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Chapter Text

Lan Wangji, to Wei Wuxian and to most everyone, was an enigma.

However, in the case of Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji was an enigma that unwillingly made Wei Wuxian more interested in understanding him instead of the intended less interested Lan Wangji was going for.

The only one, as far as Wei Wuxian could tell, that could understand Lan Wangji immediately with just a glance was Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji’s brother.

Wei Wuxian nearly idolised Lan Xichen because of this. Or at least, that’s basically what Jiang Cheng had said. 

“Wei Wuxian! Stop bothering Lan Wangji! Do you want him to hate you!? And stop squinting at him and Lan Xichen whenever they have one of their silent conversations. It’s creepy as fuck and you know it.”

Wei Wuxian sighed from his bed, “Foul language is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses.” 

Jiang Cheng pointed at Wei Wuxian, “You! Who are you? What have you done with my gege !?”

Wei Wuxian smiled from his reclined position, still looking at the ceiling. “I’ve stolen him and hidden him away, never to be seen again.”

Jiang Cheng threw a pillow at him. “I hate you.”

Wei Wuxian stuck out his tongue at his brother and threw the pillow back, “Love you too”

The thing about Lan Wangji, for Wei Wuxian, was that Lan Wangji was interesting. But apparently, he was the only one who thought that.

It all came to a head when Wei Wuxian had been walking from the Library Pavillion after he completed his last day of punishment with Lan Wangji, feeling significantly sadder than he had this morning.

Unsure what was happening to him, he went to his jiejie , Jiang Yanli, who had taken one look at him and immediately told him to sit at the table outside her dorm while she made soup.

Jiang Yanli was the absolute best.

When they were situated outside and Wei Wuxian began telling her what happened, she got a look in her eye. A look that Wei Wuxian did not like. At all. Then she spoke.

“ A -Xian, could you do me a favour and tell your jiejie your symptoms?”

Wei Wuxian blinked, “my symptoms?”

Jiang Yanli’s eyes twinkled, “Yes, A -Xian. So I can confirm what I believe is ailing you.”

Wei Wuxian pursed his lips, and then said, “Well. Today was my last day of punishment from Old Man Lan, as you know, and after I had left the library pavilion, I noticed that I felt a little queasy and uneasy… Um, I also had an ache in my chest. And I got sad. Ah, jiejie , I don’t understand. I was fine not five minutes before! I was teasing Lan Zhan like I normally do! I was feeling normal! I had given Lan Zhan a painting-”

Jiang Yanli interrupted, visibly trying to suppress a smile, “a painting?”

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath and let it out, “Yes, jiejie , a painting I did of him sitting there like the bore he is with his book. I was pretty proud of it actually, though I had to liven it up with a flower in his hair before I could give it to him. But then, after that, when I left-”

Jiang Yanli interrupted again, softly, “ A -Xian.”

Wei Wuxian inhaled and let it out, “Yes, Jiejie ?”

Jiang Yanli put her elbow on the table, leaning her head on her hand, smiling, “I believe I know your ailment.”

Wei Wuxian gasped and then smiled, “I knew you would! Jiejie is all knowing! Please tell me!”

Jiang Yanli smiled, all teeth, “You were already missing your time in the library pavilion with Lan- er-gongzi .”

Wei Wuxian scoffed, “ Jiejie , of course I am! That fuddy-duddy made it worthwhile to be there even if he kept on saying, ‘Wei Ying, finish your writing.’ Or, ‘ridiculous’ or silencing me with the silencing spell. Like the mean person he is.”

Jiang Yanli laughed, reaching out to take Wei Wuxian’s right hand. “ A -Xian!” She giggled again. “You’re in love with Lan- er-gongzi !”

There was silence for a moment, and then a near screech, saying, “ WHAT??!”

Chapter Text

It had actually taken him not that long to accept.

Mostly because it made sense.

And with sudden clarity, Wei Wuxian realised that everything he had been doing involving Lan Wangji could very well be considered flirting, and the thought made Wei Wuxian absolutely mortified .

And so, after the punishment ended and his talk with his sister, Wei Wuxian had almost entirely ignored Lan Wangji in favour of maintaining his dignity.

Jiang Cheng said it was better that way, and also told him that he should have begun doing it after the porn book incident. Which, when mentioned, suddenly made Wei Wuxian turn into a spluttering red mess of nonsense and regret. Jiang Cheng, after these incidents, even if he was the one who mentioned it, in which case he did apologise, roughly swatted at Wei Wuxian’s back.

Jiang Cheng became a little bit nicer with everything regarding Lan Wangji after their sister, without remorse, let it slip that Wei Wuxian had a crush on Lan Wangji. 

Jiang Cheng had been silent for a solid minute and a half before bursting out into laughter, saying, “ Gege , I am so sorry, but you practically have no chance.” 

To which Wei Wuxian replied, “I am aware.” 

Wei Wuxian sighed and walked away, leaving Jiang Cheng to whisper to their sister, “It’s actually terrifying. Does being in love with someone make them adopt their speech if they spend too much time together? A-Jie , please don’t start acting like the peacock-” And then Wei Wuxian was too far away to hear them.

And that leads up to the present.

They were back in Lotus Pier now and, even though Wei Wuxian had avoided Lan Wangji up to when they had to leave, (unbeknownst to him, the fact that he had been doing so had really messed Lan Wangji up), when Wei Wuxian had been almost to the entrance to the stairs before he turned around and rushed at the second Jade, who had been there to see off the disciples. (And certainly not to see Wei Ying one more time, of course not).

Lan Xichen would be the first to tell you that when Wei Wuxian ran at his didi and hugged him, Lan Wangji had released a whole lot of tension he didn’t know he had.

Lan Xichen had an inkling as to why Wei Wuxian had been avoiding his didi , and the hug did make him feel good about his own efforts privately.

Regardless, Wei Wuxian had been very overwhelmed and if anyone wanted to say anything about the sudden hug he had given the second jade, they were silenced by Jiang Cheng without preamble. 

Wei Wuxian was downright miserable back at Lotus Pier.

He didn’t even bat an eyelash when he was scolded and blamed by Madam Yu - only making one sound when the whip descended on his back.

Lotus Pier hadn’t really been his home for a while - the only reason he was still there was Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng - his A-Jie and Didi - names they only used in private.

Wei Wuxian was still surprised he missed Cloud Recesses.

He prefers Lotus Pier in regards to the landscape and rules, but Cloud Recesses has Lan Wangji. Lan Zhan.

Wei Wuxian misses him terribly. Jiang Yanli recommended writing something to him, but Wei Wuxian was hesitant.

He had avoided Lan Zhan for weeks and then he would just - write a letter to him? It seemed almost cruel.

So instead, he took out his dizi . Something Sect Leader Jiang had gotten him, but he had abandoned. Until now, that is.

He started to write. He wrote two parts. One for him on his dizi and… one for Lan Zhan. For the guqin .

Jiang Cheng had gagged when he came in one night for a sleepover while Madam Yu was visiting Meishan. They could then. Because Jiang Fengmian doesn’t notice anything, and if he does, he doesn’t acknowledge it. Or them. Or anything-

Regardless - Jiang Cheng had gagged, and Jiang Yanli, who had brought them soup to share for the night, as Jiang Fengmian had forgotten dinner, had called it “soooo romantic, A -Xian, I knew that’s what you were.”

Wei Wuxian waved her off, “ Jiejie , it’s not like I - I don’t think I… I doubt he’d ever actually hear it. And if he did, I doubt he’d like it. He-”

Jiang Cheng cut him off, “If he listens to it and doesn’t like it, I’ll break his legs.”

Jiang Yanli giggled but Wei Wuxian gasped, “Jiang Cheng! You wouldn’t! Poor Lan Zhan! Don’t hurt him just because he doesn’t accept my feelings in this hypothetical situation!”

Jiang Cheng glared at him, “I’ll break his legs in whatever situation I want if he hurts you, gege , hypothetical or not. Where did you hide your salve, by the way?”

Wei Wuxian waved behind him in the general direction of his dresser, “bottom drawer shoved in the back, left side.”

Jiang Cheng came back with the salve in hand and told his brother to remove his shirt, which, uncharacteristically, Wei Wuxian did without comment.

Jiang Cheng stopped, just for a moment, a scowl on his face, and then continued, “What’s up?” 

Jiang Yanli took Wei Wuxian’s hand then, as Jiang Cheng began to put the salve on his brother’s back.

Wei Wuxian sighed, “Do you think that I would be allowed to go on a night hunt soon? I need to…” He winced when the salve was applied to his upper left side. “I need to leave for a bit, I think. Clear my head.” 

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli looked at each other, and then back at their brother. Jiang Yanli cocked her head, “ A -Xian?” 

Wei Wuxian smiled at her, “It’s nothing bad. I promise- Ah! Jiang Cheng! That hurt! Not so rough with my poor body!” 

Jiang Cheng put pressure on his back again in the same manner with the salve just to spite Wei Wuxian, saying, “Spit it out!” 

Wei Wuxian grunted again, “Fine! Cut that out, now! I’ve felt… contained… lately. Madam Yu… I don’t know if she noticed something or what, but… and I kind of- kind of miss Cloud Recesses for some reason? I don’t know. I need to get out.” 

Jiang Cheng finished putting the salve on Wei Wuxian’s back and sighed, going back to the dresser to hide it again, “Then we’ll organise a night hunt. A-Die can’t ignore us asking because night hunts are cultivational, obviously. So, we’ll get an assignment from him and leave as soon as possible.”

Wei Wuxian turned his head towards Jiang Cheng, “we?” Jiang Cheng walked back over and hit Wei Wuxian upside the head, “Ow!?”

Jiang Cheng dusted his hands off, “Yup. Duh, of course I’ll be coming with you. A-Niang isn’t here to refuse it, and A-Die will pretty much let us go no matter what. We’ll arrange for tomorrow.”

Jiang Yanli clapped her hands together, “Good idea, A-Cheng ! I’ll cover for you while you’re gone. A-Xian , go out with A-Cheng , clear your head, and when you get back, I’ll have soup waiting! We can discuss the matter of Lan- er-gongzi and your song then.” 

Wei Wuxian looked scandalised, “ Jiejie ! Must we?”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, “Clearly! Stop fucking talking like a Lan! How much time did you actually spend with Lans around you actually interacting with you?”

Wei Wuxian whipped his head around, “I’m not! And you, too?!”

Jiang Cheng hit the upside of his head again.

Wei Wuxian raised his hand to the back of his head and winced, “owowow Jiang Cheng, you really did me in on that one, didn’t you?”

Jiang Cheng pinched his ear, “Obviously. Dumbass. God. What’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Yanli pinched Wei Wuxian’s cheek, “He’s in loooove.”

Wei Wuxian squinted, his cheek being pulled away from his face, “ Jiejiiiieeeee ”

Jiang Cheng gagged, “Ew. Barf. Can we talk about something else?”

Wei Wuxian rubbed his cheek and smirked, “Shhh Jiang Cheng, this is sleepover etiquette. And it’s my turn. I gave you plenty of opportunities-”

“WEI WUXIAN.”

“- to find someone, being away so often, and since you are so keen on discussing my nonexistent love life, let’s talk about your possibly existent love life.”

Jiang Yanli tilted her head, pouring another bowl of soup for each of them, “Oh?”

Jiang Cheng was bright red. Through clenched teeth he said, “Nothing. Happened.”

Wei Wuxian snapped his fingers, “Aha! So there is a someone!”

Jiang Cheng went a darker shade of red.

Jiang Yanli tilted her head and leaned forward, hand on chin, “ A- Cheng?”

Jiang Cheng didn’t lighten nor darken, but he did stutter, “No one!”

Wei Wuxian hit him upside the head.

"OW!" Jiang Cheng rubbed the back of his head and said, “What the fuck?”

Wei Wuxian raised his hand again but didn’t strike, instead, he sighed and said, “Jiang Cheng, come on! I know that you don’t know that I know, but come ON.”

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, “What is it?”

Jiang Yanli smiled, “ A- Cheng, do you have someone in mind?”

Jiang Cheng replied, “No, I don’t!” at the same time Wei Wuxian said, “Yes, he does!”

Jiang Cheng’s face went red again, “Wei Wuxian!”

Wei Wuxian smirked and wriggled his eyebrows saying, “Nie- xiong .”

Jiang Yanli gasped and Jiang Cheng shot up, “WEI WUXIAN!”

Wei Wuxian also shot up, smiled at Jiang Yanli, and said, “Gotta go!”

He started to run around the room, Jiang Cheng on his heels.

The night was a good one.

Chapter Text

“Wei Wuxian, have you dressed yet? I’m coming in.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t even have time to blink before his brother nearly broke down his door, “I have food.”

He held out the tray in his hands as Wei Wuxian pointed at him, “You’re horrible. I almost had a heart attack.”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, “the fuck you did. Eat. I’m going to go talk to A-Die about the nighthunt. A-Jie is in town for the weekly giving.”

Wei Wuxian hummed and stopped Jiang Cheng before he left, “Ah! Ah, Jiang Cheng, did she pick up the xiao tuzi I made for A -Luo ? ”

Jiang Cheng frowned, “Who?”

Wei Wuxian sighed, “ A-Luo ! Xiao- Riluo! She’s one of the baby street kids? Maybe three years old? Trails after Xiao- Feng?”

Jiang Cheng furrowed his brow. “How do you know- nevermind, it makes sense that you know. And, I think that I saw A-Jie grab a stuffed bunny toy on her way but you can ask her when she returns. If you had woken up earlier, you could have gone with her.”

Wei Wuxian had shoved a bite of rice in his mouth but still managed to protest, “Mm-mm! A- Cheng! We stayed up late last night!”

Jiang Cheng walked out of the room and onto the pier. As he left, he said, “like that affects you at all!”

Wei Wuxian smiled to himself as he got dressed.

He grabbed Suibian and ran out to the main courtyard.

“ Dashixiong !”

He turned when he heard the baby disciples and smiled at them, “Hello, xiao-shidimei ! What are you all up to?”

“ Dashixiong, dashixiong ! We heard that you were going on a nighthunt today, is it true? When can we go on one?”

Wei Wuxian put his hands on his hips, “Aiyah, so eager. It will be a while yet. I’m your dashixiong . I know you guys have only just begun your bow training.”

Upon hearing all the whining he received at that, he raised his hand up and wiggled his finger at them. “If you whine when you’ve only just heard the phrase ‘bow training’ how can I believe you’ll be ready to nighthunt? Using bows helps with your hand-eye coordination, aim, balance, core strength, core strength, arms, muscles generally, and patience. What do you need to nighthunt?”

He waited a second with his head tilted and his hands on his hips, watching his shidimei , until one raised her hand and said hesitantly, “all… of those things?”

Wei Wuxian snapped his fingers and pointed at her, “exactly! And for your eagerness, I have an assignment for you! Up, up, no arguing, look, I just want you guys to practice target practice on simple bullseye while I’m gone. You’ve learned how to properly string up bows and also started to work on shooting. When I get back, I want to see how close each of you gets to a bullseye! Whoever gets closest will get a prize!”

When the group dispersed with cheers, Jiang Cheng came up to him, “you’re too indulgent.”

Wei Wuxian tsk ed at his brother, “I’m only encouraging them. It never hurts to have an object in mind when achieving the impossible, does it?”

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes but conceded, “Whatever. Come on, let’s go. I’ve got a surprise for you. You’re going to hate it.”

Wei Wuxian had been excited for about two solid seconds before he frowned, “well now I’m worried…”

Jiang Cheng just laughed as they left for the night hunt Jiang Fengmian had only waved his hand at and gave them.

❤️🩵❤️

“ A -Cheng, we’ve been flying for a while, where even is this nighthunt? I shouldn’t have just let you lead the way.”

Wei Wuxian was looking down over the stretch of trees. “Are you sure it’s not in this forest?”

“Shut up, ge . I know where it is. It’s in a small town surrounded by the forest you’re so worried about, and it’s at the edge of our territory. We’re meeting up with another sect for a joint nighthunt. A-Die had only read enough to get the location before putting it aside for us. When I read what it entailed… well, I thought it would be fun to see you suffer just a tiny bit."

Wei Wuxian raised his hand in a faint hit to his brother as the other senior disciples with them snickered. “Oh, be quiet, you guys. Do you know where we’re heading?”

Liu Yan flew her sword to be parallel Wei Wuxian’s, “Nooooo indeed, Da-shixiong ! We definitely only know which sect it is that we’re night hunting with.”

Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes at her, “you definitely know all the details.”

 She rolled her eyes and continued, “oh come on, Da-shixiong ! All you need to do is think a little bit harder about what direction we’ve been flying and you’ll figure it out, right Er-shixiong ?”

Jiang Cheng didn’t turn but he did slow down a bit to be only just out of range for Wei Wuxian to swat at him. “Let him think. Shouldn’t take long, to be honest - surprised he’s lasted this long before pitching a fit.”

Wei Wuxian swatted at Liu Yan instead, who swerved to avoid him, snickering but not seeming perturbed.

Then, he looked around and said, “Ok, we stopped at midday for a meal in a town north of us… got the prizes for the xiaoshidimei there... then we started going a bit northeast… wait. No.”

The disciples laughed, Gu Yixing yelling while looking at everyone around him, “about time! Da-shixiong , are you excited?”

Wei Wuxian slapped his forehead, “like hell I am! What’s the case? So I can focus on that.”

The disciples around him laughed, one wolf-whistled, causing Wei Wuxian to almost fall off his sword in order to grab at him and strangle him.

Jiang Cheng flew next to him and swatted the back of his head before flying higher out of reach, only coming back down when the town in question rose into view, “ Gege .”

Wei Wuxian crossed his arms, “I’m not talking to you.”

Jiang Cheng smiled, “I knew the infernal pining would be worth it just for the flight.”

Before Wei Wuxian could try and strangle him again, he aimed down and said, “oh look! Time to land. Behave yourselves now.”

Wei Wuxian could hear the snickers before they all agreed and landed. Wei Wuxian wanted to die.

Okay so it’s a nighthunt with the Lan sect. Big deal. That doesn’t automatically mean that-

“ Lan-er-gongzi .” He heard his brother say.

Fuck.

When everyone stood from their bows, Wei Wuxian cleared his throat and said, “aaah, Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, when did you arrive?”

Lan Wangji turned to Wei Wuxian and replied, “Wei Ying. We arrived not long before you. We have reserved a larger inn for both our sects…”

Wei Wuxian cleared his throat, “not a good time for tourism, I take it?”

Lan Wangji replied with a simple “mn” before turning and leading them to the inn.

Wei Wuxian grimaced when Jiang Cheng elbowed him and smirked.

Wei Wuxian mouthed at him, I hate you .

Lan Wangji turned to them when they arrived at the inn, “It is late. The Lan clan sleeps at 9:00pm. We will begin investigating the whispers tomorrow morning. Excuse me.”

Before he turned fully, he nodded at Wei Wuxian saying, “good night, Wei Ying.”

When he had gone fully up the stairs and as the innkeeper was giving the group their room numbers, Wei Wuxian’s face went bright red because every single disciple went “ooooh” at him.

Wei Wuxian glared at Jiang Cheng, who just smirked.

❤️🩵❤️

When Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng entered their assigned room, Wei Wuxian ran to a bed, dropped his things next to it and face-planted into it, groaning into the pillow.

Jiang Cheng placed his things next to his bed as well, calmly, and sat on the edge before saying, “if you spend any more time like that, ge , you’ll suffocate yourself and die, dumbass.”

He cupped his ear and turned his head to hear as Wei Wuxian replied, “ever think about how that may just be exactly what I’m wanting to happen, asshole?”

Jiang Cheng sighed, “oh come on. It can’t be that bad. I got you away, didn’t I?”

Wei Wuxian twisted onto his back and glared at his brother, “yeah, thanks. Except you also somehow got me where Lan Zhan is. How’d you manage that?”

Jiang Cheng said, “I’m good friends with the gods.”

Wei Wuxian scoffed, “yeah, clearly.”

Jiang Cheng crossed his arms, “come on! I think you need this. You can clear up any misconceptions about your relationship with him, which I think you need to do, and you can, I don’t know, kiss or something, when it’s all good.”

“Jiang Cheng!”

“Shh!” Jiang Cheng put a finger over his mouth, “it’s almost 9:00pm.”

Wei Wuxian groaned again and kicked the sheet down so he can pull it over himself, “were you always this annoying? How did you plan this?”

“Are you going to sleep?” He could hear Jiang Cheng ask.

He didn’t move, but he nearly yelled, “ Yes .”

Jiang Cheng laughed, “Great, you’re already on a Lan schedule! You’ll fit right in!”

Wei Wuxian groaned and Jiang Cheng laughed again, “I’m doing you a favour, trust me. Your dumbass is the only one I know of who would write a ballad and then not do anything with it. At the very least, you can clear the air on why you avoided him for the last leg of the lectures. Right?”

When he was answered with silence, he said again, “Fine fine, go to sleep, I guess you’ll have a long couple days as long as you don’t listen to me .”

Wei Wuxian muttered from deep in his cocoon, almost inaudible, “this is why A-Jie waved the soup in my face for when we return, isn’t it?”

“Yep!” Jiang Cheng stretched and got in bed himself, “I guess I also need to be well-rested to see you be hilarious tomorrow.”

At the answering groan, he closed his eyes and smiled, “Ah, music to my ears. Don’t worry so much, A- Sang told me very interesting information that makes me have more faith in you!”

There was a brief moment of silence before Wei Wuxian lowered the covers enough for his eyes to be visible, “You said, ‘ A- Saaang~”

Jiang Cheng raised his chin and closed his eyes, “ A-Jie ’s not here, and you’re more pathetic than I am. I have nothing to hide. You’re clearly all right if you have the gall right now to point out how I address my- ahem - how I address Nie Huaisang. Go to sleep. We’ll get an early start and you’ll thank me later.”

He smiled when Wei Wuxian glared at him and turned toward the wall, “good niiiight, gege , don’t think too much!”

Wei Wuxian threw a pillow at his brother, who caught it without looking and said, “thanks for the extra pillow!”

Wei Wuxian groaned and said, “throw it back!”

Jiang Cheng didn’t turn to face him and said, “nope, mine now. You reap what you sow, and my karma is good for this favour I oh so generously did for you. Good night, now!”

Wei Wuxian did not sleep all that much.

The night was an annoying one.

Chapter Text

When Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin entered the inn’s main room for breakfast, Lan Wangji was there to meet them. “I have already eaten. I have also sent disciples out to the outskirts of the village and surrounding forests for preliminary investigation.”

Wei Wuxian hummed around a bite of food and clapped his hands.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and said, “Excellent. Did you find out anything of interest?”

Lan Wangji nodded, “Nm. Nothing seems unusual at first glance. The town is mostly tranquil... It is hard to pinpoint what exactly is causing the deaths witnessed. The people directed us to one man who said he was… in his words, ‘as much of a leader as they had ever had.’”

“What did he say, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian asked, ignoring the look Jiang Cheng shot him.

Lan Wangji blinked at him. “No clear links between the cases that anyone can decipher - at least in terms of who, when, and why. He provided the locations of the family houses of the victims, however.”

He slid a piece of paper across the table and Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng both looked at it.

Jiang Cheng put down his chopsticks and motioned to Liu Yan. “Liu- shimei , come here. Wei Wuxian, stop eating and do your job.”

Wei Wuxian sighed, “Aiyah, A- Cheng, I may be da-shixiong , but aren’t you just as capable in directing disciples? Do you have a plan of action already?”

Jiang Cheng picked up his chopsticks again and replied, “No. I’m eating.”

Lan Wangji frowned, so Wei Wuxian hesitantly laughed. “Right! Right, A- Cheng, you’re right. Liu- shimei , jot down these locations into your own map, will you? Lan Zhan, how many disciples do you have?”

Lan Wangji replied, “only five other than myself.”

Wei Wuxian clapped, “Excellent. We’ve got six. Would they be all right with teaming up with our disciples?”

Lan Wangji nodded, “of course.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Great. Liu- shimei , once you’re done, round up the rest of the disciples. Divide into groups of two and take one Lan disciple into one group, go and visit the families. Hmmm… that still leaves two Lan disciples… unless one group only has one Lan disciple and the other two have double…”

Jiang Cheng sighed and Lan Wangji turned towards the door where a Lan disciple was waiting.

He approached, “yes, Lan- er-gongzi ?”

Lan Wangji said, “The Jiang are dividing into three groups of two disciples. One of our own disciples is to go into each group. Have Lan Yanqing and Lan Ruan go as a pair and set parameters around the town in case of emergency. Make sure they have a reserve of flairs.”

The disciple bowed, “yes, Lan- er-gongzi ” and moved to retreat out of the inn.

“Hey! Wait a second, wait for me!” Liu Yan called, almost dropping her ink stone in her haste to catch up. The disciple had initially stopped but quickly seemed to decide to speed-walk out of the door instead. Liu Yan rounded the table in pursuit, “Aiyah, Lan- xiong , can I call you that? I have to be there to coordinate when you- Hey!” With that, both had gone out of the door.

Wei Wuxian smirked and looked between his two companions. “What say you to a little visit to the house of the currently afflicted?”

❤️🩵❤️

“Will you really be able to help?” The woman rang her hands and pursed her lips, looking between the three cultivators.

Lan Wangji nodded once. “Mn.”

Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes at him and turned to the woman, “Ma’am, we will do our best. We have disciples investigating past locations and are doing what we can. We are aware your family has the only one-”

A loud scream sounded through the house. “Oh!” The woman cried and bounded down a corridor, Wei Wuxian, Jiang Wanyin, and Lan Wangji hot on her heels.

When the woman threw the door open, what was visible was a room already cleared of most objects, a bed in the corner and a few pieces of long fabric strewn across the floor.

Inside was a young girl, fallen to her knees, but upright, head thrown back, screaming bloody murder. Her head shakes loosely back and forth, her arms limp at her sides, jerking in many different directions slightly every once in a while. Her hair is untied and falling around her face, messy, and obscuring her eyes, which are wide open, unblinking.

The woman screamed, “ A- Ai!” and rushed forward, her forward momentum arrested by Wei Wuxian who pulled her back by her collar.

“I do apologise, ma’am, but this seems to be a lot more serious than we originally prepared for. You said no one else in the town had done what she is doing?”

The woman paled at his words but didn’t move, “no, gongzi , they’ve only whispered, sometimes screamed. Then someone in the family died in the way they speak.”

Jiang Wanyin pulled the door open, “we-”

“Haaaaa.”

Everything stopped, everyone turned to the girl on the floor, still now, head thrown so far back it’s a wonder she remained upright, eyes open.

She whispered, “woe be upon the ones who seek me. Woe be upon those who hurt me. Come into my territory and destroy my progress-” She cut off and let out a short scream, then her head jerked to the side, a smile on her face, “He draws near. Late at night I hear him sing.” She jerked the top of her body again, but resumed her position leaning back behind her.

She reached an arm gracefully above her head and sang in a whispered language no one understood. “ Тили-тили-бом / Close your eyes now / someone’s walking outside the house / ” She fell backward, her legs tucked beneath her back, arms thrown beside her.

Wei Wuxian began to draw a talisman, but she paid him no mind.

“And knocking on the door. / Тили-тили-бом /” She threw a leg out from underneath her, and bent it at its knee. “The night-birds are chirping /” Another leg. “He is inside the house / to visit those who can not sleep /” She sat up and began to stand, her head lolling, as if it were not supported. “He walks. / He is coming /” She lolled her head to the other side. “Closer. /”

Jiang Wanyin whispered, “Wei Wuxian…”

Wei Wuxian hissed, “I know .” 

“Тили-тили-бом / can you hear him closing in? / lurking around a corner / staring right at you . /”

Lan Wangji pulled the woman behind him and held out Bichen . Wei Wuxian scribbled faster, but seemed to mess up and start anew. “Wei Ying.”

“I know, Lan Zhan.”

“Тили-тили-бом / the silent night hides everything / he sneaks up behind you / and he is going to get you… / ” The girl threw herself sideways into the wall and scratched mindlessly at it. “ He walks / he is coming… / closer… /”

She smiled and turned her head to stare unblinkingly behind Lan Wangji, at her mother. “Тили-тили-бом / can you hear someone next to you? / huddled in a corner with a penetrating gaze… /” She gasped then, and threw her upper body back, her head still aimed at her mother. She whispered again, “A pang to feel, a gasp of breath.” She inhaled, “a second pang, descended.” She exhaled and her head jerked into the opposite direction, “hold your back, wench. San, er, yi-”

The woman scrunched her forehead, then gasped and held her chest. She looked terrified, her head turning between Jiang Wanyin, Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian, beseeching, as she, indeed, held her back.

Wei Wuxian broke from his stupor and slapped the talisman onto the doorframe. “ A- Cheng! Bring her mother into another room and give her a combination of warm water and honey if you can find it! Lan Zhan!”

Lan Wangji immediately sat down on the floor and started to play Rest .

The girl started to smile, her head dropping down. She whispered again, “fall into a chair, blur the man, whimper and warble. Late at night, I hear him sing.”

She inhaled again and reached toward Lan Wangji, playing his guqin. “Do you know where we are?”

Then she screamed again. Tears began to stream down her face as Lan Wangji put more power behind his song.

She grabbed a piece of fabric and began to frantically wave it around, following the movement with her head, her eyes still unmoving, stepping and almost gliding across the room at a fast pace.

Wei Wuxian was braced at the door frame, looking occasionally at the girl, then at the talisman. He snapped his head to Lan Wangji and said, “It’s working! What I did, it’s helping, at least! And the music! Don’t stop!”

Lan Wangji responded with, “mn.”

Wei Wuxian leapt into action at that and faced the girl when she rounded on him.

She began to whisper again, “ er , yi -” and Wei Wuxian pushed another talisman forcefully onto her forehead, making her crumble to the floor, breathing but calm.

Lan Wangji ended his song and looked up at Wei Wuxian who was breathing heavily and looking down at the girl.

He looked at Lan Wangji and gave a strained smile, “we have our work cut out for us, Lan Zhan.”

Then Jiang Wanyin yelled for them to hurry to the kitchen.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian rushed in while Lan Wangji followed at a slightly more sedate pace. “What happened?!”

What greeted him was his brother holding the girl’s mother, who had seemingly collapsed to the ground.

“I don’t know! She just collapsed! She-” Jiang Wanyin began to say, but was interrupted when the woman had a final burst of life.

“She told me. A pang to feel, a gasp of breath.” She gasped again, “a second pang, descended, and my back!”

She sat up abruptly and held her back. “Please, please, young cultivators, do what you can to save my daughter!”

She collapsed again, her head hanging off of Jiang Wanyin’s lap, who immediately took her wrist.

“She’s dead. She’s dead! Gege -”

“The whispers begin and then a family member dies in the same way whispered.” Lan Wangji interrupted for the first time.

Wei Wuxian looked at him, his eyes wide. “We just…”

He pointed at the woman, then at the room they had just left. “We just witnessed it in real time…”

Jiang Wanyin looked between them and gently lifted the woman from his lap. He got up.

“We need to figure this out. Fast. How long between each household's whispers? Did we figure that out? Do we know how much time we have?”

He walked over to the room the girl was left in to find her also passed out, but visibly breathing.

Wei Wuxian furrowed his brow and put his hand to his chin. “No. We didn’t. Let’s meet up with the disciples.” He looked at Lan Wangji. “Quickly.”

Lan Wangji gave him a slight nod, “Mn.”

They left the house, Jiang Wanyin following closely behind them. “Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.” They stopped in the town centre, where Lan Wangji released a flare, beckoning the disciples to them again.

They arrived almost simultaneously with much to report.

“Quiet!” Jiang Wanyin growled.

Wei Wuxian put a hand on his shoulder. His brother was probably put out by having a woman die in his arms, but nothing can be done except to end this nighthunt.

He turned to the disciples. “This situation is grave. We need to act quickly. What did you find?”

Gu Yixing stepped forward with a Lan disciple at his side. They bowed and introduced themselves. The Lan disciple was named Lan Fafei. He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Gu Yixing, who quietly said, “we’ll work on your social skills another time.”

He cleared his throat and spoke. “We met up ourselves not long before this regrouping and wrote our findings here. Um. A- Fei and I went to a house in which the family expressed that the patriarch of the family had gotten the whispers and not long afterwards, their eldest daughter suffered from a high fever and um.”

He gulped. “And retching up… feces… The difference between this family and the others is that she did not die from her infection. The whispers retreated from the house and neither member affected died. This was also, notably, the first of the families the yaoguai visited.. Liu -shijie said that her pair’s house had the whispers coming from the middle child, a young girl of around fourteen. It is interesting to note that the whispers began, receded, and then returned-”

Liu Yan interrupted, “ Dashixiong , Lan- xiong suggested that the guai was still figuring out what it was doing at this time and probably didn’t think to return to the first house to try things out, so it maintained its station at the house we visited. The whispers started and no one else was affected, stopped, started again, after which the girl’s older brother’s skin started to develop black spots on his fingers and toes, along with severe coughing. He died after just two days.”

Lan Wangji’s brow was furrowed. “Continue.”

“Well…” Gu Yixing began, “it’s basically all the same. A number of houses were affected and, just as reported, two victims per house, one to be seemingly possessed and one to be a victim, were counted. It’s still unclear who the ghost is or why they’ve come. The entire village seems convinced that it isn’t a local who has died and begun this. They’ve assured us that all who died within the village were given proper rights and burials.”

He stopped and turned his head to the side when two Lans, Lan Yanqing and Lan Ruan, approached and bowed.

“Lan- er-gongzi , we’ve secured the perimeter. No one, living or dead, should be able to enter or exit the town until we’re through.”

Wei Wuxian grinned at them, “What did you use to secure it?”

Lan Ruan blinked, “A simple process, gongzi , you see-”

Jiang Wanyin tuned out that explanation. He was still thinking about the woman who died in his arms, fiddling with the charm he kept inside of his sleeve. “Wei Wuxian.”

Wei Wuxian stopped talking with Lan Ruan and Lan Wangji, who had begun to contribute to the conversation as well. Jiang Wanyin continued, “Please. Focus.”

Wei Wuxian cleared his throat. “Right. Did anyone perhaps ask how long the interval between infections is?”

A Lan disciple raised her hand. “A day. I asked. It seems the yaoguai is fond of lulling the citizens into a false sense of security. I was told that even when they realised there was always a one day interval between each case, they still couldn’t be secure because they’re never sure when the day interval will extend and perhaps completely dissipate.”

Wei Wuxian hummed. “Well! That’s good, I think! Plenty of time to resolve this.” He looked at his brother and then at Lan Wangji, smiling uneasily. “Right?”

Lan Wangji looked at him and smiled just the tiniest bit, only Wei Wuxian was able to see it. “Mn.”

❤️🩵❤️

“That should do it, I think.” Wei Wuxian raised himself from his crouch, Jiang Wanyin following suit across the field a farmer had offered them.

Lan Wangji sat to the side, tuning his guqin, which he had already gotten out.

Jiang Wanyin walked over, “how are we going to draw it to us?”

Lan Wangji responded, “Simple.”

When Jiang Wanyin turned to him, he looked to Wei Wuxian. “Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan, don’t make a big deal out of it! I only have the one…”

“One what? What did you make?” Jiang Wanyin took his brother’s hand and moved it out of the way to see what Wei Wuxian was holding to his chest. It was a… flag? “What’s that?”

“A Spirit-Attraction Flag. I’ve been thinking about it for some time. I decided to make one earlier… I think it will be useful and will make it so that we don’t have to wait for the yao to stumble into where we want it-”

“Whatever! Don’t explain anymore, I’m hardly following you; you talk too quickly.” Jiang Wanyin ignored the disciples’ snickering and Lan Wangji’s frown aimed in his direction. “What are you waiting for? Set it up.”

Wei Wuxian did. He put the flag on a longer stick a disciple handed him and stuck the flag in the centre of the array.

“The way in which I made the array should make it so that only what we’re looking for gets caught in the array - the flag will bring in more than just what we’re looking for. Everyone be prepared for if something goes wrong, okay?”

The disciples all put hands on their swords, Lan Wangji placed his hands over his guqin strings and Jiang Wanyin crossed his arms, falling into a sitting position next to Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian remained standing.

This was the most nerve-wracking part of the nighthunt.

Wei Wuxian just hoped it would work.

❤️🩵❤️

“I can not believe that fucking worked.” Jiang Wanyin breathed.

In the array was a guai - a ghost - which had manifested visibly.

It was the form of a large man, sporting clothes none of them had ever seen before with what seemed to be a fur on his head and a thin mustache on his upper lip, extending down to his chin on either side of his mouth.

His clothes were muted with death, but Wei Wuxian could tell they were supposed to be quite bright in colour.

The man did not seem to be hostile. Almost as if he had accepted his fate as he materialised and looked at his surroundings.

Wei Wuxian cleared his throat. “Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji began to play, and the ghost moved to respond, but when he picked at the strings, Lan Wangji’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.

“What’s wrong, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian asked immediately.

Jiang Wanyin also looked over.

Lan Wangji repeated the same notes again and the man’s ghostly fingers plucked the strings again after him.

Lan Wangji’s hands stilled the strings and he looked up, “I can not understand him.”

“What?” Both Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian responded.

The man’s visage shifted slightly, a whisper starting up around him. The whisper was indecipherable.

“What language is that?” Liu Yan called out.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened. “It’s another language?”

Liu Yan blinked, and looked around her at everyone who was staring back at her. “Yes? I think so. I mean, it seems so! I mean, we can’t understand the whispers sounding around him. He can respond to the qin language, but his responses seem to be in line with his own language, perhaps, rather than our own…”

“The song the girl was singing.” Jiang Wanyin called out.

“What?” Wei Wuxian turned to his brother.

Jiang Wanyin was staring at the guqin in Lan Wangji’s lap. “The song we just heard , Wei Wuxian. We didn’t know what she was saying. It was in a language we couldn’t comprehend. This guy-”

He rolled his eyes when Lan Wangji glared at him. “What? Is that disrespectful to you, Mr. Decorum?”

When Lan Wangji looked away, Jiang Wanyin continued. “So it must be his language.”

“Transcendence of music.” Lan Wangji said, only continuing when he received confused looks.

“The Qin language. Based on music. Music is for everyone. So Inquiry made sense to him, but his responses were made based on what the qin sounded like to him. To his language. It doesn’t connect.”

Jiang Wanyin scoffed. “What a design flaw.”

He scrambled to his feet and away when Lan Wangji rounded on him, almost throwing his guqin off his lap with the force of it.

“He didn’t mean that, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian laughed nervously.

A Lan disciple stepped up to the array and looked at the guai who had resorted to simply sitting on the ground in the middle of the array near the flag, as he was suppressed from doing much else. “What do we do? We’ve never encountered this issue before.”

He looked around him and blinked when he saw all the Jiang disciples, a scant few Lan disciples, as well as both Lan Wangji and Jiang Wanyin looking at Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian sighed. “Give me ten minutes.”

When ten minutes had passed, Wei Wuxian gave Lan Wangji a piece of paper. “This should work. Here’s some cinnabar. Draw this symbol on your guqin , then play a test question.”

Lan Wangji did so. He played the guqin , and the foreign man stood from his position and went to the guqin again. He plucked the strings. Lan Wangji said, “It worked.”

When the subsequent cheers subsided, and Wei Wuxian sighed in relief, Lan Wangji continued. “He says his name is…” He looked up at the ghost. “Please correct me if I am wrong. Eлекčей.”

The man’s visage shook his head rapidly and plucked the strings again.

“Элексей” When Lan Wangji looked up again, the man’s visage was smiling. “Pronounced Ee-lyuck-see.”

There were murmurs around the array. Many disciples had simply decided to sit down around it, swords out of their sheaths, just in case, but placed next to them, in the grass.

Lan Wangji continued. “I will now ask the standard questions.” When his companions nodded, he began. His brow furrowed multiple times during the inquiry, at least that Wei Wuxian could see, and his hands trembled slightly every once in a while. When Lan Wangji stopped playing, he closed his eyes momentarily.

Элексей went back to the centre of the array and sat down, his hands on his knees supporting his chin.

“Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian stood up, Jiang Wanyin following him. They sat on either side of Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji took a deep breath and said, “He has travelled far. He did not know where he was to go for his… revenge… he got frustrated and phased out before finding himself here, where he… vented his anger.”

Jiang Wanyin crossed his arms, “anger over what exactly?”

When Lan Wangji looked up at the sky, his eyes widened and he uncrossed his arms.

Wei Wuxian sucked in a sharp breath and the disciples all looked at each other and then Элексей.

“That doesn’t…” Jiang Wanyin frowned again, “That doesn’t make sense. He isn’t even… I mean his language-”

Lan Wangji interrupted. “-Is not from here. Yes. He says he came from the North. He says he knows he is South because he would not be misunderstood if he had gone North and beyond his own North, there is no other North.”

He took a deep breath and ignored Liu Yan, who had whispered to her Lan partner, “whatever that means.”

He spoke again as if he had heard nothing. “He says the men came from beyond the mountains to the South. The men in… white and red long dresses, in his words. He says that they had tried to ask what the men were doing, where they had come from, but they could not understand each other. He said that what he assumed was second-in-command seemed tremendously angry over the lack of understanding and yelled something, extending his arm in a sweeping motion.”

He looked up to Элексей, as did most everyone, as the guai repeated the motion, taking his right hand up, thumb and forefinger resting against where his heart would have been, before he swung his hand back and forth horizontally and then in an upside down arc up to the sky, his finger pointing up.

Lan Wangji took a deep breath and continued. “They rounded up men, women, and children. The women, they took over to their sides, the children, they… beat… The men-” Lan Wangji paused.

“Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian questioned. When Lan Wangji looked up at him, he smiled and took his hand, not letting go even when Lan Wangji flinched slightly. “What did they do?”

Элексей had been repeating the motion. Over and over again. He clearly didn’t know when Lan Wangji had told them of the motion. Maybe he had been doing it long before they had even looked up at him.

Lan Wangji squeezed Wei Wuxian’s hand for him to let go and said, “He described it vividly. They were rounded up and put into cages. One by one, they turned the men into beings - black beings that only growled and gnashed their teeth. The cages were large, but not large enough. The beings began to run within the cages, crashing into and yelling at each other. It was terrifying, he said. And they did it one by one. So some men were in the cages with these beings, feeling tremendous fear before they too were… turned. Элексей said that the he was the last man standing. They had begun to turn him, but only made it halfway before the one he assumed to be the leader stepped forward and said something, causing everything to halt. Элексей assumes he had said, 'enough.' Элексей said… he said something to his men, and they retreated. They took some women with them, some children, including…” Lan Wangji closed his eyes, “including his own wife and three children.”

Wei Wuxian squeezed his eyes shut. “The song. What is the song?”

Lan Wangji looked at him, “A lullaby.”

Jiang Wanyin cursed, hitting his knee. “Fuck! Are you kidding?”

Lan Wangji turned to him. “No. It is meant to… scare children to sleep.”

Jiang Wanyin laughed incredulously.

Lan Wangji continued, “He said that his healers tried to help him, to save him, but there wasn’t much they could do against what they had called ‘dark sorcery.’ Элексей died in hospice, where he had taken his last breath to swear revenge. I told him he had travelled too far south, and he said that it might be for the best. He is already fading. He wants to pass in peace after, and I… quote… ‘causing as much mayhem as possible to at least draw attention to the crimes committed against my people, wife, and children.”

Wei Wuxian looked at the ghost, “How old?”

Lan Wangji didn’t hesitate, “Three, five, and eight.”

Jiang Wanyin cursed again as Lan Wangji once again played his guqin .

“He is ready to pass on.”

Wei Wuxian stood and bowed to Элексей, “Though I can not condone what you have done to these innocents, I understand your pain. I lost my parents to violence when I was a toddler. It is not the same, but I understand as much as I can. We will remember you, Элексей, and will do what we can in your memory to right the wrongs of your oppressors.”

Элексей tilted his head, uncomprehendingly, but smiled.

Lan Wangji played out a tune, after which the guai turned back to Wei Wuxian and placed his right hand over where his heart had once laid, dropping his waist to 90 degrees and then his knees to place his forehead to the ground.

Wei Wuxian had the urge to raise him, but knew he couldn’t reach nor touch him. He begged him to rise, hoping the urgency of his voice would translate to the man that he shouldn’t bow so deeply in such a manner.

Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes as Элексей got up.

Lan Wangji looked around at everyone. “I will play Rest now.”

When he got nods, he began to play and the guai closed his eyes as he began to fade. He said, quite clearly though still in a whisper, “спаси Бог.”

Wei Wuxian smiled.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Gu Yixing whisper to himself, “spaa-see boog? Bog?” He turned to Lan Fafei, who simply shrugged at him, a small smile on his face.

Lan Wangji said, “I don’t know. I think it was a form of saying ‘thank you.’" which was accepted.

❤️🩵❤️

They returned to their respective sects.

When the Jiang disciples arrived at Lotus Pier, they saw Madam Yu sitting at a table on the pier closest, her hand on her forehead.

“ A-Niang .” “Madam Yu.”

She looked up, placing her hand in her lap and raising her chin. “I am glad you are all safe. I am glad some Lan disciples were away from Cloud Recesses as well.”

Wei Wuxian frowned, “Why?”

Madam Yu tilted her head up to the sky as she said, “Wei Wuxian… The Wen Sect has attacked the Cloud Recesses.”

Chapter Text

“What?” Wei Wuxian almost couldn’t breathe. He didn’t think he was . He… he had just seen Lan Wangji - had seen multiple Lan disciples. They were fine. What about Lan Xichen? Lan Qiren? Were they okay? Lan Zhan would be so devastated if-

“Wei Wuxian!”

“ Gege ! Hey!”

“ Dashixiong , are you all right?”

“Wei Wuxian! Breathe!”

He took a sharp inhale of air through his mouth and blinked.

The disciples and his didi were looking at him with open concern while Madam Yu was staring at him with an incomprehensible expression on her face. Her eyes showed mild confusion. She pulled his arm closer to her and sent a burst of spiritual energy through it. “Why in the world did you react like that, you imbecile? I thought you were having a qi deviation. What would my children do if you died?”

“So-sorry, Madam Yu.”

She threw his arm back at him and let out a grunt. “There’s more. If you can hold yourself together.”

She lifted her chin, but huffed when Jiang Wanyin sent her a questioning look.

“Jiang Fengmian has neglected to tell me what it is. I did everything I could think of to break him …” She clenched her fist in her lap and scowled. “He said he would tell us at dinner , as if it weren’t urgent at this point to know whatever the fuck is happening .”

She stood and Wei Wuxian backed up.

She stared at the disciples who were still standing there, “what are you waiting for, a sign from the gods? Go with the other disciples to eat, we’ll inform you of what’s relevant later. Go.”

She jerked her head to the left and the disciples scurried away. “Come on.”

She started to walk to the family pavilion, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin hurrying after her.

When they arrived at the table, Jiang Yanli was already there as was Jiang Fengmian.

Jiang Yanli stood and curtseyed.

Jiang Fengmian did not look up from where he had already begun to eat.

The boys sat down at the table, Jiang Yanli giving them some lotus seeds.

Madam Yu remained standing, staring at her husband.

He did not look up at her until she cleared her throat and said, “well?”

Jiang Fengmian looked up and said, “Ah, San-Niang .” He looked around and said, “Oh, good, you’re all here. I have received a letter just recently from the Wen Sect. They ask us if we would send one heir and some disciples to Nightless City for a-”

“Absolutely not. What could you possibly mean? That we send them? Why don’t we simply send our heads on silver platters while we’re at it?”

She sat down heavily at the table and picked up her chopsticks. “And I suppose we are to send A- Cheng? You’d never say, oh, I don’t know. Wei Wuxian?”

Jiang Fengmian said, “he can go if he likes.”

Madam Yu scoffed, “oh he can, can he? But we have to send A- Cheng?”

“I’ll go, A-Niang .” Jiang Wanyin cut in.

“Of course, you will. We can’t send your sister, can we?”

She looked at Jiang Fengmian, as if waiting for him to say more. When he didn’t, she looked at the children, who were all looking down.

She scoffed again, “Jiang Fengmian, don’t you have anything else of note to say at all?”

Jiang Fengmian sighed, “Wei Wuxian can go if he likes, A- Cheng must go because A- Li can not. What do you want me to say?”

Madam Yu looked almost baffled. She looked from Jiang Fengmian to Wei Wuxian to her children and then back to Jiang Fengmian. “Do- do you even care at all? ‘He can go if he wants.’” She lowered her chin, “to the Wen Sect… who just burned down the Cloud Recesses and will probably not feed, house, or educate them properly… he can go… if he wants…”

Jiang Fengmian sighed, “yes.”

Madam Yu sat back, squinting. “To possible death?”

Jiang Fengmian sighed, “they will not die while there.”

Madam Yu didn’t hesitate, “you did not answer the question.”

The tension was palpable.

Jiang Yanli looked to her brothers, who were having a silent conversation. She looked back at her parents.

Jiang Fengmian had once again directed his attention to his plate while Madam Yu looked at the boys. Jiang Yanli did not like it.

Madam Yu scowled once again, looking down.

Her chopsticks broke in half, the children flinched, and she pushed back from the table, her chair falling backwards as she stood. “Jiang Fengmian! Do you not favour Wei Wuxian? Why are you so easily sending him to his death? I know you don’t care about my children, but do you not care for anyone? What are you playing at? Have you lost your mind?”

Jiang Fengmian didn’t look up, “Children, you’re dismissed.”

The sounds of shouting followed them into the family wing.

❤️🩵❤️

When they arrived at the “lecture” location at Nightless City, they were immediately searched and stripped of everything but their swords.

Everything else was thrown directly into lava nearby.

They were pushed into lines of disciples.

Any minor clans who happened to be unfortunate enough to be present were congregated in the back, shoved together to the point that they could hardly move comfortably.

Wei Wuxian was biting his tongue so hard he could taste blood. Lan Zhan… where is Lan Zhan? Will it be Lan Zhan or Lan Xichen? I don’t know who I would prefer… As if listening to him, he looked to his side when someone was pushed up to the front.

“Lan Zhan…” Lan Wangji gave him a quick glance and shook his head ever so slightly.

Wei Wuxian bit his tongue once again.

“Now, isn’t this perfect?” Coming from who knows where to stand before them was Wen Chao, the second young master of the Wen sect.

“Thank you for joining us today, everyone. It has come to the benevolent chief cultivator Wen- zongzhu ’s attention that the sects of which you are a part of have been neglecting to train you properly for the roles you will play in your futures. And so, in his…” he paused, as if trying to remember a word. There was a muffled cough somewhere.

Wen Chao continued, “kindness, my father has provided you with the means to be properly educated! Soon, together, we will learn everything we need to! But first, it is-” He cut off again, probably once again trying to remember a word, before continuing with, “important… that you hand in your swords for safe-keeping.”

The resulting hubbub was not unexpected. One disciple spoke louder than the rest, “how could you suggest such an outrageous thing? Our swords-”

He didn’t finish before Wen Chao motioned to a man on his right, who sprung at the disciple and placed his hand on his chest, seemingly- oh.

Nie Huaisang gasped, and then gulped. “Core-Melting Hand.”

Wei Wuxian squinted ahead as Wen Zhuliu passed him to return to the front.

Wen Chao smiled, “anyone else want to comment? No?” Silence. “No. Good. Now hand them in. After, a disciple will give you a scroll containing what is known as The Quintessence of the Wen Sect . Memorise it. A disciple will send you to your assigned rooms.”

“This is ridiculous.” Jiang Wanyin whispered. “This is more ridiculous than having to learn the rules of Cloud Recesses enough to avoid getting into trouble.”

Wei Wuxian sighed. “ A- Cheng, switch with me.”

“What?”

Wei Wuxian said again, “switch with me. You can be with Nie- xiong . I’ll be with Lan Zhan.” Both Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang blinked at him in the corridor.

Wei Wuxian continued, “look, we don’t have time to dally out here.”

Lan Wangji walked past then, into his assigned room.

Wei Wuxian looked after him. “Ow!” He pulled a hand up to his arm and scowled at his brother.

Jiang Wanyin scowled back, “don’t do anything stupid.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “when do I ever? You should be thanking me, not hitting me! What-”

His eyes widened as a Wen disciple started heading towards them.

Nie Huaisang saw him as well and took Jiang Wanyin’s hand. “Wei- xiong , thank you! Good luck, okay?”

And he pulled Jiang Wanyin behind him, leaving Wei Wuxian to go into the room where Lan Wangji had already settled.

🩵❤️🩵

Sharing a room with Lan Wangji had to have been one of the most difficult things Wei Wuxian has had to do to date.

A bit dramatic, maybe, but after spending a grand total of about seven minutes looking at The Quintessence of the Wen , it was pretty clear that the Wen themselves had no idea what it actually said, and also that neither Wei Wuxian nor Lan Wangji gave a single shit about it. But, again, sharing a room with Lan Wangji.

In hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have let A-Cheng share a room with his bOyFrIeNd. This is torturous.

Lan Wangji was too pretty.

He was too put together.

He was too good at not giving a shit about The Quintessence of the Wen .

He was too goddamned perfect when he slept. What the fuck.

He was too fucking stubborn.

Wei Wuxian saw how he limped just a bit.

He may have gotten to the Cloud Recesses when they were in the midst of attacking and Lan Zhan hurt his leg in the process of immediately defending his home…

Wei Wuxian sighed. He whispered, “I wish I knew some healing songs… I could help you if you let me, Lan Zhan…”

Of course, it was well past 9:00pm, so Lan Wangji did not respond.

Wei Wuxian sighed and laid down on his bed, head cushioned in his elbow as he looked across the room at Lan Wangji as he slept.

He started to hum the song he made. He fell asleep as he reached the middle of the second verse, hoping Lan Wangji was listening.

Chapter Text

“Wei Ying.”

“Mmph.” Wei Wuxian said.

“Wei Ying, wake up.”

“Mmmph-hm? Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian sat up, rubbing an eye and looking to his side before freezing. Lan Zhan hadn’t gotten dressed yet. Well, not fully. He only had two layers on… and his hair was down, and the lack of ribb -

“I apologise for waking Wei Ying, but I thought it would be better for both of us to wake up early… just in case. Here.” He seemed to not mind that Wei Wuxian was stunned and silent. He walked over to his side of the room and pulled out a basket. “Congee. Wen Ning found out which rooms were ours. Gave some to Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang as well. Said we wouldn’t be given much of anything for breakfast. I put warming charms on them. Eat.”

Wei Wuxian scrambled out of bed to join Lan Wangji at the table in between their beds. Lan Wangji placed a bowl in front of Wei Wuxian and pulled his hair back, some up, some down. Only after he saw Wei Wuxian begin to eat did he start to actually get ready - putting on three more layers and his forehead ribbon. Wei Wuxian had to constantly remind himself to eat the congee rather than just let it fall back into his bowl. He tried to distract himself. “Lan Zhan…”

“Mn?”

Wei Wuxian took a bite and continued, “what do you think we’ll be put through today?”

“Recitation. After that, I don’t know.”

“Hmm.” Wei Wuxian put the end of his chopsticks to his chin. “Wen Ning was here? Is he all right? He didn’t get into trouble did he? What time was it when he came?”

“It is half past 5:00am now. He came not too long after I woke up. He was okay. He said Wen Qing wouldn’t find out.”

“She worries, but her heart is good.”

“Mn.”

Wei Wuxian froze again when Lan Wangji came behind him and started to brush his hair. “Lan… Lan Zhan?”

“Eat, Wei Ying.”

And so he did. His mind also went conveniently blank.

🩵❤️🩵

“Now!” Wen Chao stood on his podium with his arms bent to face up, hands extended to his sides. “Who can tell me what the Quintessence of the Wen said?”

No one moved. Some shifted from foot to foot. Jin Zixuan stood with an extended chin. “I can not. I did not read it.”

Wen Chao gaped, “didn’t- didn’t read?” He extended his neck out and blinked, “You didn’t read it?” He pointed at Jin Zixuan, “who do you think you are?”

When Jin Zixuan rolled his eyes, he went bright red, “You-!”

“Nor can I.” Lan Wangji said.

“Nor I.” Jiang Wanyin chimed in.

Wen Chao’s eyes were as wide as saucers and he jerked his head to the side. “Nie Huaisang.”

Nie Huaisang jerked and raised his fan.

Wen Chao continued, “Talk!”

Nie Huaisang flailed until Wen Chao lost patience, “Even you? I thought your passive demeanour would mean you would have liked to read the rules. Rather than go into the dungeon and suffer!”

Nie Huaisang went bright red and looked slightly ill.

Wei Wuxian raised his hand and didn’t wait for Wen Chao to acknowledge him before he spoke, “I can tell you the rules!”

Wen Chao scoffed, “Oh, you can, can you?”

Wei Wuxian grinned, “of course! I studied the rules diligently! Where would you like me to start?”

Wen Chao scowled, “the beginning, of course!”

Wei Wuxian clapped his hands once, “Ah, of course! Silly me.” He cleared his throat and began, “killing is forbidden, unauthorised fighting is forbidden, promiscuity is forbidden-”

“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji whispered.

“-alcohol is forbidden, sitting improperly is forbidden-” He smirked, “sneering for no reason is-”

Wen Chao, for his part, sneered. “Wei Wuxian! How dare you! Those are the rules of the Lan in Cloud Recesses!”

Wei Wuxian widened his eyes, “They are ? Ah, I always get those mixed up!”

Wen Chao stomped his foot, “Do you have any shame?”

Wei Wuxian smiled wide, “No!”

Wen Chao pointed at him. “Enough! Take him away!”

“Wei- xiong …” Nie Huaisang tried, only for Wei Wuxian to cut him off.

“Better me than you.” He smiled at Lan Wangji and ignored Jiang Wanyin’s eyes, which were attempting to meet his.

Maybe he shouldn’t have been too hasty to go to the dungeon, but he did think it was still better him than Nie Huaisang.

❤️🩵❤️

Of course, it had to be a dog that is my torturer. I might actually die here. And Lan Zhan only was in the room while I hummed my song once; he probably didn’t even register it, how will I know what he thinks of it if I’m dead I can’t exactly teach him the guqin part through Inquiry can I Inquiry requires a guqin which he would need and ohmygodsdon’tkillmepleasegooddoggooddoggooddog-

“Wei- gongzi !”

Wei Wuxian heard right as he heard a heavy thud. He opened his eyes and- “Wen Ning!”

“Wei- gongzi , I’m so glad I was able to get here in time. Here, take this.” Wen Ning handed him a bottle and a rag. “This should help you. In the morning, before Wen Chao returns, pull the needles from the dog, okay?”

Wei Wuxian nodded and exhaled in relief, “Okay, Wen Ning. Thank you.”

Wen Ning nodded and looked around, as if to make sure no one was there, and retreated.

“Useless! Completely useless! You can’t eat the food right in front of you??”

Wei Wuxian almost scoffed out loud, but refrained. How am I gonna explain this?

❤️🩵❤️

Everyone reacted when Wei Wuxian came back in the morning.

Even Jin Zixuan looked at him while standing still in his row.

Wei Wuxian tried to give a reassuring smile, but it was kind of hard to make it convincing when he looked at Lan Wangji and it seemed like he had barely gotten any sleep at all.

Before Wei Wuxian could even attempt at reassurance, Wen Chao spoke. “You all should be very grateful. There is a night-hunt we will be going on.”

Jin Zixuan narrowed his eyes. “What is the night-hunt?”

Wen Chao smiled, “wouldn’t you like to know?”

Jin Zixuan opened his mouth, but was interrupted by a female disciple hitting him upside the head. He muttered under his breath, “ MianMian . I wanted to know, that’s why I asked .”

MianMian rolled her eyes and hit him again, “shut up, you dumbass.”

They arrived at a riverside not too long after setting off. Jiang Wanyin told Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian that he and Nie Huaisang had devised a way for Nie Huaisang to go visit Wen Ning without being noticed and gather intel about where their swords were being held.

Nie Huaisang had allowed himself to overheat, just a bit, so that he would be removed from the night hunt and left in his room, where he could sneak out from.

This was overheard by a couple other disciples, who told others, and soon many believed that Wen Ning and Nie Huaisang would succeed, they just had to hold off until they could get their swords.

Or leave and then get their swords.

Whichever came first. Hopefully.

“Jin Zixuan, you better watch yourself! Just because our fathers are on good terms doesn’t mean I can’t change that in an instant!” Wen Chao sneered.

Jin Zixuan glared, MianMian rearranging her hair and taking a deep breath behind him, “All she did was slip! We still don’t know what we’re looking for!”

“ Gongzi , I think he’s questioning you… may I make a suggestion?”

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes and shared a look with Jiang Wanyin. They did not like this woman who seemed much too attached to Wen Chao to be sane. She had threatened them with a non-spiritual tool earlier - a branding iron wielded as if it were a sword. Lan Wangji had shushed him when he tried to say something to Jiang Wanyin about it. “Wei Ying, do not draw her ire. She may hear you.”

And Jiang Wanyin, who had been leaning to the side to listen, nodded his head. Wei Wuxian had never before felt such betrayal.

Now, this same girl, Wang Lingjiao, was trying to get them killed in a different way from the way in which Wen Chao was probably trying to get them killed.

When he pointed this out, Jiang Wanyin had said, “They’re perfect for one another.”

“Fan out! Find the yao !”

“What is the yao ?? There’s nothing here!”

“Shut up and search!”

So they did, grumbling.

And then Wen Chao wanted to string someone up and bleed them out.

And then his girlfriend wanted it to be MianMian.

Wei Wuxian would like to say it went better than expected, but he can’t really, because though catching Wen Chao off guard by using The Quintessence of the Wen against him, it wasn’t all that satisfying when he was trying to avoid getting eaten by the giant fucking turtle he ended up on top of the shell of.

“ Wei Ying !” “ Wei Wuxian !”

“I’m fine! Oh no. MianMian.” Wei Wuxian looked over to Jin Zixuan who was currently occupied trying to fend off around five Wen disciples, and then back at where Wang Lingjiao had cornered MianMian in between the cave wall and her stupid fucking branding iron. “You guys help Jin Zixuan! I’ll help MianMian!”

He didn’t see Lan Wangji frown at him until Jiang Wanyin grabbed his shoulder and nodded at him. They went together to help Jin Zixuan, and Wei Wuxian ignored Wen Chao, who was screaming as the disciples attempted to get past Wen Zhuliu, probably to attempt to tear off Wen Chao’s head.

Which is understandable.

Especially because that turtle yao has been eating them this entire time . Anyway, Wei Wuxian, being a man of action rather than thought, launched himself in between Wang Lingjiao and MianMian just as the branding iron landed. On his chest. Despite the pain, he got up and backhanded Wang Lingjiao across the face, sending her flying across the cave. The turtle yao took notice.

She screamed when it clamped its jaw on her hand.

Wen Chao screamed when he saw it happen. “ JiaoJiao ! Quick, quick, go get JiaoJiao!”

Wen Zhuliu hesitated only a moment before leaping up and grabbing her, a trail of blood following them as they retreated.

The turtle yao followed, but a Wen disciple slashed at it right across the eyes. It screeched and reeled back as the Wen retreated up the ropes they had used.

“They cut the ropes! They cut the ropes!”

“Ouyang- xiong ! Calm down!”

“I can’t! My mother is pregnant! I promised I would be there for her, and that I would hurry back to be a good da-ge and help my mother during it, but if we’re trapped here-”

Wei Wuxian walked over. He put a hand on the disciple’s shoulder and put pressure. “Hey! Breathe! What’s your name?”

“Ouyang Zixen.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Zixen?”

When the boy nodded, Wei Wuxian nodded and said, “deep breaths, Ouyang- xiong . Where are you?”

Ouyang Zixen blinked, “in… in the cave?”

Others had gathered around and seemed to be following the advice as well. Several took deep breaths along with them.

Wei Wuxian continued, “Your name means ‘self-confidence,’ doesn’t it?”

Ouyang Zixen blinked and then pursed his lips, looking sheepish. He nodded.

Wei Wuxian lightly punched his shoulder. “Have some, will you? You’ll get home, and you’ll be able to help your mother through her pregnancy, all right?”

When he got a nod again, he stood, only to be bowled over by MianMian throwing her arms around him, “Wei- gongzi , thank you, thank you so much! I’m so sorry you took the branding in my place, though… are you all right?”

Wei Wuxian blinked and then smiled, “I’m all right, thank you MianMian.”

MianMian smiled, “don’t listen to Jin Zixuan, by the way, he’ll get over himself soon. Probably.”

Jin Zixuan gawped and seethed, “ MianMian. ”

Ignoring him, MianMian gave Wei Wuxian a sachet. “It has medicine in it. Don’t think you’re subtle, Wei- gongzi , because you’re not. Some of that can be used for easing pain of broken bones. Give some to Lan- er-gongzi .”

Wei Wuxian looked over at Lan Wangji, noticing that he was already looking at him. When Wei Wuxian smiled at him, he looked away, though.

Jiang Wanyin looked between them both and smirked at Wei Wuxian, causing him to look away, flustered. “Thank you, MianMian. I appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Ouyang Zixen had recovered himself fully. He ran a hand through his hair and addressed Wei Wuxian, “Wei- xiong… ” When he wasn’t reprimanded for the address, and instead encouraged to continue, he said, “What are we going to do now? I don’t think anyone has any qiankun patches anymore, much less any with rope inside to replace what the Wen have cut.”

There were nods around until Lan Wangji cut in, “leaves.”

Jiang Wanyin frowned at him and tilted his head, “what?”

Wei Wuxian brightened, “That’s right! Lan Zhan, you’re a genius!”

Jiang Wanyin rounded on him and exclaimed, “What?! Just ’cause he said ‘leaves?’ I’m not as adept at Lan Wangji-talk as you are! What does he mean? Don’t roll your eyes at me, Lan Wangji, I know you well enough to know when you’re doing so!”

Wei Wuxian patted his shoulder, “Lan Zhan was just saying he saw some leaves in the pool with the yao . That means that there’s another opening we can use. Jiang Cheng, you’re the best swimmer. Go check it out.”

Jiang Wanyin scoffed, “what, you mean besides you?” But he dived into the pool anyway when Wei Wuxian lit a fire to distract the yao one way while others picked up discarded pieces of bow and arrow or wood to throw at the yao , keeping it distracted and not focussed on what’s happening in the pool around it..

Ouyang Zixen walked over and sat by him, gathering arrows scattered near him. “Will this work? I mean, it lost its eyes, but…”

Wei Wuxian made the flames bigger. “Yes, but that wasn’t its primary sense. It uses smell more. While it can’t see them flame anymore, I imagine it can smell it, hear the crackling, and feel the warmth from it. Which- step back!”

Ouyang Zixen did, just as the yao turned toward the fire. It didn’t move anymore though, still seeming to be extending its senses out.

Jiang Wanyin resurfaced. “There is an opening! It’s big enough for about six people at a time!”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Yes! Okay, everyone! Get into groups of six and line up! If someone is injured, help them if you can! Hurry! Hey, put that down!”

They didn’t need to distract the yao anymore with projectiles, the fire would do, but a Lan disciple didn’t seem to get the message. He shook, but fired an arrow, which strayed off course directly into Wei Wuxian’s arm.

“Wei- xiong !” Ouyang Zixen screamed.

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji screamed. He grimaced as his leg protested him moving as fast as he was, but he moved nevertheless and wrenched the bow and arrow from his hold and then backhanded him across the face.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian screamed, clutching his arm as Ouyang Zixen took the arrow out and ripped a piece of his robe off to wrap it. “Was that really necessary?”

Lan Wangji replied, “Yes.” And then pushed the disciple toward the pool where five others were waiting. “Go.” The Lan disciple was red as a tomato, but went.

Wei Wuxian sighed and motioned for Ouyang Zixen to go with the next group. “It’ll be fine, Ouyang- xiong .”

He went with the group Jiang Wanyin and Jin Zixuan were in. Jiang Wanyin yelled for his brother. “Wei Wuxian! Come on!”

That was when the yao noticed them. Of course. Jin Zixuan took his arm and wrenched him down, “No time!”

“ Gege! ”

Wei Wuxian yelled at him when he struggled against Jin Zixuan. He extended his flame, distracting the yao again, if only briefly. “Don’t be stupid, didi ! Go!” He looked over at Lan Wangji, who stood aside, not moving. Wei Wuxian sighed and looked at Jiang Wanyin again, “Go!”

Jin Zixuan was finally able to wrench him underwater then, just as the yao snapped at where their heads were seconds before. Its perception was still skewed, though, not quite yet used to not having its eyes at all, and it misjudged the distance, banging its head into the cave wall. It reeled back again, and the cave shook.

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji yelled. Wei Wuxian cursed and then ran over to Lan Wangji, picking him up. “Wei Ying?!”

“No time, Lan Zhan! I’ll carry you into the other area until the dust settles, then we can see if the entrance was completely blocked off once the yao calms down and attempts to recover in peace.”

He ducked into the area just as his own legs gave out.

Chapter Text

Day One:

“I’m sorry, Lan Zhan, I’m so sorry-”

“Wei Ying.”

“You should have gotten out; Jiang Cheng would have helped you do it even with your leg-”

“Wei Ying-”

“It would have been better, and at least I could be assured of your safety-”

“And what of your safety?”

There was silence then as Wei Wuxian cut himself off mid-breath, the steady drip of water from a stalactite and the sloshing of water as the xuanwu seemed to readjust itself. Or die. There was no way to tell, but the water crashed against the shore like a wave crashing on a beach.

It was hard to tell given that it had lost its eyes and crashed its head into the cave wall, but then again, it had lived for thousands of years-

“What of your safety? Who should I turn to when I am concerned for your safety? I should have gotten out? What about you? Would you follow? Or would you make sure I and everyone else had gotten out and only then would you have stopped your distraction ?”

“Lan Zhan-”

“Am I wrong?” He straightened his back and hit the wall with it before leaning forward again.

( Drip drip drip drip- )

“Tell me I am wrong, Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian pursed his lips, “You’re hurt. You need treatment-”

“So are you . So do you.”

Wei Wuxian closed his mouth again. ( Drip drip drip drip- ) “Do not speak over others, Lan Zhan…” He had to look away for how intently Lan Wangji was looking at him.

Lan Wangji looked forward and spoke again, “I have a broken leg. You have an arrow wound on your arm and a burn mark on your chest. Working together is our best chance of survival. Had either of us been alone, we would sooner be dead than rescued.” ( Drip drip drip drip drip- )

Wei Wuxian laughed. “How morbid, Lan Zhan.”

Drip drip drip

Drip drip drip

Drip drip

“Aiyah, I’m going insane.” Wei Wuxian knocked his head against the cave wall and Lan Wangji didn’t move.

Wei Wuxian got up and collected arrows and wood, coming back to make a fire in silence.

Drip drip-

“Oh!” Wei Wuxian shot up, ignoring Lan Wangji’s slight startle at the sudden movement.

“Wen Ning!” When Lan Wangji tilted his head in question, Wei Wuxian repeated, “Wen Ning! He gave me- Ah…”

He reached into his robe to grab the bottle, which happened to be right near the burn. The bottle stuck to his chest from the sweat and blood. Wei Wuxian hissed. “Ah, that hurts.” He withdrew his hand and showed Lan Wangji the bottle.

“Medicine, Lan Zhan! I can’t believe I-” He emptied the bottle and saw that there were some herbs and also a couple pills. He walked back over to Lan Wangji and sat where he had previously been, the fire small but stable. “Here. Eat this. Does your leg have any infection or anything? We have some her- hey! Lan Zhan, you can’t just reach for my hand- ow !”

“Boring.”

“Boring? Lan Zhan-”

“Wei Ying should not speak more words than necessary. Wei Ying should think about himself too. Wei Ying needs herbs on his burn wound and arrow wound more than I need them on my leg.”

Wei Wuxian hissed. “Still hurts, Lan Zhan…”

“Mn. Working.”

Wei Wuxian looked at him, “What, have you exhausted your sentence quota today?”

“...Mn.”

Wei Wuxian sighed. “This is no time for jokes, Lan Zhan…” But he still smiled.

Drip drip drip drip drip-

“Do you think it’s dead?”

“Nm. Sleeping. Recovering.”

“You think it has a concussion?”

Lan Wangji gave him a look. “Lost eyesight and hit head. No one dies from that alone. Check tomorrow.”

“Can your brain bleed?”

Lan Wangji closed his eyes, as if in pain. “I don’t know.”

“Hmmmm.”

Drip drip drip drip

Drip drip drip drip

Drip drip drip drip

“Lan Zhan…”

Drip drip drip drip

Drip drip drip drip

“Lan Zhan?”

Drip drip drip-

“Aiyah, shut up!” Wei Wuxian drew a sigil in the air and shot it towards the stalactite, silencing it.

He took a deep breath and let it out, repeating. Deep breaths . “Yeah, I… I probably shouldn’t have wasted energy on that…”

The water still steadily dripped down, but the sound that would have accompanied it was silent.

Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji again, “Lan-” He stopped, noticing that Lan Wangji’s eyes hadn’t opened again.

Wei Wuxian gasped and took his hand, feeling for- ah . He whispered, “don’t scare me like that, Lan Zhan! I thought you had started to speak meagerly because… for a second…”

He took another deep breath and sighed, laying his head against the wall, still looking to his side at Lan Wangji. “It must be time for sleep, huh?”

Lan Wangji, of course, did not reply. Wei Wuxian sighed and looked at the fire, waiting.

Day Two:

Lan Wangji woke up exactly when he always did and promptly froze up as if someone had placed him in immortal binding cables.

He closed his eyes and took a very deep breath.

He opened them and looked down at his shoulder.

His shoulder which was decidedly occupied by a head not his own which sported a red ribbon which was loose in its hold and so Wei Ying- Wei Ying- has his hair almost completely loose around his face and have I drunk Meng Po’s soup? Lan Wangji took another deep breath. He tried to meditate. It was the only thing he thought he could do to prevent self-immolation.

“Hmmm...”

Lan Wangji tried very hard not to move. Very hard.

“Hmm? Oh my gods!”

Wei Wuxian shot up to a sitting position, then to his feet, then he stumbled backwards and promptly fell down with a leg bent underneath his torso. “Ooooowwww.”

He shot his leg out and sat up, rubbing the back of his head, an eye scrunched closed and a grimace on his face. His hair fell like a waterfall around his face and shoulders. Wei Wuxian held the side of his head underneath the tresses framing his face, away from his eye, giving Lan Wangji tachycardia - then his eyes widened and he shot to his feet, “Lan Zhan!"

He hurried back over to Lan Wangji and sat down next to him. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to- I mean I didn’t think- if I had known- aiyah, sorry Lan- er-gege , I used your shoulder as a pillow! I- wait.”

He reached up and patted around his head pushing his hair around, blowing at it as best he can, causing Lan Wangji to question his existence , but, of course, Wei Wuxian was completely oblivious, only finally asking, “where did my ribbon go?”

Lan Wangji knew that the ribbon had fallen behind his shoulder. Lan Wangji also did not move. Why? Well, Wei Wuxian had started to pull his hair over to rest over his right shoulder and was running his hands through it, looking at the ground in search for his ribbon, and Lan Wangji was frozen because Wei Wuxian had pulled his hair over to rest over his right shoulder and was running his hands through it. What was Lan Wangji supposed to do? What could he do?? What course of action could he possibly take ??

“Ah, Lan Zhan, are you meditating? Sorry! Hang on, oh! There it is!”

Lan Wangji’s breath caught in his throat when he felt the ribbon being pulled from behind him. He closed his eyes as Wei Wuxian put his hair back up.

“There! That’s better!” Wei Wuxian grinned when he saw Lan Wangji open his eyes. “There you are! Lan Zhan, good morning!”

Lan Wangji took a silent deep breath and said, “Mn.”

“Ah, still feeling the effects of too many words yesterday? Lan Zhan, it’s a good thing your schedule is so ingrained, or we would lose our concept of time! Who knew that stuffy schedule was actually good for something!”

Lan Wangji sighed, “Wei Ying. Getting a good night’s sleep is beneficial for many reasons-”

“Yeah yeah.” Wei Wuxian waved a hand at him and poked at the fire that had dimmed to nearly only embers. “Aiyah, we need to eat something. You think there are mushrooms around?”

Lan Wangji tilted his head, “Nm.”

Wei Wuxian sighed, “yeah, me neither. Do you know how to practice inedia ?”

This, Lan Wangji could confidently answer, “Mn.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Good. I think we’ll need to. Now!” He sat down again next to Lan Wangji. “How’s your leg?”

“Acceptable. Burn? Arrow?”

“Acceptable. Acceptable.” Wei Wuxian grinned wider when Lan Wangji scoffed.

Then Wei Wuxian said, “Jiang Cheng will be well on his way to Yunmeng now- he’ll come back for us. In the meantime, should we check on the xuanwu ?”

Lan Wangji nodded and they went into the back of the cave.

The creature was still sleeping - if it was alive.

Lan Wangji looked grave. “Wei Ying. How do we investigate?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Well… we need to see if the opening is still there - I hope it still is, even if it’s now smaller. One person at a time, right?”

When Lan Wangji didn’t respond, he still continued.

“We need to kill the xuanwu if it isn’t already dead. To do that…” He picked up a rock on the ground and hurled it at the xuanwu ’s pond.

“Wei Ying!”

“Look, Lan Zhan!”

The rock bounced against the shell of the xuanwu and made a splash into the pond.

This made the xuanwu , hurt, yes, but also very much not dead, poke its head from its shell and sniff towards where the rock had fallen.

Lan Wangji took a deep breath, hearing Wei Wuxian do the same, and they both retreated back to their makeshift camp.

Lan Wangji stumbled on his leg and winced, “not dead.”

“Very much not dead.” Wei Wuxian agreed before loudly gasping, “Lan Zhan! Your leg, Lan Zhan! Why did you come with me? Why didn’t you make me check and report back to you!? You walked on your leg!”

“Wei Ying.”

“What am I going to do if your leg gets truly infected? Or worse! What if your leg falls off and you lose so much blood-”

“Wei Ying-”

“-that you pass out and then I have to rip my clothes off to stuff-”

“WEI YING .”

“Lan Zhaaaan! I’m serious!” Wei Wuxian buried his face in his hands. “What will I do if you die on me?”

Lan Wangji blinked. Okay.

Then he hesitantly reached out, pulled back minutely, watching.

Wei Wuxian kept his hands over his face.

Lan Wangji took a deep breath and rested his hand on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder.

When he could see wet grey eyes looking back at him, he said, “I’m sorry, Wei Ying. You’re right. We need to preserve whatever energy we have - I was reckless.”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “You, reckless…” He giggled, “Yeah, you were. I really am a bad influence, huh?”

Lan Wangji frowned, but Wei Wuxian only smiled back at him. “I’m okay, Lan Zhan. Really. I just… lost myself… there… Aiyah, Jiang Cheng, have you gotten home yet?”

They sat in silence again, Wei Wuxian swiping at his eyes and composing himself.

Lan Wangji let him. He thought about how they should go about everything. Most likely the next day would be the best to kill the xuanwu and check the opening. Or should we check the opening first? No, probably kill, then check…

“Lan Zhan…”

“Mn?”

Wei Wuxian leaned his head on Lan Wangji’s shoulder. Lan Wangji stiffened, but Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to mind. “I’m tired, Lan Zhan.”

“You didn’t sleep last night, did you?”

“No. I didn’t. Not really. I was too… preoccupied. Thinking. The opening is probably smaller if not entirely closed off by now, but in order for us to get water and… boil it to drink, I suppose, we still need to kill the xuanwu… and! And it’s already been… a while. Well, not too long. Just, what? Nearly a day? Well, I guess it’s already been a day since we actually ENTERED the cave, though we weren’t trapped… well, we were but we- ah, Lan Zhan… I’m sleepy.”

“Rest. I am here. We will deal with everything tomorrow.”

Wei Wuxian hummed and continued to rest his head on Lan Wangji’s shoulder.

Lan Wangji can handle it now. He’s all right. He-

Wei Wuxian had begun to hum. It was a good melody. He supposed Wei Wuxian was lulling himself to sleep with it. Still, it’s a good melody… it is not yet 9:00… “Wei Ying?”

Wei Wuxian stopped humming the song in order to hum in question, tilting his head up to look at Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji did not look at Wei Wuxian for fear he would do something he shouldn’t. But… “Could you… sing louder?”

He felt Wei Wuxian smile, “Yeah, Lan Zhan. Of course.”

They went to sleep early on the second day.

Day Three:

“Okay! That should be good!” Wei Wuxian went over to their camp and placed pieces of wood down, while handing the discarded bows to Lan Wangji. “What did you need the bows for? They’re broken, most of them, so they would need serious repairs to be functional, and we don’t exactly have the means to do that, you know, Lan Zhan-”

“Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian shut up. Lan Wangji gathered the bows near him and unstrung them, retying several strings together.

Lan Wangji held up his creation. “I trust you. This is a Lan sect technique created by… do you remember Lan Yi?”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened, and he smiled, “Yes! I loved her. She was so nice, even if her guqin originally tried to kill me!”

He laughed and tilted his head when Lan Wangji looked away from him, ears red.

“Yes. She created the technique. I will be able to use this to… wrap around the neck of the xuanwu and… strangle… it.”

Wei Wuxian gasped, “Lan Zhan! Killing is forbidden!”

“Wei Ying !”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “Aiyah, I didn’t think she could get any cooler and then lo and behold, she created a technique where you strangle someone with string .”

He laughed and smiled widely, “Is it originally supposed to be guqin string?”

Lan Wangji still didn’t look at him. “...Mn.”

Wei Wuxian burst into another fit of laughter.

“Wei Ying .”

Wei Wuxian raised up his hands, still giggling, in surrender. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Lan Zhan, I’ll stop. Ah, I love y-ooouuur reactions! Haha…”

He stood abruptly and clapped his hands together once. “I! I will lure the head out. You can strangle it then… ha… you’re sure your leg is… healed enough to do so?”

Lan Wangji stared for a moment before saying, “Mn.”

“Great!” Wei Wuxian raised his arms and bent them as if to stomp and raised his right leg, turning on his left with it still raised, only to march directly towards the pond. “Let’s go!”

Lan Wangji moved to get up and was surprised to see Wei Wuxian rushing back towards him with a red face, helping him up and supporting him as they went to their destination.

❤️🩵❤️

The less said about the inside of the tulu-xuanwu , the better, Wei Wuxian will later say constantly.

He prefers to keep the entire experience while inside the shell in a locked box inside his brain, only opened by very very extreme circumstances.

The sword he found was… very disturbing.

Also the less said about that, the better.

When he went flying out of the shell while clutching for dear life onto the resentful weapon, which, of course, was lodged into the top of the xuanwu ’s mouth, he immediately screamed for Lan Wangji, who was quick to throw his string around the long neck and pull.

When Wei Wuxian went crashing into the water, so too did the head of the now executed beast. It was dead.

“Wei Ying!”

He surfaced and gasped for breath. Lan Wangji was there almost immediately, gathering his arms in his own and pulling Wei Wuxian out of the pond.

Wei Wuxian gasped, “Is it dead? Is it dead?”

“Mn.”

“Wait, wait, Lan Zhan, the opening, the opening.”

“Wei Ying, it is impossible-”

“Attempt the impossible!” Wei Wuxian said, as he catapulted himself into the water.

He didn’t hear Lan Wangji mutter, “You can not attempt something that isn’t an action… it is impossible the opening is there anymore… stupid Wei Ying.”

When Wei Wuxian surfaced again, gasping, Lan Wangji took him by the waist and dragged him back to their camp.

“Lan Zhan, it’s closed. It’s closed, Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.”

“Lan Zhan, what do we do? What do we do?” He drew his knees up to his chest and hugged them, burying his head into them.

Lan Wangji poked at the fire and tried to start it up again. “Lan Zhan-”

“Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian shot his head up again and watched Lan Wangji drag himself over, sitting next to him. “Look at me.”

When Wei Wuxian did, Lan Wangji put his hand on his forehead. He frowned, then sighed. “Wei Ying. You have a fever.”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “Aiyah… I guess being in a turtle shell and then water in a cold, dank cave isn’t the best… the best setting for perfect health.”

Lan Wangji continued to frown, so Wei Wuxian smiled at him.

Lan Wangji did not smile back. Instead, he said, “You know Cloud Recesses is burned. My father is dead, my uncle is injured, and my brother is missing.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened, “Lan Zhan-”

“Don’t.” Lan Wangji interrupted. “Don’t make me lose you too.”

Wei Wuxian’s breath caught and Lan Wangji looked away. “Here.”

He reached out without looking and pulled Wei Wuxian down by the shoulder to lay his head in Lan Wangji’s lap. “Rest.”

“Lan Zhan-”

Lan Wangji started humming.

He had only heard the song once, earlier, when Wei Wuxian hummed it, but he could remember melodies easily.

Wei Wuxian was still. Wei Wuxian was silent.

When Lan Wangji stopped humming, he looked down and tilted Wei Wuxian’s head to face up like the rest of his body. He was smiling in his sleep. He went to sleep smiling.

Lan Wangji put the back of his hand to his forehead again. Still warm.

He looked around and put his arm around Wei Wuxian’s torso, scooting down a bit further from the fire. Hopefully we are not to be stuck here too much longer…

Chapter Text

Day Four:

Lan Wangji was tending the fire.

He had managed to get it to be suitably fiery, casting the cave full of dancing shadows amongst those of the stalagmites and stalactites. His own shadow extended up to the top of the cave, moving along with him as he got more fuel from leaves and threw them in. To the side was Wei Wuxian’s shadow, unmoving but for minutely from where his chest casts its shadow. Lan Wangji followed it from the ceiling near his own down the walls of the cave to Wei Wuxian himself.

He was asleep. He had been sleeping for hours, off and on.

Lan Wangji had thought it best to soothe him back to sleep every time he woke - it would help with the fever, which had only slightly gone down since-

“Lan Zhan…”

Lan Wangji looked up to see Wei Wuxian awake. “Wei Ying.”

He got up and walked over, hesitating when Wei Wuxian reached up to him before kneeling down and putting the boy’s arms back down at his sides, covering him with the outer robe Lan Wangji had put over him. “Rest.”

“Lan Zhan… how long have I been…? Lan Zhaaaaan.”

Lan Wangji nearly scoffed, “you even whine when I check your temperature?”

Wei Wuxian was now pouting, “I’m fine, Lan Zhan, I feel like a lotus blooming in the sun of high noon! Don’t laugh, Lan Zhan, I saw that!”

“Mn.”

“I know what that is when you say it like that! Don’t think I don’t! You don’t believe me, do you? I’m fine! You’ve been taking care of me, I know you have! I- is this your robe?” He picked up the collar of the robe that was now laying over his lap and blinked at it.

Lan Wangji thought he might explode, so he leaned back and stood to return to the fire. “Mn.”

“Lan Zhan, your robe!” Wei Wuxian made to get up but his knees buckled under his weight.

Lan Wangji lunged over and caught him only just as he was about to faceplant into the ground.

“Lan Zhan! My legs are sore! How long has it been, seriously?”

Lan Wangji took Wei Wuxian’s arms and guided him to walk around, ignoring his complaints about Lan Wangji’s own leg, and very decidedly not thinking about his arm around Wei Wuxian’s waist, nor Wei Wuxian’s arm around his neck.

“Golden core healing my leg. I’m fine. Wei Ying started to sleep off the fever at nearly 9:00pm last night. He has been sleeping since then. It is nearly 9:00pm again.”

“Nearly twenty-four hours? Lan Zhan, I feel fine, am I fine now?”

“Nm.”

“No? Lan Zh-” Wei Wuxian shut his mouth when he was pulled closer to Lan Wangji, facing him.

His eyes were wide, staring at Lan Wangji’s face.

Lan Wangji raised a hand to his forehead again and Wei Wuxian closed his eyes tight.

“Nm. Waned, but not recovered. Body recovering. Nerves in legs need to be awakened.”

Wei Wuxian was pulled back to the fire, silent. He finally responded, slightly dazed, “mn…”

Lan Wangji sat down again, pulling Wei Wuxian next to him.

He placed his robe back over Wei Wuxian and said, “Sleep.”

Wei Wuxian blinked. “Is it…?”

Lan Wangji said again, “Sleep.”

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay, Lan Zhan. I’ll sleep. I’ll be better tomorrow. Right, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji hummed but didn’t respond more than that.

Day Five:

“Wei Ying. Stop.”

“What?” Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji who looked at him and then down at his hands.

Wei Wuxian also looked down at his own hands to find them tapping on his lap, rather loudly. “Oh. Sorry.”

He rested his hand on his lap and looked at Lan Wangji again, whose eyes were closed. He’s probably meditating to maintain his inedia and heal more .

Wei Wuxian looked forward, resting his eyes on the fire, which was a low flame, just enough to keep them warm. His fingers started to tap again, but he realised it this time and stopped.

He looked at Lan Wangji again. Still meditating. He made his head fall backward against the wall, sending a jolt of slight pain through his head.

The fire crackled.

I’m BORED.

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhaaaan! I’m booooored! I feel like we’ve been here forever!”

“It has been five days.”

“Ugh! Jiang Cheng should be getting close to us again, I think. Where iiiis heeeeeeee-”

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan!”

“Meditate.”

“I can’t!”

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan, I really can’t, I’m too restless!”

“You are still healing.”

“So are you.”

“I am meditating.”

“Ugh.” Wei Wuxian rolled his head.

“Don’t do that. You still have a mild fever. Dizzy.”

“Lan Zhan! What am I supposed to do?”

There was a silence for a bit, only the sound of the fire crackling filling it.

Wei Wuxian groaned.

Then, Lan Wangji said, “Sing.”

“What?” Wei Wuxian whipped his head around, wincing when it throbbed.

“Wei Ying…”

Wei Wuxian hissed, holding his head, “Aiyah, I know, I know, Lan Zhan, you don’t have to reprimand me. That was my bad. What did you say?”

Lan Wangji visibly hesitated. “Sing.”

“Sing?”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji looked down at his lap and pulled at a loose thread on his robe, still pristine. “The song.”

Wei Wuxian tilted his head, “What song?”

Lan Wangji did not stop what he was doing, “You sang. Earlier. I remember… only what you sang. Never heard it before.”

Wei Wuxian could feel his entire face erupt into flames.

Oh. That song. Ahaha .

“Ahaha. Um.” Wei Wuxian fidgeted, moving his arms all around him, scratching the back of his neck, raising his arms to his head, scratching his cheek-

“You do not have to.”

“No!”

Wei Wuxian was suddenly still, looking at Lan Wangji, who was looking back, eyes slightly wide. “No, Lan Zhan, I know… I know what song you mean.”

Lan Wangji closed his eyes again as Wei Wuxian watched, leaning forward a bit and twisting to look up at Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji said, “Wei Ying.”

“Right. Yes. Singing. Occupying myself and letting you meditate.”

“Mn. Good song.”

If Wei Wuxian had been standing, he knew he would have tripped over himself.

At least he likes it? Good job, Wei Wuxian. At least he likes it. The meaning doesn’t have to be evident. He doesn’t need to know. Just hum. Details later .

And so he hummed. He doesn’t know how long he did so, but he knows that Lan Wangji fell asleep during it. “My turn, then.”

And without thinking about it, Wei Wuxian took Lan Wangji by the shoulders and laid him in his own lap. Nope. Don’t think. Turn off your brain .

It was very hard to turn off his brain. Wei Wuxian just kept on humming.

Day Six:

“I don’t think… it’s working anymore.”

“Rest.”

“Lan Zhan, that’s all we’ve been doing…”

“Conserve remaining energy. Body recovers. Mind recovers. More likely to survive. Rest.”

“Lan Zhan, I’m rest less .”

Lan Wangji began humming and Wei Wuxian groaned, face red.

“Lan Zhan! Humming what you know of… of my song isn’t going to work!”

When Lan Wangji continued unperturbed, Wei Wuxian’s face felt as though it erupted into flames, even redder. “Lan Zhaaaaan!”

Lan Wangji stopped briefly only to say, “Mn. Working.” After which, he continued humming.

Wei Wuxian was going out of his mind.

Lan Wangji didn’t even know the song - the name, the second verse, the musical accompaniment, the complimentary guqin and dizi music, nothing, and yet he still does this.

Wei Wuxian would never admit it’s accomplishing what Lan Wangji wants it to.

Wei Wuxian attempted to change the subject, “how’s your leg?”

“How is your burn?”

“Healed, Lan Zhan! You know that!”

“Mn. Still fragile.”

Wei Wuxian pursed his lips. “It’s fine. You didn’t answer my question.”

“Mn. As well as it can be. Rest and meditation effective.”

“Cheeky.” Wei Wuxian shot at him.

“Mn.” A perfect counter!

Wei Wuxian groaned again and threw himself to the ground, scrambling around.

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan!”

“Preserve energy. Do not be a child.”

“XianXian is three!”

“XianXian is recovering from a fever, and needs to conserve his energy.”

“Lan Zhan!”

“Mn.”

Wei Wuxian groaned and sat up, curling into a ball, “why are you doing this to me?”

“Wei Ying.”

“I know what you’re going to say!” Wei Wuxian groaned again and threw himself back onto the floor, spread out like an octopus.

“Wei Ying. Come here.” When Wei Wuxian didn’t move, Lan Wangji sighed and moved himself.

“Lan Zhan! Your leg!”

“Nm.”

“Don’t take that tone with me!” Wei Wuxian ignored the slight smile Lan Wangji gave him and let him put a bit of his conserved energy over Wei Wuxian’s burn.

“Okay, that’s enough. You’re not dying on me because you put all of your energy into a burn that is almost healed.”

“Mn.”

“That tone again? Lan Zhan, why are you so fixated on this? It’s not that big of a deal! And, hey! If I hadn’t done something, this burn would be on MianMian’s face! That wouldn’t do! And now, obviously we’re best friends! Or something like that!”

When Lan Wangji remained silent, Wei Wuxian tilted his head to look at him. “Lan Zhan, are you okay?”

Lan Wangji ignored him.

Wei Wuxian blinked, “What, do you like her or something?”

“Wei Ying!”

“What? It’s a genuine question! Are you jealous?”

His heart was beating very fast. If Lan Zhan likes MianMian - Ah, Lan Wangji was glaring at him. “Ah… you do like her?”

Lan Wangji ignored him and scooted back over to the wall, closing his eyes. “It is almost nine.”

It seemed like he was gritting his teeth. “Sleep.”

Wei Wuxian did not sleep. If Lan Zhan likes MianMian, I guess all I can do is… be happy for him if he gets her…

Day Seven:

They were still asleep when a hole was blown into the cave. Their energy was completely drained. Jiang Wanyin and Jin Zixuan dragged them out and after appropriate thanks and goodbyes were exchanged, Jiang Wanyin took both of them back to Lotus Pier.

Chapter Text

What if Lan Zhan does… like MianMian… what will I do… in that scenario…?

I could still be a wandering cultivator… with a farm somewhere and a bunny field… but… I’d be really sad, I think…

Lan Zhan… where is Lan Zhan?

I can’t hear the fire… is it out?

t’s warm, though… It smells like… lotuses… lotuses?

Where’s Lan Zhan…?

Lan Zhan?

Lan Zhan!

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian shot up before being pushed back down with an “oomph.”

“Dumbass! You’re still recovering! Do you want to pass out again from all the blood rushing to your fucking head?”

“Jiang Cheng? You’re here.” Wei Wuxian squinted up.

Lotus Pier. He’s in Lotus Pier.

Wei Wuxian smiled, “I knew you wouldn’t forget about us.”

“Dumbass! You’re my gege ! What the fuck would I do if-”

“Jiang Wanyin.”

Jiang Cheng reeled back as if struck and stood at attention, turning to the doorway, “ A-Die .”

“Jiang- shushu .” Wei Wuxian bowed as best he could before Jiang Cheng pushed him back to a sitting position.

Jiang Fengmian looked from Wei Wuxian to Jiang Cheng a couple times before sighing.

“ A- Xian, it is good to see you awake.”

Wei Wuxian smiled minutely, “Thank you Jiang- shushu . Jiang Cheng was swift.”

Jiang Fengmian hummed and Jiang Cheng raised his chin.

Jiang Fengmian looked at his son, “ A- Cheng, do you know why I called you by your courtesy name?”

He continued when Jiang Cheng pursed his lips.

“It is because you were cursing and speaking out of turn so much. You know-”

“Wei Wuxian is my gege . You said so yourself when we were little.”

Jiang Fengmian hummed.

Wei Wuxian looked down.

Jiang Cheng changed the subject, explicitly addressing Wei Wuxian, “ Gege , Lan Wangji is still here, by the way. He woke up a while before you. A-Jie was here too. She made sure Lan Wangji was well - don’t interrupt me, he was well-”

“Jiang Wanyin!”

Jiang Cheng ignored his father and continued, “and they went to the kitchens together. I think A-Jie is teaching him how to make our soup.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “really?”

“Yes, it would seem so.”

A new voice appeared.

“ A-Niang .”

“Madam Yu.”

“ San-Niang , what are you doing here?”

Madam Yu entered the room and crossed her arms, “I live here. What, can I not enter certain rooms whenever I so choose according to you?”

Jiang Fengmian said nothing which caused Madam Yu to scoff.

“Wei Wuxian is my head disciple as much as yours. I can make sure he’s alive just as much as you can. Also, pertaining to your previous little conversation, Lan -er-gongzi is an exemplary gongzi , helping A- Li in the kitchen. At least it allows that girl to be somewhere she enjoys without risking gossip for doing servant’s work if Lan- er-gongzi is with her. A- Cheng, you could learn a lot from him.”

Jiang Cheng glanced at Wei Wuxian for some reason Wei Wuxian couldn’t place. “Yes, A-Niang .”

Jiang Fengmian got up, “I’m glad to see you awake, A- Xian. Excuse me.”

Madam Yu’s eyes widened as Jiang Fengmian pushed past her, “What, that’s it? Jiang Fengmian! Isn’t he supposed to be your favourite? What are you doing? Jiang Fengmian, answer me!”

When Jiang Fengmian was far enough away for it to be pointless to call out anymore, Madam Yu turned her head to the sky, her fists clenched at her sides, whispering “I will never understand that man.”

She turned back to the boys in the room, as if she had said nothing. “I expect both of you at the dinner table tonight. I’m glad neither of you are dead. A- Cheng, good job. Your saving Lan- er-gongzi , your…brother aside… may have secured a more deep alliance with the Lans we didn’t previously have. I am proud of you.”

When Jiang Cheng smiled, she raised her chin.

“Neither of you are to be late to dinner. Lan Wangji will be joining us before journeying back to his home.”

“Lan Zhan is going back to the Cloud Recesses already?”

Madam Yu looked at him sharply. “The Cloud Recesses was burned. Of course he is. He needs to be with his family.”

Madam Yu turned and started to exit the room.

At the threshold, she stopped. “I am glad you were able to recover, Wei Wuxian. I don’t know what my children would have done if you’d been lost.”

With that, she exited the room.

A couple of minutes passed before either Wei Wuxian or Jiang Cheng moved again.

Wei Wuxian tugged on Jiang Cheng’s sleeve. “ A- Cheng, A- Cheng, what just happened? What was that?”

Jiang Cheng shrugged, “I actually don’t know. Do you remember though? The dinner before we left? A-Niang yelled at father because he didn’t answer her about sending you to… to indoctrination… and he also dismissed us instead of answering her question about favouring you… maybe…”

Wei Wuxian raised his eyebrow. “There’s no way she likes me now.”

Jiang Cheng sighed, “Maybe not. But…”

They both looked out the door and then pursed their lips at each other, shrugging simultaneously.

❤️🩵❤️

“Lan- er-gongzi is indeed a very good cook. He put just the right amount of spice in after already portioning himself a bowl, then he poured almost half the chili oil into a bowl. That’s yours, A- Xian. Lan- er-gongzi knows you well.”

Wei Wuxian could feel his cheeks heat an inordinate amount. Again.

Lan Wangji looked passive to everyone at the table except him.

He , however, knew that Lan Wangji was very smug for some reason.

Who knew he was such a menace .

Wei Wuxian looked at his brother, who was smirking at him, neglecting his food. He would have maintained doing so until Wei Wuxian looked at him.

Jiang Yanli covered her mouth with a laugh.

Everyone here is so mean to me .

Madam Yu cleared her throat. “I do think this was done very well, even if it is just a side dish. Lan- er-gongzi , you do your sect well. I hope we were able to properly host you and send you back to your sect with positive relations. You need not respond, I know you do not speak during meals.”

Lan Wangji bowed to Madam Yu and then to Jiang Fengmian, who had not stopped eating, nor did he contribute.

It took Madam Yu clearing her throat for Jiang Fengmian to look up and smile at Lan Wangji in thanks.

Madam Yu tilted her head at Jiang Yanli, but Jiang Fengmian did not notice, simply continuing to eat.

Madam Yu’s eyes narrowed.

The dinner carried on in silence.

When Lan Wangji left, he asked Wei Wuxian to write to him.

Wei Wuxian responded, “You first. Stay safe, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji nodded and took off.

Life went back to normal until San -Shidi came back saying the youngest of their disciples had been kidnapped when sent to get the downed kites from practice.

Chapter Text

“Well now, it seems everyone’s here.” Wang Lingjiao walked into Lotus Hall as if she were the madam present. “Bring him in.”

A Wen disciple standing by dragged the youngest shidi into the room by his collar and threw him in front of Madam Yu, Wei Wuxian, and Jiang Wanyin. Jiang Fengmian had gone, against the wishes of everyone, to the Wen sect in order to talk his way into procuring the missing swords from the disciples. “So, Madam Yu! It seems you people really are harbouring mutinous intent.”

Madam Yu scoffed, “Oh? Mutinous intent? And to what do I harbour mutinous intent?”

Jiang Wanyin cut in, “What in the world could our youngest shidi have possibly done? Liu- shidi isn’t disloyal!”

Wang Lingjiao motioned for another disciple, holding a felled kite, to step up. “I have proof.”

Suddenly, she raised her voice, “What does this kite look like?! Yes, a sun ! He’s alluding to sun-shooting! A grave disrespect toward the Qishan Wen sect!”

There was a moment of silence before Madam Yu laughed incredulously. “So this kite is the reason for your visit? Surely not. You couldn’t have come on a whim. Speak plainly!”

“I came here on behalf of the Wen clan and Wen-er- gongzi … to carry out punishment.”

She pushed a hand out, finger extended, towards Wei Wuxian. “This brat has been ceaselessly rude to Wen-er- gongzi ! And so I bid you, Madam Yu– punish him!”

“ A-Niang , I-”

“Quiet, A-Cheng !”

Wang Lingjiao smiled, “Jiang- zongzhu isn’t with us right now. If Madam Yu shields him… one would truly begin to wonder. Might certain rumours be true…?”

She started to giggle, a hand raised to her mouth.

Wei Wuxian stepped forward. “You…!”

He cried out and fell forward, feeling blood ooze from his back. “Ah…”

Madam Yu pulled the whip back, landing another strike. Then she turned to Wang Lingjiao, who had made her way over to the Lotus Throne.

Holding back a sneer, Madam Yu said, “There. I’ve done it. As much as I would like to say your needling worked , I’m afraid I must disappoint you. As you said, Jiang Fengmian isn’t here now, why would I shield him? I wouldn’t shield him even if Jiang Fengmian were here. So I ask you where your logic can be derived from?”

Wang Lingjiao ignored the question, “That’s it?”

Madam Yu pointed to Wei Wuxian, who was lifting his head up, “Are you not satisfied? He won’t recover from this lashing even after a month. He’ll feel it for some time!”

“But he’ll still recover.”

Zidian sparkled. “Wei Wuxian is my head disciple. If he offended Wen- er - gongzi , he did it with reason. I have watched this boy grow up. Despite everything, I know his character.”

Wang Lingjiao scoffed, “Madam Yu, this is meant to be a punishment. It’s only reasonable that it should be a lesson he remembers forever . You need to chop off his right arm, and we shall no more speak on this matter.”

Madam Yu bared her teeth, “You want me to cut his arm off?”

Jiang Wanyin, who had been restrained by Jinzhu and Yinzhu, broke free and rushed to Wei Wuxian, covering him. “ A-Niang, A-Niang , please, don’t… she’s exaggerating, she’s lying, it’s not the truth! Things didn’t go the way she said!”

Madam Yu ignored him and crossed her arms, “Jinzhu, Yinzhu. Close the door. Do not let anyone see the blood.”

Jinzhu and Yinzhu bowed before getting to work, “Yes, Madam Yu.”

Wei Wuxian dropped himself again. Is she really going to…? But… I can’t… write or fight with my left… I could learn… sorry, Lan Zhan… might… have to work up to being your equal again… haha… ha… it’s okay… as long as everything is settled after this, it will be fine. I can use my left hand from now on! I can!

Jiang Wanyin still covered Wei Wuxian, “ A-Niang , no!”

Wang Lingjiao began to clap. “Madam Yu, I knew you would prove yourself the most loyal of subordinates to the Qishan Wen!”

Madam Yu did not move. Arms still crossed, she said, “Subordinate?”

Wang Lingjiao did not notice anything. “Mm-hm! Subordinate! I declare that from today onward, Lotus Pier is the Qishan Wen clan’s Yunmeng supervisory office!”

Jiang Wanyin let out a startled laugh, “A what?! This is our home!”

“Madam Yu, you must take care to manage your son properly as well. For centuries, all the cultivation clans have been the Wen clan’s subjects-”

A loud slap resounded through the room.

Jiang Wanyin had been attempting to support his brother, but they both stopped short at the sound.

Wang Lingjiao, cultivation low, went flying halfway across the room, cheek red, blood coughed from her mouth along with a tooth.

Zidian activated and did much worse to the Wen disciples present.

Like a comedy act, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin watched bodies get thrown about the room, turning their heads left and right.

Madam Yu began to laugh and motioned for Jiang Wanyin to pull Wei Wuxian more to the side.

Then she rounded on Wang Lingjiao, who had just managed to sit up. “Before you beat a dog, always learn the name of its master! You… you barge into my house…”

Madam Yu retracted Zidian and pulled Wang Lingjiao by the hair. “And order me to punish my people?!”

She dropped Wang Lingjiao again only to pull her up again by the front of her dress. “Who the fuck do you think you are, to come here and show such insolence?!”

She slapped her face another time and Wang Lingjiao was dropped again.

Supporting herself and holding a hand up to her face, she said, “Neither the Qishan Wen clan nor the Yingchuan Wang clan will let you get away with this!”

Madam Yu smiled dangerously. “Yingchuan Wang clan? What is that? It must be smaller than even the smallest of the minor clans and more reclusive than even my native Meishan Yu !”

Yinzhu handed her a handkerchief, which she took, wiping her hands of sweat and some blood.

“Shut your mouth, you whore . Is a lowly maid like you even worthy to speak of hierarchy with me? To me?”

She dropped her handkerchief and kicked Wang Lingjiao back down to the floor. “Let me teach you what hierarchy means!”

She casually put the bottom of her foot on top of Wang Lingjiao’s cheek. “I am superior…”

She put more of her weight on her foot and smooshed Wang Lingjiao’s face to the floor.

Wei Wuxian absently wondered if all her teeth would break from the force.

“And you are inferior!” Madam Yu raised her foot again and laid a heavy kick to Wang Lingjiao.

Wang Lingjiao spit and inhaled sharply, “I am the closest person to Wen- er -gongzi! You think you can silence me?! When he finds out, he’ll never forgive you!”

Yinzhu scoffed, “You say that like he already let us off!”

Jinzhu at her side drew a sword and handed it to Madam Yu, who once again advanced on Wang Lingjiao.

When Wang Lingjiao gasped, Madam Yu said, “You can still talk? You’re stronger than I took you for.”

She tilted her head to the right. “Unfortunately.”

Wang Lingjiao attempted to scoot herself away, raising her foot as if Madam Yu would not simply slice it from her body.

When Madam Yu did something much scarier to her - grabbing her ankle, Wang Lingjiao screamed, “If you- Men! Help! Wen Zhuliu! Save ME! ”

She cowered as the sword came toward her neck, before it was promptly blocked by another. Wen Zhuliu had arrived.

“Huadan Shou?!” Madam Yu asked incredulously.

Wen Zhuliu replied, “Violet Spider?!”

Jiang Wanyin wondered if he hadn’t expected her to be here. He squeezed Wei Wuxian’s hand and pulled him back even further toward the wall.

“Wen Zhuliu! Wen Zhuliu! Hurry up and save me! Kill her this instant!” Wang Lingjiao screamed.

She screamed even louder when Madam Yu stepped on her wrist this time.

“Apologies, Madam Yu.” Wen Zhuliu said.

“Spare me.” Madam Yu replied.

With that, they began to duel - Zidian against a man whose hands allowed him to fear less than even the most fearless.

It was distracting enough of a display that no one paid attention to Wang Lingjiao, who was slithering on the floor towards the door.

She pushed it open saying, “H…here… o-over here… everyone, come here…!”

She face-planted, but not before she pulled out a signal flare and activated it.

“ A- Cheng, go stop her!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

Jiang Wanyin looked at him, “But-”

Wei Wuxian pulled Jiang Wanyin’s arm from himself and lowered to the floor, “No time! I’m fine! Stop her before she fires more!”

Jiang Wanyin lunged to the door as she fired one more.

She only managed one addition before Jiang Wanyin knocked her out, turning back, “ A-Niang !” He attempted to push himself back towards his mother, but wasn’t quick enough, Wen Zhuliu made contact. 

Madam Yu let out a strangled yell and threw Wen Zhuliu aside, Zidian making it less likely he would recover before she did what she needed to.

It fizzled out too soon.

Madam Yu grunted. “My core. He melted only part of it. Good... Good.” She pulled her son by the collar, and did the same to Wei Wuxian with her other hand.

She ran out of Lotus Hall and called for disciples to gear up and get ready to fight.

She ran to the docks where she threw both boys into a boat. “There’s no avoiding today’s battle! Leave now, both of you! Do not return!” She grabbed Jiang Wanyin’s arm and slid Zidian onto it.

“ A-Niang , why are you giving me Zidian ?” Jiang Wanyin choked out.

“It’s yours now. I’m giving it to you!” With that she pulled Jiang Wanyin towards her, giving him a hug for the first time in years, before pushing him back into the boat.

Jiang Wanyin started to cry. “ A-Niang ! What are you doing!?”

Madam Yu scoffed, “Stop making a fuss. Once you have reached a safe place…”

Zidian sprang to life and tied the two boys back to back. They protested.

Madam Yu ignored them, “Only then will it release you.”

She turned to them. “Wei Ying! It took me much too long to realise Jiang Fengmian was no different to you than to my own children but remember this! Siblings protect each other. From everything. If you are truly brother to my son, you will protect Jiang Cheng! Keep him safe, do you understand?!”

Wei Wuxian also began to cry, “Madam Yu…”

Madam Yu pursed her lips before turning to her son, “Same… same goes for you! Protect your brother and yourself! Listen to him. He’ll protect you with his life. Wei Ying, I know you! I know you will! That’s all I ask! Don’t take this for granted! Your siblings will never forgive you if you die, though. Don’t be fucking stupid! I know you’re not stupid!”

Wei Wuxian took Jiang Wanyin’s hand as best he could before Jiang Wanyin took it himself and nearly crushed it. “ A-Niang ! A-Die isn’t back yet! Whatever tomorrow may bring, can’t we try and face it all together?!”

Madam Yu scoffed, unsheathing the sword she had at her side. “Who needs him?! If he doesn’t come back, then so be it! Do you think I need him? That I can’t manage without him?!”

“ A-Niang !”

“Madam Yu!”

They drifted down the river, Lotus Pier getting smaller and smaller.

Jiang Wanyin panicked, “ Gege. Gege, why isn’t it breaking? Are we not yet far enough away? Gege , what if it doesn’t break in time? Break, come on, break.”

Wei Wuxian was still against him until- “Jiang- shushu ! He’s back!”

Jiang Wanyin also stilled and looked behind himself over Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. “ A-Die ?”

“ A- Cheng, A- Ying? What happened to you two?”

“ A-Die ! Free us!”

“That’s your mother’s Zidian , and it knows who its masters are. It probably won’t allow me to…”

Zidian responded to him, but only enough to loosen.

Jiang Wanyin said, “We’re safe now. We have to be.” Zidian responded fully to that, and retracted back into her inert state.

“The Wen came! They came, A-Die ! A-Niang started fighting with Huadan Shou ! We have to help her!”

“ Huadan Shou ?”

“ A-Die ?”

Jiang Fengmian took the oars from the boat. “If you drift down the river as you are, you will arrive in Meishan. Get your sister. Wei Ying, protect them.”

“ A-Die , what-”

Jiang Fengmian pushed the boat away and Jiang Fengmian continued toward Lotus Pier. Zidian hesitated, then sputtered into a loose hold around them again.

“ A-Die !”

Jiang Fengmian ignored Jiang Wanyin.

“Piece of shit! Fuck! What a fucking dumbass! What a lunatic! What does he think this is, just a leisurely day with fucking Huadan Shou in Lotus Pier! Fuck! And who does he think he is!? A-Niang showed more concern for you then he did !”

“ A- Cheng...”

“Fucking bastard. Goddammit. What a perfect time to have all these realisations. A-Niang seemed to realise, somehow, that you are not a favourite. Don’t know how it took her so long when I got it after only like… not that long of observation.”

“ A- Cheng.”

“He didn’t tell you to be safe! Who the fuck believes those rumours, honestly, I see more proof you’re not his son than anyone, like actually, now I’m just pissed off. My home is burning to the ground ! What, does he not know it’s better to fight than just… what? Preserve the bloodline?”

“ A -Cheng!”

“What? Gege , you can’t be serious! You can’t actually believe-”

“I know. I know. I knew from the start.”

“Of course you did.” Jiang Wanyin scoffed, tears starting to stream from his eyes. “Fuck. What do we do?”

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath. “Jiang Fengmian took our oars-”

“Piece of shit…” Jiang Wanyin sniffled.

Wei Wuxian continued without comment. “But he was right in saying we will reach Meishan like this. We can find JieJie and Popo .”

Jiang Wanyin nodded. “Right. Yes. We can do that… Gege …”

“I know… We’ll think of something. We’ll have to.”

Chapter Text

“ A- Xian! A- Cheng!”

“ JieJie !”

“Oh my goodness! Are you two all right? What happened? You’re all dishevelled!”

Jiang Yanli pulled her brothers’ boat to the shore and tied it off, before her brothers leapt at her, crying as they held her. “ Da-didi ? Xiao-didi ? Are you all right? Tell Jiejie .”

“ Jiejie , it’s-” Jiang Wanyin cut off when Sect Leader Yu approached. He bowed, saying, “ Popo .”

Wei Wuxian also detached from Jiang Yanli and bowed, “Yu- Zongzhu .”

Sect Leader Yu scoffed, “I believe I’ve told you that since my grandchildren have accepted you entirely as their brother, that means you call me Popo , haven’t I?”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Yu- popo .”

Sect Leader Yu squinted. “Close enough. Now, come into the main hall and explain exactly what has happened.”

❤️🩵❤️

“That headstrong girl! Even with Zidian , fighting an army with only a handful of disciples is not only dangerous, but it’s outright cretinous!”

At the looks of the three children, Sect Leader Yu softened. “At least she knows her duty, if nothing else. But retreat is not always treachery or cowardice. It is sometimes the only way to carry on. Do you three understand that?”

Jiang Yanli, Jiang Wanyin, and Wei Wuxian all nodded.

Jiang Wanyin spoke up, “ Popo , what do we do?”

Sect Leader Yu stood up. “You flee. I will shore our own defenses, but I don’t imagine MeishanYu will be left alone for long. You can not stay here. Your parents are most likely dead.”

“Yu- Popo !” Wei Wuxian cried.

Sect Leader Yu scoffed, “ A- Xian, please. You can not imagine that they would survive for long. You will have to get Lotus Pier back from the Wen after everything is through.”

Wei Wuxian swallowed.

Jiang Yanli said, “Where do we go?”

“North.” Sect Leader Yu said, without hesitation.

Jiang Wanyin straightened. “Okay.”

Wei Wuxian looked at his brother. “Okay?”

Jiang Wanyin took a deep breath, “There’s not much we can do, is there? We could go to the Jin, but I would really rather not. That leaves-”

“The Nie. We are going to Qinghe.” Jiang Yanli stood. “Come on, boys, the longer we linger, the bigger the target we put on Meishan.”

“Nonsense, child. We will be prepared should they come towards us, but it will hardly be because you are here. It would simply be because we are as powerful as we are, despite being considered a minor sect by most. If nothing else, that tyrant will come here for our weaponry techniques. Don’t worry. You three be safe.”

Sect Leader Yu loaded them all into a boat, and for the third time that day, adults sent them down the river.

Except this time, they were given oars and had to paddle up stream in order to get anywhere.

“I think I’m becoming numb.” Jiang Wanyin said suddenly, about half a day later, breaking the complete silence that had previously descended.

“I can paddle if you’re tired, A- Cheng. We should be arriving on the outskirts of Guizhou…”

“No, A-Jie , that’s not what I meant, though the answer to the question hidden within there is no. You just make sure we’re going the right way. It’s just…”

He paused for a moment, stopping paddling, only picking it up again when Wei Wuxian visibly started to struggle to keep them going.

“Sorry, gege . I… what I meant was I’m numb to… the events. The way popo was so nonchalant, as if she 100% expected it and already deemed our parents dead… I don’t know. A-Niang sending us off in the way she did was alarming, of course it was, especially considering she was not as harsh as I expected…”

“Especially to me… I still can’t believe it…” Wei Wuxian muttered.

“Exactly! And then A-Die … he was even more nonchalant than Popo !”

Jiang Yanli furrowed her brow, motioning that they should bank more to the right. “What do you mean, A- Cheng?”

“Just that!” Jiang Wanyin was getting angry again.

He ignored how Wei Wuxian pursed his lips.

“He took our oars, for one thing, just so we wouldn’t hightail it, what? Back to Lotus Pier? To get sent right back out or killed? But also… he was so mean .”

“Mean?” Jiang Yanli’s eyes widened.

Wei Wuxian sighed, “He wasn’t being mean , A- Cheng.”

“Of course you would say that. But he was . He was mean. In a way that could only be mildly construed to be concerned. Maybe .”

His siblings were silent.

Jiang Yanli motioned for them to bank left.

Jiang Wanyin continued, “But he was like. He just told… A-Jie , all he did was tell gege to protect us. You and me, jiejie . He expressed no concern for the wellbeing of all of us . Favoured my ass.”

“We are siblings.” Jiang Yanli said.

Her brothers looked at her.

“We only have each other right now. But I couldn’t imagine a better scenario for us given the events of the past twenty-four hours. I love my parents, and call me unfilial, the gods know other people would if they heard me, but I’m… I’m not concerned about whether or not they survived. I have only ever been concerned about you two in my life… and you survived. We’re together. That’s all I need. We’ll fight together.”

She smiled at her brothers, who smiled back at her. Wei Wuxian faced puffed up. “Right! We still have our family! Let’s go!”

“Idiot.” Jiang Wanyin sniffed. “Yeah. I agree. We’ll survive together or not at all.”

Chapter Text

The inn was small, but for their purposes, it served them.

The old man who owned it ushered them in and gave them fresh water and a meal but he urged them to get going again as soon as possible.

They were on the outskirts of Guizhou.

As they traveled upstream, they kept a lookout, just in case. They weren’t really near Qishan or Yunmeng, but that didn’t mean that Qishan Wen disciples couldn’t find them.

“Do you think that they’ve already taken Yueyang Chang?” Jiang Yanli asked.

“Yes.” Both of her brothers answered.

Wei Wuxian sighed, “There’s no way they haven’t. I think they were one of the first to fall. They’re the first minor sect worth noting that’s near them. We have to stay vigilant.”

There was a pause, then Jiang Wanyin pushed his oar harder, “And go faster.”

They did so. They picked up speed.

Unfortunately, they ran into some trouble as they approached…

“Yingchuan. This is Yingchuan.” Wei Wuxian said.

Jiang Yanli swallowed, “meaning?”

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin looked at each other. “Faster. We have to go faster.”

“Boys?” Jiang Yanli said, nervously.

“Wang Lingjiao.” was the reply from her brothers, which was enough.

❤️🩵❤️

They almost made it.

They made it far enough that they thought they were safe.

Wei Wuxian went into a small port-side town to try and purchase some food.

When he got back, Jiang Yanli was crying and pulling him into her arms.

“ A-Jie , are you all right? Where’s A- Cheng?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“ A-Xian , I’m sorry your jiejie is so useless. I’m so useless. What do we do? What do we do, A-Xian ?”

Wei Wuxian pulled away, “Eat this.”

When Jiang Yanli had eaten a few bites, Wei Wuxian looked around and then looked at her. “ A- Cheng?”

Jiang Yanli swallowed, “captured.”

Wei Wuxian screeched before covering his mouth, rocking the boat. “What?! Where!? How?!”

Jiang Yanli started to cry, “He told me to get down. I did. He looked up occasionally. You insisted on going to get food alone. We were worried. We saw some… we saw some Wen soldiers. Just four. But that’s enough, isn’t it? They saw you. They saw you, and we didn’t know what to do. A-Cheng told me to stay down, and he left . A-Xian , he glared at me for even raising my head after him, I’m so useless! I’m so useless ! What do we do? He let himself get captured so they wouldn’t get you, but now they have- what do we do?”

She was rambling, but Wei Wuxian’s head was spinning. “I have to get him.”

Jiang Yanli grabbed him, “ A- Xian, no!”

Wei Wuxian took her hands, “ A-Jie , I have to. You… here. Here’s the food. Ah, A-Jie , don’t look at me like that. I’ll take a bun. Okay? Here’s all the coins we have. That should get you a ride on a cart, at least. You’re so close, A-Jie , you’ll get to Qinghe within a week.”

Jiang Yanli had been shaking her head throughout the speech but she spoke up again when Wei Wuxian smiled, “ A-Xian , I don’t want to be useless anymore! I can’t… I want to help…”

Wei Wuxian kissed her forehead, “ A-Cheng and I will rest easy if we know you are in Qinghe. I’ll make sure you get a cart, but then… A-Jie , I’ll get him.”

Jiang Yanli said, “I can’t lose both of you .”

Wei Wuxian said, “And you won’t. You won’t A-Jie . Don’t worry. I’ll get A-Cheng and we’ll meet you there in Qinghe, ah? Okay?”

Jiang Yanli closed her eyes tight but agreed.

They were able to find a family who was leaving the town and willing to take Jiang Yanli as far as needed to get to the outskirts of Qinghe.

She was crying but she steeled herself and said, “ A-Xian , if I don’t hear from you or see you within the next two weeks… I’ll… I’ll…”

“You can hit me on the head very hard and give me the silent treatment?” Wei Wuxian suggested with a wince. 

Jiang Yanli laughed, “And! You won’t have soup for a month!”

Wei Wuxian gasped, but acquiesced after a look.

Jiang Yanli said, “I’m serious, A-Xian . I don’t know what I’d do if…”

Wei Wuxian nodded, ignoring the tear he himself had trailing down his cheek. “Don’t worry, A-Jie . It’ll be fine. We’ll be together again soon.”

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian was a generally happy person.

He generally kept a positive outlook on life - social interactions, circumstances… locations…

That said, Wei Wuxian could also be incredulous at the absurdity of the circumstances he was currently in.

He was grateful the family was friendly and willing to transport his sister, but also, hey his brother was kidnapped and probably brought to the sect that currently resides in that same location the kind family lived.

Small world, really.

At least he didn’t have to walk all that long, even with the need to sneak. It didn’t take a lot of time even after that to find Jiang Cheng.

“What do we do with him?” One Wen soldier was standing over Jiang Cheng, who was lying on his side, splayed, hair undone and everywhere.

“Why the fuck would I know?” Another Wen soldier answered.

“Because you were the one who captured him!” The first answered.

“Yeah, just ‘cause he was wearing purple. Everyone knows you’re wearing white and red or one or the other now-a-days.”

“Are you stupid?”

“Fuck off.”

“Asshole. Fine, I’ll think of something.” The soldiers stood there for a few more minutes as Wei Wuxian inched closer. “Let’s bring him to his precious home . Wen- er-gongzi is still there with his whore. Maybe we’ll be rewarded generously for this gift .”

“Good idea.” The soldiers worked together to drag Jiang Cheng towards the river.

“Shit.” Wei Wuxian followed at a distance.

When the soldiers boarded a boat, Wei Wuxian tore off his boots and socks and dived into the water after them and swam.

He was perhaps the best swimmer in Yunmeng.

It didn’t take him long to catch up to the boat, blending his strides with the waves the boat makes.

He grabbed onto the edge and held on until his fingers were numb, swam some, and then held on some more.

He did this until they were once more surrounded by lotuses, and then burnt lotuses, and then the remnants of Lotus Pier.

He watched from a distance from the pier across from Lotus Pier as the two soldiers brought his brother out of the boat.

They dropped him on the pier and bowed briefly to… Huadan Shou.

“No.” Wei Wuxian said, almost numb, as Wen Zhuliu squatted down and placed his hand on Jiang Cheng’s dantian .

Gone.

His brother’s core was gone.

Just like that.

Wen Zhuliu picked Jiang Cheng up by his collar, at the scruff of his neck, and dragged him behind him into the courtyard.

The two soldiers followed.

Wei Wuxian swam as fast as he could without being noticed across the lake and hoisted himself up onto his home’s pier. His home. It was almost unrecognisable.

He didn’t bother to ring out his hair or his robes as he sprinted up to where he could easily view the courtyard from above.

He was just in time to hear Wen Chao’s annoying laugh.

“Good! Good! Excellent work, you two! You will be rewarded handsomely for this by my father!”

“Thank you, Wen-er-gongzi !” The two soldiers bowed and retreated back down the pier, presumably to resume their post in Yingchuan.

Wen Chao put his hands on his hips and looked down at Jiang Cheng.

He laughed and Wang Lingjiao waltzed out of the main hall and hung herself off of him.

“ Gongzi , isn’t this wonderful? He can provide what his shixiong couldn’t! Shall we have his right or left hand this time?”

Wen Chao shrugged her off, ignoring her pout. “No, we need his arms. He’ll write out useful things for his precious pier’s maintenance. Then you can do what you want with him, I suppose.”

Wang Lingjiao scoffed but let the matter rest.

Wei Wuxian made his way down as the Wen left Jiang Cheng “to mould a bit while we celebrate his home’s acquisition” as they said.

Stupid . Wei Wuxian almost made it into the courtyard when he was spotted. Shit .

He immediately kicked the Wen in the back of the knees and put him in a headlock.

Before he could make his very well-thought out and not spur-of-the-moment demands, the Wen spoke.

“Wei- gongzi ! Wei- gongzi ! It’s me! It’s me, Wei- gongzi !”

“What?” Wei Wuxian stopped for a moment.

Bad, Bad. What are you doing? Why did you stop? Kill him. He saw you, he could rat on you. Kill him!

“Wei- gongzi ! It’s Wen Ning! Please…”

“ A -Ning?”

“Yes!”

Wei Wuxian released him but narrowed his eyes, “What are you doing here, Wen Qionglin?”

Wen Ning raised his arms. “I- uh. I um. I heard… I heard that Lotus Pier had been invaded and… and I got worried. So I- I came here to… to see if you…”

Wei Wuxian winced. “Ah. Ah, sorry, A- Ning. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

Wen Ning hastily shook his head, “No! I- I under…understand where your thoughts- your thoughts went. I’m very- very sorry Wei- gongzi .”

Wei Wuxian shook his head and placed a hand on Wen Ning’s shoulder, looking around. “It’s okay, A- Ning. It’s fine. But… A- Cheng.”

“Oh! Yes, I saw! I- Wei- gongzi -”

Wei Wuxian placed his hands on his hips. “Didn’t I tell you in Cloud Recesses to call me Wei- gege ?”

“I could never!” Wen Ning sputtered.

Wei Wuxian sighed but motioned for Wen Ning to continue.

“Um. Uh- oh! I have a boat! It’s- it’s moored on the other- the other side of the- the pier! I- I could get Jiang- Zongzhu for you and- and take you to my jiejie .”

Wei Wuxian inhaled sharply. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess he is… Jiang- zongzhu …”

He then narrowed his eyes. “Where is Wen Qing?”

Wen Ning swallowed, “Ah… she’s in Yiling. She-”

“She runs a supervisory office?!” Wei Wuxian nearly screeched.

“Wei- gongzi , please! She- she has to… or else…” Wen Ning began.

“Right. Right. Right, you’re right, I- I’m sorry, A- Ning. What should-?”

“Go to the boat, Wei- gongzi . It’s not far. I’ve- I’ve already buried the former Jiang- zongzhu and Madam Yu. They didn’t care what happened to their bodies after… after…”

“Thank you, A- Ning. That’s really nice of you.” Wei Wuxian hugged him and Wen Ning relaxed.

“It’s no- no trouble, Wei- gongzi . It will work- work out, I hope. I will deal with everyone and then get Jiang- Zongzhu . I will meet you there.”

Chapter Text

“Explain to me again how you came to this conclusion.” Wen Qing said.

When Wen Ning and his two passengers arrived at Yiling, Wen Qing happened to be outside at the same time picking what looked like a regular bush that was planted near the main office. She immediately let out a strangled sound upon seeing them and stomped both intimidatingly and quickly, somehow, towards them.

She pulled Wen Ning out of the boat by the hand and furrowed her brow at Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng’s unconscious form.

She pinched her nose when Wei Wuxian simply said, “Hey, Qing- jie , long time no see” and told him in an angry low whisper, “get the fuck out of that boat, Wei Wuxian, the dumbasses that call themselves soldiers won’t leave me to my, and I quote , ‘boring ass herb picking’ for all that much longer if they see me outside!”

And so here they are in one of the back rooms of the office, where Wen Qing has her arms crossed sitting at a table with Wei Wuxian in front of her.

Jiang Cheng is laying on a bed to the side and Wen Ning is making tea as hastily as possible.

Wei Wuxian pursed his lips, “Well… I trust Wen Ning. And you didn’t immediately call over the soldiers and turn us in…”

“So that means I simply must be willing to help you?” Wen Qing said.

“Yes?” Wei Wuxian smiled his best smile, but Wen Qing remained unmoved. “Qing- jiiiiiieeeee ”

“Who’s your Qing- jie ?” Wen Qing nearly yelled.

When Wei Wuxian went silent and lowered his chin, looking up at her through his lashes, she sighed again.

“You spent too much time with both A- Ning and Nie Huaisang while at Cloud Recesses.”

“Qing- jiiiiieeee ”

“All right! All right! As long as…”

“What?” Wei Wuxian leaned forward.

Wen Qing pursed her lips. “My family, A- Xian. I want… I want them to be free.”

Wei Wuxian nodded.

Wen Ning brought in tea and said, “This should bring- bring down our adrenaline.”

Wen Qing allowed Wei Wuxian to thank him before speaking again, “I want to be able to be assured that my family survive through this war. Especially if… if the Sunshot Campaign wins. If they don’t, it won’t matter who’s dead or alive, but if they win-”

“Don’t worry, Qing- jie . I’ll bring it up!” Wei Wuxian beamed and Wen Qing squinted at him.

A groan came from the bed and Wen Qing waved at Wei Wuxian, “he’s waking up. Go.”

As Wei Wuxian stood, Jiang Cheng opened his eyes and immediately panicked. “ A-Jie ? Gege ? A-Jie !?”

Wei Wuxian rushed over and pushed Jiang Cheng down as he tried to sit up, “Ssshh, A- Cheng, what if you weren’t safe? What would calling for us do?”

Jiang Cheng squinted and winced. “I don’t know. I wasn’t exactly thinking .”

He looked over at his brother and flinched when he saw Wen Qing sitting at the table sipping her tea and Wen Ning standing looking at him with his hands wringing in front of his chest.

“It’s okay. It’s A- Ning and Qing- jie . They’ll help us.” Wei Wuxian brushed Jiang Cheng’s hair out of his face from where it fell.

“They will?” Jiang Cheng’s eyes were wide, but when Wei Wuxian nodded, he attempted to get out of bed.

When Wei Wuxian pushed him back down, he glared at him and bowed to Wen Qing and Wen Ning from bed, “Thank you. I don’t know… thank you for finding this idiot and… and rescuing me.”

Wen Qing nodded, “that was all A- Ning. I can’t say I would have done the same as him in his position, so there’s no need to thank me . But now that you’re here, I will… help you and send you on your way . You can’t stay here for long. It will bode ill for all of us.”

Each boy nodded and she sighed again, “But you’re welcome. I-”

Jiang Cheng gasped loudly and everyone looked at him, “I apologise. I just… I… what am I going to do? My home… my… parents… bad as they were… I- I’m a sect leader , aren’t I, gege ?”

When Wei Wuxian hesitated and nodded slightly, Jiang Cheng laughed incredulously. “ Gege , what do I do? I can’t… Do you remember when A-Niang was fighting Huadan Shou and she said that he had only melted part of her core?”

“Vague… vaguely… A- Cheng, what are you…?”

Jiang Cheng stuck out his arm, the action interrupting him.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened and he hastily checked his meridians before Wen Qing pushed him slightly to the side and checked for herself.

Jiang Cheng said, “See? He… he melted my entire core. There was nothing stopping him from melting all of it . I’m coreless . And I’m sect leader ? I’m doomed. I’ve never- I don’t…” Tears leaked from his eyes. “How am I supposed to effectively do my job? How am I supposed to be myself ? I’m… gege , I’m tired.”

He looked at Wei Wuxian who was frozen where he stood after Wen Qing shoved him aside.

There was silence.

Jiang Cheng gave them a fractured smile. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be fine.”

❤️🩵❤️

“If you must.”

This was the response Wei Wuxian got from Wen Qing when she was making sure Jiang Cheng didn’t die while passed out and he asked if he could browse her library.

Yes, it was probably not the best time, Wei Wuxian could admit, but he’d been sneaking into places this way through Jiang Fengmian for so long, he just kind of… did it again… with Wen Qing.

It wasn’t his fault though.

He needed to… his siblings have protected him. Now it was time to protect them. Jiang Cheng was a sect leader… that’s why…

“And that’s why I need that specifically.”

Wen Ning pursed his lips. “I don’t know…”

“Wen Ning.” Wei Wuxian leaned forward, widening his eyes and raising his eyebrows.

“I think A-Jie would know better-”

“No, you know what she’d say? She’d say-” He raised his voice to a higher pitch. “‘Wei Wuxian, you dumbass, no. No! Do you have a death wish?’ That! That’s what she’d say.”

“Do you have a death wish, Wei Wuxian?” Wen Qing’s voice came from the doorway.

Wei Wuxian turned around in his seat so fast he fell to the side. “Qing- jie !”

Wen Ning blanched. “I- I will go prepare a meal.”

Wen Qing walked in and past Wei Wuxian to a wall of texts, all with maroon spines. “What do you want, Wei Wuxian?”

Wei Wuxian twiddled his thumbs.

Wen Qing glanced at him, “Out with it!”

Wei Wuxian burst out, “do you have any medical books that focus on the restoration of golden cores?”

“What?” Wen Qing turned to him fully.

Wei Wuxian sighed and said again, “The restoration of golden cores. A- Cheng… he… he won’t be the same once he accepts it. He’s still… processing… I don’t want him to…”

“There is no way to restore a core someone lost.” Wen Qing said.

Wei Wuxian deflated as Wen Qing turned back to her search for her specific book.

When she found it, Wei Wuxian said again, “What about… transferring cores?”

Wen Qing dropped her book, cursed, and rose again.

Wei Wuxian pointed at her, “So there is something!”

Wen Qing clutched her book to her chest, “no.”

Wei Wuxian scrambled up as she began to walk towards the door. “There totally is!”

Wen Qing shook her head, “No.”

Wei Wuxian followed her, “I know you know of a book with something like that in it!”

Wen Qing walked towards the main office again, “There isn’t.”

Wei Wuxian whined, “Qing- jiiiieeee .”

Wen Qing spun around on the porch and Wei Wuxian nearly ran right into her. “No! There is no way! It- It’s only a theory!”

Wei Wuxian pointed at her, “But theoretically, it is possible!”

Wen Qing spun around again, “I’m not discussing this with you.”

Wei Wuxian jogged after her, “Qing- jiiiiiieeeee ”

Wen Qing went into the office and slammed the book on the desk, “Wei Wuxian.”

Wei Wuxian followed her, rounded the table, almost giddily, and slammed his palms on the other side of the desk. “Qing- jie .”

They stared at each other for about two minutes before Wen Qing broke again, “No. I’m not doing it. I’m not showing you what it is. No way.”

Wei Wuxian whined again.

Wen Qing continued, “And there’s no way you’ll find that book either. You’ll have to leave in less than a week to avoid the risk of exposure to my uncle’s soldiers. So think of another way to help your brother. I am not helping you with that .”

About two days later, Wen Qing stared at Wei Wuxian with tired eyes, a tilt of the head, and a scowl on her lips as he sat across from her sheepishly holding up the book with a very specific procedure on its pages. Wen Qing didn’t move nor take a deep breath before saying, “you have either the best or worst luck on the planet.”

Wen Ning entered. “ Jiejie , did Wei- gongzi -”

“- gege ” Wei Wuxian interrupted.

Wen Ning paused before looking at his sister and then back to Wei Wuxian. He continued, looking again at his sister. “Did he find what- what he was looking for?”

“Yes.” Wen Qing said, still unmoving.

“Oh!” Wen Ning brightened and moved forward. “That’s great!”

Wen Qing didn’t move but to nod her head, “Yeah. It’s phenomenal.”

When Wei Wuxian gave her another sheepish smile, she looked to her brother. “How’s Jiang- zongzhu ?”

Wen Ning straightened. “He’s eating well and- and has all of his colour rest- restored. He has pulled his hair back into a- a ponytail and been able to brush- to brush it. I think that means…”

Wen Qing gave him a look that Wei Wuxian thought was supposed to be encouraging.

Thusly encouraged, Wen Ning continued, “it means that he’s mentally well as well as physically, despite losing his- losing his…” He paused again and continued after a deep breath, “losing his golden core.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Excellent! So we should be good!”

Wen Qing glared at him. “I know why you want to do this. But if your brother is otherwise fine , I don’t see why you need to suffer. ”

Wei Wuxian looked at her incredulously and then looked back at Wen Ning and turned halfway back to Wen Qing, an eyebrow raised, “you’re saying you wouldn’t do whatever you could to restore your younger brother’s full confidence?”

Wen Qing glared at him and raised her chin, crossing her arms. “Of course I would. That is not the same.”

“Isn’t it?” Wei Wuxian asked, leaning sideways against the table, his arm on it, hand dangling off near his raised knee as he smiled at Wen Qing.

Wen Ning looked confusedly between Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing.

There was a brief moment of silence where no one moved and the only thing you could hear was Jiang Cheng’s occasional sighs from the other room.

Then Wen Qing growled. “I fucking hate you.”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “You love me!”

“Unfortunately!” Wen Qing pushed up and stood. She walked around the table and pulled at Wei Wuxian’s cheek.

“Ow! Ow, ow ow ow ow, Qing- jie , Qing- jie , that hurts!” Wei Wuxian grasped at her wrist.

She didn’t move and continued to pull. “You stupid. Self-sacrificing. Idiot!”

“Qing- jie ! My cheek will be pulled off!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed as much as he could with his cheek being pulled the way it was.

“Dumbass!” Wen Qing exclaimed.

“ Jiejie .” Wen Ning tried.

“You’re the worst younger brother I’ve ever acquired!” Wen Qing continued.

“ Jiejie !-” Wen Ning tried again.

“I’m surprised you’re not already dead !” Wen Qing growled.

“ Jiejie , he- his cheek will hurt a lot for- for a while if- if you- if you continue!” Wen Ning finally choked out.

Wen Qing scoffed and let go, Wei Wuxian rubbing at his cheek. “I hate you.”

“Love you too, Qing- jie !” Wei Wuxian said as he rubbed his cheek and scurried out of the library. “I’ll tell Jiang Cheng a story and then we can get started!”

He ran off before he could hear Wen Qing yell at him about how what he wants them to do is not some project they have to do for Lan Qiren.

❤️🩵❤️

“Really? It can be restored?” Jiang Cheng blinked.

“Yep! Don’t you trust me?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“No.” Jiang Cheng responded immediately.

Wei Wuxian gasped. “ A- Cheng! You don’t trust your own gege ?”

Jiang Cheng squinted at him. “Not when you’re like this.”

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. “Well! You should. You know, Lan Zhan would never treat me this way.”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, “I was wondering how long it would take for you to mention him again.”

Wei Wuxian gaped. “ A- Cheng!”

“Yeah yeah, I know.” Jiang Cheng said, “Whatever. Fine. I’ll trust you. Where do we go?”

“You’ll have to trust me a bit more for a bit longer.”

Jiang Cheng will later say that he never should have and that he has the worst and best older brother on the face of the planet, but for now, he takes Wei Wuxian’s word for it.

Chapter Text

“Wei Wuxian, you’re doing well, you’re doing so well, A- Ying. A- Ning, stop crying! It’s not helpful! If you cry, he’ll start to cry- wipe his forehead!”

The process has been going on for nearly four days now.

They were on a mountain near Yiling and Jiang Cheng was unconscious as Wen Qing carefully transferred Wei Wuxian’s full, glowing golden core into Jiang Cheng’s body.

Wei Wuxian had to stay awake.

Wen Ning was keeping him as calm as possible and keeping him steady, wiping at his brow. He was holding onto any and all anxiety Wen Qing or Wei Wuxian would have had all for himself.

It was better that way.

Hours later, Wen Qing sat back and wiped at her own brow. She breathed deeply, her breath hitching when she attempted to take another one.

“ Jiejie …?”

“ A- Ning. I need to go… back to the… they’ll wonder… I’m glad I got herbs already to explain my absence. You… you need to… stay with them. Jiang…” She took another deep breath. “Jiang- Zongzhu should… should wake up within… three hours now… wake… wake A- Ying about… an hour before then, okay? He needs to… be in town… to wait for his brother. Can you… can you handle this?”

Wen Ning looked at his sister and steeled himself. “Yes. Yes, I can.”

Wen Qing smiled, “Good boy… I… I will be out like… like a light when I get back. I’ll give an explanation… but…”

Wen Ning nodded, “No need to elabo- elaborate, jiejie . You’ve also been… been awake for a long time. And focussing, despite- despite that. We’ll be fine.”

Two hours later, Wei Wuxian woke up and asked where Wen Qing was.

When Wen Ning told him, he said, “Ah… yes. She deserves it. For what she’s done for me… and A- Cheng… A- Ning, go back. A- Cheng will be fine. I’ll watch him for another thirty minutes and then go down the mountain to wait for him. Go.”

“Are you sure?” Wen Ning had begun to ring his hands, only stopping when Wei Wuxian reached up from his seated position and stopped them himself.

“I am.” Wei Wuxian smiled, “Go. I’ll be fine.”

❤️🩵❤️

“Well! What luck have we! Look who it is!” Wen Chao kicked Wei Wuxian down from his sitting position outside the inn.

Wei Wuxian was smiling, almost crazily, as he sat back up.

Wen Chao backed up a bit at his look, but tried to recover himself quickly. “ A- Jiao, look! It’s Wei Wuxian!”

Wang Lingjiao hung off his arm. “It is, gongzi ! He still owes us, doesn’t he? Shall we kill him?”

Wen Chao laughed and indicated for Wen Zhuliu to move. He did.

Wei Wuxian let him put his hand on his chest and smiled when his eyes widened.

Wei Wuxian smiled at him more. He whispered, “What? Huadan Shou , can you not find something you were searching for?”

Wen Zhuliu maintained his composure and stepped back, not revealing anything to Wen Chao, who smiled at Wei Wuxian. “Well! Now that that’s out of the way, what sh… what’s the word? Fuck. What should we do with you?”

Wei Wuxian continued to smile and looked up at him, “were you perhaps thinking of the word ‘shall?’”

Wen Chao smiled and pointed, “Yes! That’s-” His smile fell and he scowled, “Oh, shut the hell up! You’re basically already a dead man! Why do you still smile?”

Wei Wuxian lulled, still smiling, as stated. “Ha! What reason do I have not to? Do whatever you will to me. I’ll only come back to haunt you until you expire like a pig for sale yourself.”

Wen Chao backed up, “You! Ha! Are you trying to scare A- Jiao? Even she knows that every member of the gentry is prevented from becoming anything close to a restless spirit almost at birth!”

Wang Lingjiao cut in, “ Gongzi ! He’s trying to scare us!”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “At birth, you said, right? I wasn’t. I wasn’t brought into the gentry until I was nigh a decade old. My parents were rogue cultivators.” He smiled, “The late Jiang- Zongzhu never thought to perform it on me. I’m as likely to come back and haunt you as the cook you badger to death for a ten course meal!” He laughed again, almost crazily.

Wen Chao was scared, but he tried not to show it.

He kicked Wei Wuxian and felt better when he went down easily. “Whatever you’re trying to do won’t work. Take him!”

Wei Wuxian would not say he was smug when he was dragged to his feet and dangled by the armpits from a guy he wouldn’t trust as far as he could throw him with only physical strength from a sword, but he wouldn’t say he wasn’t a bit pleased with getting the goat of Wen Chao so easily.

Now, when they didn’t fly very far before stopping, then Wei Wuxian started to really worry.

“See where we are, Wei Wuxian?” Wen Chao said, smiling behind him at Wei Wuxian. “This is one of the worst places known to both cultivators and lowly… uh… what’s the word?”

“Farmers?” Wang Lingjiao said, from in front of him on his sword.

“No.” Wen Chao shook his head.

“Merchants?” Wang Lingjiao tried again.

“No!” Wen Chao yelled, making his sword wobble a little.

After both Wang Lingjiao and he screamed briefly and re-steadied, he cleared his throat.

Wen Zhuliu barely moved, but he said, “Plebeians.”

“Yes!” Wen Chao shook his sword accidentally again, rebalanced and cleared his throat. “Yes, Plebeians. Wei Wuxian, do you know where we are?”

Wei Wuxian had been kind of hoping, throughout this exchange, to just be dropped rather than go through it, but now that attention was redirected onto him, he wanted to remain in the air as long as possible.

“Well, since you are so eager, you should know. This is the Burial Mounds. No one has ever entered and been able to… fuck!”

Wen Zhuliu said, “Just say the phrase, ‘come out again.’”

Wen Chao cleared his throat, “Yes. That.”

Wei Wuxian would have made a remark like, “Yeah? You gonna throw me in?” However, given the circumstances, he didn’t want to make that be his final joke.

It would be horribly ironic, and the joke would be on him.

So he just stayed quiet. It didn’t matter anyway. He was let go.

The sound of the air rushing past him as he fell drowned out the sound of Wen Chao’s hysterical laughter.

Piece of shit .

🩵❤️🩵

Lan Wangji was a composed person.

He was disciplined.

He was put-together and always abided by the rules.

If his brother told him one more time to ‘just be patient’ he was going to do something extremely drastic, perhaps distasteful, unwise, and completely out of character.

His brother had arrived in the Unclean Realm not too long before Jiang Yanli did.

His brother had brought with him plenty of people willing to join the cause.

Excellent.

Amazing.

Nie Huaisang and he were going to explode.

When Jiang Yanli arrived, Nie Huaisang bolted out of the door.

Lan Wangji followed, but years of training prevented him from… bolting.

Nie Huaisang knew this.

So he stopped at the end of the hallway, turned around and bolted back to Lan Wangji, took his hand, and then bolted back down the hallway, dragging Lan Wangji behind him.

Lan Wangji attempted to keep up as best he could.

Jiang Yanli was tired and worn down, but when she saw them, she smiled.

Nie Mingjue scolded his brother but was ignored.

Jiang Yanli took Nie Huaisang’s hand and said she didn’t know where her brothers had ended up.

She looked to Lan Wangji and back to Nie Huaisang. “ A- Cheng was captured to prevent A- Xian from being captured. A -Xian went to get him back. I don’t know beyond that. I was sent here. I’m sorry I can not provide more.”

She was assured it was okay but she held tightly to both Nie Huaisang’s hand and Lan Wangji’s, giving them each a knowing look.

Nie Huaisang deflated, but Lan Wangji tensed.

Jiang Yanli smiled and turned to Nie Mingjue, still holding their hands. “Nie- Zongzhu , would it be possible for me to use the kitchens briefly? I need to clear my head… cooking helps me…” She stopped him when he tried to tell her to rest. “My brothers are out there. I will only rest when they are found. My parents are dead. I will represent YunmengJiang until my brothers return. I need to be prepared.”

She turned to Nie Huaisang and Lan Wangji, but still talked to Nie Mingjue. “If I can make food, especially for people important to my brothers, I will be able to represent my sect well regardless of how tired I am physically. I will sleep when night falls.”

She turned back to Nie Mingjue and bowed when he granted her permission, letting go of Nie Huaisang and Lan Wangji’s hands. “Thank you.”

They all fell asleep together in Nie Huaisang’s room, in a pile. Jiang Yanli felt it was like being with her brothers still, just enough.

Chapter Text

If Wei Wuxian had thought a bit more about it, he would have one hundred percent figured out a way to drag Wen Chao down here with him.

Of course, daring a Wen of the main branch to do anything at all has proven to be a horrible decision. The Burial Mounds. It claimed him easily - like an old friend. Wei Wuxian hated it. There was nothing around here - only death. Corpses and ghosts in pain and dead trees and a cave and an old stone structure that could have been a main hall or even a dining pavilion. It was hard to tell.

There was one ghost who wasn’t trying to kill him. She had died tragically. She was still angry about it. She told him in whispers how she had been very careful in life and never trusted easily. The people who caused her death had never earned her trust but still caused her death. She was resentful, so she hadn’t moved on, but she knows they are long dead. She led him to the cave and put a barrier, as much as she could, to ease the pain and suffering surrounding him for just a bit. It was almost subduing with her in the cave. She said she didn’t remember her name.

Wei Wuxian called her Àoxīng.

She whispered that she liked it. She brought him meat. He didn’t ask her where she got it. She sharpened her nails and used energy to make her hands corporeal and ran them through his hair to brush it. She had to leave for about a day every time she did it because she needed to regain her energy. Those days were the worst. Those days he had the worst panic.

Sometimes he would have a panic attack just thinking about the prospect of her leaving. She reminded him of Jiejie . Those days were horrible. She would get guilty and stay by him while he hallucinated and cried. Then she would leave for four whole days and the hallucinations would be worse. He would hear his family calling out to him.

One day he heard a song. And Lan Zhan’s voice calling him. Àoxīng wasn’t here but Wei Wuxian stopped and listened. It was… what was that Lan song? Inquiry? And… There was a pipa too. But Lan Zhan’s voice.

He couldn’t respond, but it got him through the day to sing his song he wrote for Lan Zhan whenever he heard Inquiry.

The first month passed difficultly, but when he discovered whistling made the corpses around him jerk, he formed the beginnings of an idea, as if nothing had changed.

🩵❤️🩵

“Correct my finger placement one more time and I’ll be seeing you on the training field.” Jiang Cheng said to Lan Wangji.

He had made his way to the Unclean Realm by himself when Wei Wuxian didn’t meet him down the mountain. He arrived frantically, big bags holding up bloodshot eyes and hair in a ponytail that was so loose it was nearly falling out. It wasn’t even high on his head - it was at the base of his neck. His hair, the normal length imperceptible to the eye now visibly coming down to his waist.

He arrived in a flurry and Nie Huaisang, who was in town buying supplies for the kitchens, immediately noticed him with a horrified yell. He had run up to Jiang Cheng and held his face until tired eyes blazing scarlet focussed on him enough to calm down. Zidian sparked on his finger but nothing else indicated he was lucid at the time. Nie Huaisang hugged him tight and then took his hand, leading him to the Unclean Realm barely hearing the merchant say he would be sending his goods with a courier. Jiang Cheng slept in Nie Huaisang’s room for about two days straight. He woke around three in the morning in a panic until Nie Huaisang also woke and calmed him down with shushing and a steady hand over his heart.

Now it had been almost a month since he descended the mountain with his golden core restored and no older brother in sight. Three weeks ago, he had heard Lan Wangji playing Inquiry and Jiang Yanli following along on a pipa, only a couple notes behind. Upon learning they were hoping against hope that someone somewhere beyond the mortal realm had heard what had happened to Wei Wuxian, he had demanded to be taught. He snatched Wangji from Lan Wangji and placed it on his own lap with a hurried, “What do I do now?”

At this point, his finger placement was perfect but it was the notes that tripped him up sometimes. So when Lan Wangji told him to move his finger, he snapped.

“You have to move that finger up and down a bit when playing that specific set of notes or it doesn’t…” Lan Wangji cut himself off and sighed.

Jiang Yanli put down her pipa. “I think we need a break, boys.”

Nie Huaisang then entered the room with a platter. “I don’t know how you two have disciplined yourself enough to learn Inquiry. Don’t look at me like that, Lan Wangji.”

Lan Wangji raised his chin.

“Don’t roll your eyes in that special way, either, I can’t read you like Wei- xiong can.” There was a silence there only broken by Nie Huaisang sighing as he sat next to Jiang Cheng. “Eat. All of you. You’ve all been playing and playing for information on Wei- xiong for weeks . It’s time to switch strategies.”

“And to what do you suggest we switch to?” Jiang Cheng groused.

Nie Huaisang turned to Jiang Cheng with a frown and hit him upside the head. “Don’t speak to me that way.”

When Jiang Cheng mumbled an apology, he continued. “Anything. Da-Ge is getting restless. He’s seen more and more activity on our borders from basically all sides. He’ll want you two-” He thrust his chin to both Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng. “-to get out there sooner or later. He won’t accept this as a viable excuse for much longer the more liberties the Wen seem to take. It’s war now. It’s been war. I can’t keep- I can’t keep making excuses.”

Lan Wangji blinked but didn’t do much else.

Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng looked at each other before Jiang Yanli said, “You’re right, A- Sang.”

Nie Huaisang raised his chin and then stopped for a moment before dropping it into a nod again.

Jiang Cheng scoffed and flicked his ear, causing Nie Huaisang to squeal unattractively and put a hand over his ear before leaning away from Jiang Cheng and looking at him affronted.

There was a moment of silence and stillness before Nie Huaisang, not moving from his position, said, “Stop it.”

Jiang Cheng blinked and then scoffed again. “You came in here to get us off our asses, right? Don’t look at me like that, Lan Wangji, you should be used to my cursing by now. How are we going to find my brother?”

Nie Huaisang sighed and sat up to stand, clapping his hands together once when he was up. “You go search in person.”

❤️🩵❤️

Àoxīng led him to a grove of black bamboo.

She hissed at some walking corpses nearby and they scattered. She looked back at Wei Wuxian and out into the field.

Wei Wuxian stepped into it and blinked. “You think I’m ready, Àoxīng?”

She jerked her head and opened her mouth in a motion that would have definitely been a scoff had she had a voice box. She faded in and out due to her excess emotions.

He whistled a bit calling forth the dead just enough for hands to extend out. He crouched down to his knees and bent over next to one, tilting his head to examine it. “This one is good.” He sat up and sent a prayer to the person, whoever they were, and the bones beneath the ground settled and receded. The one he inspected also went, leaving their distal and middle phalanges 2 behind.

Wei Wuxian picked it up and held the piece of finger up to Àoxīng, who corporealised her own fingers in order to quickly sharpen the bone with her nails. He knew that she would disappear again, but with the time the corporalisation was needed, it should only be a few hours. When it was sharpened, he thanked her and she nodded, disappearing. He went around the field, looking at the bamboo stalks, inspecting. When he found one he liked, he cut it with the finger-knife. He smiled, before the smile morphed into a frankly scary smirk. “Now we’re in business.”

🩵❤️🩵

It had been two months since Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji began going around seemingly the entire Jianghu in search of Wei Wuxian. They helped out where they could, but it was widely known who they were searching for. They spent weeks in one area sometimes. They raided some supervisory offices. They camped out. Wen Qing almost murdered Jiang Cheng when they showed up at her door in secret at around 1am.

“Are you out of your mind, Jiang W- Zongzhu ?” She hit his arm multiple times as he smiled and sat down at the table, Lan Wangji following. Wen Qing crossed her arms and leaned back to search outside the window. When she didn’t see anything, she turned back to the men, one of which, was once again making it inconvenient for her to be alive. For the second time in three months. She flexed her hands. “What do you want from me?”

Jiang Cheng looked at Lan Wangji who remained silent before looking back at Wen Qing. “He’s trustworthy.”

Wen Qing growled, sneering. “Right now, I am betraying Wen Ruohan by even acknowledging your presence without killing you. My-” She cut herself off.

Lan Wangji spoke when it was clear she wouldn’t continue. “Your family can be safe.”

“You-” She started, before being cut off.

“ Gege trusted you. I trust you now. There’s no reason not to. Your brother helped free me and buried my parents’ bodies. Thank you. Wen Qing. We need information. Wei Wuxian treated you and your brother as his own siblings, as he does me, and as he does A-Jie . That means something to me. Because I am his didi. He is missing. We’ve been searching for… forever. We have come up empty. Please Wen Qing.”

“What do you want from me?” Wen Qing repeated. “I don’t know - I… what assurance- nevermind. Fine. Whatever. I’ve only heard a bit. And I hoped it wasn’t true. When you went down the mountain, you didn’t find A- Ying, did you?”

“How did you know about the mountain?”

“You think that idiot didn’t tell me everything he was planning while sitting in my library while I was in earshot?” Wen Qing asked, her arms propping her body against the edge of the table as she leaned, not missing a beat.

“Go on.” Jiang Cheng said, sighing.

“Thank you, Jiang- Zongzhu .” She said, still maintaining her position. After a beat, she leaned back again. “As I was saying. You didn’t find him. From what I’ve heard - I had no way of proving this hearsay, however, before I tell you anything , promise you won’t blow up.” She said, eyeing Zidian .

“What?” Jiang Cheng nearly screeched, standing.

“Promise me.” She said, looking up at Jiang Cheng only with her eyes.

“We promise.” Lan Wangji said, pulling Jiang Cheng back down to his seat.

When there was no immediate protest, Wen Qing glanced at Lan Wangji, assessing. “Huh.” She said, leaning back. “Good. I don’t want to dedicate too much time to this. So I will tell you as if I were reporting something with no personal interest in the matter, all right?”

“Wen Qing, get on with it, please .”

“All right, Jiang- Zongzhu , since you begged so nicely.” Wen Qing responded. “I heard that he… he was almost immediately apprehended by Wen Chao-”

“FUCK.” Jiang Cheng said, standing and causing the table to push into Wen Qing a bit.

Lan Wangji sighed, “Attention.”

“Sorry.” Jiang Cheng said, through gritted teeth, sitting back down.

Wen Qing pushed the table back a bit before continuing. “Lan Wangji, restrain him a bit, would you?”

“Wen Qing, are you-”

Lan Wangji hesitated a moment before semi-hugging him with one arm, holding one of Jiang Cheng’s in his left hand and holding Jiang Cheng’s other hand against his side.

Jiang Cheng scowled. “This is ridiculous. And you! Lan Wangji, you’re the worst at restraining someone. If I didn’t know you have crazy ass Lan arm strength I would say this isn’t restraining me at all!”

Lan Wangji said, “Mn.”

Wen Qing continued. “Wei Wuxian… was taken to the Burial Mounds and thrown in.”

There was silence. Lan Wangji didn’t move. He seemed to be frozen. His arm loosened around Jiang Cheng until it fell away completely but the restraint wasn’t needed. Jiang Cheng was also frozen. Even Zidian didn’t crackle. Wen Qing remained composed but did take a deep breath.

It was this that broke Jiang Cheng from what seemed to be a fog. “You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie?” Wen Qing almost cut off his question in response.

“I don’t know.”

There was silence again.

Lan Wangji stood up and went across the room to the back of the office, to the library.

Wen Qing assumed he needed a minute. She would give it to him. Briefly. She raised her chin when she glanced at Jiang Cheng.

He didn’t move after saying he didn’t know why she would lie. He didn’t move at all. He was almost eerily still. He didn’t move, but he spoke. “Pack up. Get your brother. You’re coming with us back to The Unclean Realm.”

“My family-”

“Are separated already in location from Nightless City, right? We’ll get them. Hurry.”

Wen Qing sat there for a minute longer before standing abruptly.

Jiang Cheng held out two qiankun pouches and she took them, going to the side room she had given to her brother. Presumably to get him up and packed himself.

Jiang Wanyin went into the library, feeling rather numb. “Lan Wangji.” He walked to Lan Wangji and stood next to him. “We need to get Wen Qing’s family from… where they live. We’re not gonna sleep tonight.”

Lan Wangji nodded. He also felt rather numb. He reacted even less than he normally did throughout the process of assuring Wen Ning, getting both siblings out on respective swords, and getting to… Dafan Mountain. There was a ringing in his ears. It persisted through convincing the matriarch of the community, dubbed Wen-popo, that it would be better to leave.

It wasn't clear until a baby was handed to him to carry. The child was at the age where he was just starting to smile - a couple months old. He smiled at Lan Wangji with the same sunny smile as Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng nodded at Wen Qing as she put her popo into one of their carts they repurposed for transportation. He slapped his brother’s talismans onto the sides of each. The talisman was called “Look Away.” He hoped it would be enough.

❤️🩵❤️

“Do you hear it? Do you hear it?”

“No.”

“It’s there. It’s there! My hair! My hair is falling out!”

“It’s not! Gongzi , it’s not!”

“Shut up! Wen Zhuliu, save me, save me. Save me. Save me! SAVE ME!”

🩵❤️🩵

“This is the second supervisory office we’ve found that is near abandoned.”

“Mn.”

“Where are we close to?”

“Yueyang.”

“Yueyang?”

“Mn.” There was a pause. “Chang.”

“So this is…”

“Abandoned. Chang gone.”

“Ugh.” Jiang Cheng grimaced.

“Mn.” Lan Wangji walked toward the back courtyard before stopping. “ A- Cheng.”

“What? Did you find something?” Jiang Cheng came up behind him and stopped short just behind his shoulder. There were so many bodies. Wen bodies. They seemed to form a line leading out of the sect grounds. As if they were lined up, perhaps… “Were they protecting something?”

“Someone.”

“You think?”

“Mn.”

“From what?”

Lan Wangji didn’t respond for a moment. “Some were thrown further.”

Jiang Cheng followed his gaze to some bodies that were further away. One was slumped against what might have been a small fountain or washing station. The body had broken a portion off, seemingly hitting the body in the head again before falling to its side. There was blood everywhere. “Ugh.”

Lan Wangji bent down towards the end of the trail of bodies. “Upturned earth.”

“Fierce corpses?”

“Or yaoguai .”

“All here? How? This is a minor…”

“Nm.”

“I know you don’t know!” Jiang Cheng walked to the end of the line, passing Lan Wangji and peeking outside of the sect grounds. It wasn’t desolate, there was a village not far from there. Jiang Cheng could see candlelight. “Headed towards Xi’An.”

“Mn.”

“You did not know that!”

“Trail came here from Kuizhou, seemingly also Yiling. Line.”

There was a moment of silence. Then Jiang Cheng spoke. “Shut up, Lan Wangji.”

“Mn.”

❤️🩵❤️

“What is it? What is it?”

“Talisman.”

“Talisman?! What talisman!!?”

“Don’t know.”

“You don’t know! A- Jiao, A- Jiao-”

“Get away from me! Get away from me!”

The child was like a demon, crawling across the floor towards her.

“It wasn’t me! It was Wen -gongzi ! Wen Chao- gongzi ! It wasn’t me!” She backed away until her back was pushed against the bed. “It wasn’t me!”

The child reached up and she closed her eyes. It pulled on her necklace, pulling her face towards it with the necklace. She screamed as the necklace was pulled off her neck, cutting into it. She felt blood slowly trace down her back. “PLease. plesae.Pleaseeeplesahelp.Help Helpo. HJELOP ME!”

The child bit down on her necklace and it broke. The child chewed on one part and swallowed it. It was pure gold. Then the music picked up again. Wang Lingjiao screamed.

“The music! You hear it, don’t you? A- Jiao, A- Jiao.”

“We need to leave, Wen- er-gongzi .”

“ A- Jiao, A- Jiao-”

“She’s gone.”

“No No-”

Her body hangs in the room opposite them. They keep on moving.

Тили-тили-бом Закрой глаза скорее / Кто-то ходит за окном и стучится в двери / «Тили-тили-бом!» — кричит ночная птица / Он уже пробрался в дом, к тем, кому не спится /

“What is that? What is that?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know anything!”

A scream.

Он идёт, он уже близко!

“No! No! It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me! Who’s close? Who’s close? No one is close!”

Он идёт, он уже близко!

“NO! I’ve left him behind. I've left him behind NO ONE ESCAPES THE BURIAL MOUNDS.”

He screams when he hears ghostly laughter following his statement.

Тили-тили-бом! Ты слышишь, кто-то рядом

Притаился за углом и пронзает взглядом

“NO! I can’t hear him! He’s far away! Far away! Wen Zhuliu, save me! Save me! SAVE ME!”

“You can understand what’s being said?”

“Wen Zhuliu, Wen Zhuliu.”

Тили-тили-бом! Всё скроет ночь немая

“Music! Music! No music! nO muSic! WEe need music! No music! Silent night, silent night, no silence no silent nights - The silent night hides…. NO SOUND! SOUND! We need sound, Wen Zhuliu! He can’t hide anything in noise!”

За тобой крадётся он и вот-вот поймает

“No! He’s not going to get me! He’s not going to get me!”

Он идёт, он уже близко!

“Where?! How close!?”

Он идёт, он уже близко!

“Wen Zhuliu, save me! Save me!”

“No one can save you. Not even him.”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

Wen Zhuliu stands in front of Wen Chao as someone comes up the stairs.

“There’s plenty you’ve done. But I promised someone retribution. To right the wrongs of his oppressors .”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

“You’ve been quite busy. Even going outside of the territory of the empire to test your little inventions. It might have been your father, I admit. But I also have personal issues with you . I think it works out perfectly.”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

“Wen Zhuliu, aren’t you loyal? Why stand in front of me for him?”

“I have a debt.”

“To Wen Ruohan, I’m sure. What could this wretch ever do for anyone but himself?”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu…”

Laughter without meaning. “He calls out to you like you’re his lifeline. Are you? Is this helpful? Is this how you wanted to live your life?”

“I have a debt.”

“Is that all you can say?”

There was silence but for a steady stream of “Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

“Zhao Zhuliu. You could have been something as Zhao Zhuliu. But no. Now- now you will die as a hated man who thought repaying some debt was more important than thousands of lives .”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

“Shut up! Should I put you both in a cage first? Which demon should I send out for you?”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

“Shut up! Ugh. Àoxīng!” She appeared next to him in a whirl of red. “She didn’t always look like this. I was able to give her a little makeover. I hope you enjoy!”

Àoxīng moved in on Wen Chao as Wen Zhuliu moved.

Before anything else, just as Àoxīng landed another scratch to Wen Chao, the roof caved in, and Àoxīng disappeared.

Purple lightning shot out and wrapped around Wen Zhuliu’s neck, hoisting him up into the air, the lightning resting across a beam. Zidian was sizzling with emotion and Wen Zhuliu choked on it as his neck burned and released black smoke, filling the room with the smell of burning flesh. He struggled for only a couple seconds before he went limp and was dropped.

“ Gege !”

“ A- Cheng?”

“Wei Ying.”

“Wen Zhuliu Wen Zhuliu.”

Jiang Cheng hit Wen Chao once with Zidian to shut him up. He did after letting out a deafening shriek.

Wei Wuxian sighed.

Jiang Cheng went up to him and immediately pulled him into a hug. “I thought I lost you. I thought you were- when the mountain- and! Fuck. Fuck you, Wei Wuxian.”

Wei Wuxian laughed when Jiang Cheng pulled back and punched his arm. He looked past his brother to Lan Wangji. He missed Lan Wangji. His lovely Lan Zhan. He looked majestic. But…

“ Hanguang-Jun . It’s good to see you again.”

Chapter Text

“How the fuck do you know about that name?” Jiang Cheng asked Wei Wuxian.

“I know things.” Was the response, Wei Wuxian twirling his dizi between his fingers.

“Quit it.” Jiang Cheng said, grabbing Wei Wuxian’s hand. “Yeah, sure, maybe, but you don’t call him that. Lan Wangji, tell him.”

Lan Wangji remained silent and Jiang Cheng whipped his head around.

He squinted at Lan Wangji, who was looking at Wei Wuxian silently. “Fine, don’t. You have to eventually.” He let go of Wei Wuxian and crossed his arms. “Stupid.”

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow at his brother before turning back to Lan Wangji. “Should I not call you Hanguang-Jun? That’s your name.”

"TITLE." Jiang Cheng cut in.

“Not to you.” Lan Wangji finally said.

“Not to me?” Wei Wuxian half-smiled. “I’m a different person, Hanguang-Jun, from the last you saw me. I don’t think I have the privilege anymore.”

“Good gods.” Jiang Cheng muttered.

Lan Wangji didn’t flinch. “Wei Ying.”

“That’s me! No matter how different I am, that’s my name. Why do you still call me it? I thought you would have quit by now.”

“Quit?”

Wei Wuxian looked down and smiled, “Aiyah, Hanguang-Jun, don’t do this to me. You are light, yes? Light-bearing. I am dark. Very dark now. Did you not see what I did?”

There was a brief silence. Then, Lan Wangji said, “...it could harm you…”

Wei Wuxian laughed, then steeled his face, “I think I can control what I invented well enough, Lan Wangji.”

Jiang Cheng cut in then, “Okay, that’s quite enough of that. Whatever… this is… you can work it out later. “ Ge-f - ahem. Lan Wangji-”

He ignored his brother asking what he was about to call him. “We’ll discuss what happened to gege - all of us -” he said, looking at Wei Wuxian, who crossed his arms, “ A-Jie included-”

“She arrived safely?!” Wei Wuxian grabbed Jiang Cheng’s arm.

Jiang Cheng stomped his foot, “One sentence! Can I get through one sentence?! Yes! She’s fine!”

He paused.

“Sorry, you were justified in that. Yes, she arrived in the Unclean Realm safely and she’s waiting for both of us . So ! As I was saying ! We will discuss this later with everyone relevant to…”

He squinted at Wei Wuxian’s face then the rest of him.

When Wei Wuxian looked down at himself and tilted his head, Jiang Cheng continued, “your state of being.”

Wei Wuxian’s head shot up, “ HEY !”

Jiang Cheng ignored him. “Now!” He clapped. “I think we have something of a… let’s say nuisance still with us.”

All three of them looked to the corner at Wen Chao, who was regaining consciousness right on time to be scared out of his mind with the three staring him down.

He didn’t enjoy the following and last half hour of his life.

🩵❤️🩵

“Will you two knock it off? Gods, why am I the calm, collected one of the three of us? Lan Wangji, stop inadvertently provoking him. Wei Wuxian… don’t be so sensitive.”

“Hey!”

“You fucking deserved that! Now. I expect us to be in comfortable silence for the remainder of the journey back to the camp. It’s nearly your bedtime, ge-LAN WANGJI -”

“Why do you keep stumbling over his name?” Wei Wuxian asked.

Jiang Cheng ignored him. “I will not be the reason this doesn’t work out-”

“What work out?” Wei Wuxian asked.

Jiang Cheng ignored him. “So either knock it off or talk it out or the third option only Lan Wangji knows about-”

“Why does only Lan Zhan know it?”

Jiang Cheng did not ignore Wei Wuxian this time, especially his little name slip-up when he was trying to act completely indifferent. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“I’m older than you by like a month!”

“ WRONG . Wrong, ge. ge. You’re older than me by five, count them, five days.”

“Different months!”

“That hardly matters.” When Wei Wuxian started grumbling, Jiang Cheng continued. “Anyway, what did I ask for? Oh right! Comfortable silence for the remainder of the journey, which has just gotten shorter. Wei Wuxian, stop squirming! I gave you your sword, you’re lucky I’m even letting you ride with me!”

“I’m tired, A- Cheng!”

“Yeah, that’s the excuse you used, anyway. Shut up!”

When they got back to the Unclean Realm, Nie Huaisang, as usual, was there to welcome them. “ A- Cheng! Wangji! You found him! Wei -xiong !”

Nie Huaisang ran up to them, not missing a step as he, one after the other, squeezed Lan Wangji’s shoulder, kissed Jiang Cheng’s cheek, and then threw himself at Wei Wuxian before pulling away without a reciprocation and punching Wei Wuxian as hard as he could in the arm.

“Ow! Nie Huaisang, what the fuck!”

“You asshole! You- you- we thought you were dead! We thought you- are you all right? Are you healthy? Li- jiejie made soup!”

“Well, I was fine until you punched me in the arm ! I thought we were friends!”

“We are friends! You’re my best fucking friend, you bitch. And don’t you forget it!”

“ A- Sang, maybe lay off a bit?” Jiang Cheng cut in.

“Oh please, like you’re any better than I am. Just because he was potentially dead doesn’t mean I can’t be both relieved and pissed off at him for being alive. Were you stuck somewhere? We heard rumours, but, oh look at you! You need your sister’s soup, don’t you? I-”

“Nie Huaisang, be respectful.”

Nie Huaisang turned to his brother approaching. “ Da-Ge . Wei Wuxian is back!”

Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen walked out from the main hall to where they were.

Nie Mingjue hit Nie Huaisang upside the head. “Don’t be rude.”

He turned to Wei Wuxian, “I’m glad you’re well, Wei- gongzi . We’ve been in need of men here and I’m glad that I can safely deploy three missing men. Yes, Wangji, I counted you and Jiang- Zongzhu as missing. I couldn’t deploy you when you were off looking for this one, now could I?”

“Wei- gongzi, I am glad you’re back.” Lan Xichen cut in. “Please, go in. We will have a room set up for you promptly, but for now, how about you rest with your family? We’ve delayed as long as possible, but tomorrow we will send our main force out towards Qishan ourselves.”

“So soon?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“Yes." Nie Mingjue frowned. “You’ve been malnourished these few months, Wei- gongzi . Jiang- Zongzhu and Wangji will come with us tomorrow, but you should hold off until the medics deem you well enough to fight.”

“I can fight.” Wei Wuxian frowned.

Nie Mingjue smirked, “Nevertheless. About four people, three of which are around you presently, care about your well-being a whole lot. And for me, since Huaisang is one, I care about your well-being. Same for Xichen with Wangji. So, that’s six people now? A sufficient number, yes?”

When Wei Wuxian opened his mouth again, Nie Huaisang put a hand over his mouth, causing him to flinch back and raise his dizi .

Nie Huaisang didn’t move from where he had positioned himself, but he did give Wei Wuxian a quizzical look.

Wei Wuxian turned his head and saw everyone else also looking at him, concerned.

Nie Huaisang continued as if nothing had happened, lowering his arm. “It’s best if you don’t argue. Da-Ge is stubborn.”

“You’re stubborn, Huaisang.” Nie Mingjue said.

“Where do you think I got it from?” Nie Huaisang replied, not missing a beat.

Wei Wuxian seemed to relax.

Nie Huaisang turned away from his brother upon noticing out of the corner of his eye.

He turned to Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng. “I expect both of you to meet in my room.” He looked at his brother. “Jiang Yanli will also be there, but two of us are her brothers and will act as chaperones for her reputation despite our disinterest in romance with her.”

Nie Mingjue nodded and Nie Huaisang turned to Wei Wuxian, “Can I touch you, Wei- xiong ?”

Wei Wuxian hesitated before nodding and Nie Huaisang took his hand saying, “Best friend reacquired!”

Pointing at Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng each, he said, “Come along, boys!”

He considered it a win when Wei Wuxian smiled slightly after he started dragging him with him, Jiang Cheng hot on his heels and Lan Wangji lagging only slightly behind.

Chapter Text

It was gruesome. And there weren’t a lot of opportunities to breathe.

Nie Huaisang insisted on helping with coordination, so more often than not he, Wei Wuxian, and Jiang Cheng were all in one tent to derive some sense of comfort from each other.

When Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng inevitably started to get a little too touchy for Wei Wuxian - good for them, though, if it helps them get through a war, Wei Wuxian just doesn’t need to be privy - then Wei Wuxian would go out and practice raising more corpses after walking far enough away from the camp.

Occasionally, he would do his own raid and get scolded by Nie Mingjue for his recklessness and then contend with Lan Xichen’s concerned look.

I really don’t need that from him.

It was worse, though, when Lan Wangji caught him.

“Wei Ying.”

“ Hanguang-Jun .”

“Wei Ying…”

“Don’t. Don’t even.”

“I wasn’t-”

“Yes, you were.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t know if it was better or worse that Lan Wangji never continued the back and forth beyond that.

Maybe he just didn’t want it to turn into an actual argument.

Wei Wuxian didn’t want it to, either, mind, but…

Sometimes, when Wei Wuxian goes out on his own, he doesn’t do anything with the war. There are scouts around, he doesn’t have to… sometimes he does! But when he doesn’t… he just sits on a rooftop and acts like nothing is wrong, nothing has changed.

If he gets his hands on alcohol, then he drinks it.

His tolerance is much lower, so he risks actually getting drunk. Nie Huaisang scolds him and drags him into the kitchens when that happens and has soup made for him.

“I can’t do this every time, Wei- xiong , these are rations . Please. We’re almost through.”

And they kind of were. They were marching across, steadily. They would reach Xi-an not too much later than tonight.

🩵❤️🩵

Wei Ying was drunk. He was drunk and on top of Lan Wangji’s roof . He was going to fall off . Lan Wangji was not going to let that happen. Ever. No matter how much Wei Wuxian currently hates him.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji said as he jumped up next to Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian titled back and forth on the roof, luckily from side to side rather than backwards and forwards, alcohol sloshing out of the jar.

He turned his head to Lan Wangji and smiled broadly, “Lan Zhan! It’s you!”

And Lan Wangji froze.

The alcohol sloshed out of the jar a bit more and Wei Wuxian giggled, leaning back again and clutching the jar to his chest. “Oh no! Nie- xiong is going to kill me!”

He giggled again and smiled at Lan Wangji again, snapping Lan Wangji back to attention. He tentatively sat next to Wei Wuxian.

“Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian turned to face him. “Lan Zhan!” He put his wine jar to the side and raised his arms up into the sky, still turned to Lan Wangji. “You’re here!”

He laughed and tilted backwards enough that Lan Wangji got so scared he put inhibitions aside and reached out to pull Wei Wuxian back to a sitting position by the waist. “Lan Zhan! Thank you!”

“Mn.” It was like nothing had changed. Like they were still fifteen and sixteen. If only Lan Wangji had been a bit more forthcoming and open with his physical limitations-

“Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.”

“I-” Wei Wuxian stopped and frowned, looking down at his lap. His waist- oh.

Lan Wangji made to retreat his hold but Wei Wuxian took his wrists and kept them around his waist. “No. Stay.”

Lan Wangji’s hands spasmed a bit and Wei Wuxian held tighter, pouting. “Lan Zhan, stay. Please?”

Lan Wangji felt he was dying but he nodded and didn’t remove his hands.

Wei Wuxian smiled and leaned forward again, “Lan Zhaaan. Lan Zhan! Guess what?”

“Mn?”

“I-” He hiccuped and waved a hand over his mouth. “Ew. Sorry, Lan Zhan… what was I-? Oh!” He jolted again and smiled, leaning his head forward until he rested his forehead on Lan Wangji’s shoulder.

Lan Wangji stiffened and Wei Wuxian shushed him.

“Lan Zhan!” He rubbed his forehead back and forth against Lan Wangji’s shoulder and took Lan Wangji’s hands again, positioning them around his back instead of his waist so that he could put his hands around Lan Wangji’s waist and Lan Wangji felt like he had died and gone to heaven. But no! No.

Revel in it but also listen to Wei Ying. Yes. Right. What is he saying?

“Lan Zhan! That’s better, isn’t it? Now I can tell you.” He took a deep breath and turned his head to just rest against Lan Wangji’s shoulder. “I- I avenged Элексей! Successfully! Well-” He giggled. “I think he’d be pleased. I heard- I heard that Wen Ruohan was angry as fuck when he found out his sons were killed.” He giggled again.

Lan Wangji reached up hesitantly, hand hovering for a moment before resting against Wei Wuxian’s head, brushing the hair from his face. “Элексей?”

“Lan Zhan! Don’t tell me you forgot him! He was the ghost from that village, remember?”

Ah . “Mn.”

“Aiyah, you’re only saying that.”

“Nm.”

“All right, all right, if you say so.” They stayed like that in silence for a bit more before Wei Wuxian spoke again. “Lan Zhan… I’m sorry. No, I can feel you shifting to… to respond! Don’t! If- if you do, I’ll lose- I’ll lose my courage.”

Lan Wangji went deathly still and Wei Wuxian laughed. “You can still be relaxed, Lan Zhan! I just thought… I thought I should tell you something.” He stopped for a moment and blinked heavily, head lulling forward a bit, almost rolling off Lan Wangji’s shoulder before he righted it again. “I- I don’t like disagreeing with you. It’s not fun. But- but I don’t know… what else to do. If you get too close…”

Lan Wangji felt Wei Wuxian’s hands separate from his waist a bit, just above the wrist that still rested, his hands turning into fists and releasing twice before resting back around his waist.

“Well… I don’t know. It’s a secret, Lan Zhan. Ssshhh! Don’t tell!”

Lan Wangji did not know how to respond to that. Secret? About what? “I can not tell if you do not divulge the contents of said secret, Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian shifted again and hummed. “That’s true! You’re so smart, Lan Zhan!”

He giggled again and reached behind Lan Wangji’s back, almost as if stretching, before replacing them back on Lan Wangji’s waist, relaxing almost entirely. “I’m tired, Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.”

“Mn.” Wei Wuxian giggled again. “Mn! Right, Lan Zhan! Hehe… Lan Zhan?”

“Mn?”

“Mn!” Another giggle. “Lan Zhan, can you… can you sing a song for me?”

Lan Wangji didn’t respond for a second and there was silence. When he felt Wei Wuxian about to retreat, he started humming.

“Lan Zhan.”

He didn’t lose his resolve, but he felt his breath hitch just a bit before he forged ahead.

“Lan Zhan, you remember it… the song I… hummed to you in the cave…”

“Mn.”

“Mn.” Wei Wuxian giggled. “Mn! Of course you remembered, Lan Zhan… you’re great. You’re a great person. Sorry, Lan Zhan. Haaaaaa, look at you… listening to me and doing as I request of you when all I’ve done since reuniting with you has been giving you a hard time.”

“Wei Ying!”

“Don’t deny it, Lan Zhan! I know… I have, okay? I have… a reason but… I’m scared, Lan Zhan. I’m scared and- and could you continue to hum that song for me, please?”

“Mn.”

“Lan Zhan, you’re the best… don’t even know the lyrics and you’re already humming it to me.”

“There are lyrics?”

“Of course there are! I couldn’t very well write a song for you without writing lyrics, now could I?”

Lan Wangji’s brain froze. “For me?”

“Mn.” Wei Wuxian giggled. “‘Mn’ is such a fun phrase, Lan Zhan. I think I’m starting to understand why you say it so often.”

“Wei Ying -”

“Please continue, Lan Zhan. I’m tired.”

He did, though he suddenly had a lot of questions.

But he did continue as requested.

And when Wei Wuxian fell asleep against him, he picked him up and carried him, head resting on his shoulder still, supporting his back and knees, to the Jiang leaders’ tent.

Jiang Cheng was up and pacing in front of it in his inner robe only, hair in a low ponytail rather than its usual bun.

“ A- Cheng.”

“ Ge-fu ? What- oh.” Jiang Cheng stopped short upon seeing Wei Wuxian in Lan Wangji’s arms. “That dumbass. Come on. Don’t want, say, Jin Zixun, randomly seeing him like that.”

Jiang Cheng went in and immediately pulled back some covers on a bed. “Put him here. A-Jie is sleeping in the medical area tonight - duty.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji placed Wei Wuxian ever so gently on the bed and pulled the covers over him, which he snuggled into immediately. “We should tell him about the DafanWen soon.”

Jiang Cheng looked at him. “You think?”

“Mn. Secrets.”

“ A- Cheng? Is Wei- xiong back?”

Lan Wangji turned to see Nie Huaisang, also in only inner robes, one sleeve hanging off his shoulder until he adjusted it, rubbing his eye. His hair was undone completely and he had clearly only just awoken from slumber.

Jiang Cheng walked over to Nie Huaisang after tucking his brother in more and sitting him down at the table in the middle of the tent. “Yeah, he’s in bed now. Fast asleep. Ge-fu brought him back.”

“Hmmmm.” Nie Huaisang said. Then he raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.

“ A- Sang!” Jiang Cheng yelled, grabbing Nie Huaisang’s wrist and pulling it back, albeit gently, more gently than Lan Wangji anticipated, from his face. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Waking myself up, what does it look like I’m doing?” Nie Huaisang hissed. “Be quiet, dear, Wei- xiong is asleep.”

Jiang Cheng gaped at him.

Nie Huaisang smiled sweetly in his direction, eyes closed, before turning to Lan Wangji, crossing his arms. “Now. Where’d you find him?”

“Roof.”

“The roof ?” Jiang Cheng cut in, his head swerving to Lan Wangji.

“Mn.”

“Fuck.” Jiang Cheng said, dragging his hands down his face before burying said face in them and chuckling. “With alcohol?” His voice was muffled, but he was loud and clear.

“Mn.”

“Figures.” He straightened and dropped his hands to his side. “Right. Do you want some… late-night tea? Could you not sleep?”

“Nm.”

“Mn mn nm nm mn mn. Fucking hell, you’re lucky I understand you much better now than I did in the past.”

“ A- Cheng.” Nie Huaisang said.

“Yeah yeah, I know.” Jiang Cheng got up after that and went to the corner of his bed - the bed Nie Huaisang had just vacated, Lan Wangji noted - where he kept tea and a small pot. “I’ll be out back. Fire area there.”

“Mn.”

“Are you gonna stay with him?” Jiang Cheng asked, jerking his chin in Wei Wuxian’s direction.

“Mn.”

“Mmmnn.” Jiang Cheng imitated, rocking his head from side to side with each inflection he added unnecessarily. “I’m going to blame your limited vocabulary on the time of night.”

“Mn.”

There was a brief silence then, as Jiang Cheng held his teapot and tea, staring down Lan Wangji, who did not move. Not even to blink.

It was only broken when Nie Huaisang could no longer hold back his guffaw.

Jiang Cheng scoffed. Then he made his way to the door, stopping only to say, “I can’t believe Gege was right about you being fucking funny .”

Lan Wangji did not reply, only pushing Wei Wuxian’s hair away from his face once again when he shifted, leaving Jiang Cheng to grumble as he prepared their late-night tea as best as he could and Nie Huaisang to pull his hair back from his face so that he could properly contribute to the inevitable conversation.

Chapter Text

“He needs to communicate.” Nie Huaisang said, leaning back a bit with his arms crossed. “That’s the issue. He’s closed himself off. Why?”

“He was somewhere he shouldn’t have been.” Jiang Cheng said, his own position mirroring Nie Huaisang.

“But where?”

“It’s unclear.”

“Gods…”

There was a silence before Lan Wangji said, “Wen Qing.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened as Nie Huaisang slapped his own forehead. “Wen Qing!”

“How did we fucking forget about Wen Qing? Don’t look at me like that, Lan Wangji.” Jiang Cheng pointed a finger into Lan Wangji’s nose and was surprised when it took more than a split second for Lan Wangji to push it away. He cleared his throat. “How do we bring it up?”

Nie Huaisang stood from the table. “We just do. We spring it on him.”

Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji looked up at him from the table.

Jiang Cheng asked, “What, just like that?”

“No better way to do it.” Nie Huaisang smiled, “Okay boys, I’m going back to sleep. Glad we worked that out.”

“We didn’t…”

“What? Sorry, A- Cheng, did you say something?”

Jiang Cheng jerked his head to the side, scowling, “No.”

“I thought so.” With that, Nie Huaisang made his way back to the bed.

Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng looked at each other before continuing to drink in silence.

They fell asleep at the table.

❤️🩵❤️

The attack came out of nowhere but Wei Wuxian acted like he had seen it coming. “I could have gotten that, Hanguang-Jun .”

“Mn.”

“Why are you hanging around me anyway?” He hit a soldier on the head before aiming a high kick to his neck.

The melody came not too much later, raising those willing to assist to push soldiers back.

“Wei Ying needs-”

“I don’t need help!”

“...assistance with long-range attacks.”

There was a silence as they cut down more enemies and then retreated back a bit before marching forward again.

The campaign was slowly but surely making its way towards Nightless City. They could see it in the distance.

“They’re retreating!” Nie Mingjue screamed. “Pull back a bit!”

Sure enough, the Wen were retreating - going back to their camp, leaving only a few stragglers who were easily cut down by the alliance. It was 3:00 in the morning, admittedly, but that had rarely stopped the fighting in the early days. The assumption now was that they retreat to regroup and restrategise.

“Whatever they plan, though, I’m too close to Wen Ruohan’s head to stop now!”

And that was that.

When everyone made camp, Lan Wangji caught up to Wei Wuxian. “Wei Ying.”

“Lan Wangji. Whatever it is, say it quickly.” There was silence for a moment before Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji with a look, “Now.”

Lan Wangji blinked only once more before saying, “Your brother, Nie Huaisang… and I… need to talk to you.”

Wei Wuxian straightened up and squinted at Lan Wangji. “About what?”

Chapter Text

They were about to march on Nightless City. Nie Mingjue announced it. They were so close.

Lan Wangji didn’t drag Wei Wuxian to where Jiang Cheng had set up his tent with Nie Huaisang.

Wei Wuxian was complaining the whole time about how, “if this is another attempt at intervention, it isn’t going to work.”

And, “Lan Zhan, I swear I’m fine. I don’t need your help.”

And as soon as Nie Huaisang heard him, he approached him, visibly showed his hands to Wei Wuxian so he saw them and their trajectory as he was talking, and then grabbed his arm and dragged him inside the tent to sit.

“Hey!”

“You’re going to sit, listen, and you’re going to like it.” Nie Huaisang pointed at him.

Wei Wuxian crossed his eyes to look at the finger, shutting up long enough for Jiang Cheng to sit at his side, Nie Huaisang and Lan Wangji across from him.

Nie Huaisang pulled his hand back quickly and Wei Wuxian’s eyes refocussed. “Now then.”

Nie Huaisang started, “We know you’re going through some… things… and war has been especially hard on you. I’m glad it’s almost done, but there are some things you, specifically, Wei- xiong , have to know.”

Wei Wuxian looked at them each one by one and raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Cheng took initiative and punched his shoulder.

Wei Wuxian hissed, “OW?”

“Asshole. Look, You remember how… we were helped? After Lotus Pier fell…”

Lan Wangji was observing. He would contribute if needed, but for the most part, he was just there. And he watched Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian, who was tired - really tired. He had bad bags under his eyes.

But when Jiang Cheng mentioned that, it was like he was only half listening. Like he went elsewhere. That is, until Jiang Cheng got to the crux of the issue.

“Wait, what? You…”

“Got her. And her family. You didn’t see them because you were… Well, we were trying not to overwhelm you. They’re at The Unclean Realm.”

“They?”

“Wen Qing, Wen Ning-” Jiang Cheng started to say, before Nie Huaisang interrupted.

“And their entire branch of the Wen. Their family. They’re all safe and secured. And they won’t be persecuted.”

“And if there are attempts…” Jiang Cheng started, “Well, there are three quarters of the major sects backing them. And who can vouch for them. All three of us will… and I know you will too.”

“Of course! Without Wen Qing and Wen Ning-” Wei Wuxian cut himself off.

“Are you all right?” Nie Huaisang asked.

“Yeah! Yeah, I am. Lan Zhan?”

“Mn?”

“Thank you. I know you’ve been… Well, you’ve kept our promise, haven’t you? Even more than I have.”

“Not more.”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “Fine fine. If you say so. I…” He trailed off and the three other boys startled when he looked up again with tears streaming down his face. “I’m really grateful for you guys. I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass.”

“Yeah, you’ve been a bit of an asshole, but you have your reasons, we're sure.” Jiang Cheng said, punching his shoulder.

“We’re here to be your support system. If you need it.” Nie Huaisang added, sticking his tongue out at Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian sighed, “thank you guys.”

Lan Wangji said, “Mn. We’re almost there.”

Wei Wuxian turned to him, “Lan Zhan, you still have my back out there on the battlefield?”

Jiang Cheng scoffed but was ignored when Lan Wangji said, “Mn.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, “Good. Nie -xiong- ”

“I have plenty to do off the battlefield, I won’t be bored. However , now that you’re more recovered and we’re basically victorious, I expect more dedication from you on the…”

He looked at Lan Wangji, but continued, “exchange of ideas about the yellow…s… yeah.”

Wei Wuxian smirked, “I’ll come to the Unclean Realm anyway. We can have a sleepover then.”

Nie Huaisang smirked back. “Excellent.”

🩵❤️🩵

“What the hell happened out there??”

“We won the war?”

“ I know that .” Nie Huaisang hissed. “ That news travelled to the camp fast . And the only reason I didn’t go to the banquet you already had...  was because I was taking care of things here. I am asking , however, Jiang Wanyin , what happened to your brother !”

He pointed a finger at Lan Wangji, who had to step back to avoid Wei Wuxian being poked aggressively by the point. He had picked Wei Wuxian up after he defeated Wen Ruohan and had yet to let go.

Jiang Wanyin crossed his arms. “A lot, A- Sang. A lot.”

He turned to Lan Wangji, “just put him on the bed over there. We’ll get a doctor for him soon.”

Nie Huaisang scoffed and went to the tent entrance, “Liu Yan!”

Liu Yan appeared not too much later, “Yes, Nie- gongzi ? Oh! Zongzhu ! What the fuck happened to Dashixiong ??”

“Just. A lot.”

“Wow.” Liu Yan put her hands on her hips. “You are horrible at explanations, as always.” Liu Yan turned away from Jiang Cheng with a bow. “Yes, Nie- gongzi ?”

She ignored Jiang Cheng’s grumbled, “The disrespect…”

Nie Huaisang also ignored him, “Can you get a doctor over here for your d ashixiong ?”

“Of course!” She dashed out of the tent before further comment could be made.

Nie Huaisang sighed, “She didn’t let me say thank you, but at least she has sense. Now, explain to me what happened at that celebratory feast. Well, after the war and then the celebratory feast which you all had almost immediately, like dumbasses.  I’m surprised he’s only passed out!”

Lan Wangji said nothing but he did look up from where he was focussed on tuning his guqin next to Wei Wuxian’s sleeping form. “Wei Ying insisted on going.”

“Despite all logic stating he shouldn’t, I suppose.” Nie Huaisang sighed.

“Mn.”

“Figures.” Nie Huaisang sighed but then put his hands on his hips and turned to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng had sat at the table and made tea for himself. He sipped at it until he noticed he had Nie Huaisang’s attention, after which he swallowed and put his cup down, clearing his throat. “I love you?”

“Ha!” Nie Huaisang said. “Heard that before and it won’t work as a distraction this time. Get talking. Details now, I got the basics from Lan Wangji, and you know that’s not all I need. Details, Jiang Wanyin. From start to finish.”

“Fine! Okay… well-”

A loud gasp interrupted him and three heads turned to the door to find Jiang Yanli standing there with a hand over her mouth, eyes trained on Wei Wuxian, Liu Yan glaring at Jiang Cheng specifically behind her. “ A- Xian! What happened?”

She turned to her youngest brother, who opened his mouth again before she cut him off, “It’s okay. It’s okay, A- Cheng, wait. Wait.”

She hurried to Wei Wuxian’s side, immediately checking on his health. She felt his forehead for fevers, his neck for a pulse, raised his thigh to hit his knee and check his reflexes, his fingers too, and then she put her fingers to his wrist pulse point. She paused. “He… he seems… fine… except… A- Cheng…?”

Jiang Cheng had put his head on the table when he realised he would have to wait to explain the events of everything until after his sister finished her examination, not willing to look up when Nie Huaisang was just staring him down. He hummed in response to his sister.

Jiang Yanli did not immediately respond, instead turning to Lan Wangji. “ Hanguang-Jun … did you… feel that your guqin was effective?”

When she didn’t get an immediate response, she closed her eyes and sighed, dropping Wei Wuxian’s hand and pulling the covers up to his chin. “ A- Yan.”

“Yes, Shijie ?”

“You will act as dashixiong for the time being.”

“What?”

Jiang Cheng raised his head in a snap then. “What?! A-Jie -”

Nie Huaisang turned to Jiang Yanli with a confused expression, his arms still crossed.

Lan Wangji blinked.

Jiang Yanli stood and wrung her hands. “ A- Yan, sit with them.”

Jiang Yanli stood over Jiang Cheng’s shoulder with her hands folded in front of her. “ A- Cheng, explain.”

Nie Huaisang raised his chin when Jiang Cheng groaned. “Then, will you tell us why you… reacted like that, A-Jie ?”

“Yes.”

“Right. Well…”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“I’ve been dead once. We, of course, came from Hell.”

Jiang Cheng would like to say that made complete sense to him, but it didn’t. And before he could even process it, his brother was in Wen Ruohan’s grasp and then Wen Ruohan was dead. Killed by some dude from behind, his brother falling to the floor.

“ A- Yao!” Lan Xichen called.

Okay, fuck, if he’s well enough to call out to whoever the fuck A-Yao is, who am I?

“ Gege !” “Wei Ying!”

Jiang Cheng turned to see Lan Wangji call out the same as he had, rushing up the stairs as fast as Lan Xichen. Catch up, catch up, catch up . He reached the top of the stairs to see Wei Wuxian collapsed in Lan Wangji’s arms. “Is he okay?! Ge-fu , is he…?”

“Passed out. Alive.”

“Thank the gods.”

“ Zewu-Jun … I-” Jiang Cheng heard from the side.

He turned to see “ A- Yao” still clutching a bloodied dagger as he was lowered down into Lan Xichen’s lap in a weird mirror to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.

“Xichen!” Nie Mingjue called. He marched up the stairs.

“ A- Yao” bowed from his position. “ Chifeng-Zun , I-”

“Shut up! You… you dumbass!”

Why is no one letting this guy finish his sentences?

Nie Mingjue continued, “Xichen, is he… I mean he’s only mildly traumatised, right?”

“Mingjue!”

“What!? He was playing both sides! I can be pissed off if I so choose!”

He turned to Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, looking down at Wei Wuxian, pointing, “How is the hero?”

“Hero? He’s a fucking self-sacrificial idiot.” Jiang Cheng said without thinking. “Uuh. I mean-”

He was cut off by raucous laughter. Nie Mingjue wiped at his tears. “Wow, Jiang- Zongzhu , wait to break the tension of war there.”

When Jiang Cheng tried to say something else, he put his hand up to stop him. He spoke as he pulled “ A- Yao” up so that Lan Xichen could also get up, “I get that though, I speak to Huaisang like that all the time. Well, he does too to me. Siblings, I suppose. There’s a banquet tonight. To celebrate our victory, Jiang- Zongzhu . If Wei Wuxian can come, make sure he does, all right?”

When Jiang Cheng nodded, helping the unconscious Wei Wuxian up onto Lan Wangji’s back, he turned to the other two. “Meng Yao, your father… arranged it. Well, he offered up things we didn’t have for a banquet.” He scoffed. “It’ll be at Nightless City, in the palace. Ridiculous. Hey, Jiang -Zongzhu ! Make sure Wei Wuxian recovers well!”

He continued to speak to… Meng Yao and Zewu-Jun as Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji walked down the steps.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Okay, that makes sense. Da-Ge is so…” Nie Huaisang paused, shaking his head, before saying, “But you guys went to the banquet, didn’t you?” He frowned.

“Yeah, Wei Wuxian woke up and insisted…” Jiang Cheng continued. “He was fine. But then Jin Zixun… Jin Zixun-ed.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“ Hanguang-Jun , if you don’t drink, I’ll assume you’re disrespecting me.” Jin Zixun said.

“What a dumbass statement.”

Jin Zixun turned at Wei Wuxian’s voice and sneered. “What did you say?”

“You heard me. Zewu-Jun already drank, and as the sect leader, doesn’t his drinking tide you over? You went to the lectures the same as I did, I know you know their rules forbid drinking. There’s a reason for it, too, it’s not just because they don’t like alcohol. If you’re so eager, then I’ll-” he paused briefly before continuing, “then I’ll drink for him.”

Jiang Cheng watched from the side. Well I am really glad Lan Wangji and our family have already come to an understanding because this is the most- And Wei Wuxian drank the glass, turning it over to show there was nothing left in it.

“Wei Wuxian!” Jin Zixun screamed.

“Yes?” Wei Wuxian tilted his head.

“You think you’re so-”

“Now, children, there’s no need for quarrelling.” Jin Guangshan cut in. “We just won a war! Wei Wuxian, there’s no need to be disrespectful to your allies.”

Jiang Cheng squinted at Jin Guangshan. He also noticed Nie Mingjue clutching his own fist tightly. Meng Yao, who seemed recovered, was sitting next to him, and also squinting at Jin Guangshan.

Wei Wuxian laughed. “Me? Disrespectful to my allies? If anything, I was very respectful to my allies just now. It is your nephew, Jin- Zongzhu , who was disrespecting… allies .”

Lan Wangji was looking at Wei Wuxian like he hung the stars and Jiang Cheng wanted to hurl.

Jin Guangshan laughed and brushed Wei Wuxian off, but Jin Zixun didn’t back down. “How dare you!”

Wei Wuxian pointed at himself, “how dare I ?” He scoffed and pushed a finger into Jin Zixun’s chest. “How dare you , Jin Zixun. It was your cousin and his men fighting the war. Yes, you were there, but you and your men didn’t do jackshit despite being in the war . Lan Zhan doesn’t owe you anything . I drank for him. It’s over.”

It was not over.

“Wei Wuxian! I challenge you to a duel!”

“You think you can duel me?”

“Wei Wuxian…” Jiang Cheng tried to cut in.

Wei Wuxian smiled at him, “Don’t worry, A- Cheng. This’ll be a piece of cake.”

And it… was… he thoroughly defeated Jin Zixun at the duel and the banquet ended without much else happening but… Wei Wuxian passed out afterwards and didn’t even wake up when they packed up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Which brings us to… right now.” Jiang Cheng finished.

“Dumbass.” Nie Huaisang and Liu Yan said at the exact same time.

Jiang Yanli sighed. “Well… at least it makes sense for A- Xian… but… I think there’s a reason he’s been… closed off.”

“What reason?” Jiang Cheng said, fingers clutching at the table.

Jiang Yanli put a finger over her mouth. “Not here. I will tell you later. You too, A- Sang, A- Zhan. Liu Yan, your dashixiong is severely affected by the war. You will act as dashixiong , but it should still be only temporary.”

Liu Yan pursed her lips. “Fine. If it’ll help dashixiong for me to take over his duties temporarily …” She looked back and forth between Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng. “I’ll do it.”

“Great.” Jiang Yanli took a deep breath. “Right. Boys, it’s time to go.”

❤️🩵❤️

Wei Wuxian woke up to being poked in the leg. “What-”

“Oh good, you’re awake.”

“Wen Qing?”

“You’re lucid and your memory seems good, too. Great. So I can do this without violating my medical code.” And then she hit him in the stomach.

“OW! Qing- Jie !”

“I would have hit you upside your fucking head, but unfortunately, you are lying down. You are so lucky that’s all I did! You dumbass! You passed out twice! Why did you go to that banquet?!”

“What, was I not supposed to?”

“No! You weren’t! Why no one stopped you, I will never understand! You dumbass!”

Wei Wuxian pouted. “Wen Qiiiing …”

“That is not working!” She flicked his forehead.

“You’re awake!”

“ A -Ning, you’re supposed to be mad at him for being stupid, not ecstatic to see him.”

“But, Jiejie, we were worried he- worried he would-”

“But he didn’t! He’s here! Fuck, Wei Wuxian, you almost drained all of your life away! Stupid, stupid boy!”

Wei Wuxian winced. “Sorry, Qing- jiejie .”

“I will not cry because of your stupidity. Fuck. I’m going to get everyone who cares about you. Get ready to have your room packed .”

“What-” He was cut off as the door closed. “Wen Ning?”

“She’s not kidding, you- you know. About any of it. You almost- almost died , Wei- gongzi . Your lifeforce was- your lifeforce was slipping. We had to have Jiang- Zongzhu give you- give you spiritual energy.” When Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened, Wen Ning quickly started rambling, “We didn’t tell him why exactly! He was happy to- happy to do it, really, since you’re his- his gege ! And he cares about- cares about you a whole, whole lot and-”

“It’s okay, Wen Ning, I… I understand… but… how many people are actually coming in here?”

“...Probably my entire family…?”

“What-”

“ A- Xian, you’re awake!” Jiang Yanli rushed in, pressing a hand to his forehead and sitting to his side when Wen Ning moved, holding his hand.

“About time!” Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang came in. “Dumbass fucking gege .”

Jiang Cheng raised his eyebrows as Nie Huaisang gave him a smug look, “Be ready, Wei- xiong !”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, “Yeah, actually, prepare yourself. Wen Qing’s entire family knows you’re the reason I was able to get them out of their situation, your dumbass making sure I knew to trust them…”

“I-”

“He’s awake!” An old woman bustled in, her hands clasped in front of her.

She bowed low to him and seemed to know he would protest, because she bounced up again and smiled at him, shaking a finger at him. “None of that, Xian- sūnzi . I have heard a lot about you from my A- Ning, some from A- Qing, and even some from that Hanguang-Jun of yours.”

Wei Wuxian spluttered and began to protest before she continued, “Oh, pardon me, maybe you’re not quite there yet. Regardless! I am glad to see you well, of course! A- Ning and A- Qing already see you as a sibling, and since you also have siblings…”

She nodded at Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, “and have recently lost so much, you are all considered family to me. Cheng -sūnzi , did you tell him this?”

Jiang Cheng coughed, “No, Granny, I haven’t had the chance.”

She tsked before continuing, “Well, Xian- sūnzi , you may call me Granny! Your parents visited our village once when your mother was pregnant with you, so if you want to hear- oh, child, don’t cry! Aiyah, sweet boy, you are so loved, aren’t you? Yanli- Sūnnǚ , you have such sweet younger siblings, aiyah aiyah, don’t cry! Here, would you like to meet everyone?”

When Wei Wuxian nodded, she motioned to the hallway and a number of more people came in, Jiang Cheng introducing them one by one until they got to one man who stepped up himself. “Wei- gongzi , this one is known as Sì-Shu . I have heard you enjoy a good alcoholic beverage?”

When Wei Wuxian simply nodded, eyes wide, he smiled and continued, “excellent. I have just the brew for you to try. When A- Qing clears you, of course.”

Wei Wuxian nodded again before shaking his head, as if bringing himself out of a stupor. “Right. Uh, thank you, uh-! Uh!”

“ Sì-Shu is fine, Wei- gongzi .” He smiled, to reassure him, and it worked.

Wei Wuxian nodded, “Yes, Sì-Shu …”

There was about ten more minutes of Wei Wuxian being introduced to everyone, who seemed to see him as an extension of themselves.

Before she left, Granny said, “And, Wei- sūnzi , don’t forget! Your Hanguang-Jun , Ji- sūnzi as I call him, of course, said he will visit you soon with A- Yuan! Aiyah, A- Yuan is but one year old but has truly taken a shine to him! And I know A- Yuan will also love you! Be prepared, okay?”

There were a lot of thoughts going through Wei Wuxian’s head during all this, namely things such as, suddenly my family has become much bigger than expected. And Granny knew my parents? And Lan Zhan… child… baby? Lan Zhan and a baby… oh. Oh. Oh no.

Chapter Text

Recovery.

A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

Or all of them.

Wen Qing says Wei Wuxian needs to recover all three.

Wei Wuxian, however, is bored .

Granny has come by with home-cooked bread along with Jiang Yanli with soup.

That’s health recovery all by itself.

One day, Wei Wuxian had just finished eating when Wen Qing came in with a notebook. Wei Wuxian looked up at her and she said, “Don’t look at me with those wide eyes, whatever is going through your head won’t be accomplished by giving me those puppy-”

“Bunny.”

Wen Qing took a heavy blink before closing her eyes and sighing, hard, “bunny eyes, is not going to work. No matter what, you are still recovering. You should thank Nie -Zongzhu the next time you see him for the fact that you are able to recover here instead of having to move before you should-”

“If Da-Ge kicked him and his family out before absolutely plausible, he’d regret it immediately because I’d make him suffer worse than he ever has before.”

“Nie Huaisang, if you cut me off one more time-”

“You’ll murder me in thirteen different ways?”

“Nie Huaisang.”

“Sorry, it was just too perfect. Wei- xiong, I brought you some notebooks and charcoal, for your entertainment.”

Wei Wuxian smiled and took them immediately, “Thanks, Nie- xiong ! You’re the best!”

“And don’t you forget it.” Nie Huaisang smirked. He brought over a small table and placed it over Wei Wuxian’s lap on the bed, “continue, Wen- daifu .”

Wen Qing’s expression was one in which there was no expression as she blinked at Nie Huaisang.

Her expression didn’t change as she raised her hands up, as if to strangle, before lowering them again.

She closed her eyes and repeated, “do no harm do no harm do no harm do no harm do NO harm do no harm do no HARM do not murder-”

“You want to murder me?”

“Feeling like it!” Wen Qing raised her hands to her mouth, holding them together palm to palm, fingertip to fingertip, her eyes shut tight.

She took another deep breath before composing herself. “Wei Wuxian. Just… don’t fucking strain yourself. I can’t think right now. I’m too annoyed. Bye, boys.”

When she opened the door, she almost barrelled into Lan Wangji, “ Hanguang-Jun ! Ah, you have…”

“Qing- yi !”

Wen Qing took a deep breath and smiled, raising her finger so that A- Yuan could hold it. “Still can’t say ayi quite perfectly, can you, little one?”

She raised her eyes to Lan Wangji. “Thank you for caring for him, I-”

“Lan Zhan!”

“There it is. Occupy that baby with this baby, would you?”

“Hey! Wen Qing! You-”

“Mn.”

Wen Qing smirked when she heard Wei Wuxian squawk behind her, “Lan Zhan! How dare you agree with her! What did I ever do to deserve this?”

Lan Wangji walked in and placed A- Yuan in Wei Wuxian’s lap. “Nothing.”

Wei Wuxian blinked before supporting A- Yuan. “That-! That’s right!”

“Blergh. You guys are disgusting.” Nie Huaisang stuck out his tongue and shook his head.

“Wei Wuxian-”

“ A- Cheng!” Nie Huaisang turned immediately, reaching his hands out for Jiang Cheng to take, which Jiang Cheng did, dragging him to sit at the table in the centre of the room.

Wei Wuxian scoffed, smiling when A- Yuan tried to copy him.

“Wei Ying…”

“Aiyah, Lan Zhan, he’ll learn to scoff eventually!”

“Too early.”

Jiang Cheng smirked, “Lan Wangji, it is never too early to learn to scoff. One is hardly too young for such an act.”

Jiang Cheng ignored Lan Wangji when he gave him a frown. “Am I wrong?”

“Yes.”

“No, I’m not.”

He smirked when Lan Wangji himself had to stop himself from scoffing. “I rest my case.”

“Don’t argue with the baby present, boys.”

“ A-Jie ” “ Jiejie !” “Li- jiejie !”

“Hello boys. You’re not overwhelming A- Xian, are you?”

“What?!” Jiang Cheng sputtered.

“We would never!” Nie Huaisang said, clutching his robe over his heart.

“Mn.” Lan Wangji added.

Jiang Yanli smiled. “Nevertheless, it is getting late. I expect you all to get good rest. A- Xian, would you like to keep A- Yuan for the night?”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened. “Can I?”

Jiang Yanli smiled, “Of course. Granny said so.”

She turned to Lan Wangji, “Wangji ?”

Lan Wangji didn’t outwardly react, but he did reply. “Granny told me the same. I will come back to help with A -Yuan tomorrow morning.”

“Lan Zhan, you’re the best!” Wei Wuxian said, ignoring his brother and Nie Huaisang miming his words with exaggerated faces on the floor.

“Boys.” Jiang Yanli said.

“Right!” Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng both said, before bolting out the door.

Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes at the door but quickly forgot about his brother and best friend when A- Yuan grabbed at his face.

When Wei Wuxian started to coo, Lan Wangji got up, patting A- Yuan’s head. When Wei Wuxian looked up at him, he hesitated only briefly before doing the same to him, not noticing Wei Wuxian’s cheeks heating up.

Jiang Yanli smiled at him leaving before going to Wei Wuxian to sit next to him on the bed. “ A- Xian.”

Wei Wuxian looked up at her with a smile, holding A- Yuan’s hands as he babbled nonsense at him.

Jiang Yanli smiled at the scene before putting her hand on Wei Wuxian’s knee. “ A- Xian… we need to talk.”

🩵❤️🩵

“So, can we all agree that A-Jie basically kicked us out for some reason?”

Lan Wangji had joined Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng as they made their way to the gardens Huaisang had so meticulously maintained. “Mn.”

“But why?” Jiang Cheng said, swinging Nie Huaisang’s hand next to him.

“I don’t know… seemed important, whatever it was. Should we be concerned?” Nie Huaisang turned his head and squinted at the window to the room where Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian remained. “ A- Yuan was definitely partially being used as a buffer, wasn’t he?”

“Nie Huaisang.”

“Oh, come on, Hanguang-Jun ! Just a bit?”

“Probably to make sure that idiot doesn’t do something rash.” Jiang Cheng cut in.

“Exactly! Wangji, you can’t even protest, can you? You know Wei- xiong is totally capable of being…”

He shut his mouth when Jiang Cheng squeezed his hand once, but he knew that Lan Wangji knew that he was right.

When Lan Wangji said nothing, but his face visibly darkened, at least to those who knew him, Jiang Cheng said again, “it’s fine. Whatever it is, it’s fine. It’s A-Jie … she’ll handle it with care.”

❤️🩵❤️

“How… how did you… how long…?”

“I’m your sister, A- Xian. And I have medical training. I did what I should have done and discovered it rather easily.”

“But… but I…” Wei Wuxian hugged the child in his arms closer, little arms coming up to touch his cheeks, as his sister sighed.

“ A- Xian. I’m not going to push you. You won us the war. I doubt it would have been as easy if it weren’t for your… methods. But it is clear to me that you only used those methods because you had nothing else because you don’t have a core . But you still have meridians. And Wen Zhuliu has been dead for a long time now. A- Xian, I won’t force you to talk to me…”

She smiled when A- Yuan’s hands fell a bit from Wei Wuxian’s face as he drifted between wakefulness and sleep. “But you can.” Jiang Yanli continued. “Of course, you can. I won’t push, but… I’m your elder sister. And I doubt A- Cheng, A- Sang, and Wangji would disagree with me. You have people who care about you and love you.”

Wei Wuxian cuddled A- Yuan closer, rearranging the baby so that he’s resting his head on his chest over his heart but laying sideways in his arms across his lap. “I-” He cut himself off, grimacing.

Jiang Yanli put a hand over his knee. “Just think about it. Get some rest, A- Xian. I’ll make sure A- Yuan doesn’t fall from your chest as you sleep.”

Chapter Text

“And… and because…” Wei Wuxian pursed his lips and covered his face.

“ A- Xian, take your time. It’s okay.” Jiang Yanli said.

They were sitting together on Wei Wuxian’s bed.

Wen Yuan had been taken by Granny for bedtime a while ago, and Wei Wuxian had been left alone. That is… until he called for Jiang Yanli and told her, “ A- Jie… I’ll try to talk. I’m sorry for the late hour.”

It wasn’t all that late. The Lans were probably only just turning in for the day. Jiang Yanli smiled at him and sat with him, taking his hands. “Go on, A- Xian.”

And that led them here.

Wei Wuxian was about to admit to his biggest secret.

Jiang Cheng was going to kill him.

Wei Wuxian pursed his lips and said, “because Jiang Cheng wanted to die and he is the future of our decimated sect, I… I had Wen Qing… I mean I… I found a book in her… in her library. She refused. So many times, she refused. Of course I pulled out the older sibling card and she folded like a wet robe… She… A- Jie, you know I don’t have a core anymore. Jiang Cheng’s was melted and I gave him mine.”

Jiang Yanli gasped, a hand coming to her mouth. “ A- Xian!”

“What was I supposed to do? A- Jie, I couldn’t- I couldn’t let my didi die!”

Jiang Yanli lowered her hand slightly, it shook as she stuttered, “We- we would have thought of something …”

“What?” Wei Wuxian leaned back and propped himself on his pillows. “ A- Jie, our didi wanted to die . He didn’t know how to live anymore. I couldn’t have lived with myself if-”

“That doesn’t mean that you have to give up your heart and soul…”

“We’re siblings, A- Jie. I would have done the same for you. You two are my heart and soul.”

“ A- Xian!”

“ A- Jie!”

Jiang Yanli pursed her lips. “I know.”

That was all she said. She hugged Wei Wuxian close, crushing him against her. When she left him, she said at the door, “We are both going to tell A- Cheng in the morning. No buts.” She was gone before he could argue.

In the morning, Jiang Yanli asked that Wen Yuan not be taken in to see Wei Wuxian until the afternoon.

It was all right since Lan Wangji kept him company, though he did shoot Jiang Yanli a questioning look, to which he received a mouthed “later” in answer.

She did most of the talking, admittedly, when Jiang Cheng arrived at Wei Wuxian’s room to find them.

Wei Wuxian looked down during most of it, tears free-falling to his lap every once in a while.

Jiang Cheng was silent when Jiang Yanli finished, which Wei Wuxian couldn’t pin as anything - good, bad, or scary.

Then, Jiang Cheng inhaled sharply and choked on a sob. He launched himself at Wei Wuxian and hugged him while hitting his back as hard as he could manage repeatedly. “Fucking. Stupid. Mother. Fucker. I fucking hate you. I hate you so fucking much. You’re so fucking DUMB .”

It ended up being a hugging pile of siblings all together.

None of them knew how long they stayed like that, but at some point the door was shoved open and quickly pushed closed.

Nie Huaisang panted against it, hands forming a square as his palms never let up the pressure he had used to shut the door. He ignored the questioning looks sent his way and instead said, “Oh, are we cuddling? Hugging without me? How dare you all.” He was welcomed in with laughter, but then a knock came on the door and everyone disentangled, or tried to, Huaisang was holding onto them for dear life. “Don’t let him in!”

Jiang Cheng looked at the door and then smirked at Huaisang.

“ A- Cheng… don’t you dare.”

“Come in!”

“ A- Cheng!” Nie Huaisang whisper-screamed, pulling the covers up from the bed and putting them over himself, hiding behind Wei Wuxian’s shoulder.

The door, meanwhile, had opened to reveal Meng Yao. His hair was done up in the way of the Nie again and his robes were those of Nie Mingjue’s deputy again, though there was also a jade pass hanging from his waist and a new jade hair stick in his hair. Meng Yao bowed and said, “Sorry to intrude but I was wondering if you had seen a lump of covers that may resemble A- Sang?”

The groan from said lump of covers was ignored as Wei Wuxian responded, “Whatever do you mean, Meng- gongzi ? A lump of covers?”

Meng Yao hummed, “Indeed. I have been searching for it.”

Jiang Yanli put a hand over her mouth and said, “If we come across this odd entity, we’ll definitely inform you, Meng- gongzi .”

Jiang Cheng nodded along, though his smirk only grew as the seconds passed. “What exactly do you need him for, Meng- gongzi ?”

Meng Yao smiled, his dimples showing, and he walked in and sat down at the vacated table, where he poured himself some of the abandoned tea and swirled it around the cup. “Well, you see, now that things are finally calming down and new routines are being established - as well as old being reinstated, of course - A- Jue decided, since Wei- gongzi is near full recovery - congratulations by the way…” He smiled back when Wei Wuxian gave him a wide smile in thanks and continued, “you see… while A -Sang was extremely helpful in his own way during the war…” There was a shift of the blanket lump behind the Jiang siblings, but Meng Yao continued, “ A- Jue, of course, didn’t forget that that also meant that A- Sang hasn’t been able to keep up with his sabre practice. And he thinks that… mmmmnn… today would be a good day to get A- Sang back into training. He was supposed to be on the field about an hour ago. You can imagine how A- Jue reacted when the training instructor came to say A- Sang hadn’t shown up after nearly an hour of waiting.”

“Completely understandable.” Wei Wuxian said.

Meng Yao nodded, smiling, “Of course, A- Huan has been trying to calm A- Jue down so that he doesn’t rampage through the sect while there are still people here. So, I volunteered to go on a search.”

He sighed, “Ah, it’s like I never left, truly. Now, if only I could find him…”

A long groan sounded from near the wall on the bed and no one could suppress snorts as Nie Huaisang emerged from his blanket cocoon, hair mussed, but scowl firmly set in place regardless. “This…”

He said, shakingly raising a finger at Meng Yao, who was raising his cup to his mouth to take a sip.

Nie Huaisang inhaled shakily and continued, “is bullying .”

He inhaled again, finger shaking more, “And manipulation.”

Meng Yao lowered his cup to the table.

“And you’re turning everyone against me.”

Meng Yao raised a closed fist to his lips, suppressing a smile, before turning to the bed. “Oh! A- Sang! We were just talking about you!”

Then Jiang Cheng guffawed and Nie Huaisang, kneeling high behind him, hit him upside the head. “You are horrible! You don’t love me anymore!”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened, swerving his head to Nie Huaisang at break-neck speed, “WHAT?”

Wei Wuxian chose that moment to break out into loud, unrestrained laughter, causing everyone to freeze.

Wei Wuxian stopped just as abruptly and sniffled. “Haven’t laughed like that since before the attack…”

His siblings and Nie Huaisang shook themselves and pulled him back into a group hug while Meng Yao sipped his tea.

After a moment, he said, “ A- Sang.”

Nie Huaisang sighed, “Ugh. Fine. He won’t leave until I do and then he’ll chase me at a steady walking pace until I happen to run into Da-Ge , then I’ll be dragged by my hair to the training field. Might as well get it over with.”

Meng Yao stood. “Well put.” He walked to the door and said, “Oh, here comes Hanguang-Jun with the little one! Good afternoon, both of you. A- Sang, come on.”

Lan Wangji let Meng Yao and Nie Huaisang pass, giving Huaisang a second to play with A- Yuan’s arms.

When he walked in, he immediately placed A- Yuan into Wei Wuxian’s lap, which turned out to be a great turn of events because it was at that point that Jiang Cheng took Lan Wangji’s shoulder.

“You need to be brought into the fold a bit more, ge-fu .”

“WHY ARE YOU CALLING HIM THAT???”

“YOU CAN NOT POSSIBLY BE THAT OBLIVIOUS. HE’S PRACTICALLY ADOPTED THAT CHILD YOU’RE HOLDING AND TREATS YOU AS THE OTHER PARENT. PLUS, ALSO, HE’S ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS MOTHERFUCKERS ONCE YOU KNOW HOW TO LOOK-”

“ A -Cheng.” Jiang Yanli cut in. “Be nice. We have much to discuss. A- Xian can examine his feelings later."

“ A- Jiiieee. They need help .”

“They’re fine.”

“FINE ABOUT WHAT?? WHAT ARE WE FINE ABOUT??”

Jiang Cheng stared at Wei Wuxian after he said this.

Then he said, “ A- Jie. Look at him. LOOK.”

A -Yuan was reaching up from Wei Wuxian’s lap to Lan Wangji, who was standing behind Wei Wuxian’s shoulder.

Wei Wuxian was ignoring Jiang Cheng and lifting the child up so that Lan Wangji could take him again.

When Lan Wangji did, Lan Wangji had to quickly support A- Yuan’s back as he leaned back and grabbed some of Wei Wuxian’s ponytail before allowing himself to be righted.

Jiang Cheng was gaping at this.

“That’s it.” Jiang Cheng shook his head and his hands in front of him. “I’m done. Ge-fu , I’m gonna call you that no matter what this idiot says now. I don’t give a fuck. Don’t give me that look. A- Jie, I’m locking them in here to talk.”

“ A- Cheng, I doubt that will be necessary-”

“ A- Cheng, I will talk with Wei Ying now.”

There was a pregnant pause before Jiang Cheng broke it with a jerky nod, “Good. Good. A- Jie, let’s leave them to that. I expect all secrets to be no longer secrets by the time you two come out. Make sure no one forgets A- Yuan is with you. That means no kissing, Lan Wangji!”

“ A- Cheng! Why would-”

“Ah-ah! Your face says everything if you think about yourself and your reactions for two seconds! Now not only do I expect no secrets between you, I expect an extra brother and a nephew. Granny basically already granted you guys guardianship-”

“ A- Cheng, that’s enough. Let them talk.” Jiang Yanli stood up and dragged Jiang Cheng to the door.

“I’m serious! I’m watching you two!”

The door shut, leaving out the rest of the world while a new world was being created with the little family inside.