom | Goodbye 2018

2018 Multifandom | MASHUP

His Dark Materials - No Sanctuary

Lyra & Mrs. Coulter | Hurricane

► mrs. coulter || way down we go [hdm]

Wonder Woman || BORN READY

Vikings | The End of the Journey

February

MARVEL || Ready Set (ft. Vo Williams)

MARVEL || Here We Go (ft. Chris Classic)

MARVEL || Is You Ready || The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Never forget || Hualian - Hua Cheng x Xie Lian AMV

【魔道祖师 / MDZS】Animatic - The First Siege | Safe & Sound

The Jedi Way | THE MANDALORIAN

Multifandom || Going Bad (feat. Drake)

March

Broccolli Casserole--The Untamed

Hey Brother - The Adventure Zone Animatic/PMV

The Adventure Zone: Balance trailer

The Adventure Zone: Balance Arc Trailer (Animatic)

13 Year Olds (A MDZS Animatic by Arcxus)

Multifandom || Die In This Town

DNA | shadow & bone

(Marvel) Wanda Maximoff | Grief

Defying Gravity | MDZS/CQL Animatic

It’s Quiet Uptown | MDZS Animatic

To The Stars

(Marvel) WandaVision || Awaken

Walt Disney Animation Studios | A Magical Journey

We don't have forever.

stop living a fake life.

► Wanda Maximoff | PAINT IT BLACK (+15k)

Multifandom || Take It (c/w Quang Truong) ft. @SEIGE WORLD

Kylo Ren | STAR WARS

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

April

MARVEL || Natural ft.ImagineDragons

xue yang & xiao xingchen ➤ gasoline

WEN KEXING || GASOLINE

Wen Kexing ✘ Zhou Zishu || Dandelions

Play With Fire - Wen Kexing

TOXIC ~ Wen Kexing ~ word of honor ~ 山河令

(Marvel) Bucky Barnes | Free

Bucky Barnes | Feeling Good

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier || Next Level ft. @7kingZ || (Marvel)

Eternity looking down on us.

The complexity of reality.

Captain America

✗ The Crows | Trouble (Shadow&Bone)

Shadow & Bone | Paint It Black

The secret fate of all life.

DELIGHTFUL MUSIC

January

A Better Version - Jessie Shelton

Start a War - Klergy, Valerie Broussard

Meet Me in the Dark - Melissa Etheridge

ily - Surf Mesa, Emilee

Space Man - Eurielle

To Be Loved - Aurora

In the Blood - Darren Korb

Can’t Help Falling in Love - Tommee Profitt

Astronomical - SVRCINA

Oh Comely - Neutral Milk Hotel

In This Shirt - The Irrepressibles

goblincore + cottagecore

moonlit love letters 🌙💌 (sailor moon-inspired lofi mix)

Moonlight Densetsu Lo-Fi Remix 1 hour version

Peaceful Meditation

February

Never Forget You - Zara Larsson

Is You Ready - Migros

Recomposed Four Seasons - Max Richter

The End - JPOLND

Love Yourself - Sufjan Stevens

Deja | Daniel Roure

Used To Like | Neon Trees

Material Boy - Sir Sly

Willow - Taylor Swift

Overture - Apashe

Evangeline - Josh Garrels

Gris, pt 1 - Berlinist

Inferno - Hiroyuki Sawano

March

BAMBAM - Angie

Dictator - Rei Ami

Demons - Hayley Kiyoko

Runaway - Rei Ami

Deep Blue - Marcus Warner

Brave New World - Kalandra

Nero - The Speed

The Path of Silence - Anne Sophie Versnaeyen

Tuleloits - Kerli

Soft to Be Strong - Marina

Relic - Reeder

Ascension - Gorillaz

Will You Follow Me Into the Dark - Klergy

Voidfish (Plural) - Rachel Mitchell

Raya and the Last Dragon soundtrack

Unicorn Wizard - Ninja Sex Party

Me Too - Meghan Trainor

Umbrella - Rihanna

Colors Flying High - Lollia

Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There - Lyn

lovely - khalid

Burn My Dread - Lotus Juice

Progress - The Dear Hunter

My Mother Told Me - Rachel Hardy

Savage Daughter - Sarah Ross

Four - Sleeping At Last

April

The Other Side - Amarante

Predator & Prey - Griffin Puatu

As the World Caves In -Matt Maltese

Tell Her I Wasn’t Scared - Dan Thiessen

Esmeralda - Adriel Genet

Woods - AfterInfinity

So Human of You - Shireen

Flags of Rome - Jesper Kyd

Do It All the Time - I don’t Know How But They Found Me

Hummingbirds - Venus Hum

On and On - Curtis Harding

Grand Escape - RADWIMPS

my ex’s best friend - machine gun kelly

Sofia - Clairo

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Charlotte Lawrence

Next Level - 7KingZ

Tell Me - Johnny Jewel

Get Out of Town - Firefles

Music for Anglo Saxes

I See Darkness In You - Red Mecca

Satan Is His Name - Holly Golightly

Rocky Trail - Kings of Convenience

Story - NF

Because the Night - 10,000 Maniacs

Use to Be (L.O.V.E.) - Chelsea Collins

Bird on a Wire - Simone Istwa

Huzzah - Nathan Barr

POSTED FIC

January

gonna make you feel, boy | Hades | Megaera/Thanatos/Zagreus | 1,101 words | “You can touch, you know,” she murmurs, satisfaction and anticipation warring within her. Her pulse pounds. Zagreus’s eyes have darkened, his pupils eating up all that color. He looks good enough to eat.

February

how long do we have? | She Ra | Adora/Catra | 1,539 words | “The war is over, Adora,” Catra tells her. Adora hums. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

March

only fools rush in | The Adventure Zone | Taako/Magnus | 5,209 words | “Okay,” Taako says, sitting down heavily. “So. Ancient ritual to… bring people together?”

til my lungs both billow out | The Magnus Archives | Jon/Martin | 748 words | The knife goes in. The tape runs out.

the echo, as wide as the equator | The Untamed | Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian | 2,927 words | “Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying whispers after it is done.

April

N/A

WIPS | UNPUBLISHED | ORIGINAL

January

1685 words of Buzzfeed Unsolved, tattoo AU

February

N/A

March

3121 words of Magnus/Taako, Stolen Century verse Posted!

April

852 words of Steve/Billy

FANMIXES/GRAPHICS

January

got the morbs: sad/somber songs for sad/somber people

2021: a mix for the year that comes after 2020

Sahara Baby: a mix for songs that sound like Spanish Sahara

Fire Baby: a mix for songs that sound like Play With Fire

Consequences Baby: a mix for songs that sound like Consequences

Paradise Baby: a mix for songs that sound like Paradise Valley

Real Boy: a Zagreus playlist

February

N/A

March

only fools rush in: a taako/magnus playlist

pomegranate seeds: a persephone playlist

make them bow: a megaera playlist

fuck feelings: a taako playlist

til my lungs both billow out: a jonmartin playlist

April

i am my mother’s savage daughter: a playlist for the girl

#heather says what #heather writes #scrapbook #2021

3 notes · View notes

stiltonbasket · 4 years ago

Note

I would kill to see a first meeting between lwj and qs!wwx

The first thing Wei Wuxian does after escaping the Jinlintai is go to a backwater inn in Changlun and get himself roaringly drunk.

Getting out of Lanling had been a nightmare; Jin Guangyao expected his wife to travel with a retinue and a couple of faithful maids, so Wei Wuxian had to dismiss them early after crossing the border of the Qin sect. And after that, he left a letter to Qin Cangye with one of the man’s retainers, explaining that he (or rather, Qin Su) would be heading to a ladies’ purification retreat to pray for the conception of a healthy second child.

Even if word gets back to Jin Guangyao about his illicit excursion, he won’t be in any hurry to visit the place: especially not now that Lan Xichen has spoken on Qin Su’s behalf, advising Jin Guangyao to consider siring another heir after Jin Rusong’s passing.

“I’m a free man again,” Wei Wuxian mutters now, pouring a cup of cheap Changlun wine down his throat and glaring balefully at the brash party gathered around the next table. “Maybe I can find a tradesman going down to Moling tomorrow.”

Wei Wuxian isn’t dressed like a noblewoman; Jin-furen prepared commoners’ clothes for him before her death, and even suggested places of refuge where her face was not widely known so that Wei Wuxian could lie low while he figured out what to do next. But his predecessor was a very beautiful woman, whether she was clothed in fine silks and gold or not, and the local boys keep trying to come up to him and buy him jars of the house alcohol in an effort to catch him off his guard.

But Qin Su’s tolerance for wine is even better than his was, so Wei Wuxian ignores the men and drinks the jug behind the counter dry before hopping up onto the roof for a breath of fresh night air.

It’s the kind of night I would have spent playing my dizi back at Lotus Pier, he thinks, tracing the finger-holes of the rosewood flute he bought in Laoling. I would have played the lotus-harvesting song over the kitchen, and Shijie would have sung along, and then...

Mindlessly, he brings the dizi up to his lips and plays a few notes of the lullaby he used to hum to A-Yuan in the Burial Mounds, high and mournful and so achingly sweet that the notes almost seem to shiver as they strike the bones of his ear.

Xian-gege, the ghost in his memory giggles, chewing on Chenqing’s red-silk tassel before jumping into Wei Wuxian’s arms. Play for A-Yuan!

“I could play for you the rest of my life, A-Bao,” he whispers, as something white flashes along the path under his feet--probably a mouse, or the glow from a swiftly opened window spilling out into the darkness. “If you were still here, I...”

Suddenly, a broad, pale hand clamps down around his wrist, and Wei Wuxian tries to rip himself away, momentarily terrified that one of the men from downstairs had followed him up to the roof--but then he finds himself staring into a face he last saw at the edge of a cliff in Qishan, hanging three feet above his own and sobbing Wei Ying, Wei Ying, come back--

“Hah,” Wei Wuxian gasps, pitching dangerously towards the ground before two familiar arms arrest his fall. His lungs fill up with the scent of sandalwood incense, and when he looks up, the elegant lips of his former zhiji are already shaping his name.

“Is it you?” Lan Wangji chokes, taking Wei Wuxian’s face between his hands and looking him in the eye. “Wei Ying, you--you are back?”

“You’re mistaken,” Wei Wuxian babbles senselessly, trying to get to his feet; but Lan Zhan refuses to let go of him, and his white-clad body is shaking in the chill night air as if he were somehow feeling the cold, immortal master or not. “It’s not--I’m just a rogue cultivator, you’ve got the wrong person--”

“Hanguang-jun!” someone else screeches from below. Momentarily stymied, the two of them peer into the inn’s leisure courtyard, which appears to be empty save for a lone young man wheezing through his nose as he tries to catch his breath. “Hanguang-jun, what are you doing up there?”

And then the young man blinks, and stares at Wei Wuxian. “Qin-guniang?” he squeaks, reeling back in shock. “Hanguang-jun, she’s married! Take your hands off her at once!”

“Married to her brother. It does not count,” Lan Zhan says succinctly, which makes Wei Wuxian gasp again and kick him behind the knee in a pitiful bid for freedom. “Mo Xuanyu’s letter said as much. And besides, this is Wei Ying.”

“What?” the boy screams. “Have you gone mad, Lan Wangji?”

“Who’s that?” Wei Wuxian demands, momentarily distracted. “Why do you let him talk to you that way?”

“Jin Zixuan,” Lan Zhan tells him, taking the opportunity to wrap his arms around Wei Wuxian’s waist and fly them down off the roof. “Wei Ying. Come to our inn with us.”

This is going to be trouble, he laments, as Lan Zhan hauls him away by the sash of his dusty robes. What have you gotten yourself into now, Wei Wuxian!?

#wangxian #the untamed #mo dao zu shi #qin su!wwx #my fic

441 notes · View notes

robininthelabyrinth · 4 years ago

Note

Could you do something where Jiang Yanli kills Jin Guangshan? Reason why and when are up to you.

“It’s just in case,” Jiang Cheng said.

“A-Cheng…” Jiang Yanli said, smiling helplessly. Her little brother was all grown up now and pretending like it was his duty to be protective of her, rather than the other way around. “A-Cheng, it’s really not necessary. I’m going to my own engagement dinner – I don’t think anyone’s going to cause trouble.”

“It’s just in case.”

“A-Cheng, you do know that once I get married, I’m going to live there, right?” she said, laughing a little helplessly. “I’ll be in Koi Tower all the time. I can’t take Zidian away from you forever.”

“It’s fine after you get married,” Jiang Cheng said. “Jin Zixuan is a peacock, but he loves you; he’ll be by your side as often as he can manage it. But an engagement party like this – it’s so unorthodox to have something like this anyway, I don’t know what LanlingJin is thinking – he’ll be occupied getting congratulations on his side, you on yours, and then you retreat to separate bedrooms. If someone wanted to cause trouble in your marriage, that would be a good night for it. So just take it.”

“I don’t even know how to use Zidian properly!” she protested. “Not the way you do! I always…”

She waved her hands.

“Massively over do it?” Jiang Cheng said dryly.

Jiang Yanli grinned bashfully. “Yes.”

Zidian was a delicate spiritual weapon – in her brother’s hands, it was like watching artistry, the crackle of lightning and the shifts between ring and whip and back, never stronger than he meant it to be, able to draw beautiful patterns in the air that left after-images on the eye.

In Jiang Yanli’s hands…

She’d only ever managed to figure out how to activate Zidian’s self-defense mechanism, an extremely powerful lightning zap designed to send anything it touched into the next room and usually the next life.

“I’d still rather you had it for this party,” he said firmly. “Please, indulge me.”

Jiang Yanli stood on her tip-toes and pulled her little brother down by the collar to press a kiss to his forehead. “Always, A-Cheng.”

No one notices an extra ring on her finger that evening – if anything, she’s under-dressed compared to most of the ladies in Lanling, who cover themselves in gold and jewels; they flock around her and drink just as many toasts as the men do, albeit in their own fashion, and the rest of the evening is spent in gossip. Jiang Yanli wasn’t sure how much she liked any of this, but she supposed the engagement party wasn’t really for her – it was for Madame Jin, presiding over the events and puffed up with pride for having made the engagement work out just the way she and Madame Yu had planned it all those years ago.

If it had been for Jiang Yanli, her brothers would have been invited. Both of them.

Still, as the guest of honor, she’s obligated to stay very late, until the party could realistically be considered over and everyone lingering could pretend that they’d meant to do that anyway. Jiang Yanli pointedly yawned a few times before making her excuses – she didn’t need to fake it all that much, actually, given how much wine she’d drunk, even if she had only taken a single sip for every toast.

Of course, no one grew up with Wei Wuxian as a brother without developing some serious alcohol tolerance, so she’s not as affected as she made herself out to be.

Still, she thinks a little later that night, remarkably clear-headed, being drunk would probably be…helpful.

Jiang Yanli took a moment to survey the scene one more time, made a few small arrangements, nodded to herself, and started screaming Madame Jin’s name.

She’d been given a room in the main family hallway, as befitting her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law status, and Madame Jin had (somewhat reluctantly) bid the rest of her guests farewell shortly after Jiang Yanli left, so it didn’t take long before the woman ran into her room, followed very shortly by Jin Zixuan – they must have been talking in Madame Jin’s rooms.

Jiang Yanli flung herself at her future husband – well, she hoped he was still her future husband – and clutched at him, giving him a meaningful look as she did, hoping he understood. “There’s a man in my room!”

Jin Zixuan’s arms around her were a comfort, and his eyes were narrow as he looked around to see the scene she’d prepared: a man with a sheet over his face, lying against a wall where he’d evidently been thrown.

“Zixuan, you comfort Yanli,” Madame Jin instructed, then turned to the servants. “I want this locked down immediately. No one but you is to know what happened – if anyone asks, the story is that she saw a rat and overreacted after having drunk too much; we’ll figure out the rest later. If the real story gets out, it may affect Yanli’s reputation – and I’ll know it was one of you.”

The servants, pale-faced, rushed out.

“What happened?” Jin Zixuan asked her, and she really appreciated that he didn’t follow his mother’s instructions to comfort her as if she were a child.

She wiped the rather legitimate tears away from her eyes. “I came inside and began to change for bed,” she said. “My maid had just finished putting my hair down when she suddenly said we needed more incense and left –”

“Bought out, most likely,” Madame Jin said, looking grim. It had been a maid she’d appointed herself.

“And the someone came up behind me and put his hands on me,” Jiang Yanli continued. “I pulled away, so he only got my shoulders, but he tried to throw me onto the bed. I couldn’t see who it was, only a blur in the dark; I grabbed a sheet and threw it at his face –”

That was the only part of this story that was a lie. The sheet had been a later addition – and she’d seen exactly who it was.

“How’d he end up across the room?” Jin Zixuan asked, glancing over. His tone wasn’t accusing, at least – more puzzled. It was understandable: Jiang Yanli’s cultivation had never been anything very spectacular.

“He tried to grab me again and Zidian’s self-defense mechanism activated,” she said. “My brother gave her to me so I’d have something of my mother’s to wear at the engagement party…you know we don’t have much of her that’s left.”

Madame Jin’s face softened at the mention of her childhood friend.

“I’m glad he did,” Jin Zixuan said, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I didn’t even know Zidian had a self-defense mechanism.”

“It’s for people like me who can’t use it properly,” Jiang Yanli explained, leaning her head against him. She was a little confused – they were taking all the actions and precautions she’d hoped they would, keeping the story quiet and listening to her, but…why weren’t they looking at the body?

“I’m glad,” Jin Zixuan said again, and now that her head was against his chest, she could feel that he was shaking. “Mother…what are we going to do?”

“Zidian’s effects are similar to a lightning strike,” Madame Jin said. “Especially the – it was the zap, Yanli?”

Of course Madame Jin would know – Madame Yu had probably told her all about it. Jiang Yanli nodded.

“With the make-up to conceal the impact on the veins, the cause of death could just as easily have been a heart attack,” Madame Jin continued. “We can spin that. Maybe we say he came in here by accident, and in the confusion of realizing he was in the wrong room, had the attack…?”

They’d recognized him, Jiang Yanli realized. From the first moment they’d come in, sheet or no sheet – no. It was better to say that while they hadn’t expected this would happen, it also hadn’t surprised them very much.

Jin Guangshan had truly been a vile human being, if his wife and son didn’t mourn his passing even for a moment.

Jiang Yanli let the stress slip off her shoulders. “That would raise questions,” she said, composed again. “And I won’t be able to marry A-Xuan if people think I killed his father. How about a slightly different spin: the room was dark when I came in, my maid left, and I got up to look around and began screaming when I found the body. It would be obvious what he’d been trying to do, but if he died before I even arrived…”

“No, that’s better,” Jin Zixuan said. “It won’t – no one will be surprised at something like that, from him. I’m sorry. But you screamed very convincingly.”

She smiled at him. “I’m not very good at screaming.”

“If I hadn’t been in a war camp with you, I would’ve believed you?” he offered with a shaky smile.

“I never expected you to,” she said and kissed his cheek. “It was for the benefit of the audience.”

“The sheet was a good touch,” Madame Jin said, and she sounded approving. “The servants wouldn’t have recognized him – some of them will think it was a stranger, inevitably, and that will create additional confusion when the stories leak out…yes, I think a sudden heart attack while waiting is the best approach. We will need to take action, A-Xuan – reach out to everyone we can trust at once.”

“Is there anything I should do?” Jiang Yanli wanted to know.

“No, you’re not a member of the family yet,” Jin Zixuan said. “Your first instinct was right: you need to be the distressed young mistress.”

“Shocked and a little naïve about what he could possibly have been doing there would be best,” Madame Jin agreed. “‘Surely he just wanted to give me another toast’ – that sort of thing. Can you do that?”

“I can try. Most of the women here don’t know me very well, so it should work.”

Jin Zixuan ended up taking her down the hallway to the only other family housed there, knocking at the door. Jin Guangyao had a smile on his face when he answered – but then, he was always smiling.

The smile didn’t alter as Jin Zixuan explained the situation in short terms.

“I would be happy to help,” Jin Guangyao said. “Don’t worry. Miss Jiang is perfectly safe with me.”

#mdzs #jiang yanli #jiang cheng #jin zixuan #madame jin #jin guangyao #my fic #guess it's just a jiang yanli day #Anonymous

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fanyiyimdzs · 5 years ago

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Mo Dao Zu Shi: Chapter 6

Masterpost

Previous chapter

Once the sky darkened further, it would be impossible to navigate the forest without a torch. Wei Wuxian continued for a while into the mountain but, surprisingly, encountered barely anyone. Did so many houses really decide to stay in Fojiao Village, arguing and playing armchair general instead of hunting? And had other houses, like the people he had met earlier, really reached their wits’ end and decided to return empty-handed?

Suddenly, cries of help echoed somewhere ahead of him.

“Someone! Please!”

“Rescue us!”

Some of the voices were men, some were women, but all had the panicked, helpless tone of people lost in the wild mountains. There was an eighty to ninety percent chance that this was the work of evil spirits, attempting to lead ignorant naifs into their traps. But Wei Wuxian was very pleased.

The eviler the better! He was only afraid that they wouldn’t be evil enough.

He slapped the donkey and rode toward the sounds’ origin. He saw nothing in any of the four directions, but when he looked upward, he discovered that there were, in fact, no monsters, demons, or ghosts, only the family of small time cultivators he had met near the rice paddies, who were now hanging from the trees in brilliant golden nets.

The middle aged man had originally brought his descendants with him to scout the area, but they didn’t encounter any of the prey they had expected. Instead, they had stepped in some rich person’s net, they didn’t know whose, and were captured and dangled from the tree branches, where they could only complain bitterly and wait for rescue. Sensing someone approaching, they were suddenly overjoyed, but when they saw the person was the lunatic, they immediately lost hope. The binding nets were made of very thin ropes but high quality material; thus, they held fast and didn’t break. Once they caught you, whether you were a god or a ghost or a demon, you had to struggle for a long time in order to break free. Only other, better spiritual tools could cut you out. The lunatic said he’d help them get down, but who knew if he even knew what he was dealing with.

Just as they were about to shout at him to find help, the sound of agile feet dashing over branches and leaves approached them. Through the black mountain forest swept a youth wearing a light, pale robe.

This young master had a vermillion mark between his eyebrows. His features were delicate and pretty, yet also harsh and unkind, and he was very young, around Lan Sizhui’s age. He was still half a child, but held a longbow in his hand, wore a quiver of arrows on his back, and a long sword which shined with golden light and glittered with gemstones. The embroidery on his clothes was as exquisite as any, uniting into a white peony over his chest, the golden threads slim glimmers in the night.

Wei Wuxian sighed and muttered, “Rich people!”

The boy was surely some young master from the Lanling Jin Clan. Only that clan used the white peony as its emblem, suggesting that their own beauty was comparable to the flower’s. The white peony was also the king of flowers, and thus through it, the Lanling Jin Clan also subtly advertised that it, too, was the king of cultivators. The vermillion mark on their foreheads represented “enlightenment and ideals illuminating the world.”

The young master had originally nocked an arrow on his bow, itching to shoot, but upon seeing that the binding nets contained only people, he was sorely disappointed. He whipped around suddenly, irritation written across his face. “Every single time it’s you idiots. There are over 400 binding nets hanging around this mountain and none of them have caught anything, but already you people have ruined nearly twenty of them!”

Wei Wuxian’s thoughts continued to be, “Rich people!”

A single binding net already cost more than a humble sum, but this boy had used four hundred in a single go. The price was enough to ruin a slightly smaller house—the boy was sure worthy of the name “Jin.” But this kind of abuse of binding nets to capture prey hardly counted as night-hunting, which meant their true purpose was to keep people away and give them no opportunity to take a share of the spoils. It seemed the cultivators who had withdrawn earlier had done so not because the prey was too tough, but because offending an old, illustrious house like House Jin was more trouble than it was worth.

After journeying freely for a few days and eavesdropping on interesting conversations in Fojiao Village, Wei Wuxian had heard more than a little of how the tides of fortune had turned in the world of cultivation these past few years. The Lanling Jin Clan had emerged as the primary winner of the period of chaotic clan warfare preceding his death, and now was the leader of all the clans and houses of cultivation—even their Clan Chief was now called Chief Cultivator. Prior to this, the Jin Clan had already possessed haughty airs and an inclination towards ostentatious displays of beauty and magnificence; since they had risen higher and higher these past few years, amassing even more wealth and power, their children had developed a tendency to run amuck. Even if the brats humiliated weaker houses, those houses could only swallow their anger and hold their tongues. These small village cultivators stood even less of a chance, so though this youth’s language was cutting and their faces were flushed red, the people hanging in the nets dared not bite back.

The middle aged man calmly and respectfully said, “Please, Young Master, help us out and free us.”

The youth, impatient that his prey was taking so long to appear, vented his anger on the country bumpkins. Clenching his fist, he said, “How about you just hang here? That way you won’t randomly run around and get in my way! Once I’m done catching the soul-eating creature, I’ll cut you down if I still remember.”

If they were forced to hang here the whole night and whatever was prowling around Dafan Mountain happened to find them, they had no hope of getting away and their souls would be sucked dry. The round-faced girl who had given Wei Wuxian the apple became scared and started loudly crying. Wei Wuxian originally sat crossed-legged on the donkey’s back, but when the donkey heard her sobs, its long ears shook and it suddenly leapt up.

After it had leapt up, it let out a long bray, and if only the bray didn’t sound so ugly, to compare its relentless, heroic charge to that of a legendary steed would have been no exaggeration. Caught off-guard, Wei Wuxian was thrown off the donkey’s back and narrowly avoided cracking his head and bleeding all over his own face. The donkey looked forward, lowered its big head, and rushed straight at the youth, as though it firmly believed its skull could send him flying. But the youth’s arrow was still nocked, and he had just begun to pull back the bowstring. Wei Wuxian didn’t want to be forced to find a new mount so soon, so he repeatedly yanked on the donkey’s reins with all his strength. As the youth caught a glimpse of Wei Wuxian’s face, shock flew across his expression, which immediately melted into disdain. His lip curled. “Oh. It’s you.”

His voice was one fifth astonishment and four fifths revulsion. Hearing it, Wei Wuxian could only blink. The youth then said, “What, so once you were kicked back to your old home, you went insane? Look at how ghastly you’ve made yourself look. I can’t believe they had the guts to let you out and let other people see you!”

What ridiculous thing had he just heard?!

Was he really…?—Wei Wuxian slapped his thigh. Was Mo Xuanyu’s dad not some random, small-time house leader, but actually the renowned Jin Guangshan?!

Jin Guangshan had been the Lanling Jin Clan’s previous Clan Chief and had long since died. It was a long story. He had a highly celebrated and fearsome wife who was widely known to dominate his personality. But despite his fear of her, he couldn’t stay away from other women, and no matter how fearsome Lady Jin was, she couldn’t keep an eye fixed on him twenty four hours a day. Thus, on the surface, they were a fine and illustrious loving family, but behind the curtain, Jin Guangshan wandered the wilderness and the countryside, satiating his carnal lusts—as long as he could have a girl, he wouldn’t let her slip by. Moreover, because he so carelessly trampled around the grass, picking flowers and sowing his wild oats, he had acquired a herd of illegitimate children everywhere and in all directions. He was also extremely fickle, loved novelty, and hated habit. Once he became bored of a woman, he tossed all thought of her out of the window and did not feel a tingling of responsibility anywhere inside his head.

Even his death was unseemly. Confident that though he was old, he was vigorous, and wanting to challenge himself, he decided to fool around with a whole flock of women simultaneously. But unfortunately, he lost his own challenge and died amidst the throes of passion. Of course, this was far too embarrassing for House Jin to let pass through their lips, and thus the Lanling Jin Clan reported to the rest of the world that their old Chief had worked himself too hard and died of exhaustion. Hence, a tacit understanding developed—all houses would act as though they didn’t know. In short, this was the true reason for Jin Guangshan’s “renown.”

After Jiang Cheng, Jin Guangshan had made the second biggest contribution to the Siege of the Burial Mounds. Now Wei Wuxian occupied his illegitimate son’s body, and it was hard to say who had ultimately come out ahead.

Noticing that Wei Wuxian had zoned out, the youth, filled with hatred, said, “Fuck off! Why haven’t you fucked off yet? Just looking at you makes me sick. Gay piece of shit.”

In terms of lineage, Mo Xuanyu was probably this youth’s uncle or something similar, a generation above him, yet the boy still tried to humiliate him. Wei Wuxian thought that he really had to return the humiliation, if not for himself, then at least for Mo Xuanyu’s body. He said, “Your mom may have had you, but she sure didn’t raise you.”

Immediately upon hearing these words, two rage-filled flames flashed within the youth��s eyes. He pulled a longsword from the sheath on his back and said menacingly, “You—what did you say?”

The blade shined with brilliant golden light—it was a rare, first-class weapon. Many houses could toil for an entire lifetime without touching a sword its equal. Scrutinizing it, Wei Wuxian found it looked unexpectedly familiar, though on the other hand, he had seen more than his fair share of golden-tipped swords. Consequently, he didn’t consider it further and instead began turning the small cloth pouch in his hand.

This was a “spirit-locking pouch,” which he had put together out of a few scrap materials he happened to pick up the past few days. The youth hacked at him, but he pulled out a small sheet of paper cut in the shape of a man, sidestepped the swing, and slapped it onto his opponent’s back.

The youth’s movements were very quick, but Wei Wuxian had a great deal of practice with things like tripping opponents and slapping paper seals on their backs—he was even faster. The center of the youth’s back went numb, then his entire back grew heavy, and then he had no option but to fall face first onto the ground, his sword clattering down beside him. However hard he tried, he couldn’t get back up, as though he were being crushed by Mt. Tai.1 A gluttonous dark spirit lied atop him, pressing down on him until he was gasping for breath. The little ghost, though weak, was more than enough to handle this kind of brat. Wei Wuxian picked up the boy’s sword, weighed it in his hands, and sliced through the binding nets above his head.

The members of the family looked quite pathetic as they dropped down. Without a word, they bolted. The round-faced young woman looked as though she wanted to thank him, but was yanked away by one of her seniors for fear that this Young Master Jin might come to bear a more bitter grudge against them if they spoke too much. The boy on the ground said angrily, “You gay piece of shit! You failed at developing your spiritual power, so now you’ve taken the evil way instead? You better watch out! Do you know who’s here today? Today, I…”

Wei Wuxian clasped his hands over his completely insincere heart. “Ah! I’m so scared!”

Though his old practices attracted widespread castigation and, over the long term, damaged the practitioner’s body and mind, they had rapid results and weren’t limited by innate skill or spiritual strength. Thus many were extremely tempted—there was never a lack of people who secretly craved shortcuts. This youth assumed that after Mo Xuanyu had been chased out of the Lanling Jin Clan, he had decided to walk the crooked path. It was a reasonable, fair suspicion, and allowed Wei Wuxian to avoid a lot of needless trouble.

Bracing himself against the ground, the boy tried and failed to crawl back up a few more times. His face now thoroughly red, he gritted his teeth and said, “If you don’t remove this curse I’ll tell my uncle! He’ll kill you!”

Finding this odd, Wei Wuxian said, “Why your uncle and not your dad? Who’s your uncle?”

Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him, grim, cold, and bitter like a wintry forest. “I’m his uncle. Do you have any last words?”

Upon hearing this sound, all of the blood in Wei Wuxian’s body seemed to rush toward his head at once, then completely evacuate it shortly thereafter. It was fortunate that his face was already as white as death—if it got any whiter, no one would notice.

A young man sauntered towards him, clad in light, violet robes with hemmed in sleeves,2 his hand pressed against the pummel of his sword. A silver bell dangled from his waist, but when he walked, Wei Wuxian couldn’t hear any ringing.

The young man’s apricot eyes were topped with slim, sleek brows and gave the impression of sharp, penetrating beauty. His gaze was heavy; a faint aggression burned beneath the surface, and to meet his eyes was to be struck by two cold bolts of lightning. He walked until he was ten paces from Wei Wuxian, then stood in silence, his expression like an arrow on a tight bowstring. A conceited arrogance emanated from his countenance as he waited.

Frowning, he said, “Jin Ling, how much time are you going to waste? Do you need me to go over there and invite you back? Look at your sorry state—why the hell haven’t you gotten back up!?”

Once the initial shock passed, Wei Wuxian’s conscious awareness rapidly returned. He curled his fingers inside his sleeves and recalled the paper man. Jin Ling, sensing the burden on his back lightening, immediately rolled, grabbed his sword, and scrambled up. In a flash, he was by Jiang Cheng’s side, pointing angrily at Wei Wuxian. “I’m going to break your legs!”

As he saw the uncle and the nephew standing side-by-side, Wei Wuxian could indeed make out some similarities in their features—in fact, they looked like brothers. Jiang Cheng gestured and the paper man escaped from Wei Wuxian’s grasp, flying into the Clan Chief’s hand. He glanced at it, spite burst in his eyes, and he clenched the paper between his fingers. A spurt of flame engulfed it, and the spirit inside screamed as it was burned to ashes.

Jiang Cheng said darkly, “Break his legs? Haven’t I told you that if you come across someone who practices these sinister things, you should just kill him and feed him to your dog?”

Wei Wuxian didn’t even remember to hold onto the donkey’s reins as he rapidly backed away. Originally, he had thought that, however much Jiang Cheng had despised him so many years ago, by now the Clan Chief’s hatred, like fog or smoke, should have been scattered by the winds of time. How could he have known forgiveness or even forgetfulness would hardly come at such a low price? Not only did Jiang Cheng’s hatred fail to dissipate, it had aged like wine, growing stronger and stronger as the years passed. He had started to take it out on any cultivator who imitated his despised former friend!

With someone behind him to protect and support him, Jin Ling swung his sword all the more viciously. Wei Wuxian’s fingers probed the entrance of the spirit-locking pouch. But just as he was about to take action, a flash of blue sword-light swept past him like lightning, clashing with Jin Ling’s blade, shattering the weapon’s golden rays in an instant.

The outcome did not result from a difference in the quality of the swords, but rather the vast disparity in the wielders’ strength. Wei Wuxian had originally timed his trick perfectly, but, unexpectedly thrown off step by the tip of a blade sailing past, stumbled and crashed into the ground right in front of a pair of snow white boots. He froze for some time before slowly lifting his head.

The first image that shined into his eye was the edge of a blade, glittering and translucent like ice.

In the world of cultivation, this sword was very renowned. Wei Wuxian had learned of its might from countless fights, both shoulder to shoulder and face to face with its wielder. The hilt was forged out of silver with a secret technique known only to the smith. The blade was extremely thin and as clear as the purest crystal; icy air emanated from it like breath and iron parted before it as though it were no more than clay. The entire sword was graceful, agile, and awash in enchanted mist. But contrary to its light appearance, it was leadened with weight; an ordinary person was entirely unable to swing it.

—“Bichen”3 was its name.

The tip of the blade swung around, and a shing sounded above Wei Wuxian’s head as it returned to its scabbard. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng’s voice rang from far away. “I was wondering who it was, Second Master Lan.”

The pair of white boots circled past Wei Wuxian, neither hasty nor slow, then walked forward three steps. Wei Wuxian raised himself up. As he brushed past Young Master Lan, their gazes met briefly. Wei Wuxian pretended it was unintentional.

The young man’s whole body was draped in white silk that shined like moonlight. On his back he bore a seven-stringed guqin, which was uncommonly narrow and made of a soft, raven-feather black wood. A white, cloud-patterned ribbon was tied around his forehead, and his skin was fair and unblemished. Like polished jade, he was both extremely beautiful and extremely refined.

His eyes were very light, as if made of colored glaze, making his gaze appear cold and detached. His expression was tinged with frost and snow, and was solemn but not quite stiff. Though he saw Wei Wuxian’s ridiculous appearance, not a single reaction rippled across his placid face.

Not a single speck of dust soiled his appearance, nor was a single hair or thread out of place, nor did a single point in his countenance breech etiquette. Despite all of this, two words jumped into Wei Wuxian’s head:

“Mourning clothes!”

They really did look like mourning clothes. No matter how many people extravagantly praised the beauty of the Lan Clan’s uniforms, as though they were flowers floating on the breeze, and no matter Lan Wangji’s reputation as a man of peerless, once-in-a-century beauty, his appearance still resembled that of a widower nursing a deep, bitter hate.

The year was inauspicious, and enemies traveling along a narrow road were bound to meet. Blessings always came alone, but misfortunes, never unaccompanied.

Without uttering a word or glancing away, Lan Wangji stood face-to-face with Jiang Cheng, motionless. Jiang Cheng himself was an exceedingly handsome man, but compared to the one before him, his beauty was indeed somewhat inferior. Impatiently, he raised an eyebrow and said, “Hanguang Jun, you’re undoubtedly deserving of your fine reputation for ‘appearing where the chaos is,’ so how do you have the time to visit these old forests and mountains today?”

Elite cultivators like them normally disdained to take notice of low level prey, but Lan Wangji was an exception. He was never selective about what he hunted, and would never refuse to go after a monster or demon just because it wasn’t violent or fierce enough for killing it to improve his reputation. Ever since he was young, as long as someone requested help, he would come. Thus, “appearing where the chaos is” was the phrase everyone used to describe Hanguang Jun’s night-hunting habits, and a form of praise for his character.

Jiang Cheng’s tone was therefore remarkably rude. The flock of juniors who followed behind Lan Wangji, upon hearing the Clan Chief’s words, grew quite uncomfortable. Lan Jingyi, habitually blunt, said, “But isn’t Chief Jiang here too?”

Jiang Cheng replied coldly, “Tsk, when your seniors are talking, is it your place to interject? The Gusu Lan Clan boasts of having the utmost concern for etiquette, yet it teaches its disciples like this.”

Appearing uninterested in arguing with him, Lan Wangji glanced at Lan Sizhui, indicating that the juniors should settle this among themselves. Stepping forward, the boy said to Jin Ling, “Young Master Jin, night-hunts have always been fair competitions between clans and houses, but you’ve hung up these nets everywhere around Dafan Mountain. It makes it difficult for other cultivators to navigate the forest for fear they’ll fall into a trap. Doesn’t this violate the rules?“

Jin Ling’s frosty expression was the exact same as his uncle’s. “They’re the ones who stepped into the net,” he said immediately. “It’s not my fault they were stupid. If you have a problem, wait until I finish catching my prey first. Then we can talk.”

Lan Wangji wrinkled his brow. Jin Ling was about to continue speaking, but suddenly found he could no longer open his mouth, nor could his throat produce any sound. Startled, he turned pale. Jiang Cheng looked at his nephew and saw that his lips were stuck together, inseparable by ordinary methods. His face began to grow red out of anger, and his words lost any veneer of politeness they had previously had. “You with the surname Lan! What do you mean by this? Jin Ling isn’t yours to discipline! Undo it!”

This silencing spell was used by the Lan Clan to punish disciples for making mistakes. Wei Wuxian himself had fallen victim to the trick on several occasions. Though it wasn’t a complicated, high-level spell, no one but members of House Lan could undo it. If someone forced their mouth open, either their lips would be shredded and start to bleed, or their throat would be mute for several days. Thus, the victim was forced to stay quiet, keep their mouth shut, and reflect on their shortcomings, until the entire period of punishment passed. Lan Sizhui said, “Chief Jiang, there’s no need to be angry. As long as he doesn’t try to break the spell by force, it will undo itself in twenty to thirty minutes.”4

Jiang Cheng was just about to open his mouth when a man in a violet Jiang Clan uniform bounded out of the forest, shouting, “Chief!” When he saw Lan Wangji, his face turned hesitant. Mockingly, Jiang Cheng said, “What’s the bad news you’re bringing to me this time? You may as well spit it out.”

The messenger said quietly, “Not long ago, a blue sword flew around and ruined the binding nets you set up, sir.”

Jiang Cheng glowered at Lan Wangji, the fury in his heart rapidly leaking into his expression. “How many?”

The messenger very carefully said, “…all of them…”

Over four hundred!

Jiang Cheng seethed.

He very much hadn’t expected this outing to be so wretched. Originally, he had come to help Jin Ling, who would turn fifteen this year and should be embarking on his career and competing with other juniors for experience and reputation. Jiang Cheng had carefully sifted through the options before choosing Dafan Mountain as their hunting grounds, and then covered the area with nets to scare off cultivators from other houses. Because the nets would make navigation very difficult, they would have no option but to leave, thus eliminating the competition and leaving the prey to Jin Ling. Though four hundred binding nets cost an exorbitant price, it wasn’t much to the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. The actual destruction of the nets was a small issue—the big issue was the loss of face. The fact that Lan Wangji had done such a thing made bitter resentment bleed from his heart and circulate up towards his head—the higher it got, the more resentful he became. He narrowed his eyes, and unconsciously or not, began stroking the ring around his right index finger with his left hand.

This was a dangerous motion.

Everyone knew that ring was a fierce, deadly weapon. Once the Chief of Clan Jiang began to touch it, he intended to kill.

__________________

Translation notes:

1 A mountain in northeast China, one of its “Five Great Mountains,” and an important religious and ceremonial site.

2 Literally “arrow sleeved,” a style of sleeve with a narrow wrist opening, unlike traditional hanfu sleeves.

3 Literally “to avoid dust.”

4 Literally “in the time it takes an incense stick to burn,” which is twenty to thirty minutes.

Next chapter

Masterpost

#mo dao zu shi #MDZS #wei wuxian #lan wangji #jiang cheng #jin ling #wwx #lwj

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