#wei wuxian will teach his juniors many good lessons but he will also teach them Mischief

[blue-mood-blue]

Saw just enough of The Sound of Music tonight that I was reminded of Captain von Trapp mentioning that the most important thing in his house is discipline (or some such sentiment), and

because I have the brain rot

While I cannot conceivably find a way to make that specifically into an au, I was nonetheless charmed by the thought of disciplinarian and rule-abiding Lan Wangji vs sunny and energetic Wei Wuxian cheering up the juniors with a little music tell me you are not turned to mush by Wei Wuxian teaching juniors the equivalent of “my favorite things” I dare you

Anyway

All of this to say, a no-sunshot-campaign au where, for whatever reason, Wei Wuxian is invited as a guest lecturer at Cloud Recesses. There are several thousand rules that Wei Wuxian is ignoring at any given moment. Lan Wangji, who is in charge of discipline, is annoyed (intrigued). Tiny juniors are following their new teacher’s heels all around while he’s playing the dizi like a more adorable version of the pied piper (and perhaps Wei Wuxian warns them with a wink that he is Very Evil and he is going to Steal Them Away which is met with un-Lan-like giggling). The Elders have discussed sending him back to Lotus Pier but, unfortunately, he is a fantastic teacher.

There are also, of course, shenanigans. Night hunt field trips. Wei Wuxian inflicting his cooking upon the poor, innocent youths. Bad dreams on both sides leading to some broken curfews and soft music in the garden. Some conflicting curriculums - not “demonic cultivation” level, but there are a lot more disciples asking a lot more questions in their other lectures.

Lan Qiren is incensed.

Lan Xichen refuses to do anything about it (he is watching his brother watching Wei Wuxian and waiting).

Lan Wangji should be doing his job of disciplining but, you see, whenever he tries Wei Wuxian smiles at him or hands him a bunny or chatters about how well the Lanlings are doing or about an idea he has for a lesson, and what is he to do? Stop that from happening?? Remove the smile from this man’s face??? That would be a crime.

(Lan Qiren gets the abridged version of this sentiment, which amounts to “Wei Wuxian is good” and he despairs. He is fighting a losing battle to send the guest teacher home.)

(The losing battle becomes a lost battle when Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian play a duet for the juniors together and share a kiss as soon as the juniors are out of sight and off to their next lesson. Lan Xichen catches his brother pacing while on patrol that night, his face as forlorn as it ever is, and says “You know, we could… offer him a permanent place here?”)

Lan Wangji writes to Lotus Pier that Cloud Recesses will not be returning their head disciple. The entire sect hears the “WHAT” and “HE CAN’T STEAL MY BROTHER” echoing from Jiang Cheng’s general direction.

[robininthelabyrinth]

I'm absolutely delighted your prompts are open! Your writing is amazing and always makes me smile, it's the best way to start the day along with a cup of coffee!

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are given another chance at raising a child after a family is killed leaving only a young child behind. Lan Sizhui is delighted to have a baby sibling. Though everyone is more or less nervous about it (mostly be Wei Ying is a gremlin) but also there isn't any other options.

ao3

“It’ll be fine,” Jiang Cheng said, rolling his eyes. “Hanguang-jun raised Lan Sizhui, didn’t he? And he turned out fine.”

“I did,” Lan Sizhui said agreeably, then frowned. “I think I did, anyway.”

“Not to be a spoilsport, but, realistically speaking, how much raising did Hanguang-jun actually do with you?” Jin Ling asked, and held up his hands when Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi both glared at him. “I don’t mean any offense or anything! I’m serious. We know he was in seclusion those first few years, right? Who raised you then?”

Lan Sizhui thought about it. “Back in the beginning? Well…that was mostly Teacher Lan, I guess.”

“Teacher Lan’s the best,” Lan Jingyi said loyally, then added, “Well, other than that fondness he has for surprise quizzes. But that’s not applicable to parenting, is it?”

Lan Sizhui made a face that suggested that maybe it was, in some weird way, shape, or form.

“Teacher Lan, really?” Jiang Cheng asked, clearly getting drawn in despite his best intentions – as was often the case. There was a reason their little group swung by the Lotus Pier nearly as often as they did the Cloud Recesses and Jinlin Tower, despite Jin Ling not living there part of the year any longer. “Wasn’t he mostly in recovery for those injuries he got during the war? I would’ve figured Zewu-jun would’ve been more involved, wouldn’t he?”

“He was around sometimes, but no, it was mostly Teacher Lan,” Lan Sizhui said. “Zewu-jun was often busy – he was rebuilding the Lan sect –”

“I was rebuilding the Jiang sect! So what? I still raised Jin Ling, and he wasn’t even supposed to be here – I had to fight the Jin sect for months just to get the opportunity – ”

“Yes, jiujiu, we know!” Jin Ling said hastily. “You don’t have to tell that story again! You didn’t have to tell everyone that story in the first place!”

Jiang Cheng huffed. He was probably going to tell the story again whether they liked it or not.

“I think I see what you’re saying, Jin Ling,” Ouyang Zizhen put in, always a good fellow for throwing himself on a conversational sacrificial sword. “If Lan Sizhui was already a few years old when he was adopted, and then Teacher Lan raised him for the next three years, then he would’ve been old enough to be entered into the Cloud Recesses’ official junior classes by the time Hanguang-jun took charge of his education, right?”

“Yes, that’s what I meant, that’s it exactly!”

“What does it matter?” Lan Sizhui asked.

“Yeah! Hanguang-jun still raised him the rest of the way,” Lan Jingyi put in, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring. “Gave him lessons and tips and all that!”

“Isn’t that something he does as a sect senior anyway?”

“Well, yes, but it’s different for Sizhui, okay?”

“I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with that. After all, the person who teaches the most is the same as the parent, and being the person raising them is what matters no matter when they’re adopted,” Jin Ling said, with an eye on Jiang Cheng, who looked begrudgingly pleased. He looked begrudging all the time, though, so it was probably just pleased. “But my point is – once you were part of the lessons, even if he was raising you the rest of the time, you still already mostly had your personality down by then, right? We’ve never seen what someone raised entirely by Hanguang-jun from birth would be like.”

They all stopped to consider that.

“More than that,” Jin Ling continued. “This kid’ll be raised not just by Hanguang-jun, but by Hanguang-jun as he is now – after he and Senior Wei got together. You know?”

They did know.

“And of course, that’s all putting aside that the kid will be raised by Senior Wei himself, too…”

“Maybe we should start investing in defense talismans,” Jiang Cheng mused. “Because everything is going to explode. Everything.”

-

“Everything will not explode,” Lan Wangji said calmly.

“Are you sure?” Wei Wuxian asked. “Because I’m not sure, and I’m more likely to be involved in these hypothetical explosions than you are.”

“Mm. I’m certain.”

“But…”

“Wei Ying will be an excellent father,” Lan Wangji said, and his voice left no room for doubt.

“It’s easy for you to say,” Wei Wuxian whined, though he was smiling now. “You already have the experience of it! They say that it’s easier the second time, when you know what to expect…”

“Do not tell lies,” Lan Qiren said mildly. He was looking over some of Wei Wuxian’s notes – he’d insisted on any new inventions passing through a sanctioned approval process before they were put into practice and had volunteered himself to review them, a matter that had caused Wei Wuxian no end of stress until he realized that Lan Qiren really did intend to approve anything that met his standards and, moreover, understood musical cultivation enough to understand what he was driving at with most of them, even the esoteric ones, at which point Wei Wuxian gotten extremely enthusiastic about the whole thing.

This didn’t mean that they were friends or anything, but they’d at least formed some sort of tentative truce.

Most of the time, anyway.

Wei Wuxian squinted at his old teacher suspiciously. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying that it’s not easier the second time?”

“I am only saying that I have experience in raising a child not my own,” Lan Qiren pointed out, and Wei Wuxian nodded, slightly abashed; he knew that the old man had basically raised Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen, of course, although sometimes he forgot. “The first child I raised was Xichen and his personality as a child was much as it was as an adult: gentle, amiable, friendly, obedient.”

That made sense. Wei Wuxian nodded.

“The second child I raised was Wangji,” Lan Qiren said. “He bit people.”

Wei Wuxian burst out laughing.

Lan Wangj virtuously ignored them both, continuing to write a letter without the slightest hint of embarrassment – even his ears hadn’t turned red. What a shame!

“I can testify to that myself,” Wei Wuxian giggled, leering at his husband in the hopes of getting a rise out of him. “He’s still a biter – for certain lucky people.”

“He was a lot less discriminating when he was younger,” Lan Qiren said, and Wei Wuxian winced, abruptly remembering that Lan Wangji’s uncle was, in fact, still in the room. Luckily it was pretty easy to flirt around Lan Qiren, who didn’t seem to notice most of the time, but it was still a bit awkward. “And I once succumbed to temptation and gave him mixed messages, which I believe made it worse.”

That sounded like a story.

“He gave me a candy after I bit Sect Leader Jin,” Lan Wangji clarified, which made Wei Wuxian start laughing again. “He did not expect me to remember. I remembered. Nor did I allow him to forget about it.”

“It is easy to make mistakes while raising a child,” Lan Qiren said, ignoring Wei Wuxian’s cackling. “But if one means well, and tries hard to do the right thing, children are very forgiving – usually.”

Despite his best efforts to remain neutral, Lan Wangji’s eyes curved slightly in a smile. Wei Wuxian felt his heart go all warm and melty all over again.

“This is true regardless of whether it is the first or second child,” Lan Qiren added. “I have confidence that you will both do fine.”

“We will,” Wei Wuxian proclaimed. “With parents like me and Lan Zhan, how could the kid go wrong? And we’ll even try to avoid too many explosions!”

“Please do. One Lan Jingyi is enough for the Cloud Recesses.”

“You know, I was wondering – how did you end up with him being quite so…hmm…”

“Oh?” Lan Qiren said, and Wei Wuxian noted to his amusement that Lan Wangji straightened in back in sudden alarm despite Lan Qiren’s extremely nonchalant tone. “Have you not met Lan Yueheng yet? I must introduce you when he returns –”

“Perhaps not,” Lan Wangji said, sounding a little worried.

Worried, in this case, meant fun.

“No, I think I definitely need to meet this person – Lan Zhan, stop batting at me! I know exactly what I’m doing…”

-

Wen Ning looked down at the baby with which he had been entrusted.

“I don’t have any idea what I’m doing,” he confessed.

The baby gurgled.

“I think Wei-gongzi may have been thinking more about ‘babysitter that doesn’t need to sleep and has inexhaustible energy’ and less about ‘is this person qualified to take care of a baby’.”

More gurgling.

“I just wanted to apologize in advance.”

The baby yawned.

“…right then.” Wen Ning straightened up. Someone was going to have to raise this child, and based on how distractable Wei Wuxian was when he was around Lan Wangji and visa versa, it looked like it was going to have to be him. “Let’s do this.”

[merakilyy]

Inconceivable

By no means does Lan Qiren like Wei Wuxian. Of course not. But yelling at Wei Wuxian is a pastime for him to enjoy alone and it is a grievous insult for Sect Leader Yao to take that joy away from him.

Aka: how Lan Qiren, of all people, ended up defending Wei Wuxian in front of everyone.

Tags: Wangxian, post-canon, canon compliant, fluffy humour

(On AO3) Word count: about 3100

~~~

These days, Lan Qiren has mostly retired from the day to day business of running a sect. For all his nephews’ past errors in judgement, they have been raised well and are leading a thriving Gusu. With the future of the Sect secure, Lan Qiren now spends his days terrorizing the junior disciples, having meditative teas with the Gusu Lan elders, and avoiding Wei Wuxian at all costs.

It is a fine way to live.

Avoiding Wei Wuxian is not difficult. He is wherever the noise is. Minor explosions in the Jingshi have become commonplace as Wei Wuxian tests new talismans and invents new tools for night hunting and releasing resentful spirits.

Yet for all his faults, of which there are a great many, Lan Qiren finds it increasingly difficult to retain his burning hatred of Wei Wuxian when he is just so useful.

Beyond his capacity to churn out invention after invention, Wei Wuxian is an excellent instructor both in class and on nighthunts in the field. Lan Qiren has noticed how the junior disciples assigned to Wei Wuxian’s lectures are able to successfully perform more advanced maneuvers beyond their expected cultivation level. Their essays are of a higher level and clearly demonstrate a deeper understanding of theories of spiritual cultivation. Certainly, this advanced standard was expected of Lan Sizhui but Lan Qiren found this improvement in each of the junior disciples. Even Lan Jingyi had become a good student.

Wei Wuxian could even make Lan Jingyi sit still for longer than fifteen minutes.

Faced with such facts, even Lan Qiren has to set aside his burning dislike of Wei Wuxian and admit that Wei Wuxian is one of the most valuable members of the Gusu Lan Sect.

Also, Wei Wuxian makes Wangji the happiest Lan Qiren has ever seen him. And Lan Qiren has learned his lesson when it comes to questioning Wangji’s devotion.

So, as long as Wei Wuxian continues to make Wangji happy, Lan Qiren will continue to tolerate his existence. Only for Wangji, of course.

There are many days where Lan Qiren longs for the days before Wei Wuxian returned. He longs for the days when the aura of Cloud Recesses was serene and sedate. He misses the tranquility of the past. He has requested that Wangji at least limit Wei Wuxian’s experimentation to the back mountains where they will not disturb the others. But his younger nephew is ridiculously infatuated with Wei Wuxian and cannot deny the man anything so the noise remains.

It makes Lan Qiren’s blood boil but Wei Wuxian is just so incredibly useful.

Lan Qiren knows that Jiang Wanyin would like Wei Wuxian to return to Yunmeng, even if only for part of the year, and that Jin Rulan would like Wei Wuxian to join him in Lanling to help him clean up the mess left behind by Jin Guangyao but Wei Wuxian is a member of Gusu Lan now. He has officially married into Gusu Lan and even has his own forehead ribbon (that Wangji wears after their ribbons were exchanged as per Gusu marriage ritual) and Lan Qiren isn’t letting Wei Wuxian go anywhere. Because he is useful. No other reasons.

Definitely not because Wei Wuxian’s specific brand of chaos is growing on him.

Rarely does Lan Qiren attend discussion conferences now. Even if many cultivators still look up to him, his presence is no longer necessary. Cloud Recesses has produced many respectable cultivators who represent Gusu Lan with honour. Many of the cultivators from other Sects have also been taught by Lan Qiren; he does not need to present to instill fear into others.

Yet, as Cloud Recesses was hosting this year’s Roundtable Discussion, Lan Qiren found himself curious as to what changes had been made since the last discussion he participated in when Jin Guangyao was still the Chief Cultivator.

And, since Wei Wuxian had single handedly organized this entire conference, Lan Qiren may have been just the slightest bit curious as to how it would turn out.

Regardless of his reasoning, Lan Qiren was well within his rights to participate in the discussion despite the apprehensive look Wangji gave him when he requested a seat.

As Lan Qiren settles at his table, he watches his nephews as they welcome each Sect into Cloud Recesses’ main reception hall. His nephews are the embodiment of decorum and Lan Qiren feels a subtle pride at watching his nephews masterfully carry out their duties. Still, he pretends he doesn’t see how Wangji glares as they greet Sect Leader Jiang or how Xichen tenses when Sect Leader Nie arrives. The young Sect Leader Jin complains about having to leave his dog behind but a single look from Wangji silences the boy mid sentence. More amicably, Xichen gently reminds Sect Leader Jin that “pets are forbidden in Cloud Recesses.”

In the background, he sees Wei Wuxian running around with Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui quickly walking after him, making last minute adjustments and throwing purifying talismans around the room. Wei Wuxian floats around the room in his white Gusu Lan robes, Wangji’s original forehead ribbon tied snugly in his hair. Most of the time Wei Wuxian wears his plain black and red robes and Lan Qiren has learned to accept that. Begrudgingly. But, Wangji was adamant that Wei Wuxian attend intersect meetings as an official representative of Gusu Lan and therefore he must dress the part.

Wei Wuxian’s red hair ribbon is wrapped around Wangji’s wrist, under his sleeve, and Lan Qiren chooses to pretend he never sees the flashes of red silk when Wangji moves his arms.

Lan Qiren watches as Wei Wuxian pauses by a table and bends over to pick up the cup. Wei Wuxian frowns as if the cup has offended him and hands it to Lan Sizhui. Wei Wuxian says something Lan Qiren can’t hear but he sees Lan Sizhui nod once before taking the cup away. Sizhui returns shortly afterwards with a new cup which he passes to Wei Wuxian. After studying the cup and nodding approvingly, Wei Wuxian sets the cup back down on the table and continues fluttering around the room.

For all his bluster as a guest disciple, and as the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian had always been a hard worker.

(He pretends he doesn’t see Wei Wuxian leave a peony tied to a little note on Wangji’s desk at the front of the hall.)

The conference itself is largely uneventful. They proceed point by point through the agenda without any major hiccups until Sect Leader Jin pushes forward his proposal. What Sect Leader Jin wants is for each Sect to encourage their junior disciples to participate in night hunts in small border villages to vanquish low level spirits and minor monsters. This will bolster the training of the youth and give them more practical experience, Jin Rulan argues, as well as help impoverished communities who cannot afford a senior cultivator.

It is a good idea, Lan Qiren has to admit.

“Preposterous!” Sect Leader Yao interjects rather rudely. It is clear he views Jin Ling as a weakness to be exploited for the benefit of his own Sect, even though it should be equally clear that Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian would never allow that to happen. “This will only encourage more penniless children to train as cultivators.”

“So!?” Sect Leader Jin fires back. Lan Qiren’s brows furrow at Jin Rulan’s insolence. How unfortunate that Jin Rulan became Sect Leader before he could come to Cloud Recesses as a guest disciple. “Then we have more people who can release resentful spirits.”

“This child,” Sect Leader Yao shakes his finger at Sect Leader Jin, as if disciplining a misbehaving child. Jiang Wanyin’s ever-present frown deepens. The hand that brandishes Zidian is clenched in a fist though Jiang Wanyin says nothing. Despite his youth, Sect Leader Jin can hold his own. “He really has no manners! If only his parents survived to teach him better.”

Suddenly Lan Qiren is reminded why he no longer takes part in these conferences.

Beside him, Lan Qiren sees how Wei Wuxian’s previously respectable posture wilts. Instinctively, Lan Qiren wants to snap at Wei Wuxian to sit properly but he also notices how Wangji’s focus has shifted away from Sect Leader Yao and Sect Leader Jin. Instead, Wangji is watching Wei Wuxian, brow subtly furrowed with worry.

“Sect Leader Yao,” a high ranking member of Lanling Jin speaks out, “watch your words! Our Sect Leader has done you no insult!”

“You misunderstand,” Sect Leader Yao shakes his head disparagingly, as if it is tiresome to have to explain himself. “I do not blame young Jin Rulan for the unfortunate death of his late parents. If only Wei Wuxian had not killed Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli,” Sect Leader Yao pauses to sigh dramatically. Lan Qiren can feel the beginnings of a migraine. “I always said that Jiang Fengmian was too soft, that the son of a servant could never amount to anything worthwhile.”

Lan Qiren sees Wangji’s eyes harden almost imperceptibly. He sees how Wei Wuxian winces, how his entire body tenses. Behind them, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi share concerned glances.

To Lan Qiren’s surprise, it is Jiang Wanyin who speaks in defense of Wei Wuxian. “Sect Leader Yao, I will thank you not to disparage the name of my late father and martial brother. Yunmeng Jiang exists today only on account of Wei Wuxian’s extraordinary sacrifices. Despite his practices, Wei Wuxian walks a noble path and it has been established that Su Minshan was responsible for the incident at Qiongqi Path.”

Wei Wuxian looks as surprised as Lan Qiren feels. A cursory glance around the room shows that they aren’t alone in their shock.

Sect Leader Yao sneers. “As if someone who plays with wicked tricks and desecrates the dead could ever be righteous. Surely one who willfully performs such heinous acts cannot be compared to true virtuous cultivators as myself.”

“Sneering for no reason is forbidden.” Lan Qiren calmly recites the rule from the Wall of Discipline. Although Gusu Lan has always been lenient towards transgressions of their tenets by visiting sects during meetings, Lan Qiren is well within his rights to remind Sect Leader Yao that they are in Cloud Recesses, that he is disrespecting Gusu Lan’s practices, and that he is being discourteous to the Chief Cultivator’s spouse.

Lan Qiren continues listing the rules violated by Sect Leader Yao. “Do not praise yourself and slander others. Do not take advantage of your position to oppress others. Do not insult others. Do not make assumptions about others.” He pauses momentarily, well aware that the entire room is stunned. Even before he stepped back from intersect diplomacy, Lan Qiren had taken the standard Gusu Lan approach of playing the silent observer and mediating conflicts. Looking directly at Sect Leader Yao, Lan Qiren finishes with, “Be respectful of others.”

He is received with silence. Unbothered, Lan Qiren pours himself a cup of tea with the tea set he watched Wei Wuxian painstakingly set up and personally prepare earlier that morning. Taking a sip, he notes that Wei Wuxian has -- annoyingly -- chosen an excellent brew and has even thought to use a talisman to keep the tea shimmering at just the right temperature.

It is difficult to despise someone who is just so competent.

As Lan Qiren is pouring himself a second cup of tea, one of Sect Leader Yao’s underlings pipes up. “You defend an immoral adherent of the heretical path! Wei Wuxian is a scourge amongst us! He is no cultivator, only the son of a servant who has turned his back on righteousness!”

“Enough,” Lan Qiren says firmly. He is not loud, but his words reverberate around the room.

Everyone is openly staring at him now, even his nephews. Especially his nephews. Xichen looks like he is convinced Lan Qiren is going through a qi derivation. Wangji’s expression flickers between concern and incredulity as his eyes bounce between his husband and his uncle. Lan Qiren pointedly refuses to look beside him to see Wei Wuxian’s expression.

Even Lan Qiren has to admit that he is surprised at himself. Not for speaking out -- Gusu Lan has never condoned insulting one’s character over personal grievances. Even at the height of his hatred for Wei Wuxian, Lan Qiren could understand that Wei Wuxian made decisions that he deemed to be righteous even if his methods were reprehensible. But, Lan Qiren was surprised to find himself speaking out in defense of Wei Wuxian.

Hearing Lan Jingyi’s loud whispers to Lan Sizhui behind him, Lan Qiren makes a mental note to assign more handstands.

With everyone stunned speechless at the turn of events, Lan Qiren continues, “Wei Wuxian is an invaluable member of Gusu Lan. We cannot stand by and allow such a grievous insult to go unacknowledged.”

Lan Qiren takes another sip of his tea. Still excellent, still at the optimal temperature. How infuriating, that Wei Wuxian has become the only one to serve passable tea at these conferences.

Someone from Baling Ouyang whom Lan Qiren does not recognize looks like he wants to voice his disagreements. Lan Qiren simply allows his gaze to bore into the Baling cultivator until the man looks away, ashamed.

“An insult to the Chief Cultivator’s spouse is an affront to Gusu Lan,” Lan Qiren says with finality, slowly turning his head as he speaks to ensure everyone understands the weight behind his words. “We will not stand by and condone such disparagement.”

He ignores the wet sniffle that comes from Wei Wuxian.

Behind him, Lan Jingyi’s whispers grow even louder. Lan Qiren hears Lan SIzhui trying to shush Lan Jingyi in vain. More handstands, he thinks. Perhaps some lines.

Jiang Wanyin gives Wei Wuxian an accusatory glare, as if Wei Wuxian replaced the real Lan Qiren with a doppelganger and was holding the real Lan Qiren hostage in the back mountains.

Wangji simply looks down at the scrolls on his desk with a pleased smile gracing his lips.

No one is in any rush to fill in the silence that has overwhelmed the hall. Sect Leader Yao looks adequately chastened for his denigrating remarks toward Wei Wuxian. Lan Qiren suspects everyone else is too scared to speak now.

Good , he thinks. Silence begets reflection.

In the end, it is Xichen who redirects the discussion to the matter at hand. “I am in agreement with Sect Leader Jin,“ Xichen says. “We cannot ignore the likelihood that it is the very insular nature of our community that contributed to Jin Guangyao’s actions. I cannot and do not forgive him for murdering a sworn brother but his circumstances were always regrettable. We turned our back on him before he ever turned his back on us. With the increased need for cultivators, we may consider opening cultivational training to average families.”

Subtly, Xichen also adds, “We cannot condone personal attack for one’s parentage.”

The discussion continues without any further incidents and Lan Qiren does not speak again. After Xichen’s speech, he does spy Lan Sizhui passing a handkerchief to Wei Wuxian from the corner of his eye but Lan Qiren resolutely refuses to look at Wei Wuxian.

Once the day’s meeting comes to an end, Wei Wuxian jumps to his feet and bounds directly to Wangji. Outrageous, Lan Qiren thinks without any real heat.

Just as Lan Qiren rises to his own feet, Wei Wuxian bounces back to speak to him. Wangji follows closely behind, a pleased expression on his face. They come to a stop just before Lan Qiren and bow. After they rise, Lan Qiren notices Wangji’s hand resting tenderly, protectively, on Wei Wuxian’s waist.

“Old Man Lan, I didn’t know you cared!” Wei Wuxian chirps brightly. Instinctively, Lan Qiren can feel his blood pressure rising from such an informal address. But, he has long since realized that Wei Wuxian has mastered balancing on the line between propriety and impropriety to infuriate without causing genuine outrage.

“I do not.” Lan Qiren folds his arms in his sleeves, looking every bit the respectable Elder he is. “An insult to the Chief Cultivator’s spouse is an affront to Gusu Lan,” he repeats his words from earlier. “It is unacceptable.”

Wangji frowns. “Insults to Wei Ying are common.” Wangji looks content enough to have his husband back in his arms, but there is a dangerous glint in his eyes as though he is prepared to skewer every cultivator who looks at Wei Ying without the utmost respect with Bichen.

Glancing over at Wangji and Wei Wuxian, Lan Qiren thinks they are standing too close. It is improper to display such outward demonstrations of affection.

But Lan Qiren doesn’t say anything.

“I mean, it’s not entirely undeserved,” Wei Wuxian says softly to Wangji. Lan Qiren is almost disgusted by how much love they radiate simply by existing in the presence of the other.

Wangji’s frown deepens as his arm tightens around Wei Wuxian. He turns to look directly at Wei Wuxian’s face and Wei Wuxian looks up in return. Wei Wuxian’s hand comes to cover Wangji’s hand where it rests on his waist.

By the way Wei Wuxian and Wangji are wordlessly gazing at each other with minute changes in their expressions, Lan Qiren can tell they are having a completely separate conversation silently.

Lan Qiren clears his throat pointedly, reminding Wangji and Wei Wuxian of his presence. “Wei Ying has atoned,” Wangji says, verbalizing their conversation even though he is still looking at Wei Wuxian.

“It’s an occupational risk.” Wei Wuxian looks away from Wangji as his gaze drops. His smile is not sad, exactly, but it is very subdued and Lan Qiren realizes that he does not enjoy seeing such melancholy on Wei Wuxian’s face. (Only because that somber look is mirrored on Wangji’s face and Wei Wuxian’s sole purpose in Cloud Recesses to make Wangji happy. Definitely not because Lan Qiren cares about Wei Wuxian in any way, shape or form.)

Huffing impatiently, Lan Qiren waves a disapproving finger in Wei Wuxian’s face. “You are a member of Gusu Lan. Do not shame us by allowing your detractors to address you with such offense.”

“And you,” Lan Qiren continues, shifting his ire to Wangji, “do not leave your spouse to protect himself. I taught you myself that diplomacy requires the presentation of a united front.”

With one last unimpressed look at Wei Wuxian and Wangji, Lan Qiren swept his arms behind his back and strode out of the meeting hall.

As he walked away, Lan Qiren decided he was growing too soft in his old age.

He’d have to remedy that softness by assigning Lan Jingyi some lines to complete during his handstands.

~~~

Just so we are very clear, I do not condone Lan Qiren’s view that Wei Wuxian is /letting/ others walk all over him. But, I do think that is the most in character approach Lan Qiren would have towards encouraging Wei Wuxian given his affinity for the tough love approach.

[boxoftheskyking]

Something Good, Part Sixteen

I know this is late, and not to be That Guy, but it is the playoffs

In which there is music and Wei Ying is awkward

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen

--

Lan Wangji kicks him out of the kitchen, but kindly. 

“The children will be worried,” he says, nudging Wei Wuxian towards the door. “They didn’t see you last night. I will prepare breakfast, and you should wake them.”

So Wei Wuxian wakes them, just as he always does. It’s one of his favorite moments of the day and is the only thing that makes rising before five worthwhile. Sizhui and Jingyi always stumble over to him where he kneels, rubbing sleep out of their eyes and tumbling into his arms. He holds them for a long few seconds, feeling their warm little faces against his neck, their messy hair tickling his nose, their tiny fists pressed against his chest and shoulders.

“Are you dreaming, little ones?” he always whispers before picking them up and spinning them awake.

This morning he stays down on the floor with them for a long time. Jingyi starts snoring, a little whistling hum, which makes him laugh, which makes him cry. 

“Wei-qianbei,” Sizhui says when he lets them go. “Are you sad?”

“No, A-Yuan. No, I’m not sad.” He wipes his eyes. “Ha! Come on now, everyone. Breakfast! Breakfast! And I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Ouyang Zizhen hops over, grinning down at him.

“Yes! Yes, come on. Up! Up! Hanguang Jun is making breakfast today!”

“Hanguang Jun can cook?” Su Meiling asks with her undershirt stuck over her head.

“Hanguang Jun can do everything,” Lan Ting says.

“Clothes! Clothes, now, come on.” Wei Wuxian gets Su Meiling sorted out and darts around tying sashes and pulling up boots.

Wen Ning stays back in his corner, dressing silently and staring at him, blank. Wei Wuxian, still a coward, sends all the children out before approaching him.

“Are you going to leave?” Wen Ning asks.

“No.”

“Are you going to change your mind?”

“I’m not going to leave unless they send me away. Unless you all want me to leave.”

Wen Ning nods. 

“Do you—” Wei Wuxian scratches his nose. They’re really only a few years apart. He suddenly feels like the young one, desperately seeking approval. “Do you want me to leave?”

There is a very, very long silence. Three years at least. Then Wen Ning throws himself forward, wrapping his arms around Wei Wuxian’s waist and pressing his forehead into his shoulder.

“No, no, please don’t go. Don’t go.”

“Aiyah, Wen Ning. They’ll have to fight me off.”

Wen Ning mumbles something into his shirt.

“What? Here, I can’t hear you.” He pulls the boy back by the shoulders.

“Why were you going to leave?”

Wei Wuxian chews on his lip. “I was wrong about something. I thought something had happened that would mean I couldn’t stay, but I was wrong. Now I know where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do.”

“And what’s that?” He’s shrewd, this kid, gentle but iron underneath.  

“Look after you. For as long as you need it.”

“And Jiejie?”

“What Wen Qing does is her business. The junior disciples are mine.”

Wen Ning makes him wait for it, but finally a sunrise smile takes over his face.

“Okay?”

“Okay.” Wen Ning salutes him and dashes out the door to catch up with the others.

--

In the afternoon, the children quietly practice their brushwork. Lan Wangji doesn’t look like he’s been up all night, but he’s passed on teaching lessons and set them busy work instead. Wei Wuxian is leaning against the doorway and keeps jerking himself awake. They’re mostly very attentive, focused on their writing with furrowed brows, tips of tongues poking out from serious faces. Wei Wuxian doesn’t notice that Lan Wangji has left until he comes back with Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren. 

That wakes him up, trying to stand at attention and look responsible. The look Lan Xichen gives him is so kind and almost proud, it reminds him of Yanli and makes it very hard to not do something ridiculous like hug him. Lan Qiren is impossible to read. He doesn’t look completely furious or disgusted, so Wei Wuxian assumes he’s been told the whole story. 

Wei Wuxian opens his mouth to say something, can’t think of anything, and bows instead.

“Wei Wuxian,” Lan Qiren says. Wei Wuxian bows again. “I’m told you will be staying in Cloud Recesses.”

“If allowed by the Grandmaster, of course,” he says diplomatically.

“Hmf,” is all the response he gets. 

“We are honored by your continued service to our sect,” Lan Xichen says. Wei Wuxian scratches the back of his neck and barely stops himself from scuffing the toe of his boot against the floor.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says suddenly. Lan Xichen’s eyebrows raise and his lip curls up in surprise. Now Lan Qiren looks furious.

“Yes, Hanguang Jun?” Better to play it safe.

Lan Wangji says nothing more, just reaches into his sleeve and pulls out Chenqing, holding it out to him with his jaw set and shoulders straight. Wei Wuxian looks hastily around the room, wondering if a set of guards or angry villagers might burst through the windows. Nothing happens. The Sect Leader and Grandmaster also do nothing, though Lan Qiren’s face is nearly as red as Lin Biming’s. Wei Wuxian takes the flute from him, giving an awkward little half-smile, and then tucks it quickly away inside his shirt. 

“Wei-qianbei!” Lan Feifei pipes up. “Is that a flute?”

“Yes, Feifei, just a flute. Just a normal flute, for a normal man. To play normal music.”

“Will you teach us?”

“Oh, yes, teach us!” Lan Hua and Su Ming shout from the back of the room.

“Uh. I, uh . . . We’ll see.”

Lan Qiren storms out of the room. Lan Xichen smiles, bows to them, and follows, graceful as a summer breeze.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian hisses to him. “He may not be able to send me away, but he can still kill me with his mind.”

“Who?”

“Your uncle!”

“He can’t—”

“Never mind!” Wei Wuxian waves him off, suddenly feeling restless. “All right, disciples! You’ve all worked very diligently today, and you behaved so well during the festivities this week, how about we spend the rest of the day with the rabbits? Good, yes?”

Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow at him.

“Really, Lan Zhan, get your face under control,” Wei Wuxian mutters to him before heading out the door.

“I will see you this evening,” Lan Wangji says.

Wei Wuxian spins back around to him and pouts. “No bunnies for you?”

He shakes his head. “There is work to be done now that the guests have all left. But I will ask Madam Xiao to supervise dinner and bedtime tonight. Come to the Jingshi.”

Wei Wuxian looks at him for a long moment, waiting for some crack in his expression. “All right,” he says finally. “Deal.”

--

He spends the afternoon playing Chenqing for the children and the rabbits. When the children ask him “What song is that? Is it about something?” he makes up fantastical stories about cranes that turn into old women and children that grow in place of radish bulbs.

He’s hit the point of being awake for so long—and he’s realizing how little he’s been sleeping all week—that he’s tapped into a kind of manic energy. Part of it surely is being able to play music, freely, as much and as loud as he likes, for the first time in years. He lines the children up and tries to assign them each a little melody.

“Now, Yao Hualing, when I play this figure—” he blows a little trill— “then that means I’m calling you. Ready?”

He plays it again, and she hops up. Su Meiling hops up, too.

“No, A-Ling, this is you.” He plays a slightly different trill, and she frowns at him.

“I can’t tell the difference, Wei-qianbei.”

“Me neither!” Lan Yixian yells, hanging upside down from a tree branch.

Wei Wuxian sighs. “Well, we’ll call that a failed experiment. Who knows a song to teach to everyone?”

After a number of favorite songs sung too many times, and an intense argument over how many children Mother Chaochong has in the “real” version, it’s time to eat. He turns the children over to Madam Xiao and apologizes for the inconvenience. She just pinches his cheek, which makes the children scream with laughter.

When he gets to the Jingshi, the door is closed, and he’s not certain if Lan Wangji is around. He kicks some stones around on the pathway, nerves bubbling up inside his ribcage, until the door opens and Lan Wangji looks around, face worried.

“Lan Zhan!” he calls with completely false confidence. “Here I am! Are you going to play the gu—”

He loses his voice and his mouth goes completely dry when he gets to the doorway. Lan Wangji is dressed for bed, only wearing one layer of robes, hair down around his shoulders. It’s an odd sight when the sun hasn’t even started to go down yet.

“What—” he can’t think of what to ask, so he takes his boots off and holds them. Lan Wangji sits down on the bed, and Wei Wuxian is quite sure the skin on his cheeks is about to melt away.

“You haven’t slept.”

Wei Wuxian shakes his head.

“You should sleep.”

Wei Wuxian coughs. “I have a— I have a bed.”

“There are other people there, in the servants quarters. You won’t sleep well.”

“There’s other people here. I mean, you’re here.”

Lan Wangji’s brow furrows. “Would you like me to leave?”

“No!” Wei Wuxian shouts and drops his boots. “I mean. Unless you want to. But you’re not dressed, so that would be a scandal. What would everyone say? Wen Qing might see you, and then where would we be? Not—”

“Wei Ying.”

“Yes, Lan Zhan?”

“Come here. And sleep.”

He has some kind of hypnotizing powers. That’s the only explanation for how Wei Wuxian is suddenly next to him, one knee up on the bed.

“And what about you?”

“I will also sleep,” Lan Wangji says, as if it’s that simple. He rises and closes the door, then crawls onto the bed, settling near the wall. There is plenty of space. 

“There’s no way I’m going to sleep,” Wei Wuxian breathes. Lan Wangji just looks at him, a challenge, and far be it from Wei Wuxian to not meet a challenge. 

He lays down on his side and stares over at Lan Wangji. “I mean it, there’s no way—”

“Shh.”

Wei Wuxian glares at him, then squeezes his eyes shut as dramatically as possible.

He’s asleep before he can take another breath.

Part Seventeen

[ladyshadowdrake-untamed]

The Untamed - Episode Two: In-Depth Summary

Episode One

I’m not sure why I’m calling these “summaries.” At this point I’m basically transcribing the entire episode. This one is even more detailed than the last one.

Maybe I will later come back these and put them into more of a novelization-format.

Thank you SO MUCH to @sassassassins​ for all the screenshots used in this summary!

Please check out the lovely Episode Two gifset.

Watch for the cut.

~*~

Wei Wuxian traveling with the donkey and discussing how picky of an eater he is (only fresh grass with dew) and how stubborn. He refers to the donkey as “his good master.”

He stops at a well for water, and a group of people passing by come over for water as well.

One of the travelers has a compass that another claims is broken because the arrow is not pointing at Dafan Mountain. The compass holder claims that it was made by Wei Wuxian himself (The Yiling Patriarch), and they fight about the efficacy of Wei Wuxian’s inventions. Wei Wuxian talks to the travelers to ask if something weird has been happening and gets pointed to Dafan Mountain; a soul-eater seems to have appeared and has eaten several people’s souls lately.

The donkey refuses to leave when Wei Wuxian dismisses the arguing travelers and decides to leave. A young woman who behaves in a very childlike manner is traveling with her mother, who calls her “A-Yan.” A-Yan brings Wei Wuxian an apple to help get the donkey moving, and the donkey is named Pingguo (Apple). Wei Wuxian ties the apple to a stick to keep Pingguo moving.

Wei Wuxian stops to survey Dafan Mountain on a hillside. A-Yan comes up with him and starts dancing strangely, seeming to be doing so unwillingly. Wei Wuxian casts a spell on her that interrupts the dancing. The spell hits her forehead and she drops unconscious.

Her mother explains that she was engaged to be married, but her fiance went up to the mountain to cut firewood and disappeared. She went to look for him and came back “like a different person” who doesn’t eat or drink or remember people (mostly) and sometimes dances toward Dafan Mountain. Her dad lost his soul shortly after and died.

Calls for help bring him off the mountain and he finds the travelers from before up in nets. A young cultivator in golden robes arrives, name-plate as “Jin Ling Rulan.” Jin Ling arrives to check the nets and finds the people. He says he will leave them up there until he’s caught the soul eating monster, and is annoyed that they keep tripping his spirit nets.

A-Yan comes running through calling for Pingguo, who runs to her, dragging Wei Wuxian along. He ends up dropping practically at Jin Ling’s feet, who recognizes him as Mo Xuanyu and comments on how his uncle had driven Mo Xuanyu out. It is revealed here that Mo Xuanyu was the love child of Jin Guangshan (Jin sect leader)

Wei Wuxian unknowingly insults Jin Ling that he lacks maternal education. When Jin Ling attempts to strike him, Wei Wuxian trips him to the ground and traps him with a paper talisman shaped like a person. Jin Ling has two other cultivators who try to come to his aid, but Wei Wuxian pushes them down with a wave of force. He uses Jin Ling’s sword to cut the spirit nets down.

The travelers run off and Jin Ling accuses him of using foul tricks. When Jin Ling warns he will tattle to his uncle, Wei Wuxian asks him why his uncle and not his dad. He asks who is Jin Ling’s uncle, and hears a voice from behind that he obviously recognizes saying “I am his uncle.”

An older cultivator in dark blue robes with a retinue of six other cultivators arrives, name-plate as “Jiang Cheng Wanyin.”

Without turning to face Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian gets up and tries to walk away, but Jiang Cheng tells him to “Stop.”

Jiang Cheng scolds Jin Ling and pulls the paper talisman off of him, recognizing it as the Yiling Patriarch’s tricks.

Jin Ling threatens Wei Wuxian, “I will break your legs!”

Jiang Cheng tells Jin Ling that anyone using these tricks should be “Killed and fed to your dog.” Jin Ling attacks Wei Wuxian’s turned back, but is blocked by a bright blue wave of force. Wei Wuxian takes the opportunity while Jin Ling is off balance to run and hide behind a tree.  

Lan Wangji arrives with his juniors in tow. Jiang Cheng mentions, not kindly,  that he has a reputation for “appearing amongst chaos.” He asks if Lan Wangji is there to take credit from them, or if he’s there looking for someone. “I heard you have been to a lot of places in the past 16 years.”

Lan Jingyi asks what Jiang Cheng means by that comment, and Jiang Cheng says that Lan Wangji knows exactly what he means by it. Lan Wangji looks sideways over his shoulder toward Wei Wuxian’s hiding place.

The two groups argue about the ethics of using so many spirit nets on a spirit hunt, and that it is not good sporting behavior.  Lan Wangji casts a silencing spell on Jin Ling after Jin Ling makes a haughty comment that they can discuss the ethics of it after he catches the spell.

Jiang Cheng demands that Lan Wangji lift the spell, and that it is not his place to discipline Jin Ling. Wei Wuxian, meanwhile, finds this very amusing. Lan Sizhui explains that the spell is harmless and it will wear off on its own in “a stick of incense’s time.”

One of Jiang Cheng’s men runs up to inform him that the nets were all destroyed by a “glowing blue sword.” (Lan Wangji’s) There were over 400 nets.

Obviously upset that Lan Wangji has meddled, Jiang Cheng brings his right fist up parallel to the ground, waist height, and Lan Wangji just looks down at it without moving his head - Jiang Cheng has a bracelet and matching slave ring on this wrist/hand.

Jiang Cheng calms himself down and tells Jin Ling to accept the discipline from Lan Wangji, if Huangun-jun wants to teach him a lesson - that it is not easy for him to discipline the junior of another clan (though he is glaring bloody murder at Lan Wangji), and not to come back if he doesn’t catch the monster. Jin Ling leaves and Lan Sizhui tells Jiang Cheng that the nets will be returned later, to which Jiang Cheng says there is no need.

Lan Wangji sends the juniors on the hunt, “Try your best, but don’t take risks.”

When Lan Wangji looks at Wei Wuxian hiding behind a tree, Wei Wuxian ducks away from him, and he walks away.

Wei Wuxian is obviously relieved to have been forgotten by both parties.

-Scene break-

At a river, Wei Wuxian remembers things that Jiang Cheng and and a then-unnamed woman have told him (Jiang Yanli). (C: “You said you would assist me. Don’t you remember? You said Gusu has it’s Twin Jades, so we are the Twin Heroes of Yunmeng. Y: “Wuxian, you, A-Cheng, and I, we won’t be separated. We will stay together forever.”)

A group of cultivators pass by gossiping about Jin Ling being spoiled. He is also the heir to the Jin sect, and the speaker can’t imagine how anyone will stand him when he takes over the sect. They discuss how his parents were both killed by the Yiling Patriarch, and that is why he is spoiled and ill-mannered. They comment that no wonder Jiang Cheng hates the Yiling Patriarch, and that he “hasn’t forgiven anyone who uses his tricks for the past 16 years.”

Wei Wuxian realizes that Jin Ling is his sister’s (Jiang Yanli) son, who is parentless because of his own actions. Wei Wuxian remembers the careless jibe he had made about Jin Ling not having any maternal guidance and slaps himself for it.

He lays back among the river stones. Pingguo returns and noses at his hair.

-Scene break-

The juniors come across a graveyard and find an old man caring for graves after being asked by “Master Wen.” He doesn’t know how long he’s been there, just that Master Wen asked him to watch over the graves, so he can’t leave. They ask him what is going on. He says many people died and it attracts evil spirits. He tells them to visit Tiannu Temple at the top of the mountain when asked if anything strange had been happening, where there is a dancing fairy statue that looks like a person.

He recalls that the stone can move only after they have left.

-Scene break-

At the river, Wei Wuxian finds soul-gathering grass. It glows and Pingguo is trying to eat it (This grass grows by the graves of cultivators and can absorb spirit from the earth).

He continues up the mountain and also finds the graveyard. He senses that it’s surrounded by a thick, dark fog because so many cultivators are buried there. He also speaks to the old man caring for the graves, who tells him that the graves belong to the Wen clan. Wei Wuxian has a brief memory of a woman dressed in red. He remembers the pose that A-Yan had taken when dancing and then a memory of what appears to be a statue in the same pose. He thinks, “No, it’s not the soul-eater.”

The old man vanishes.

He continues to the temple because Jin Ling is in danger.

Tiannu Temple

The juniors enter the temple and discuss the statue, which is the one from Wei Wuxian’s flash of memory. According to legend, the statue is a naturally formed piece of stone that just happens to have the appearance of a dancing woman. Fojiao villagers made up fairy tales about it. Jinyi’s evil-seeking compass does not respond to it.

Jin Ling arrives with Jin cultivators + other random cultivators from different clans, and mocks the locals praying to the statue. He makes a wish that the monster of Dafan mountain will appear before him right then.

The statue smiles and one cultivator gets hit in the forehead with some spell, and falls unconscious. The statue breaks out of the rocks and begins to move. Wei Wuxian arrives to tell them to leave and identifies it as a soul-eating statue. He attempts to seal it with paper talismans, but they fall off. He orders the young cultivators again to run.

The cultivators run to a wide place in the road. Wuxian suggests they call Lan Wangji with a “spirit shell,” but the Lan cultivators did not restock their supply of signals to call him. Wei Wuxian lectures them about this. They ask him how he knew about the statue, and he reveals knowledge of the Lan clan and all their rules.

-Scene break-

In the village. Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng are apparently waiting to be called/waiting for news, and aggressively ignoring each other. They are at what seems to be a roadside-stand with a man cooking and the rest of Jiang Cheng’s men seem to be standing guard.

-Scene break-

Wei Wuxian questions the juniors into figuring out what the status is themselves. They figure out that the statue has been granting wishes and then taking souls as its payment. Through this process, Wei Wuxian realizes that Jin Ling is not with them and asks immediately if anyone has seen him.

The statue appears then, coming down the road and Wei Wuxian remembers that he and Lan Wangji had sealed it before.

Jin Ling attacks it with arrows, and ignores the other juniors when they tell him to send the signal (to summon Jiang Cheng). Wei Wuxian takes Lan Jinyi’s sword and uses it to cuts down some bamboo. He quickly makes a flute, and begins to play. Apparently, he is playing poorly, and Lan Jinyi complains about him playing in this situation. He unintentionally summons a fierce corpse who turns out to be Wen Ning, who should be dead.

Wen Ning destroys the statue’s arm before it can crush Jin Ling. The rest of the cultivators recognize the “Ghost General.” Wen Ning very easily destroys the statue, which turns out to be an illusion Wei Wuxian suspects was to lure him to draw out Wen Ning. The cultivators attack Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian plays for him to defend himself, and then realizes that he has stirred up Wen Ning’s resentful energy too strongly (he is hurting the other cultivators). He switches to a different song to calm Wen Ning down. Wen Ning stops fighting and insteads follows Wei Wuxian as Wei Wuxian walks backwards toward the trees.  Jin Ling makes the connection to the flute playing.

Lan Wangji arrives as Wei Wuxian is drawing Wen Ning away and grabs his wrist, stopping him from playing briefly. Their eyes meet, but they do not say anything to each other. Wei Wuxian notices that Wen Ning is starting to drift away and starts playing again, sending Wen Ning away.

Lan Wangjis grabs Wei Wuxian’s hand before he can leave.

Jiang Cheng arrives shortly after to scold Jin Ling for not calling for him. One of the other cultivators announces that Wen Ning was there, which Jiang Cheng thinks is impossible - he was executed a long time ago. The cultivator claims that Wei Wuxian’s flute playing drew him out.

Jiang Cheng goes after Wei Wuxian with Zidian (the bracelet/slave ring on his wrist, which generates a violet whip of electricity). Lan Wangji deflects the initial blow with the guqin. Wei Wuxian runs and Jiang Cheng strikes him Zidian but it “doesn’t work.” The special ability of Zidian is to cast out any spirit possessing another body with one hit.

Lan Jingyi points out that Zidian would be able to exorcise Wei Wuxian if he was possessing someone, and also that Jiang Cheng killed Wei Wuxian himself, so Mo Xuanyu cannot possibly be Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian falls/passes out.

-Scene break-

16 years ago

Wei Wuxian taking a nap in a boat, Yanli calling for him. (A-Xian). He jumps out of the boat and he, Yanli and Jiang Cheng walk through a town together. They are young and happy, a marked contrast to the Jiang Cheng we’ve seen so far. As they’re walking, Wei Wuxian gets a sugar bunny candy for Yanli. Jiang Cheng scolds him to behave himself, and Wei Wuxian seems to mostly ignore him.

Wei Wuxian waxes lyrical about a liquor he wants to try called “Emperor’s Smile,” which is the speciality of Gusu (their current location).

Jiang Cheng asks to get a room in town and rest/clean up before going to Cloud Recesses. The ceremony is still several days away, so Yanli says this will be fine. Jiang Cheng complains that Wei Wuxian will make trouble and that Yanli and their father always defends Wei Wuxian.

Appears in This Episode:

People:

Wei Wuxian - Same as Epi one + studded leather bracers - (Flashback) Dark blue top with leather detailing, red under-robe. Silver hair accessory. Black belt.

Pingguo (Apple)

Jin Ling/Rulan - Pale cream textured robes with light gold detailing, peach belt w/ orange decoration and yellow tassel. Two belts with d-rings hang off the belt, nothing attached.

Jiang Cheng/Wanyin - Blue robes with water detailing on the breast and dark blue shoulders, black leather bracers. Sleeves blue w/metallic purple diamond pattern. (Flash back) Mint-green robes with floral detailing on the breast and purple accents. Black sash with studded leather belt over.

Lan Wangji - Same as Epi 1

Lan Yuan/Shizui - Same as Epi 1 Lan Jingyi - Same as Epi 1

Yanli - Pale lavender robes with floral detailing and darker purple accents. Matching floral beaded comb.

Fairy Statue

Wen Ning/Qionglin -Tattered black and red robes, chains.

Objects:

Evil seeking compass

Spirit nets

Places:

Dafan Mountain

Tiannu Temple

Gusu