#nie loses her mind

[gayhoediaz]

it truly does make me insane how lightning almost took eddie away, and then an electrician brought them back together and now lightning is almost going to tear them apart again.

also something something storms used to be seen as the rage of the gods, and they’re battling the universe for each other etc etc

[stiltonbasket]

If/when yunhua gets married, her spouse is sort of starry-eyed about their tall, buff wife?

When Yunhua decides to get married, she orders her suitors to take part in a test of strength - that is, facing Yunhai on the training field and winning. She would have fought the suitors herself, but the intention was for at least one of them to win. ;)

[tiyoin]

Now I'm thinking about twisted anxiety reader being able to sing really well. I feel like there could be some very interesting/funny moments (4 us not reader).

Reader probably only sings in a reclusive area like a forest around the dorm

I wanna say that the forest already has haunting rumors about it ,and when someone (jade or rook) hears reader singing they think that the "ghost" is up and active again. So students start doing a "test of courage" type thing.

I put Jade or Rook being the one to hear reader cuz they're really the only ones that would really be in that area without a reason.

I also know they're intelligent enough to know it's not a ghost ,but start the rumor anyways cuz they want to know who's singing. And it becomes this big thing the school trying to figure out.

Cut to reader losing her mind cuz she like "wow, I didn't know people thought it was that bad. How am I supposed to live, laugh, love ever again??"

When in reality they were just memorized by reader's singing. And they really want to find out who it is.

Bonus points if they film it and sent it to the group chat you posted about earlier. And reader just has to be like 🧍‍♀️ "whattt???? No way!! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ a random voice in the woods 😱😱"

I'm sorry for sending 2 long asks back 2 back ,but twisted anxiety just gets my head going.

Also if you don't like being sent stuff like this just tell me and I won't send any more. I don't want to over step at all. These are just like head cannons I give to reader ,cuz I just love making things worse for her. Can't let her know what peace is

YOU

hOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET IN MY HEAD 🫵

i’m going to give you the fattest smooch alive you don’t understand. AND I LOVE IT WHEN I GET LONG ASKS!!! so please! ask away i don’t mind, i actually get really flattered that people want to share with me their long, detailed thoughts !! i was actually nervous people wouldn’t like my long responses 😖

no cause that’s ALWAYS one troupe i ALWAYS go back to.

i was thinking about making them a singer, REALLY I WAS- but i had second thoughts cause i thought people wouldn’t like it / maybe people would think its too… y-nie or im trying to make twisted anxiety reader too much, ya know

BUT OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU MEAH MWAH (also dw i got your other ask and fully plan on answering it, this one was just at the top of my inbox 🫶🫶)

but oh my god,,,, HEAR ME OUT;

twisted anxiety reader getting pent up because they. have. no. outlet.

none.

maybe they played a sport in their old world, but no longer can’t because seriously?? going up against beastmen, mermen, fae and just,,, men?! absolutely not.

they can’t do anything fun in ramshackle because of the ghosts can and will find a way to stick their noses into your business. also hello??? no privacy at ramshackle👎👎

honestly, twisted anxiety reader doesn’t have any friends so they can’t blow off steam that way either. and going to the gym is out of the question because 1. anxiety 2.gym bros- and working out at home is… different.

so there has to be a way to let off steam… good thing twisted anxiety reader dilly dallied in everything!!

they want to sing but aren’t confident enough to join the pop music club, and the walls to ramshackle are paper thin.

there’s absolutely no where you can go.

and yet… every time you glance at the forest. you can’t help but wonder…🤔

AND IVE ALWAYS IMAGINED READER SINGING

“everything stays” from adventure time

“love all mine” by mitski

“rises the moon” by liana flores

“sky fall” by adele

“memory” from cats

“listen” by beyoncé

“hopelessly devoted” by olivia newton-john

oh my god i have to make a separate post for this before i completely rot and accidentally write a whole chapter because i’ve been WAITING to write about this and i’d feel bad about making this SUPER LONG

but i can’t imagine rook going for a sunset “hike” (…sure, let’s go with that) and hearing you. belting your little heart to “hopelessly devoted” HAGFJAIWOFOSOWOFOAPEIFOZOQFOXOD

ROOK IS AWE STRUCK

such passion! such devotion! how marvelously beautiful! rook is stunned.

of course after you finish singing he can hear you moan and groan about trivial things but- rook hunt was not a hunt if he didn’t appreciate the gift the forest provided.

and yet, the carful hunter made a careless mistake. cursing silently, he glared at the twig his boots stepped on before he snapped his head up to the clearing up ahead.

ah, you fled.

to say rook was… upset was an understatement. yes he was able to marvel in your voice, but he lost the privilege to listen to more, to observe from afar.

the strange songs you sang and possibly wrote (what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him) are gone with the wind and the high step of your foot as you vanished into thin air.

rook could easily hunt you down, but he stopped himself after a slight muscle twitch. non non! he was the enjoyer of beauty! not the hunter! yes he hunted beauty but it would go against his very being to trap it instead of let it fly free and continue its song.

so let this be your little secret, okay.

jade would def walk into you singing ‘everything stays’

OR OR ROOK N JADE BOTH TAG TEAMING READER IN THE CHAT SAYING HOW THEY WISH TO MEET THIS BEAUTIFUL VOICED GOREST ‘NYMPH’ SO THEY CAN HEAR MORE OF THEIR SONGS

readers just like;

😟

“time to find a new location☝️”

*there’s no where those two won’t be able to find you fyi*

TWISTED ANXIETY READER WILL NEVER KNOW PEACE‼️‼️ NOT AS LONG AS IM HERE‼️‼️

please send more headcanons i love reading them 🙇🏻🙇🏻

babes this is me n u rn:

[jjunieworld]

25. operation: get him back ⸝ ˚⋆

↳ mostly written, some texts. word count: 1.4k

you and your friends were at the library, textbooks and notebooks covering the table you shared. pencils and pens were still as you talked about anything but the upcoming exams that has been looming over you all for a while now.

“i know nobody wants to hear this right now, especially after everything…” you started. jake let out a loud groan, causing the nearby table to stare at you. you elbowed him and continued. “but honestly, i do feel lighter after talking to soobin. my shoulders don’t feel as heavy.”

your friends sighed and looked away from you. “i’m just glad you can walk a little easier, y/nie. redacted on the other hand…” kai spoke. you laughed a little. “you do know you don’t have to keep calling soobin redacted, right?”

“until he starts acting right that will be the only thing i refer to him as. unless i want to cuss him out.”

the table let out a low chorus of laughs, still trying to be somewhat mindful of the studying students around you all. yunjin pouted and crossed her arms, her pen twirling in her hand.

“i don’t know…” she trailed. “i feel like we should get him back in some way. he has to pay at least somewhat for all this shit.” you furrowed your eyebrows.

“in what way?” yeonjun asked. jake leaned onto the table in anticipation. yunjin uncrossed her arms and rested them on the table.

“i don’t think soobin should be able to sob and apologize his way back into your life. he wants this to be all for a bet, fine. it’ll be all for a bet.”

you looked down to your half written notes as you tried to process what she said. is yunjin saying that you should continue the bet, but from your side? there’s no possible way you’ll be able to do that.

voicing your thoughts, you reply, “i don’t think i can pretend that i don’t love him… that i don’t want to be with him…”

yunjin leaned over the table towards you. “you don’t have to pretend! marina and the diamonds. how to be a heartbreaker. rule number three.”

“rule number three, wear your heart on your cheek,” jake replied. “but never on your sleeve. unless you want to taste defeat.” the rest of your friends joined in. you took in a deep breath.

yunjin tilted her head slightly, “let’s give him a taste of his own medicine. you’ve been drinking from his hands for too long now.”

you shook your head a little. an unapproving and anxious look was on your face as you listened to your friends hype up yunjin’s idea. you tried to be the voice of reason. but a small voice in the back of your head considered her proposal.

twice now he has broken your heart. and you still let him keep it. you still love him, but at what cost? maybe you wouldn’t go to the level soobin did with the bet, but it shouldn’t hurt to put up extra armor. right?

still, you were unsure. “isn’t this just going to make things worse? make us on the same level that he and his friends are on? and besides, i don’t think this is healthy.”

“who cares about that! when they go low, we go lower. he can’t just hurt y/n like that and decide that ‘oh, nevermind! i do actually love you and i meant what i said!’” hueningkai said. his words cut deeply into you, bringing back the memories of the party again.

“cause girls don’t want, we don’t want our hearts to break in two. so it’s better to be fake. can’t risk losing in love again babe!” yunjin exclaimed. your friends began hyping the idea again.

“i agree,” yeonjun said. “he’s been walking all over you, whether he means to or not. just because you love him and he claims to love you.” he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. “and don’t get me wrong, it’s plausible that soobin does actually genuinely love you like he says he does. but after all of this, it’s a little hard to believe.”

you shook your head a little, deep in thought. you went over yesterday’s events of your talk with soobin. trying to search between the cracks, trying to see if there were any lies in them. anything he was trying to hide. you came up with nothing, or at least, nothing that you could see.

“i don’t know guys… i feel like this will just make the whole situation messier and worse than it already is. and i do still deeply love him, i just don’t see this whole counter bet working.” you finally spoke.

jake wrapped an arm around your shoulder and pulled you close to him into a hug. he leaned his head onto yours. “think it over, y/nie. the decision is ultimately up to you. we’re not gonna try and sway you in either direction.” he gave a pointed look to your friends, who raised their hands slightly in return.

“we’re just cautious about him.” said hueningkai. “we don’t want him to end up hurting you again, y/n. we have to put up protections around your heart.”

if only they knew that that was no use. that soobin already had your heart and you had his. the secret exchange you didn’t tell them about from yesterday.

you sighed deeply once more. you gave the whole proposal one last think over. “a counter bet, i’m not sure about. i just genuinely don’t think that will work. but i am willing to put up some armor. wear my heart on my cheek, if you will, instead of on my sleeve.” yunjin jumped in excitement in her seat and raised her arms, a huge smile on her face.

“and maybe, maybe, we can get him back slightly. and that’s a maybe. i am still in love with him and i don’t want to break his heart despite everything. nothing super drastic. just a reminder that i will no longer be walked over like a welcome mat.” you finished.

yunjin came around the table and pulled you into a hug. you rolled your eyes slightly, a small smile tugging at your lips as you hugged her back. she then returned to her seat, still giddy.

“can we actually start studying again?” jake asked. “because like lowkey, i might actually fail these exams…”

you and your friends all laughed as you picked up your pencils and pens and continued from where you last stopped.

you and yunjin were in your dorm room, surrounded by a bunch of furniture and clothes. yunjin decided that since your other roommate moved out that she was going to move in.

the two of you were now standing in the center of the room, dumbfounded, trying to figure out how you wanted to set the room up. you had your beds figured out since you basically just kept them in the same place, but you were having difficulties with the rest.

“aren’t we going to get in trouble for this?” you asked for the millionth time since yunjin entered your now shared dorm. once again, she shrugged. “i mean, it shouldn’t matter if i move from one dorm to the other. if they ask, i’ll just tell my old roommate to say that i moved somewhere else or something.”

you shrugged again at that and tried to push the worry out of your head.

after a while, everything was finally organized and cleaned. yunjin was now officially moved in and is your new roommate. the two of you giggled together as you kept opening and closing the door to your new room.

“this is going to be so much fun!” you exclaimed, and yunjin agreed. there were both equally big smiles on your faces. you sat on your respective beds facing each other.

“hm… once you and soobin do get back together this whole setup is going to be very awkward. now that i’m thinking about it… do i really want to room with you?” yunjin contemplated. she then started making fake moaning sounds and you threw a pillow at her in embarrassment. her muffled laughter came from underneath.

“once we get back together?” you then asked. “i thought you were against me getting back with him.”

yunjin shrugged and laid on her bed. “you’re too in love with him to not get back with him at some point. i just hope that now he’s learned his fucking lesson.”

masterlist.

summary: choi soobin has always been the popular kid surrounded by his popular friends. y/n… not so much. one night, soobin and his friends make bet that soobin can’t get y/n to date him in a month. unfortunately for y/n, they’re a hopeless romantic.

A/N: i wanna get him back i wanna make him feel jealous wanna make him feel bad oh i wanna get him back cause then again i really miss him and it makes me real sad oh i want sweet revenge and i want him again i want to get him back back back

taglist: @jjunberry @gothgyuu @spooksh0wbabe @beargyuuzz @carengene @binluvsu @seunnimg @vixensss @kittyhyuka @beomsite (if your name is bold it wouldn’t let me tag you!)

— kipo <3

[esoteric-oracle]

On Life debts in MDZS

Recently finished watching Anle Zhuan, and holy crap, it really just sets even more into perspective how important life debts were in Chinese culture, especially in the days of dynasties. Long story short, the FL has a filial obligation to clear her family's name and exact vengeance on the ML's family - but you know what throws a wrench in her plans? The fact that the ML keeps saving her. Of course, this is a moral dilemma more easily offset by how she keeps saving him as well, but the fact that this is even worth mentioning and considered a serious quandary by the main character and her allies at one point really says something. And it got me thinking deeper about the implications of such life debts in MDZS.

In MDZS, life debts are immeasurably important. And how you honour that life debt is a measure of your character. When you owe someone a life debt, you owe them something immeasurably precious. In MDZS, MXTX knows that and shows it. She uses life debts to tie characters together and to drive the plot.

Life debts are the reason Wei Wuxian feels so duty-bound to the Jiang Sect and the Jiang family. They're the reason he's willing to lose an arm if it means no damage comes to his sect. They're the reason he tolerates being punished with methods beyond what's ever acceptable for a Head Disciple of a Sect. Because Jiang Fengmian saved him from living a life on the streets all those years ago, never mind that JFM himself owed Wei Wuxian's mother a life debt.

Life debts are the reason Wen Zhuliu is so blindly loyal to Wen Ruohan, committing countless atrocities in the name of the man who saved his life.

Life debts (and perhaps also genuine love), are why Jin Guangyao is so loyal to Lan Xichen. Because despite every other moral he eschews in his pursuit of power, he will always remember the sincere kindness Lan Xichen showed him when every other cultivator judged him for his heritage. And in the same way, we see Lan Xichen protecting him from Nie Mingjue under the excuse that Lan Xichen owes his life to Jin Guangyao.

Now let's talk about when life debts come into conflict with "filial duty".

It always irks me when people bring up family and filial duty to criticize WWX's "betrayal" of his sect, or try to undermine his judgement and actions when he protected the Wen Remnants. To me, it just shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the novel and the context around the text. When people call Wei Wuxian a "troublemaker" for leaving the Jiang Sect, they're falling prey to the very prejudices and classism MXTX condemned in the novel. Yes, the Wens burned down Lotus Pier. Yes, the remaining Jiang Sect would've had an obligation to go to war and exterminate the Wens. But you know what brings this duty to avenge your sect to question - in almost every way you look at it? When someone who never even participated in the bloodshed saves your life.

So, if we want to talk about filial duty and reciprocation - Jiang Cheng - and by extension, his sect, owes Wen Qing and Wen Ning a massive life debt (and that's not even considering the GC transfer). Even if we ignore the cultural context regarding debts, that's huge. Let's take a step back and look at what Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng owe the Wens.

The initial life debt. Wen Ning saves Jiang Cheng directly from probable execution (like his parents), as well as hides Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng from the Wen soldiers in his own room. In doing this, Wen Ning has already crossed the line of treason towards his own sect. Keep in mind - Wen Ruohan is his uncle. And here he is, risking his life to save two boys - only one of whom he's actually had any meaningful interaction with.

The days after. Both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng are heavily wounded, the former from his whipping via Zidian + wounds sustained during the battle, the latter from Wen Chao's torture. In the days following, Wen Qing nurses both Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian - enemies of her clan - back to health.

The debt Jiang Cheng owes further. People need a proper send-off in order to ensure their passage to Diyu, or the Underworld - and that could only be done for JFM and YZY because WN risked his life even further to bring back the personal items (and in some adaptations, their bodies) of Jiang Cheng's parents. In simple terms, Jiang Cheng wouldn't even have Zidian if not for Wen Ning.

The golden core transfer. There are two separate components to this. The first is limited - from Jiang Cheng's perspective.

Here's what JC knows: 1. He has no core, but there is a chance he can have his core restored by Baoshan Sanren. 2. The only way Baoshan Sanren would ever agree to this is if he impersonated Wei Wuxian, the son of her beloved disciple. 3. Jiang Cheng is a sect heir; he grew up wealthy, in relative comfort. He's at the top of the food chain. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, is an orphan. He grew up being demeaned for his heritage. In truth, he inherited nothing from his parents. But what Jiang Cheng knows is that Wei Wuxian did have an inheritance: one precious thing, the location of an immortal. And then he gives that favour-his entire inheritance-to Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian, at this moment, essentially hands over everything he has left of his dead parents (who Madam Yu has slandered for his entire life) to Jiang Cheng.

From Wei Wuxian's perspective, the debt is this: his close friend and heir to the Jiang Clan has no core. He believes that Jiang Cheng needs his core - as he's been displaying suicidal tendencies after losing his. However, Wen Qing has a theoretical thesis on golden core transfers. This surgery has a 50% chance of success. To the knowledge of everyone involved, Jiang Cheng consented to getting his core back by whatever means necessary. He explicitly never questioned how Baoshan Sanren would restore his golden core. Anonymous organ donors are known to be a thing, even by modern medical standards. And WWX stays awake for two nights and a day without any anesthesia as Wen Qing cuts into his body and takes something he has spent over half of his lifetime cultivating, to give to Jiang Cheng.

"He had to be awake. He had to watch the golden core connected to his spiritual pathways be peeled from his body. He had to feel the gradual suppression, sedation, settlement of his originally surging spiritual powers, all until they became a pool of dead water, unable to rise ever again."

There's definitely also a case to make about Jiang Cheng essentially sacrificing himself to lead the guards away from Wei Wuxian, but you could also argue that Wei Wuxian saved his life just a chapter earlier by dragging him away from Lotus Pier when he returned. Also, it's got nothing to do with the Wen Sibs, towards whom they both owe debts.

By this time, Wen Qing and Wen Ning have already gone above and beyond to help the Jiangs and WWX. Saving the life of the sect heir is one thing, but to perform a never-before-done borderline heretical act of surgery to restore the heir's golden core? Another thing entirely.

The moral obligation of the Jiangs and Wei Wuxian to avenge their sect by killing the Wens does come into conflict with the debts they owe the Wen siblings. But compared to slaughtering Wen Chao, and the Wen soldiers during the Sun, how far does honouring filial duty by exacting vengeance on the Wen Sect go? Wen Qing herself declares she and her brother separate from Wen Ruohan. They're healers. They don't take lives.

From every depiction in Chinese media and culture, life debts are not to be taken lightly. A life debt is meant to be honoured and repaid. It's not something any half-decent person would mention maybe briefly in a Discussion Conference and then immediately shut up about and never mention again when someone louder (*cough*NMJ) speaks up. By turning his back on Wen Qing and Wen Ning, Jiang Cheng had demonstrated a significant moral failure as well as a misunderstanding of his own sect's motto. Along with his personal reasons, Wei Wuxian has every reason to protect the Wen Remnants.

So why, people ask, is Wei Wuxian so hellbent on protecting Wen Ning, Wen Qing, and the rest of the Wen Remnants? The easiest answer: he's a good person. He's compassionate, kind-hearted, empathetic to a fault; he isn't the type of person to stand by and watch if innocents and the helpless starve or suffer. He saw and recognized that what the Jins were doing to the prisoners of war was wrong, and chose to interfere. The other answer? He owes them a debt. He owes Wen Qing and Wen Ning a debt the rest of the Jiangs don't even know about. You want to discuss it in simple terms? Wen Ning is the only reason the Jiang Sect still stands. Wen Qing is the only reason the Jiang Sect has a cultivator for a leader by the end of MDZS. She committed the equivalence of cultivation heresy to save Jiang Cheng because Wei Wuxian begged her. WWX defending her family in return is…. Really the least he could do.

I've seen people calling the Wen Remnants war criminals, even equating them to the mafia, and I can't help but think - what book were those people even reading? if you're not willing to consider the culture and values or just use basic critical thinking when consuming a piece of media - don't try to slander the actions of its characters. Anyone who read the novel and understood the intended themes would not, in good faith, condemn Wei Wuxian's decision to protect the Wen Remnants.

[rosethornewrites]

Fic: high mountains and flowing water (one-shot)

Wen Ning is tired.

As the backup guitar player and social media manager for the band, he was intimately familiar with the way they were viewed. Especially since Wei Wuxian (guitar) and Lan Wangji (bass) had taken to having mid-concert moments where their instruments spoke to each other, their players extremely into it to the point where they often stopped for intermission almost on top of one another.

Most social media users thought they hated each other, but a small contingent of fandom, the ones who wrote RPF, which Wen Ning would never admit to reading, doing a cache purge when he did, were convinced they were fucking.

He spent some concerts wishing they would, if only because the tension in the air caused by both of their unknowingly requited crushes was almost palpable. They’d progressed to the point where sometimes there was sex in the air.

Really, he’d signed up for a jam band, not this.

And then one night it did happen, Lan Wangji dragging Wei Wuxian into his dressing room. Even if anyone wanted to pretend ignorance, the loud sounds and Wei Wuxian’s cackling narration left little to the imagination.

They were mussed but thankfully clothed by the time it was time to get back on stage, and the sexual tension that one might cut with a knife was more in the background.

Wen Ning thought it would get better.

But no, that was far too optimistic. The idiots both thought it was just sexual for the other, neither quite confident enough to make a move beyond sex.

And so the pining made its way into the music.

Jie, the band manager, only thought it was hilarious and used it to promote. Lan Xichen (trumpet) was the same, certain they’d figure it out before they actually had sex on stage. Nie Huaisang (keyboard) feigned ignorance if it was brought up, but the music indicated amusement. Jiang Cheng (drums) just got angry about it, soothed only by Jiang Yanli’s assurances they’d figure it out eventually. Not that the anger didn’t come out in the drums. Jiang Yanli (vocals) wasn’t innocent, her interviews subtly encouraging the social media fervor.

Only Jin Zixuan (saxophone) was innocent, truly baffled by it all and no longer able to talk to either of them.

He swore he might confront the both of them if it didn’t get better, but he knew he was too much of a coward—already he’d tried to talk to Wei Wuxian only to be glared into silence by Lan Wangji’s jealous glare.

He wondered if he should just write his own RPF just to get out his own frustration in a way that didn’t add to the bullshit on stage.

If something didn’t happen to cut the UST on stage, he might lose his mind.

—————

This kind of poured out and I’ll need to put it on ao3. But I wrote it on Tumblr.

Just a little one-shot that hopefully stays a one-shot.

[fierrochase-falafel]

MDZS, CQL and the passage of time

MDZS novel and CQL spoilers ahead!

There's this thing where despite The Untamed / CQL having Wei Wuxian be dead for 16 years instead of 13, everything is meant to feel so much rawer and closer in time than the novel I feel. For a start, naturally having 30 episodes straight of flashback sequencing before depicting an immediate reconcilation between Wangxian really imprints those flashbacks much closer in your mind than Wei Wuxian's actual ressurrection, which happened in episode 1.

Furthermore, there are also these other flashbacks when Wei Wuxian sees something reminiscent of his past, different instrumentals played initially in the flashbacks coming back again to remind you of the themes those instrumentals represent. One of the most distinct examples I remember is in episode 2, when CQL Wei Wuxian sees a vision of Wen Qing introducing Dafan Mountain as the place where her branch of the Wen clan lives in CQL and then remembers the dancing fairy statue. This never happened in the novel- partially because, in CQL, Wei Wuxian was introduced to characters and locations / concepts WAY before he found out about them in the novel (eg.- YiCheng characters, Meng Yao, Dafan Mountain, demonic cultivation in the form of the Yin Iron). By entrenching these places and characters so far back into Wei Wuxian's past- all the way back to his Gusu days, in fact- they feel much more central in the overall plot and connected to the modern storylines involving rediscovering them. Wei Wuxian isn't being thrown into a new world at all, it's the same world with all the loose ends to be tied up. This does force him to remember the past more to deal with the present, and also links the show together in a way that would engage people who have come to watch a put-together story (this sort of strong cohesion I think is less required in novels than in a series because of the way the story needs to flow from 1 episode to the next to be coherent). In the novel, Wei Wuxian's own past storyline has a much slimmer connection to the current events- the obvious kicker being Jin Guangyao in CQL was the main reason Wei Wuxian was villainised and it all comes together in the end, but novel Jin Guangyao just accelerated the process of Wei Wuxian becoming the scapegoat and made this very clear. He didn't know Wei Wuxian would kill Jin Zixuan, he said; even though Jin Guangyao's not the most trustworthy character, how on earth could he have predicted that Wei Wuxian would lose control if he wasn't there to influence him like in CQL?

However, there are even more flashback scenes like the one in episode 35, where Wei Wuxian flashes back to Nie Huiasang being excited about fans and then compliments modern-day Nie Huiasang's fan. Scenes like these cannot be explained by the changed plot because Nie Huiasang and Wei Wuxian being friends at 15 in the Cloud Recesses is canon in all versions of MDZS. Personally, seeing this scene, the strongest effect I can garner from it is nostalgia for simpler times, for people he used to be close with. Memories are flooding CQL Wei Wuxian the minute he's alive again. Contrast this exact scene with MDZS, where Wei Wuxian zones out for a good while after Nie Huiasang leaves- no words of companionship or nostalgia or anything.

Novel Wei Wuxian rarely remembers any of his past life in detail unless he fully means to, actively giving himself reminiscing time, or in a life-or-death situation. The 3 flashback sequences in the novel begin:

when Wei Wuxian decides very specifically to muse over his past with Lan Wangji,

when Wei Wuxian gets stabbed and has to be taken away from Golden Carp Tower,

when everyone turns on him in the Burial Mounds with the same words and having the same intent they did at Nightless City (to harm him, to besiege him).

I think novel Wei Wuxian has spent 13 years in the afterlife getting used to wallowing over his memories, and then consequently repressing and ignoring memories from his past life because they were all associated with pain and bitterness and so much guilt (traumatic, even, but I can't say much from a perspective of trauma because I neither have trauma nor am qualified to know enough about it). Nobody cared for him anymore in his eyes, and he DID lose control, fully feeling himself lose control and accidentally cause the deaths of people he genuinely cared about. The worst-case scenario that he had to contend with actually happening and being, to some degree, his fault. With 13 years to exist as a ghost, I think he had so much time in which he would've had to contend with his choices and death that he fully removed himself from his old life as much as possible, leading to his modern-day gap in memories. You feel the effect of his years dealing with his emotions about this whole mess.

In contrast, CQL Wei Wuxian feels like he is experiencing everything raw when he comes back into the world, like he hasn't been practicing repression to the point of memory loss. Maybe he wasn't conscious during his years as dead? He's introduced with Mo Xuanyu calling to him in his brain during the sacrificial ritual, I think, and is getting told he IS Mo Xuanyu and he is...a tad confused. And then disappointed, but I mean given what Yiling Laozu Wei Wuxian had come to expect after the fiascos that ended his life, he probably wouldn't be too surprised or confused anyways. My theory is that CQL Wei Wuxian likely was unconscious when he was dead whereas MDZS Wei Wuxian was not.

This doesn't seem...important. However it does change who Wei Wuxian is and why he does the things that he does upon reincarnation. Novel Wei Wuxian taking every opportunity to drape himself over Lan Wangji with the purpose of pushing him away makes a lot of sense for a guy who's convinced the worst thing he could do to someone is get too close to/with them; he goes ahead with making a ruckus and trying to make Lan Wangji uncomfortable- without shame (because that's gotta erode away after being dead and reviled for 13 years) and without considering the possibility that Lan Wangji might want to help. Why would he consider that? He doesn't see himself worthy of help or believe anyone would help him, and he's internalised that for years on years.

CQL Wei Wuxian though, he faints on Dafan Mountain due to the weight of his memories- he's confronted with so much of the past so fast and his response is to faint. Barely any ruckus at all. When Lan Wangji finds out who he is, they have a calm conversation about it, where novel Wei Wuxian is like "oh frick he called me Wei Ying" and pretends nothing happened. CQL Wei Wuxian is a lot more open, and I think part of that is because he woke up from his death and was given the support he needed in his previous life within a couple of days. He didn't feel the years go by, have to deal with the consequences of the things he did alone (and in CQL 60% of them weren't even his own actions), so he didn't build himself the same kind of emotional fortress novel Wei Wuxian did.

CQL Wei Wuxian is jaded, true, but not the kind of jaded that comes with floating around in the afterlife for over a decade. It's easier for him to get back into this world and solve a little murder mystery together with Lan Wangji- they fall into step with each other perfectly- while novel Wei Wuxian is still getting his footing. Thus, CQL Wangxian's relationship doesn't evolve the way book Wangxian's do in Wei Wuxian's new life, and Wei Wuxian's reason to be back in this new life is far more about getting back that which he lost (Lan Wangji, a claim to justice) as opposed to gaining something else, something new and all the more important for it (a newfound relationship with Lan Wangji). Novel Wei Wuxian being so out of sync with the new world around him, in both memories and relationships, means that he has so much more room to grow in his present life as he can stop being haunted by the past. I'm not saying this is better than CQL, that's really up to what you like in your media, but this puts Wei Wuxian in a very different position in MDZS than in CQL, and also fundamentally changes their purposes and outlook on their new lives. Whether the focus of his character development takes place in the past or in the present. Whether it's about tying up the loose ends of the past, or chucking out the tapestry of the past to weave a new future.

[rayan12sworld]

💠Princess of Qinghe

By:Saladaschy

Summary:

Wei Ying had never expected that she would lose her parents this way. While they were crossing the land of Qinghe, Wei Ying and her parents were attacked by a pact of strange wolf-like Yao. Overwhelmed by numbers, her parents lost and therefore had lost their lives. Wei Ying who had been hidden in a tree hollow, haven’t even realized she was orphaned and thus left all alone in this world.

Soon, a tall uncle with sharp eyes and a big sword found Wei Ying. She was all shivering and holding back her tears. The man then took Wei Ying to his home. He has a very big house with lots of people and big training grounds. Everybody seems to call him the Nie sect leader.

Wei Ying’s only hope that she would be allowed to stay for a few days until she is ready to travel again, now only her with her donkey. But it seems Nie-zongzhu had a different plan in mind.

How would her fate become after this…?

Hopefully the heavens would have mercy on this pitiful five year old little girl…

Chapter:11/?

Words:39,270

Status:ongoing

What an excellent fic, I like older siblings for wei ying,our wei ying deserves the world

Wei Ying was stunned, because His voice was so adorable! It is so husky in contrast to his soft-looking face. Wei Ying was staring stupidly, she wanted to pinch that bao plump cheeks. Without realizing, she also forgot to reciprocate the introduction. Lan Wangji was flushed from all the staring. He lowered his eyes. his ears seemed a little pink, peeking through his hair.

~~ so cute 😭😭

“Lan Wangji.” He said instead of addressing her. “Where the hell were you putting your hands on?” he spat out. “That’s my sister you are touching.” What?! What the hell is Dage saying?! This is acutely embarrassing. What if Lan Wangji doesn’t want to be her friend? It was painstakingly hard to get to this point! “Dage! Zhanzhan was being good to A-Ying. We were only hugging!” Nie Mingjue’s eyes narrowed. “Zhan— what?”

~~

“Don’t just hug any boys just like that. You don’t know what their intentions are.” Wei Ying whipped around and retorted. “It was Lan Zhan! I only hugged him because it was him! He had been very gloomy ever since I saw him. I was just- just-” she paused, “just consoling him.” “Hm? What were you doing with Lan-er-gongzi, A-Ying?” Nie Huaisang came out of nowhere. Wei Ying jolted and growled at him. He always does that! Like adding oil to fire, she’s deeply upset now. Wei Ying whipped her body. “Nothing! I was doing nothing! You guys are the reasons I can’t have friends!” Then she stomped down the hall in fast pace, wanting to leave them both behind. Wei Ying hmphed irately. Honestly, why are older brothers so nosy! Hmph!

[jaimebluesq]

For the Nie Mingjue prompt: He's not everyone's Da-ge, he's everyone's didi!

And if you're not feeling the age swap situation, then maybe canonverse NMJ loses his memory somehow (curse? qi deviation unusual effects?) and needs everyone's help to remember who he is (but specially Huaisang’s 🥺)

Damn, how did this prompt go over 2k?! *Ahem*.

Thank you so much for this prompt! I very much enjoy reverse Nie bros! I got to write then once before and decided to turn this prompt into a sequel (but you don't need to have read Maybe if the stars align, maybe if our worlds collide to follow the worldbuilding!)

So, on to the prompt fill - I hope you enjoy :D

~ ~ ~

Nie Huaisang bit his lip in thought, and a little frustration. He’d been to the rooms assigned to the Lan sect, and hadn’t found his brother anywhere – normally Lan Qiren would have absconded Nie Mingjue somewhere to discuss night hunts, or Lan Xichen would have dragged him away somewhere for tea, but neither had seen him since the banquet that evening. Nor was Nie Mingjue among the Jin – they were in Koi Tower, after all, and the sects had been invited for a grand celebration on Jin Zixuan’s birthday, and though the boy was vain and snobbish at times, he often came out of his shell to take Nie Mingjue under his wing and show him around the grounds or take him to spar on the training field. Nie Mingjue had certainly not been among the Wen – even after Wen Ruohan’s ‘mysterious’ death two years ago, the Nie and the Wen were far from friendly, even if Wen Xu’s reign was nowhere near as contentious as his father’s (Nie Huaisang was quite thankful that he, rather than Wen Chao, had come out on top when the two brothers fought for dominion over their sect).

He was finishing looking around the smaller sects’ delegations, intending to head for the Jiangs’ quarters next, when he was stopped by a feminine voice nearby. “Oh, Nie-zongzhu? It’s quite fortunate that I found you!”

He lifted his fan to cover his frown and sighed. It was Sect Leader Yao’s sister, of course it was. She was nowhere as unpleasant as her brother, thankfully, but she did have a habit of making a nuisance of herself. Particularly to him.

“Ah, Yao-guniang, I hope you’ve been enjoying the birthday celebrations. How may I assist you?”

She fluttered her eyelashes coquettishly and waved her round fan over her chest – her neckline showing far more cleavage than was proper. Normally he would not mind – he did have a reputation for enjoying the company of women (and men), after all – but he knew she’d had particular designs on him for two years now.

“I heard that the matchmakers have been a great bother to Nie-zongzhu of late,” she offered with an attractive pout. “So disrespectful to hound such a great man, no doubt still grieving the late Madame Nie. I would be more than happy to have a word or two with them, if it would help.”

Yes, the matchmakers had been on his case of late to petition for various women wishing to be the next Madame Nie. He knew he would have to accept one eventually, but he had yet to decide upon what alliance would be most advantageous. Most believed he was still mourning the ‘accidental’ death of his wife during a night hunt – the better that they did not think further upon the timing of her death with that of Wen Ruohan. While they had not been a love match, Yu Jinzhu and he had developed an affection for one another, and he knew she would not want her sacrifice in pursuit of assassinating Wen Ruohan to put his sect in danger.

He also knew that Yao YuFeng’s offer was far from altruistic – she’d had designs on becoming the next Madame Nie since the day of the funeral.

“That is very kind of Yao-guniang,” he said with a charming smile that prompted her fan to move a little faster, “but this one is not afraid of the matchmakers. When I am ready to marry again, only then will I have need of them. But until that time, I have a sect to run, and a brother to find.”

“Is your Didi lost again?” Her smile and chuckle were now far more genuine. “He’s grown to be such a handsome boy, and a great cultivator even at his age! And I have yet to meet a girl who can resist the temptation to pinch his cheeks when his dimples show.”

“Yes, that’s the very reason why I lose him so often. He’s far too happy to help anyone who asks, and is often led astray.” He gave a long-suffering sigh. “If I allowed him, he would go weeks without seeing his Da-ge and spend all of his time helping people in need. My Didi forgets me so!”

“Such a thing is impossible,” she replied. “Everyone knows Nie Mingjue adores his brother and threatens anyone who even thinks of questioning the way you run your sect. He is a credit to Qinghe Nie, and to his Da-ge.”

He tilted his head in thanks at her kind words. “Your kindness does your sect credit, Yao-guniang. Now if you’ll forgive me, a process of elimination is leading me to the Jiang sect’s quarters – hopefully I’ll find my misplaced Didi there.”

“I wish you the best of luck, Nie-zongzhu,” she offered with a short bow, that he echoed.

Thankfully, she had the grace to leave his side, allowing him to continue on his way.

He took a path through the gardens outside on his way to the Jiang delegation’s rooms, enjoying the cool night air, and he spotted a pair of figures sitting outside in the lantern-light. The two boys seemed to be pouting – well, one looked positively grumpy, while the other one pouted only a little as he bumped his shoulder into the other’s. But the moment Nie Huaisang came close enough to be lit by the lanterns, both boys jumped up onto their feet and made proper bows.

“Nie-zongzhu!” they chorused.

“You’ve been enjoying the celebrations, I hope!” Wei Wuxian crowed with a charming grin.

“Are you here to get Nie-xiong?” Jiang Cheng added, a little too much hope in his voice.

Nie Huaisang did his best not to let a smirk creep upon his face.

“I have been searching for him,” he replied, “and this was my next stop. I do hope my Didi hasn’t been too much of a nuisance.”

“Nie-xiong is never a bother,” Jiang Cheng replied – unsurprising, since he and Nie Mingjue had been close since they were young, and Jiang Cheng had yet to refuse an invitation to come to Qinghe and visit with Jasmine, Princess, and Love.

“Not a bother – but he is a thief,” Wei Wuxian countered unapologetically.

Nie Huaisang lifted his fan to cover his silent chuckle. “Well, would you be so kind as to escort me to my thieving Didi?”

“Of course! Right this way, Nie-zongzhu,” Wei Wuxian offered in a way that was almost flirtatious – ah, to be fifteen again.

As the three of them walked, Nie Huaisang was reminded of how fast these young cultivators grew up. When he’d first taken over as sect leader, he’d been their age, and they had been but children playing at being cultivators. And now they were all grown, and already taller than he was. At times he felt like an ant wandering among trees.

Jiang Cheng knocked on a door and opened it, calling out: “Jiejie! We have a visitor!”

Inside the luxuriously appointed guest rooms, Jiang Yanli had set up a table with tea and many kinds of food – and across from her, shyly accepting an affectionate pat on the head, was Nie Huaisang’s missing Didi. The two looked up at their entrance and Nie Mingjue’s face lit up.

“Da-ge!”

“So this is where you’ve been hiding, A-Jue,” he teased. He knew his brother and that his absences were rarely purposeful – he had simply been ‘adopted’ by so many older disciples that constantly sought him out, wanting to spoil him or teach him or drag him out on night hunts. “I’ve been looking for you for nearly an hour.”

Nie Mingjue looked sheepish; he stood up and bowed to his brother. “This one apologizes to Nie-zongzhu.”

“No apologies necessary, something simply came up at the last minute.” Nie Huaisang turned to Jiang Yanli. “I hope Jiang-guniang does not mind me stealing back my brother.”

“Of course, Nie-zongzhu,” she replied kindly with an elegant bow. “Had I known he was missing, I would have sent him back to your delegation’s rooms.”

“No harm is done – and there are few I trust with my brother’s welfare as much as you and your family.” She tilted her head in thanks, her cheeks flushing brightly. Not for the first time did he think she would make an excellent wife – but not only was she betrothed to Jin Zixuan, but Yu Ziyuan had told him in no uncertain terms that her daughter (and son, for that matter) were off-limits to his wandering eyes.

But a man could still look and appreciate.

Everyone wished each other farewell for the night, and Nie Huaisang and his brother were finally en route to their rooms.

“Is something the matter, Da-ge?” Nie Mingjue asked quietly when they were finally alone.

“Nothing is wrong,” he replied, keeping his eyes ahead of him. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to look at his brother, but with how he had to crane his head up to look at him since his last growth spurt, it hurt his neck a lot less to keep his eyes on the path ahead. “But there is someone I want you to meet. Someone I believe has some potential in our sect, but who will require some time to adjust to our ways.” He paused as they passed a servant, and only continued once they were long past them. “Furthermore, I want to get your impression of them.”

“Of course,” Nie Mingjue replied. “Whatever I can do to help.”

He smiled to himself – this was why everyone wished Nie Mingjue were their little brother.

When they reached the Nie delegation’s quarters, one of their disciples held the door open for them as they entered. The healer within stood up and bowed in greeting.

“How is he?” Nie Huaisang asked her, glancing over to where a young man sat by the window. When he saw Nie Huaisang had returned, he stood up and lowered into a gracious bow of his own.

“Nothing that cannot be healed,” she replied reassuringly. “I’m more concerned at his malnourishment than I am the few scrapes and bruises he acquired today.”

He nodded and dismissed her with a wave of his fan. He stepped further into the room once the door clicked shut behind him. “Didi, I would like to introduce you to a young man I met earlier today. This is Meng Yao, and I have invited him to come back to Qinghe with us. He wishes to become a cultivator, and I believe we may have a place for him in the Unclean Realm.”

“It is an honour to meet you,” Meng Yao said in a practised tone of voice, the same one that had impressed Nie Huaisang upon their first meeting outside when the young man had stood up from the bottom of Koi Tower’s steps. He’d seen something in him immediately that he recognized – someone who did not have the same strength and skill with weapons that were the basis of many cultivators’ training, but instead he saw someone adept at the more subtle arts that Nie Huaisang called his own, that his father had brought in teachers from Meishan Yu to teach him many years ago.

In Meng Yao, he had seen himself.

“What happened to you?” Nie Mingjue asked bluntly, as was his way.

Meng Yao lifted a hand to self-sonsciously touch the darkened bruise on his cheek, and when he smiled, his lower lip showed red from where it had been split. “It is nothing, Nie-gongzi.”

“Was it a night hunt?” Nie Mingjue asked – Nie Huaisang said nothing, merely standing back and watching his brother. “Or bandits?”

The response was a wince, and Meng Yao shook his head. “It is nothing-”

Nie Mingjue's eyes narrowed. “Who hurt you? Only a coward hurts someone who can’t or won’t fight back.” He reached for his saber, strapped securely to his back, but he stopped when Meng Yao reached out a hand to stop him. “Point me their way and I’ll-”

“It’s all right, young master. I will be fine.” Meng Yao’s eyes softened noticeably the way so many others did when they thought Nie Mingjue’s righteousness adorable, and Nie Huaisang found nothing to indicate it was an act. “You need not worry about this one. I merely wish to do what I can to thank Nie-zongzhu for his kindness.”

“It’s almost time for bed,” Nie Huaisang announced. “Meng Yao, why don’t you escort my brother to his room and help him take his hair down for the night? It will give you a chance to better see some of his braids – they’re typical for our sect, and you may wish to wear some of your own one day.”

“It would be an honour, Nie-zongzhu,” Meng Yao replied.

Nie Mingjue snorted. “Right this way,” he mumbled, “and you can tell me how you got hurt.”

“As I told your brother, Nie-gongzi, it was but a simple tumble down the stairs...”

Nie Huaisang watched his brother and Meng Yao walk away. It was going to be interesting having one of Jin Guangshan’s bastards around – not that he’d revealed to the young man that he’d overheard that part of the encounter on the stairs – particularly one that, like everyone else, fell under the sway of Nie Huaisang’s Didi’s charm.

That night, when Nie Huaisang slipped into his empty bed, he allowed himself a moment of true weakness. Wen Ruohan was dead, but there would always be sect politics, and people needing his attention, and yao and ghosts to fight. At times he was overwhelmed by it all, truly overwhelmed in a way the Headshaker never was. But he had a duty to fulfill, a sect to lead, and a brother to protect – and if he could do what he could to make certain Nie Mingjue never had to worry about anything in life, then it would all be worth it – just like what it had secretly cost them all to take down Wen Ruohan.

He sent a silent prayer to Jinzhu – he really did miss her at times, political though their marriage had been – and one to his and Nie Mingjue’s parents as well. Then, pushing his anxiety aside, he rolled over and allowed sleep to claim him.

The End

[tchaikovskym]

Wangxian fic recs pt4

(pt1, pt2 & pt3)

Losing My Mind by pupeez4eva

On a drunken dare, Jiang Cheng drinks a potion that allows him to hear other people’s lustful thoughts. It’s just his luck that he’s stuck in close vicinity with the guy who is completely and utterly besotted with his idiot brother.

One thing's for certain - there is no way he's leaving this with his sanity intact.

(Or, where Jiang Cheng has a lot of regrets, Lan Wangji is having an ongoing sexuality crisis, and Wei Wuxian is as oblivious as ever).

Really sweet and funny fic, made me grin all the way thorough it

The Light That Fails to Dim by glowingreverie

Wei Ying lost his parents in a night hunt. Cold and alone, he wandered the streets of Yiling for nearly two years. However, one fateful night, a tall, scary man finds him and takes him back to a place he calls Qinghe. Later Wei Ying, now known as Wei Wuxian, discovers that that tall, scary man is not bad at all. And his cowardly brother makes an even better friend than he initially thought he would. With a content feeling in his chest every day, Wei Wuxian can only hope these peaceful, happy days with his new family will last until the end of time.

Or, in which Jiang Fengmian is unaware of what happened to Wei Wuxian's parents and Nie Mingjue takes him in and the story continues from there...

A brilliant fic that broke my heart in pieces and glued it back together. Multiple times. I would call it a fix-it fic that takes into account all the things that were broken beyond repair in the original story and leaves them like that.

I hope that you will come and meet me by feyburner

The second time Lan Zhan said 'Wei Ying, come back', Wei Wuxian did.

Absolutely lovely fic about how much Wei Wuxian loves Lan Wangji and is being loved back by him until they both notice that. This was really sweet and warm and I love it with all my heart.

null hypothesis by chinxe

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji practise kissing. With...each other.

Exactly what it says on the label. Very sweet and lovely with lots of kissies

between two lungs by fruitys

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says again. He leans forward, just a little. His hand is still wrapped around Wei Wuxian’s wrist. “You promised that you would let me take care of you.”

Wei Wuxian swallows. “I never said that, specifically,” he tries.

(Or: three days in the jingshi.)

Lovely post untamed canon hehe

Falling to the Rhythm by Selenay

"So it's a bet?" Jiang Cheng said. "Dance the showcase if you get him, fancy coffee machine if you don't?"

Wei Wuxian considered the machine. "Fine. You're on. I want it in red."

"Don't start planning your caffeine overdose yet."

"It's in the bag," Wei Wuxian said cheerfully. "There's no way they'll match me with someone like Lan Wangji."

Teaching Lan Wangji to dance in front of the nation for twelve weeks, how hard can that be? Wei Wuxian is about to find out.

Did I know anything about ballroom dancing? No. Did I know anything about the Strictly Ballroom show? Also no. Did I enjoy this fic with all my heart? Yes!!!!! Wonderful fic!!!!

nothing you confess by PorcupineGirl

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian have both been told since childhood that if you are lucky enough to have a soulmate, a red string will appear on your wrist the day you meet them. This is common knowledge.

What nobody ever told them, likely because nobody knew, is that if your soulmate loses their golden core, you can feel it happening.

I really love how everyone loves Wei Wuxian here. As he deserves. Mwuah.

mianmian the disaster lesbian saves the cultivation world by likehipsonthesea

Luo Qingyang’s expression suddenly shifts, her eyes widening once again, lips parting. With some measure of disbelief, she says, “You’re a cut-sleeve.”

Lan Wangji stiffens. How did she—?

Apparently decided without need of confirmation, Luo Qingyang sighs deeply on a smile. Leaning back against the bookshelf behind her, she says emphatically, “Thank the Heavens.”

*~*~*

In which Mianmian is a disaster lesbian (yet still the only one with a braincell), Jin Zixuan was just trying to help, and Lan Wangji suddenly finds himself in possession of two shiny new best friends.

They're all better off for it, in the end.

Would the world have been a better place if lwj had some friends? Yes! Lovely story!

Bet Your Heart by Vamillepudding

Wei Wuxian grins. “I’m going to use this summer to seduce Zewu-jun, and I’m going to get his brother to help me do it.”

Or: To win his bet against Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian has to kiss Lan Xichen. Who better to ask advice from than Lan Zhan?

Very sweet and lovely fic. It involved a lot less lxc than I expected lol, but in a good way

And Fall to Desire by cqlorphan

Wei Ying makes a small, anguished sound. It is not a refusal. Slowly, so that such a refusal may still be voiced, Lan Wangji brings up his hand and places it flat on Wei Ying’s stomach. A quiet gasp is muffled hastily, and hands curl into fists.

“Yes,” Wei Ying grits out. “Please.”

After a nighthunt, Wei Wuxian takes a curse meant for an inadequate husband. Lan Wangji happens to be in the wrong (right) place at the wrong (right) time.

Listen I know fuck or die trope is sort of messed up, but this one solves itself so beautifully, leaving you lighthearted at the end.

you are the you who has dyed my lifetime red by Quixiote

Lan Wangji was born with a gift.

Really nice fic that will hurt you in the right places and put you back together afterwards.

wide enough and wild by impossibletruths

Wei Ying leaves. He follows.

Very lovely and shows the hardships of Burial Mounds, and the absolute devotion lwj has for wwx

If It's You by etymologyplayground

"Good morning," Wei Wuxian says. He is trying to figure out how to get Lan Wangji to kiss him.

-

Wei Wuxian sneaks back into the Cloud Recesses after a year away.

This fic fed my cats, wrote my thesis, fixed my car, and bought me a house in this economy. For real though, very sweet and lovely

The Simplest Way Forward by harriet_vane

It’s a really unfortunate thing, developing a crush on your husband. Wei Ying had assumed this would be easy. Lan Zhan had been so icy and unpleasant to him, it had never occurred to him that he might end up spending the next however many years with this dumb, burning feeling in his chest whenever he looks at him.

“Okay,” says Wei Ying. “But tell me if I…if the pretending gets to be too hard, okay?”

“It will not,” says Lan Zhan, quietly certain.

This is the best "marry for green card" fic I have read. The pining!!! The mutual pining!!! And it doesn't have long drags of miserable miscommunications and suffering. Yes, it has some expected communication issues expected for a mutual pining fic but just the right amount. Love this fic.

through the warmth, through the cold (keep running til we're there) by fleurdeliser

Five months into his travels, Wei Wuxian gets word that Lan Wangji has disappeared. Everything changes.

Absolutely lovely

lightning in a bottle by nighimpossible

Wei Wuxian does not need a bodyguard, thank you very much.

Your good old hot bodyguard fic.

Dimples by bodhan

Wei Wuxian sees something very interesting on Lan Xichen's face when he smiles, and concludes that Lan Zhan must share this feature. So begins his mission to make Lan Zhan smile.

Lan Xichen is mischievous.

Lan Qiren suffers.

And Lan Wangji is fondly exasperated.

Short and sweet

F.U.N Run by malkinmalkout

Track star Wei Ying finds the positive side of his leg injury when it offers the perfect opportunity to befriend his physical therapist roommate Lan Zhan.

Or modern AU where Lan Zhan seduces Wei Ying with medical massages.

Very nice fic where the idiots in question just need a little push.

say my name by fruitys

“Wei Wuxian, what have you done,” he moans aloud, anxiously carding his hands through his hair. If the discarded drafts are anything to go by… he had said… well, he had said everything he had been so careful not to say. For the past year, for the month at the Cloud Recesses after Guanyin Temple, for every moment when he had looked at Lan Zhan and felt flowers blooming in his chest. For every moment he had wanted to say: Lan Zhan, don’t leave me. Let me stay with you.

Or: Wei Wuxian has a revelation, and then he does something about it.

Very, very sweet

The Ritual by nightwalker

Lan Xichen asks Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to participate in a ritual for the protection of the Cloud Recesses. There may be some ulterior motives going on.

You know I think this is the best of like. Ceremonial sex.

180 centimeters by Ceta

Wei WuXian is not small or short or anything of the sort, but Lan WangJi looks at him at times and takes in his slighter shoulders, how easy it is to press his lips to his forehead, the way his arms can wrap around Wei WuXian and envelope him completely, the way he is allowed to do this — and he thinks, and he is overcome.

-

Lan WangJi’s world is 180 centimeters tall.

They are in love your honor, that's the fic

Take Root, Come Home by piecrust

Living with Wei Ying is a dream come true – Lan Wangji has nothing to complain about…

Except.

Except one thing. A small… thing.

Mhmm yeah a good fic. Really unpacks their happily ever after

Look Not With The Eyes by Spodumene

Wei Wuxian returns from his travels to join Lan Wangji on a routine night hunt, but when things take an unexpected turn, Wei Wuxian will have to fight for what he's really looking for.

The good old The Untamed post-canon where feelings are unravelled.

Tripped at Every Step by brooklinegirl

Wei Wuxian knows that Lan Zhan is the same Lan Zhan as before, but also so, so different. This Lan Zhan is soft for him. This Lan Zhan has a set jaw and a steely look in his eye, ready to fight anyone who gets in Wei Wuxian's way. This Lan Zhan puts up no fronts - it almost hurts to look at him, he's so open.

Wei Wuxian looks at this Lan Zhan, and he wonders.

(i.e., Wei Wuxian tries real hard to use his two brain cells to figure out if Lan Zhan likes-him, likes-him or not.)

This fic was basically lwj making out with wwx and wwx being like hmmm is this like a bromance or what. Multiple times with the making out part rapidly growing more and more intimate.

Nothing But Trouble by brooklinegirl

"I don't want to really date anyone. It's so stupid, I just need to pretend date someone until Jiang Cheng gets his act together, then go back to my own life." He stares at his empty coffee cup.

"Date me," Lan Zhan says. Then he looks at Wei Ying's empty cup. "Would you like another cup of coffee?"

"Always," Wei Ying says automatically. "But wait, what."

"I'll get you another cup." Lan Zhan rises smoothly from the table.

"No, wait, hang on." Wei Ying grabs his wrist before he can take the cup and Lan Zhan freezes up, staring down at where Wei Ying is hanging on to him. "Fuck, sorry, I'll—" Wei Ying hastily lets go of his wrist. "Sorry, I—what did you mean?"

"I can pretend to date you," Lan Zhan says. "You take it with cream and sugar, correct?"

Mwuah your good old fake dating fic that got everything fake dating trope brings in all the right ways

The Pearl by musicmillennia

A dragon's pearl has untold power. Perhaps enough to replace someone's golden core.

Very cool dragony fix-it

[symphonyofsilence]

I believe that no matter what he did, there was no happy ending for Jin Guangyao.

Whether he stayed with the Nie (he would always wish that he could have been legitimized by his father. [Because of the better social standing it would bring him which was a very big deal actually he would have been miserable unless he was legitimized, because he really wanted his father's acceptance, because he had to replace that horrible last memory of Jinlintai in his mind, because it was his birthright, & most importantly because it was his mother's last wish], he would get bullied & humiliated & get looked down upon every day by almost everyone, he would always wish [& know that with his potential] he could reach much higher and make the changes he wanted to make in the world) or didn't, or join the Lans (the same problems but maybe with less bullying and fewer shit talks because it would have been against the Lan rules and also the Lans owed JGY big time) or the Jiangs, whether Meng Shi survived or didn't (I think JGY wouldn't have told her about that staircase incident, then who knows what lies he'd make up and what he would do to hide that he was not accepted by the Jins from his mother or get accepted by them at any cost and what it would result in) whether NHS planned his downfall or didn't (he still had the head of NMJ in his secret room that he claimed "wouldn't let him go", he still slept in the same bed as his sister, he still had and had lost a son with her that he claimed that "his blood ran cold everytime he looked at him" & whether he did have him killed or not he blamed himself for his death [I've explained here why I think that], he still had to live with the knowledge that no matter what horrible deed he committed for JGS, no matter how hard he tried he was never "worth mentioning" to his father, and had to lose all his considerable filial piety & what was essentially his life's mission to the point that he murdered his father) whether he went to Dongying (he'd have still lost all he built in his motherland, despite years of trying to build himself a good reputation and prove anyone who taunt him wrong, he'd still always be known as the rotten "son of a prostitute" there. And He'd have to start from scratch in Dongying, He'd still had to leave without Meng Shi's body, NHS would never get off his tail, and he'd be separated from LXC and JL [even if they followed him, he likely would feel bad for separating them from their sects and their families. Those were things that JGY himself longed for most of his life. He wouldn't want them to follow him.]) or didn't. & don't even start with him marrying LXC which would make all his problems exponentially worse. It would probably get LXC in trouble too (maybe he'd had to leave his sect) and that would be something that JGY would never want.

Certainly, what happened to him in canon was the worst possible scenario and he might have been less miserable in some of those other scenarios, but there were just no happy endings for him.

[gayhoediaz]

With the way that the show keeps hammering home the fact that Buck doesn’t know, Buck doesn’t have a clue, Buck doesn’t have any idea whatsoever - I’m scared about what is going to happen when he does figure it out.

I think he’s already so terrified of losing Eddie, every single day. It’s the nature of the job. (I think he’s terrified of losing everyone he works with, but especially Eddie. After everything they have been through.) But at the end of the day, that’s “just” his best friend. (We all know it’s more, but if a stranger asked him, I think that’s what he would say right now. Eddie is his best friend.)

And I think that, as much as Buck wants to be in love someday, he doesn’t think he’ll get it. Even if he gets married, I don’t think he sees the possibility of him being lucky enough to have that kind of love. Once-in-a-lifetime, big, great, makes-you-dizzy, want to climb inside of their chest and live there, crying and laughing while making love - kind of love.

I think when he thinks about getting married, he thinks about finding a woman who wants him, and who is a good person - someone he can build something with. Make something. (Misunderstand the assignment with.)

But him realizing that not only has he found that great, big love that he never thought that he would get? But to also realize that it’s Eddie? Eddie, who he is already terrified of losing?

It won’t be pretty. It’s going to hit him like a truck and probably maim him like one too.

[stiltonbasket]

I loved your Spy x Family Nielan.

I love the idea of LWJ being Yuri and hating Mingjue like "brother you were married for a year and you didn't tell us?" and trying to destroy their relationship (until he meets single dad WWX and his son A-Yuan)

Maybe A-Yuan is in the role of Betty and his rich dad is single dad WWX who is still a member of the Jiang Clan/Family.

I wonder who is the school teacher who is a fanboy of Mingjue

Or who is Nocturna who is totally in love with NMJ but lose everytime against LXC.

I guess Damien is Jin Ling and the "father" (uncle then) is JGY? But who is his big brother then....or here it's his other uncle Mo Xuanyu. And his "mum" is his aunt here, and she has lost her own son. 

I really LOVE the idea of NMJ being the spy. Because he's not the subtle one in canon. And LXC being the assassin when he's the kindest one in canon.

I never sketched out any background for the Spy X Family AU, but I headcanoned Lan Wangji as being a perfectly ordinary civilian, though still a somewhat overprotective younger brother. Lan Xichen doesn't tell Lan Wangji that he and Nie Mingjue have been married for a year; LWJ's concerns about the Nielan marriage have more to do with his fears that Lan Xichen (notoriously soft-hearted towards children) is allowing himself to be taken advantage of for Jingyi's sake.

Originally, Jin Ling was supposed to be Damian Desmond, but I ended up liking the idea of A-Yuan being Damian (with no older brothers involved; but this makes Wei Wuxian, secret peace activist, Donovan Desmond). Lan Wangji got embroiled in NMJ's mission through Lan Xichen, attended all of Jingyi's school events alongside Nielan, and wooed Nie Mingjue's target in five days flat before breaking into the Nielan household at 2 AM and informing Nie Mingjue that he could call off his spy operation.

If I had to give Jin Ling a role, I guess he'd be Becky. :P Nocturna/Nightfall doesn't really come into the story, though. And re: Lan Xichen being an assassin - since LXC is a doctor in most of my AUs, it occurred to me that murder would be very easy for him if he actually put his mind to it.

[s090l]

In the quiet moments of the evening, with a subtle golden glow cascading through the window, Handré sat down next to y/n. His eyes, usually steely with determination on the rugby field, softened as he began to speak, the memories of their journey together resurfacing like gentle waves on the shore.

"Sy is my alles," Handré whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of awe and gratitude, as he looked at y/n, his heart swelling with love. "Ek weet nie wat ek sonder haar sou doen nie."

His mind drifted back to the day they met, a seemingly ordinary day that had turned extraordinary because it led him to the love of his life. He vividly recalled the way her laughter had danced through the air, drawing him in like a sailor lured by the song of a siren. From that moment, he knew there was something special about her, something that made his heart race and his soul stir.

Handré's expression grew somber as he recounted the day he almost lost her, the memory etched into his mind like a scar that refused to fade. A freak accident had threatened to snatch her away from him, leaving him with a profound sense of helplessness and fear. He remembered the sleepless nights spent by her bedside, praying for her to wake up, promising the universe he would never let her go if she pulled through.

"I can't bear the thought of losing her," Handré admitted, his voice breaking slightly. "She's the reason my heart beats, the reason I find strength in the face of challenges. Without her, my world would lose its light."

His protective instincts kicked in, a fierce determination in his eyes as he spoke. "I'll do anything to keep her safe. I'll be her shield, her sanctuary. No harm will ever touch her as long as I'm here."

As he spoke, y/n reached out, her hand finding his, their fingers intertwining in a silent promise. She looked at him, her eyes reflecting the depth of her love and trust. "And I'll stand by your side, Handré. Together, we can face anything that comes our way."

In that moment, they found solace in each other's presence, a deep understanding passing between them. Handré's emotions, once turbulent, found peace in y/n's unwavering love. With her by his side, he felt invincible, ready to face the world and protect their love against all odds. In the soft glow of the evening, they embraced, finding strength in each other's arms, knowing that their love was a force that could overcome any challenge life threw their way.

[bloody-bee-tea]

Kissuary 2023 Day 8 + 22 ~ Shy - Up the arm

Jiang Cheng doesn’t know what he has to expect as he follows Nie Mingjue through their camp. Jiang Cheng has made it out of the most recent battle mostly unscathed–apart from a few scratches here and there–so he doesn’t think Nie Mingjue is going to yell at him, like he sometimes does when Jiang Cheng’s recklessness leaves him hurt and injured.

Still, Nie Mingjue seems very determined; determined enough that no soldier dares to step into his way, even though it’s highly unusual that Nie Mingjue can go anywhere without being stopped every second step.

Jiang Cheng fears there’s still some scolding in his future for him and the uncertainty makes his gut churn, even though Nie Mingjue is never mean with his words.

With him, Jiang Cheng can read concern and worry out of everything he says, despite the fact that he sometimes yells at him like his mother did.

Jiang Cheng has never been that certain with her.

Nie Mingjue continues his track through the camp and around halfway through Jiang Cheng notices that they are walking towards his tent. Usually the scoldings either happen in the healer’s tent or in Jiang Cheng’s own, because he’s been advised to rest and Nie Mingjue might keep him up for longer just to scold him but he would never make him walk all across the camp. So there haven’t been many opportunities for Jiang Cheng to step into Nie Mingjue’s tent, despite their–relationship, for the lack of a better word. 

Jiang Cheng wants to ask what is going on, but he’s acutely aware of all the eyes on them, so he stays quiet. There is going to be talk about this anyway–the soldiers love to gossip and it’s not as if there is anything else to do for them–and he doesn’t actually want to give more fuel to the rumors by revealing something neither of them are ready to reveal yet.

If there even is something to reveal, Jiang Cheng reminds himself. It’s not as if anything ever happened between them; sure, they gravitate towards each other in a way neither of them do with anyone else, but that’s about it. 

If Jiang Cheng is honest, he’s afraid to even admit to himself that he might have feelings for Nie Mingjue because he’s convinced whatever it is they have won’t survive off the battlefield and Jiang Cheng’s life has been horrible enough lately. He doesn’t need some hope only to have it all crushed later on.

He’s jolted out of his thoughts when Nie Mingjue looks over his shoulder at him.

“Did I lose you somewhere?” he wants to know and Jiang Cheng huffs.

“I’m right here, what do you even mean?”

“Physically, yes. But not here,” Nie Mingjue says and flicks Jiang Cheng’s forehead.

“How would you even know, you weren’t even talking,” Jiang Cheng grumbles, and tries to ignore the warmth that unfurls in his chest at Nie Mingjue’s words.

It’s been a while since anyone has known him so well.

“I just know,” Nie Mingjue easily gives back as if that isn’t entirely mind-boggling to Jiang Cheng and then he continues on towards his tent as if nothing ever happened.

Jiang Cheng has to scramble to keep up with him and Nie Mingjue definitely knows it, going by the amused chuckle he lets out. It should rankle, being laughed at like that, but Jiang Cheng finds that somehow, with Nie Mingjue it’s okay. At least here they are both in on the joke and Jiang Cheng is certain that Nie Mingjue would never laugh at his expense.

That knowledge doesn’t help at all with his feelings but he ruthlessly squashes them down. There will be time to worry about this after the war. If they even both make it that far.

Jiang Cheng ducks into Nie Mingjue’s tent with a huff once they reach it, Nie Mingjue patiently holding the flap open for him and it suddenly seems a lot more intimate once it closes behind them. 

“Sit,” Nie Mingjue says, pointing at a chair and Jiang Cheng flops down without complaint. He did just come from the battlefield after all and while it had been a minor fight, the adrenaline still leaves him tired now. 

“And now what?” he asks when Nie Mingjue turns away from him but he has his answer a moment later, when Nie Mingjue turns back around, some supplies for wound dressing in his hands. 

“I’m not even hurt,” Jiang Cheng huffs out, because the healer had cleared him. 

Nie Mingjue should know. He was there.

“Yes, you are,” Nie Mingjue says with a nod towards Jiang Cheng’s hands and then he kneels in front of Jiang Cheng, leaving him spluttering.

“What are you doing?” he hisses but Nie Mingjue is undeterred. 

“Tending to your wounds,” Nie Mingjue easily says, reaching for Jiang Cheng’s hand carefully, as if he’s afraid he could hurt him.

“Mingjue, these are just scratches,” Jiang Cheng somehow gets out because the sight of Nie Mingjue kneeling in front of him with such a tender look is getting to him.

“They can get infected, too,” Nie Mingjue seriously tells him as he cleans the scratches and small cuts on his hand.

Jiang Cheng is ashamed to admit that most of them are from Zidian, because he is not quite as skilled as his mother with wielding it, but thankfully Nie Mingjue neither asks nor comments on them. He seems completely concentrated, diligently checking every cut and scrape on Jiang Cheng’s hands and Jiang Cheng doesn’t know what to do with that kind of attention at all.

“No one ever did something like that for me,” he finds himself saying, immediately mortified by what came out of his mouth, but Nie Mingjue only makes a thoughtful hum and strangely enough it invites Jiang Cheng to keep on talking.

“The few times I was allowed to practice with Zidian, my mother always scoffed at my injuries, saying I simply had to get better at wielding it. She never once–” He cuts himself off, suddenly acutely aware that he’s speaking ill of the dead, but Nie Mingjue doesn’t seem to mind.

“She should have taught you better,” he mutters, not taking his eyes off Jiang Cheng’s hands. “She should have prevented you from ever getting hurt. And failing that, she should have at least cared for you afterwards.”

At that, Jiang Cheng scoffs. Clearly Nie Mingjue has never met his mother, if he talks like this about her.

“What? You think you don’t deserve to be taken care of?” Nie Mingjue asks, peering up at Jiang Cheng who immediately falls quiet. 

It’s–a pretty accurate assumption, if Jiang Cheng is honest, and the fact that Nie Mingjue even suggested it means that Jiang Cheng has been more honest with him than he even thought.

But for once in his life his low self-esteem is not actually the problem.

“No, it’s not that. My mother–was a very harsh woman. I don’t think she even knew how to take care of any kind of injuries.”

Come to think of it, it’s kind of surprising that Nie Mingjue not only knows how to take care of injuries but also doesn’t feel like he is above doing this.

“Huaisang loves to read and draw and fiddle with his fans. I have tended to more paper cuts on him than any wounds he ever got from training,” Nie Mingjue sighs out, clearly knowing where Jiang Cheng’s thoughts have gone to. “And every good Sect Leader should at least know the most basic field medicines. What if the Sect Leader is the only one left standing because everyone got hurt? Leaving everyone else wounded and untreated is simply unacceptable.”

“I–see,” Jiang Cheng whispers and wonders if his own lack of knowledge in that regard immediately puts him down in Nie Mingjue’s eyes.

Though he does have to admit that he picked up quite a lot in the last few weeks.

“There, now you’re all set,” Nie Mingjue eventually says, squeezing Jiang Cheng’s hand carefully and Jiang Cheng notices that all of his cuts have been cleaned applied with a salve.

“Really, this was completely unnecessary,” Jiang Cheng can’t help but to say because he still feels ridiculous that Nie Mingjue even thought this to be necessary.

“Well, thank you for humoring me, then,” Nie Mingjue tells him with a smile, still looking up at him from his kneeling position and Jiang Cheng’s stomach swoops dangerously and his mind goes a mile a minute.

Until Nie Mingjue slightly leans forwards and presses kiss after kiss up his arm. That not only renders Jiang Cheng speechless but also brings all of his thoughts to a screeching halt.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Cheng whispers when Nie Mingjue stops at his elbow, not for a lack of trying but more for a lack of practicality it seems.

“I’m–” Nie Mingjue can’t seem to finish his sentence and Jiang Cheng is startled to see a slight blush on his face. 

“Are you nervous?” he blurts out, completely overwhelmed with this entire situation and Nie Mingjue huffs out a clearly frustrated breath.

“Yes, Wanyin, I’m nervous,” Nie Mingjue tells him, but he seems to come to a resolution, because his jaw does that little ticking thing it always does when he’s determined and Jiang Cheng goes warm with the fact that he knows this about him.

“Why?” Jiang Cheng wants to know, keeping his voice soft as he turns his hand around to take Nie Mingjue’s hand in his.

“Because it’s not quite that easy to make a move on you,” Nie Mingjue says. “And I haven’t actually asked anyone to allow me to court them before so I’m not quite sure if I’m going about this the right way.”

“A courtship?” Jiang Cheng breathes out, a small smile already starting to form. “With me?”

“No, Wanyin, I wanted to ask your second in command and I am only asking for your permission,” Nie Mingjue gives back with an eye roll, letting Jiang Cheng know exactly how serious he is about this. “Yes, with you, of course. I want a courtship with you. Will you allow me?”

Jiang Cheng wants to do nothing more than say yes, but the situation they find themselves in makes it hard.

“What about–we don’t know how long this war will last. What’s going to happen.”

“And it doesn’t matter, not to me. Regardless of the outcome of this, no matter what happens during or after the war, I want this. I want to court you and I want to be courted and I want us to be husbands.”

“Thinking very far ahead, huh?” Jiang Cheng teasingly asks though he can no longer keep the smile at bay. 

This is everything he wants as well, after all.

“It’s important to keep your long-term goals in sight,” Nie Mingjue says with a nod, sounding very confident, but Jiang Cheng can still feel the minute shake in his fingers.

He’s not half as confident as he wants to make Jiang Cheng believe right now.

“I like that long-term goal,” Jiang Cheng finally says, feeling as if he avoided answering for long enough now. “I might have the same one,” he admits, because if Nie Mingjue can be shy and nervous but still bravely soldier on then Jiang Cheng can do the same.

“Yeah?” Nie Mingjue asks, smiling up at Jiang Cheng in a way that makes butterflies erupt in his stomach.

“Yes.”

“Thank the gods,” Nie Mingjue mutters and raises their clasped hands towards his face so he can press kisses over kisses to Jiang Cheng’s knuckles.

“You’re ruining all of your hard work,” Jiang Cheng chides him and to stop him from continuing with this, he cups Nie Mingjue’s cheek in his hand. 

“I can redo it,” Nie Mingjue easily says as if it doesn’t even matter to him and Jiang Cheng starts to believe that it honestly might be the case.

And JIang Cheng very much hopes that it never starts to matter and that Nie Mingjue will take care of him for the rest of their lives, just like Jiang Cheng will do the same.

Buy me a ko-fi

[drwcn]

Hi, do you (or your followers) know percance a fic in which Lan Xichen is the one to kill Nie Mingjue? I think it was multi-chaptered (but am not entirely sure) and it was only a scene not the whole fic centered around it.

hey! i'm not sure if you're referring to the one that I wrote?

Actually i have 2 fics that are kind of like that?

One is 《Deep Waters》, where LXC doesn't really kill NMJ himself but he helps JGY plot to kill NMJ:

《Deep Waters》 - Complete Chapters: [1] [2] [3] [4] Type: canon divergent; minor character death Synopsis: canon divergent; dark!lxc is jgy’s willing participant. Jin Guangyao had been well on his way to executing Nie Mingjue’s murder when out of nowhere, whilst they were both still very much winded in the post-coital haze, Lan Xichen turned to him and said as cavalier as though discussing the weather, “If you’re so keen on killing Da’ge that you would employ secret Gusu Lan techniques, you should at least have asked me for help.”

The second one is 《The Red Regent》, which is a evil!wen qing fic, and lxc does kill nmj directly in this fic, but he was tricked into it. essentially nmj loses his mind bcos of the yin iron/controlled by wen qing, and he kills lwj (kind of like how wen ning kills jin zixuan), and lxc kills nmj to save his brother but it was too late. part 5 below has the scene where lxc kills nmj. lwj isn't actually dead.

《the red regent》 - Complete Chapters: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9.1 + 9.2] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Type: canon divergent; major character death Synopsis: if wq is evil and my isn't Everything about Wen Qing was red. Her gown, her crown, her lips... Her blood. “Jiang Wanyin…” Wen Qing laid in his arms. A shard of Sandu’s broken blade piercing her between the shoulder blades, from back to front, through and through. “I’ve committed every crime and every sin under the sky, but I’ve never thought of hurting you…Believe me, this one last time.”