#<- cannot go two seconds without mentioning xue yang

[veliseraptor]

☕️ what you think the novel and the drama each do better than each other?

assuming you’re talking about mdzs/cql? boy oh boy do I avoid talking about this question most of the time! because I have a complex! oh boy do I have a complex. and also feel like really I need to reread mdzs before I give any real definite answer to this question, because sitting next to @ameliarating reading it and seeing people talking about it has made me realize that like. I missed a lot. 

that’s what reading too fast does to you, I guess, turns out.

but I guess if I were to think of a few things...I feel like I can say that on the whole I prefer the drama to the novel, though some of that may be related to me imprinting on it first. but let me see if I can pick out a few specific things.

DRAMA OVER NOVEL

This is a really small tiny one but I prefer Wei Wuxian still having his own body over coopting Mo Xuanyu’s, because for all the angst opportunities that the latter provides, it also gives me major willies in a way that is not fun. Like. Everything about Mo Xuanyu’s situation is awful, I think he at least deserves to not have his entire physical form running around without him in it. (Is being completely destroyed better? to me, apparently.)

I like the death scene at Nightless City a lot. I just do. It really works for me in a way that the ‘breaking it up into two pieces’ the novel does doesn’t - I like it as all one continuous disaster.

The texture of the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji - I mentioned that oblivious!Wei Wuxian kind of frustrated me in the novel, and in general I just liked the feeling of the relationship between them both first and second life more. It felt more...idk, holistic, maybe? Though this could partly be because of

Lan Wangji, in general, I liked more in the drama than the novel, which admittedly may be because you get more perspective/visibility of him in the drama where the perspective of the novel is inherently very limited by Unreliable Narrator Wei Wuxian. But that does mean that I didn’t really get a sense of him either, and had a hard time getting attached to/liking him much. I think in general in terms of...if I’m going to have a romance I feel like I need to be invested in both characters who are involved for it to work for me, and I had a hard time getting invested in novel!Lan Wangji because he felt like too much of a cipher to get a grip on.

In retrospect I think in general the fact that the less limited perspective felt like it gave me more of an ability to get a better rounded sense of the other characters is something that I really appreciated about the drama that I didn’t feel like I got out of the novel.

I don’t remember the Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao relationship in the novel grabbing me as much and I love the way that Liu Haikuan and Zhu Zanjin played it in the drama. So good. So, so good. 

In general the fact that despite censorship everything got even gayer is pretty beautiful to me. 

NOVEL OVER DRAMA

The timeline of the drama is so baffling and I still cannot quite untangle it in my head. Particularly relevant to my specific interests is everything surrounding the Yi City folks - like, that got weird and if I think about it too much it gives me a headache. That whole arc got a lot clearer when I read the novel, and while I like Xue Yang / Song Lan / Xiao Xingchen showing up earlier/being more tied into the events earlier it really snarls up some of the timeline stuff later on. 

And just, generally, how time passes in the drama is very weird. Again, just try not to think about it much.

I really miss the scene with the Blood Pool and the Wen Remnants corpses rising out of it to fight and then saying goodbye to Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian. That was inarguably a wonderful moment and I’m very sad that we lost it for (if I understand correctly) censorship reasons. 

The choice to make Wei Wuxian less culpable for Wen Ning’s attack on Jin Zixuan in particular, but also at Nightless City, is another thing I prefer from the novel. I like that that was legitimately his fuck-up - that he did legitimately lose control of this powerful force he was using.

I love the drama of Guanyin Temple in CQL but boy is there a lot missing (about the brothel and Meng Shi, notably) that means it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Would’ve been good to have that context!

There are probably other details that I’m forgetting - like I said, I need to do a reread where I’m less just stuffing the whole thing in my mouth in three bites.

(and this is all! obviously! personal! please don’t hurt me.)

[brin-guivera]

I have made no secret of the fact that I have become obsessed with The Untamed (if you have seen any of my recent posts you will see how often I manage to bring it up even when it has no relation to the content of the post!)

the untamed

Based on a Chinese BL (boys’ love) web novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu called Mo Dao Zu Shi (roughly translated to Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation / Founder of Diabolism) has become a bit of a global phenomenon since it aired last summer. I was slightly late to the party (I didn’t start watching it until November after it became available on Netflix) but I have more than made up for it since!

I have re-watched the whole series (all 50 episodes!) twice now, plus the Special Edition (which is basically 50 episodes compressed into 20 episodes for international audiences, with more of a focus on the Wei Wuxian / Lan Wangji relationship that was more subtly portrayed in the 50 episode run, down to having to be mindful of Chinese censorship).

Along with the novel and the live-action series, there is also donghua series (an animated version), a manhua (comic book) adaptation, an audio drama adaption and two spin-off movies from the live-action series (one of which The Living Dead has already aired in 2019, the other Fatal Journey is due to release next week).

The series is absolutely fantastic and has completely taken over my life so I thought it was about time I posted a review!

the story

Wei Wuxian, also known as the Yiling Patriarch, is a person who is feared and despised by almost everyone. As a powerful and deadly cultivator, he became known for his abject cruelty and power, causing the deaths of thousands. He was only stopped when he was killed by Jiang Cheng, once almost as close as a brother to him.

However, the truth isn’t quite as simple as the legend makes out. Was Wei Wuxian really the villain he was made out to be? When he is resurrected following a spell by a mentally unstable young man called Mo Xuanyu (who offers his own body in exchange for Wei Wuxian exacting revenge on those who had wronged him), it is unclear what his motivations will be. Will he seek vengeance against those who had once wronged him?

One person who is happy to see Wei Wuxian is Lan Wangji, an upright young man whose heroics have cultivated legends of his own. The two have a shared history and bond that has surprised all who have known them. Can they both clear Wei Wuxian’s name and find out once and for all who has actually been the mastermind behind all of the unfortunate events that have befallen the cultivator world?

the review

Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo star as Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji respectively. Both are mesmerising in their roles and I cannot think of anyone more perfectly suited. Xiao Zhan imbues Wei Wuxian with a carefree spirit and boyish charm, completely at odds with the widespread belief that Wei Wuxian is someone to be feared and hated. Wang Yibo is a revelation as the stoic and unemotional Lan Wangji. His ability to convey how he is feeling in tiny micro-expressions is utterly enthralling.

Both actors are compelling to watch and really give life to their characters. The chemistry between them is off the charts. Although nothing can be explicitly depicted due to censorship, it is clear that these two characters are deeply in love. Filled with lots of longing looks, and artful yet powerful interactions, their bond is clear to see for anyone who is looking but sub-textual enough to skirt pass the censors! It’s a masterclass in subtlety.

The cast of supporting characters are fantastic too! Wang Zhuocheng and Xuan Lu are brilliant as Wei Wuxian’s adoptive siblings Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli. Wang Zhuocheng has the daunting task of making the hot-headed and stubborn Jiang Cheng likable and manages to succeed whilst bringing a vulnerability to the character too. Yanli is an amazing big sister to Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng – supportive and loving, caring and emotionally reassuring. She proves that strength doesn’t always lie in being physically powerful.

I also really loved Ji Li as the seemingly incompetent and weak Nie Huaisang and Liu Haikuan as Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji’s serene and kind elder brother. I would also be remiss not to mention Meng Ziyi as Wen Qing and Yu Bin as Wen Ning – the cutest siblings that ever lived! And of course, I cannot forget Zhu Zanjin as Jin Guangyao – the sly and smooth manipulator that also manages to be completely sympathetic at the same time. Also, all of the Juniors – love them all!! Not to mention Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan, and Xue Yang… the whole cast is outstanding and there are too many for me to keep singling out standouts.

The story is initially confusing for the first two episodes but please stick with it because it gets so good! The first couple of episodes are set after Wei Wuxian is resurrected but then episode 3 flashes back to the past and shows how he ended up becoming (unfairly) the most feared person in the cultivation world.

It depicts his first meeting with the moral and strict Lan Wangji and how these two ended up defying all expectations and becoming soulmates. How they were torn apart again and again, until Wei Wuxian’s untimely demise. This is a story about second chances and overcoming huge obstacles. It’s about friendship and family. Love and sacrifice. It is such a moving story with plenty of action but lots of character moments. The relationships between the characters propels the story and although there is a lot of plot going on, it is at heart a character-driven narrative (my favourite kind!)

to sum up

If you haven’t watched this series yet, I urge you to please, please, please check it out! It is just too amazing not to share with everyone. It might just be my favourite series in recent years, maybe of all-time, along with Deep Space Nine (my other top favourite). The acting is amazing, the story is moving and you have a love story that manages to be so powerful without ever actually being explicit. It is all the sweeter and intense for being subtle in its depiction. Wangxian 4eva!!!

It will tear your heart to shreds but then mend it again. It will make you lose your mind but then turn around and give you hope again. It is just so good. It is not without its flaws, some of the special effects look a bit cheesy at times, but it is easy to overlook in the grand scheme of things.

some additional thoughts and musings

I cannot believe how well Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo became their characters – it’s actually quite funny when you see behind the scenes videos of the two of them. They are clearly very close in real life but their personalities are complete opposites – Xiao Zhan seems more zen and peaceful and Wang Yibo is a chaotic little gremlin (I adore him!)

There is so much other content for this series – I am planning on reading the translated novel soon but I am also going to check out everything else along with the author’s other works… will keep me busy for years to come!

Merch for days – I can’t seem to stop buying Untamed-themed merch (check out my STS posts – they are chock full of the merch I have bought week to week!) I am seriously obsessed…

I also have an urge to watch everything Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan have ever been in (along with the rest of my favourites from the cast) and have been listening to the soundtrack religiously (as well as the individual music the cast have put out whether solo or as part of groups – what a talented cast this is!)

My Twitter feed seems to be less about books these days and more about The Untamed haha!

I might just be crushing slightly on Wang Yibo (and also Xiao Zhan) despite being way older than them both – I feel like a cougar but just look how pretty… 😂

[ibijau]

Burn it down AU // on AO3

Lan Wangji, to his great displeasure, accompanies his husband to Qinghe

Nie Mingjue’s health did not improve in the weeks that followed. If anything, it appeared to worsen after Xue Yang, who had been caught and brought to justice by a rogue cultivator, was freed when his only surviving victim recanted his testimony and withdrew all accusations. Lanling Jin announced that they would punish Xue Yang themselves, proceeded to take him back in, claimed he was imprisoned for life, and did nothing more about it.

This, in turn, led to a new dispute between Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao, and to the latter being kicked down a set of stairs at Carp tower in a moment of rage. In the end Lan Xichen managed to calm the situation, but only barely, and it was clear to all who knew him that he was worried for both his sworn brothers. 

Lan Wangji had to accept the unavoidable truth; he agreed to go with his brother and husband to a conference held in Qinghe.

It was hard to explain to A-Yuan that he could not come with them. It had been two years since the child had arrived in Cloud Recesses, and he did not appear to remember his life before that, but he had never forgotten being abandoned. A-Yuan, always so good and obedient, cried and threw several tantrums as his father and Nie Huaisang packed for his stay with Hou Tianjian and Lan Jingyi as well as their own trip. More than once, Lan Wangji felt tempted to call off the one thing, just so his son wouldn’t have to be left behind.

“We can stay,” Nie Huaisang offered the night before they were set to depart. “I didn’t think it would impact him so much… he’s been through a lot already, I feel bad adding to that.”

It was, at that point, well past curfew, and A-Yuan had only just fallen asleep out of exhaustion after hours of crying. Even in sleep, the little boy looked restless, and held on tight to his father’s hand, as if afraid Lan Wangji might leave otherwise. In fact, he had slept uneasily ever since being told that they would have to go somewhere without him. Lan Wangji suspected that Wei Wuxian and the Wens had hidden him away from the upcoming siege while he had been asleep, and that A-Yuan hadn’t forgotten that betrayal.

“You can go alone,” Lan Wangji countered, already knowing the answer.

“It’s both of us or neither of us,” Nie Huaisang sighed, kneeling next to the bed and carefully tucking a wild strand of hair behind A-Yuan’s ear. “And it’s… fine. Your brother said A-Yao understands that Da-Ge isn’t in his normal state, that he’s still willing to help. Da-Ge doesn’t need me.”

Lan Wangji looked down at his son, desperately wishing that they never had to be parted. It would have been easy to take Nie Huaisang’s offer and stay together in Cloud Recesses, but it would have hurt the other man to be kept away from his brother.

“Gusu Lan and Qinghe Nie must show they stand together,” Lan Wangji said at last. “It is why we are married.”

There was no mistaking the gratefulness in Nie Huaisang’s eyes.

“A-Yuan will be well taken care of,” he told Lan Wangji with a weak smile. “Hou Tianjian is a good person, and I’ve told her that he’ll be a little… that separation isn’t easy for him. She promised she’d be patient. And she’s like us, she doesn’t like physical punishments, so it’ll be fine. He’ll have great fun being with Jingyi all day!”

“Hm.”

The perspective of so much time with his best friend was the only thing that had sometimes gotten A-Yuan to stop crying. Lan Wangji was glad that his son had a friend, and that this friend was… perhaps not the most Lan of children.

“He’s not going to be alone is my point,” Nie Huaisang insisted. “This isn’t… this isn’t whatever happened to him before you adopted him. He won’t be alone, he won’t be abandoned. We’re leaving him with a good person, someone I know can be trusted, and we’re coming back for him as soon as the conference is over.”

“Hm.”

They had still never discussed where A-Yuan came from. Lan Wangji had tried, once, but Nie Huaisang had quickly changed the subject. Still, Lan Wangji was certain his husband knew that A-Yuan was, to some degree, tied to Wei Wuxian.

“It’ll be fine,” Nie Huaisang promised. “And I know a few good shops in Qinghe. We can bring him some toys! I wonder if that old man who made those beautiful wooden animals is still around… A-Yuan would love them, he made them articulated, and… oh, I hope he has bunnies!”

“Hm. That would be nice.”

Nie Huaisang stayed a little longer kneeling by the bed, listing all the things he wanted to bring back from Qinghe to amuse A-Yuan, from toys to local specialities so he’d get used to something other than Cloud Recesses’s bland food. He only stopped blabbering when both he and Lan Wangji became too tired to keep their eyes open. Once left alone, Lan Wangji quickly fell asleep, holding his son against his heart.

Nie Huaisang launched himself at his brother the instant they stepped into the Unclean Realm, and refused to let go of him for the rest of the day. Nie Mingjue complained about it the whole time but made no particular effort to push away his brother, and even smiled here and there. Although the guilt of leaving A-Yuan behind was still eating at Lan Wangji, he felt a little better about that decision when Lan Xichen whispered to him that this was the most relaxed he’d seen Nie Mingjue in weeks. At least, A-Yuan’s pain would not have been in vain.

That first day was not unpleasant. They settled in Nie Mingjue’s own home and chatted the hours away. Nie Mingjue, when not leading armies against innocent peasants hiding from the world, was a man of good company. He sounded genuinely concerned when he asked after Lan Wangji’s injuries, and mentioned that he hoped to come to Cloud Recesses in the near future to see how the reconstruction was going. Lan Wangji was starting to relax, when his brother-in-law announced that he had bought some presents for A-Yuan, since Nie Huaisang spoke of little else in his letters.

“Shouldn’t you worry instead about having your own children?” Nie Huaisang quickly teased, to distract everyone from the way Lan Wangji had tensed. “I want nephews and nieces! Why aren’t you getting married already, Da-Ge? Get yourself a wife! Isn't that your duty?”

“Now isn’t the right time,” Nie Mingjue retorted. “I’m not marrying until I have a clear view of my allies and enemies.”

“Boring. Where’s your sense of romance? Er-Ge, we need to find him a wife. Even A-Yao and I are married, how can the two of you still be single? It makes no sense. You two are the most handsome bachelors of our generation, surely there must be people throwing themselves at you!”

Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes at that chatter, while Lan Xichen looked uncomfortable.

“Marriage is more difficult for a sect leader,” Lan Xichen noted. “Romance is the last thing either of us can think of. Da-Ge is right to consider this carefully and not rush into anything.”

“Of course Er-Ge would be very reasonable about something like this,” Nie Huaisang retorted playfully. “Still, I want nephews. Da-Ge, please get married already. If you don’t get to it, I’ll start looking for a bride on your behalf. We can find you someone you’ll get along with. If we try hard, we might even find you someone pretty. What’s your type, Da-Ge?”

Nie Mingjue tried to change the subject, but his brother would not drop the matter and continued pestering him until dinner. In the end he was forced to give a short list of preferences just to finally get some peace. By then, Nie Mingjue was so tired of the topic that he did not speak again of his brother’s family, sparing Lan Wangji from having to say anything about his son to the man who had massacred A-Yuan’s family.

The second day of their stay in Qinghe was, unfortunately, rather less pleasant. Just as the three of them had arrived a few days earlier than the actual beginning of the martial art conference, Jin Guangyao had come ahead of the Jin delegation to spend time with his sworn brothers.

Only when he saw Nie Mingjue in the presence of Jin Guangyao did Lan Wangji understand why his husband and his brother were so worried. The instant Jin Guangyao greeted him, Nie Mingjue started radiating burning anger, his complexion darkening with each new word his sworn brother said until his patience snapped and he asked when, exactly, Jin Guangyao intended to have Xue Yang executed as he had apparently promised.

“The time you allowed me isn’t over yet,” Jin Guangyao politely pointed out. “Please understand this does not depend on me alone. I am working on it of course, but certain people are reluctant. No matter what he has done, Xue Yang has made many allies in his time with us that would rather he be kept alive.”

“So did those he slaughtered.”

At this, Jin Guangyao smiled uncomfortably. “This is why I am working so hard to get what Da-Ge wants. Justice must be served, even if it can be inconvenient to some people. But for now, let us push aside those matters. Da-Ge, I came early so I could play Cleansing for you, in case Er-Ge was not able to arrive in time. Will you allow me to do so, or will I be denied this chance to help?”

“If Er-Ge is here, I don’t see why I’d need you,” Nie Mingjue retorted. “Nobody wants an amateur when they can have a master.”

Jin Guangyao flinched, but lowered his head in acceptance. Nie Huaisang, apparently unsatisfied with that turn of events, sprung forth.

“Da-Ge is so mean!” he complained. “I was so excited to maybe hear A-Yao play, and now this happens. Da-Ge, please reconsider. I’ve heard Er-Ge compliment A-Yao’s skill so often, I want to hear it for myself! But if Da-Ge doesn’t want… San-Ge, would you play for me alone? I’ll drop my husband with these two old men, and we can chat and have a nice time together.”

That offer was met with a tentative smile from Jin Guangyao. “I would be happy to, but if Er-Ge plays for your brother, then he will need the guqin we left here, and so I cannot play at the same time.”

Nie Huaisang pouted at the news, and threw his brother an aggravated look.

“Da-Ge, please let San-Ge play for you,” he demanded. “There won’t be time for it later when everyone is there for the conference. Please? I miss being able to spend time with you and A-Yao. Weren’t things so nice before we all went our separate ways? I miss that a lot.”

Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes, and made the mistake of looking at Lan Xichen who appeared rather amused by the situation.

“Just let A-Yao play for you this time,” Lan Xichen encouraged him. “You know how Huaisang gets when he’s decided something.”

Under this triple attack, Nie Mingjue begrudgingly gave in. He looked absolutely betrayed when Lan Xichen declined to be present for that music session, but before he could protest, Nie Huaisang had grabbed both Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao and started pulling them away from the courtyard, determined to have what he had demanded.

“Is this wise?” Lan Wangji asked, watching them go toward Nie Mingjue’s house.

“A-Yao really is extremely skilled,” Lan Xichen replied. “I would not have allowed him to use Cleansing otherwise.”

“Hm. Huaisang worries about the situation.”

A little surprised by that comment, Lan Xichen hesitated only a brief moment before gesturing toward the gardens in a silent invitation. Lan Wangji followed his brother, and neither spoke until they were away from the courtyard and perfectly isolated among trees and bushes.

“So your husband is getting you to care about politics?” Lan Xichen noted, pretending to inspect the flowers of a mulberry bush. “That is surprising, you have always been reticent to that.”

“It matters to him,” Lan Wangji replied, thinking on the flood of explanations he’d gotten from Nie Huaisang the instant he’d agreed to listen. “Huaisang believes his Excellency has designs.”

“It is not an easy political situation,” Lan Xichen admitted, looking rather more concerned than Lan Wangji would have preferred. “His Excellency is perhaps not as honest in dealing with the rest of us as we might wish him to be. This situation with Xue Yang causes me concern, as much as it does to Da-Ge. But Gusu Lan’s position is not as strong as Qinghe Nie’s, and I do not think direct confrontation will bring anything good. I would rather avoid anything that might lead to a new war.”

“Who would Gusu Lan side with?”

Looking away from the flowers, Lan Xichen stared at him with an unreadable expression.

“Is that your question, or your husband’s?”

“He has his opinion on the matter. I want to hear brother’s.”

“I can guess his thoughts on the matter and his opinion of me,” Lan Xichen noted with a hint of wistfulness. “Nie Huaisang is one to hold a grudge, and I… But it does not matter. To answer your question, I sincerely hope it will not come to a war. Of course, I would want to side with Nie Mingjue, because I believe he is right to treat his Excellency with some suspicion.”

Lan Xichen sighed, and returned his attention to the mulberry flowers.

“At the same time, I cannot base my choice on my feelings and preferences. Jin Guangshan has not yet committed any crimes, and he has offered help to many sects in the aftermath of the war, including our own. If I turn against him too easily after all he did for us, Gusu Lan’s reputation will suffer, which will impact the lives of all our disciples. Besides, our strength has simply not recovered yet from the Sunshot Campaign and the events in Nightless City, open conflict could destroy us. I hope you understand that regardless of what I want as a person, I often must make different choices as a sect leader.”

That last comment felt to Lan Wangji as if it might be about more than just the current political situation. There had been many instances where his brother had chosen to compromise rather than consider what would be truly just. Lan Xichen had turned a blind eye to what Lanling Jin did to its Wen prisoners, he had allowed and participated in the massacre in the Burial Mounds, and even now he was ready to let Jin Guangshan try to claim more power than he deserved. 

But Lan Xichen had also fought to ensure his brother was not punished by death for betraying their sect and standing with Wei Wuxian. He had organised this marriage that ensure Jin Guangshan could not force him to side against Qinghe Nie, and used it also to ensure that Lan Wangji would keep A-Yuan, that Wei Wuxian's son was protected. 

"Brother does what he feels to be necessary," Lan Wangji conceded. 

"And doing so, I please no one," Lan Xichen commented. "Huaisang and you would rather I openly side with Mingjue, while uncle and the elders keep telling me I should be more mindful of our relationship with Lanling Jin."

It sounded like a complex balancing act, and one Lan Wangji he was glad he did not have to participate in. It was hard enough to determine right from wrong once outside the shelter of Cloud Recesses, but having to do it while also needing to spare the feelings of greedy old men… 

"I wonder if we are too late to see the peonies in bloom," Lan Xichen suddenly remarked. "Actually, I wonder if anyone takes care of them now that Huaisang has left. Would you mind if we checked on them?" 

Lan Wangji nodded, accepting that his brother no longer wished to dwell on that unhappy topic.

"Thank you. Poor Huaisang will be disappointed if his brother allowed his flowers to die, he was so proud of them. It already pained him so much when he had to leave his birds here, he'll be heartbroken if the flowers are lost as well." 

They walked together a little while, only to discover that indeed, the patch of land that Nie Huaisang had once claimed as his own had not been tended. As they returned toward the buildings, Lan Xichen mentioned that they should see about getting Nie Huaisang involved with the keeping of their gardens in Cloud Recesses, to make him feel more at home. 

The conference itself went well. Lan Wangji had never particularly enjoyed such events, but once or twice some demonstrations of new techniques caught his interest. 

Everything that surrounded the conference was far less pleasant. However happy he had initially been to see his brother, Nie Huaisang quickly fell into an argument with Nie Mingjue when he discovered that not only had his garden been left without care, but his birds had all been released and probably died. In return, his brother had been furious to hear that Nie Huaisang had entirely dropped his practice of the sabre, and barely bothered with any sort of cultivation since his wedding. Nie Mingjue, in spite of Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen taking turn to play Cleansing for him, had turned a little more short tempered with each passing day. 

The visit intended to help his mood ended up having the opposite effect, until Nie Mingjue ended up snapping at Jin Guangyao the last evening, calling him a prostitute's son before all his guests. Jin Guangyao swallowed the infamy with a forced smile, but Nie Huaisang rose to his defence until Nie Mingjue was forced to drag him outside so they could continue that argument away from everyone. 

When Lan Wangji went to bed, his husband had not yet returned. In the morning Nie Huaisang was back, but hiding under a blanket as he announced that he refused to appear before his brother until he obtained excuses. Knowing how unlikely that was, Lan Wangji left the room they shared and headed out of the Unclean Realm, toward Qinghe. 

With both Nie Huaisang and Nie Mingjue so cross at one another, it was unlikely that they would be staying the few extra days they had initially planned, so if he wanted to return with presents for A-Yuan, he had to buy them that day. He had considered asking Nie Huaisang to come with him, but quickly decided against it. He did not want to deal with his husband's complaining. 

After several days of being surrounded with tension, that morning in Qinghe was a blessing. Lan Wangji enjoyed being away from all that anger, and mildly regretted not taking Nie Huaisang with him after all. It might have distracted him from that argument, and they could have looked together for that toy maker Nie Huaisang had mentioned. 

In the early afternoon, Lan Wangji returned to the Unclean Realm, satisfied with his visit of Qinghe. He had found some sweet looking pastries that should survive the return trip to Gusu, as well as a beautiful little porcelain rabbit. He had also, on an impulse, bought a porcelain bird for Nie Huaisang. It would not compensate for the pets he had lost, but hopefully the gesture would still be appreciated. 

The first sign that something was wrong was the absence of anyone guarding the door to the Unclean Realm when Lan Wangji arrived.

The second was the agitation as he stepped into the courtyard, servants running around with buckets of water, desperately trying to wash the floor, a few of them crying.

The third was the stink of blood, several red stains on grey stone, as if multiple people had been attacked and wounded.

The fourth and final sign of a problem was the sight of Jin Guangyao giving orders to the servant, pale as a sheet, his hands trembling, no smile on his face.

Jin Guangyao who cried in relief when he spotted Lan Wangji, and all but ran to him, his usually calm face distorted in anguish.

“Second Master Lan, at last! There’s been… you must go to the sect leader’s house. There has been an incident and your husband is wounded. Your brother is with him, but you would do well to quickly join them.”

“What happened?”

Jin Guangyao hesitated, his eyes darting anxiously toward the blood stained stones. He was shaking so badly that Lan Wangji wondered if he too had been wounded in that incident.

“Sect Leader Nie had a Qi deviation earlier,” Jin Guangyao whispered, leaning toward him. “He did not survive it. I fear Huaisang will need your support.”