#however. in this situation I think wen qing has thought long and hard about it

[waitineedaname]

Do u have any transfemme Jiang Cheng headcanons you’re willing to share 🥺 every time you bring it up it makes me unreasonably happy so I would love to hear more about it 🫶🫶

AHHHH no really major headcanons, it's just something I like to rotate in my mind a lot! transfemme jiang cheng is. so special to me. I guess I have a few thoughts

I think a big part of Jiang Cheng's relationship to gender comes from Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan being the models of masculinity and femininity growing up. Jiang Cheng already relates a Lot to Yu Ziyuan, and I think if JC is transfemme, it's a big deal to her that Yu Ziyuan wields so much power. She's an incredible cultivator, a fierce fighter, and generally is a force to be reckoned with. At the same time, she's still a woman living in a misogynistic society. YZY would probably make a better sect leader than JFM, but she's a woman and his wife, and therefore he gets the final say in things

This in turn I think affects Jiang Cheng's feelings about gender and being sect leader. Jiang Cheng has a tendency to prioritize sect concerns > personal desires, and I think in this situation, masculinity is seen as a tool. Even if she knows privately that she is a woman, she would not be public about it because she's already in a precarious position being such a young sect leader. She needs all the respect she can get when rebuilding the Jiang sect, so she stays in the closet by choice. She might eventually come out years and years later, once the Jiang sect is stable and she knows she's not going to get fucked over, but that's really not her first priority

I do think she tells her siblings, though. Jiang Yanli is probably the first person she tells, and she's endlessly supportive. Wei Wuxian is kind of clueless about this sort of thing (see: not realizing he liked men until he got resurrected into the body of a gay man) but he loves Jiang Cheng so he'd be supportive, especially if he learned when they were both still kids. Of course, this makes the tragedy of Jiang Cheng losing everyone even worse. After her siblings died, there was no one who knew who she really was. Thank god for resurrections, huh? fucking hell

in a modern au, I think being a woman would fix her. She would be able to come out without all the other bullshit to worry about, and I think it would be very healing for her. I've known a number of people to go on estrogen who said the effects were more emotional than physical, and I think HRT would be so good for her. I just need Jiang Cheng to be happy goddammit. has she not been through enough

that got long. I guess I had more thoughts than I expected lsdkjflksdjf I also have a snippet from a modern au wip that I don't know if I'll ever continue/finish, but I'll put it under a read more bc I find it funny. I think Wen Qing should crack Jiang Cheng's egg, as a treat <3

Wen Qing knew Jiang Cheng too well. It was something he both loved and hated. There were very few people outside his family that could see through his blustering and read him for who he was, and Wen Qing was one of them. Hell, she was better at it than his own brother.

She didn't hesitate to call him on it either. He wouldn't be forgetting the way she'd looked at him after he introduced her to his parents and told him this explains a lot about you. Rude. Correct, but rude.

Because she knew him so well, she knew the best times to drop these bombs on him. Exposing him when he was in the wrong mood might make his temper flare, or it might make him curl into an insecure ball. Neither were reactions he liked having around her.

Wen Qing knew the best time to drop revelations on him was when he was happy and as close to relaxed as he could get, which is of course why she apparently decided the best time to bring up this particular bombshell was when he was floating in postcoital bliss.

“I'm going to tell you something,” Wen Qing said, her ankle still hooked gently around his calf. “You can't freak out about it.”

Jiang Cheng paused in the middle of pressing lazy kisses to her temple, heart rate immediately spiking. “Now?” he said, incredulous and a little whiny. 

“It's not a bad thing,” she reassured him, gently scratching his scalp. It relaxed him like a charm, though he was still suspicious. “Do you promise to listen?”

“Do I have much of a choice?” he asked, propping himself up on her chest. Her lips quirked in a smile as she looked down at him.

“I think you're a woman,” she said, direct and matter-of-fact.

Jiang Cheng jolted upright so hard he slammed his head into the headboard. Wen Qing frowned and sat up as he rolled off her. “You're going to give yourself a concussion,” she said, accusatory.

“You're insane!” Jiang Cheng said, attempting to sit upright without making his head swim. Wen Qing huffed and pushed him down with a firm hand to his chest. He could throw her off if he wanted to, but, well, he didn't want to. He rather liked it when she pushed him around and climbed on top of him like she was right now, pinning him in place and preventing him from running away from the conversation.

[guqin-and-flute]

please tell me everything about yanxiyao. i am invested. nay, i am obsessed. an ot3 made up entirely of people who Deserved Better and they are GETTING IT. i don’t care if it’s deep, agonizing 3AM thoughts that make me question how i think about life and love and the mortifying ordeal of being known or if it’s pointless fluffbits scrounged up from your daydreams. GIVE THEM TO ME

AHA, this delighted me, I’m so glad!! [rubs hands] Okay, you have unlocked the avalanche, stream of consciousness, here we go. Boy howdy this got long, so full rambling under the cut. 

So I’ve already outlined how it starts with JGY, but you’ve probably seen that and I’m probably going to actually write a getting together fic at some point if the scenes start falling out of the sky into my head, so I’ll skip past that for the time being and start with the beginning of the triad. It begins in a most definite V with JGY as the hinge--Xichen and Yanli are very careful and considerate about each other’s time with him and try very hard not to overlap. Most things are separate--sex times, dates, meals (unless it’s everyone [siblings, et. al] eating together), sleepovers. 

However, something happens. Perhaps JGY starts asking to spend a day with both of them, perhaps the greeting conversations when Xichen visits grow longer and warmer and bleed into sitting together over tea, laughing, and forgetting the days plans. Perhaps the way Xichen delights in holding their daughter and playing so very patiently with her begins to completely charm Yanli.

Perhaps it’s when Yanli and JGY leave the toddler with Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng to go for a nice leisurely trip together to Gusu but the weather turns and they have to stay in an inn in the middle of nowhere overnight and Yanli’s health takes a sharp dive all of a sudden and JGY sends a Jin butterfly to tell Xichen the situation and that they’re going to be late. And it’s only after he’s sent it that it comes to his attention that this rinky-dink village’s doctor actually lives in the next city over and is out of town for his daughter’s wedding or something idiotic and won’t be back for days--he has learned this after a slog through the rain to said doctor’s empty house in said next-city-over and then returned to demand of the innkeeper what exactly he’s playing at, sending him out like that when he knew the doctor wasn’t there. And he’s in the process of not strangling the innkeeper when the door bursts open and it’s Xichen, completely waterlogged and anxious and JGY is appalled that he’s just flown through a thunderstorm but secretly very, very relieved he is here. 

And so they go upstairs and Yanli is incredibly happy to see both of them, especially since her fever has gotten worse and she is freezing. She wants snuggles and JGY reasons that they should both get in on it, because more body heat, y’know (he’s only trying to help, there are limited options, here) but he and Xichen both are completely soaked from traveling in the rain and they hesitate. Yanli is very much, ‘Oh noooo, the 2 hot men who need to snuggle me are covered in wet cloooothes?? Whatever shall we doooo?’ And the both of them are very seriously trying to tell her that Xichen will need to take off his robes if they’re going to be in bed together and is she okay with that and she’s like, ‘WhaAaaAaat? 😲 Holy cow, I guess I’ll suffer through :3c’ And they laugh and snuggle and sleep and the next few days is them taking care of her while she apologizes for getting sick and ruining the trip while they maintain that this is very nice, actually, minus her feeling terrible. They don’t actually visit Gusu and just end up spending time together in the inn while she recovers.

So, after that, Yanli and Xichen’s relationship becomes a lot more physically affectionate--they hug when they see each other, they kiss each other on the cheek, Yanli and JGY both snuggle up to his sides when they sit alone on the pavilion with the curtains drawn. The both of them have talked separately with JGY about whether this is okay, whether they’re overstepping any boundaries, and his response was basically an incredulous, ‘Are you joking? This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’ And so the 3 of them spend more and more time together, and maybe there’s a night where they’re all in Xichen’s guest room at Lotus Pier, maybe having a few drinks, and they get onto the subject of how good of a kisser their A-Yao is and he protests saying that they’re biased because they haven’t kissed anyone else, so how could they know. And Xichen flushes and grins, “Aren’t you sly?” and JGY blinks innocently and says, “I don’t know what on earth you could mean 😇!” and Yanli is biting back a laugh and also a little pink but tilts her chin up invitingly and they do kiss and it’s lovely and JGY realizes exactly how much he enjoys that. And from then on, the Xichen’s guest room is more of a formality/decoy than anything else and their suite just so happens to get updated with a bigger bed because, y’know, reasons.

✨Vibes✨:

-WangXian matchmaking happens in earnest when YanXiYao first start their arrangement because now JGY has a concrete reason to find more excuses for more frequent visits from the Twin Jades

-Something about the 2 of them together makes it so that JGY can break down more easily--when it’s just Yanli, he still feels very protective and it’s hard to show his anger. When it’s just Xichen, he doesn’t want to cause him pain, and it’s hard to show when he’s hurting and despairing. When the three are together he is able to let them hold him more easily instead of withdrawing and isolating himself, and it frustrates him, but is also very good for him. 

-Xichen and Yanli have a very intense and deep affection for each other that rides the fuzzy line of romantic and alterous; they enjoy cuddling, kissing, they definitely aren’t averse to having sex with each other but it usually happens when JGY is involved in some way, whether everyone participates or it’s a voyeuristic situation in whatever capacity (though this may be impacted by the fact that he doesn’t live with them and most days, Yanli is pleasantly lukewarm about sexual activity in general, so who’s to say it wouldn’t happen naturally, in time?) 

-Xichen and Yanli have a relationship that has grown beyond just what they have with JGY and have a wonderful time talking together, giving each other gifts, and exchanging letters. There is a shared exasperation for JGY’s treatment of his health and often look to each other as back up (JGY is annoyed. They simply smile.) They don’t feel the need to really categorize their relationship besides the fact that they love each other, consider the other their best friend, are deeply fond of one another, and plan to all stay as they are for the rest of their lives. (Maybe, eventually, this will lead to a secret marriage ceremony, just for the 3 of them).

-It was after the inn/fever incident that she insisted Xichen call her A-Li

-All 3 have a devious streak and it makes for some very sweet 2 ganging up on 1 and showering them with kisses and affection.

-JGY and Yanli write him joint letters as well as individual ones of their own 

-JGY and Yanli view Xichen as an equal status, commuter sort of parent and ask for his opinions and advice on parenting things. Xichen loves the kids like his own and gets to essentially have a kid without the complicated feelings of them being his heir and going through the Lan’s strict practices and corporal punishment. He takes them at Cloud Recesses for a few weeks every year.

-Each of the men have their own guilt attacks, now and again, Xichen about his involvement being selfish (Heirs! Propriety! His uncle!) and JGY over wanting too much (Infidelity! Reputation! A-Li!), and Yanli--who has done enough soul searching and has very comfortably decided that, no, she is quite fine being happy--calmly sits them down, gives them tea, kisses their foreheads, and makes them hold hands with her as they watch their kids play. 

[robininthelabyrinth]

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, past 5, part 6 - aka Pastime (with good company) (ao3 link)

Warning: some adult content 

-

Everything was settled.

The marriage date had been set – sadly there was still some time to go, since they’d reached that part of the year where there weren’t any auspicious days for marriage for a while, especially for a marriage like this (they were not getting married on a day that was auspicious for childbirth, no matter how much Wei Wuxian cackled at the thought) – and now all that was left was preparing for the ceremony.

The logistics were a pain, but all parties involved had been determined to hold a single ceremony, both to demonstrate that they were both first, neither above the other, and, as Wei Wuxian had grumblingly put it, to make sure no one was satisfied until they were all satisfied.

The negotiations had gone on forever, representatives of each sect bickering back and forth, but finally, finally, Lan Xichen had conspired with Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng behind the scenes and they’d exercised their authority as Sect Leaders to declare the latest version of the marriage plan acceptable.

There was a distinct possibility that they had gotten somewhat intoxicated before making the announcement, but however it had happened, it been made and Lan Wangji was happier for it.

Now, there was only – the wait.

Each of them had agreed that now that the marriage was settled, they would each stay at home to prepare the necessary things for marriage. Technically, only Nie Mingjue needed to pay the bride price, and of course their families would be providing dowries (with lists so long that Lan Wangji grew numb just thinking about it), but they had agreed between the three of them that it would be suitable for them to exchange gifts between themselves.

A sign of their forthcoming affection, but also – and this was Nie Mingjue’s rare insistence on the subject of gifts or etiquette – independence. Nie Mingjue was the husband, of course, and they the brides, and that meant something, even if cultivator sects rarely imposed the sort of requirements on its female cultivators that the common world did, but in his heart Nie Mingjue was a fairly staunch an opponent of unnecessary hierarchy when in peacetime, though whether this was his own inclination or another of the Nie sect’s oddities was less clear. Politically, he was engaged in a fierce fight with the Jin sect, opposed the mere concept of a Chief Cultivator and preferring that the Sects manage themselves as they always had rather than succumb to the order the Wen sect had tried to impose, but his opposition was – as always with the man – genuine, and it was important to him that his brides knew that they were free in their own right, rather than receiving their freedom as a gift from their husband.

(Lan Wangji had thought of their mother when Nie Mingjue had argued the point, his eyes flashing and hand hitting the table to emphasize it, and his heart had overflowed with joy that he was marrying this man above others, this man and Wei Wuxian who did not know rules, both of whom would rather die than cage him; Lan Xichen and even Lan Qiren had been moved by the demand, their eyes suspiciously wet, and Lan Wangji had seen in the way Jiang Cheng rubbed his thumb over Zidian that he, too, was not unaffected.)

Of course, once the principle was agreed upon, they now had to enact it.

Lan Wangji expected that Nie Mingjue would have delegated the initial task of finding gifts for them to Nie Huaisang, reserving the right for a final decision for himself – if it was a Nie sect principle, there might be some element of ritual involved in the unusual gift-giving, some tradition that wouldn’t make sense or be explained until they were safely married in; Qinghe had long had a reputation for being a little bit different from the other sects, and not just in their preference for the saber over the sword.

Wei Wuxian, on the other hand – Lan Wangji expected he was equally hard at work. Perhaps others in his sect believed that he would ask Jiang Cheng for one of the Jiang sect’s treasures, diminished by war but recovered in their victories, but Lan Wangji thought he knew Wei Wuxian better than that: most likely, he had just decided to use the time before the marriage to invent something no one in the world has ever seen before, and contribute that instead.

That seemed far more his style.

As for himself, Lan Wangji followed his own sect’s traditions, taking on the new request with the dignity and solemnity with which it ought to be respected. He had already spent several days in the Lan sect’s treasure room, sorting through each item and considering whether it would fit one or another of his spouses. His uncle, not yet fully reconciled with his decision – his general approval of Nie Mingjue wrestling against his general disapproval of Wei Wuxian – had come to see him several times while he was there; he would never disagree with Lan Xichen on such a serious matter as someone’s life, and never publicly, but his love for his nephew and his concern for Lan Wangji’s well-being drove him to probe repeatedly as to whether Lan Wangji really thought that this marriage would make him happy.

Lan Wangji was very sure it would. He’d only liked two people in his entire life and thought them both untouchable, forever beyond his reach – to now be faced with the possibility of having them both was beyond even his wildest dreams.

…perhaps not his wildest dreams. He’d been having some very interesting ones recently.

At any rate, it was a wise decision on their part to separate, and to stay separate. After all, they would have their whole lives to spend together – it was better to take this precious time before their marriage to reflect on their families, their past, the events and circumstances that had led them to this moment…

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian called, his eyes bright with excitement as he waved and ran forward to greet him. “What a surprise! I wasn’t expecting to see you – what brings you to Yiling?”

Absolutely nothing, in truth.  

There was no reason at all for Lan Wangji to be in Yiling.

He should not be in Yiling: he thought of himself as the patient one of the three of them, suffused with Lan serenity and self-denial, having cultivated long ago the ability to wait forever for what he wanted – none of Wei Wuxian’s impulsiveness or Nie Mingjue’s hot-headedness for him. And yet, of the three of them, Lan Wangji was the one who weakened first.

It was only that he had woken up in the dead of night, alone in the jingshi and abruptly convinced that it was all a dream that had lingered too long, that it would disappear with the morning dew, and he had suddenly needed, urgently, to see one of his future husbands, to confirm to himself once again that this was really happening. And before he knew what he was doing, he had taken Bichen and turned his face to the sky, fleeing to Yiling as the closer and least-bad option –  

At least Wei Wuxian seemed to feel the same way, to judge by the way he insisted on dragging Lan Wangji to and fro throughout the Burial Mounds, reintroducing him to all the Wen sect members that he’d already met on his first visit; only things time, Wei Wuxian would stop to speak to each one with a smile, explaining the situation – just now he had greeted a man with a wave and shouted, “Fourth Uncle, this is Hanguang-jun, Lan Wangji. We’re going to be marrying soon, to Chifeng-zun – all of us together, me, Lan Zhan, and Nie Mingjue.”

“Yes, we know,” the man said, looking indulgent. “You’ve mentioned it a few times.”

To judge from his expression, it was more than a few times.

“You remember them, right?” Wei Wuxian barreled on, utterly undaunted. “Lan Zhan’s been here twice before, and Nie Mingjue is the tall gorgeous one. Not that Lan Zhan isn’t tall and gorgeous – wait. Am I the short one in this relationship?!”

Wei Wuxian was two centimeters shorter than Lan Wangji, who was in turn shorter than Nie Mingjue (who he was sure routinely lied about his height in some misguided attempt to pretend he wasn’t quite as toweringly tall as he was); Wei Wuxian was, in fact, the short one, albeit only by a little.

Lan Wangji exercised his judgment and decided not to comment, offering up only a neutral hum when Wei Wuxian looked at him, aggravated.

“It’s good you’ve got a smart one in your marriage, Wei-gongzi,” the man said, chuckling. “Good at spotting and avoiding traps.”

“Traps..? – hey! Are you saying I’m not the smart one? Lan Zhan, tell him -!”

Lan Wangji hummed again, more to make Wei Wuxian laugh than anything else.

At some point, they settled down in the Demon-Slaughtering Cave, Wei Wuxian running around to fetch tea and some snacks; it was getting to be late in the evening, the journey to Yiling and all the introductions having eaten up most of the day, but tea was always welcome.

After a few moments, Lan Wangji realized that no one else was there – not Wen Ning, nor Wen Qing, nor anyone else – and he frowned. “Is this appropriate?”

“Sure it is,” Wei Wuxian said at once, his response coming a little too fast to be anything other than planned ahead of time. “Obviously it would be inappropriate for either of us to be alone with Nie Mingjue, being as he’s our future husband; we would require a chaperone. However, although we will also be marrying each other, we’re both marrying in as brides, and there’s never been any restriction on brides sharing each other’s company before the wedding.”

Lan Wangji gave him an unimpressed look. “Semantics.”

“Very useful semantics,” Wei Wuxian protested, and pushed one of the snacks – a little radish cake, by the look of it – towards him. “Come on, I want to talk with you, discuss some questions about our marriage, and to do it without being gawked at by one of the Wens. Are you really going to insist that I call one of them in here?”

He would probably call Wen Ning if he called anyone, Lan Wangji thought, and felt a spark of jealousy in his belly. Which was ridiculous, he was the one who was marrying Wei Wuxian, and getting Nie Mingjue in the bargain as well; there was no reason to be drinking vinegar at the thought of Wen Ning. Even if he was the one that Wei Wuxian had defied the cultivation world for, resurrected from the dead at great cost, kept by his side at all times –

“…no,” he finally said, and Wei Wuxian’s smile was brilliant enough for him to almost forget about his not-quite-righteous motives in agreeing to waive propriety. “You had questions?”

“Sure! I mean, how is it going to work? Do we split having him on even and odd days, or do we have just one really big bed –”

Lan Wangji’s ears were burning; he had somehow not expected that the questions would be of this type. He pinned his gaze firmly across the room. “The Unclean Realm is large,” he said. “We will each have quarters of our own.”

“Well, yes, of course. Everyone gets their own courtyard; I was there at the marriage negotiations too, you know. But in terms of the details –”

“Mingjue-xiong is the husband. He will decide.”

“He might be the husband, but it’s not as if we’re not men ourselves,” Wei Wuxian argued. “I may not know that much about being a cutsleeve – Jiang Cheng only managed to find me one spring book in all this time, apparently he’s encountering some awkwardness about buying them – but I have a vivid imagination and plenty of yang energy; I’m not going to wait around in my courtyard to see if he wants to visit or not.”

Of course he wouldn’t. Why would anyone have expected that he would? Why had Lan Wangji ever expected that this conversation wouldn’t leave him simultaneously turned on beyond all belief and also wanting to die of sheer awkwardness?

“I can lend you one, if you wish,” he said, still staring firmly at the wall.

“Lend me one – oh, Lan Zhan! You mean a spring book? For cutsleeves? You have one?”

Lan Wangji had more than one.

His brother had figured out years ago what his inclination was, and anyway the Lan sect prided itself on preservation of information; there had been cutsleeves among the Lan in the past, and they had donated their books to the library upon their deaths the way everyone else had. With Lan Xichen’s help, it hadn’t been too difficult to smuggle some of them back to his quarters to review once he’d realized that his spring dreams were not going to go away without external assistance.

(In the end, the information had only made his dreams more vivid and detailed, but at least he learned enough to be able to stop shamefully smuggling in extra robes every day and taking on additional chores to account for overusing the sect’s laundry.)

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you have to tell me everything,” Wei Wuxian said, leaning forward, his eyes bright with mischief – mischief, and something just a little bit more. Before, Lan Wangji would have told himself that he was imagining things, but for the first time he thought that he could hope that he wasn’t, that Wei Wuxian wanted him, wanted him as much as Lan Wangji wanted him in turn. “You have to take pity on me; I’ve never even kissed anyone!”

That got Lan Wangji to stop staring at the wall and to turn to stare at Wei Wuxian instead.

Wei Wuxian, the accomplished and even notorious flirt, as he’d seen with his own eyes in their time in the indoctrination camp; who had told him on Phoenix Mountain that he had lots of experience kissing –

“But you said –” he started, then stopped, pressing his lips together when Wei Wuxian started laughing.

“At Phoenix Mountain? You believed me?” Wei Wuxian said with a smile, his eyes curving into crescents. “No, I was just trying to save face. What was I supposed to say? I would have been embarrassed to admit it! Though actually, even though I’ve never kissed anyone myself, I did lose my first kiss right around that time; someone came up to me while I was blindfolded –”

Lan Wangji’s shoulders went up around his ears. “Wei Ying.”

“– the maiden was very forceful, but at the same time very shy, since she waited until I was blindfolded –”

“Wei Ying.”

“– she was so aggressive! Even managed to slip me a bit of tongue –”

“Wei Ying.”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian looked delighted at the thought. “Now, now, fair’s fair, I’ve told you, now you have to tell me – have you ever been kissed?”

“…kissed. Once.”

“Oh, you did the kissing?” And now Wei Wuxian’s eyes were narrow, but playfully so – at least, Lan Wangji thought it was playful. Maybe Wei Wuxian was drinking a little vinegar, too. “You don’t mean a childhood kiss, do you? No? A real one, then; that puts you one up on me. When was it?”

Lan Wangji wanted the ground to swallow him up, but – it was no longer a matter that needed to be hidden lest Wei Wuxian hate him forever, a hopeless infatuation that could go nowhere and would be taken to the grave eternally unrequited. They were going to be married.

You could not start a marriage on a lie.

“…Phoenix Mountain.”

“What, really? Huh, that’s a coincidence! You kissed someone right around the time that –” Wei Wuxian paused, and Lan Wangji braced himself. “Lan Zhan. You didn’t.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t sound angry.

Lan Wangji snuck a peak at him – he didn’t look angry, either. He looked delighted.

“You know, Lan Zhan, that was very bad of you,” Wei Wuxian said, pretending to scold but grinning far too wide for it to sound authentic. “You took my first kiss, which I’d been guarding for twenty years! You have no choice but to take responsibility.”

“Mm,” Lan Wangji said, feeling a wave of relief. “Wei Ying is right. Would marriage be sufficient recompense?”

“Now that’s more like it,” Wei Wuxian cackled. “Your first kiss, and mine, and soon we’ll be married…hey, Lan Zhan! We should do it again.”

Lan Wangji’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“Kissing! After all, we wouldn’t want to disappoint Nie Mingjue on our wedding night – we should practice.”

“Practice…kissing.”

“We’re just the brides,” Wei Wuxian reminded him, and suddenly he was closer than Lan Wangji had expected; he was pressed right up against Lan Wangji’s side, and every part of them that was in contact felt as if it was on fire, even though there were layers and layers of cloth between them. “Our job in our marriage is to please our husband, since we’re not exactly going to be bearing him heirs. It’s no harm then, is it, trying to study up in advance on the sorts of things that will please him – that’s why I want to read those spring books you have, Lan Zhan. I want to think about all the things we could do together.”

Lan Wangji’s mouth was dry, and Wei Wuxian’s face filled his eyes.

“But I have to admit, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said. “I also – just really want to kiss you.”

Lan Wangji leaned over and pressed his lips to Wei Wuxian’s.

It was better than Phoenix Mountain, when he’d been too aggressive, almost wild in his frenzied need to express himself and yet so new at what he was doing to figure out at first how their mouths would fit together; this time, with the little experience from before, their mouths slotted together naturally, and best of all, this time Wei Wuxian wasn’t just shocked and stiff with surprise in his arms; this time, Wei Wuxian was kissing him back.

Fiercely, even; his hands sliding up into Lan Wangji’s hair as they kissed frantically, Lan Wangji’s own hands on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder and waist.

“Oh, Lan Zhan –” Lan Wangji heard Wei Wuxian groan his name against his lips, voice low and deep, and he was drunk on the sheer joy of it. “Lan Zhan –”

They tumbled down to the ground, Wei Wuxian pulling as much as Lan Wangji pushed, and Lan Wangji was straddling him, the two of them hot up against each other as they kissed again and again – lips and cheeks, faces, necks, wherever they could reach. Lan Wangji had had dreams like this, but nothing was compared to the reality: Wei Wuxian was warm in his arms, vocal with his pleasure, full of little whimpers and moans and his name, rolling around his mouth like fine wine; his legs inched up Lan Wangji’s thighs, urging him onwards even as his hands started exploring his shoulders and giving little tentative tugs of his hair that only made Lan Wangji less restrained because of how unexpected it was.

“Wei Ying…” he growled, applying his teeth to Wei Wuxian’s neck and rumbling with delight when Wei Wuxian threw back his head with a surprise moan of pleasure.

“Lan Zhan, oh, yes – is that how you’d do it for Nie Mingjue, Lan Zhan? I bet it is, I bet you’d love to put your teeth in his neck and mark it up – ah! Yes, like that, more – ”

They had long ago left propriety behind, but they were very quickly getting to the point of being truly inappropriate; the thought was fuzzy in Lan Wangji’s mind, seeming very unimportant – they were getting married soon, after all, and that would be even better than this, because Nie Mingjue would be there, his intense gaze on them both, his hands on them –

“We should stop,” he forced himself to say.

“We will,” Wei Wuxian said, tugging him down for another kiss, his hips arching and rubbing up against Lan Wangji’s. “We will, Lan Zhan, just a little more –”

Much more and Lan Wangji would very quickly be lost, violating his oaths of restraint before marriage; he was very near to the edge as it was.

“We can’t, we have to wait until marriage,” he murmured even as he sucked kisses and left teeth marks on Wei Wuxian’s collarbone. “But we can do something else…”

The Lan sect prided itself on a strict adherence to the rules, on obeying the spirit of the rule and not merely the letter, but there had been since long ago a very particular loophole regarding the rules of restraint – an acknowledgment of reality, really, of the fact that the blood of young men and women ran hot, and that it would be cruel to make a rule that so many would find themselves unwittingly breaking.

Sharing physical pleasure with another before marriage was of course absolutely inappropriate – when it was a man and a woman involved, rather than two men, it came with the loss of chastity, the risk of pregnancy, the ruination of all future hopes; it was reasonable to restrict those who had not yet bowed three times to, at most, touching each only with clothing fully in place.  

If they were not cultivators, that would be the end of it – but they were, and there were more routes to pleasure than the mere physical.

After all, the act of joining together yin and yang was not called dual cultivation for nothing.

Lan Wangji summoned up the qi from his golden core, allowing it to circulate through his meridians as if he were planning to cultivate, and dropped his hand eagerly between their bodies to Wei Wuxian’s dantian, where Wei Wuxian’s own cultivation, his golden core, would respond to his own, their cultivation reacting to each other as a stimulus, sparking pleasure even as they grew stronger. He’d never experienced it before, but he’d heard whispers of how it felt, a rush that was so good that it was nearly addictive and yet soothing as well, a relaxing of the terrible tension, allowing their bodies the peak of pleasure without the physicality of release that was denied to them.

Lan Wangji put his hand on Wei Wuxian’s belly and felt Wei Wuxian groan, his hips arch –

He felt –

Nothing.

[pastthevaulteddoors]

My brain fogs usually end with me babbling.

This morning @delicatelygloriousphoenix allowed me to babble to them about a thought I had.

And then... It just kept going.

I’m still tired. Here’s a cut version of that conversation.

I had a thought before bed last night 'cause I'm finishing up the extras to SVSSS.

What if someone was reborn into Mo Dao Zu Shi and had to save everyone?

What if Jiang Cheng was the person they were born into? I can't remember the scene properly from the novel, but right before WWX interrupts the summit meeting on Koi/Carp tower, drinks LWJ's booze and accuses Jin Zixun of his labor camp is when this person becomes the new Jiang Cheng. He himself interrupts WWX's rant that nearly falls into a fight and demands that he/Lotus Pier are allowed to keep the rest of the Wens because they burned the place to the ground and therefore have a right to them to rebuild the place.

The argument is quick, and JC is like "I'm taking them" and drags WWX out in surprise. But he turns to LWJ and is like "You comin'?" so of course LWJ comes when he's actually invited to do so. They run off to the camp. JC tries to hurry to get there before Wen Ning is stabbed. They do get there earlier than in the show/novel, but WN is already stabbed (but not dead).

They drag the Wens and an unconscious WN out of the camp. WWX doesn’t go nuts because WN isn’t dead yet and JC is there to lay down some tsundere harshness in his stead.

They have to stop at a village before they get there where Wen Qing can work on her brother and the Wens can rest. JC buys them all rando threadbare robes so they don't stand out as Wens anymore.

Lan Xichen shows up at some point to see if he can't... not so much help as his position won't allow him to take sides on this, but there to 'check on his brother.’ When he gets there, he’s pushed to the inn room where he sees JC focused at WN’s side. He’s giving him spiritual energy while WQ rests nearby. That's LXC’s first little spark of  "Ah, JC is nicer than he first appears."

The Wens are supposed to be 'laborers' to help rebuild Lotus Pier, but JC's really just wanting to make sure that WWX isn't forced off to Burial Mounds and becomes an icon of hatred like the show/novel. And he doesn't have to remove him from the sect entirely.

However, he tells a distracted WWX that he obviously has ideas with his new powers and gives him leave to seclude himself to practice/create/invent but in a safe environment. Jiang Yanli is happy that her brothers are not alone yet able to pursue their separate interests/areas of need.

LXC suggests Gusu taking the Wens as well as 'laborers' since Cloud Recesses was also burned down by the Wens. In reality, they have more safe space for the Wens, it's harder to ambush the 'labor camp' when it's on a mountain peak.

This is where the ALIVE yet healing Wen Ning and Wen Qing ask the Lans to take care of A-Yuan as they are not in the best situation to take care of a child at their camp. This is where LWJ and the frequently visiting WWX basically adopt him.

I mean, if the Wens aren't in danger, WWX has no reason to go back to the burial mounds so of course he’d come to check up on the Wens a lot. Which just means hanging out with A-Yuan and the bunnies often. If LWJ happens to be there with him all the time... well... who’s to say what that means?!

Meanwhile, JC is trying to handle his sect with only a bit of help from WWX here and there, although Wen Qing shows up a lot, as does LXC as a gesture of goodwill and to help the young new sect leader.

JC enjoys being a leader and the System provided him with knowledge and ability to train his new sect. He used to be a salaryman when he was alive, this is far more exciting and much more stimulating.

JC is pretty oblivious that both WQ and LXC are absently crushing on this confident and warmly grumpy JC. He just thinks they like visiting him to talk sect leader stuff or night hunt or... maybe he even thinks they’re his friends.

BUT JC knows his mission is not done, as the System keeps reminding him.

He needs to make sure Jin Guangyao doesn't marry his sister but he can't break OOC or share his knowledge of knowing that JGY and Qin Su are siblings... so he subtly courts Qin Su instead to basically cock block JGY.

Which surprises all but whatever. JC has changed since becoming sect leader, or so they say (really, JC is a different person entirely but ya know).

JC is okay with it, saying Qin Su is a decent woman and pretty enough. He'd be okay if they'd end up marrying, although he's very aware that JGY might try to murder him for taking the girl he likes but he's got his defenses up.

The courting goes on for awhile and JC keeps blocking JGY’s advances where he can but doesn’t go further with his own.

A few years later, JC hosts a birthday party of four year old Jin Ling, with little Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Ouyang Zizhen among others... so it's a mini sect leader party, too. All of this without going OOC, he's still a grumpy sect leader but he's less feared (like, in the novel, JC was a friggen murderer! He tortured and killed anyone he thought was using WWX's methods or was his incarnation!). People actually seem to like him!

Late night at the party WWX, JC, LWJ, and LXC were hanging out. They suggest going on a boat together because a lot of lanterns were going to be let off in the lakes for JL’s birthday.

JC 'accidentally' spills tea on LXC's robes so he has to excuse himself to change. The others wait by the boat and JC is like "Oop, I changed my mind. I'm going to do something else" and kicks the boat off with LWJ and WWX in it and walks away. He chills in a pavilion a little bit later, watching the lanterns on the water and a few boats out there when LXC comes back. He doesn't even ask when happened and joins him, watching the boat that their brothers are in. LXC and JC haven't talked about it, but they both low key ship LWJ and WWX so they're of agreement.

This event triggers the Wangxian relationship quest. JC is pretty happy that they don’t have to wait 13-16 years before they get to enjoy each other’s company.

And that's when JC himself starts to admire LXC. Not that he hadn't before, they had become friends of sorts from both rebuilding their sects, passing advice to each other, and generally get to complain to each other as young sect leaders. JC kept distance though, knowing LXC’s sworn brothers are his confidants but now and again LXC even lets on a bit of that drama (realizing how much NMJ and JGY are at odds) when JC mentions "they just gotta fuck and get it out of their system"

But yeah, it's during that conversation that JC is like "LXC is actually really attractive and fun to talk to..." crush style.

Then a new mission starts! JC has to team up with LXC to get JGY and NMJ together. All the while JC is loosely courting Qin Su still. Wen Qing has since moved on with her affections (WQ is fast realizing that everyone is gay and instead goes to make out with Mianmian because yes lesbians!).

So LXC realizes that he likes JC but doesn't think he'd be interested because of Qin Su and Wen Qing.

Meanwhile, JC is like "The author said the only gay couple in this novel was WWX and LWJ but!!!?!?!?!??!?!? everyone is gay!?”

At WWX and LWJ's wedding, LXC and JC spy on JGY and NMJ who end up kissing behind a tree. They're tipsy but success! JC gives LXC a high five which amuses LXC because 'wtf is a high five? that's so cute, what a grumpy dork'

JC outright stops courting Qin Su then, which pisses off her sect, that is in close ties with the Jins, which turn their anger towards the Jiang sect. So JC has to fight with the Jins in a political battle, and his sister is preggers with her third kid so she can't help much.

But it's finally JGY that stands up to his father to stop bulling smaller sects. No hard feelings for stealing Qin Su then dumping her, apparently.

It's about this time when Mo Xuanyu shows up and is like "you're my daddy" Lady Jin already hates her husband's illegitimate children but now she's furious, especially after her friend tells her that Jin Guangshan raped her and Qin Su is ALSO an illegitimate child (another reason JGY decides he doesn’t hate JC for cock blocking him).

All this combined, Jin Guangshan is shamed off his throne. Jin ZiXuan takes up a lead and JGY (now renamed Jin Ziyao as is the proper generational name) decides he's happy with not being an asshole (since he's getting good dickings with his boyfriend NMJ and Lady Jin has finally stopped bullying him) and decides that he'd be content, even happy, being his brother's advisor rather than dethroning him for sect leadership.

But of course there's gotta be drama. Shi Su and Jin Zixun are not the smartest of people but they've teamed up with Xue Yang who has a bit of the Iron. Together, they start to plot against the sects to overrule them, because they're dumb idiots with a semblance of power.

That's about as far as my brain went when I fell asleep and then this morning when the brain fog focused on that instead of on work while I was waking up.

Just something about 13 years later, JC and LXC are pretty close but not lovers yet, when something-something adventure and JC and LXC become a thing in a similar manner that WWX and LWJ did in the novel. RANDOM CONFESSION TIME that other people have to point out to them!

The following is related conversation but I don’t want to put my friend’s part so... it’s disjointed. Sorry not sorry I’m tired.

Continued conversation about wangxian being together:

because JC already knew they'd be together from the show/novel, and LXC shipped them, so they teamed up to get them to confess

That's what I meant when JC forced them onto a romantic boat ride together.

They weren't parted from the Wen fight stuff so instead of fighting at Nightless City, they had time to realize their feelings and not die instead of confess. ;p

Conversation... conversation...

So for so long JC doesn't know he's into guys (LXC in particular, kinda like SQQ in SVSSS) but just like JC in the novel, he gets himself blacklisted from the matchmakers. Meanwhile, this whole time his very close friend, LXC (they're really close now since JGY and NMJ are a couple so he doesn't like to third wheel it and instead spend his time with JC) things that JC is straight and lowkey crushes on him for 13-16 years before WWX and LWJ have to spell it out to them.

but Lan have a-yuan as adopted heir

He'd (JC) probably ask Jinli if one of her kids could be heir

What if Jin Zixun tries to take the sect leader throne or something. He'd be next in line if jin Zixuan didn't die and JGY didn't step up.

[aquadrazi]

Find Someone to Carry You

Chapter 12

#PTSD

……..Qinghe…….

The first time Wei Ying woke it was with screaming and thrashing.  No matter how hard anyone tried, no one could convince him that he was, in fact, NOT on fire.  Wen Qing was forced to use her needles to put him back to sleep.

Lan Wangji had been by Wei Ying’s side since he himself woke up, after his own…incident.  Wen Qing seemed to have no intention of making him leave, since it made her job easier by not having to try to get Wei Ying to drink water and eat something on a daily basis.

Nie Huaisang’s spy had informed them that Wei Ying had been considerably disoriented when he was found, before the rescue, so Lan Wangji spent most of his time playing Clarity for him.  It was equally for himself as it was for Wei Ying. Lan Wangji was in much better control of his emotions since waking.  His face back to the impassive stone it usually was.  However, warring emotions were swirling below the surface of Lan Wangji’s stoic exterior.

Hope, Wei Ying is alive.

Anger, The Jin Sect lied about Wei Ying’s death.

Shame, I was in the same room as him and I didn’t even know it.

Rage, Wei Ying has been…violated.

“Lan Zhaaaan” Wei Ying let out a contented sigh.

Lan Wangji almost jumped right out of his skin.  It took all his self-control to stay where he was and continue playing.

“Yes Wei Ying, I am here”  He transitioned from Clarity to Wangxian.

‘Hmm”  Wei Ying hummed.  “I like this song.”

They stayed like that for a bit.  The only sound being the sound of the guqin.

“Not that this isn’t nice Lan Zhan, but why are you here disturbing the dead?”

“Not dead.”

Wei Ying set out a small chuckle.  “Oh Lan Zhan, we both know I’m dead.  I watched myself go up in flames.”

Lan Wangji silenced the guqin.  “Wei Ying is not dead.”

“Maybe it’s you who’s in denial.  Maybe you’re ALSO dead.  Did you ever think of that?”

“Also, not dead.”

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan.  Can’t we just have a nice moment, instead of fighting like we usually do? There must be some reason why you’re here…”  Wei Ying’s eyes flew open at the end of the sentence, like he suddenly remembered something, something unpleasant.  His face went ashen.

“Wei Ying?”  Lan Wangji started to rush to the bedside.

“I can smell sandalwood.  You’re really here.  No, no, no, no, no, no”  Wei Ying curled into himself and let out a high pitched whine.

“Please no.  You can’t.  I know I wanted it to be you.  But it CAN’T be you.  I’m dirty Lan Zhan.  Please…I ruin everything I touch.  I know I fantasized about it but…please don’t.  Not now.  Not after…after…”  Wei Ying sobbed hysterically.

“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji was frozen.

What is he saying?

Does he think I’m here for-

Oh

Oh no

He thinks I’m here to RAPE him

Well, this is…mortifying

“Wei Ying.”  Lan Wangji slowly sat down on the bed next to him.  “Wei Ying.  I’m not here for…that.”

Why do words have to be so HARD

“Wei Ying is safe now.  No one will touch Wei Ying without your permission again.  I won’t let them.”

Wei Ying’s crying eventually slowed to sniffles.

“I promise.  No one will hurt you again.”

“Bu-but.  Why?”

“Why, what?”

“Why?  You hate me Lan Zhan.  Why would you promise to protect me?  If you aren’t here for sex, are you here to punish me for my…cultivation?”  Wei Ying miserably mumbled into the mattress.

“Do not”

“What?”

“Do not hate Wei Ying.”

Lan Wangji slid to the floor and summoned his guqin, and began to play Clarity again until Wei Ying fell back asleep.

Wei Ying thinks that I hate him

Lan Wangji thought back to all their interactions, seeing them in a new light.  Suddenly the way that Wei Ying had looked at him when he approached at the battle of the Bloodbath at the Nightless City made more sense.  Wei Ying’s refusal to go back to Gusu with him made sense.  Wei Ying thought that Lan Wangji hated him, and wanted to punish him for his use of demonic cultivation.

Oh Wei Ying

……..Qinghe…….

A couple days later, Wen Qing came in to check on Wei Ying.

“Oh no.  Lan Zhan you can’t fool me.  If I’m not dead, then why is Wen Qing here?  She’s definitely dead.”  Wei Ying accused.

“You’re not dead you big idiot, neither am I.  Now stop stalling and strip so I can check how your scars are healing.”

Wei Ying made a fake shocked face and clutched at his outer robe.  “That is such an indecent request. And in front of Lan Zhan!”

“If you don’t take your own clothes off, I’ll just have to find someone to do it for you.”  Wen Qing shook her head like she was dealing with a petulant 3 year old.

“I’m not saying that I’m not used to being naked.  Just not in such mixed company…what would the righteous Hanguang-Jun think?”  Wei Ying stared at Wen Qing with a mock-serious face.

Lan Wangji was seated at his guqin, doing his best to ignore the conversation where words like “naked” were being thrown around in connection with Wei Ying.  He tried not to think about how he would gladly volunteer to be the one to take Wei Ying’s clothes off…

“Ack- fine, fine, fine, I’ll do it.”  Wei Ying batted away Wen Qing’s hands as she went to lower his upper robe. “You should at least be a lady and buy me a drink first.”

“Wei Ying is not allowed to drink until he is fully healed.”  Lan Wangji recited from across the room.

“And Lan Zhan is still a giant no fun stick in the mud.”  Wei Ying whined back.

“Ah, I see everything is going as it usually does.”  Nie Huaisang chirped as he breezed into the room.

“A-Sang, I protest.  The dead should not have to suffer these indignities.”  Wei Ying continued to whine.

“You’re not dead.” Wen Qing, Nie Huaisang, and Lan Wangji all said at the same time.

It was difficult to tell at this point if Wei Ying actually still believed that he had died in reality, or if he was just playing a bit for his amusement.  But either way, the three of them had taken to just refuting Wei Ying’s assertation that he was dead, rather than try to explain to him the situation in a long, drawn out fashion every time he insisted that he was dead.

Wei Ying had been told what had happened the night of his rescue.  Multiple times at this point.  Either he really didn’t believe it and he was just humoring them, or he did and he was playing because he was bored.  Lan Wangji guessed it didn’t really matter which.  It had become…a thing.

“Lan Wangji, a letter has come for you from your brother.”  Nie Huaisang handed the paper to him.  “I also received a letter from him kindly inquiring as to the state of my health and an offer to journey to Cloud Recesses for more intense healing, so I think whatever you told him did the trick.  Or he was being sarcastic.  I can’t really tell with your brother.”

“Mn” Lan Wangji responded.  His brother was probably being sarcastic.  Nie Huaisang’s acting wasn’t nearly as good as he thought it was.  He placed his hands gently on the strings of the guqin to silence it, then read the letter.

Wangji,

I received your letter informing me of your extended stay in Qinghe.  Of course I will keep an eye on my nephew and the other Juniors in your absence.  Uncle has already voiced his willingness to pitch in and take over, however I told him that it wouldn’t be necessary.

I have written to Sect Leader Jiang and he has agreed to help in the training of your Juniors for an extended time, so they can continue on with their night hunts.  He should be arriving with a selection of his own Junior Disciples in a few days.  I am sure you are already familiar with the ones he will bring with him.  He said that they were the ones who usually accompanied Jin Ling.

I will also keep a special eye on Young Master Mo, as you have asked.  Though I do believe that Sizhui and Jingyi have taken him under their wing.

Take all the time you need Wangji.    I will keep you informed of anything that needs your attention.

Your brother,

Xichen

[scarletjedi]

Sangcheng Time Travel Fixit Outline Part 3: Rebuilding

Here it is, folks, the final installment! 

(Part 1) (Part 2)

Part III: Rebuilding

After the Banquet, everyone returns to their respective sects to rebuild, with plans to meet in Lanling in one month for the Mountain Hunt/Flower Banquet

Nie Huaisang sees this as a blatant political move/first step in an ultimate power grab. Jiang Cheng sees it as well, but mostly because he’s expecting it from Jin Guangshan. Huaisang also thinks it odd because, last time, the hunt was Jin Guangyao’s idea. Who is whispering in Jin Guangshan’s ear? He retreats to Qinghe and watches and waits

Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, is at loose ends.

He is *engaged* which is the first actually new thing to happen to him in years, at this point.

The war is over, he is as he remembers except Lotus Pier never burned down, so he doesn’t have to rebuild. (He’s earned the loyalty of the disciples in the war, that hasn’t changed, but they’re different disciples, more and less familiar. He does, however, convince his father to open recruiting to their sect – if nothing else, the war and actions of the Wen have left a lot of resentful energy. They’re going to need to cover more cases over greater distance or risk a second Burial Mounds

His parents are *alive* which is great, but even after their heart to heart (or maybe because of it) his father constantly looks surprised to see him and his mother sees far too much. They’re getting along better, but nothing like the couples Jiang Cheng knows who actually love each other.

Wei Wuxian is in Gusu, and his absence is perhaps the most familiar thing, for all that Jiang Cheng occasionally finds himself frustrated and looking for him in the places where he would hide to drink after the war. (and it hurts that it’s only now sinking in how wrong that was, and what kind of leader was he that his head disciple, his brother, was in so much pain and he didn’t see it)

Maybe he should get a hobby? He misses his dogs something fierce, but refuses to allow dogs on Lotus Pier.

I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT HIS HOBBY SHOULD BE. I’m sure Nie Huaisang also has some ideas

Jiang Yanli is in Lotus Pier, and Jiang Cheng is shameless about following her around. He missed out on 16 years of his sister, he’s not missing one more minute. Yanli thinks it’s pre-wedding jitters (for both of them). She’s not *entirely* wrong

Jiang Cheng ends up spilling the beans to his sister. He’s just so tired, and it *all* comes spilling out. Time travel, Lotus Pier in flames, the death of her and Zixuan, Wei Wuxian being the weapon pointed at them, raising Jin Ling, his core—and he *cries* and Yanli cries with him and when it’s over, they have soup

Yanli invites Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to lotus pier the next day, with the idea that they’d spend the time between now and the hunt with them and go back to Gusu after the hunt. She insists (and she’s right) that they all need to be with each other. And that Wei Wuxian needs to be told.

So, Jiang Cheng writes to Nie Huaisang, appraising him of the situation. Nie Huaisang is the mastermind, after all.

Nie Huaisang has about 3 days of painting/poetry/porn before he grows tried of it (and oh, the irony), and begins his study of the yin iron shard that Xue Yang left behind, beginning by recreating his notes, and what he can remember of Wei Wuxian’s (and what he knew of what Jin Guangyao kept in his treasure room)

Meng Yao finds out and tells Mingjue because some things should not be kept secret. He gets very angry – the war didn’t do his qi any favors.

Huaisang comes clean the way he only does with his brother and Jiang Cheng – as long as the Yin Iron is around, it will be coveted and we will end up with another Wen Rohan sooner or later

Meng Yao immediately realizes Nie Huaisang is talking about Jin Guangshan. “There are faster ways of solving that problem.” “I’m not letting you assassinate him, no matter how much he deserves it”

….WOULD THIS BE A GOOD PLACE FOR A VERSION OF FATAL JOURNEY?!? Only one that is less fatal.

Nie Mingjue proposes the sword castles to suppress the Yin Iron, that it could perhaps be used instead of corpses?

Nie Huaisang brings the shard with him, but of course it all goes wrong. They get separated from the disciples (and have their wonderful heart to heart – Nie Huaisang comes clean about doing this all before. Nie Mingjue comes clean about him and Lan Xichen considering propositioning Meng Yao) and have to fight off the sword spirits raised by the Yin Iron. Which they do, together, and escape. Nie Zonghui brings Nie Huaisang back to The Unclean Realm while Mingjue oversees the settling of the castle.

Nie Huaisang makes a crack about being glad they didn’t accidentally kill Sandu Sengshu’s fiancé

Nie Huaisang gets Jiang Cheng’s letter and confesses that Nie Mingjue now knows. It may be time to start letting people know, strategically. So yes, tell Wei Wuxian…but wait for me to start research!

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji arrive in Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng tells all. Wei Wuxian hugs him so hard they both fall off the pier

Something fishy is happening. There are upticks in resentful activity that is ascribed to the fallout of a war involving the Yin Irons, but Nie Huaisang’s little birds smell something fishy. He begins to play closer attention to Jin Guangshan

Flower Mountain Hunt

No Wen prisoners this time, but Jin Zixun continues to make an ass of himself, natch

Riding in, Jiang Cheng makes DAMN sure that Nie Huaisang has flowers because they are courting and that is what one does (and Jiang Cheng has a habit of blurting out exactly what he thinks and it is at times incredibly romantic), and is *completely flustered* when Nie Huaisang beats him to it. He’s almost used to affection between them in private, but *was not prepared* for public courting when HE is the target.

Jiang Cheng refuses to look at Wangxian being themselves because of course they are. He’s mostly happy that he knows Jin Zixuan will be better behaved towards Yanli. He’s already told her he likes her, so no awkward confessions in the woods.

But, of course, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang come across Wangxian rustling some bushes, and have to VERY LOUDLY delay Zixuan and Yanli until they emerge, sheepishly pulling twigs from their hair.

They advance as a group and come across Jin Zixun harassing Wen Ning, who was until then doing very well in the hunt (because he’s a damn good archer) but he doesn’t have his years as a fierce corpse to give him the backbone he needs to tell Zixun to take a hike.

This is one step of Jin Guangshan’s plan. He wants information on how to use the Yin Iron and is convinced that Wen Qing knows something, and if she knows, then Wen Ning might know something, too. So, the purpose of this is “what do you know?” with a combination of “tell your sister to cooperate”

Without The Yilling Patriarch, there are no impostors, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t demonic cultivators - people like Xue Yang but not him because I don’t like him so he’s dead. (Wait for it!) FUCKING SU SHE!! 

Jiang Cheng - “I thought he died in the war!” “He was supposed to...”

I know his focus is on transportation arrays, but he’s also desperate to prove himself and Jin Guangshan is *good* at exploiting weakness

So, we get a “demonic cultivator” who knows just enough to be dangerous because of what he doesn’t know and can’t do. 

Despite the interruption, Wen Ning ranks in the hunt, as does Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen.

During the banquet, Jin Zixun tries that “Drink with me” bullshit to “apologize” for his shitty behavior, and to celebrate Lan Xichen’s standing.

Jin Guangshan has seen the ways the others are closing ranks and instead of saying “I have an in through my son, and possibly my nephew if he had a personality transplant” he wants to gain leverage over them.

He straight up tries to marry Zixun to Wen Qing again, thinking it’s only a matter of time before the Yilling Wen are a major house again. Wen Qing will not have any of it, because Zixun is a) odious and b) mean to her brother. 

The date for Yanli’s wedding is announced, some two months hence.

Yanli is already pregnant, and Wen Qing notices (she’s the only one)

She’ll be around just 12 weeks when they marry, and while her due date gains her some serious side-eye from her mother, Zixuan is head over heels about the baby and is the softest father – but more on that later

There is a brief meeting to discuss the state of things. They plan to meet in Qinghe after the Banquet to compare notes and study the piece of Yin Iron to which Huaisang has access (the one in Gusu is still in the hands of Lan Qiren, who would not let them experiment, and there’s no way they can get to Lanling Jin’s artifact room.)

Nie Huaisang invites everyone to Qinghe for a night hunt

Everyone shows up like “okay, why are we really here�� and are surprised when he says “no for real, a night hunt”

What are we hunting? “Xuanwu of Slaughter” the fuck you say?

Jin Zixuan mentions that his father is getting a bit too interested in the fact that Jin Zixuan is friends with the heirs to the main clans. Jin Zixuan tells him nothing except a very politely worded “fuck off” that Jin Guangshan doesn’t truly understand.

Jin Zixuan reunites with Meng Yao, and makes a formal offer of “brotherhood” 

Nie Huaisang tips Jin Zixuan off on Qin Su and Mo Xanyu, who is now a year or two old

Fighting the Xuanwu isn’t easy, but it’s easier with more people/weapons.

Wangji uses chord assassination but with the actual guqin and the help of zidian.

Wei Wuxian still goes inside the Xuanwu as bait, finding the sword.

Wen Ning uses arrows and Zixuan is rathter good with his sword, actually. Nie Huaisang fights with talismans and the occasional fan

The beast dies in 2 hours rather than 6.

“At least we didn’t have to swim for it this time.” “And I wasn’t left behind in Qishan”

They  take the sword back to Qinghe and begin their experiments in earnest. They are looking for a way to purify, destroy, or suppress the metal. Along the way, Wei Wuxian is gaining a clearer and clearer understanding of demonic cultivation.

“I have an idea, but it’s going to require huge amounts of resentful energy.” “You should go with Wen Ning to Yilling. There’s a place called the Burial Mounds” “Huaisang, no!” “Huaisang, yes!”

Before they go, Jiang Cheng reminds Wei Wuxian than he has to be happy, healthy, and whole for Yanli’s wedding. Wei Wuxian says not to worry, there’s a few things he wants to check in Gusu’s library before he tries anything

In Lotus Pier, wedding prep is in full swing, and Jiang Cheng throws himself into everything he can

It’s different than last time, last time Yanli did a lot of her prep in Lanling as Lotus Pier was still under construction

Her wedding will be perfect, damnit

True to his word, Wei Wuxian appears (sans Wangji) to escort Yanli to Lanling. For everything that’s been happening, Wei Wuxian is focused entirely on the wedding.

A-Jie’s wedding

It’s Jinlintai, so it's tacky as hell, but it’s also extravagant as hell.

Jiang Cheng weeps openly, and Nie Huaisang only mocks him a little before handing him a handkerchief. It’s odd, but so much better to have Wei Wuxian next to him, also weeping openly, but that’s Wangji’s problem.

Everyone (minus the wedded couple) end up in Jiang Cheng’s room after the wedding, and Jiang Cheng is able to ignore their absence only because of Jin Ling

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji leave for 9pm curfew (though Jiang Cheng is horrified to know that they won't be sleeping yet. He’s seen that look too many times to know differently), and one by one they all leave, leaving Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang alone for the first time in a while. Something they take full advantage of

The next morning they are woken by an alarmed Wen Qing - Wen Ning has gone Missing. They find him just over the border in Qinghe. (transportation array! Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng know IMMEDIATELY who it is - “WHY ISN’T HE DEAD?” “I don’t know!”) He’s very badly hurt, so they take him first to The Unclean Realm, bringing Wen Qing there to treat him. He’ll recover, but it will take time. Possibly, we’re looking at the return of Ghost General!Wen Qing. He was absolutely experimented on and left to die

The place they find him has been abandoned, but only recently. 

This puts Nie Mingjue and Wen Qing together, and she gets brought in on the whole “our method of cultivation makes us more susceptible to qi deviation” issue to offer medical advice, as an exchange for “allowing” Wen Ning to recover there

Like Nie Mingjue was going to kick out Nie Huaisang’s friend. Pssh. 

This is where Meng Yao approaches Wen Qing with a solution for her marriage issues (which might honestly boil down to “I’ve been in touch with my brother and he’s informed the ladies and I don’t think Jin Guangshan will be an issue any longer)

Jiang Cheng returns to Koi Tower to report to Jiang Yanli. She’s relieved that Wen Ning (and A-Qing, and when did they get so close??) are okay. She’s sad for Jiang Cheng that Nie Huaisang had to stay in Qinghe to host, as Nie Mingjue was still at Koi Tower, though he doesn’t stay long, ultimately.

Jiang Cheng returns with his parents to Lotus Pier, and is only mildly horrified to realize that his mother is beginning the preparations for HIS wedding almost immediately. Luckily, he’s able to put her off by telling her that Wen Ning was absolutely abducted by the Jin Sect. With Yilling Wen being a recognized house (and close neighbor to Yunmeng Jiang), Madame Yu is in favor of fostering good relations. She is (unfortunately) out of children, and Jiang Cheng only has to yell a little to remind her that he’s marrying Nie Huaisang and that *nobody* would be happy if he had to break his engagement to marry Wen Qing.

After his recovery, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji arrive to escort them to Yilling, where Wei Wuxian begins his task at the Burial Mounds. This puts him close enough that it makes *perfect* sense for Nie Huaisang to visit his fiancé in Lotus Pier (and assert that yes, *he* is going to marry Jiang Cheng. Wen Qing doesn’t even want to marry!)

This is the beginning of the end, everyone!

The Breakthrough

This happens “off-camera,” but basically, Wei Wuxian throws himself into the Burial Mounds, and with the help of Lan Wangji, learns how to manipulate resentful energies. With the background of his own (from another timeline) research, he’s able to stumble upon a more sustainable path very quickly.

I want it to have the side effect of purifying (at least in part) the burial mounds. It’s a form of suppression that, over time, purifies.

Absolutely, this is something that will also work on the saber spirit. This is a fix it, damnit

The End: SangCheng wedding

It all comes to a head at their wedding. It’s a natural end to both their romantic plotline (the shift from friends, to friends with benefits, to power couple, to terrifying husbands) and the other driving action (things only seem to happen near the great sects.) 

It’s a week of party, and everything goes down right before the wedding, like, the night before

Wen Ning was the test subject, and the Class of ‘84 is abducted (via talisman) to a secret location, the goal of which is to turn them into (non-zombie) puppets so that Jin Guangshan can control them. Thing more Manchurian Candidate than Renfield

This is, of course, a blatant parallel to the Guanyin Temple, where the major players are either brought back or subbed in. 

Jiang Cheng, Nie Mingjue, WN, Wei Wuxian, and Lan Wangji are all there, as is Su She

Jin Guangshan takes Jin Guangyao’s role, Jin Zixuan takes Lan Xichen’s place (I trusted you!) and Jiang Yanli takes Jin Ling’s place

Wen Qing and MianMian are also there, though they don’t have a direct parallel

I think Wen Ning still arrives, like, half way through and bursts down the door with Nie Mingjue, because that’s fucking poetry right there. (Lan Xichen should also get to have fun, and if they’re there, Meng Yao is there)

And if Meng Yao is there, then perhaps he should have a stab at Jin Guangshan. Though, I don’t think Jin Zixuan would like that

I think the most fitting end is that Jin Guangshan is subject to the weight of his own hubris. His cultivation is high, which helped to a certain extent, but this isn’t the sort of cultivation that can be brute-strengthed. Best case scenario, you have Wen Rohan. Worst case, you blow yourself up. I’m not sure if a Qi Deviation or literal explosion would be better here. 

They marry, and live happily ever after

Jiang Yanli might also announce that she’s pregnant...and Jiang Cheng might cry “HIS NAME IS JIN LING COURTESY RULAN AND HE’S A GODDAMN MESS BUT HE TRIES SO HARD I MISS HIM SO MUCH"

Well, that’s all she wrote, folks! I’m going to be writing bits and pieces of this, at least, and I’m more than willing to take suggestions! If there’s something you want to see written out, let me know!

[words-writ-in-starlight]

THE UNTAMED, YOUR CHOICE OF OURAN AU, SOUL EATER AU, S&S AU, OR CORPSE BRIDE AU

OKAYI’M GOING TO DO THE OURAN AU BECAUSE I THINK IT’S REALLY FUNNY AND I MADE THEBAD CHOICE™ OF READING A BUNCH OF NEWS TODAY.  Uh.  Mycomputer crashed halfway through this and I think somehow it got longer,so.  Sorry about that one.

ONE

Wen Ning is a scholarship student.  He’s more than ascholarship student, really, he’s a here by the grace of every godever and also his sister student who also, incidentally, is ona scholarship.  The phenomenally wealthy Wen family recently went down ina blaze of indignity and political scandal, but newly-broke Wen Qing is not hearing any arguments about sending her babybrother to a less-than-top-of-the-line high school, especially since he acedthe tests and was given a full ride except for books and uniform.  SinceWen Qing was halfway through med school at the time of the Wen scandal, they’reburning through their meager inheritance to get her degree and make ends meetfor food, on the gamble eventually they might be able to move out of their absolutelyshit one-bedroom apartment on a doctor’s salary and also because Wen Ning pointblank refused to let her drop out.  Therefore, when Wen Ning tries to hideout in an empty music room and accidentally breaks a very expensive vase, he hasa moment of abject dread and–well, yeah, okay, he’ll work it off, he guesses.

TWO

WeiWuxian isn’t actually planning to charge this kid for a vase that is definitelyworth more than the entire apartment building he lives in!  Wei Wuxian isnot an asshole!  It’s just that he hasnever seen this scholarship kid with the secondhand clothes and the long hairhiding his face and the unfortunate name speak to anyone outside of absolutelymandatory conversation, and it’s kind of depressing.  So, Wuxian has decided to adopt him, teachhim how to talk to people, and maybe buy him a ponytail holder.  He has about five seconds to get all of thatout on the third day since recruiting Wen Ning, when a very petite woman in ared coat storms in like a hurricane and corners Wuxian alone (or rather, withonly Lan Wangji, which is as close as it gets) with apparently homicidal intentto snarl, “If you’re messing with my brother’s head, no one will ever find yourbody.”

(WenNing did not mention being low-key press-ganged into a host club on the firstday.  On the second day, he came home ina real uniform that actually fit, with his hair cut into something thatresembled a style and pulled back from his face, and he had to spill hisguts because not even Wen Qing’s sleep schedule was going to make her miss thatone.)

Turnsout that the sister Wen Ning mentioned, implying that she was the same kind ofangelic creature as Jiang Yanli, is fucking terrifying.  Wei Wuxian rambles through hisexplanation so fast that he kind of doubts Wen Qing gets all of it, and then hewaves his hands helplessly and says, “I don’t know, he just seemed kind oflonely?”  Wen Qing narrows her eyes athim.  “It’s true!  I never see him talk to anyone!”

“A-Ningis a good kid,” she says, shoving a finger into Wuxian’s chestthreateningly.  “Our family never likedhim because he’s too nice, and no one else likes him because of his name, so ifI hear you’re messing with him…”

“Iswear,” Wuxian says, raising his hand.  “Ijust thought maybe it would be good for him, having some people to hang outwith.”

WenQing studies him for another moment, and then she steps back and nods and says,“It will be.”

Andthat’s how the host club gets a part-time manager in addition to its latestrecruit.

THREE

Thehosts are:

[rose_petal_animation.gif]

WeiWuxian, whois nominally in charge because he came up with this whole idea, on the argumentthat, quote, “Jiang Cheng needs to learn to be nicer.”  It was also tacitly agreed that he and JiangCheng needed something that would keep them out of the house and therefore outof Madam Yu’s way after school, and they’d already been kicked out of themartial arts club after a slight incident involving Wei Wuxian’s fist, JinZixuan’s face, and Jiang Cheng’s unapologetic support.  Wuxian went around and recruited some folks,and now he has a host club, which, in his opinion, is markedly more fun thanthe martial arts club.  The Mischievoustype.

JiangCheng,who has spent three years in this circus and is not noticeably nicer.  He’s likable enough with the guests, but nomatter what Wei Wuxian says, Jiang Cheng does know how to be civil whenthe situation calls for it.  He spends mostof his time trying to reign in his brother’s more wild ideas, but his successrate isn’t great, because their sets-and-costumes guy is a horrible enablerwith family money who is more than willing to contribute to all kinds ofnonsense as long as he can show up with a fan and look mysterious while hewatches the chaos at their events.  JiangCheng says he’s the Long-Suffering type but actually he’s the Bad Boy typebecause of his temper.

JinZixuan,who is only here because his mother said he’d be grounded until he graduatesunless he found a good extracurricular and he didn’t know who ran the host clubwhen he blurted out that he was planning to join it.  Now he’s committed because his mother will notsupport him leaving and it’s been three years and also he still hasn’t gottenJiang Yanli’s phone number, which has become absolutely necessary because thethree minutes he sees her every Thursday when she comes to get her brothers fortheir weekly sibling dinner are the best of his week.  There is a good chance Zixuan’s going to getpunched again when he finally gets his courage up to ask her out, but sometimesit be like that.  The Princely type, althoughhe’s hopeless when he’s not playing a part.

LanWangji, treasurer,who is only here because Wei Wuxian asked him to be, and everyone (except WeiWuxian) knows it.  He’s still remarkablypopular with the guests, despite the fact that most people are lucky to get fiveconsecutive words out of him and it’s a known fact that he’ll bow out of aconversation with nothing more than a brief apology and a nod the moment Wuxiancalls him.  Somehow, three years later,Wuxian has not picked up on the fact that Wangji is really not here tolearn to talk to women.  Save him.  The Stoic type.

LanXichen, generalsource of stability if not necessarily common sense, who is here because hisbrother is here.  He and Wen Qing bondimmediately over their shared Protective Older Sibling energies, although WenQing is very much here to beat up anyone who looks sideways at her brother andXichen is very much here to wingman his brother as hard as he can manage.  He’s a year older than the others, graduatingthis year, and the most popular host by a long shot.  The Chivalrous type.

WenNing, who,yeah, is wide-eyed and shy and tends to start stuttering if more than threeguests are looking at him at any given moment, but he has an apparently innatetalent for sweet and unassuming kindness that’s a big hit.  The guests are charmed by his nervousness andthey’re always happy to listen to him talk about his favorite subjects (his sister,his friends, and archery, which he currently can’t afford to do but knowseverything about, in that order). The Natural type.

Honorablemention to Nie Mingjue, who graduated last year and was only partof the host club because Lan Xichen made him. Which is to say, Xichen smiled at him and talked about how gladhe was that Wangji was making friends and how good it would look onMingjue’s college applications as a complement to his more athleticextracurriculars and how happy Huaisang would be to do something withhis brother, and then Mingjue blinked and boom, host club.  He doesn’t have any idea what happened.  Xichen is like that.  The Jock type.

FOUR

NieHuaisang has been Wei Wuxian’s top enabler and partner in chaos since they werein middle school and he also knows everyone and everything despite hisreputation as a top-notch dumbass.  Hisentire rationale for not being part of the host club is that it wouldrequire him to admit to knowing things, and he Won’t, which—top student Wei “IHandle My Adequacy Issues By Being Smart But Also Have Guilt About It” Wuxiandoesn’t totally get that, but sure, okay, proceed.  Huaisang does, however, have anexcellent grasp of how to acquire all manner of strange things, so he is theirone-man supply center for all manner of wild concepts.  One time he got an entire apple treenext-day-shipped just to prove he could.

Also,Huaisang is personally responsible for making most of the host club’s money,because he has a camera and a good sense for the kind of pictures that peoplewill pay for.  Even funneling most of the money back into funding the club activities, Huaisang is still managing to turn a decent profit all told.  He takes a nice 7% cut for himself (friends and family discount), which is half the reason Mingjue didn’t kick up even more of a fuss about it.

Huaisang’svisceral hatred of the head editor of the school paper is the best kept secretin the school but on god Huaisang’s connections are better than that JinGuangyao asshole’s and he’s going to take him down before graduation.

FIVE

Halfwaythrough the school year, Wei Wuxian gets in a car wreck and the way Lan Wangjireacts to being the first number the paramedics find in Wuxian’s phone is informative.  It’s taken five and a half years, four brokenribs, a punctured lung, a concussion, and a spirited yelling sessionfrom Jiang Cheng, among other things, but Wei Wuxian has finally managed to geta clue.

Anda boyfriend.

Nowall they need to do is resolve Huaisang’s vendetta, figure out how the hell afirst year like Xue Yang managed to so comprehensively destroy ex-teacher XiaoXingchen’s reputation, and try and make it to Wen Qing’s graduation on time,and they’re golden.

[baoshan-sanren]

Part 19

to the fucking NieLan arranged marriage AU I can’t stop thinking about - I’m really temped to name this “How To Communicate With Your Husband: A Narrative in Many Parts by Lan XiChen and Nie MingJue”

pt.1 here | pt.2 here | pt.3 here | pt.4 here | pt.5 here | pt.6 here | pt.7 here | pt.8 here | pt.9 here | pt.10 here | pt.11 here | pt.12 here | pt.13 here | pt.14 here | pt.15 here | pt.16 here | pt.17 here | pt.18 here

In the end, the official Conference is postponed for five days.

XiChen understands the reasoning behind the decision. The sects and clans that had participated in the Sunshot Campaign are determined to have a voice in something that will affect them all for decades to come. It will take time for them to gather, and it will take time for the next Chief Cultivator to be chosen. But this also means that XiChen must choose between remaining in the Nightless City for five days, at his husband’s side, or leaving for QingHe on his own.

MingJue cannot leave. Although he has made it clear that he will not take Wen RuoHan’s place, he seems to have been designated Chief Cultivator in the interim. Suddenly, no decision can be made without him, no meeting held, no task delegated. He is constantly sought after, every hour of the day, and XiChen finds himself both pleased and irritable in equal measure. His husband is a natural leader; he allows no nonsense or sect politics to influence his decisions, and it is exhilarating to watch him plow over Jin GuangShan’s veiled suggestions, Madam Yu’s blunt disrespect, and even Jiang FengMian’s patient monologues. At the same time, XiChen is no longer satisfied with a rushed kiss in the middle of the day, or the few careful ones late in the night, long after he has drifted off to sleep. Although his face heats each time he thinks of it, he wants to be back in the Unclean Realm, in his own marriage bed, with his husband at his disposal. He cannot bear the idea of being apart from MingJue again, so soon after everything that had taken place, and the thought of returning home on his own, of having to wait days to see him again, is too unsettling to even consider.

His desire to remain in close proximity to his husband is far outweighed by his urge to be far away from Wen RuoHan’s gaudy carpets, and gold wall hangings, and red linens; he decides to stay, already certain that he will hate every moment of the five days to come. On the second day however, respite comes from an unlikely source. The remainder of the Nie Sect left behind at QingHe arrives at the Nightless City gates, HuaiSang and MeiLing at their head.

They have arrived to fight, as the last message carried to QingHe had given them no certainty of victory, but all except MeiLing seem relieved to find the battle long over. XiChen is amazed but unsurprised that MeiLing has a full set of armor that is her own, a set that looks ancient and well-used. She does not discard it on her arrival, nor does she discard her saber, a heavy blade far more intimidating than any XiChen has seen so far. Instead, she barrels through the Nightless City with her brothers at her shoulders, determined to battle something after having traveled all the way from QingHe, and easily finds other things to beat into submission.

A-Sang seems slightly more subdued than he had been the last time XiChen had seen him, but his bright chatter and nonsensical observations remain unchanged. He inspects the chambers MingJue and XiChen had chosen to remain in for the next five days, and then, without a pause in some story XiChen is only half-listening to, he begins to alter the space in ways XiChen would have never thought of on his own. The Nie Sect servants are ordered to move the tea table close to the window, another is tasked with stripping the tapestries from the walls, two more are sent running to look for any cloth that is not crimson or gold. In a matter of hours, the space no longer seems as unbearable as it was, and XiChen feels overwhelmed with gratitude. He is not ashamed to admit that he tears up a little bit then, while A-Sang flutters uselessly around him, and sends more servants for another pot of tea and snacks. Afterwards, they sit in silence, and even the Nightless City suffocating breeze feels a little less oppressive.

The next day, the elders of the Lan Sect arrive, and XiChen is forced into numerous discussions that hold no interest. He understands that this is an important decision, and he is not exactly ambivalent about the choice of the next Chief Cultivator. Jin GuangShan has been playing his games, and sowing his whispers among the other sect leaders, trying to secure support even while the dead bodies were being dragged out of Wen RuoHan’s receiving hall. XiChen is very much invested in Jin GuangShan not becoming the next Chief Cultivator. But he is not ashamed to admit that he is invested in little else, and finds himself often nodding along with whatever the elders suggest, daydreaming about the next moment he and MingJue may have to themselves.

For once in his life, WangJi seems to have a better handle on the situation as a whole. He attends every meeting, voices his dissent without remorse, and continuously shows himself be just and honorable in his opinions. At the same time, Young Master Wei can often be seen rushing down the halls with a smile that could rival the sun, his robes ruffled and his hair tangled, obvious bite marks gracing his neck. XiChen is not exactly jealous of his brother, but he thinks it terribly ironic, that WangJi has so easily found the right balance, when XiChen still seems to be struggling with his own.

--

He does not sleep well.

Some of it is the simple inability to shift around any way he would like, without pain, without having to consciously consider how his body is positioned. He falls asleep easily, but wakes often, and each time he does, it is a little more difficult to drift back under. After three nights of this, he is exhausted by the process. MingJue had come to bed late, as he had every night since the City had fallen. XiChen had been drifting between the thin layer of sleep and deeper dreams, and he vaguely remembers lips brushing over his temple, and a sweet rush of warmth in his chest. Now, MingJue is sleeping peacefully, body curved towards XiChen’s side of the bed.

It is difficult to guess the hour in the darkness, but XiChen thinks the dawn is not too far off. He moves silently around the chambers, foregoing the trappings of propriety and status. There is no hair ornament that does not seem too heavy to bear this morning, and the clothes laid out the night before are too time consuming for his tired fingers. There is a restlessness under his skin again, one that cannot bear the idea of sitting still until the sun rises. Tying his hair off loosely with a ribbon, he shrugs on MingJue’s coat instead, and steps out into the hallway.

He has no set destination, allowing his feet to take him where they will. The palace is silent at this time of the morning, and XiChen meets no one except an occasional guard on the night duty, bowing silently before moving on. It is hard to believe, when faced with empty cavernous halls and deserted courtyards, that almost every sect and clan leader in the cultivation world is already somewhere within the palace walls. The Jin Sect Elders are still due to arrive; another handful of clan leaders who had been stationed far in the southeast, are only now crossing YiLing on their way to QiShan. But even without them, in the daylight hours, the Nightless City already feels as if it is bursting at the seams, loud, and crowded, and stifling. At this very moment, however, empty of noise, stripped of all its garish ornaments, and exposed down to its bare structural bones, XiChen thinks it does not looks so different from the Unclean Realm.

He wonders what it must feel like to Wen Qing, trapped in a place she had escaped once already, seeing the emblems of her former sect so casually tossed aside. As a child, he had loved stories of battles of wars, of empires raising and falling. But he had never thought he would see an entire sect be erased from existence in his own lifetime. He has little pity for Wen RuoHan or those who had followed him blindly, but sometimes he thinks that the cure can cause more pain more than the ailment had, just as Wen Qing’s salve had done on his injured back.  

Mind preoccupied with Wen Qing, he finds that his feet had taken him to the south side of the palace, where she had taken the former healer’s chambers as her own. He has no intention of disturbing her. The south courtyard is not nearly as overwhelming as the others, and he thinks he may even settle under the tung trees for some time, and wait for the sun to rise. But the main chamber, where she had set countless bones and wrapped more than one injured limb in the last few days, is wide open and lit up brightly. She is sitting at the work bench, head bent over a a book, another two dozen precariously stacked at her right shoulder. She seems to sense him rather than hear him. Although he had considered simply continuing on, he cannot do so now that she had seen him.

“Is your back giving you pain?” she asks immediately, and he has to smile, that this is the first thing on her mind.

“No more than usual. Sleep is difficult, but the pain is bearable.”

Her expression clearly says that she does not think he is being truthful, and she rises from her seat, moving to slide the door closed.

“Let me see.”

He strips down to the waist easily, as he is only wearing two layers, the outer one quite a bit larger than his own tends to be. Her fingers are careful even as they press here and there, searching for something only she can see.

“It is healing well,” she says after a while, “I believe it may be time to start treatment to minimize scarring.”

While she is riffling through the shelves, he shrugs his his robe back on, and tries to find the right words for the questions that have been chasing back and forth across his mind.

In the end, he has nothing more eloquent than: “Have you been well?”

“I have been busy,” she says, without looking up from the small jars lined up on the counter, “Many of the sect ladies want to be of use, but know nothing of medicine, and are incapable of taking instruction.”

She pauses, then adds somewhat begrudgingly, “The Sect Leader Jiang’s daughter is ... adequate.”

XiChen does not know Jiang YanLi well, and can only vaguely picture her face. He knows she is here, in the Nightless City, but has not seen her yet, and every attempt to remember their last meeting only brings about an impression of a sweet smile.

Wen Qing brings him two jars of ointment, one thick and white in color, and the other slick and clear.

“This one is for your back,” she says, tapping the white one, “twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening. If Sect Leader Nie is too preoccupied for the task, I will find the time. It will not eliminate the scarring, but it should decrease the worst of it.”

XiChen is still flustered at the insinuation that MingJue should be the one to apply it, when she moves on smoothly to the next jar, “I highly doubt either one of you came to the Nightless City prepared to stay, or to engage in more intimate activities. I know many of the others have not, as I have given out nearly twenty of these in three days. The supply is already low, so use it sparingly. And I do not think I need to tell you to be careful of your injury.”

XiChen feels his face light on fire, and fumbles the jar, nearly dropping it on the floor.

“I-- this is-- not necessary.”

She is already walking back to her workbench, unruffled by his embarrassment, “No? Keep it regardless. Wen RuoHan had always insisted on the best quality medicine that can be produced, even in this-- particular area. I will wager you will not find one of equal value in QingHe.”

Face burning so brightly that even his eyes feel hot, XiChen quickly tucks away the jars into the pockets of the coat, determined to go no further with this conversation. Still, it takes him a few moments to gather his wits, and stop the unwelcome suggestions his mind insists on providing, of every possible way the ointment could be used.

He clears his throat, “Is-- is your brother adjusting well?”

“As well as can be expected,” she says, eyes back on the book, “Considering he has to live with having killed his Sect Leader without reaping any of the benefits. If such an act can be said to have benefits.”

XiChen is not quite sure how to respond to such a statement. He had thought himself hardened to blunt speech after having lived in the Unclean Realm for months, but Wen Qing still manages to throw him off balance.

“It was kind of Sect Leader Nie to have Nie ZhongHui take my brother under his protection,” she says after a moment, looking up, “Do thank him for this consideration, as I have not had a chance to speak to him yet.”

“Of course,” XiChen says, although he is not aware of any such thing.

He does remember seeing Wen Ning by Nie ZhongHui’s side more than once, but had not given it much thought. She says nothing else however, looking as if she means to continue with her work, and would prefer to do so undisturbed.

He bows, “Thank you, Healer Nie. I will take my leave.”

She snorts at the title, but tilts her head in acknowledgment.

XiChen feels the jar of ointment burning in the pocket all the way back to his chambers.

[marzaid]

Could you imagine if after Lan Wangji visits the Burial Mounds he hoes straight to Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren and is like “look I know you don’t trust Wei Ying but you are coming with me back to the Burial Mounds.” So they take a family trip to the Burial Mounds, unexpectedly, and are greeted by Wen Ning, the Ghost General, who seems harmless. They ask to speak with We Wuxian, who is very anxious because he might trust Lan Wangji but he isn’t sure about the rest of his family. The Lans find how they’re just trying to farm and make do with what they have.

Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren are very confused because they were told by a Jin Guangshan that Wei Wuxian was forming an evil army but apparently he picked up fatherhood and farming instead? A-Yuan calls Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren uncle and great uncle respectively because he just assumes that they’re family. Lan Xichen takes it in stride because honestly A-Yuan is the most adorable child and I headcanon that Lan Xichen adores children. Lan Qiren is conflicted because on one hand this child is adorable and he probably secretly likes kids but on the other this child is apparently Wei Wuxian’s??

Anyway so the Lans all collectively lose their shit and go to Jiang Cheng because they want to know if he was aware of this, which he was but he had no power to take care of his brother. Lan Xichen is like “hmmm I will call my sworn brothers here” and Jiang Cheng is having a hard time because Jiang Yanli’s wedding is probably in a day or so so he’s STRESSED. They agree to let Jiang Yanli get married first even because trying to clear Wei Wuxian’s name will be a long arduous process that might delay their wedding. Plus the marriage will give them another Jin to persuade. So they get married and the Jiang siblings tell Wei Wuxian the plan.

About a week or so after the wedding everyone is called to Lotus Pier and the situation is explained. Nie Mingjue refuses to believe without seeing it first, so suddenly there are group tours of the Burial Mounds. Wei Wuxian and the Wens are tired and confused and they just want to live in peace maybe find a better place to reside that doesn’t have resentful energy and dead bodies but they’ll take what they’re given. Nie Mingjue might have hated the Wens but he’s a fair man (y’all can fight me on this one he is fair and kind fuck you), so he also backs the campaign to bring justice because he doesn’t believe in involving civilians in the fight. He also has a long conversation with Wen Qing because he wanted to understand why she never came forward if she didn’t agree with her uncle and cousins and learns that her younger brother’s life was what she was trying to protect. He thinks of Nie Huaisang and understands immediately as he would do anything to protect his brother as well.

Jin Zixuan and Jin Guangyao also go on one of the tours of the Burial Mounds and their reactions are very different. Jin Zixuan is horrified are the implications of what his family has done and vows as heir apparent to the Jin sect to do something about it. His father refuses to go, no surprise there, but Madam Jin and some of the elders go on one and they are equally as horrified, vowing to help in whatever way they can. Jin Guangyao, on the other hand, sees his plan falling apart and is freaking out. If everyone sides with Wei Wuxian and the Wens then he, Jin Guangyao, won’t be able to use him as a scapegoat and a means to help himself rise to power. He tries to frame Wei Wuxian by setting out traps around the Burial Mounds for people coming in on tours. The problem is that they catch some innocent civilians instead and Wei Wuxian is furious threatening to put up a barrier to stop anyone from coming in at all.

The other issue for Jin Guangyao was that he had promised Jin Guangshan that he would get the Yin Tiger Seal but was unable to convince anyone that the chief cultivator should have it. One of the agreements between Wei Wuxian and everyone else was that he would give half the seal to the Lan and the other half to the Nie. This way they could have it destroyed publicly. He originally wanted to hand it over to Jiang Cheng but other cultivators especially from smaller sects were wary of this and thought that the Jiang would use it to take over. So the Lan and Nie split it since they are considered the most fair of the major sects.

The Yin Tiger Seal is destroyed and the crimes of Jin Guangshan and crew are revealed. The rest of the sects, especially the smaller ones, want Jin Guangshan to step down both as chief cultivator and sect leader but he refuses. Even within the Jin sect there’s a rift. Half the sect wants him to step down and the other half support him for various reasons. The half that want him to step down rally behind Jin Zixuan and nominate him as their sect leader refusing to acknowledge Jin Guangshan. They work together with the other sects to rectify the wrongs their sect committed. However, there’s the part of the sect that still supports Jin Guangshan and they won’t go down without a fight.

Surprisingly, there are people from other sects that also rally behind Jin Guangshan and the remnants of his sect that stayed with him. They form an army hellbent on taking down Wei Wuxian and the rest of the Wen and anyone that gets in their way. Jin Guangyao, who has been vying for his fathers approval his entire life, stays by his fathers side despite the evidence and knowing that it’s wrong. He tries to convince Lan Xichen of this but is unsuccessful. The trust and affection he built up from Lan Xichen is gone and maybe he’s devastated but he convinces himself that once he has his fathers approval and then once he is chief cultivator and the most powerful that Lan Xichen will come crawling back. He won’t but Jin Guangyao keeps trying to convince himself otherwise.

A battle at the Burial Mounds ensues and Wei Wuxian is only just able to ensure that the Wens are taken to safety. The other sects back Wei Wuxian and there is another long, exhausting series of bloody battles just like those of the Sunshot campaign. Wei Wuxian uses resentful energy as best as he can but at some point realizes that he’s been regrowing a golden core (this is a thing in my mind let me dream). He uses a combination of spiritual and resentful energy and teaches Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, and the rest of the Jiangi how to do it. They don’t have to use it to the extent that he used to but they still understand how to control it when needed (new Jiang technique besides what Jiang Cheng eventually develops too).

Jin Guangshan falls and his supporters lose. Some of them abandon him as they start seeing his side losing the war, others abandon him right after his death. There are still those who are extremely loyal to Jin Guangshan even after the man’s death but they become a small minority. Maybe they for, their own sect under Jin Guangyao. He can’t take the Jin name anymore because Jin Zixuan is still alive and rightfully claims that name. Maybe he goes back to Meng Yao, who knows, but he is still the face of that small group that want justice for their cause even if their cause means death to innocent people.

After the war is finally through, the position of chief cultivator is abolished, as none of the sects like the idea of one man having that much power. They saw it with Wen Ruohan, with Jin a Guangshan, and arguably with Wei Wuxian. They opt for a democratic panel where representatives from each sect regardless of their size have regular discussions to sort out problems arise. These discussions are not set in one spot and regularly move so that each sect regardless of size takes a turn at hosting everyone.

Wei Wuxian is reinstated as head disciple and right hand man of Jiang though if anyone asks Jiang Cheng he stubbornly says that it was a temporary hiatus. The rest of the Wen settle in Yunmeng because they liked being close to We Wuxian as they see him and now by extension the Jiang as their family. Uncle Four opens the best liquor shop in all of Yunmeng that has people from all over coming to it for a try of all his different brews. Wen Qing and Wen Ning because the official doctors of the Jiang but also regularly take people from anywhere and occasionally travel if needed. Granny and A-Yuan live in Lotus Pier with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng and Granny becomes everyone’s Granny. She cares for the young disciples and also always makes sure that Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng are taking care of themselves. How can they deny her anything anyway? Are you going to disappoint Granny? Plus she has Jiang Yanli on speed dial and they would die rather than make their big sister sad. A-Yuan becomes a new disciple of the Jiang.

It’s decided at one of the discussion conferences that it would be good for young disciples as they near adulthood to learn from other sects. Not necessarily all their techniques but to meet new people gain more knowledge. Some sects have occasional workshops while some of the bigger sects invite disciples to have an extended stay. A-Yuan, who’s already best friends with His cousin Jin Ling at this point, becomes good friends with the other juniors his age as well, Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen. The four of them form an unbreakable group.

The Jiang under Jiang Cheng grow exponentially because he takes in people that remind him of Wei Wuxian. People in bad situations and in bad spots and gives them a safe haven. There’s a running joke among the disciples to see which brother, Jiang Cheng or Wei Wuxian, adopts more kids to take care of.

Somewhere along the way Wangxian probably elopes. Maybe right in the middle of the war. Jiang Cheng loses his shit because he’s been planning Wei Wuxian’s wedding since he moved to Lotus Pier when they were kids. So they have a ceremony when things settled down that neither Wei Wuxian nor Lan Wangji could say no to because their respective brothers had been so excited at the prospect of a wedding.

In the end, things are finally peaceful. Occasionally, some tries to rise up and gain power and hurt others but they’ve got a pretty good handle on things.

Everyone lives and is happy. The end.

[jcs-writing-hell]

@polskipolikarp here’s your other request! just as a small info this won’t be an incest story. before anyone says dna tests aren’t possible - they can organ transplant, so. happy little au. boy’s not gonna go through unnecessary suffering in my household.

- kinda based on this AU, if you or anyone wants more info drop it below or in a ask/message -

MY/Qin Su | Category: Confession | Keywords: Crush, First Time, Kiss

- Meng Yao couldn’t quite understand how he had gotten himself caught up in this situation. He had rescued many in the Sunshot Campaign, yet the recognition he earned was to a large extent fake or superficial. Most kept talking about him, not only behind his back, the way they had done before as well: badly.

There was one lady however that he had saved as well.. that was off-puttingly different. Qin Su, a pretty maiden with a graceful yet child like face, character innocent yet more than anything honest, gentle and welcoming.

What was so off-putting about her, however, was that she never once failed to show how she felt towards him. In truth, it wasn’t like she ran after him, yet she appeared in his life a few too many times..

And whenever she was present she looked at him in ways Meng Yao had only seen getting directed at people like Lan Xichen, or even Nie Mingjue, Jin Zixuan.Qin Su’s eyes were full of admiration, compassion, interest - in short, she looked at him in a way that Meng Yao had always dreamed off. As if he was of importance, had worth.. but dreaming of that & it actually happening were 2 different matters..

And even though Meng Yao naturally couldn’t refrain from his heart getting pulled towards her, he could neither understand what she saw in him, nor did he feel as if he could give her all the things she deserved.It didn’t go unnoticed from others either how Qin Su & Meng Yao began to act. While she never hid the feelings that only grew stronger in her heart for him - Meng Yao soon let the distance he had created between the two of them decrease as well.

The closer they got however without taking a step too far or quick.. The louder & more cruel the voices of outsiders got that didn’t think of Meng Yao the way Qin Su did. Purposefully, whenever Qin Su wasn’t around, people began to whisper too loudly things such as..

,,Did you see them at it again? The maiden must be his sister, or immediate family, how else would she see anything in that son of a prostitute?”

Often times followed by a comment from someone else around the lines of:

,,No one but his mother would be able to love him, she definitely has to be family - Not like his own father even loves him though, so even with his family he has no luck.”

Meng Yao didn’t want to admit it, yet he had grown weak in his heart over the years. He had lost the strength to play deaf,.. And so he began to let the distance between himself and Qin Su grow again - not only because he loved her too much for her to be talked about this way, but also because he started to somewhat believe the rumours himself.

~💛~

Meng Yao had lost track of how many times he dodged and avoided Qin Su. He had shut down each of her tries to ask him what was going on as well.. However, Qin Su didn’t give up - She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if she did so without ever getting to know why even and continue living with the uncertainty.

,,A-Yao, please.. Just tell me what I’ve done wrong.” Qin Su begged with tears in her eyes, the redness of them making it clear that she had spend a long time already crying by herself; it made Meng Yao’s heart stop beating. 

She had gotten a hold of him at night, as he was patrolling through the Qinghe Nie Sect, with no plausible reason he could give her to run off. ,,A-Su.. I appreciate your efforts,.. yet.. We should stop being involved with one another.”

 Meng Yao tried it that way, his voice trembling too much to convince Qin Su of his lack of interest in seeing her again & so forth however.

,,I have spend so long by now trying to earn a place in your heart.. I was so happy when I noticed you were finally accepting me.. How can I give up and let you go back to how you were before.. without even knowing the reason why? Do I not deserve an answer, my dear?”

All Meng Yao could do really was turn away from her, he loved her so truly and dearly.. But more than anything he questioned how she could still call him the way she had just done while he was in the process of pushing her away once again.

It took minutes before Meng Yao gave in, opening up about what was going on around them as well as inside of his mind - mostly because by then she had still not ran, how he feared and hoped at the same time.

,,The people started talking, even though they dare not to say it around you.. They say that the only way for you to love me, must be.. deep rooted affections caused by a bond deeper than love.. and instead by blood relation..”

There spread silence between them for a longer while before Qin Su spoke up in a tone full of disbelief but more than anything it was audible how hurt she was and that in turn almost crushed the last remaining bits of the facade Meng Yao managed to keep up.

,,A-Yao.. What are you even saying..? Don’t tell me you believe them? Don’t tell me you believe this nonsense more than in my heart..”

,,It’s not that I don’t believe you, A-Su.. please, trust me.. There’s nothing I want more than for that between us to be real, genuine.. Yet I can’t ignore their words, knowing how my father is..”

,,Then.. Let’s prove them wrong, A-Yao.. Let us visit my parents and ask them if anything has ever happened and no matter what they say, there must be a way for us to confirm what I know already.. I love you for you, my dear..”

Qin Su said after a while, her tone so gentle, comforting and full of understanding.. Even though he wanted to, Meng Yao couldn’t push her away as she walked around, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest.

~💛~

To both of their horror it turned out to be true that something had happened between Jin GuangShan & Qin Su’s mother once.. It were frightening, terrible and enraging news to hear that Meng Yao’s father had laid hands on Madam Qin once many years ago.

Regardless of that however, just to confirm, they went to the best doctor they knew of - Wen Qing, who had turned against the Wen Sect before the destruction of Lotus Pier, ultimately saving the lives of dozens with her “betrayal”.

After far too long of living with the uncertainty Wen Qing then finally confirmed what Qin Su had said all along: Meng Yao & her were not related, she was in fact the child of the man that had raised her.

Regardless, Qin Su feared for the damage having pierced too deeply through their love that never truly started.. Her head was hanging low as they left Wen Qing’s chambers, yet..

,,A-Su..?”

,,Yes..?”

The little nickname she had used for so long remained stuck in her throat, she couldn’t say it with this new uncertainty & the sadness it brought lingering.

The next thing she knew, however, was that Meng Yao picked her up by the waist, swirling her around in the air before letting her down - only to pull her so close to his chest that she could barely breathe.

,,You cannot understand how relieved I am right now..” To Meng Yao’s shock as relieved as he had sounded, so wholeheartedly, Qin Su snickered before speaking in a teasing and playful tone.

,,I think I can.. because acting like that is so not like you, my dear.~”

,,Because you are the only one around whom I am myself, A-Su.. My trust, my longing, my heart, my love, my life - it’s all for you.”

Even though their eyes initially met, neither could keep up the eye-contact as they both went a little red in the face.. How good it was that no one was around right now, or at least they thought so.

Letting out a soft sigh, Qin Su nuzzled her head against Meng Yao’s chest before asking something in a tone a little too shy for her usual self. ,,Your longing.. Your life.. But what about your dream, A-Yao? What about the LanLing Jin Sect?”

,,I can abandon this dream easily, knowing how much harm they brought over us, even more so our families.. I would rather abandon this cursed sect than risk losing everything I’ve built up for myself now,.. us, especially.”

Qin Su couldn’t help but look up at Meng Yao now, and what she saw was all she could’ve ever dreamed off: The same loving gaze she had directed at Meng Yao since the beginning. The way he gently stroked over her cheek a moment later only made this all more real - more perfect.

,,A person isn’t chained to one dream in a lifetime,.. My dream changed before I knew it.. If I want to live and be a better person, someone my mother can be proud of.. I will give it all for that, for you, for us.. And even if I have but one person in my life who knows my true worth, my true self.. I understand now that that’s enough.. May I.. May I kiss you, my dream?”

Qin Su’s expression changed from wide eyed and surprised to somewhat smug quite quick as she spoke up again in the same playfully teasing tone from before.

,,I already thought you would never ask, my dear.~”

,,Please accept my apology for making you wait, my dream.~” Meng Yao replied in a low, loving tone after letting out a soft chuckle himself.

And then finally he leaned in and their lips brushed clumsily together before meeting. The kiss wasn’t perfect, they were smiling so much it was as hard not to break it as it was to even kiss. It wasn’t perfect, there was no show behind it.. Only raw, genuine emotions being delivered and conveyed.

~💛~

Nie Mingjue would go on to tease his most trusted right hand man quite a lot for many things. 

Especially about the fact that as long as Meng Yao & Qin Su had taken to get together, as quickly did everything happen afterwards. They had already fallen pregnant while the preparations for the engagement ceremony & wedding were still going on.

Jin Zixuan even appeared in front of them once as he had finally heard of the deeds of his father, apologising for it - even if it wasn’t is fault - and honestly.. Meng Yao who had always felt jealousy towards his half brother for having the spot he could have as well.. 

Looking at Jin Zixuan all ashamed, barely able to indulge in his luck of marrying A-Li soon, Meng Yao actually felt bad for him.

How dumb was he for ever wanting to have the others spot?

-

Check out my MDZS Writing Game | Requests open anytime

[nognahtos]

Chapter 62 is OMO

*Please disregard my poor writing and commentary skills, for I am no expert of these things. Newbie alert here.*

"Jiang Cheng stood up almost immediately. It was Wei WuXian!"

Like, what the actual fuck is ALMOST doing there!? It was Wei Ying, no joke right there. It was really hiimmmmm. Why put ALMOST there????

"However, apart from the face, from top to bottom, this person was nowhere like the past Wei WuXian."

Pretty amazing how a single situation can change your self. Like, in just a matter of three months, Wei Ying is like, 'Oh my god, I'm not Wei Ying anymore. Can you feel dark energy 'round me? It's cool right?'. I actually got saddened in this part. I cannot imagine WuXian as another person. Can you?

"Wen Chao covered his own face."

Stop me, I'm laughing. I wanna punch his toasted face.

'Wei WuXian raised a brow, “What, you’re a picky eater?”'

He's a Young Master after all, coming from Wen Clan no less! Of course WuXian, he'll be. I can't even think of him eating cheap bread or wine or whatever that's cheap. 'Coz he just wants to forget that he has a cheap face.

"All of the flesh on his legs had been sliced off, piece by piece. And, likely… all of the flesh had been eaten by himself!"

Actually, I was eating my lunch when I read this chapter. And I want to throw up all what's in my stomach that moment. It's just-yeah. Yeah. But really, WuXian is the best! Like, did you just saw how we tortured Wen Chao? Man, he's so cool. He must have been really pent up because of Wen dogs. He survived all those what-the-fuck-things that the Wens have given to them, so no question why his feelings went up to the atmospheric level, or even galactic level.

"Wei WuXian’s expression darkened at once. His voice was harsh as well, “What a joke! Why is it that the debt you owe has to be repaid at the expense of others!”

I can't really imagine WWX with this kind of emotion. Whyyyyyy. Anyways, reality takes down its whip on you really hard. Self explanatory. No need to discuss. Maybe next time.

"A long-haired woman in red clothes, her face blue, fell heavily onto him. The dark face, bright red clothes, and black hair created a chilling contrast. "

I really thought this is Wen Qing. Don't question me.

"Lan WangJi smacked down. The tiles shattered and the roof collapsed. Through the roof, he descended into the second floor of the courier station and blocked Wen ZhuLiu from Wei WuXian."

Lwj being all protective to Wwx. I cannot-

"… Thank you."

I'm crying. I'm crying rn. Why.

"Suddenly, Jiang Cheng walked over and struck him, “You brat! Where have you run off to in these three months?!”

Awwww, JC really missed him. I can imagine him. He waited for WX at the town, only to find out he was missing and everybody there didn't see him (the fuck they dont) and then waited for three months for him to see his bro again. Is that really how heaven and fate works? Cruel.

"Although Lan WangJi didn’t step forward, he eyes had always been locked onto Wei WuXian."

Did you see him, did you see him???? Oh my god, why is he so not expressive. Why can't he hug him? Or strike him too? (JC will be jealous if WJ will hug WX, heh. Only XC knows whatsup.) He must be thinking right now: "He's back. I miss him so much. Let me kiss you, boi. I love you." (Sorry.)

".....Giggling laughter came from her mouth as well. Wei WuXian sat leaning to one side, his right hand stroking her soft, long hair over and over again."

WuXian, you flirt.

"As he watched his movements, Lan WangJi’s face grew even colder."

Lemme feed you something jelly. I can't take this. Wangji, you could have just pulled WuXian and hold him in your arms like you're married and then kiss him on his lips-sorry again.

"...Jiang Cheng feel somewhat uncomfortable..."

He must have sensed Wangji being jelly-jelly with WuXian. Aye, Cap, he got stuck between to icebergs in a floating sea. Can you imagine him.

"From the corner of his eye, Wei WuXian saw that Lan WangJi had always been looking at them."

Wuxian, that's him being jealous with the two. Please, tease him again. Give him your love and attention again. He needs you. Pleasssseeeee

"Wei WuXian gloated, “Of course. Who am I?”

I remembered the scene at Library Pavillion again. Please, I can't cri.

And then the scene b/w Wangji and Wuxian fighting. Why is history repeating again? I'm actually getting depressed because of this. But hey, Wuxian finally got a chance to tease him again. That's great, but not great. They misunderstood each other in the end. Hmp. I'm going to lie low.

"Lan WangJi spoke one word at a time, “Go back to Gusu with me.”

Uwuuuuuuu, he meant this to be 'COME LIVE WITH ME AND MARRY ME AND LET'S BE HAPPY EVER AFTER' but he just have to rephrase that for the sake of Jiang Cheng. If I were WuXian, I would have gladly said yes.

"Lan WangJi, “It is not that I want to denounce him.”

Then what I've feared the most has happened. Why did you misunderstand such a simple thing Wei Wuxian! He just wants to marry you fucker. What Wangji really want to say afterwards is 'I JUST WANT TO PROTECT HIM AND LOVE HIM AND BE WITH HIM ALL MY LIFE WITHOUT THIS WEN WHATEVER.'

"...Wei WuXian closed his eyes, “After all, on the topic of how my heart is, what could other people know about it? Why should other people care about it?"

Lan WangJi paused. He had suddenly been angered, “… Wei WuXian!”

We care Wuxian. WE CARE. AND LAN WANGJI CARES. That's why he's very concerned with you, you moron! Can you just realize that. His love for you is in a galactic scale. You know he's not expressive with his emotions, especially towards you, can you not see it. I really wished that they have telepathic powers right here.

"The faces had the same youth, the same familiarity. They had both showed him expressions of either despair, anguish, or deep-set hatred. However, right now, their faces above him had the same cold smile, the same cold eyes."

See now Wen Chao? Payment time has arrived. If you just don't have any debt from these two, or have paid with credit card, you'll still be dead anyways. May the Osiris grant you a life full of torment when you arrive in there. But honestly, I can imagine JC with that kind of expression, but Wuxian? No, I can't. I really can't.

"...It was bitten off when his woman went mad.”

How? 😕😕😕

"Wei WuXian suddenly remembered his presence again. He turned around and smiled, “Second Young Master Lan, the following scene might not be suitable for your eyes. Perhaps it’d do you best to avoid it.”

Omg, he's so uwuuuuuu. You feel what I feel right now.

"After he went out of the courier station, he stood before the door for a long time, but he never left."

But still, Wuxian left. Cruel.

The night had passed. The sun in the sky was about to rise. And the sun on the ground was falling."

So sad. Wen dogs. So sad. Cry? No. Laugh? Aye.

----

Soooo that's it. Haha, please don't look at me like that. I usuallt don't do commentary, but I felt like it so I just opened my phone to write this trash.

I just love this gays so much, I'll give out my worst commentaries for them. Ayyyyeeeee.

[the-good-reader]

C3: Scrap-Collecting Immortal’s Third Ascension to Godhood

Xie Lian [XL] had been reduced to a laughingstock of the 3 realms, with no incense, offerings, temples or believers.

The 2 retainers under him, Feng Xin [FX] and Mu Qing [MQ] had surpassed him.

If you were to ask XL to choose whether FX or MQ made him feel more awkward, he would say, “They’re all okay ah!”

However, if you asked bystanders who they wanted to see Xl fight, then everyone would make different choices- it was hard to pick which is the more interesting option.

Because of this, when there was no response from FX's side because he immediately hid and stopped talking, people were naturally disappointed.

Meanwhile, XL put himself down as he said: “I also didn’t anticipate making a commotion like this. It wasn’t deliberate, I’ve inconvenienced everyone.” MQ responded coolly, ...Oh, then that was indeed quite coincidental.

XL too thought it was coincidental.

How could the clock fall right onto MQ, while his ascension also happened to destroy FX’s palace?

This would look deliberate to bystanders.

However, XL was the type that managed to pick the sole poisoned cup among a thousand cups of wine.

He could only say, “I will try my best to compensate for everyone’s golden palaces and other losses. I also hope you may give me some time.”

XL was still genuinely pondering over where he was supposed to get those 8,880,000 merits when Ling Wen [LW] invited him to go to her Ling Wen Palace.

Ling Wen was the Heavenly Official in charge of managing Heaven’s personnel.

When mortals wished to get a step ahead in their careers, they would worship her.

Her palace was filled to the brim with official documents and scrolls, an utterly shocking scene.

When the two of them finally entered the Palace Hall, LW turned around and got straight to the point., ...Your Highness, there is a matter in which the Emperor would like to request your help. Are you willing to assist him and lend a helping hand?

In Heaven, there were many people who had the titles ZhenJun or YuanJun.

However, only one person could be called the Emperor.

XL was confused as this person would never have the need to call other people for help.

XL asks, "What matter?" ...“Recently, the North has a large number of zealous worshippers repeatedly praying for blessings. It can be assumed that they aren’t passing their days peacefully.”

These so-called zealous worshippers generally referred to three types of people:

Rich people who pay money in order to burn incense and build temples for gods.

Missionaries who would preach to bystanders.

People whose body and mind are thoroughly doused in faith and belief.

Most of these worshippers belonged to the first category, as in this world, rich people were like carps passing through rivers.

The third category had the least people; if one was truly able to get to that level of faith, they wouldn’t be far from ascending themselves.

The people LW mentioned were clearly from the first category, ...At present, the Emperor cannot attend to the North. If you are willing to take his place and make the trip, when the time comes, regardless of how much offerings these zealous worshippers make, everything will be allocated to your altar. What do you think? XL received the scroll with both hands as he said, “Many thanks.”

Emperor Jun Wu [JW] was clearly helping XL, but he had flipped it around and made it sound like he was asking XL for help.

XL realized this, but couldn't think of anything other to say than the 2 words he had said already.

LW replied, ...I’m only responsible for handling these affairs. If you want to thank someone, you should wait for the Emperor to return before personally thanking him instead. —Oh right, do you need my help borrowing any magical artefacts? XL answered, "There’s no need. Even if you give me a magical artefact, once I go down I won’t have any spiritual power, and so I won’t be able to use it.

XL has been beaten down twice, so he had lost his power.

In the Heavens, spiritual power was abundant, so he couls casually grab some to use.

If XL wanted to fight with magic in the mortal realm, he could only make do by finding someone he could borrow spiritual energy from, something extremely inconvenient.

LW pondered before saying, ...Then it would be best to borrow a few martial gods to assist you and lend a helping hand.

The current martial gods either didn’t recognize him, or they didn’t like him. Xie Lian understood that thoroughly, and so he responded, “There’s also no need for that. You won’t be able to borrow anyone.” LW seemed to have thought it seriously and only said, ...I’ll give it a try.

XL didn't oppose her words, and allowed her to try.

As a result,LW entered the spirit communication array before announcing in a bright tone, ...Everyone, the Emperor has an important task to be handled in the North and urgently need people. Which martial god Highness can lend out two martial officials from their Palace Halls to help? MQ’s floaty voice emerged, ...I’ve heard that the Emperor isn’t in the North right now, so I’m afraid you’re borrowing people for His Highness the Crown Prince, right? XL mentally thought, “Are you keeping guard at the spirit communication array all day long…?”

LW was in the same wavelength as him.

Although she was angry, she spoke with a smile, ...Xuan Zhen, why am I always seeing you in the array these two days? It seems like you’ve been stealing time to slack off and now you’re quite idle. Congratulations, congratulations. MQ replied in a light tone, ...My hand is injured, so I’m recuperating.

Every Heavenly Official there mentally thought, ...In the past, it would be nothing difficult for that hand of yours to split a mountain in half. So, what would hacking a foolish clock into pieces do to you?

LW had originally wanted to decieve 2 people, but now she was certain she wouldn't find anyone.

XL also didn’t believe anyone would come forward, and thus told her, “You see, I said you wouldn’t be able to borrow anyone.” ...If Xuan Zhen didn’t say anything, I would have indeed been able to. XL smiled, “Those words of yours had been as if you were carrying a pipa, but concealing half its face, beautifully blurring the scene to some degree. People would have thought they were going to help the Emperor with some work, so of course they would come. But when they come and realize they were going to have to work with me, I’m afraid there would be trouble. How could we work together like that? In any case, I’m used to being alone, and I’m not missing an arm or a leg, so let’s just go with this ah. Thank you for your trouble, I’ll leave now.” LW was also powerless, she cupped her hands in a salute before saying, ...Alright. I wish Your Highness’ journey goes smoothly, and may the blessings of Heaven’s Officials be upon you. “All taboos are off!”

Waving his hand, he left in a confident and carefree manner. ---

Three days later, mortal realm, the North.

By the side of a major road, there was a small teahouse.

The shopkeepers were simple folks, but goods were expensive because the scenery was good.

There were mountains and bodies of water, there were people and a city. They had everything, not much of everything—not much, but just right.

The teahouse’s tea sommelier was exceedingly idle, since he currently didn’t have any customers.

He was happily looking when, from afar, he saw a Taoist clad in white walking over.

The Taoist was covered in dust, looking as if he had been walking for a very long time. When he came closer, he walked past the small teahouse, before suddenly stopping in his tracks and slowly retracing his steps.

The Taoist tilted up his bamboo hat with his hand before raising his head. He only took one glance at the store before he started speaking with a smile.

“‘Chance Encounter’ little store, the name is interesting.”

Although this person had a tired appearance, he also had a face full of smiles, “Excuse me, may I ask if Mount Yu Jun is nearby?” The tea sommelier pointed in a direction for him, “It is in this region.”

That person breathed out, and for once he didn’t spit out his soul with that breath. In his mind, he thought, “I’ve finally arrived.”

This person was precisely Xie Lian.

He left the Immortal City that day.

XL had wanted to fall near Mount Yu Jun, but his sleeve got caught on a carefree cloud.

He tumbled around at a lofty, high altitude, and by the time he rolled down, he had no idea where he was.

After three days on foot, he finally reached his originally planned arrival location. Thus, for a short while, he felt extremely moved.

Entering the teahouse, Xie Lian picked a table beside the window before asking for some tea and snacks.

He had just got seated when he suddenly heard endless wailing and the sound of beating drums from outside the room.

He saw a group of people from all ages escorting a crimson-red bridal sedan as they walked past the teahouse.

If one looked closely, they would notice how the faces of these people all had solemn expressions—expressions of grief, anger, dread, yet the only emotion that wasn’t present was joy.

Whatever the case, it didn’t have the appearance of a wedding.

However, contrary to that thought, everyone was wearing red flowers as they played wind instruments and beat their drums.

This situation was really too strange.

That tea sommelier carried a copper teapot in his hand and raised it up high to pour some tea.

He he didn't seem to be shocked by this.

XL was just about to take out the scroll Ling Wen had given him to look over one more time, when he suddenly felt something dazzling flit by.

The moment XL raised his head, a silver butterfly flew past his eyes.

That silver butterfly was sparkly and translucent, looking pure and limpid. As it flew around in the air, it left behind bright traces.

XL couldn’t help but reach out a hand toward it.

This butterfly was extremely intelligent. Not only was it not frightened, it even temporarily stopped on his fingertips, both wings glittering and beautiful to the utmost degree.

Under the sunshine, it looked as if it was a fragment of an illusion.

After a moment, however, it flew away.

XL waved at it, something that could be considered as his goodbye.

But when he turned back, his table had two more people sitting there.

Both were teenage boys who looked around eighteen or nineteen years old.

The one on the left was taller, with facial expressions that looked quite defined and brightly handsome. Within his gaze was an arrogant and obstinate light.

The right side had very light skin. He looked delicate and pretty, yet also refined. However, his expression looked somewhat overly cold and apathetic, an appearance that made it seem as if he wasn’t too happy. In fact, the colour of the faces of both people didn’t look that great.

XL blinked his eyes before asking, “You two are?” The one on the left replied, ...Nan Feng [NF] The person on the right responded, ...Fu Yao [FY]

Xie Lian mentally thought: “It’s not like I’m asking for your names…”

At that moment, LW suddenly transmitted her voice over, ...Your Highness, there are two small martial gods from Middle Heaven who are willing to help. They’ve already gone down to look for you, so they should have arrived by now ah.

The so-called Middle Heaven was naturally relative to Upper Heaven.

The Heavenly Officials of Heaven could be simply and roughly divided into two categories: the ones that ascended, and the ones that didn’t.

The Heavenly Officials of Upper Heaven had all ascended by relying on themselves.

Being only about a hundred of them, they were each extremely precious.

But within Middle Heaven, the deities there were the ones who were brought up by “appointing them as deputy”.

Strictly speaking, their full names ought to be called “Fellow Heavenly Officials”.

However, when people called them, more often than not they would leave out that “fellow” word.

Since there was an Upper Heaven and a Middle Heaven, was there a Lower Heaven?

There wasn’t.

Actually, when XL ascended for the first time, Heaven was still divided as Upper Heaven and Lower Heaven.

But later, everyone found a problem when they introduced themselves to say, “I am from Lower Heaven’s so-and-so”, it sounded truly unpleasant.

With the ‘lower’ word existing, it made them feel especially inferior.

The only difference between them and real Heavenly Officials was merely how they lacked experiencing a Heavenly Tribulation, but who knew when that day would come.

Therefore, some people proposed to change a single word—turning introductions into ‘I am from Middle Heaven’s so-and-so’. This was much more pleasurable to hear than before.

After the change, XL hadn’t gotten used to it even after quite a while.

Xie Lian looked at these two small martial gods and thought it was unlikely they were “willing to come forward and help”.

Thus, he couldn’t help but ask, “Ling Wen ah, I think they don’t look like they came down to help me, and instead it looks more like they want to retrieve my dog head. Did you deceive them to get them to come?”

Unfortunately, it seemed that this question of his wasn’t transmitted out.

XL was incapable of doing anything else, so he first gave a smile to both the small martial gods before saying, “Was it Nan Feng and Fu Yao? To be willing to come and help me, let me thank you in advance.”

They both nodded, and appeared to have a somewhat lofty attitude.

Xie Lian had the tea sommelier bring two more cups of tea, “Which Highness’ Palace are you under?”

NF replied, ...Nan Yang Palace Hall. FY said, ...Xuan Zhen Palace Hall.” “….”

This truly made one feel frightened.

“Your Palaces’ Generals allowed you to come?” Both responded, ...My Palace’s General didn’t know I came. “Then, do you know who I am?” NF replied, ...You are His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. FY said, ...You are the correct path for the human world, you are the heart of the universe.

Xie Lian choked once, before he asked NF in an uncertain manner, “Just now, did he roll his eyes?” ...He did, let him scram.

Nan Yang’s relationship with Xuan Zhen wasn’t good, so when XL heard of that matter, he didn’t really feel surprised.

This was because, even back then, FX's and MQ’s relationship hadn’t been all that great.

Thus, even the worshippers from the Southeast and Southwest didn’t look upon each other in a positive light, while the Nan Yang Palace Hall and the Xuan Zhen Palace Hall had even more mutual hatred for each other.

FY smiled sarcastically as he stated, ...Ling Wen ZhenJun said that if you were willing, you could come. So, for what reason would I scram and leave?

The word ‘voluntary’, saying it with his expression didn’t look convincing.

XL said, “Let me confirm once. Are you two really voluntarily doing this? If you’re not, by all means, don’t force yourself ah.” Both said, ...I willingly volunteered.

Looking at those two deeply sad faces, XL mentally thought: "The words the two of you actually wanted to say were ‘I want to commit suicide’, right? “In short—” XL began, “Let’s first discuss the real work. You guys already know why we came to the North this time, so I won’t start explaining from the beginning…” Both of them interrupted him, ...I don’t know why.

XL could only take out his scroll before saying, “Then it would be best if I explain everything from the start.” ---

It was said that many years ago in Mount Yu Jun, there was a bride and a groom who loved each other very much and were about to be wed.

The bridegroom waited for the procession that delivered the bride, but even after waiting for a long time, he didn’t see the bride arrive.

He began to feel anxious, and thus began to look for the bride’s family, who informed him that his bride had long set off.

The two households reported this to the officials before they began looking in all directions.

Going from beginning to end of the procession's route, they never found her.

But even if she had been eaten by a fierce beast in the mountains, there should have been remains of an arm or a leg or what not.

How could she disappear in thin air?

Inevitablly, people harbored suspicions that the bride herself didn’t wish to marry, resulting in her colluding with the procession before escaping.

But who would have known that after a few years, another new couple married and the nightmare repeated itself - The bride disappeared again.

However, this time she didn’t leave without a trace.

On a small road, people found a foot that something hadn’t quite finished eating.

[aquadrazi]

Find Someone to Carry You

Chapter 40

………Qinghe………

Wei Ying woke up cleaned, in fresh clothing, and snuggled in his husband’s arms in bed.  He wondered how he had ever gotten so lucky.

“How does Wei Ying feel?” Lan Zhan asked, realizing he was awake.

“Mmmmmm, I feel warm, and fluffy.” Wei Ying purred.

Lan Zhan planted a kiss on the top of his head.  “Would Wei Ying like to eat?”

Wei Ying nodded his head, then felt himself being scooped up in Lan Zhan’s arms, and carried through the curtains, across the bridge, and around the privacy screens, and set at the table.  The food had already been laid out for them, so Wei Ying dug in.  A-Sang was right, good sex DID require more food to keep up his energy.

“So, your brother came to see me yesterday.”  Wei Ying said, making Lan Zhan almost choke on what he was eating.

“Don’t worry, we didn’t talk about YOU.  He wanted to apologize to me, which I told him was COMPLETELY unnecessary.”  Wei Ying continued, but he HAD noticed that he had managed to fluster Lan Zhan.

“He must have been present for the interrogation, because he mentioned…things…”  Wei Ying trailed off, sounding lost in thought.

“He was.  Left before the punishment.” Lan Zhan confirmed.

“Will he be staying to help with the ritual?”

“We haven’t actually talked.  I will ask if I see him.”

The barely made it back behind the privacy screens before going another round that morning, Lan Zhan having Wei Ying pinned on the bridge.  And then yet another round was had before they made it to the bath.  At this rate Wei Ying was wondering if THEY would even make it to the ritual.

A-Sang wouldn’t lace the room with aphrodisiacs…

Would he?

This time, instead of waiting for Nie Mingjue to wake as a fierce corpse on his own, like it happened with Wen Ning, they intended to wake him up themselves and attempt to control the situation. Lan Xichen and Lan Zhan were ready with their xiao and guqin.  Mo Xuanyu stood behind Wei Ying, ready to pass him resentful energy, and Wei Ying stood ready with Chenqing.  Nie Huaisang was by his brother’s side, ready to remove the talismans.

“Is everyone ready?”  Wei Ying asked.  “We all know what to do?  It’s going to get chaotic, but just remember, Lan Zhan and I have done this before.  Whatever happens, nobody panic.”

Everyone affirmed that they were ready, and Wei Ying brought Chenqing to his lips.  Mo Xuanyu started to pass him resentful energy, and Nie Huaisang began to remove the talismans on his brother’s body.

The roar was impressive.  Wei Ying couldn’t help but think that Nie Mingjue was a good choice for a fierce corpse.  He played a long note from Chenqing, fueled by resentful energy to control the raging corpse, while Lan Zhan and Lan Xichen played a few notes to subdue.

The Lan brothers picked up their pace as Nie Mingjue roared and knocked Nie Huaisang aside as he lunged from the bed.  Wei Ying drew more resentful energy from Mo Xuanyu and managed to stop Mingjue’s advance.  He dropped to his knees and let out a roar so deafening that it shook the room.  The Lan brothers increased the force of their attacks as Nie Mingjue wrapped his arms around his head and screamed.

Wei Ying had to grab Nie Huaisang and stop him from running to his brother out of instinct as he crumpled under the musical attack.  “Not yet.”  He said to a struggling Nie Huaisang.

“Gege!” Nie Huaisang wailed.

“…A-Sang…?”

Immediately, the Lan brothers stopped and silenced their instruments.  Wei Ying let go of Nie Huaisang and he rushed to his brother’s side.  He collapsed into sobs as he flung his arms around his brother.

Nie Mingjue looked up and around the room in confusion, when his eyes landed on Wei Ying and Mo Xuanyu, still surrounded by a few whips of resentful energy, his eyes darkened.

“Wait Nie-xiong.  Please, let me explain.”  Lan Xichen said quickly.  “Masters Wei and Mo here only used resentful energy to help bring you back.  It’s a long story, but it was necessary.”

Lan Zhan slid cautiously in front of the two, blocking them from Nie Mingjue’s view, and began slipping them both spiritual energy to balance out the resentful energy.  Mo Xuanyu’s legs gave out in exhaustion and the three slipped to the floor.  Wei Ying pulled Mo Xuanyu into a comforting embrace as Lan Zhan continued to pass them spiritual energy.

“You did so well A-Xuan.”  Wei Ying soothed.  “It’s okay, rest now.  You did so well.”

Wen Qing and Wen Ning entered, and went directly to examine Nie Mingjue.  “Welcome back Chifegn-Zun.”  She said while checking him over.  “I can imagine that this all has come as a great shock to you, so if you have any questions, my brother and I are here to assist you in adjusting to your new, situation.”

“And what, IS this new, situation?”  Nie Mingjue growled.

“Gege, don’t be mad, please.” Nie Huaisang whined.

“Nie-xiong, you died and there was a failed attempt to turn you into a fierce corpse.”  Xichen said gently.

“Jin Guangyao.”  Nie Mingjue spat.

“It seems that his father ordered him to kill you.  He wanted to turn you into a fierce corpse like Wen Ning.” Xichen confirmed sadly.

“As if just ANYONE can make another fierce corpse like Wen Ning.”  Wei Ying muttered.

Xichen smiled kindly.  “Jin Guangshan had captured and imprisoned Young Master Wei, in an attempt to coerce him into telling him how to create another Wen Ning.  He also experimented on his son, Young Master Mo here.”

“Gege, they refused to help Jin Guangshan, but they have been working VERY hard to bring you back now that they’ve been freed.”  Nie Huaisang said earnestly, trying to calm his brother’s rage.

Nie Mingjue sat for a minute.  “So, I’m now at the mercy of the whim of any demonic cultivator?”

Wen Ning bowed “Chifegn-Zun, if I may, it takes a particularly powerful resentful energy cultivator to take control of my body without the mind control nails inserted, or the use of either the Yin Iron or the Stygian Tiger Seal .  I follow Wei-gonzi’s commands because I want to, not because he makes me.  We are not the mindless fierce corpses you are used to.”

“Please don’t be mad Gege.  I couldn’t let him get away with it.  I missed you so much.”  Nie Huaisang buried his head in his brother’s chest.

“So, when are we going to kill that Jin bastard?” Nie Mingjue growled.

“Your brother has been collecting evidence and building a case against him, but until now, we haven’t been able to connect anything directly to him.”  Xichen explained calmly.  “However, we recently heard Xue Yang’s testimony, so that, combined with the testimonies of Young Masters Mo and Wei, your testimony, and Jin Zixuan, we should have enough to convict.”

“Hold on, you ALSO brought back Jin Zixuan? What are you, building a new Ghost General army?”

“No, your brother saved Jin Zixuan before he was killed.  It was a body double who died in the Qiongqi Path ambush.”  Xichen explained.

“What?!”

“All right, that’s enough.  Everyone out.  He needs to rest.” Wen Qing ordered.

Lan Zhan helped Wei Ying and Mo Xuanyu get to their feet.  Wei Ying passed off Mo Xuanyu to Lan Xichen with a bow and found Lan Zhan wrapping around him and leading him to the teleportation talismans.  He was suddenly feeling a little weak himself.  Apparently the ritual and energy passing had taken more out of him than he had realized.  In an instant they were back in their rooms and Lan Zhan scooped him up and carried him behind the screens.