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flautistsandpeonies · 2 years

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State of Decline

Read My Sort of Prompt [Here]

Tags: JC Canon Characteristics, JC Canon Homophobia, JC Canon Misogyny, Not for Madam Yu Fans, Madam Yu Canon Characteristics, Original Characters, Post-Canon, Non Linear Narrative, Canon Typical Misogyny

Word Length: 8,931

Time to Read: 48 Minutes

Summary: The Jiang ancestors watch over their descendant, Jiang Wanyin, and give their commentary on the path their sect has been lead down.

Where had all the children gone?

He remembered in the first years after the founding of Lotus Pier- and all the years after that- how all the civilian children had flooded in from the docks, tearing away from their mothers’ and fathers’ watchful eyes to gape in awe at their purple clad disciples, at their swift sword techniques and movements no less agile than a fish. How some worked up the courage to even run up and get in line with the younger disciples and find out in delight that the senior on duty wouldn’t bark at them to go away, but simply laughed and welcomed them to copy the training to their hearts’ content.

Instead, as his dead eyes roamed over the cold, grey stones of the training ground, Jiang Chi only saw tight-lipped seniors who sneered at minor mistakes, who glared and growled demands, and mocked pleas for assistance. Civilians who braved the outskirts of the gates peddling their simple wares and produce along the docks didn’t allow their children anywhere near the dark brown, lacquered wood of the sect’s entrance.

It was different now. Without the shouts of happiness. Without the disciples dancing from rooftop to rooftop and splashing around in the water. Without the camaraderie between civilians and cultivators.

This…this was not his Lotus Pier.

“a-Die," a familiar voice said with overwhelming discontent.

Jiang Chi turned and saw his heir, Jiang Bao, watching the new head disciple of the sect conduct this morning’s training with poison in his eyes.

Du Lin was a man of broad stature. His brunette was hair tied into a high ponytail held in place with a dark purple ribbon cut short to the nape of his neck. His robes were mostly black with only his belt and his arm guards sharing the dark purple accents of his hair ribbon. His yellow eyes roamed the courtyard like snake weaving through the high grasses in search of prey.

“Bai Jing!" the man snarled at a junior who missed his target again. “Stop playing around and aim correctly!”

The junior disciple flinched. Taking in a deep breath, they replied, “Yes, shixiong!" before aiming again.

Bai Jing’s aim was off and his stance was sloppy, though Jiang Chi wouldn’t blame him. The poor boy had been up for hours last night kneeling in the ancestral hall for messing up his sword stance the day before and knocking over a few of his martial brothers.

Du Lin noticed the boy’s wobbly stature and shook his head, muttering a quick “ridiculous” before strutting over to fix the junior’s stance.

“Are you so dim-witted that you can’t even stand straight?!“ The man grabbed at the young one’s leg and yanked it into place.

“No, shixiong. This one is sorry," Bai Jing said in a light voice and grimaced when his limb was finally released.

“I don’t want a sorry; I want you to do something right for once." This time Du Lin glared. “Do I need to talk to Jiang-Zongzhu about your incompetence? Maybe a few weeks cleaning the stables will fix your arms.”

The boy’s eyes widened in fear and he shook his head rapidly. “No, shixiong, I’ll do better!“ and did his best to steady his now trembling arms.

Du Lin scoffed at Bai Jing's ashen face before rounding on their shidi. "Well? Are you here to watch, or are you here to train? Get with it!”

“Yes, shixiong!" the rest of the juniors replied, hurriedly raising their bows.

Jiang Bao let off a couple curses when the head disciple walked through them. Jiang Chi decided not to scold them.

In the eyes of his sect leader, Du Lin was the perfect subordinate. He didn’t complain and did everything that was asked of him. He was competent enough to handle matters of importance to the sect when the leader could not, but he wasn’t strong or intelligent enough to out-do the sect leader.

In the eyes of the founder, he was nothing but a bully, one who used what little rapport he had to lord over those of lower rank than him.

Jiang Chi remembered the day Jiang Wanyin made him the new head disciple. The man's harsh voice had echoed through his mind as well as the throne room.

“I expect you to be loyal to me, to me and Lotus Pier only. You will listen only to my orders. You will not run off and shame this sect with frivolous actions. You will not endanger this sect with acts of meaningless heroics. Am I understood?” Jiang Wanyin said from his chair gilded with and eched with koi jumping over blooming lotuses.

“Yes, Jiang-Zongzhu, “Du Lin replied immediately, bowing so lowly his forehead brushed against Wanyin's boots. “This one is grateful for this honor.”

It wasn’t the usual way that the Jiang rewarded their top disciple. It was normally a celebration filled with wine and good food. The previous head disciple would hand down the waist ornament denoting the status of head disciple and shared a jar of pomegranate wine and a plate of lotus seed paste cakes before the former stepped down and current took their place beside the sect leader.

Although, he supposes Jiang Wanyin never witnessed such a celebration. When the previous head disciple was appointed he was given neither a celebration nor the waist ornament in order for the madam to not throw a childish fit.

But still, the scene reminded him more of a master and a servant than a sect leader and his greatest disciple.

“He’s an incompetent fool," Jiang Bao growled as Du Lin barked at another junior.

“I agree," Jiang Chi muttered before narrowing his eyes. “But he’s the best option they have.”

Jiang Bao shook his head and huffed but did not refute his father.

If one was to evaluate all of the senior disciples of the YunmengJiang Sect, Du Lin was the best the they had to offer, unfortunately.

There weren’t as many disciples as there should have been in a great sect for one to be picky. There were some seniors, people who had joined during the Sunshot Campaign and stayed after the death of the Yiling Patriarch, that much was true, but they were weaker in strength and cultivation due to many having only joined and honed their skills later in their teens and young adulthood.

The number of children looking to join the YunmengJiang Sect was even less than what one would see in a minor sect, let alone one of the great few. Even now, Jiang Chi could only count seventy-five children on the training grounds when it should have been in the hundreds.

When had the numbers started dwindling? Well, they had been getting smaller for a long time now. People who were once pulled to the sect for its history, beauty, and strength fled at the sight of an unhinged leader. The more the sect leader displayed himself as a rabid dog to the people, the more people feared sending their children into their domain. The less night-hunting was done in the Yunmeng area the more civilians sought other ways to help fix their problems.

It was all…very unpleasant to say the least.

“He will be the end of us," Jiang Bao nearly shouted his fury, no longer speaking of Du Lin. “Our legacy will be one of shame!”

To that, Jiang Chi could only bow his head. “That may be so.”

Jiang Fengmian remembered the day that he died.

He had been frustrated, frustrated in a way that he’d never been before with his wife. It was like he couldn’t escape her anger for even a second. She’d chase him all around the sect just to start the same eight year old argument over and over again. He just couldn’t take it.

He knew that it was extremely unlikely that Wen Ruohan would return the disciple’s swords, knew that it was a possibility that he could have been walking into a battle that he’d never return home from. Perhaps a part of him welcomed a quick death at the hands of the Wen Sect Leader instead of a slow agonizing one by his wife’s barbs.

He should have known something was a miss when the Wen Sect Leader invited him in for tea. Should have known that through his glowing red eyes and sharp smirk that there was a battalion sailing towards his Lotus Pier.

That was his mistake, for not being better prepared for the inevitable.

He remembered the boys, finding them tied together on that boat out in the middle of the lake. a-Cheng had been an emotional wreck, face red and veins sticking out of his neck as he cried for his mother. Wei Ying had been somber, waiting and calculating with his fists clenched at his sides.

He remembered saying goodbye to a-Cheng. He remembered his last order to Wei Ying.

Everything should have been fine. The three of them should have been fine.

He remembered when he awoke in the refurnished ancestral hall. To his surprise, his father stood over him with a pinched expression; his mother had been running her hands through his hair.

“Fengmian,“ she had whispered into his ear, “I’m so sorry, my love.”

And then, to his astonishment, a man he never should have met knelt before him.

“Jiang Fengmian,“ he said with a piercing glance, “I am Jiang Chi.”

He hadn’t needed to say much more.

As he gathered his bearings, he noticed that many more people were inside the hall. Grandfathers, aunt, uncles, cousins, and the like all stood around the brightly lit hall. Some looked at him with glares, some looked at him with pity, and some didn’t look at him at all.

“Fengmian?“ a familiar voice said.

Kneeling in the corner of the hall was his wife as she looked around the room with suspicion.

“Where is this? “she said, “What is going on?”

And then began their everyday, watching over the three that survived.

a-Cheng took to being sect leader with far less grace than he could have hoped for. He was like his mother in the way that he spoke to people, harsh words rolling off his tongue trying to cow merchants and cultivators alike. His dedication to the financials was far more spend-thrifty than he realized the boy was capable of as he had perfectly fine buildings torn down to rebuild new grander ones that reminded him of some of the pavilions in Koi Tower, only they were furnished with purples, pinks, and lilacs instead of an overwhelming gold. And his dedication to the protection of the Yunmeng region was frighteningly lacking.

Wei Ying’s life was still the same in some ways, yet also different. He was still head disciple, still stuck to his duties teaching the new recruits, and in some ways it was easier now that his wife was dead; he didn’t have to worry about being whipped. But there was something off about his former ward now, something cold and dark that danced up his ankles and whispered in his ears if he got too close.

And a-Li’s life hadn’t changed much in the long run. She still did as she wished as the heiress to the clan, waiting for the day she would be married off. The only difference is the people around her were mostly strangers.

The days went by relatively slow after the war ended, and Fengmian was slowly getting used to talking to his father and mother again. He was getting used to his son and daughter walking straight through him without their noticing.

And then things changed again.

a-Cheng had come back with blood on his blade declaring that Wei WuXian was a traitor to their sect, that he had taken up with the remnants of Wen Ruohan’s forces. a-Li had cried for his absence, spent days questioning a-Cheng as he told her the same story over and over again. The once relative peace of the sect turned within weeks.

Without his ward there, it was up to a-Cheng to train the disciples. And watching him take up the teaching was like seeing his wife after one of her returns from a night hunt.

“You call that stance impressive? A child could accomplish that!”

“A break? We’ve barely begun, and you want a break? One hundred laps around the pier, and then we’ll talk about a break.”

“It’s just a sprained wrist, it’s not like it’s been cut off! Stop whining and get back in line!”

Each new day brought more changes.

And then.

“To Jiang-Zongzhu!“ shouted a senior disciple raising his cup of wine high

“To Jiang-Zongzhu!“ the rest of the disciples in the hall cheered

“For slaying the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian!”

a-Li died.

Wei Ying died.

And a-Cheng became even worse.

The first time Jiang Wanyin dragged someone to Lotus Pier, Chen Lan retched at the torturous display before curling into her husband’s arm and weeping.

The sight of blood soaking into the grounds of the front entrance would haunt her for years, but not as much as the screams of the victims.

“I’m not Wei Wuxian! I’m not him! I’m-”

“Please stop! Someone, anyone, let me go! Let me-”

“a-Niang! a-Die! Someone help me! Hel-”

“You son of a bitch! Villain! Let me-”

It was all so horrific. Even more so that the disciples watched on without even flinching, and then going on with their training while the flayed body lay rotting the hot sun until the servants finished their duties to finally throw it onto a bon fire and scatter the ashes in the lotus lakes.

And then it happened again.

And again.

It didn’t matter who it was. Man or woman, young or old, civilian or cultivator, they all went under Zidian’s lightning lashes until she could see their spines protruding from their flayed flesh.

And the look on Jiang WanYin’s face. A crazed look of discontent, of irritation, that he hadn’t caught his prey yet. That he hadn’t yet received the screams of anguish that he craved from just one man.

After each murder, she would sit inside the ancestral hall shaking in her husband’s comforting arms as they tried to recover from the sight they beheld.

She managed to calm herself for a time, but the dead faces of her descendant’s victims were forever burned into her memory.

Her husband had a different reaction, and reasonably so. It enraged him to see Zidian, the weapon that he’d crafted, being used to torture the living instead of dispelling spirits.

“Villainous wench!" he screamed at Yu Ziyuan after the tenth victims ashes were scattered, “Look at what you’ve caused! Look at how you’ve tainted our bloodline!”

“You blame my a-Cheng for trying to find our murderer? He’s trying to destroy Wei Wuxian’s soul; Zidian is the perfect tool for that!“ Ziyuan was unrepentant as always, standing tall in front of the sect leader’s bedroom.

“Wei Wuxian didn’t strike you down you ignorant fool!“ Cheng Lei spat acid from beside her own husband

Wei Wuxian. The perfect excuse. The usual excuse.

She remembered the boy. With how many times Yu Ziyuan threw him inside the hall to kneel, she could probably make a portrait of him from memory.

In the past, she had sometimes found herself pitying Yu Ziyuan. A woman so consumed in her anger and jealously that she’d flay the skin of an innocent child, that she’d target him for infantile reasons at any chance she got.

That pity had long since dissipated.

It was awful that Jiang Wanyin had fallen into the same line as her, but this time the lash of Zidian struck anyone and not just a singular target.

There would be no pity for him either.

“I can only dread that the karma that will befall him will destroy what is left of our home and legacy,“ she said into her husband’s breast after they witnessed the execution of a fifteen year old boy

Her prayers had been answered after thirteen years and hundreds of dead ashes fertilizing the lake beds when the torturing had finally stopped. But, by then, Chen Lan also knew that it was too late to mitigate the damage.

She stood in the front entrance of the sect, running her hands along the newly polished wooden gates, watching as a merchant on the other end of the docks sold meat pies to a couple of farmers taking a break. She couldn’t bare to look down at the ground, however. She was too terrified to stare at the grey stones. What was once filled her mind with thoughts of laughter and cajoling merchants sticking their heads through the wooden doors would forever turn her mind to a bloody execution block, piled high with the heads of the dead.

She would never look at Zidian the same again, either. The ring that once adorned her husband’s finger, the hand that used to caress her face so gently, stained with the blood of innocents. The ring that could exterminate hundreds of walking corpses used to kill harmless farmers.

Her home, Lotus Pier, a den of anger and death.

It truly was ruined.

“Jiang-Zongzhu, a farmer requests your presence,“ a servant said as they bowed deeply in front of the throne.

“Name?“ Jiang Wanyin raised his brow

“His name is Feng Kun,“ the servant replied, still bowed.

“Never heard of him,“ Jiang Wanyin narrowed his eyes.

“He is not one of the owners of the lotus lakes, Zongzhu,“ the servant said, “He seems to be a potato farmer, he and his wife.”

Jiang Wanyin scoffed, “And what seems to be their problem?”

The servant finally stood. “They said that a group of walking corpses have infested their farm lands and attacked some of the people.”

“Any deaths?“ Wanyin rested his fist on the side of his head.

“No, no deaths, Zongzhu, “the servant continued, “They say that the villagers, however, are too afraid to work, in fear of dying.”

Jiang Wanyin scoffed, “If no one’s died then it’s not really a problem. They’re walking corpses, sooner or later they’ll wander off, not something I have to deal with.”

“Yes, Zongzhu,“ the servant bowed once again. “I’ll relay this to the disciples on guard duty to tell them to leave.”

“Do that,“ Jiang WanYin waved his hand for them to leave, “I have other things to attend to.”

The servant hurriedly left the room and ran back to the entrance where the villagers and guards where waiting. They told the main guard their sect leader’s order before hurrying off.

“What?!“ Feng Kun gasped as the servant scurried off. “How can you not help us?!”

“It’s a simple matter that will resolve itself,“ the Jiang disciple crossed their arms, “It’s best if you leave before you get Jiang-Zongzhu in a bad mood.”

“Simple matter? Our lively hoods are at stake,“ the farmer grasped onto the disciple’s lapels, “You have to help us!”

The disciple pushed the man away, making him stumble back on his feet. “We don’t have to seek out every case; its ridiculous to think we could. There are people out there who are having it worse than you, and you don’t see them crying. Furthermore, you aren’t a priority.”

“Priority!“ the man was finally enraged, “We supply food to parts of this region!”

“Yet you are a no name farmer,“ the disciple’s eyes narrowed. “Do you own one of the lotus lakes? Do you supply YunmengJiang with your produce, I think not.”

Feng Kun sputtered at the disciples flippant answer. Then, with a wail, the wife of the farmer fell to her knees, grabbing on the hems of the disciple’s robes.

“Please, we beg you, please help us!“ she cried. “We will starve. Our village, our children, will die out!”

“You can’t do this!“ Feng Kun hollered, garnering the attention of some of the vendors nearby

Hearing the civilians wail on and on, the disciples started to become irritated themselves. Hands on their swords, they began to shout,

“Alright, enough of you! Get lost before I throw you out!”

Jiang Sheng would be a fool to blame this disintegration solely on Jiang Fengmian’s shoulders.

While his great-great-great-grandson was passive, lacking the exuberant, loud pride of most Jiang heirs, he wasn’t the reason why the clan and sect was in the state it was.

No, the problems could be traced back to three generations of sect leaders, Jiang Fa, Jiang Han, and Jiang He.

Jiang Fa and Jiang Han had strayed far from Jiang Chi’s teaching, one of them trying to replicate Wen Mao of all people, and often picking and choosing which of the sects value's should be taught to their disciples, uncaring of the strife it caused between older and younger disciples.

Their reigns were embarrassing blights on their lineage, and the founder wasted no time in telling the two of them this every time their descendants disgraced them with their actions.

Jiang He was no better than either of them, simply carrying their faulty ways into his leadership. How the man could get it into his head that he was still acting within the clan’s core values while forcing his son to marry one who he didn’t have even a single thought in common with was beyond him.

Speaking of wives.

Yu Ziyuan was the black sheep of the ancestral hall. Most of the previous madams made great strides to stay away from her, even merging into one another so that their spiritual forms would not even brush against her’s.

It was…the only punishment they could give her other than pretending like she didn’t exist.

Most days, Yu Ziyuan followed around her son, her expression either tight lipped or in her habitual sneer. Sometimes he even saw her nodding in approval in the way he treated the remaining merchants- what once numbered hundreds of boats lining the docks, he now only saw tens- or in the way he talked down to the disciples and cursed the name of the former head disciple.

“Just who does that peasant think he is, thinking he can demand anything of the Jiang Sect Leader?“ Ziyuan scoffed at the man on his knees, “I bet this so called water ghoul isn’t even real!”

“Vain wench, how dare she just leave!“ Yu Ziyuan screamed as the heiress to JianglingChen got up and left the room after Jiang Wanyin had told her her eyes and forehead were too wide.

“Look Fengmian, look! You spent all your time favoring that son of a servant, yet look how well a-Cheng in doing. Don’t you feel ashamed after disparaging him for so long,“ she said right after the man spent more of their treasury on tearing down and building a bigger pavilion.

The woman was exhausting; he couldn’t of imagined being married to her. He would have rather drank strychnine.

Sometimes Jiang Sheng wished that he wasn’t dragged underneath the waters by that snake yao. Had his core permitted, he would have stood with Fengmian against his father against such an obvious incompatible match.

“Grandfather,“ looking up Jiang Sheng saw Jiang Fengmian walking up to him.

“Fengmian,“ he nodded, “Are you in need of anything?”

“No,“ the previous Jiang Sect Leader shook his head, “I simply came for silence but saw you here. Apologies for interrupting you.”

Jiang Sheng waved his hand around, “You were not interrupting me. Sit. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

With a quick “thank you”, Fengmian sat to the right of his great-great-great-grandfather. The man did not speak right away, looking to be finding his words before he let out a deep weary sigh.

“a-Cheng has been blacklisted by another matchmaker. I saw him burn the letter in the office,“ Fengmian says in a light tone.

‘Ah,‘ Jiang Sheng thought with furrowed brows, ‘I see.’

It was the second greatest problem that they faced. With Jiang Wanyin being the last of their blood, he needed to have an heir for the Jiang to have a chance of continuing on into the future. But, the man being the way he was, it was almost impossible to get a woman within speaking distance of him, let alone keep one close enough for him to court. And those who did come close didn’t pass the man’s ridiculous standards and were driven off.

It was enough to depress any of the ancestors. To think, that their line would cease to be because you didn’t like that your wife didn’t look like the empress and wanted to plant magnolias in her personal gardens.

“Is there a woman he’s been interested in courting?“ Jiang Sheng questioned though he felt he already knew the answer.

“Not that I can see. The last time he looked to be thinking of marriage was when he got the invitation the Lan Sect Leader’s heir’s one month celebration,“ Fengmian shook his head.

“I see,“ Jiang Sheng lowered his head in disappointment.

Jiang Fengmian rested his head on the back of his head while his grandfather contemplated, stroking his chin.

After a while Jiang Sheng spoke, “I wish that I could say that he could marry one of the female disciples,“ and Jiang Fengmian grimaced, “...Had there been any left.”

It was an uncomfortable truth. There wasn’t a single female disciple left in Lotus Pier now. There was once a considerable number of women joining the lines with the men, dancing their way through swaths of water ghouls and the ever present yao, but, over the years, they had trickled out of the gates along with the sect leader’s reputation.

Why had they all left? Well…

“If you can’t figure out this simple sword form, you’re better off working in the kitchens!“ to a woman in her twenties.

“You call that a prize? I’ve seen juniors come back with larger prey,“ one of senior disciples who was injured saving her shidi on a night-hunt.

“Temporary leave? If you can’t train and night-hunt when I need you to then you shouldn’t have had children to begin with!“ to a new mother of two.

With a sect leader who couldn’t bear to give the smallest amounts of respect to you because of your gender, for what reason did you have to stay? Especially when there were two other great sects that would welcome them with open arms and at least semi-respect.

The only women left in Lotus Pier were servants, and there was a zero percent chance that his great-great-great-great-grandson would ever resign himself to marrying one of them and up her status. Jiang Sheng thought that the man would rather slit his own throat than do that, even if she did meet all his requirements.

“We can only pray to the heavens that a women who can tolerate him will come,“ Jiang Sheng declared

Covering his face with his head, Jiang Fengmian once again let out a weary breath.

"We can only hope.”

...

Jiang Dong felt as if he was drowning in anger every single day.

Just what had become of his great line?

When he was sect leader, he had made sure that every single one of his disciples, especially his sons and daughters, were living up to the precedent that his great-great-grandfather had founded. But, to think that generations down the line, all his hard work would be for nothing!

Jiang He had reared a boy so passive he let a woman walk all over him. It was a disgrace- he couldn’t help but scoff every time he saw Fengmian- that he let a woman from a minor sect lord over everything in his domain; a simple slap to the face should have sufficed to end all of her nonsense.

And then Fengmian’s children were somehow even worse!

The firstborn should have been enough evidence that the current madam was unfit for her position, bearing a child so feeble she could become winded from walking! Never in the history of their sect had a Jiang heir have any sort of disability, but the minute that vile wench forced her way into the heir’s bed an unhealthy brood was born. The girl was a terrible cultivator, unable to even wield a sword; her only use was to become breeding stock for a marriage alliance down the line, but she was even terrible at that! Taking over a year to conceive a single child- and with a Jin at that- was she good at anything at all?

And then the true heir, heavens please intervene. Jiang Dong would have rather slain his own child then let that embarrassment take up the throne. An average cultivator that had poor leadership skills and no charisma what-so-ever. A failure that couldn’t even out do a servant’s son!

As Jiang Dong walked around the throne room, he clicked his tongue at every new change that Jiang Wanyin had made to the building. The throne room was one of the buildings that had been torn down and rebuilt. Now grander than before, the lilac and violet silks hanging from the walls moved about like waves in the sea. Pristine blades hung from the walls, large porcelain vases sat in every corner, and not a single plaque denoting the sect’s ambitions and motto was in sight.

Jiang Dong scoffed once more.

“To think this imbecile is to be our legacy. Pathetic!”

...

He wondered if these next couple of weeks would end in disaster.

It was time for the annual discussion conference, and it was the YunmengJiang’s turn to host it. Being the closest major sect to the southern region, it was inevitable that the GusuLan Sect would be one of the first guests in attendance.

To be honest, the Jiang Sect didn’t have the resources to be hosting the cultivation world at this moment. As Jiang Fengmian looked around to servants pulling carts this way and that to prepare and decorate the discussion hall, he also thinks about how more than half their coffers went into buying the food to feed all the people who would be attending.

The state of their treasury was abysmal to say the least. In the present years, civilians had started to refuse to pay the sect taxes in response to the lack of care given to their lands. They now sought out different means to protect themselves and their families.

“Welcome to Lotus Pier,“ Du Lin gave a bow to the Lan Sect Leader, “I’ll go retrieve Jiang-Zongzhu. I’m sure he wishes to speak with you.”

Standing in the gates were the six members of the main family. In the middle were the Twin Jades of Lan, and on either side of them were their respective spouses, each carrying a slumbering infant in their arms. Behind them was a young man and Lan Qiren. Ready and waiting to enter behind the family were the chosen disciples for the competition next week.

Surprisingly, Wei Wuxian fit well into the Lan contingent.

Jiang Fengmian had never seen Wei WuXian in any ostentatious clothing to denote his status in the sect, having only been allowed to wear the most basic of silks. Now, however, as the spouse to the Second Jade of Lan, his status was very clear.

The Light Bearing Lord had outdone himself and gotten his husband robes spun of spider silk; part of Jiang Fengmian found himself wincing as he thought how the set of robes could afford new robes for all the juniors combined. The innermost robe had been dyed a dark grey to accentuate the man’s shimmering silver eyes, the second a stark white with black lining the neck and neckline, and the outer robe was a deep black with white along the hems and lapels; the brocade a blood red and white as spider lilies were splayed along the sleeves. On his belt were two carved jade pendants, one a peony and the other a magnolia, and two tokens, one denoting him a member of the main family and the other denoting him a teacher of the sect.

He looked so serene, a smile painted on his face while he talked to the young man beside Lan Qiren. The infant in his arms yawned and wiggled, and he shuffled the child to make sure she was still comfortable.

“A whore just like his mother,“ a growl not unlike a dogs sounded behind him.

Turning his head, Jiang Fengmian saw his wife glaring at their former head disciple like she wanted to rip his face off with her bare hands.

He did his best to block her out.

“Look at him, those two vermin of his look nothing alike and he’s trying to pass them off as Lans, ridiculous! And to think that Lan Qiren is putting up with him, that harlot must’ve done something to his tea,“ Yu Ziyuan griped, narrowing her eyes further.

As far as Jiang Fengmian knew, Wei Wuxian wasn’t a man that could give birth to children, but he did know that his wife was getting into one of her usual states when it came to Wei Changze’s son.

“Lan-Zongzhu,“ soon, Fengmian’s son was unknowingly right beside his mother as he clasped his hand together to greet the entourage.

Compared to the fresh spun silks of the Lan contingent, Jiang Wanyin looked quite destitute. If one were to look at him closely, they would notice that his robes were older and dingier from what one would normally wear to these type of events. The lack of funds had forced him to hold back on some of his usual expenditures.

“Jiang-Zongzhu,“ Lan Xichen returned the greeting. “Thank you for your invitation.”

“No, the honor is all mine, Zewu-jun,“ the tone of his voice was sarcastic.

From what Jiang Fengmian remembered, his son was never fond of the Lans, probably even hated them since he once wished Wei Wuxian had left Lan Wangji to die in Xuanwu Cave.

“We look forward to this years conference. I believe there’s been an increase in water ghouls and frog yao in the past few years?“ Lan XiChen spoke, not rising to the disrespect.

“Yes, I’m sure there will be many prey for the disciples to enjoy hunting, “Wanyin’s fists clenched at his sides, “I’m sure you're tired from your journey, I’ll let you get to your rooms to rest.”

Pleasantries over, servants were directed to take the Lan to their rooms. As they passed through the gates, it was another inevitability that Jiang Wanyin’s eyes would shift to Wei Wuxian. Sandu Shengshou’s glare pierced the man’s back along with his mother’s dagger-like gaze as they both thought of setting the man’s fine robes on fire with him still wearing them.

“Wei Wuxian, “the man grunted more than greeted.

Wei Wuxian blinked, turning from talking with the young man to turn to him, “Jiang-Zongzhu.”

The air around his son was tense, like something was ready to snap and lash out. The air around his former ward was pleasant and easy, like nothing was wrong in the world.

“Enjoying the life of a house husband,“ Jiang WanYin sneered, “I see you’ve found yet another child off the streets.”

Lan Wangji wrapped an arm around his husband’s waist and glared while Wei Wuxian only smiled and replied, “Yes, I am enjoying my current life; I’m glad Jiang-Zongzhu noticed. Have a good day; we’ll see you tomorrow at the conference.”

With that, the men turned and left, not letting Jiang Wanyin utter another word. Jiang Fengmian saw lightning strikes in his son’s eyes.

“That bastard!“ Yu Ziyuan snarled. “How dare he disrespect the owner of the house!”

“Wei Wuxian,“ Jiang Wanyin growled underneath his breath, “Just who do you think you are?”

As if sensing the animosity from the Jiang Sect Leader, some of the Lan disciples moved and blocked Wei Wuxian from the man’s line of sight as they walked away.

Mother and son stood in the entrance of the sect as the Lan contingent disappeared from their view. Both Ziyuan and Wanyin were fuming, steaming rising out of their ears.

“You think you can just walk into Lotus Pier whenever you please? You think you have the right to talk to me like that because you spread your legs for the Second Jade, “Wanyin’s eyes were turning red, “No matter what, you’ll still be a son of a servant.”

“Unruly whore, uncontrollable parasite sucking the life out of everything he touches,“ Ziyuan spat, “I should have taken his arm off when I had the chance!”

The two looked ready to begin a tirade against the departed man. Jiang Fengmian had been privy to many a verbal onslaughts against his friend’s child when he was still alive, and he still had to hear some now that he was dead.

As his wife stomped her foot against the ground and his son crossed his arms and sucked in a harsh breath, Fengmian did what he couldn’t do when he was still alive.

He walked away, straight out of Lotus Piers gates.

“Jiang Fengmian,“ Yu ZiYuan shouted after him, “Just where do you think you’re going?”

He kept walking for three weeks.

When he finally returned, the first thing he noticed was the acidic atmosphere among his ancestors, and even his wife seemed to be a bit despondent. The sect itself was even quieter than normal as he watched the servants and disciples tip toe around on egg shells like they were trying to avoid a particularly viscous, and easily rattled dog. When he arrived at the ancestral hall, his father was waiting for him at the doors gripping at his fan so tight it would snap if either of them were corporeal.

“Fengmian,“ Jiang He said with tight lips and pinched eyes.

“Hello, a-die,“ Fengmian nodded, “What’s happened now?”

“Do to “negligence”,“ the man was putting it lightly, “the Jiang will now be forced to give up some of our lands to our subsidiary sects to mitigate some of the damage from the lack of night-hunting.”

Had he been alive, he would have gotten a migraine.

Jiang Fengmian fell against the wall, slid down to the recently scrubbed floors, and let out an exhausted breath. “I see.”

...

Sometimes, Jiang Zhu almost wishes that Jiang Fengmian had cheated on Yu Ziyuan.

He wouldn’t have blamed him. Anyone could have taken a single glance at Cangse Sanren and realized that the women had insurmountable power underneath her slender form. It was a pity that Fengmian had only wanted to be her friend. She could have sired such powerful children.

Children like Wei Wuxian.

The thought of the sect’s former head disciple had him shaking his head.

What a loss.

To Jiang Zhu, Wei Wuxian was the Jiang heir in spirit. He understood the sect motto and carried himself exceptionally as both a man and a cultivator. Had he been alive when the boy was within the sect he would have argued for adopting the child into the clan.

The boy had been nine when Jiang Fengmian found him, far too old for him to be able to become anything other than a low level cultivator.

And yet he had overcome.

He had to learn how to read, how to write, how to count, how to play an instrument, how to do everything that was expected of a young master. He was behind all of his peers by years in terms of health and ability, and yet he had overcome all of them and became the head disciple.

He was type of boy that would make any father swoon in delight.

And yet he was treated worse than a horse by a shitty handler and then thrown away when it’s coat didn’t look shiny enough to the other riders.

“I can’t help but wonder what sort of tutors one has to have to when they have their own children, they teach them that stronger subordinates are a threat to them instead of an asset?“ Jiang Zhu said into the usual dead silence of the ancestral hall.

Everyone knows who he’s talking about, and who he’s talking to, and he watches in amusement as Yu Ziyuan’s face turns bright red, as if a wasp stung her pale cheeks.

“You!“ the woman grits her perfect teeth, baring them like a hound dog, “How dare you insult the teachings of MeishanYu!”

Yu Ziyuan stomped forward, her incorporeal robes swishing around her.

“My MeishanYu sect has raised some of the best cultivators of the centuries! We long held our own with the great sects,“ Ziyuan crowd, “To insult them like this, is your respect towards your allies so little Jiang Zhu?!”

“Your MeishanYu sect?“ Jiang Zhu feels his wife, Cheng Lei, saunter up next to him, her lips curved into a sharp sneer, “Are you still of MeishanYu after all this time?”

Had the two women been alive, they would have crossed blades by now.

Cheng Lei and Yu Ziyuan had never gotten along from the moment they laid their dead eyes upon one another. Both women were head strong with domineering personalities; it wasn’t really a wonder why they would clash at almost every opportunity.

Cheng Lei, like most women from the minor sects who were fortunate enough to get married to a sect leader of a great sect, took her position very importantly and personally. The way that the last madam had left her mark on YunmengJiang had never ceased to incense the woman.

“”My MeishanYu Sect” she says,“ Cheng Lei laughed harshly into the cold room, “Tell me, Ziyuan, are you actually Yu Zongzhu’s wife instead of Fengmian’s?”

The sect leader of MeishanYu before Jiang Fengmian’s and Yu ZiYuan’s marriage was obviously the woman’s father; the sect leader after that would be her elder brother. Their wives would obviously be the madam of the sect, the Madam Yu.

The Violet Spider balked at the insinuation, “Watch your tongue, Cheng Lei!”

Cheng Lei laughed again and soon found her husband’s arm around her waist, “Listen to her husband. The woman who speaks falsities every other sentence is telling me to hold my tongue!”

“She believes she’s looking into a mirror, my dear, but she couldn’t be farther from the truth,“ Jiang Zhu mocked

“You two-,“ Ziyuan let out a growl, “is your grievance with me that I didn’t rule the sect the same way you did? Should every madam of YunmengJiang follow in your footsteps Cheng Lei?”

At her words, Jiang Zhu’s eyes narrowed.

Cheng Lei’s voice was like ice, “You pitiable fool, you don’t understand anything do you?” She turned up her nose. “You call yourself a madam of Lotus Pier yet you’re still sucking from the bosom of your natal sect.”

Ziyuan scoffed. “Am I to cease all relations with my blood relatives? Pretend they don’t exist?”

“You’re twisting words again Ziyuan, and I won’t stand for it! When a woman leaves her natal sect she’s expected to manage her new home, not keep her foot in the door of the old. Do you think the TanzhouCheng would appreciate me calling myself Madam Cheng? As if I would embarrass my father like that!,“ Lei pointed a sharp manicured nail at the other woman, ”You. You wanted to be the madam of this sect, wanted it despite the fact that your betrothed didn’t. Wanted it so bad you got your father and Jiang He to force the issue.”

Ziyuan opened her mouth to retaliate, but Cheng Lei snapped back as quick as a viper.

“You forced your way into becoming the madam of Lotus Pier, but you sectioned off a pavilion and only allow servants from your dowry- people of MeishanYu- inside. You disregarded our motto and teachings every chance you got. You disrespect the man you forced to marry you. You didn’t even handle the mantle of madam, night-hunting so much that Fengmian had to take on your role along with his,“ each word was like a lash from Zidian. “You taught your child that their father didn’t love them, taught them to go against everything the sect stood for. When death was standing at our doors, you made everything fall with you instead of trying to live another day.”

Cheng Lei took a couple of seconds to compose herself, and Jiang Zhu tightened his grip on his wife’s waist.

"But yes, “Cheng Lei’s eyes had turned dark upon the other, “You are a wonderful madam of YunmengJiang…Madam Yu.”

Jiang Zhu thinks that’s what he hates about Yu Ziyuan the most. Not the fact that she forced a great sect’s heir to marry her, not the fact that she’s tainted the current ruling generation with her teaching methods, not even her arrogant, unchanging behavior.

No. It was because she played with oil and fire in the house of lotuses while singing praises about the MeishanYu Sect.

Did she think they would applaud her in the afterlife after such a display?

"You…are a curse on YunmengJiang. I rue the day you stepped upon our lands. I rue the day you conceived a Jiang child. I rue the day you were born even!“ Jiang Zhu's gaze could have shattered a soul. “You are a poison upon our family, and I am forced to sit here and watch everyday as it destroys everything that I held dear.”

Cheng Lei wraps her arms around her husband’s and they walk forward as one.

“Had I been alive, I would have never allowed you anywhere near him or our sect,“ Jiang Zhu points at Jiang Fengmian, “Had I been unable to stop the marriage, and I know the elders would have forgiven me for it, I would have struck you down to protect the clan!”

It was an ugly thing to say, and Yu Ziyuan’s face turns purple at the declaration.

“You..“ the woman looks ready to start her own tirade before something else catches her eye.

The entire Jiang line was in the ancestral hall. They all stood before her with unforgiving eyes, all stood with Jiang Zhu. Even her own husband, who had long stopped talking to her as they took their place amongst the dead, was on that side of the room.

Yu Ziyuan clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“I am no curse,“ she mutters before turning and rushing out of the room

“And yet the lotuses wilted under your leadership,“ Jiang Zhu's words trailed her through the lifeless halls.

“Jiang-Zongzhu, a letter has arrived from GusuLan,“ Du Lin said as he sifted through a pile of letters

“Read it,“ Jiang Wanyin grunted

“Yes, Zongzhu, “Du Lin cleared his throat. “The GusuLan Sect has the honor of inviting all willing participants to their new year long lecture. Aside the venerated Lan Qiren’s teaching, disciples have the opportunity to learn from our equally venerated Yiling Laozu, Wei Wuxian as he-”

“Burn it,“ Jiang Wanyin interrupted. “It’s nonsense and I don’t care for it.”

“Right away, Zongzhu,“ Du Lin tossed the letter into the nearby brazier.

Jiang Wanyin scoffed as he looked up to watch the letter burn,“ Shameless. That one always has been.”

“Indeed, Zongzhu,“ Du Lin picked up another letter. “Wei Wuxian thinks himself as a man of importance but everyone knows that if Hanguang-jun didn’t favor him no one would pay attention to him.”

Jiang Wanyin huffed at his head disciple’s words and went back to writing his own letter.

Du Lin started to read from another missive. “It’s from Fai Village, northwest of Chongyang. It seems they have a walking corpse problem. Seems they buried their bodies in a place where the coffins floated up, so the people weren’t properly put to rest.”

“Any causalities?,“ Wanyin questioned

Du Lin let out an amused snort. “It does not seem so. When will those simpletons learn? Trying to weigh us down with their meager problems,“ and they tossed letter into the brazier as well.

“You can’t expect farmers to have much intelligence,“ Jiang Wanyin mocked.

“True, but you would think they would at least have the face to not write such a letter! They’ve already convinced Chief Cultivator Nie to take some of our land, and now they want us to do more menial work for them. Absolutely shameless!,“ Du Lin continued

Jiang Wanyin was about to add in his own scathing retort when a vice tightened in his chest and he let out a harsh cough.

“Zongzhu?“ Du Lin put down the paper he was about to read and rushed to the man’s side. “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Wanyin continued to cough, hacking and pounding on his chest. Veins crawled up his neck as he strangled.

“Zongzhu,“ Du Lin was alarmed, “I’ll get a healer!”

Just as the man was about to shoot off, a rough callused hand grabbed hold of his lapels and held him fast.

Jiang Wanyin did his best to calm down from his fit. "No.”

“Zongzhu,“ Du Lin’s brows furrowed.

“It’s just a cough,“ Wanyin glared at the fussing man, “Nothing serious.”

A dying man lay before them.

Coughs racked his body, the sound of phlegm in his lungs resounded through all throughout the room.

To his right, Du Lin sat beside his bed patting his sweating forehead with a cold, wet cloth. When the man hacked up a bit of bloody mucus, the subordinate carefully cleaned it away

“I’ve sent Bai Jing to get a healer,“ Du Lin blinked his wrinkly eye lids. “Is there anything I can do for you at the moment, Zongzhu?”

Even sick and tired, Jiang Wanyin glared at the man with his red, watery eyes. “Leave me.”

Pursing his lips, Du Lin looked as if he wanted to refuse, but a ragged growl sounded before he could even reply. “Get out!”

Slowly standing, Du Lin gave his leader a deep bow. “I’ll return later with your dinner. Please, rest for now.”

As Du Lin left the room, Jiang Wanyin’s mother took his place beside her son.

“a-Cheng, “her ghostly hand ran over the man’s sickly face, “Look at what’s become of you.”

The man had grown very feeble. The sickness- a combination of a heart demon and a passing plague said the healer- had eaten away at him. His hair had grown white as snow, his nails turned brittle, his teeth yellowed, and the fat on his body burned away. He looked no different from one of the elderly farmers toiling away in the boats along the lotus lakes.

Jiang Chi was not in the room with the clan. As there was no blood heir to succeed after Wanyin, the man was in the throne room listening to the eldest disciples plans after his passing.

Jiang Bao, Jiang Dong, Chen Lan, Cheng Lei, and Jiang Zhu had refused to leave the ancestral hall, simply wanting a day of peace.

Everyone else watched as their last descendant breathed his last breaths.

“It’s cold,“ Jiang Wanyin grunted in discomfort, “Window?”

Du Lin had opened the window yesterday to let his sect leader cool down from his high fever, and had forgotten to close it before he left. Now, the early spring chill was turning the man’s bones to ice.

“Damn window,“ the Jiang Sect Leader grunted again, “So damn tired.”

As Jiang Wanyin turned to face away from the window, his irises slowly dimmed, his life forces seeping out of him as his breaths started to become weaker and weaker.

He lay there quietly for hours until the sun, once bright and high in the pale blue sky, was a deep orange spot along the purpleing horizon.

The specters in the room watched the uneven rise and falls of his chest.

“a-Niang,“ the man suddenly muttered, grasping their attention

“I’m here,“ Yu Ziyuan said immediately, despite the man's inability to hear her. She sat on his bed, resting her other hand on his quivering heart.

“a-Die,“ Jiang Wanyin coughed hard, his chest rattling

“I’m here, a-Cheng,“ Fengmian said from the door, hand on termite eaten frame.

“a-Jie,“ he called a little louder.

She wasn’t there. Whereever her soul hand ended up, whether she'd reincarnated or rested within the gem laden ancestral halls of the Jin Clan, she'd never arrive to see her didi's last words.

Jiang Wanyin took a deep breath, as if every word spoken was like climbing a mountain.

“Wei….Wei WuXian,“ he then called

He wasn't there. No one had come. The only acknowlegement from the Gusu mountains had been a letter of condolences and a hunk of white jade with a lotus lake carved into its center.

“Wei Wuxian, where are you,“ Jiang Wanyin called again. “Get in here!”

No one answered. No one came.

“Come here!“ he wheezed and then let out another ragged cough.

No one answered. No one came.

“Come here, you bastard! “he called one final time.

No one came.

“Somebody, answer me,“ Jiang Wanyin squeezed his eyes tight, frosty drops forming at the corner of his eyes.

No one came.

Bringing his hand up to his dantian, Jiang Wanyin rubbed at where his former shixiong’s spiritual core twirled and pulsed energy through his meridians, now unable to help him and save his life. He gripped it as hard as he could, as if the man it was once apart of could feel his shortening life and appear before him.

Then…

Jiang Wanyin died. His eyes closed for the final time as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the sky turned a deep, dark blue.

And then.

He opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw…

was his tablet in the ancestral hall.

---

Hope you enjoyed! At first, I didn’t think I wouldn’t write this, but then my fingers started to move!

Read the Second Part (To be posted)

#mdzs #mo dao zu shi #grand master of demonic cultivation #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #founder of demonic cultivation #founder of diabolism #jiang chi #jiang fengmian #jfm #wei wuxian #wwx #mdzs fanfiction #my writing #lan wangji #lwj #original character #gdc #lan xichen #lxc

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flautistsandpeonies · 3 years

Text

Prominence Part 1

Read My Prompt [Here]

Word Length: 2,710

Tags: Not for JC Fans, JC’s Canon Characteristics, Not for Madam Yu Fans, Madam Yu Canon Characteristics, Not Jiang Friendly, No Sunshot Campaign, Original Character, Vampires

Almost everyone had heard of Wei WuXian. Picked up from the streets of Yiling at the age of nine and brought to YunmengJiang to be trained amongst its disciples, the orphan was a reoccurring topic through the many sects, taverns, brothels, and businesses of china. For thirteen years, the young cultivator sparked many a sordid story and salacious talks of infidelity, bastard children, bloodlines, and even sword naming of all things.

Some thought positively of the young cultivator, wondering of his promise and imaging what he might accomplish with his cultivation. Others saw the prodigy as a blight on the normal way of life, an arrogant servant who didn’t understand his station. Both acknowledged his strength with a sword, his intelligence, and wit.

All in all, it was common to talk about the young master, whether it was scorn or adoration, it was almost impossible to not pass by one person and not hear the name “Wei WuXian” on their lips.

Especially now...

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The YunmengJiang Sect was hosting a discussion conference next month.

‘Not surprising, ‘Lan Qiren thought as he set the missive down, ‘Considering the situation’

The letter was short and concise, the way he preferred them. Jiang Fengmian meant to clear up some “misconceptions and rumors” about sudden events and offer a chance to the young disciples of the sects.

A two week discussion conference was to be held, the first dedicated to multiple lectures and the second a week long night-hunting competition.

Sitting to his right, Lan XiChen picked up the letter with inquisitive eyes and stared to peruse. After few minutes, he smiled and set the paper back down on the table with a hum.

“Young Master Wei has certainly come a long way, “XiChen smiled, “Will we attend?”

“There is no reason not to, “Lan Qiren stroked his beard, “It is an opportunity to learn something new, so we shouldn’t squander this opportunity...no matter how unseemly the events surrounding it are.”

While gossip was forbidden in the Cloud Recesses, it certainly was not in Caiyi Town. The many shop and tavern goers always had something new to talk about almost everyday, spreading rumors from the farthest brothels in Runan to the classiest restaurant in Laoling. Due to the town’s proximity to the Lan Sect, it’s disciples often picked up on the gossip whether they wanted to or not.

Lan XiChen gave a slight wince, knowing what his uncle was referring to due to his recent trip to the Unclean Realm, “I...have heard about Young Master Jiang’s injury.”

For the past couple of weeks, the YunmengJiang Sect was the talk of the Cultivation and Civilian worlds. It started with a simple event that exploded into a frenzy of rumors and tales.

Wei WuXian, Head Disciple to YunmengJiang, had recently published several cultivation manuals and even a few night-hunting tools. Now, this, while completely normal, did raise a few brows as no one expected someone so young to suddenly put multiple books out on cultivation. However, no one who truly cared about learning batted an eye and went at the books with a critical eye.

To name a few, there was:

Talismans for the Everyday Life The Hunter: Archery and Tracking Talismans Musical Cultivation: The Difference between the Xiao and Dizi The Stygian Lure Flag and Demon Wind Compass: Uses and Dangers

Due to the books being sold by a well-known and influential merchant, the books were being sold in small shops throughout the cultivation world in the matter of days. The books contained many research notes from various night-hunts, creation processes, and even notes on the failures and set backs found during the research phase; it would be an understatement to say they were a huge success and cultivators sought out these items as soon as they got wind of them.

The problems started soon after.

Everyone who wasn’t living under a rock knew how troublesome the marriage between the Jiang Sect Leader and his madam was. An arranged marriage that left neither participant with any benefits, the two were not a good fit. Even worse, the amount of gossip surrounding the home life of the Jiangs left many secretly wondering how they were still married, no matter how unpractical a divorce would be.

The Violet Spider’s reaction to the books and tools was not pleasant. Having been out on a night-hunt with her son at the time of their publication, she apparently found out by word of mouth. Customers at a restaurant in Ouyang having described the woman shouting in rage, destroying the table of a couple of rogue cultivators, and then rushing out with her heir and retinue.

As the Madam stormed her home, the doors to the sect were left wide open and the close distance to the civilians gave everyone a view of Yu ZiYuan shouting down her husband. Jiang Fengmian’s supposed infidelity and favoring of a bastard child were aired out once again for all in Lotus Pier to hear.

Even worse was the reaction of the heir, Jiang WanYin. Having been given Zidian by the Violent Spider for their night-hunt, the young heir took the whip to his da-shixiong, and the young author ended up brandishing his sword to defend himself. The end result of the fight left Jiang WanYin with a broken arm, and rumors spread that the Madam was now seeking to throw Wei WuXian from the sect.

Truly unpleasant.

Lan Qiren sighed, “Regardless, the Jiang Sect is offering for us to learn directly from Wei WuXian, and the competition their holding would be great experience for the junior disciples.”

Lan XiChen nodded in agreement, “Then I’ll look at our list of disciples and choose whom to take with us.”

Standing, Lan XiChen fixed his robes and then bowed to his uncle, “I have other duties to attend to, but I’ll get to the list as soon as possible. I’ll ask WangJi if he will attend as well. Do you need anything before I go, uncle?”

Shaking his head, Lan Qiren replied, “All is well. I will see you and WangJi later tonight.”

Watching his nephew leave, the elder Lan flicked his beard before standing and fixing his robes. Walking over to his bookshelf, he retrieved one of the newest additions to his personal library.

“Dao: Golden Cores and the many Paths of Cultivation by Wei WuXian”

Having acquired the book from his youngest nephew, Lan Qiren would never admit to having lost sleep trying to finish the book. Giving a thoughtful look at the materials, Lan Qiren couldn’t help but give a huff of amusement.

‘It seems that boy has learned some discipline after all.’

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The air around Lotus Pier was tense.

Purple clad disciples shuffled into each other, eyes downcast as they bowed at the retinue to Nie disciples, their sect leader, and second heir.

“Chifeng-zun, Second Young Master Nie, “a lower disciple said almost in a whisper, “Welcome to Lotus Pier.”

Nie Mingjue couldn’t help but frown as the Yunmeng disciples tittered about the gates, whispering amongst themselves. Servants quickly tended to their luggage, hastily informing them of where they would be staying for the discussion conference before scurrying off. Some of their faces were ashen and jittery, as if staying in one place for too long would bring some omen upon them.

‘Perhaps coming was a mistake, ‘he thought

“Da-ge, “the Nie Sect Leader looked to his little brother, “I don’t like this. I really don’t like this.”

“What? You want to go back to the Unclean Realm, “MingJue rasied an eyebrow

“No!, “Huaisang almost screamed in reply, “I...I’m worried about Wei-Xiong.”

Standing in the training ground with their disciples, the Nie brothers watched as disciples and servants alike scurried through the halls of Lotus Pier. All had their heads held downward as if they didn’t want to be noticed.

Nie Huaisang gave his brother a worried frown, “I’ve tried sending letters to Wei-Xiong before we came. The courier told me that Wei-Xiong was to be in seclusion until the discussion conference tomorrow.”

Returning his brother’s look, “Nie MingJue turned to observe the people of Lotus Pier once more

There were a couple disciples on the training grounds practicing their swordsmanship while others were a ways away practicing their archery. The sword training was going poorly, he observed, watching each disciple flinch as the loud *THUMP* of arrows hitting posts reached their ears.

The sight gave him a foreboding feeling.

“Nie Zongzhu, “Nie MingJue turned at the sound

“Jiang Zongzhu, “he nodded at the smiling man, “Thank you for this opportunity.”

“No need, “Jiang Fengmian shook his head, “This type of knowledge should be shared”

Jiang Fengmian turned to look at his training disciples. At the sight of their flinching, the man frowned at sighed.

Nie Huaisang walked to stand beside his brother, eyeing the Jiang Sect Leader.

“Is...is Wei-Xiong alright?, “Nie Huaisang asked while tightly gripping his fan

Jiang Fengmian paused, thinking for a bit, “Ah.....a-Xian is preparing for tomorrow.”

“Is that why he went into seclusion?, “he questioned

“It’s..., “the Jiang Sect Leader sighed, “I’m afraid that’s a personal matter, Second Young Master Nie.”

“But he’s okay, right?, “Nie Huaisang pressed

“He’s fine, “Jiang Fengmian’s smile returned, “You’ve known a-Xian for years. He’s always smiling no matter the adversity.”

Huaisang frowned at the reply, “Yeah...he’s...he’s really great.”

Placing a hand on his littler brother’s back, Nie MingJue nodded at Jiang Fengmian and started to lead his brother away, “Till tomorrow, Sect Leader Jiang.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first week of the discussion conference seemed to go by in a flash. Each day was dedicated to a specific topic, invention, and/or book, Wei WuXian going into detail and answering any and all questions.

“Young Master Wei, do you intend to publish more?, “a sect leader asked one day

Smiling, Wei WuXian replied, “With more time and research, I plan to improve upon what I’ve already written, but more ideas will follow, I’m sure.”

After each lecture, minor sect leaders clamored to talk with the young man. Others sequestered Jiang Fengmian to a corner, talking up the young man and inquiring about tutoring for their heirs.

“My son is young and brash, perhaps a couple of week under Young Master Wei’s tutelage would straighten him out.”

“Jiang Zongzhu, my daughter has recently come of age and I was looking into decent matches for her. If you’d be inclined, I could get in touch with a matchmaker?”

The first seven days were almost repetitive in this way. Soon, however, the lectures came to an end and the final banquet before the competition was underway.

Like with the lectures, minor sect leaders cornered the Jiang Sect Leader and hounded him with questions and offers. The Jiang Sect Leader could only sigh and smile while he tried to talk down and placate the people around him.

Unlike with the lectures, disciples now felt more comfortable talking to the young Jiang cultivator now that wine was being circulated. Laughing and chatting up the young man, Wei WuXian found himself talking with disciples from multiple sects at once.

The banquet continued like this for a couple more hours. Both sect leader and head disciple moving about the room to talk to as many people as possible before the night’s end.

Said head disciple was currently talking with the leaders of the Lan contingent.

Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan! It’s been far too long; how are you?”

Lan WangJi, “Wei Ying, “he nodded, “I am well”

Wei WuXian laughed, “That’s great!”

Facing the other two, he asked, “Lan-Laoshi, Zewu-jun, how are you?”

“We’re well, Young Master Wei, “Lan XiChen replied, “It’s been a long time since we’ve last spoken.”

‘It has, “Wei WuXian, “the last was back during the Qishan Archery Competition, wasn’t it?”

“Five years, “Lan Qiren replied, “You seem to have grown.”

“Ah, Lan-laoshi, “Wei WuXian gave a smirk, “Is that a compliment?”

Giving the younger man a blank look, Lan Wiren sighed before walking a little ways away.

“He still hates me, “Wei WuXian laughed at the Twin Jades

Lan WangJi shook his head at the man, “Xiaozhang and I enjoyed your books, “he stated

“Oh?, “Wei WuXian pondered

“Indeed, “Lan XiChen smiled, “I read your book on the Xiao and Dizi and was fascinated. I was wondering if you’d be willing to play a duet with me. Or maybe, try something on a night-hunt?

“A duet?, “Wei WuXian’s eyes widened before he grinned, “Of course, First Master Lan! No one else here plays the flute you see., “he chuckled

“Great, I’ll imagine we’ll have a lot of fun, “Lan XiChen grinned, “I’ll send an invitation for you to come to Cloud Recesses after we’ve settled back at home”

The air around the three men was light and cheerful. Lan XiChen and Wei WuXian chatted away, reminiscing about the past few years, and Lan WangJi added in his commentary when prompted.

Across the room, Yu ZiYuan was like a pot ready to boil over. A dark cloud surrounded the woman, making those not used to her temper and personality stay as far away from her side of the room as possible. Standing next to her was her best friend, Madam Jin.

“I guess it’s true then, “Madam Jin eyed Wei WuXian while he talked with the Twin Jades of Lan, “Has Jiang Fengmian finally admitted that he’s his bastard?, ”she turned to look at her friend

“Hah, no, “Yu ZiYuan laughed harshly, “he still denies it. Says this whole affair was to boost YunmengJiang’s relations. To attract promising disciples to the sects and bolster the coffers”

“That‘s not what most are going to believe though, is it, “Madam Jin scoffed, “He might as well admit it; he’s trying to depose his legitimate child for some half-breed”

At those words, the Violet Spider grew eerily quiet. The voices around them echoed through their ears, laughter and all matter of chatter going on around them. Madam Jin eyes her friend with a curious glace, wondering about the thoughts going through her friend’s head.

As if on auto-pilot, Madam Yu strode forward.

“ZiYuan?, “Madam Jin questioned

Yu ZiYuan stode the the bodies of cultivators, eyes focused on a singular target. Some eyed her warily as she pushed passed them; the rumors from before popping up in some of their heads as they looked to see where she was headed.

“Zewu-jun knows how to jest! Unexpected, “Wei WuXian chuckled, “Ah, Lan Zhan, you never told me your brother was this funny.”

“I wasn’t jesting, Young Master Wei, “the Lan sect’s heir smiled, “I’ve heard about your ChenQing and the melodies she plays.”

“Indeed, “Wei WuXian grinned back, “Oh, Lan Zhan, we could play a duet as well! What do you say? I’ll even let you pick the song. Or, the three of us could play something together.”

“You”

Wei WuXian paused and turned around, “Oh, Yu Furen-

*SLAP*

The sound of the slap silenced the entire room. Eyes turned to see Wei WuXian holding his cheek and Yu Ziyuan’s manicured hand raised high.

“You son of a servant!”

Reaching out, Yu ZiYuan yanked at Wei WuXian long tresses and threw him to the ground. Fisting his hair in her hand, she growled.

“You think you can do as you please in my home? Need I remind you who is the master here? Huh!”

Raising her other hand high, Yu ZiYuan brought it down with force.

*SLAP* *SLAP* *SLAP* *SLAP* *SLAP*

“You think you’re above my A-Cheng. You think you’re the master of YunmengJiang?!”

*SLAP* *SLAP* *SLAP*

“Well, let me tell you something. I am the Madam of YunmengJiang, and you will always be the son of whore!”

With a snarl, Yu ZiYuan threw Wei WuXian’s head back and at the same time kicked him harshly in the face.

“Mother!, “Jiang Yanli‘s voice broke through the crowd, “A-Xian!”

Everyone was frozen where they stood. The vehemence that radiated from Madam Yu shocked them so much she might as well have turned them to stone.

Wei WuXian coughed and sat up, One hand was covering his nose as blood rushed and stained his robes.

The dark cloud around the Violet Spider seemed to grow ever larger as towered over the young man. Her eyes were full of malice and an ugly snarl was stretched across her face.

Zidian unfurled.

“Conniving Dog!, “the Violet Spider seethed with hatred

With a scream, the whip lashed toward Wei WuXian. In front of everyone, the sight of Zidian tearing across his back was burned into their minds.

Flesh and blood flew as the whip dug deep and tore the skin. Rearing back, Yu ZiYuan let out a roar and striked again.

And again.

“Sanniang enough!”

For what seemed like forever, the Violet Spider vented her rage at the young man, her grunts, shouts, and insults filled everyone’s ears and bounced around in their heads. After what seemed like an eternity, Yu ZiYuan finally lowered the whip.

Voices cried out.

“Wei-Xiong!”

“Young Master Wei!”

“Wei Ying!”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author’s Notes:

-If there’s any confusion, this is a No SSC fic. So far, the only thing Wen Ruohan did was the Waterborne Abyss, but has not made a move in seven years.

-If you didn’t read the tags, I’ll remind you that this isn’t a fic for JC or Madam Yu fans. I will write them with their canon characteristics, I will not woobify them to fit your fanon nor will I excuse their abusive actions.

Read my other Prompts and WIPs [Here]

#wei wuxian #wwx #grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation #grand master of demonic cultivation #mdzs #gdc #the untamed #oc #original character #lan wangji #lan xichen #lxc #nie mingjue #nmj #nie huaisang #nhs #lan qiren #lqr #lwj

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