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Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian was puzzled.

He swirled around and observed the vast, unfamiliar landscape that surrounded him. Quaint homes lined the horizon, nestled in between open pastures and farmland. It was incredibly peaceful - only the distant calls of animals and the faint pattering of carriages could be heard.

It would’ve painted a very beautiful picture if it weren't for the fact that he had no idea how the hell he’d gotten there.

Just moments earlier, he had been fighting a horde of ghosts alongside Lan Wangji. He rubbed his pounding temples as he pieced together the fragmented memories in his mind.

Everything had started as routine business. They’d responded to a call for help from a village that was being tormented by a group of ghosts. The ghosts were slightly more formidable than expected, but it was no matter for the couple.

Lan Wangji had effortlessly brushed away the onslaught with the strong, tender sounds of his Guqin, and Bichen hardly had to leave its sheath.

That was, until a particularly fearsome ghost charged out from the masses and hurled relentless wind attacks at them, with gales rivaling the strength of a typhoon.

The last thing Wei Wuxian remembered was being lifted off the ground and watching Lan Wangji’s panicked figure getting farther away, until his vision was clouded in pure darkness.

He folded his arms and nodded. So, that was it - he’d been literally swept off his feet and carried away to who knows where. It was slightly disconcerting, but Wei Wuxian didn’t pay it much mind. On the contrary, he was excited about the opportunity to play around.

After all, Lan Wangji was more than capable of fighting off whatever enemies were left, plus he was a certified expert in tracking down Wei Wuxian. It wouldn’t be that long until he’d find his way to this strange little village and drag him back home by the collar.

With a lightened spring in his step, Wei Wuxian clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely strolled towards the town center, whistling as he went.

He bounced around from shop to shop, engaging in playful banter with the locals. From his casual conversations, he learned that he’d landed in a place called Puqi Village.

Wei Wuxian wracked his brain but couldn’t remember ever visiting, or even hearing about a place like that within any of the domains of the four clans.

But he shrugged it off and sauntered around, admiring the assorted trinkets and wares that lined the stalls. A few items caught his eye, and he eagerly fished around in his pockets, excited to buy a swath of exotic souvenirs for Lan Wangji.

He patted his robes a few times, and his face paled when his hands came up empty. How could he have forgotten? Lan Wangji still had the coin purse!

Wei Wuxian awkwardly placed the items back on the table under the watchful eye of the shopkeeper, and then dashed away and made himself sparse.

Pocketing the items would’ve been simple enough, but they were intended to be gifts for Lan Wangji. He’d catch on instantly and drag him back, forcing him to bow in front of the shopkeeper before copying down the clan’s precepts for the thousandth time.

Wei Wuxian liked being punished, but not in that way. So, he erased the thought from his mind and skipped along.

With no money to his name, he wandered around aimlessly before settling himself onto a spot on the ground. He mindlessly picked up a pebble and tossed it up and down a few times, exhaling loudly.

He’d finally managed to score himself the perfect vacation - no one here knew his name or previous misgivings. There were no Lan Clan members to needlessly chide him about this and that. He was as free as a bird, and yet he couldn’t even enjoy a damn drink!

Without anything else to do, Wei Wuxian unlatched the flute that was dangling at his hip and brought it up to his lips, playing out a soft, somber melody.

The forlorn, sultry tune naturally attracted the rapt attention of passersby, and within a few verses, a sizable crowd had gathered.

Encouraged by the attention that he loved so much, Wei Wuxian picked up his playing with a little bit of added flair. The crowd of onlookers clapped and swayed along with the harmonious melody, with a few members even tossing a few coins his way.

Wei Wuxian continued his concert until the crowd eventually thinned, and he stood up with a flourish and took a deep bow. He spun around a few times, his black robes fluttering behind him, and flashed a huge grin.

“Hah! Now these people know talent when they see it! I wish the Lan Clan were here to see this,” he said to himself.

He bent down and excitedly picked up the coins that littered the ground around him. But his jovial expression quickly dissolved as he tallied up the total - the paltry amount still wouldn’t even come close to buying him a drink, let alone a single steamed bun!

“C’mon, what’s with this? These people get treated to a Wei Wuxian special solo, and this is all they can come up with?” he complained as he plopped himself back down on the ground with an exaggerated sigh.

The daylight was slowly fading into twilight, and he was stranded in a foreign town without food or shelter.

“Lan Zhan, you sure are taking your sweet time rescuing your poor husband,” Wei Wuxian grumbled.

He picked up a nearby twig and started drawing with it in the dirt. At his feet was a sloppily drawn portrait of a stern man, with long flowing hair and a headband wrapped around his forehead.

Wei Wuxian made a special point to make the man’s eyebrows extra furrowed, and he embellished his work of art with a little speech bubble: “Frivolous.”

“Lan Zhan, your husband is cold and could use a pair of strong arms to warm his lonely little heart,” he spoke loudly this time, with no regard to the people walking by that were giving him strange looks.

He was mildly annoyed by his situation but had resigned himself to fishing around the local stream and camping up in a tree somewhere for the night.

Conversely, he was more worried about Lan Wangji, wherever he was. The big, lovable man had grown accustomed to sleeping with Wei Wuxian and couldn’t fall asleep unless his lover was nestled safely in his arms.

Wei Wuxian quickly brushed away any growing concern and giggled, almost squealing in delight at the thought of Lan Wangji frantically running around to find him.

“I’d pay good money to see that,” Wei Wuxian said as he looked at the ground.

He stared dreamily at Lan Wangji’s sloppy portrait, then quickly scribbled another figure in his own likeness right next to it.

His self-portrait featured a big grin and had hearts for eyes. Wei Wuxian cackled as he drew another speech bubble next to his cartoon caricature: “Pound me, Lan Zhan!”

As Wei Wuxian tilted his head back and forth, musing about the best way to embellish his work of art even further, he heard the faint sound of approaching footsteps, followed by a gentle voice. He inclined his head slightly, twig still firmly grasped in his hand.

“Excuse me, sir. Do you need any help?”

A kind-looking young man approached. He wore long, plain white robes and carried a bundle of assorted trinkets and scraps on his back. A well-worn bamboo hat rested gently on top of his head, and flowing brown locks cascaded out from underneath it. The stranger flashed a pleasant smile as he gingerly drew nearer.

Wei Wuxian was both surprised and delighted to have spontaneously run into a fellow cultivator in this run-down town. As far as he could tell, there wasn’t a major sect anywhere nearby.

He immediately felt a sense of camaraderie with the stranger, which was bolstered by the fact that the man seemed like the type that wouldn’t dare hurt even a fly.

He silently waved as the man came closer. Wei Wuxian was a master of manipulation, so he spared no expense at making himself look extra pathetic in the face of this worried bystander.

He tossed the twig aside and quickly brushed away the lewd drawing at his feet, then discretely pulled the hem of his robes up, revealing light bruises and gashes that he had earned in the previous fight.

He shimmied in his spot a little to loosen his robes ever so slightly, revealing a field of red marks on his chest.

Granted, those ones weren’t from the ghosts but from a beast of a man, but he figured the person in front of him would be none the wiser.

“Daozhang, you’re too kind,” Wei Wuxian casually responded, a flirty smile floating on his face.

His subtle attempts at being coy seemed to drift right over the other man, who simply smiled in response.

“I’ve never seen you around these parts. What brings you to our humble Puqi Village?” the man asked.

Wei Wuxian sniffled a few times for dramatic effect as he scratched his cheek.

“Oh, don’t mind me. I was off fighting some strange creature - cultivation business, you know? Anyway, I managed to scare the thing away, but not before it gave me one hell of a beatdown. After that, I guess you could say the winds of fate carried me here,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “But I’ll be fine. It takes a lot to wear me down. I’ll just cozy up in a tree somewhere and figure things out as I go.”

The man in front of him furrowed his brow.

“That won’t do,” he murmured. A wistful, nostalgic expression overtook him, and he seemed lost in thought for a few moments as he gazed off into the distance.

He then returned his gaze to Wei Wuxian and resolutely held out a hand.

“Come with me. You can stay at my shrine until you find your way.”

Wei Wuxian purposefully faltered in the face of the man’s gesture before waving his hands back and forth.

“Oh, I couldn’t trouble you, Daozhang,” he said, knowing full well that he would gladly trouble this person any day, any time.

But the man in front of him refused to withdraw his outstretched hand. “It’s no trouble at all, really. Come, my shrine is just up the hill. It’s not much, but it’s certainly better than the streets.”

Wei Wuxian deliberately paused for a few more moments, then slowly clasped the man’s hand and pulled himself up.

“Well, if you insist,” he replied softly with a smirk.

***

Wei Wuxian eagerly trailed behind his savior with a pep in his step. He clasped his hands together behind his head and whistled a light tune, the sound echoing through the crisp air that enveloped the otherwise silent town.

“Say, Daozhang. I never caught your name,” he said as he scurried up to the man’s side. “Mine’s Wei Wuxian. You?”

“Ah, I’m Xie Lian,” the man replied with a soft smile.

“Xie-daozhang, huh? It suits you,” Wei Wuxian replied, as he flashed a quick smile and wink.

The other man responded with a modest smile and rubbed his head a few times in embarrassment.

They made idle chitchat on their leisurely stroll back to the shrine, and Wei Wuxian tried to size up his new companion along the way.

There was something strangely captivating about the man. While he didn’t possess obvious spiritual power and had an otherwise unassuming demeanor, his aura was strong and confident.

As they walked up the hill, Wei Wuxian excitedly imagined the ornate building that must’ve housed such an intriguing fellow.

So, when they arrived at a run-down shrine - if it could really be called that - Wei Wuxian suddenly felt a slight pang of guilt for taking advantage of this poor guy, who was apparently in an even sorrier state than him.

But the cultivator in front of him seemed unbothered, and Wei Wuxian quickly shrugged off his concerns and followed him into the tiny, dilapidated building.

He kicked off his boots and lazily tossed them to the side. He spun around a few times, taking in the sights.

A beautiful portrait of a young, masked man hung in the center of the shrine, and beneath it sat a small altar with a full plate of offerings.

Xie Lian quietly kneeled in front of the altar and lit a few sticks of incense and candles, enveloping the small room in a soft, inviting glow.

“Xie-daozhang, which god do you worship here?” Wei Wuxian asked as he approached the delicate painting in front of them.

Truthfully, he’d held no real interest in gods and would much rather talk about ghosts and demons, but the portrait was strangely captivating, much like the man in front of him.

“Ah, it’s the Crown Prince of Xianle. Have you by chance heard of him?” Xie Lian asked. He’d already moved into the kitchen and was rummaging through cupboards in search of cooking supplies.

“Sorry, can’t say I have,” Wei Wuxian casually replied. “But he looks nice enough. And he’s pretty handsome, too,” he said with a whistle.

He sauntered over to the kitchen and snuck up behind Xie Lian, who seemed slightly flustered, as he was repeatedly picking up the same dish and putting it back down.

“Whatcha doin’?” Wei Wuxian prodded.

The sudden voice in his ear jolted Xie Lian out of his stupor, and he sheepishly stood up, frying pan in hand. His cheeks flushed with a light rosy hue.

“J-just gathering ingredients. What kind of host would I be if I didn’t treat you to a meal? Please, sit down and relax. Dinner will be ready shortly,” Xie Lian said as he gently pressed a hand to Wei Wuxian’s back and guided him to a nearby table.

Wei Wuxian didn’t protest and comfortably settled into his seat to eagerly watch his host cook.

His eyes glistened, and he salivated at the thought of a delicious homecooked meal. His daydreams, however, were quickly interrupted by a strong burning stench.

He coughed a few times and glanced at Xie Lian, who was happily humming to himself as oil in the nearby wok burned to a crisp, waves of smoke bellowing above. He firmly clutched a large knife in his hand and was clumsily chopping an onion into terribly large chunks.

Wei Wuxian winced every time the knife collided with the cutting board. Xie Lian’s technique was crude at best, and the sheer force that he used to cleave the onion was enough to make even Wei Wuxian recoil.

Sensing the desperation of the situation, he jumped out of his seat and rushed to Xie Lian’s side.

“Alright, alright. Step aside. You’re gonna slice those little fingers off. That is, if you don’t burn the place down first,” Wei Wuxian said, coughing as he fanned the clouds of smoke looming over the stove.

He snatched the knife out of Xie Lian’s hands and gently pushed him onto the stool he’d just been sitting on. He then sauntered back to the stove with a wink.

“Watch and learn from the master.”

There were rumors back home that Wei Wuxian was a terrible cook, but they weren’t true. He was actually quite skilled in the kitchen - he would just rather slough his duties off to someone else.

But the current situation was different. He could sense that anything Xie Lian cooked would be deadly and had the potential to quickly snuff out his second life.

From the dining room table, Xie Lian propped his head on his hands and watched Wei Wuxian with awe. It didn’t take long until a full spread of delicacies was laid out before him, and he eagerly breathed in the delectable scent.

“Wei Wuxian, you must have a strong palette. All these dishes seem quite spicy,” Xie Lian casually remarked as he helped himself to the delightful spread.

Xie Lian’s own taste buds were hardened, having been accustomed to the “food” he cooked for himself. Spice was not an issue - in fact, it was a welcome treat.

In a rare moment, Wei Wuxian found himself speechless.

He’d inadvertently made an array of spicy food for Lan Wangji. He delighted in nothing more than teasing his Lan Zhan, and the dishes he’d mindlessly prepped reflected that.

A brief thought fluttered through his mind: God, I miss Lan Zhan.

But he quickly pushed the thought aside and eagerly took a seat next to Xie Lian, filling up his own plate. They enjoyed their meal together, exchanging banter and chatting comfortably like long lost friends.

“Thank you for the wonderful meal,” Xie Lian said as he reclined a bit and rubbed his stomach. “Your cooking is quite exceptional!”

Wei Wuxian casually waved him off and flashed a big smile.

“It’s nothing at all,” he replied. “But Xie-daozhang, I’ve gotta ask… How have you survived up to this point? How do I put this? That cooking style of yours doesn’t seem very, uh, sustainable.”

Wei Wuxian’s blunt comments elicited a hefty chuckle from Xie Lian, and he responded in kind.

“It’s true, I’m not much of a chef,” Xie Lian admitted as he scratched his cheek. “Truthfully, I haven’t had to do much cooking as of late. My partner usually takes care of it, and he’s much more talented than I am."

His tone was bashful, and Wei Wuxian could tell from the gentle smile on Xie Lian’s face that the partner he spoke of was deeply treasured.

“Partner, eh?” Wei Wuxian smiled as he thought of his own ‘personal chef.’ “That’s good. I can rest easy knowing Xie-daozhang is in capable hands,” he said with an honest smile. Xie Lian nodded at the gesture and smiled back.

“So, where’s this partner of yours now?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“Oh, he’s away on business,” Xie Lian replied.

“Business, huh? What kind? Is he a cultivator like you?”

“Um, I s-suppose you could say that.” Xie Lian coughed as he hesitated for a moment. “My partner is spiritually gifted and, uh, he’s quite familiar with ghosts, in particular. I guess you could say he works in, uh, management?” he said as his voice trailed off.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes immediately lit up, and he leaned over the table, clattering the empty dishes.

“Ghosts, huh? Now we’re talking! He sounds like my kind of guy! Think I’ll get a chance to meet this esteemed partner of yours?”

“He’s quite busy at the moment, and I can’t say when he’ll return. But I do hope the two of you can meet. I’d like to think you’ll get along very well,” Xie Lian responded with a big smile.

They passed the evening together with causal chats about Puqi Village, cultivation, and the like. Wei Wuxian eagerly shared stories about his cultivation partner, and Xie Lian responded with tales from his own adventures.

Time flew by during their engaging conversation, until darkness spilled in from the small windows of the shrine.

Wei Wuxian stretched his arms a few times and let out a big yawn. Xie Lian took note and hurriedly rushed over to the corner of the room to pull out a sleeping mat.

“It’s been a long day for you,” he said as he gestured to the straw mat that he’d carefully laid out. “Please, make yourself comfortable and get some rest.”

Wei Wuxian walked over with casual strides and looked down at the mat, then glanced around a few times before scratching his head.

“But Xie-daozhang, where will you sleep?”

“Ah, if it’s not a bother, we can share the mat. Of course, if it’s too uncomfortable for you, I’d be happy sleeping somewhere else,” Xie Lian hurriedly offered.

Wei Wuxian quirked his eyebrows then glanced at him with a sly smirk.

“Xie-daozhang, sharing a bed with a man you just met? You’re so naughty,” he said playfully as he cupped his cheeks and feigned innocence.

In their brief time together, Xie Lian had quickly picked up on Wei Wuxian’s “quirks” and laughed along with his teasing. But his cheeks went slightly red as he realized he’d done exactly that with another young man once before…

By the time Xie Lian pulled himself back to reality, Wei Wuxian had already stripped his outer robe and snuggled himself into a nest of blankets, rolling back and forth in search of the perfect position.

Xie Lian laughed softly, musing to himself that Wei Wuxian was the picture of a spoiled child.

He carefully extinguished the candles and burning flames of incense before settling down for bed.

Chapter Text

When Xie Lian woke in the morning, he was surprised to see that his guest was still completely out cold. The sun had long since risen, but Wei Wuxian showed no signs of stirring. Xie Lian lifted the blanket that was pooled at Wei Wuxian’s feet and softly draped it over his shoulders.

Xie Lian yawned as he stretched back and forth. Any chance at peaceful slumber had been completely dashed by his new companion, who was apparently quite loud both day and night.

Wei Wuxian had tossed and turned all night, stealing the blankets all for himself before eventually flipping them back off with a loud, disgruntled snore. On top of that, he whimpered loudly as he repeatedly called someone’s name out.

“Lan Zhan, huh?” Xie Lian mused to himself. He remembered the crude drawing that he’d caught a brief glimpse of during their first encounter.

Wei Wuxian had hurriedly brushed it away, but not before Xie Lian could catch a quick glimpse. He couldn’t read the whole speech bubble but was pretty sure it said something about Lan Zhan, too.

It didn’t take him long to put together a theory. During their discussions, Wei Wuxian talked all about his cultivation partner. He often addressed him by his given name and even cried out for him in his sleep, so they were likely… quite close.

Xie Lian snuck another peek at the man next to him, who had already kicked the blanket off again. His inner robes were disheveled from all his tossing and turning, revealing the expansive patches of red marks and bite marks that he had previously blamed on his encounter with the ghost horde.

But Xie Lian recognized those marks - how could he not? After all, his own body was completely covered in the same thing.

With all these facts combined, it was probably safe to say that Lan Zhan was Wei Wuxian’s lover.

A deep sense of understanding sprouted within Xie Lian’s chest, and he suddenly felt that he and Wei Wuxian were kindred spirits.

He wondered what kind of person Lan Zhan was. Judging by the sea of marks he’d left behind on Wei Wuxian, he was likely similar to Hua Cheng in some ways - passionate and possessive.

Xie Lian knew too well how taxing it was to have such an... eager partner, and he exhaled sharply on Wei Wuxian’s behalf.

After giving Wei Wuxian one last look of solemn understanding, Xie Lian quietly tiptoed towards the kitchen.

He prepared a kettle and poured himself a cup of hot tea, then peacefully sat at the table. He had just begun flipping through the calligraphy booklet that he’d been drafting for Hua Cheng when the front door creaked open.

“Gege, I’m back,” said the man, softly closing the door behind him.

He was draped in regal red robes and held a commanding presence. One side of his face was concealed by a dark eyepatch, and the other eye gazed lovingly at Xie Lian, who waved back at him from the table.

The man’s expression quickly hardened, however, at the sight of an unfamiliar young man sprawled face down on Xie Lian’s bed.

“…Gege?” he asked with a slightly dangerous tilt in his voice.

“Ah, San Lang!” Xie Lian stood up and walked over to Hua Cheng’s side. “We have a guest,” he continued with a big smile. “This is Wei Wuxian.”

The man in question, though fast asleep, let out a loud grunt of acknowledgment.

Hua Cheng said nothing. His dark gaze lingered on the man, who was now snoring quite loudly. He turned back towards Xie Lian and crossed his arms, a reproachful look on his face.

“He’s a bit down on his luck right now,” Xie Lian explained.

He could sense Hua Cheng’s confusion and hurriedly offered an explanation in hopes of placating him and extinguishing any unsightly misunderstandings.

He knew the situation was strange – after all, inviting another man over during his husband’s absence did look suspicious. But Xie Lian harbored no ill intentions and acted purely out of compassion. And asking for forgiveness was easier than asking for permission, right?

“He was separated from his cultivation partner during a recent encounter. The fight left him wounded, and he made his way to Puqi Village. He looked dreadful and had nowhere to go, so I offered to let him stay here,” Xie Lian continued, glancing up at Hua Cheng.

There was a long moment of silence between them before Hua Cheng spoke up.

“And he stayed overnight?” Hua Cheng asked.

“Of course. I couldn’t leave him out in the cold,” Xie Lian casually replied.

“Then where did you sleep?”

“On the sleeping mat, obviously.”

“…With him?”

“Well, there isn’t anywhere else for me to sleep, is there?”

Before Xie Lian could get another word in, Hua Cheng had already disappeared from his side and was now crushing Wei Wuxian beneath the weight of his boot. The force was enough to finally rouse the groggy man from his deep sleep.

“San Lang!”

Xie Lian rushed to Hua Cheng’s side and clutched onto his sleeve. He grunted as he forcefully tugged at his arm, but Hua Cheng refused to budge and stared coldly at the man squirming beneath him.

“Stop this nonsense right now,” Xie Lian chided him with a firm voice.

“I’ll stop once he’s dead.”

“San Lang!”

He lightly smacked Hua Cheng on the back of the head, pulling him out of his fit of rage.

Hua Cheng flashed a few more angry glances at Wei Wuxian, but he shirked a little bit in the face of his husband’s anger.

He obediently, but very reluctantly, stepped away and relinquished the iron hold on his victim.

Surprisingly, Wei Wuxian was still only about 75% awake. He blearily blinked his eyes, then let out a few strong coughs as he rubbed his chest, which bore the faint outline of a large boot.

“Wei Wuxian, are you alright?” Xie Lian crouched down beside him and patted his back a few times. “Many apologies for the extremely rude introduction. This is my partner, Hua Cheng."

Wei Wuxian was still in a daze and surprisingly didn’t say a single word. He stared lifelessly at the ground as his shoulders began to shake.

Xie Lian puffed his cheeks and glared in Hua Cheng’s direction. “Look, you scared the poor boy to death!”

Hua Cheng jerked his head to the side and scoffed.

“He had it coming,” he casually replied. He didn’t dare turn his head back towards Xie Lian, lest he be scolded again.

The three of them shared a few moments of tense silence, interrupted only by the sound of Wei Wuxian’s forced breathing and occasional coughs.

After managing to take a few deep breaths, Wei Wuxian finally lifted his head and locked onto Hua Cheng, who was still standing indifferently in the corner.

“You,” Wei Wuxian mumbled under his breath.

Hua Cheng slightly inclined his head, a faint smirk growing on his face. “Is there a problem?”

Xie Lian watched helplessly from the side as Wei Wuxian’s body began shaking uncontrollably. He was about to lean in to provide some words of encouragement when Wei Wuxian abruptly sat up and started shouting.

“Please, step on me more!”

Neither Xie Lian nor Hua Cheng could bring themselves to respond to such an insane, offhanded comment. Xie Lian tilted his head from side to side and smacked his ears a few times, as if to clear out the sand that must’ve impeded his hearing. Even Hua Cheng stood wordlessly, his arms falling to his sides.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes sparkled with childlike wonder. He gave a few playful whistles as he eyed Hua Cheng up and down.

“It’s been a hot minute since I felt that much evil qi. Damn, that was invigorating! You’re not human, are you? You’re a ghost, right? And not just some run-of-the-mill lackey. I can tell you’re the real deal!”

He rambled on and on, offering endless streams of praise, much to Hua Cheng’s growing displeasure.

“Hey, mind if I try something really quick?” He fiddled with the flute he always carried on his hip. “Let me just play you a quick song.”

Just as he brought the thin flute to his lips, which were practically quivering with anticipation, it was knocked out of his hands by a gust of dark force and splashed into the simmering tea kettle in the kitchen.

Wei Wuxian quickly ran over and fished it out, flinching at the scalding heat as he bounced the flute back and forth like a hot potato.

“OK, OK. No music. You got it.” Wei Wuxian threw his hands in the air, admitting defeat.

But in no time at all, he was back on the prowl. He had his sights locked on to Hua Cheng and showed no signs of giving up anytime soon.

Wei Wuxian fanatically chased Hua Cheng in circles, his loud voice rattling the flimsy walls of the shrine. No matter how many times Hua Cheng flung him against the wall with bone-shattering force, he’d eagerly get back up and start running again.

On the contrary, Hua Cheng’s relentless attacks only seemed to ignite Wei Wuxian’s strange passion even further.

“Gege, can I please kill him?” Hue Cheng pleaded as he dodged Wei Wuxian’s persistent attempts at physical contact.

With a flick of his wrist, he slammed Wei Wuxian’s face to the ground for the umpteenth time. But the latter just wearily raised his head, flashing a big, bloody grin.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian quickly admonished him. He’d nestled back into his seat at the table and was casually sipping his tea as he watched the chaos unfold. “Wei Wuxian is our guest. No killing allowed."

His eyes spun around as he watched the fanatic tango that his two companions were tangled in. The situation was downright ridiculous, and he couldn’t help but let out a light chuckle.

It had been a while since Puqi Shrine had been this lively. He smiled as he wondered how Feng Xin and Mu Qing would respond if they were here. As he sipped his tea, he continued to watch in awe, wondering just what kind of character he’d picked up this time.

***

With a great deal of effort, Hua Cheng finally managed to subdue his delirious opponent into submission.

Wei Wuxian was sprawled on the floor with an ice pack on his head, courtesy of Xie Lian. The world around him spun and every limb in his body ached, but he still wore a goofy grin.

Hua Cheng could’ve handled him easily enough if he’d been allowed to use more force, but Xie Lian had taken a liking to their strange guest and had given him very strict orders not to use any kind of excessive strength.

Hua Cheng was surprisingly unnerved by the ordeal and tried to purge the scene from memory by busying himself in the kitchen, cooking up a pot of congee for Xie Lian.

“Gege, I beg of you,” Hua Cheng said as he placed a steaming bowl down on the table. “Get that pest out of here.”

Xie Lian chuckled at the sight of his lover begging him so earnestly. It had been a long time since he’d encountered someone who could rattle the infamous Crimson Rain Sought Flower.

“Why? I quite like him, you know,” Xie Lian replied with a smile.

He couldn’t exactly put his finger on it. Sure, Wei Wuxian was crude, loud, and strangely masochistic. But there was something… cute and endearing about him?

“Gege, you need to get rid of that bad habit of yours,” Hua Cheng responded with a frown.

“What habit?”

“Picking up every sad little street urchin you find,” he replied with a stern tone. “You’re just asking for trouble.”

Xie Lian laughed out loud, but he couldn’t exactly refute the claim. In truth, he did seem to have a soft spot for downtrodden souls.

He tilted his head as he mentally recounted them - Hong Hong-Er, Wu Ming, San Lang, Lan Ying, Guzi... Admittedly, over half of them had actually been Hua Cheng - but the sentiment was the same.

“In that case, I suppose I never should’ve taken you in, hm? You’re the most dangerous person I’ve picked up by far,” Xie Lian playfully retorted.

“…I’m the exception,” Hua Cheng muttered.

“Yes, yes,” Xie Lian said as he patted Hua Cheng’s head a few times, as if consoling a child.

Hua Cheng leaned into the touch and took the opportunity to sneak an arm around Xie Lian’s waist, holding him tight.

“Taking them in is one thing, but inviting them into your bed,” Hua Cheng whispered into his ear with a low voice. “Are you trying to make this San Lang jealous?”

His deep voice was dangerously close, and the sound of it sent shivers up Xie Lian’s spine.

He blushed and squirmed a bit, evoking an even deeper smile from Hua Cheng. With a mischievous look, Hua Cheng leaned even closer and was about to start teasing him in other ways when a loud voice completely dissolved the amorous mood.

“Alright, you two. Save the flirting for later. Unless… you’re into that kind of play?” Wei Wuxian said with a smirk as he pointed to himself. “I don’t mind.”

He had apparently regained his strength and was back to his normal, talkative self. Hua Cheng scoffed, and it took everything in his power to hold back the burning qi that was threatening to spill out from his palms.

Wei Wuxian either had no sense of danger or just didn’t care to pay attention to it. Having found a delicious new target to tease, he latched on like a leach.

To dispel the awkward situation, Xie Lian hurried to the kitchen and came back with a steaming hot bowl of congee, placing it in front of Wei Wuxian. He flapped his hands a little bit, having slightly burned himself on the hot bowl.

Hua Cheng quickly snatched his wrists and began blowing on his slightly red fingertips.

“Gege, be careful,” he urged.

Wei Wuxian propped his head in his hands and watched the romantic scene in front of him with a big, cheesy grin.

“Gege, huh? You look so young, though,” he said, eyeing Xie Lian up and down. If anything, Hua Cheng looked like the older of the two.

Xie Lian coughed a little at the intense attention and waved his hands back and forth.

“I’m actually a bit older than you might think,” he replied, a slight blush on his cheeks.

“Huh, is that right?” Wei Wuxian replied.

He glanced at Hua Cheng, who was now gently massaging Xie Lian’s palms, and flashed a mischievous grin.

“Can I call you gege, too?”

Hua Cheng’s dexterous hands stopped moving, and Wei Wuxian’s beaming white smile was suddenly doused by a hot pile of congee.

“Gege, your friend here is bullying me,” he whimpered as he began wiping the dribbling mess off his face. By all accounts, he should’ve been rolling over in pain, but he seemed quite content.

“Do not call him that,” Hua Cheng spat out.

“So stingy,” Wei Wuxian pouted as he dried himself off with a towel that Xie Lian had fetched for him.

“Alright, alright. Gege’s off limits. Then, how about… A-Li?”

A pair of chopsticks whooshed by his head, just barely grazing the side of his cheek before piercing the wall behind him.

“Ok, I’ll take that as a no. Xie Lian it is!”

Wei Wuxian instinctively winced as he prepared for Hua Cheng’s next attack but was surprised when nothing came flying towards him.

Though Hua Cheng didn’t want to hear his husband’s name being spoken from Wei Wuxian’s lips in any capacity, this option was the least offensive.

“Mm, that’s fine,” Xie Lian replied.

Wei Wuxian flashed another big grin and clapped his hands together.

“Great! I have a feeling we’re all gonna get along well! And don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair soon enough so you two can get back to all that lovey-dovey stuff. My Lan Wangji is probably working himself to the bone trying to find little old me. In the meantime, you just put this disciple to work. Cooking, cleaning, music - you just say the word!”

Hua Cheng pinched his forehead and exhaled a heavy sigh. Since Xie Lian wasn’t showing signs of kicking this intruder out any time soon, he could only grin and bear it. With any luck, Wei Wuxian’s stay would be a short one.

Chapter Text

To Hua Cheng’s great dismay, the days he was forced to spend with Wei Wuxian kept coming.

The once quiet halls of Puqi Shrine now echoed constantly with Wei Wuxian’s endless chatter, and Hua Cheng was plagued by a never-ending headache.

Their days always started out the same. Despite Xie Lian’s protests, Hua Cheng was extremely adamant that Wei Wuxian slept in the yard.

But every night, in the throes of a sleepy trance, Wei Wuxian would inch his way inside like a worm and snuggle up between them. Hua Cheng would send him flying through the window, and the cycle would repeat.

During the day, Hua Cheng gladly assigned random tasks to keep Wei Wuxian away from Xie Lian and to hopefully keep his mouth shut for at least a few seconds.

However, nothing silenced Wei Wuxian. And though he eagerly completed every chore, he always managed to make more work for everyone.

He’d meticulously sweep all the leaves outside into heaping piles, only to jump into them, laughing as he watched the toils of his labor drift into the sky.

He offered to help with the much-needed repairs around the shrine, but for every plank he fixed, he managed to break two in its place. With a casual shrug, he gave up and curled himself up in a tree with his flute, leaving Hua Cheng to repair the damages.

He’d tried his luck as a greeter for the temple goers, but Xie Lian swiftly ended that endeavor after Wei Wuxian started spreading some very unsavory rumors about the Crown Prince of Xianle’s passionate love life.

He tried tending the garden for a while, but whenever a dog barked in the distance, he’d come running back into the shrine and cling desperately to Xie Lian’s legs like a child. Hua Cheng would immediately send him crashing through the front door, only to be scolded by Xie Lian and sent outside to fix the damage.

A week flashed by like this, and Wei Wuxian showed no signs of leaving.

On one particular morning, he slept until the sun was high in the sky, as he always did, while Xie Lian and Hua Cheng chatted amongst themselves.

Hua Cheng was desperate for physical contact and burned with desire at the sight of Xie Lian. He cozied up next to him and snuck his arms around his waist, nuzzling into his neck.

“Gege,” he said, his voice tinged with lust. He was about to lean in for a deep kiss, but his attempts were thwarted by the sound of Wei Wuxian’s loud snoring.

“That’s it,” Hua Cheng said as he slammed the table with his clenched fist.

He reluctantly tore himself away from Xie Lian and stood up abruptly. His eye burned with killing intent as he walked over to Wei Wuxian and kicked him a few times.

“Wake up, mutt,” Hua Cheng said scathingly, patience hanging on by an extremely thin thread.

Wei Wuxian’s sleeping figure briefly froze at the mere mention of the word ‘mutt’ before settling back down. He rolled around a few times as he slowly woke from his deep slumber.

“Lan Zhan, it’s too early,” Wei Wuxian mumbled, eyes half open.

“Tell me about your owner,” Hua Cheng ordered, kicking him a few more times for good measure.

The sleep muddling Wei Wuxian’s mind instantly dissolved, and he jumped at the chance to talk about Lan Wangji.

“Oh, you’re curious about my Lan Zhan?” He propped himself up and flashed a big grin.

“Well, you could say he’s the strong and silent type. Tall, handsome, dreamy. You won’t be able to tear your eyes away if you see him. He’s always got a little scowl on that handsome face, but it’s kind of cute, you know? Oh, and don’t even get me started on his clothes. He always dresses in all white like he’s going to a funeral, and he’s never without that headband of his - oh, you probably don’t know about the headband. The Lan Clan of Gusu has this crazy long set of rules, and one of them-”

“Focus,” Hua Cheng ordered with a scowl.

“Right, right. We can talk about the Lan Clan later. Anyway, he always carries a big ol’ guqin and a sword, Bichen. I can tell by that scimitar of yours that you’re a weapons guy. You’ll be really impressed with Bichen when you see it…”

Wei Wuxian was so caught up in his fervent rambling that he failed to notice Hua Cheng was no longer listening and had moved to the front door.

“San Lang? Where are you going?” Xie Lian asked as Hua Cheng began lacing up his boots.

“I’m going to track down his damn owner so we can kick this filthy mutt to the curb,” he responded as his gaze darkened.

But when he turned to face Xie Lian, the dark aura shrouding him dissipated immediately, replaced by a tender gaze. He leaned down and gently pressed a kiss to the crown of Xie Lian’s head.

“Gege, I’ll be back soon. Don’t let that idiot get close to you while I’m away,” he warned with a serious tone as he pulled Xie Lian into a tight embrace.

Xie Lian blushed and nodded as he gently patted Hua Cheng’s chest. He cast a sideways glance towards Wei Wuxian, who was laying belly down on the floor, kicking his legs back and forth like a little child.

“So romantic,” Wei Wuxian said with a heartfelt sigh.

Hua Cheng had long grown weary of responding to Wei Wuxian, so he simply leaned down to give Xie Lian another quick kiss before rushing out the door.

Though they had lived together for a while now and had already done their wedding bows, Xie Lian still found himself blushing at his husband’s touch. And he was entirely unaccustomed to an audience and flamed even redder when he made eye contact with Wei Wuxian.

“Xie Lian, you’re so loved,” Wei Wuxian said playfully.

Xie Lian coughed a few times and awkwardly shuffled into the kitchen, where he mindlessly rummaged around, muttering as he went.

When he finally mustered up the courage to turn around, he was surprised to see Wei Wuxian staring listlessly out the window.

At a glance, his expression might’ve seemed indifferent. But Xie Lian recognized that look immediately – it was one of pining. Loneliness. During Hua Cheng’s one-year absence, he’d spent many nights doing the same.

“Wei Wuxian?” he called out.

When he received no response, he spoke up once more. His voice was resolute but filled with compassion.

“We’ll find Lan Wangji. I’m sure of it.”

Wei Wuxian quickly flipped around and responded with his usual grin and a casual wave. He leapt away from the windowsill and meandered towards the entryway.

“Xie Lian, are you worried about me?” He fanned himself a few times and pretended to swoon.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I’m fine. Nothing will stop Lan Zhan once he sets his mind on something. If anything, I hope it takes him even longer to find me. I’m enjoying my vacation, you know? Sure, your San Lang works me to the bone and tries to kill me every day, but I don’t mind. The food’s good, the weather’s good. Plus, I can’t take off before I get a taste of the local brew.”

He held a pretend cup to his lips and gulped it down with a wink. He then kicked the ground a few times and reached for the door.

“I’m gonna screw around outside for a bit. I’d love to play with you some more, but that guy might kill me for real this time if he catches us. Xie Lian, you be good, OK?”

Xie Lian knew better than to pry, so he silently nodded and watched him go with a slightly sad smile.

Outside the shrine, Wei Wuxian had already comfortably nestled himself into a tree. As he watched the clouds slowly roll by, his thoughts naturally drifted to Lan Wangji.

Though he’d made countless jokes about it, the wait was starting to bother him. He figured Lan Wangji’s dramatic rescue would only take a few days at most, but it’d already been a week. Surely it wouldn’t be another 13 years before their next reunion?

Still, he felt the best thing to do was sit and patiently wait. A moving target in a foreign land would only complicate the search.

Plus, Puqi Shrine was starting to feel like a second home. He’d grown found of the cramped little temple, the banal day-to-day chatter, and the homestyle meals shared among friends – though Hua Cheng would keel over at being lumped in as one of Wei Wuxian’s “pals.”

Life in this quaint village was still a hell of a lot livelier than the mundane monotony of the Cloud Recesses.

And here, in this strange world, he was truly free of the shackles that bound him to his past life.

But there was no Lan Wangji here. And without him, freedom meant nothing.

Wei Wuxian brought his flute to his lips, and the quiet hills of Puqi Village echoed with the gentle sounds of the precious melody that Lan Wangji had taught him all those years ago.

He continued to play long after shadows blanketed the sleeping town. The gentle tones of his flute were like a beacon of light, waiting to guide a boat to shore.

***

When Hua Cheng returned the next afternoon, he was greeted by a particularly abhorrent sight.

“Welcome home!” Wei Wuxian playfully splashed around a few times before leaning his thin arms along the side of the tub.

Fresh drops of water clung to his forehead, and his long black hair was slicked back. Xie Lian was seated comfortably at the table nearby, refining another calligraphy workbook.

“So, how’d the search go?” Wei Wuxian asked.

Hua Cheng ignored him and hurried to Xie Lian’s side, spinning him around so that his back faced the wanton intruder.

Xie Lian tilted his head in confusion before responding with a gentle smile.

“San Lang, welcome back.”

He was about to stand up and prepare him a drink when Hua Cheng firmly pressed him back down by the shoulder, ensuring that he didn’t catch so much as a glimpse of the stark-naked man.

Wei Wuxian cackled at the sight, and the overwhelming desire to tease bubbled up in his chest once more.

“C’mon, what’s the matter? We’re all men here. Then again, that doesn’t really mean much for this group of men, does it?” 

Hua Cheng’s ‘Wei Wuxian Tolerance Meter’ had long run dry, and he slammed a fist on the table.

“Get out,” he said through gritted teeth as he moved to shield Xie Lian. Wei Wuxian beamed widely in response.

“Sure thing!”

He stood up with a flourish, sending cascading waves of water over the side of the tub. He held his hands on his waist and puffed out his chest, his nude form proudly on display.

But his attack failed, as Hua Cheng had already dragged Xie Lian out of the shrine and slammed the door shut behind them.

Wei Wuxian pouted for a few moments, then shrugged his shoulders and plunged back into the warm tub. He kicked his feet over the edge and hummed a happy tune.

Outside the shrine, the two homeowners, who had essentially been evicted from their own dwelling, huddled together.

“Gege, this has gone on for far too long,” Hua Cheng pleaded, his veins nearly bursting.

Xie Lian laughed softly at the sight.

“San Lang, how was your investigation? Did you track down Lan Wangji?”

Hua Cheng rubbed his temples and sighed.

“I searched everywhere, but there are no records of that damned Lan Clan anywhere. As far as I’m concerned, it’s like they don’t even exist. But I’ve got my people on it. It’ll only be a matter of time before someone drops him at my feet.”

Xie Lian crossed his arms in contemplation. Wei Wuxian had talked at great length about his associates and his time at the Cloud Recesses.

Yet in all his 800 years, Xie Lian had never heard of such a place.

“It’s as if he comes from another world,” he said casually.

“Gege, don’t even joke about that. If that were true, even I might struggle to send him back. And there’s no way in hell we’re adopting that mutt.”

“Really? I’m quite fond of the idea myself. I’ve always thought it might be nice to raise a pet,” Xie Lian said as he languidly strolled back towards the temple, leaving a helplessly stunned Hua Cheng behind.

“Gege!” Hua Cheng shouted as he chased after him.

It seemed that Wei Wuxian’s dangerous addiction to teasing was infectious.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian was sweeping outside again, making a mess as he always did whenever he cleaned.  

He paused to stare up at the sky, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. As he watched the clouds roll by, he wondered why they were spinning so fast. It took him a few bleary moments to recognize that he was the one spinning, but it was too late, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Xie Lian was tending the garden nearby when he heard the commotion. He tossed his tools aside and hurried over.

“Wei Wuxian? Wei Wuxian! Wake up,” Xie Lian said as he shook his shoulders.  

Hua Cheng had been diligently practicing calligraphy inside and peeked his head out of the door. He slowly made his way over and coldly stared down at Wei Wuxian.

“San Lang, what should we do?”

Xie Lian kept poking at Wei Wuxian, but nothing could stir him. Hua Cheng gave him a quick glance before shrugging his shoulders.

“He’s fine. He just fainted.”

Xie Lian breathed a sigh of relief but still couldn’t quell his anxiety. He gently pushed a few stray strands of hair away from Wei Wuxian’s face and lightly dabbed away beads of sweat with the sleeves of his robe.

“The fatigue must have finally hit him,” Xie Lian said.

“I didn’t think anything could knock this filthy mutt down,” said Hua Cheng as he crossed his arms, a scowl forming on his fine features.

But suddenly, his eye danced with life, and he beamed an incredibly sly smile.

“Gege, he’ll be fine. Why don’t we take this chance to go inside?”

Hua Cheng’s tone was playful, but Xie Lian was in no mood for what he was implying.

He quickly silenced his flirtatious lover with a stern glare before looking back down at Wei Wuxian with a sad smile. Hua Cheng sighed and held his hands up in defeat.

“This child looks tough on the outside, but I can tell he’s been struggling. He’s been stranded here for a week, completely isolated from everyone he knows. I imagine that would be tough on anyone,” said Xie Lian. After a few moments of solemn silence, he asked, “San Lang, will you help me carry him inside?”

Hua Cheng was clearly displeased but reluctantly obeyed. He effortlessly lifted Wei Wuxian’s limp body off the ground and threw him over his shoulder.

Xie Lian moved to help support him, but he was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder and forced behind Hua Cheng’s back. Through the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a blinding blue light flashing through the garden, veering towards them with frightening speed.

E’Ming unsheathed itself and met the attacker in midair, sparks flying as the two blades clashed and clanged with devastating force. The frightening scimitar parried the attacks with ease and sent the opposing blade tumbling back to its owner.

It landed at the feet of a tall, mysterious man. His flowing white robes bellowed in the wind, and a long headband graced the fine features of his face. His pale, frigid eyes were frosted with icy intent.  

“Unhand him,” the man said firmly.

His unwavering gaze locked on to the lifeless body slumped over Hua Cheng’s shoulders.

Hua Cheng chuckled in response.

“You want this thing? Gladly,” he said with a devious smile.

In an instant, he tossed Wei Wuxian into the air. His limp body floated high in the sky for a few moments before it tumbled towards the ground with increasing speed.

The stranger immediately mounted his sword and flew towards Wei Wuxian, arms outstretched. He stumbled a bit at the force of Wei Wuxian’s body crashing into his chest, but he quickly recovered his footing and tightly wrapped his arms around him as they descended.

Once his feet touched the ground, he pulled Wei Wuxian into a deep embrace and ran a hand across his face, caressing him gently. The arms that held him were incredibly gentle, as if handling a precious treasure, afraid that it would shatter at any moment.

Without sparing a glance, he sent his sword flying towards Hua Cheng once more, its frigid flames dancing violently. E’ming eagerly charged ahead to meet it, and the two blades entered another fierce battle.

Xie Lian peeked out from behind Hua Cheng’s back and carefully watched the man from afar. With a determined gaze, he then quickly darted out from his husband’s protective cover.

“Gege!” Hua Cheng shouted as he quickly chased after him.

The stranger’s head tilted at the commotion, and he directed his chilling gaze towards Xie Lian. His sword suddenly leapt away from E’Ming and hurtled itself at Xie Lian. The blade hissed as it sliced the air with exceptional speed.

Hua Cheng’s face clouded with panic. Sharing its master’s fear, E’ming frantically pursued the attacker but was still several paces behind. The mysterious blue sword was moments away from piercing Xie Lian’s chest when it came to a screeching halt at the sound of a weak voice.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian called out.

His voice was quiet, yet held a resolute conviction. He reached up and gently stroked Lan Wangji’s cheeks a few times. “I’m fine. Just don’t hurt them, OK?”

Lan Wangji desperately cradled Wei Wuxian in his arms, clutching him with a grip like a vise.

“Wei Ying!” he forced out between labored breaths.

Hua Cheng silently approached the pair with heavy footsteps, the vision of that blue sword nearly striking Xie Lian relentlessly replaying in his head. E’ming floated next to him, shaking with anticipation as its lone red eye locked on to the tall intruder.

E’ming was about to strike when Xie Lian quickly ran over and latched on to Hua Cheng, tightly wrapping his arms around his waist.

“San Lang, stop! It’s OK. I’m OK,” he said.

Even though he’d been moments away from being skewered, Xie Lian showed no signs of fear. His breathing was steady, and he spoke firmly and clearly. 

In contrast, the heat searing from Hua Cheng’s body was volcanic, and his dark eye flickered with rage.

“Gege, he tried to hurt you. I can’t let that go,” Hua Cheng replied through gritted teeth, fist tightly clenched.

“It’s fine, San Lang. Look at them,” Xie Lian replied as he pointed at the pair slumped on the ground.

They were still tightly entangled, gazing deeply at each other as if they were the only ones in the world. The blue sword lay obediently at their feet, all previous traces of murderous intent completely wiped clean.

Hua Cheng still shook with rage, but Xie Lian’s gentle touch slightly cooled his fury down to a simmer.

Xie Lian carefully approached the pair, hands held in the air to declare his peaceful intentions. Hua Cheng trailed right behind him with a steady hand on E’ming, his piercing gaze never leaving Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji immediately tensed as he sensed them draw near, and he instinctively pulled Wei Wuxian even closer to his chest. Bichen rose once more in front of them, drawing a protective stance.

“Please, sheath your weapon. We mean you no harm,” Xie Lian said as he slowly inched closer.

Hua Cheng immediately stepped in front of him, but Xie Lian gently pushed him aside and continued marching forward.

“You must be Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian has told us a great deal about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Xie Lian continued.

Lan Wangji had a keen eye and was a strong judge of character. He sensed the authenticity in Xie Lian’s words and actions and briefly considered lowering his weapon.

But when he locked eyes with Hua Cheng, whose murderous aura was palpable, he refused to falter.

Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian, the source of this intense commotion, watched the exchange with awe as he comfortably cozied up in Lan Wangji’s arms.

He’d woken up midway through his flight in the sky at the sensation of being tossed around like a fish.

Although his stomach was queasy, he was completely fine on all other accounts and could even run hundreds of laps, powered by his sheer excitement at being reunited with Lan Wangji.

He didn’t dare voice that out loud, though, and instead played up his sickness and relished in the gentle embrace of his husband.

In that moment, he couldn’t care less if Hua Cheng skewered them with a scimitar if it meant they could always be stuck together.

Wei Wuxian had been confounded a lot over the past week, and this strange moment was no exception.

While he was passed out, he’d apparently missed Lan Wangji’s dramatic entrance. Wei Wuxian was very upset about this and made a mental note to stop blacking out at critical junctions.

He glanced around at the tense scene unfolding around him.

Hua Cheng looked like he was about to kill someone, but that was pretty normal. And Xie Lian, fluttering about in his long white robes, was the embodiment of a truce flag valiantly waving between two opposing factions.

But most importantly, Lan Wangji was there, holding him tightly.

Though he wanted to melt into Lan Wangji’s arms forever, Wei Wuxian realized that they were moments away from a bloodbath and needed to dissipate the escalating tension.

He threw his arms around Lan Wangji’s neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Lan Wangji quickly turned to look at him, completely undeterred by the sudden kiss, as worry clouded his clear eyes. He looked him up and down with an intense gaze.

“Are you unharmed?”  

“Mm, I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Just put Bichen down, OK? These guys are a little weird, but they’re my friends,” he said as he casually waved in their direction.

He could practically hear Hua Cheng’s veins bursting. It would be a cold day in hell before he ever called Wei Wuxian ‘friend.’ 

“And you, San Lang,” Wei Wuxian cast a lazy glance in Hua Cheng’s direction. “There’s no need to be so grumpy, is there?”

He squeezed Lan Wangji’s cheeks together, forcing him to look at Hua Cheng. His ever-stoic expression remained steadfast as he was smooshed.

“Look, my Lan Zhan won’t hurt anybody, OK? See? He’s harmless. Let’s just let bygones be bygones, ‘kay?”

Lan Wangji removed Wei Wuxian’s hands from his face and took another thorough look at him.

After confirming that Wei Wuxian had no external injuries, he promptly lifted him up in his arms and turned a cold gaze towards Hua Cheng.

“Sheath your blade, and we will leave peacefully.”

Xie Lian stood firmly between Hua Cheng and Lan Wangji. Their clashing energy gave him the sensation of being caught between a volcanic eruption and a freezing blizzard.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to play out. After spending a week with Wei Wuxian, he’d deeply understood just how treasured Lan Wangji was. 

He had eagerly looked forward to their reunion, perhaps just as much as Wei Wuxian did.

In the back of his mind, he was also extremely curious to meet the person who could tame such a wild man. He was devastated to see their long-awaited meeting take such a dangerous turn.   

But more than anything, his heart sunk at the thought of watching Wei Wuxian leave after such a tense exchange, without so much as a goodbye.

“Please wait,” Xie Lian called out to Lan Wangji. “Won’t you rest inside for a bit? Surely, you’ve had a long journey.”

Lan Wangji was still incredibly reluctant to share a space with the person who’d just threatened their lives, and his gaze remained firmly locked onto Hua Cheng.

Sensing his trepidation, Xie Lian wrapped his hands around Hua Cheng’s, forcing him to release his grip on E’Ming.

With a reproachful look, he sent E’ming spiraling into submission, and it obediently closed its eye and latched back onto Hua Cheng’s hip.

“San Lang won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Hua Cheng grimaced at Xie Lian’s words. He’d been so close to exterminating the source of his never-ending nightmares. The thought of a world without Wei Wuxian filled him to the brim with devilish delight.

But he couldn’t bring himself to disobey Xie Lian’s wishes and reluctantly backed down. 

Lan Wangji intently observed Hua Cheng’s actions, and prodded by Wei Wuxian’s beaming smile, he conceded. He silently followed them inside, never once letting go of Wei Wuxian.

Chapter Text

Inside Puqi Shrine, the unlikely group crowded around the small dining room table. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji sat so close together that they were practically sharing a seat.

As expected of the Lan Clan of Gusu’s shining star, Lan Wangji was exceedingly polite even in the face of his would-be-murderer. He sat prim and proper in his seat in perfect silence.

Wei Wuxian was expectedly the first one to break the tension.

“Well, that was one heck of an introduction! Nothing like a little attempted murder to bring us all closer, right?”

He rolled back in his seat, clutching his stomach as he laughed so hard that he almost toppled over.

Lan Wangji quickly caught him and gently propped him back up.

“Manners,” he said sternly.

Wei Wuxian wiped a few tears from his eyes before obediently settling back into his seat. He took a few deep breaths to try and contain the laughter that was threatening to explode.

Stifling his laughter tickled his throat a bit, and he coughed loudly. Lan Wangji swiftly grabbed a cup of tea that Xie Lian had generously prepared for him and forced Wei Wuxian to take a few sips.

Though Lan Wangji’s face remained entirely unchanged, Wei Wuxian could see the worry in his eyes, and he couldn’t resist the opportunity to torment him a little more.  

He playfully licked his lips before sucking on the rim of the cup, his mischievous eyes flickering at Lan Wangji, teasing him.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji replied in a chiding tone, though he didn’t lower the cup.

“Lan Zhan, look,” Wei Wuxian said as he snatched the cup from Lan Wangji’s hands, tilting it to show him the mark where their lips had met. Flashing a flirty smile, he said, “Indirect kiss."

Lan Wangji quickly turned his head away and settled back into his seat.

His clear gaze never faltered, but the tips of his ears blushed pink and he clenched his fists tightly on his lap.   

Hua Cheng practically shook with rage as he watched the heinous interaction between his two uninvited guests, who were brazenly flirting in his home.

He repeatedly flicked the edge of his own tea cup, channeling all his killing intent into his fingers.

The delicate chimes of his rhythmic tapping sharply increased, getting louder and fiercer, until the cup looked like it would shatter at any moment.

The audacity of Wei Wuxian, who could’ve ascended to godhood in his role as the “Ultimate 3^rd Wheel”, to flirt so callously in front of his face.  

Xie Lian blushed as he watched the sensual scene across the table. He was torn – it was improper to watch such a private exchange so intently, but as a host he couldn’t very well ignore his guests, either.

So, after a few moments of torment, he settled on fetching more tea, even though most of the cups at the table were still filled to the brim.  

The dissonant sounds of Hua Cheng’s tapping pierced the air and finally drew Wei Wuxian’s attention, whose slick words could cut through any situation.

“Alright, alright. Let’s get the formal stuff out of the way. You already guessed it, but this is Lan Wangji.” He leaned over and gave Lan Wangji’s cheeks another squeeze. “See? Isn’t he just like I said?”

With his face still firmly cupped between his hands, Wei Wuxian pivoted Lan Wangji’s gaze to the pair across from them.  

“Lan Zhan, this is Xie Lian. And the angry one in red sitting next to him is Hua Cheng.”

He released Lan Wangji’s cheeks, then leaned over and started whispering in his ear, sneaking furtive glances across the table.

Lan Wangji’s eyes widened slightly, and a very faint blush tickled his pale cheeks.

“I understand,” Lan Wangji replied. He scrutinized the other couple with a curious eye.

“…Understand what?” Xie Lian asked.

He had trouble reading Lan Wangji’s stoic expression but suspected that Wei Wuxian had shared something embarrassing. His cheeks naturally tinged red.

Hua Cheng stopped tapping his cup in favor of crushing it in his palms, contemplating all the shapes he could make out of Wei Wuxian after shredding him apart with the shards.

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting this time?” he asked scathingly.

“Hm? Nothing, nothing,” Wei Wuxian said as he whistled and looked around aimlessly. Lan Wangji remained emotionless at his side.

Hua Cheng was ready to bash his own head against the table. He turned to Xie Lian, who was awkwardly gulping down his tea, and looked at him with desperate eyes.

“Gege,” he said through forced breaths, reigning in his fury with everything he had. “Please?”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened as he remembered something very important, and he jabbed an elbow into Lan Wangji’s side, motioning for him to lean closer. 

Xie Lian intently honed his hearing this time, intensely curious about whatever Wei Wuxian was whispering about.

As good as his senses were, he could only pick out select words here and there.

“Older one… calls him gege… it’s a kink…”

Xie Lian spat out his tea onto the floor and coughed loudly, his cheeks flaring bright red. Hua Cheng immediately snapped out of his burning rage and pivoted to his side, rubbing his back with a tender touch.

“Gege, are you alright?” he asked.

As he lightly patted Xie Lian’s back a few times, he heard more hushed murmurs from the other side of the table.

“See?” Wei Wuxian’s “quiet” voice was bubbling over with glee.

Lan Wangji nodded in understanding. “Fascinating.”

Hua Cheng flicked his wrist and hurtled another pair of chopsticks towards Wei Wuxian’s face, but Lan Wangji swiftly caught them in midair.

He gently placed them down on the table, lining them up with perfect symmetry.

“Chopsticks are utensils, not weapons,” he said seriously.

“Well said, well said,” Wei Wuxian said as he nodded furiously beside him.

Hua Cheng scoffed at the sight but focused on caring for Xie Lian, who had regained some of his senses but was still flaming red.

Xie Lian casually waved a hand to brush Hua Cheng's worries away. He deliberately coughed once more to settle himself and sat upright in his seat, desperate to steer the conversation towards some semblance of normalcy.  

“So, how long will you be staying? It’s getting late. You’re more than welcome to stay here for the night.”

“No, gege. If they want to stay, they can go somewhere else. This is a shrine, not an inn,” Hua Cheng said firmly.

Wei Wuxian laughed at the thought of the four of them tightly squeezing on to one sleeping mat.

“Hmm, what do you think, Lan Zhan? Should we take them up on their generous offer?”

“No,” Hua Cheng quickly answered for them.

Xie Lian coughed awkwardly.

“…At the very least, you must stay for dinner. We can’t let you leave on an empty stomach,” he said.

“Gege, we’ve done enough for them. Just let them starve.”

“San Lang,” Xie Lian chided.

Wei Wuxian watched as Hua Cheng and Xie Lian bickered back and forth like the old married couple that they were, when a puzzled expression suddenly flickered on his face.

He turned back towards Lan Wangji.

“Wait, Lan Zhan. Something’s been bothering me. How the hell did you get here?”

Xie Lian immediately turned away from Hua Cheng, eyebrows raised.

“Actually, I was wondering the same thing,” he added as he expectantly looked at Lan Wangji.

Hua Cheng was disgruntled at being ignored once again by Xie Lian in favor of the two prattling guests.

“Who cares about that? More importantly, how are you fools planning on getting home?” he said, casting impatient glances their way.

Everyone in the room quieted as they stared at Lan Wangji expectedly. Lan Wangji stared into the distance as he felt the looming gazes close in on him.

“…I do not know the way,” he finally said.

“You can’t go back the way you came?” Xie Lian asked earnestly.

“No,” Lan Wangji replied.

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng sat in stunned silence. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, burst out laughing, slapping the table with his palms a few times.   

Hua Cheng held his temples in exasperation. Getting information out of Lan Wangji was like pulling teeth. Wei Wuxian had likely siphoned all his conversational abilities like a parasite.

“Well, guess that settles things,” Wei Wuxian said as he wiped a few tears from his eyes. “We’re moving in with-!”

“Give me your sword,” Hua Cheng said, abruptly cutting him off as he stared at Lan Wangji.

He reached out a hand, while the other one angrily tapped the table.

Lan Wangji instinctively clutched the hilt of his sword with one hand while shielding Wei Wuxian with the other.   

“Oh, please,” Hua Cheng said as he rolled his eye. “I’m the last person who wants to drag this out. Just hand it over.”

Xie Lian quickly stepped in, worried that Hua Cheng was going to break the sword out of anger before ripping their guests to pieces with E’Ming.

“San Lang? What exactly are you going to do with it?”

“There are likely still traces of energy leftover from the fight with that ghost. If I borrow a little bit of that, I can figure out where they came from and send them back.”

Xie Lian was shocked by Hua Cheng’s casual explanation, but he felt a little smug in that moment. As expected of his San Lang to always have an answer for everything. He smiled fondly and nodded.

“How convenient,” he mused.

Wei Wuxian quirked his eyebrows and leaned over the table, propping his head in his hands.

“Ohh, what’s this? Hua Cheng, you’re being extra gracious. Has that icy soul of yours finally thawed enough to show little Wei Wuxian some compassion? Are you finally willing to share the love with someone other than gege?”

Another pair of chopsticks sliced through the air. Lan Wangji effortlessly caught them again and arranged them neatly next to the other pair.

“Chopsticks are utensils, not weapons,” he repeated.

Hua Cheng scoffed, then beckoned towards the sword in Lan Wangji’s hand.

“Hand it over. I’m not doing this out of charity. I just want you gone. And the sooner you leave, the better.”

Lan Wangji turned towards Wei Wuxian, who gave him a big thumbs up in response. He nodded, then slowly slid the sword across the table.  

Hua Cheng picked it up and casually flipped it around a few times.  

He trailed his slender fingers against the cold, smooth edges of the sword before lazily tossing it back to Lan Wangji like a piece of trash.

Lan Wangji swiftly caught it before it could crash to the ground. He gave his sword a few gentle pats, as if consoling it, then sheathed it at his side.

“Done,” Hua Cheng said with a smirk as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of dice.

With an elegant flair, he tossed them onto the table, where they tumbled around a bit before settling on a pair of sixes.

Suddenly, there was a loud clamoring behind them. The wooden planks of the shabby front door melded into a strong iron frame, and a large spiritual array decorated its lavish center.

“This will take you back to wherever the hell you came from,” Hua Cheng said, arms folded. He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Lan Wangji was awestruck at the immense display of power, though his face obviously didn’t show it, and he instinctively leaned down towards Wei Wuxian and awaited his explanation.

Wei Wuxian was happy to indulge him, but his whispers were interrupted by Hua Cheng’s annoyed voice.

“Let me save you the trouble. Yes, I’m a ghost. I’m dead. I have powers beyond your wildest imagination. I could effortlessly crush you into dust, and believe me – I’d love nothing more. Yes, my relationship with gege is like that. Now,” he gestured to the intimidating doors behind him and flashed an incredibly dangerous smile. “Kindly get out and never come back.”

Xie Lian fidgeted by his side, realizing that his guests would be departing much sooner than anticipated.

“But, what about dinner?” he asked.

“No need,” Hua Cheng swiftly replied as he continued to gesture towards the door.

“But, San Lang…”

Xie Lian’s words were surprisingly interrupted by Wei Wuxian.

“Xie Lian, it’s fine. We should get out of your hair,” he said casually as he stood up and sauntered towards the entrance.

Lan Wangji reflexively followed, though he faltered as they approached the menacing set of doors.

He scrutinized the spiritual array apprehensively, but Wei Wuxian pushed him forward with a reassuring pat on the back.

“You can trust them,” he said confidently.   

Xie Lian still looked expectantly at Hua Cheng, who in turn looked quizzically at Wei Wuxian, startled by his sudden compliance.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’d love to play around some more,” Wei Wuxian said before pulling Lan Wangji into a tight hug. “But I’m eager to play with this guy even more."

Xie Lian still wasn’t accustomed to their blatant displays of public affection and awkwardly shimmied in his seat before standing up.

He shook off the embarrassment with another exaggerated cough, then he slowly approached the set of iron doors and turned to directly face Wei Wuxian.

“I suppose this is goodbye, then,” he said with a somber smile.

“Mm, I guess it is,” Wei Wuxian replied, smiling back at him.

Somehow, he couldn’t find his usual words. Though he wanted nothing more than to shout something casual like, “See ya later,” he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He met Xie Lian’s eyes once more, and the two of them shared a solemn, wordless understanding. There would be no returning through those doors again.

Chapter Text

Lan Wangji watched the silent exchange for a few moments, then cupped his fist and bowed deeply towards his hosts.

“Thank you. I apologize for any trouble Wei Ying caused,” he said seriously.

“You’ll need to apologize for the rest of your life to make up for all the messes that mutt of yours made,” Hua Cheng spat out, still refusing to leave his seat at the table.

“Wei Ying is not a mutt,” Lan Wangji replied.

Wei Wuxian perked up beside him, eyes glistening – Lan Wangji was standing up for him! As much as he liked a flustered Lan Zhan, a chivalrous one was just as dazzling.

“But he is troublesome,” Lan Wangji continued.

“Lan Zhaaan,” he pouted. “Don’t you have anything nice to say about me?!”

But Lan Wangji ignored his pleading and instead pushed him towards the spiritual array.

Wei Wuxian glanced at Xie Lian one last time, who stood silently as he watched over them, the faint smile never leaving his face.

Lan Wangji firmly pushed the doors open, revealing a vast, swirling pool of darkness. He grabbed Wei Wuxian’s wrist tightly and pulled him forward.

Just as they were about to step through the doors, Wei Wuxian forcefully ripped himself out of Lan Wangji’s grasp and leaped into Xie Lian’s arms, giving him a light peck on the cheek.

“Let’s meet again someday, ‘kay?” he said with an exaggerated grin and a wink.

Xie Lian held him in stunned silence. The flames dancing on his cheeks had finally just settled down when they were suddenly lit ablaze once more.

The scimitar at Hua Cheng’s waist shook violently and was moments away from shredding Wei Wuxian into a thousand pieces, but Lan Wangji was one step ahead.

He took a few big strides, yanked Wei Wuxian away by the collar, and silently dragged him through the doors of the spiritual array.

Wei Wuxian’s laughter echoed through the portal before it gradually drifted away, and then the doors slammed shut behind them.

“Goodbye, my friend. May fate let our paths cross again,” Xie Lian whispered.

He stared at the door until it transformed back to its original shape, severing the connection to the distant world beyond.  

Puqi Shrine was eerily quiet. It was a poignant, familiar silence that Xie Lian had grown accustomed to after hundreds of years of solitude. And yet, he felt lonely.

The fiery, rambunctious Wei Wuxian had vanished as quickly as he’d appeared.

Though his boisterous voice no longer permeated the air of the temple, evidence of his presence lingered – the shoddily patched front door, mounds of dirty dishes in the kitchen, a stack of sloppily folded blankets, and giant piles of leaves in the yard.

Xie Lian sighed, then gave Hua Cheng a deep, meaningful look. His heart overflowed at the sight the tall man, who had begrudgingly put up with a week of torment all for his sake.

His world had opened up ever since Hua Cheng came back into his life. He’d rekindled old friendships and forged new ones.

The loneliness he felt in this moment was only possible because he’d come to understand the warmth of companionship. And that was only possible because of Hua Cheng.

In Xie Lian’s long life, he’d seen many people come and go, and he was destined to endure the same for many more centuries.

And in his heart, he knew he’d never forget his chance encounter with Wei Wuxian.

“Thank you, San Lang,” he said, filled with love and gratitude.

He stood on his tiptoes, wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck, and gave him a light kiss.

Hua Cheng stumbled a bit from the sudden embrace but eagerly pulled Xie Lian even closer, lightly kissing the crown of his head.

“Mm, this San Lang deserves a lot of praise. And I can think of one way that gege can repay me,” he said with a smirk.

In one smooth motion, he swept Xie Lian off the ground and carried him over to the bed mat.

He gently lowered him down before climbing on top of him, straddling his torso. He leaned down and rained a shower of kisses over his neck.

“Gege, you ignored your San Lang for a whole week,” he said between kisses. “Do you know how hard it was for me to hold back?”

Hua Cheng’s hot breath tickled Xie Lian’s  skin and warmed his entire soul. Though he’d playfully avoided Hua Cheng’s numerous advances all week, he was also quite desperate to feel his embrace.

He wrapped his arms around his lover again and pulled him down into a deep kiss. When their lips finally parted, he nuzzled into Hua Cheng’s neck, relishing in his familiar scent. 

“Gege,” Hua Cheng said, stunned by the force. “You’re extra compliant today,” he said with a devious grin.

He kissed Xie Lian a few more times, a bit deeper this time.

He lightly caressed Xie Lian’s face, but his cool fingers froze in place when they landed on his cheek.

Xie Lian quickly noticed Hua Cheng’s intent gaze and quirked an eyebrow.

“San Lang?”

Hua Cheng said nothing, and continued to silently stroke Xie Lian’s cheek as his gaze darkened and clouded over.

“Gege, you’re too vulnerable,” he said in a low voice.

Xie Lian tried to lift his shoulders off the mat, but he was firmly pushed back down.

Hua Cheng’s lips lingered just above his cheek, close enough that he could feel the heat of his breath, but just far enough to tantalize him.

“San Lang, that tickles,” he said with a light laugh as he playfully pushed Hua Cheng’s chest.

The edges of Hua Cheng’s lips curled up into a sly smile.

“Ticklish, hm? That won’t do. Let’s make gege feel something else, shall we?” he said with dangerous lilt in his voice.

His soft lips moved from Xie Lian’s face down his neck, leaving behind a trail of bright red marks. He pulled back briefly to gaze upon them before sprinkling in a few more in the open swatches of pale skin.

Xie Lian’s gaze drifted downward as he watched Hua Cheng paint his body with his possessive love marks.

He gingerly touched his own cheek, which was burning pink, and then a subtle smile danced on his face.

It was painfully obvious that Hua Cheng was jealous. Xie Lian laughed softly to himself but didn’t dare say anything, figuring he’d teased Hua Cheng enough over the past week.

He leaned into Hua Cheng’s fiery touch and let himself get swept away in the throes of passion.

They eagerly tumbled around in each other’s arms all night, making up for a week’s worth of lost time.

***

As promised, Hua Cheng’s spiritual array had brought Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to the outskirts of the village where they’d had their dramatic battle.

Lan Wangji carried his partner on his back as he began his arduous ascent towards the village.

Darkness had long since enveloped the quiet area, and the town was still far off in the distance.

Since they’d turned down the invitation to stay another night at Puqi Shrine, they slowly made their way towards the distant village in search of an inn.

“Lan Zhan? You can put me down, you know.”

“No,” came a curt reply.

“Suit yourself,” said Wei Wuxian as he nuzzled into Lan Wangji’s neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent of sandalwood that he’d craved so deeply.

“God, I missed you, Lan Zhan,” he said as he took another deep whiff of the comforting smell. “How the hell did you find me? And what took you so long? Your poor little husband here almost withered to dust."

He never did get the full story, after all. And since he conveniently blacked out right before Lan Wangji’s dramatic rescue, he could only rely on his vivid imagination to conjure up ideas.

Did he coolly fly in on Bichen, eliciting shocked gasps out of the locals? Did he tumble down from the sky like a gift from the gods? Did he walk?

“It was difficult,” Lan Wangji said, interrupting his wild thoughts.

“How so?”

“The wind ghost retreated after the fight. Tracking it took longer than planned. When I finally found it, I demanded it send me to you.”

“By send you away, you mean…?” Wei Wuxian gestured to the sky and whooshed his arms back and forth.

“Yes,” said Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian laughed out loud again, and Lan Wangji’s arms tightened to keep him steady.

“So, you rode the winds of fate and came to my rescue? Lan Zhan, you little hero, you! As expected of the great Hanguang-jun!”

He laughed heartily before clutching on to Lan Wangji a little tighter, and then he suddenly tilted his head to the side.

“Wait. So, you really had no idea how to get us home?”

“…”

Lan Wangji lowered his head slightly, as if ashamed to admit his own inadequacy.  

It was only then that Wei Wuxian started to realize the severity of the situation.

It was starting to feel like a miracle that the two of them had made it back. They very well could’ve been stranded in that foreign world. 

But when he thought about it, it didn’t seem all that bad. He held nothing but fond memories for that tiny little shack of a shrine. His hosts were gracious – one of them, at least – and made for incredibly entertaining company.

The more he fantasized, the more appealing the idea became.

And after all - with Lan Wangji by his side, he’d be happy anywhere.    

Wei Wuxian felt his heart stir as he thought about Puqi Shrine.

He’d encountered a lot of surprises in his life – getting married to Lan Wangji was at the top of that list. Being killed and brought back was a close second. But being whisked away to another world was also high up there.

He looked up at the sky with a grin.

“Of all the places I could’ve gotten blown away to, Puqi Village was a pretty damn good one.”

He excitedly recounted his days at Puqi Shrine to Lan Wangji, who listened silently as he diligently carried Wei Wuxian down the dirt path.

“Did you see their sign out front begging for donations? The state of that place was hilarious. Anyway, I cooked ‘em up some real spicy food every night, but they never complained. Hua Cheng worked me to the bone every day, and I almost died on multiple occasions, but it wasn’t too bad.”

He let out another loud laugh as he rambled on and on.

“We’ll have to pay them a visit again sometime soon,” Wei Wuxian continued, beaming at the thought.

“I do not think the man in red will agree.”

“Oh, him? Please. Xie Lian has him wrapped around his little finger. If he says the word, Hua Cheng will have no choice but to welcome us with open arms.”

He cackled as he imagined Hua Cheng’s reaction to seeing him turn up at their doorstep again.

“I do not think returning will be so easy,” Lan Wangji said.

He inclined his head when he was met with silence. He could feel Wei Wuxian’s entire weight sinking heavily into his back.

He stopped walking immediately and called out to him. “Wei Ying?”

Wei Wuxian shirked down against Lan Wangji’s back even further, burying his head into his robes.

Lan Wangji was about to set him down and check him for injuries again when he heard a faint snicker. It started small but grew louder with each breath, gradually morphing into full blow laughter.

Wei Wuxian hopped off Lan Wangji’s back and leapt in front of him, cackling so much that he almost fell over.

With a sly smirk, he fished around his robes for a few moments before pulling out his tightly clenched fist.

Lan Wangji’s eyes widened when Wei Wuxian unfurled his fingers, revealing a familiar pair of dice.

“Think again,” Wei Wuxian replied with a proud smirk.

Lan Wangji stared in shock and gazed inquisitively at him, prompting him to explain.

“Hm? Curious how I got these?” Wei Wuxian said as he waved the dice back and forth proudly. “I just snatched ‘em when Hua Cheng was a little distracted." 

Lan Wangji figured there were multiple moments that matched that description, but he shook the thought away and gazed intently at Wei Wuxian.

“Stealing is prohibited,” he chided.

His brows furrowed deeply, and he quickly reached out to take the dice back. But Wei Wuxian was faster and swiftly dodged his every attempt.

They danced around as Lan Wangji desperately tried to snatch the dice away to no avail, before eventually giving up with a sigh.

Wei Wuxian smirked and stuffed the dice back into his pockets, and the two strode forward, side by side.

“Anyway, with these little guys, I can mosey back there anytime I want. Hua Cheng aside, I’d like to play with Xie Lian again. I like that guy,” Wei Wuxian exclaimed with a big smile. 

Lan Wangji’s steps faltered briefly, but he quickly regained his footing.

“…close,” Lan Wangji mumbled.

“Huh? What’d you say?”

“You two seem close,” Lan Wangji repeated.

Wei Wuxian peeked over, and he saw the tiniest traces of a frown on Lan Wangji’s face.

He laughed out loud and shuddered in delight. Though he’d only been gone for a week, it felt like years had passed since he’d enjoyed the sweet pleasure of tormenting Lan Wangji.

“Mm, we’re very close. We shared meals together, bathed together, and even shared a bed together. Why? Does that bother you? Lan Zhan, are you feeling jealous again?”

Lan Wangji remained silent, but Wei Wuxian couldn’t miss his tightly clenched fists and pink earlobes. A mischievous smile played on his lips.

“Did you miss me?”

“…Mm.”

“Were you lonely without me?”

“…Mm.”

“Did you dream about me every night?”

“…No.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t expect that answer, and he puffed his cheeks out in disapproval. Lan Wangji could sense his displeasure and gave him a reassuring pat on the head.

“I did not sleep.”

“Huh?”

“…I could not sleep.”

“Why not?” Wei Wuxian playfully teased, even though he suspected he knew the answer.

Lan Wangji refused to indulge him any further and diverted his gaze to the road ahead.

“Lan Zhan, that’s no good,” Wei Wuxian continued. “Staying up past curfew? You’re such a rulebreaker. Just what could make the great Hanguang-jun so restless that sleep evaded him? Hm?”

“…”

“Let me take a guess. You were so overcome with worry about your husband that you tossed and turned all night, every night. Your heart ached at the thought of him quivering all alone, lost and forgotten. Right? I’m right, huh?”

“…Mn.”

Wei Wuxian practically squealed, and his eyes squinted into happy little crescents.

They continued their leisurely walk for a few moments before Wei Wuxian eagerly, and expectedly, shattered the brief moment of silence.

“How’d everything go while I was gone, anyway? Did you make sure to feed little Apple? Oh, and what about the rabbits? Any surprise weddings I should know about? Did all the kiddos behave themselves? Has Lan Qiren keeled over yet? God, he must’ve been ecstatic when he found out I was missing.”

Wei Wuxian spoke as if he’d been gone for decades, and Lan Wangji gave him a silent, reproachful look.

“Hey, a lot can change in a week,” Wei Wuxian replied.

Lan Wangji ignored him and focused on making his way towards the village. Wei Wuxian, dissatisfied that his line of teasing had gone cold, folded his arms and pouted.

“Hmph. Well, since it’s clearly not that big of a deal, maybe I should just take these dice and disappear for another week or two,” he said casually, turning his head away.  

As soon as the words left his lips, he felt the world around him spin, and he found himself pinned to the ground.

Lan Wangji held him down forcefully, his previously clear gaze enveloped by pure desperation. His eyes flickered with anger, and Wei Wuxian could feel his scorching body heat through the fingers that tightly gripped his shoulders.  

“Do not disappear from my side again,” Lan Wangji said, almost yelling.

Wei Wuxian shuddered in delight. He eagerly lifted his hips and pressed them against Lan Wangji’s.

“Lan Zhan, it’s been way too long since you pinned me down like this. Looks like you’ve gotten a little rusty, though. You’re gonna need to use a little bit more force. Next time you look away, I might fly off again, you know? You better tie me up real tight,” he leaned up and whispered in Lan Wangji’s ear, “so I can never run away again.”

“Shameless!”

Lan Wangji silenced him with a deep kiss, then diligently pulled off his headband and tied his wrists up with quick, well-rehearsed movements.

Wei Wuxian was taken aback, as if he didn’t expect Lan Wangji to actually respond to his empty threats.

“Um, Lan Zhan? I want to go at it like rabbits just as much as you do, but look around. We’re still in the middle of the road? The great Hanguang-jun could never be caught doing something so devious. Say, how many precepts do you think public sex breaks?”

Lan Wangji silenced him with another kiss.

“Every day,” he mumbled.

“Huh?”

“Every day means every day,” Lan Wangji replied. “A week has passed.”

Wei Wuxian beamed in understanding and propped himself up with his elbows to give Lan Wangji a deep kiss.

“God, I love you, Lan Zhan!”

He quivered and squirmed underneath the weight of Lan Wangji’s entire body, eagerly anticipating his next move.

He was desperate to feel Lan Wangji’s passionate touch. A week was the longest they’d gone without physical contact since getting married, and all his pent-up desire threatened to spill out.

He writhed restlessly and struggled to free his wrists, but Lan Wangji swiftly captured them in his forceful grip.

“Say, Lan Zhan? I’ve changed my mind. Untie me? Pretty please? We’ll have a lot more fun if I can use my hands,” he pleaded.

“Frivolous,” Lan Wangji muttered, tugging at the headband to cinch it even tighter.

Wei Wuxian felt an inevitable smirk growing on his face, and he loudly shouted out his reply.

“Pound me, Lan Zhan!”

***